2 weeks down, 102 to go...

I thought I would make an update about how and what I've been doing during the first two weeks at my site. Brusartsi is a rather small town of about 1,300 people and there is not much to do here. For now, I am at the municipality from 9-5 m-f doing random things. Mostly studying Bulgarian so I can learn to do more things! There is nothing really lined up for me, so I have been doing a few different things on my own. Check out Wiki Brusartsi and Wiki Brusartsi Municipality. It's not much, but hopefully someone will use it one day. I want to add some pics of the town, but haven't yet figured out how to do that. Once I do, they will be some stlyish wikipages. So that's about it for my "work" details.

After work is when I feel most accomplished.

One of the first few days I was here, a baba invited me into her yard to talk. I sat there for about an hour, listening to her stories and pretending that I knew what she was talking about (I understood some things, but other things not so much). Anyways, when I was leaving she gave me a huge bag full of zucchini (тиквички - Teekveechky) and tomatos (домати - Domati) and cucumbers (краставици - Krastaveetsy). It was really kind of her. In the 10 or so days since that happened, she has hooked me up with sooooo many fresh veggies that sometimes I don't know what to do with them. Recently I made stuffed zucchini with the goodies she gave me. I cut up some hot dog and mixed it with bread crumbs, cerene (goat cheese but super mild and delicious), an egg, garlic, oregono and red pepper flakes. And for dessert I fried up a banana with some butter and brown sugar, mmmmmm... So yeah, she is my go to baba when I need fresh veggies!

I have spent a lot of time at the cafe in the center of town. I usually go after work before I walk home. The owners are really friendly and the first day I showed up they said they expected me to drink a beer there everyday! I like to hang out there because that is where most people are if they are not at home. I have met a lot of people there and picked up some Bulgarian as well. Last weekend I ventured off to a different cafe and the people there were just as nice, curious, and friendly. Besides the cafes in town, I have spent a lot of time in the magazines (mini stores). I have introduced myself to all the workers and they greet me everytime I come it. It's nice.

I noticed that people approach me more often now than they did when I first arrived. At first, I would walk by someone or a group of people and say здрасти (zdrasty - hi) or здравей (zdravey - hello) and wouldn't get a response. Which I guess is typical. If someone in your tiny village, who looks like an outsider walking around all by himself, says hello as he walks by you, you might not say anything back. Anyways, I'm actually getting to the point of this topic... When I left the magazine on Wednesday, this group of kids that I had never met (only said hi to) called out my name. They were hanging out in the park so I went and sat down with them. We exchanged introductions and I talked with them for an hour and a half. There were 3 girls and 2 boys all around 14-15 years old. It was definitely a funny conversation because they kept asking me all kinds of questions and most of the time they had to repeat what they said because they were talking много бързо (mnogo burzo - very fast) and I не разбирам (ne razbiram - couldn't understand). I had to break the news to them that it actually does snow in California, I didn't live in Hollywood, Orange County or LA, and for as much as I look and act the part, I am not a famous celebrity. They were devastated for about .8 seconds and moved on to more pressing matters... "I heard Lady Gaga is coming to Bulgaria!! If so, do you want to go to her concert with us?" one of the kids said in Bulgarian.

Besides talking with people around town, there are other ways I have been trying to integrate into the community. For the past few days, and I think this is going to continue, I have been playing soccer with kids from town. On average there are about 8 of us, so we have enough for 4 vs. 4. It pretty awesome. The kids are way better at soccer than I ever was and probably ever will be. I like it though. It's really fun and I can speak Bulgarian more freely because the kids don't mind when I mess up. Usually, they help me out and tell me the right way to say it. It's a win win situation. They have me, this akward, slow, bearded man running around speaking Bulgarian gibberish (which I am sure is why most of the kids come to play) and I have them, these minature little kids (not really, but just compared to me) super happy to be playing soccer and quizzing me about everything regarding California and America, which helps me with the language. I look forward to playing soccer with these kids for the next two years.

Ealier this week I played basketball with a different group of kids. Well, I guess you could call it basketball. The backboard had one big hole in it and only the metal siding was attached. The rim was more crooked than a pair of billy bob teeth. It was fun though. The kids were really active and I think we all enjoyed ourselves.

What else...Hmm, oh yeah. It has been pretty hot here lately and super muggy, which makes for scary, but awesome thunder and lightening storms!!! I have never seen so much thunder and lightening in my life since coming to Bulgaria. It's amazing! Because of this, our town has lost power for some part of the day 4 of the 13 days I have been here.

I have been cooking a lot of delicious meals and mom, you would be proud that I (usually) include all food groups! In a couple weeks I will be going to a PC conference and will get to hang out with my PCV friends. I am excited to say the least!! I think that is all I have so chao for now. Take care and thanks for reading!

Address

I figure I should add my address in English so the people in the US can figure out where to send any packages you all might want to send me. If you put the address in both English and Bulgarian it will get to me quicker. Here you go...

джо макдонъл
Общинската администрация
ул. "Георги Димитров" № 85
Област Монтана
Град Брусарци 3680

Joe McDonnell
Municipality Administration
Street Georgi Dimitrov #85
Oblast Montana
City Brusartsi 3680
Bulgaria