I know I haven’t taken the time to write a blog yet since I’ve arrived in Bulgaria.
The truth is, I haven’t felt like I’ve had anything to say.
I’m currently in Bankia, Bulgaria, a small suburb outside of Sofia (capital city) and it is very rich and very beautiful. It’s almost better than America. Take water for example: it flows free from rocks, and everyone encourages you to drink it that way. After all, it’s what the water bottle companies do.
Last week I was at another kid’s camp. Saying it’s a contrast to what I saw in Albania is an understatement. To put this into prospective, the 4 year olds have iPhones. What 4 year-old needs an iPhone?
An overused statement about the World Race is, “drop all of your expectations.” Yeah. No kidding. Never did I think I’d be dealing with such an Americanized country, and never did I think I would feel so exhausted and awful from it. It’s so much like “home,” but as if I’m in a bad dream of it. I’ve been struggling to put my heart into things. I get frustrated when I feel that all of my American problems have surfaced once again (lack of purpose, struggling to make time for God, being in the midst of people that live in the mindset that they do not need God because they have money, etc.)
I might as well throw in my struggle about community too. No, my team isn’t bothering me, but try living 24/7 with a bunch of people you never planned on living with and never knew before. You don’t have your own bedroom to escape to and you could take a long shower, but you’re sharing the bathroom with a lot of girls and you’d definitely hear about it. PS. You are never allowed to be alone.
The combination wears on you quite a bit.
I know that through God everything has purpose, and someday I will see how Bulgaria fit perfectly into His plan. I am learning to appreciate the struggle with community, for once I’ve “gotten over it,” it’ll be done, and I’ll be used to community. However, if you’ve got some time, shoot a prayer up for me. It’s been a tough month of me.
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So this blog doesn’t seem like a huge “Debbie-downer” post (I promise, I've had some good times), I’ve got some random Bulgarian facts for you:
1. As I mentioned before: they've got the best water.
2. Snails are out of this world. Huge. I was cleaning a backyard for an old lady and saw a massive seashell. Being the ignorant American I am, I picked it up and thought, “What the heck? This is a massive seashell in the middle of a yard,”…. and then a snail about the size of my hand slithered out of it.
3. All the cookies are wafers, and if it’s a candy bar, sweet bread, or a cookie that is not actually a wafer, it tastes like it might as well be.
4. KFC is easier to find than McDonalds
5. People with amazing green eyes. Another “normal,” thing.
6. This is for Herm Geers: Pretty much all they eat is bread and cheese, but they wrap the cheese in turnover pastry bread instead and leave it wavy. The cheese is actually starting to taste normal here, but I think it’s because I’m in a rich area. Definitely not putrid like the cheese was in Albania. Ugh, I can still taste that mangy soggy cheese. #7 is for you also.
7. Watered down yogurt. The "best" Bulgarian Summer drink.
8. I can find Dannon yogurt here. (A cornerstone in my American diet) Hallelujah.
9. I’m surrounded by a gorgeous mountain range, again.
10. Food is insanely cheap. I can get a week’s worth of groceries for $30 USD. This includes my fancy yogurt and stash of cashews.
Missing everyone and hoping everyone is doing well. Feel free to send me an email at [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you!
