Barriers and Будьмо

Can you feel it? That hum? That pulse? It runs not in your veins but in the streets, through neighborhoods and shops, into people as they go about their daily lives. As they walk briskly to work or stroll the City Center during rush hour. And as I sat in the underground mall or walked the streets of Kiev, Ukraine, and watched people go about their lives I realized this is normal. For them. Yet for me, it's one grand adventure- of seeing a new place and experiencing a new culture, a new language. And to think that people walk by St. Sophia's Cathedral or Independence Square every day and don't really see it is incredible. Every city has a heartbeat, and I was lucky enough to feel Kiev's.

In our society today do we take the time to stop and truly listen or see or feel something? I would say no. We are rushing constantly trying to make appointments and lunches and we let the little things slip past us as we "live life". Going to Ukraine and living in Bulgaria for two months, I have come to the realization that we take many things for granted and we don't even acknowledge it. We get hung up on when homework is due or what we should do over the summer or how we are going to make money for next semester. All are valid things, but did you notice the gorgeous mountains with snowy caps set to a clear blue backdrop? Did you take the time to see how your friend is doing or eat lunch slowly and really taste the food you are eating?

Ukraine was a wonderful experience. I set off last Friday with two amazing friends- Mary and Sabine- full of adrenaline and excitement as we left Blago to set our scene in Kiev and L'viv for a week. We saw so much and walked even more (we literally walked the entire city, at least that is how it felt anyway), but of course what would an adventure be without its barriers. Keeps things interesting, right? That's what I think too.  Language would be the biggest and most foreseeable thing, of course, and every other obstacle we had stemmed from the fact that we couldn't speak the language. Being in a Bulgarian language class really helped in knowing the Cyrillic Alphabet, yet even then there were little differences. Example: Ukrainians use the "И" and "ї" for the same sound. So some words would you the first, some the second. In Kiev you would use Russian and in L'viv you used Ukrainian. It's little things like that. 

This is one of the smoothest trips I've ever been on. Mary, the courageous one who asked people for help, Sabine, the decision-maker, and I, the navigator (for those of you who know me, what were those two thinking, right?!), we made the perfect traveling team. There was cohesion and we talked things out instead of getting heated with one another, and we approached things with a positive attitude. How I could get so lucky to have these two ladies was mindblowing really. And they are just a blast to be with. We had this thing throughout the week, one of my favorite parts, where when we had just done something really awesome or a situation that could have gone really badly turned out fantastically, we would group hug. Right there wherever we were. That's right, in the middle of Kiev, crowded streets and all.

One of the coolest things we saw was the Chernobyl Museum. It is about the nuclear plant outside of Kiev that in 1986 blew up because of high radiation levels. It devastated people's lives, killed many, and forever altered Ukraine. And yet, when did we learn about it? Never. I hadn't heard of it and we aren't taught it in school, at least not in the U.S. It was amazing to see these people and the aid they received and what they had to go through and to know that it was mostly covered up at the time is astounding. To think that there is stuff that happens that is never revealed to the public is kind of scary. To think that people have the power to alter history and we (the public) never really knew what happened- wow. The world is all about striving to gain power in any way possible and once they have it they will do anything to keep it...think about that for a minute.

On a happier note, the food and beer was really good. Ukrainians know their light beer and sausage. We had some amazing meals and those are some of the times I will remember the most. The good company, the easy conversation that flowed between us, the delectable food placed before us. If you are ever in L'viv, go to Kumpel- a brewery with in-house beer and homemade sausage- and Bunker- set in a 1940s bunker from WWII it has great food and a lively atmosphere. Get the half meter sausage. So yummy.

After being in Bulgaria and going out with many different nationalities, we have a new cheers to add to the list. Nasdrave for Bulgaria, Prost for the Dutch, ¡Salud for the Spaniards, Lechaim just because, and now Budmo for Ukraine. So despite all the obstacles we faced throughout the trip (which were few in number) at the end of each day there was always a drink and a cheers waiting for us in order to celebrate. To celebrate life and new friends and a new city and a new perspective on the life that God gave me. And now settled back into life in Blago, with a new appreciation for the surrogate home I have made here, I raise a glass to you, to living life and risking what you know to gain even more than you expected to receive.

Будьмо!

Sangria, Sofia, and some life lessons

It's raining here in Blagoevgrad and it seems that the weather has turned to nastiness. It snowed over the weekend while I was in Sofia, which I'll get to in a second. One of the main points of studying abroad is to meet people and make connections all over the world. Which definitely does happen and that is what set the stage for the sangria party I went to, put on by some of the Spaniards here; they are super nice and definitely know how to party and definitely know how to make good, strong sangria. So drinking starts about 9-10 here in preparation for going out around midnight. The party was really great and I mingled and had a drink or two, got tipsy so slowed down on the drinking even though it was quite tasty. But it was nice to meet new people and be a little crazy with friends that I already knew that were there. Let's just say that a conversation did happen in a British and Indian (not Native American) accent; and yes, I was sober, I just think it's fun to talk like this and for the people who know me they will back me up on this.

I don't drink ever at home so when I had a friend get a little to friendly with the sangria and had to help them home, it was definitely a new experience. They, like me, don't drink a lot and so I learned quite a bit from Keegan, who is in a sorority back home and for sure knows what she is doing when it comes to the protocol of taking a friend home. It was good so if you ever need me when we get home, I will be equipped with my new mastery of the art of designated walking and home care. So life lesson number one is a handy thing to have in my pocket in case the situation ever arises again. But just don't get that far people, it's not cool and you aren't fun and it kills the mood for everyone else. Drink to be social, not to get drunk. That is one thing about here, people know how to hold their liquor because they have been drinking for so much longer than us in the States...maybe we should take note America?

I also went to Sofia with a group of girls that I've been hanging out with. We left on a snowy morning and arrived in Sofia around noon and then that is where some of the problems started. We had 7 people so that was problem number one. We had booked the Art Hostel, which is really cool so if you ever want to visit Sofia and are looking for hostels check this one out (it comes with a bar and breakfast is included), we just needed to get there, which leads to problem number 2. Too many people were trying to figure out how to find the hostel and I was just like whatever floats the boat people, I'll follow on this one. So we eventually found it and checked in to our room and please people, book before you go. It just makes things that much easier. Spontaneity is wonderful, but have some of the logistics worked out.

                                             bar downstairs

                                                       the beds...and my awesome friends

We went to this Moroccan restaurant a block over and it was delicious! Eat like the Moroccans do because it was so good. Especially the tea. Even if you don't like tea, you would like this tea.

So that was good and having full bellies for 7 girls is a very smart move. Then, shopping. If you know me, they will all tell you my attention span for shopping is about 2 seconds before I get bored so trying to find the mall was a hassle, to be honest. So, if you want to see something specific, find directions beforehand; either do it yourself or ask your hostel about it. That was problem number three. So after no luck trying to find a taxi I suggested changing the plans and staying in the neighborhood to shop, which turned out great. Zara was close so we went there and because there were 7 people, we split and did our own thing for the afternoon which worked out wonderfully. If need be, split up, that way people can do what they want instead of targeting certain people and the others having a crappy time because they are pouting about not doing what they want. Solution.

My friend Mary is Catholic and Sofia happens to be one of the only places that has a Catholic church, and though I'm not Catholic I did need some quiet time and gladly went to mass; it was a really nice excuse to get away from the "real world" and just sit and pray and slow down from the two weeks of being here. It was refreshing and calming and just completely what I needed to refocus on what I was doing and why I am here and how I am treating and acting around people. It was a nice slap of reality, something that has been hard to come by here because everything has been distorted, especially time. A thing about study abroad, time drags and moves really quickly all at the same time. You are stuck in time, which you always are, it just seems more noticeable here rather than back home. So keep that in mind too.

The weekend ended well except I am just tired of bad Internet. Sometimes being cut off from the things that you thought you needed are really just an excuse that keeps you from other really amazing things. But it was good catch up with some friends I hadn't talked to in a while, but at the same time I hate that Facebook is the only real way of communicating with people. Oh, the things our society has come to. But that is life, and I keep learning something new every day, which is the point, right? Because why then would I be half way across the world if I could just discover all this stuff at home? So get out and explore, even if it's just your backyard, because chances are you will find something totally new and unexpected, either about yourself or your surroundings or your friends, and those are the things really worth living for. Study abroad, experience all that God put out there for us to see, and then be amazed at the fact that He put this all here for us. Love.