What a Sucker

this is the second vacuum I had to use

This is the enemy.  Not the dust covered, ragged to the bone, dirt strewn floor I was trying to vacuum.  I know what you're thinking: Kelsey, it's a vacuum, they all work the same; you turn the button on and move it back and forth watching as the floor magically turns from a gross dull color to a vibrant one. Well, I thought so too. Just another cultural difference I guess, that the vacuums work differently than at home. And they are chunkier, but that is besides the point. 

This little devil, though not really little, is just difficult to use. In theory it is quite easy, like it should be, and yet I had immense trouble with it. Of course. I checked out the first vacuum and started her up only to be serenaded by a whining that only meant she was full or choking on something else she had consumed earlier today. After getting through half the floor I couldn't take it anymore, along with picking out hairballs from her mouth, so I went to get the other vacuum Skapto II had to offer. The bottom was broken. So I turn it on and it sounded like a nice purr compared to Vacuum one. 

I start and the floor attachment falls off; I finish the floor with only the metal pipe, which in the end worked better because I didn't have to wait for this one to swallow. Teo, my roommate, was on her bed and all she could really do was laugh because I was struggling. At one point, I was wrestling with the vacuum to get a Billa grocery bag from its clutches. I won, but not without embarrassment of fighting an inanimate object. I did get the floor squeaky clean, or as clean as it could have possibly gotten, and turned the little bugger in. In doing a nice thing for my room, it turned into way more than it should have been. I guess we know we are spoiled in America when you can't even use someone else's vacuum to get the floor clean. Oh the "problems" of being abroad. How lucky can you be? 

Lent and the Crushin' Russian

Milka. Kinder. Mypa (pronounced Moora). Lion. KitKat. Nutella. 

What do all these have in common?

Let me help you even though I'm sure you know at least one or two of these, if not from the picture. They are all yummy, deliciously smooth, and tasty chocolate (I was in no way trying to undermine your chocolate or even sweets intelligence. I know too much myself so no judgment here...). And what do you think I go and do.

Give it up for Lent. WHAT WAS I THINKING??!!! 

I don't really know either but I did and I'm committed because today is day one. So here's to day one of Lent and to all the things that you have given up in hopes of making your life a little better or to have more time with God. Props to you because this is going to be a long 40 days. Why anyone would give up chocolate while they are in Europe is beyond me, but I'm just crazy enough to do it. 

So in hopes of turning myself around for spring and bathing suit weather, I went to Pilates tonight. But I'm not sure it could be considered Pilates with that music (it was very entertaining; I was practically laughing the whole time which probably didn't help me any) and the four different exercises wrapped into one class. And the instructor was Russian. That was just the cherry on top. From cardio-kickboxing to dancing to some serious abs while listening to Enrique, it was definitely a good workout. No complaints here. She counted in Russian and was silent but deadly; she didn't talk much, but man does she work you hard. And some of those moves I've never done before and I will never do outside of that aerobics studio. But maybe it's because of the music it was paired with. Some awkward moments, if you know what I mean.

Afterward I did homework with friends and we met on the third (American) floor and all was fine and dandy, but then I had to go back downstairs. I was top heavy, and not just because I was graced by being that way to begin with. My backpack was super heavy and with my legs being sore already I was scared of toppling down the stairs. Needless to say, I need to work out more and I need to gain a better tolerance if I'm going to commit to the Crushin' Russian.

Strikes and Gutterballs....Bulgaria Part Two

So, part two....and go. 

Well, I received a warm welcome on my first day at the university to a lady barging into my room, speaking fast Bulgarian which was then followed by a man who came to check the smoke detector. At least he said good morning. It was pointless going back to bed, so I got up and vacuumed which was great and disgusting all at the same time because it just is. My room, just to give you a view. You walk in and on the wall with the door is a bunk bed and next to that on the next wall is a desk, the door to the bathroom, and closets/ drawers. On the connecting wall are two huge windows with blinds (thank God) and a bed and then on the last wall are two desks and a closet. It's nothing special, three girls to a room, no big deal. But what I love is the bathroom. It's three rooms...yes, rooms... for the sink, toilet, and shower. I couldn't believe it when I walked in. There are about 6 light switches, which are huge, to light it all. But the shower is its own room; and it pours from the top so right over your head, not at a slant in the states. The water gets hot really fast and it's wonderful.

I went to lunch with the group from the van and then we walked around Blagoevgrad for a little bit and it was really great. Everyone is really nice so it was a fun group.  People on the streets don't smile and then give you the look-over when you do smile at them; it's hard but I'm working on that.  It was nice to see that I wasn't the only blond; there are some blond Bulgarian women and though I still stick out like an Eskimo in summer, it made me feel better. Blagoevgrad is really pretty in an old city kind of way. The buildings are somewhat old and dusty looking, and they are painted many colors that have faded, but it's just a really cute city; I'm looking forward to keep getting to know it. It's definitely bigger than Kirksville, that's for sure, but that's not too hard to accomplish.

We went on the first shopping trip for essentials at Kaufland, the new Walmart for the next four months. It was big and it went well but it was just different. Everything was in Bulgarian, obviously, and so finding things that looked familiar was interesting. Nonetheless, I did get everything I needed for a mere 66 leva. Cheap. I'm telling you people, it's a great vacation destination. So come visit me! 

Sabine's birthday was on Tuesday so Esra, Mary and I went out with her to the bowling center (though we didn't know that at the time) near the university's main building and had dinner. I swear I've had pasta every day since I've been here....I didn't know I was in Italy. It's good pasta though so I'm not complaining. I had this spinach pasta with a white cream sauce and it was really good. Ordering is sometimes a shoot in the dark but surprisingly a lot of restaurants have English menus so that is great. Anyway, had dinner, ordered cocktails (I had an orgasm- kahlua, bailey's, and cream or something of that variety) and started bowling. If you know me it takes me forever to actually warm up and this night was no exception. Three games of bowling- 6 leva. Legit. We had a great time bowling and I wasn't the worst one, although I did have my fair share of gutterballs.  Sabine was really good actually, I think she might get into professional bowling; okay...I doubt that, but she did really well. And it was a really fun time. 

After that we went back to Skapto and Esra surprised her with a caramel cake which was really good, pretty sweet so one piece was definitely enough. She had also bought party hats and they were the greatest because I think it said happy birthday on it in Bulgarian so that was fantastic. Afterward we just talked for a while and then hit the hay. I froze overnight because my heater isn't functioning properly so that has been great sleeping and waking up uber cold. Showers are the only way I'm not freezing to death in the morning. And there is some exaggeration in this so parents, don't freak out and call the university, I've asked them to look at it. I'll be fine. I like the cold anyway. It's just more of a hate-hate-ish relationship right now. It was a much better day than the hysterics I threw myself into on the first night with only Stainer and Kirk to comfort me. Oh well, it has gotten much better and I really do love it here.

I Was Almost Out of My League...Bulgaria Part One

Holy crap, I'm here. Well after not having internet for four days, of course them being when I first arrive, I have a book to write; so strap in because this is going to be a long ride for the both of us. Welcome to part one: the flight.

I left on Sunday around 11am and didn't get into Sofia until 130pm on Monday. The flights went really well; no glitches and they were on time with the exception of the hour wait on the Munich runway, but I was on the last flight so I didn't care at that point. And over the course of the travelling, I did 23 sudoku puzzles. A wonderful use of my time I think. But yeah, I got to the airport, had a surprisingly non-tearful goodbye with my parents (weird) and boarded the smallest plane I've ever been on. For real people, three seats with an overhead bin the size of a peanut. Come on. The flight was good and we got into Newark with no problems. I had some time to kill so I walked around in hopes of tiring myself out but I think I just looked crazy walking in circles, but whatever. There was another girl, Mary, from the program who was also flying to Munich so we met before the flight and it was nice to not be alone and there was of course that awkward meeting so I'm glad we got that over before actually getting to Sofia.

The transatlantic flight went well, considering it was my first. I had the pleasure of sitting by a Norwegian on a business trip who lived in New Jersey. He was really nice and gave me some tips for flying, such as I needed the two-pronged ear jack to hear the tv movie or to buckle your seat belt on the outside of the blanket when you sleep so if an attendant comes while you are actually sleeping they don't wake you. Stuff like that. It was pleasant and the food wasn't terrible either. Chicken and wild rice for dinner and a croissant for breakfast...not too shabby. I drank a lot of water which was good and bad and the bathrooms are about as big as a shoebox which was wonderful. And the need to pee came in waves for the plane in general because at certain times there would be a line and at others no one would be waiting. It's funny how our bodies sync like that.

I got to hang with Mary for a little bit in Munich and it was really great to have someone to talk to. She is pretty awesome and it was nice to know someone who was going to be there with me. The last flight, besides the wait, was short and sweet. They served this raisin bread which was tasty and strange because we always get pretzels; it was a nice change of pace. We landed, I got my suitcase and met the van driver from the university. We rode back with three dutch girls- Esra, Sabine, and Tessa- and two Americans like myself- Stephanie and Celeste. We actually had to turn around after 20 minutes of driving out of Sofia to return to the airport to pick up Celeste. During that ride we got to know the girls from Holland and they seemed really nice (which they are!) and it immediately raised my spirits about being here. The ride from Sofia to Blagoevgrad was beautiful. There was snow and gorgeous trees and mountains and it was just really nice, although the lulling of the ride didn't do anything for my fatigue and jetlag. 

We arrived at the university, finally (!!), and checked in at Skaptopara II, Skapto for short.  I'm going to be honest here, I was a little taken aback by the fact that the room was dirty. The floor was disgusting and I vacuumed the next morning, but it was not the greatest experience of my life. I explored my new home for the next four months. It was weird though because the room was basically empty so I kind of felt out of place because my roommates had reserved certain pieces of furniture. It was a little jolting but hey, this is what I signed up for so I can't really complain, but I just did, so...

I went to dinner, took a shower to wash away the traveling grime and then sat on the bottom bunk and stared at a picture Anna had given me and then I lost it. I cried. I don't know but it was just hard and at that point you just start questioning why you are even here. Which is what I did. And I just prayed really hard and journaled and it felt relieving to cry since I hadn't done it since finals week. After that there was only one thing to make me feel better: She's Out of My League. A piece of home and hilarity to help put me to bed on the first night on my Bulgarian excursion. What a two days. And that was just the first night. More to come....