May: The End, Spain, Turkey, and starting my work with One Heart Bulgaria

I left Blagoevgrad on May 8^th, which was extremely sad for me. Packing up the room I’ve been living in since August, and saying goodbye to Blagoevgrad and all the friends I’ve made was hard. When my roommate’s parents packed up the car and as we were driving through Blagoevgrad I kept thinking, this is the last time I’ll see that store, or that park, or that restaurant, the dorms etc. The thing I learned from going back to Augsburg, Germany after a few years of not being there was that you can go back to a place you once lived but it will never be the same. Sure restaurants, and the streets will be the same, but it won’t be the same because it’s not the same experience. The people that you called your friends won’t be there, you won’t live in the same place, do the same things. The second time around your just a tourist more or less. So even if I do go back to Blagoevgrad someday (not at the top of my list but hey, if I’m ever in the area!) it will never be the same. I’m only a 2 hour bus ride away from Blago  at the moment and it feels so far. Even if I took a day trip to Blago and went and ate at my favorite restaurant (Frame), had my favorite chocolate soufflé, and walked around for the day, would it be the same? No. Not to be dramatic but it really felt like a chapter of my life was ending, and I did not want it to end! I realize in my life, at 22 I’ve already had more experiences, been more places then most will experience in their lives. I’ve lived here, and there, made a life in a few different countries, and left those lives to come back “home” to Washington and while each time I say to myself, wow I’ve learned so much, gained so much perspective on how the world works, met so many neat people who I consider good friends and .what now? I’ll go back home in 40 days after my internship, get my job back at good ole’ Red Lobster, go to school, and feel like I’m in the spot I was when I was 18? Yes I’ve gained a lot here, and wish I could not leave it, but I know I have the responsibility to myself to suck it up, and go back to shitty Cheney to finish my Bachelors. I know in life it’s not all fun and games and sometime you have to do things you don’t want to. Well, this is going to be one of them. But I know a year from now (praying) when I’m holding a piece of paper saying I have a Bachelors in International Affair and 3 Minors I’ll be very proud of myself and wonder what kinds of experiences and adventures I’ll go through even before 30.  I also have been thinking a lot about the future, and all the opportunities and possibilities that await me once I get this piece of paper. I’ve thought about internships in DC, and abroad, immediately joining the Peace Corps, or applying for a Fulbright, or even going straight to grad school at Central European University in Budapest, which I’m surprisingly really leaning towards. Ideally after graduation I’d want to do a summer internship in DC, then the Peace Corps, or a Fulbright, and then going to grad school in Budapest but I’ll try not to get ahead of myself here. ;)

Now back to what I’ve been doing the past month……

SPAIN & TURKEY. =)

Monday the 9^th I jumped on a direct flight to Barcelona, Spain and in a few hours was in the very tropical and lovely Barcelona. I was met at the airport by my good friend Goran (who the last post was about in Macedonia.) we dropped my stuff off at the hotel near the center and spent the day walking about and the evening we went out, and as expected of course, I was missing my Bulgarian Leva because 7 Euros for a drink is not fun! The next day I met a Canadian and Norwegian girl who had also just arrived and we promptly established a group. =) We are lunch, and then went to the Picasso museum which to be honest I found it a bit overrated but of course it’s a tourist must do! Goran and I ended up spending a lot of time on the beach which I found was like heaven especially coming from Bulgaria. I ended up getting a sunburn; even with my SPF 30 (I guess I need SPF 50!) I also went to the Catalonian History Museum which I thought was a great deal because it’s free for students and really interactive and fun!

            On Friday I took a 4 & ½ hour train down to Alicante which is near Valencia. I could have taken a plane for nearly the same price, but I wanted to see Spain and thought that taken the train would help with that. Spain reminds me soo much of taking the train in Brazil, I mean the train is a lot better condition, and had air-conditioning but the views were very similar. I guess it’s the same in any tropical country. The views were spectacular and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, even if it was a bit long. I was met at the train station by my friend Pau, who went to AUBG the year before me on exchange. He came back to Blagoevgrad a few times in the last year, so that how I know him. We dropped my stuff off at the hotel and went out for lunch. I think from Friday to Monday I ate the best food of my trip! The seafood, tapas and meat were to die for! The Sangria and wine, amazing! I think it’s easy to fall in love with Spain. After all what’s not to love about it? I think I got a good overview of Alicante and on my last day climbed up to the fort overlooking the city. The view was spectacular.

            Monday I took the train back to Barcelona, met up with Goran, went to the beach on Tuesday, and on Wednesday Goran and I went to a lovely park, and then I caught my 6PM flight back to Bulgaria. I stayed the night at my friends Rails’ flat near the airport and the next day met up with my roommate and her mom. I then spent a couple days at their house to catch up on sleep and hangout. Then on the 23^rd I took an overnight bus to Istanbul! If there’s anything I’ve learned about buses it’s that if it’s going to be a long trip, take an overnight bus! The sleep might be horrible, or near impossible but it sure goes a lot faster then having to take a bus at 12pm and arriving at 9:30pm. Plus it’s not nearly as hot on the bus at night, and border control goes a lot faster! We arrived at the Turkish border around 4am, and I had to pay $20 for a visa at the border that looks more like a sticker for a little kid. For $20 buck I expect at least an official looking visa! I was also the only one on the bus that needed one. They then making you take all your luggage out, open it, only to close it again because no one even check it. The whole process took about an hour, which I’ve heard is really good compared to 2 to 4 hours some have to wait at the border.

            When we arrived in Istanbul I was a bit nervous and not sure what to expect. I made sure I was wearing a sweater and long pants and a scarf to look conservative even though it was hot. I was also nervous about finding my hostel. I took the metro, and then a tram and managed not to get lost which I was very impressed by. I felt like I had a lot of guys staring at me on the metro, and I realized there were hardly any women and I felt nervous, but then I thought about it and  the fact that I was on the metro at 8am probably meant all these men were going to work. I managed to find the hotel easy enough, check in, shower and then went and took a ferry ride around the area. Later that night I went out for dinner and I have to say Turkish food is amazing! All the spices they use are so yummy.

            A few of the highlight of the trip, include going to the Asian side of Istanbul, getting to explore the Mosques, going to the Spice Bazaar, and the Grand Bazaar, eating in general, drinking Turkish tea, getting a proper scrub down at a Turkish bath, Archeological museum, Wi-Fi in the park, walking until my feat hurt…and I think that about sums it up. =) After 6 days exploring Istanbul I took a bus back to Bulgaria and have been staying here the last week just hanging about not doing a whole lot.

             Yesterday the 2 girls from One Heart Bulgaria who I’ll be working with for my internship flew in from the UK & the US. I went out for tea with them and we walked around the city a bit. Today (Sunday, June 5) I need to pack a bag and get ready to meet the director or the Orphanage on Monday or Tuesdays. I’m still not sure which day and am waiting for him to call me back. I’m also not sure if I’ll be living in the orphanage or an apartment, if I’ll be living in Pravets http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pravets, or Razliv which is a village near by where the orphanage is at. The whole things is a mystery, and for a person like me who likes to be organized that can be hard! =) Yesterday I went to Jumbo, which is the Greek version of Toys“R”US. I picked up a few things for the kids, but I really feel like I did not buy enough. Luckily my grandpa offered to send me some money to buy things for the kids. But now I wish I would have planned ahead a bit and tried to find a donor, or organization that would give us money for activities, and toys for the kids. Once I get to the orphanage I’ll be better able to assess the situation, and what the children’s needs are.

I’ll be going home July 13^th! I’ve already started the count down. =)