Want Bigger Boobs???

Women, have you ever been unhappy with how you look? Do you want to get more attention from your man? Do you want to feel more confident in that bikini you have waiting for the summer? And Men, have you ever wished your girlfriend had a bigger rack? Do you want more than just a handful?

Well, I have just the answer for you. It's Boza! Yes, thats right. One small drink can help fulfill your dreams and desires. Drink this thick and tasty brown drink called Boza everyday and your boobs are sure to grow. (And men, its the perfect gift for your girlfriend. Cheap too!)

Okay, so now you think I really am nuts. But seriously. It has recently been reported that men from all over Europe are flocking to Bulgaria to buy this "breast-boosting" beverage. Now that Bulgaria is in the EU, customs duties on the drink are being abolished.

The drink called Boza is made from fermented wheat flour and yeast. And I had the great pleasure of trying it not too long ago and it really is the worst thing I have tried in a long time. It is a mix between cat food and baby barf. The smell itself is really quite revolting. But, like most things, you have to try it once. I just cant believe my site mate actually liked it and compared it to pumpkin pie.

And so, bar owners, shopkeepers and shoppers from across Europe are snapping up the drink. I dont know about its reported ability to make women's breasts grow, but it is supposed to be really good for pregnant women because of all the nutrients.

Whatever the case, its up to you if you really want to gulp down this rotten drink. Bottoms up!

Hiking..lots and lots of hiking..

One of the things Stara Zagora has and likes to boast about is their park. The Ayazmoto Park. Eternally green, it dominates the northern section of the city with 939 acres of local variety trees. In 1895, the park was established by the Bishop of Stara Zagora, Methodiy Kusev. He turned the bare rocky hillside into a marvelous park where all the locals enjoy relaxing...in the nature. Within the park, there is also a zoo, playgrounds for children, badminton courts, a sports complex, an open air theater and many, many benches throughout to rest those tired feet.


And as of late, I have been enjoying the park myself. Too bad it has taken me over and year and a half to really discover the park. My students took on hikes through the park my first summer here, but I never went back after that. Well, until recently anyways. With all the good weather that winter has brought, I have been trying to get out as much as possible. There are so many different trails you can take that lead you in so many different directions. Each path leads you somewhere new. And thats what I like. A break from the monotonous routine.

*Note: A self photo on one of my hikes. You just gotta love the self photo. I seem to be a big fan of them lately.

I am not crazy...

Recently I wrote a blog posting titled "Bluuuueee Skiiiiieeesss, Shining On Me.." And I thought I was going crazy singing a completely made up song. But thanks to a blog reader, I have been informed that I am perfectly sane as this actually is a really famous song written by Irving Berlin.

My question now is simple. All I can seem to find is the instrumental version to this song and tons of other random artists singing their own version of the song. Can anyone out there give me the heads up to a great version of this song, other than the one I sing...


Here are the lyrics that you will probably recognize. (Its such a relief knowing this really does exist.) Enjoy!

I was blue, just as blue as I could be
Evry day was a cloudy day for me
Then good luck came a-knocking at my door
Skies were gray but theyre not gray anymore

Blue skies
Smiling at me
Nothing but blue skies
Do I see

Bluebirds
Singing a song
Nothing but bluebirds
All day long

Never saw the sun shining so bright
Never saw things going so right
Noticing the days hurrying by
When youre in love, my how they fly

Blue days
All of them gone
Nothing but blue skies
From now on

I should care if the wind blows east or west
I should fret if the worst looks like the best
I should mind if they say it cant be true
I should smile, thats exactly what I do

(*Note: Picture taken by a friend at the reservoir here in Stara Zagora. It really is bluuuee skiiiies!)

You're So Vain...

You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You're so vain
I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't you?

Ahh... Don't you just love Carly Simon. Well, I guess I am the vain one. This post has nothing to do about nothing. I figured, because my family doesn't get to see me nearly as much as they should and vise versa.. It has been almost 2 years since we have all been together, let alone in the same country.. I thought I would stray away from my typical Bulgarian life postings and do things differently today. So, I am taking it upon myself to be a bit vein during this posting. It is all about me! And just simply a picture of me! So you don't forget about...well, me! And I know how much you all miss my big smile...so here you go!

(Photo: On the streets of Madrid. New Years 2007 The hair may appear to be a bit matted from all the silly string foam and champagne spray from the festivities.)

America is all around us...

Recently I was walking around town taking pictures of interesting happenings. You know, the usual. Weird walls, dilapidated houses, and just simply things that struck me. As I was taking my casual stroll through town I came upon this car.


I actually have no idea what kind of car it is, and that is not what is important anyhow. But if you look closer, you will notice something in the back seat. Oh, thats right. A big American flag covering the seat. Not just any American flag. An flag with a giant big rig in the middle of it. The big rig, being a large staple to the American culture giving thousands of men and women a very respectable living. But do they really love America that much? Or is this simply an American flag in the back seat of a car?


Either way, it is always interesting to see how America is all around us. From people on the street wearing a second hand U.S.A. t-shirt or the jeans that have the University of California seal painted on one pant leg , to the McDonalds and other mega-corporations that invade every country, to the American pop music playing at the corner market or bar, to the simple flag in the back seat of the car.

America really is all around us. And there is no escaping or avoiding that fact. And you know what...? It always makes me laugh a little and smile because it reminds me of my precious homeland that means so much to me. A land of so many possibilities and opportunities.

Winter Prices...

Here in Bulgaria, we have a fabulous selection of fruits and veggies. Almost all of which are organic. Almost all of which taste 10 times better than anything we could buy in the states. The flavors are richer, and the food fresher. That is my opinion anyhow. The daily pazar or "farmers market" in Stara is nothing to scoff at. We have everything from the usual apples, oranges, and bananas to carrots, tomatoes, and cucumbers to mushrooms, peppers, and spinach. Sometimes we even get the exotic avocado or mango. But really gets me is how cheap everything is. You can buy sacks and sacks of fruits and veggies and only spend 5 leva (or $3). Those same sacks could run you about $10 in the states.


But like any fruit or veggie stand, prices for certain items go up depending on the season. And that is exactly what is going on now. With winter here and certain veggies out of season, the prices have gone sky high. I didn't really notice this change until recently. I was visiting a friend and we wanted to make veggie fajitas. And peppers were a must. We stopped upon a small veggie stand that had these wonderfully large red peppers. We grabbed three and put them in the bag. The man weighed them and asked for 4 leva. FOUR LEVA!!! For only 3 peppers! Was he crazy? No, we were, because we still went ahead and bought them. As we walked away sulking, we couldn't help but feel cheated as only a few months ago that would have cost us maybe 50 stotinki (or 30 cents.) My initial thought was...well, we are in a small to medium sized town so maybe some things are harder to get making prices rise. But that is just not the case. A few days later upon returning to site, peppers were just as expensive.

Oh well...you only live once, right. And those peppers were damn good too!

(*Note: The picture was taken in the fall when peppers were in abundance..and super cheap.)

Bluuuueee Skiiiiieeesss, Shining On Me...

I swear that is a real song. But lately, people keep looking at me all crazy like when I start singing it. I have never been good at remembering lyrics to songs and usually rely on other people to help me out. But no one seems to know this one. Oh well.


The reason for that whole little side note is this.... Here is my wonderful block apartment, with blue skies and all. The winter season officially kicked off on December 21st, but it definitely doesn't feel that way at all. It is probably a good 5o degrees Fahrenheit outside most days. And of course, coming from California, I am not going to complain in the least. Cold weather just doesn't do it for me unless I am cuddled up next to a warm fire.


Maybe it is a sign of global warming, but the walk to school at 7 in the morning and the walk home at 7 in the evening are almost bearable. There is no snow to slush around on, and no ice to slip on. I don't know if I can say it any more, but this new year is surely off on the right foot.


Enjoy the pictures of my wonderful communist block apartment. That last picture is the outside of my very apartment on the first floor with the bars on the balcony and the entrance on the right. It just makes you all gooey inside, doesn't it?

Mail..

Everyone loves getting mail. I know I do. It is always exciting to have something waiting for you. And usually it means someone is thinking of you (unless of course it is the weekly Newsweek that Peace Corps sends us.) And I do get my fair share of care packages from home, letters from friends, and postcards of those traveling. But like many Peace Corps volunteers, I get my mail sent to my school. It is safer and more reliable. There is a better guarantee that it will actually get to me in due time.

The set of mail boxes pictured are the mail boxes at the entrance of my block apartment. Now do you see why I trust the school rather than my own home? There are no unit labels or even locks. Its more like a free for all. A big thanks goes out to all those who have been kind enough to send me anything, no matter how big or small. It means a lot that you are thinking of me.

Speedos on the Danube...

My Spain adventures have passed and I am back to the Bulgarian ones. My most recent adventure is nothing to skimp on either. Well, I can’t really say it was my own adventure. I was more or less living vicariously through these men for the day. But can you blame me? Would you really want to jump in that freezing cold, filthy Danube River water? Yeah, me either.

Okay, so what am I talking about? Saturday, January 7 marked Yordnovden, or better known as St. Jordon’s Day. Rivers and lakes all over Bulgaria saw young and old men alike, suited up in their bathrobes ready to show the world their speedos as they jumped in the icy cold winter waters. And I got front row seats to the action as the men de-robed in Svishtov, one of Bulgaria’s northern towns on the Danube River.

The main ritual during this unusual festival is the throwing of a cross into a river or a lake for men to dive after. It is believed that the first person that reaches the cross will enjoy good health throughout the whole year. And according to the Bible, on this day Jesus was baptized in the river of Jordan by the John the Baptist and the Holy Spirit came to Him as a white dove.

Ah, this year in Bulgaria is already off to a good start. I cant wait to see what else it has in store for me as I enjoy my last 7 months here.

Back from Spain...

I had been waiting for the chance to go back to my old stomping ground, and that time came sooner than I ever could have imagined. After 5 years have passed since I last lived in Madrid, I returned. I returned to a beautiful country, a beautiful city that is near and dear to my heart. Madrid and I shared so many wonderful experiences and moments, both good and bad ones, when I studied there for a year. And now I was back. And I was excited to dance with Madrid once again.

Kathy, Melody and I packed our bags, grabbed our passports and eagerly headed to the airport. After leaving Sofia on a delayed flight to Milan, we missed our connecting flight to Madrid. Well, we didn’t quite miss it. It was cancelled. Cancelled due to fog!!! We stood in several hour long lines trying to figure out how we can get to Madrid, and get their fast. As it turned out, Alitalia (the worst airline company EVER) put us up in a hotel and told us there was a flight for the following morning. What a disappointment. We had been planning this trip for months and now we were stuck in the Milan airport. I just wanted to be there already. We eventually boarded a plane the following day and nothing but good continued to come our way. We had made it to the fine-looking Madrid we had been anticipating for so long.

With one day down, we still had 6 more to go to live it up. And that we did. From fun bars, to tasty restaurants, to pleasant people, to the pleasurable surroundings, we were in for a treat. For me, it was a surreal feeling being back in a place I used to call home. So many things were the same. The same stores, the same favorite corner bar, the same great atmosphere. As I played tour guide to my friends, I couldn’t hold back all my “Wow, I used to love this place” or “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe that is still there.” I am sure by the end of the trip the girls were getting pretty annoyed with all my comparisons from my previous time spent here.

All in all, the trip was a great success. We ventured to fun bars, met lots of interesting people from all over and managed to do the whole touristy thing of course. We explored the many different plazas and unique side streets, the grand palace where the king and queen used to live, the very famous Prado museum, several churches, the big flea market, and the city itself.

For some it is hard going from a country like Bulgaria, a very dark country still trying to rebuild itself from the past, to a country like Spain, where there is so much vibrancy and life to offer the people, and then, back again. You see a small glimpse into what you could have and where you could be, and it is hard to readjust back to the BG life. But for me, I am generally really happy here. I like my life and I enjoy what I do here, however frustrating it can be at times. I know that when I return to Bulgaria sometime after my service is complete, I will probably have the same warm and fuzzy feelings I had when I returned to Spain. For now, I will enjoy the home stretch of my service and soak up all the Bulgaria and the people here have to offer. For me, this is the time to just live in the moment and smile.

(WOW...That was a long one!)

Romanians, Bulgarians wake up as EU citizens

BUCHAREST and SOFIA - Millions of Bulgarians and Romanians awoke on Monday as citizens of the European Union after a night of fireworks and street parties celebrating their countries’ entry into the bloc at midnight.

Deemed too politically and economically backward for membership during the EU’s first eastward expansion in 2004, the Black Sea neighbors squeezed through the door in what political analysts say was the last chance to join this decade.

The accession of the poor, ex-communist duo raises the EU’s membership to 27 states, almost half of them former eastern bloc countries cut off from the West by the Iron Curtain until 1989.

“Today a dream came true, a dream of generations of Bulgarians who have always wanted to live together with the free European peoples in peace and prosperity,” Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev said at an outdoor concert in Sofia.

The EU’s new borders will stretch from the Atlantic and Baltic in the west and north to the Black Sea in the southeast.

'Once again European capitals'
Romania -- the larger of the two -- and Bulgaria will together boost the EU’s population by 30 million, to 490 million, but will add just 1 percent to its economic output. Their membership has sparked debate over the EU’s eventual borders, with some member states fearing further expansion could bring waves of immigration and crime that could drive their citizens out of jobs and lead to instability.

Other EU hopefuls such as Turkey and countries in the western Balkans now face the prospect of a long wait.

In France, where “enlargement fatigue” is particularly strong, President Jacques Chirac hailed the new wave of accession as a step in the reconciliation of Europe.

“Sofia and Bucharest are once again European capitals,” he said, according to the text of a speech released by his office.

“We are Home!” said a headline in the Bulgarian newspaper Trud in a special New Year’s day edition.

“You traveled a long and difficult road to get here. Welcome to the European Union family,” German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said after meeting Romanian officials.

Criticism already begins
Germany takes over the EU presidency on Jan. 1 and will face the monumental task of spearheading the bloc’s institutional reform which is crucial to further enlargement.

Eager to tap $52.75 billion in EU development funds to overhaul dilapidated infrastructure and boost industry, Bulgaria and Romania hope membership will help them close a huge wealth gap with the West.

However, problems remain. Brussels has already criticized the new members for doing too little to combat corruption and --particularly in Bulgaria -- organized crime gangs born from the ex-communist secret services that control large parts of the economy.

Although their economies are growing fast, income per capita is just a third of the EU average.

Diplomats fear that, having achieved EU admission, politicians may relax on reforms and Brussels has vowed to monitor the new members, threatening to penalize them if they fall behind.

As loud music from Sunday’s celebration concerts echoed through the streets, Bulgarians and Romanians hoped their new status would mean an end to prejudice and isolation they felt as non-EU members.

“Until today when I have gone to other countries, every waitress, every salesman turned up his nose when hearing I come from Romania,” said salesman Sergiu Radu, 27.

“I hope this means an end to that shame and frustration.”

(MSNBC Reported this story with the cooperation of Reuters. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16421355/
Copyright 2006 Reuters Limited.)

Home Alone...

...is my all time favorite Christmas movie. Yes, Home Alone (with little Macaulay Culkin.) This 1990 classic always brings a smile to my face. And throughout the year you can find me quoting different scenes from the movie.

One of my favorite scenes is when the family just ordered pizza and Kevin's big brother ate all the cheese pizza. He pushes him causing him to spill milk all over the table. Kevin's big scary uncle stands up and says... "Look what you did you little jerk!" I dont know why, but I just love that line.

Another favorite is when Kevin is in the house all by himself and he orders pizza. The pizza man comes to the back door and Kevin plays an old classic mobster movie saying "Leave it on the doorstep and get the hell out of here." And the scene continues until finally Kevin plays the movie and the villan says "I'm gonna give you to the count of ten to get your no good yella belly off my property. One....two.....ten. (bang bang bang, sound of gunshots, and Kevin lighting fireworks in a pot near the dog door.)" And the pizza man runs off, terrified.

Ahhh...you gotta love Home Alone. It is definately a Christmas classic. (It beats out "Its a Wonderful Life" or "The Christmas Story" any day.)

Well, I am off. Have a very merry christmas!!!

Rat-like haircut...or new vogue???

Ever wonder what it would be like to get a hair cut in a foreign country where you dont "really" speak the language?

Well, I have had the fortunate opportunity to experience such a thing.

Just the other night, I went to my regular lady and got a hair cut..and color. I go back to the same lady as I trust her and the fact that she has never completely screwed me over...well, until now. It was all going well until the end. She colored and cut my hair just the way I wanted. But then....she decided to cut a bit too much off the top. And I ended up with "rat bangs". I am sure there is a better way of describing my haircut..maybe something like bulgarka-mod (bulgarian-shiek). But I just dont know. It is hard to tell when your hair seems to be cut in no fashion whatsoever...and just chopped off with a machete. You decide.

Are they rat-like bangs, or is it the new cover of vogue??

Carol of the Bells...

So for the past week, I have been dowloading, listening to, and driving myself crazy with Christmas carols. But my students love them, and therefore I love that they love them. We have a whole array of songs and artists. Everything from the Muppets and John Denver, to Alvin and the Chipmunks, to George Michael, to Mariah Carey, to Frank Sinatra and more. It has been a joyous week -- the last week before the holiday break.

But one of my absolute favorite Chirstmas carols is the Carol of the Bells. This is the song in Home Alone (my favorite Christmas movie) when Kevin is in the church and the choir of kids is singing. It is a beautiful song and not the usual "Rudolf" or "Jingle Bells" or "Let it Snow." Enjoy the lyrics below (and go watch the movie to see what I am talking about).

Carol Of The Bells

Hark how the bells,
sweet silver bells,
all seem to say,
throw cares away.

Christmas is here,
bringing good cheer,
to young and old,
meek and the bold.

Oh how they pound,
raising the sound,
o'er hill and dale,
telling their tale.

Gaily they ring
while people sing
songs of good cheer,
Christmas is here.

Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas.
On on they send ,
on without end,
their joyful tone to every home
Dong Ding dong ding, dong Bong.

and the lights go out...

The Sofia news recently reported that Sofia will switch off the Christmas lights in medics' compassion. On Christmas Eve, Sofia will switch off lights on the streets for five minutes and citizens are invited to do the same in a move of compassion with five Bulgarian medics sitting on death row in Libya.

The proposal tabled by Sofia Mayor Boyko Borissov envisions that all illumination, Christmas decoration and advertisements go dark from 7 pm to 7:05 pm to express Bulgarians' protest against this injustice. For the eighth year in a row five Bulgarian medics meet Christmas in jail. And just on Monday, they heard for the second time that they are sentenced to death by a firing squad. This decision has plunged the trial into a non-ending ordeal.



The episode began in February 1998 when the nurses arrived to take up jobs in Lybia. Soon after they arrived, children at the hospital began testing positive for HIV. And that is when authorities realized they had a major problem. An investigation concluded that the infections came from the wards where the Bulgarian nurses had been assigned. The Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor were arrested on charges for deliberately infecting more than 400 children with the virus. The nurses say they were tortured into confessing their guilt. But international experts concluded that the virus appreared before the nurses’ arrival and was probably spread by contaminated needles.

Currently Bulgaria and the International community are working together to get the nurses out of there. They have been sitting in a prison for 8 years now, and it will continue to take time to resolve this issue.

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

...Ev'rywhere you go;
Take a look in the five and ten glistening once again
With candy canes and silver lanes aglow...


So, I have clearly gone crazy from listening to too many carol songs in class. But it really is starting to look like Christmas. This morning, Bulgaria finally recieved its first snowflakes for this winter season. This doesnt quite delight me as I am a Cali girl at heart, and I dont think it delights the many travellers coming and going from the Sofia airport, but I am sure it makes most Bulgarians happy as we may just have a white Christmas afterall.

(*Please Note: Pictured above is the early morning snowfall in a small town in the north. My friend sent me the picture as it has not actually started snowing in Stara Zagora as aof yet. )

Twinkle Lights...year 2.

Winter in Bulgaria. I hate it. It is so cold, drab and dreary (and any other dark word you can think of). And this year, it hasnt even really begun yet. We have had only one brief snow fall here in Stara Zagora, but nothing stuck. But as much as I hate the winter here in Bulgaria, there are two things I like best about it. First, I love how the snow makes the grey and dirty country seem like a winter wonderland. And second, I love the holiday twinkle likes. And life just got a little better. I can honstly say that I love the twinkle lights that come along with winter and the holidays. And Stara Zagora just got into the spirit of things.

So, you know the guy in the states who goes overboard with decorating his house for the holidays? Well, in Bulgaria, the municipality building is that guy. I think they may love twinkle lights more than I do. I think you can see the glow of the lights from a mile away.

I think I may just decorate my terrace with lights again this year. This country can always use a little more cheery light. i HEART twinkle lights!

Opera: Barber of Seville

Last night I had my pearls on, and my crystal binnoculars in hand as I entered the Stara Zagora theater. It was a night at the opera. Yes, the opera. Man, sometimes you just gotta love the Peace Corps life. (But really, I didnt have pearls or binnoculars, but that is what I immediately thought of. My mind went strait to "Pretty Woman". I know you know what scene I am referring to.) Anyways, a friend and I went to the Barber of Seville. This is apparantly a very famous opera, but being that I am not a huge opera buff, I wouldnt have known either way.

Here is a synopsis of the opera I found online...

"When is a barber more than a mere barber? When he's Figaro, the charming master of disguise and deception, plotting to help the young lovers Rosina and Count Almaviva fend off her unwanted suitor and guardian, Dr. Bartolo. Employed by both Rosina and Count Almaviva, the clever Barber of Seville outsmarts them all, but not without a touch of masquerade and mayhem."

The Barber of Seville was written by Gioacchino Antonio Rossini. Although the opera was originally sung in Italian, last night it was sung in Bulgarian. Who knew the Bulgarian language could be so melodic. I thourouly enjoyed the music and speed-of-light singing. (I just wish I went on a day where there wasnt a class field trip. The kids would not stop talking!) But enjoyable nonetheless.

a strange love...

So, I have this really strange love for walls, doors and windows. But not just any walls, doors or windows. They have to be very old and very colorful. I will spot a wall or whatever, remember that spot, and go back and take about 10 pictures of the same thing from several different angle. I dont know what it is. Maybe it is the fact that even when something is so old and falling apart, it can still have so much color and life. Here are a couple of my favorites around Stara Zagora.

These are the kind of photos I will take home with me and frame. It is not quite the traditional picture perfect scenery, but these photos have a unique personality that can tell you so much about a place.

Hope you enjoy.

Ah, my cat...

So, I have a bulgarian cat. I have had said cat since July 2005. His name is Costa, which usually makes Bulgarians laugh since they usually give their pets more American sounding names like Bob, or Fluffy, or whatever. You get the point. And that is not even the point of my story. So, to continue, Costa has been such a good companion over the past year and a half. But man is he a handful.

First, he got kidney stones. Dont ask me how, maybe it was the food, and maybe it was the water. Either way, he is now spoiled with distilled water that I drink, and special cat food that seems to cost me a fortune.


Second, he is such a whiner/pest. I set my alarm most mornings for 6:30 since class starts at 7:30. But really, there is no need. Costa already wakes me up between 4:30 and 5:30 begging for either food or water. This time is a bit awkward because I can never seem to fall back to sleep and if I do, it is right before my alarm really does go off.


And finally, he is such a trouble maker. I cant leave the little guy alone for a minute. Recently, I went out of town for the weekend thinking that I could leave Costa alone in the apartment. Afterall, cats are independent and pretty low maintanence. Upon my return, I noticed he wasnt walking normal. The cat had a bum leg! Can you believe it? He was limping all over the apartment. I took him to the vet (who probably thinks I am the worst pet owner, but that is beside the point, considering most Bulgarians could care less about the stray animal population.) So, anyways, the vet took some X-rays and discovered he partially fractured his toe. Now tell me, how does a cat do that? The vet gave me some medicine and instructed me to monitor the situation. As of now, Costa is still limping, but remains his usual playful self. I will take him to the vet tomorrow and see what the vet says.


But at the end of the day, I am still so happy with my little friend and cant imagine Bulgaria without him. Dont worry folks, you will have the chance to meet him when I bring him home with me (he even has a kitty passport.)

On a side note, doesnt this picture of Costa look like a glamour shot you would take in the mall with your family. He would be worth it!