Spring???

Woohoo!! I think the worst of winter may be over. It was warm enough to clean today (finally!) and I found and killed two spiders. Hugely significant not only because I really needed to clean, but also because the spiders mean the world is coming back to life! 

Birthday Party and Macarena

This weekend was Palma’s 30^th birthday party and I spent the weekend hanging out with her and friends in Zhelezna. They were a hit. So Though I’m pretty sure the local impression of my cooking skills is grossly inaccurate, I’m so. grateful for  the care packages with ready-made mixes.  Palma’s party was great. We danced, toasted, and ate until late.  I never thought I’d think this, but a highlight of the party for me was the Macarena. I hadn’t heard the Macarena for at least a decade, but it’s not a song or dance one easily forgets. Finally, a song with moves I know and look no more foolish than anyone else dancing! 

Offline

Chiprovtsi

 The cold weather has seriously disrupted internet. Anxiety was a bit high this week as I tried to translate a super-technical proposal for updating the municipal water system, keep abreast on law school decisions, and plan upcoming events with friends. Though it’s not perfect, Google translate makes translating a lengthy proposal a million time easier than it otherwise would be. At the very least, it gives the ‘gist’ of what is being written, then I clean it up and make it sound nice. When the subject includes construction specifications and uses jargon words that I’m unfamiliar with in English, much less Bulgarian, the internet is a lifesaver.

The only good thing about being ‘offline’ was that I was unable, for the most part, to obsess over law school applications. I ended up applying to 14 schools. I’ve heard back from five schools so far, but decisions may come as late as April/May and I could be on waitlists until August. Driving me crazy! 

Car under snow in Zhelezna

Post office yard in Chiprovtsi