Woke up this morning, and I'm kinda feeling like blah. Overslept, but that's ok - class doesn't start till 2 anyways. This is our last full week here at the university, and Thursday is suppose to be our final. We don't really know if we're going to have a final now, because on Wednesday we're suppose to go and experience a wine tasting, those of us that are legal - and then on Thursday we're going to have a traditional Bulgarian dinner. Doesn't leave a lot of time for studying, so I'm not sure if I'll be going out any this week - not even for dinner. I'll probably just grab something nearby instead of looking through town for something.
I cannot wait for this weekend trip. We're going to Stara Zagora. It's one of our professor's hometowns, and she's got some BIG stuff planned for us. She isn't really telling us much, but what she has told us will be sick. Sick is a good word now a days, so don't freak out.
Well, gonna get some breakfast and then off to studying!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
more pictures from moses' birthday
Moses eating his brithday cake, after I put my finger in it.
This is Moses literally as the cake came out . . . full of joy.
We're Back!!
We got back to the school at 4:30, and I just finished all the blogs. Make sure to read up . . . ok, now it's time to go study for the final that's on Thursday.
Day 15 - Sunday in Plovdiv
The idea of the Sunday morning blues does not exist in Europe. Even though I have not gone to church in quite awhile, I've got a feeling that the church is very alive here in Europe. Everywhere we go there are some amazing hotels and then there are these grand churches just blocks away from them. I've got this urge to try and find a church next Sunday when we go to the next weekend town visit and see how alive the church is here.
I'm actually sitting outside and enjoying this cool, windy European morning. The only thing that would make this morning better would be a nice dark cup of Cafe Campesino coffee. I'm really missing my job. I was getting pretty good at it, and I hope I don't lose that touch that I had going. Maybe when I get back I'll spend some time running through he recipe book that I made . . . . who knows.
Last night I got to enjoy the sounds of jazz again, and that literally lifted my spirits. The idea of hearin European jazz fusion was wonderful. I wish I could have recorded some of it, but that would have killed my photo card memory . . . I'll never leave "home" without having the camera supplies again.
I bought a necklace yesterday, but it caused my skin to break out. I guess I still cannot wear silver jewelry without breaking out. Woke up this morning with a reddish tint to my neck, and it sucks. I really liked the necklace, but I guess I'll give it to my little nephew when I get home.
I'm actually listening to my professors talk right now, and sometimes you just forget that they are human, too. I wish they were more like this during the actual school year - but I can understand why they aren't. It's been really nice getting to know them all. By far, Dr. Martin has been one of my favorite professors here. I keep forgetting that she is actually my professor back at GSW.
This town is quite beautiful. All these houses have such beautiful Spanish roof tiles, and they are so close together. We stayed in what they call "The Old Town," and it's simply another time period. The streets were made of stone, and it would only be better if there wasn't cars that lined the streets. I honestly didn't imagine that all these cars would be here - I kinda hoped there would be some historical beautification protection thing and outlaw cars in certain areas of town - but no.
It's so cool hearing Dr. Szmedra speaking french with his wife. I'm really enjoying this Bulgarian language, and I want to do something with it. I love the idea of having an educated mind in such a foreign place. It allows you to make conversation all the while being completely ignorant of the world around you.
I've got about 30 minutes until we head back to the school, so I guess I'll go pack.
I'm actually sitting outside and enjoying this cool, windy European morning. The only thing that would make this morning better would be a nice dark cup of Cafe Campesino coffee. I'm really missing my job. I was getting pretty good at it, and I hope I don't lose that touch that I had going. Maybe when I get back I'll spend some time running through he recipe book that I made . . . . who knows.
Last night I got to enjoy the sounds of jazz again, and that literally lifted my spirits. The idea of hearin European jazz fusion was wonderful. I wish I could have recorded some of it, but that would have killed my photo card memory . . . I'll never leave "home" without having the camera supplies again.
I bought a necklace yesterday, but it caused my skin to break out. I guess I still cannot wear silver jewelry without breaking out. Woke up this morning with a reddish tint to my neck, and it sucks. I really liked the necklace, but I guess I'll give it to my little nephew when I get home.
I'm actually listening to my professors talk right now, and sometimes you just forget that they are human, too. I wish they were more like this during the actual school year - but I can understand why they aren't. It's been really nice getting to know them all. By far, Dr. Martin has been one of my favorite professors here. I keep forgetting that she is actually my professor back at GSW.
This town is quite beautiful. All these houses have such beautiful Spanish roof tiles, and they are so close together. We stayed in what they call "The Old Town," and it's simply another time period. The streets were made of stone, and it would only be better if there wasn't cars that lined the streets. I honestly didn't imagine that all these cars would be here - I kinda hoped there would be some historical beautification protection thing and outlaw cars in certain areas of town - but no.
It's so cool hearing Dr. Szmedra speaking french with his wife. I'm really enjoying this Bulgarian language, and I want to do something with it. I love the idea of having an educated mind in such a foreign place. It allows you to make conversation all the while being completely ignorant of the world around you.
I've got about 30 minutes until we head back to the school, so I guess I'll go pack.
Day 14 - Saturday in Plovdiv
Morning started at 7:30 with a wonderful traditional Bulgarian breakfast. . . yogurt with strawberries, and honey on top! It was wonderful . . . . After this we started our walking tour of Old Town Plovdiv. We visited a lot of the "old homes," which have been converted into museums. I bought some things for my parents and brother back home, and I actually got to meet the people who made them! It was quite exciting to meet the artists behind the pieces . . . The tour lasted about 2 hours and ended back at the Roman Amphitheater . . . and then we walked over to the hill which overlooks the entire city. There, one could see the entire stretch of the newer part of town, and it was simply breath taking. Literally, you're walking up a mountain only to be at the top where the air is quite thin. . . haha!
After this little trip, we found lunch . . . and then we all slip off and went our own ways for the day. A group of us went and explored the city, and we found the river which flows all throughout the Balkan Peninsula, some more memorial places, and some good food. Around 4:30ish, we all went back to the hotel . . . and I took a nap. Lets just say walking up mountains will make you quite tired, and I slept till 6.
At 6:30, Kevin and I went to dinner at the hotel's restaurant. Let me go ahead and warn you . . . Europe is NOT like America. The people eat dinner later, and the workers know how to entertain you while you eat. We actually were the first customers to walk in for the night, and we surprised them. Our hostess was quite lovely. She spoke very good English, and was able to communicate whenever she didn't understand a word - at which we learned a couple of expressions, as well. Dinner was simply delicious, but it was what went on after dinner that was even better. Towards the end of our meal our professors actually came in, and they were so surprised to see us there. They thought that most of the college students would go out and try to experience the American night clubs, which some have, but Kevin and I are on this study abroad for greater things.
After the professors came in, we got to exchange casual conversation with them . . . and then our desserts came out. I got the pancake (or crepe) with figs, and Kevin got the pancake (crepe) with honey - and they simply brought pure joy to the evening . . . . . and then the night really began. We actually got live music during dinner . . . two older women, one played the piano while the other play the violin! It was a complete surprise . . . and Kevin and I knew that we had finally found what we were searching for: European culture at its best!
We took about ten minutes to eat this simple desserts, and wanted more . . . not more food, but more music. So, we started to decide on ordering a bottle of wine . . . at which we asked our professors which would be a good choice, and we got just that. We ordered a wine that is actually made just a few miles outside of Plovdiv in a town called Asenovgrad . . it was the most delicious red wine ever. I didn't know that red wine could be good, but this local wine was great. It was from 2004, but tasted much older than that.
So, we started eating dinner at 6:30 and we didn't leave the restaurant till after 10:00. It was great, but then we started hearing jazz music . . . or at least I did, and I had to find it. Come to find out, it was just a building away - and then we were at a jazz club. It was great hearing jazz fusion in Europe . . . it made me feel at home again.
We stayed there for a little bit, and then Kevin wanted to go and sit at the Roman Amphitheater one last time. I'm glad we did, because we got to experience something a lot of people will never get to. Plovdiv - 11:30 p.m. - Roman Amphitheater - cold night - and just looking out over Plovdiv, thinking what it must have felt like to be in complete power for so long, only to fall.
Oh well, Plovdiv was great.
After this little trip, we found lunch . . . and then we all slip off and went our own ways for the day. A group of us went and explored the city, and we found the river which flows all throughout the Balkan Peninsula, some more memorial places, and some good food. Around 4:30ish, we all went back to the hotel . . . and I took a nap. Lets just say walking up mountains will make you quite tired, and I slept till 6.
At 6:30, Kevin and I went to dinner at the hotel's restaurant. Let me go ahead and warn you . . . Europe is NOT like America. The people eat dinner later, and the workers know how to entertain you while you eat. We actually were the first customers to walk in for the night, and we surprised them. Our hostess was quite lovely. She spoke very good English, and was able to communicate whenever she didn't understand a word - at which we learned a couple of expressions, as well. Dinner was simply delicious, but it was what went on after dinner that was even better. Towards the end of our meal our professors actually came in, and they were so surprised to see us there. They thought that most of the college students would go out and try to experience the American night clubs, which some have, but Kevin and I are on this study abroad for greater things.
After the professors came in, we got to exchange casual conversation with them . . . and then our desserts came out. I got the pancake (or crepe) with figs, and Kevin got the pancake (crepe) with honey - and they simply brought pure joy to the evening . . . . . and then the night really began. We actually got live music during dinner . . . two older women, one played the piano while the other play the violin! It was a complete surprise . . . and Kevin and I knew that we had finally found what we were searching for: European culture at its best!
We took about ten minutes to eat this simple desserts, and wanted more . . . not more food, but more music. So, we started to decide on ordering a bottle of wine . . . at which we asked our professors which would be a good choice, and we got just that. We ordered a wine that is actually made just a few miles outside of Plovdiv in a town called Asenovgrad . . it was the most delicious red wine ever. I didn't know that red wine could be good, but this local wine was great. It was from 2004, but tasted much older than that.
So, we started eating dinner at 6:30 and we didn't leave the restaurant till after 10:00. It was great, but then we started hearing jazz music . . . or at least I did, and I had to find it. Come to find out, it was just a building away - and then we were at a jazz club. It was great hearing jazz fusion in Europe . . . it made me feel at home again.
We stayed there for a little bit, and then Kevin wanted to go and sit at the Roman Amphitheater one last time. I'm glad we did, because we got to experience something a lot of people will never get to. Plovdiv - 11:30 p.m. - Roman Amphitheater - cold night - and just looking out over Plovdiv, thinking what it must have felt like to be in complete power for so long, only to fall.
Oh well, Plovdiv was great.
Day 13 - ride over to Plovdiv
*I actually wrote in my journal on the ride over, so I'm just going to copy & paste on to here*
On our way to Plovdiv, and this ride is quite interesting. we actually took the more scenic route, and we actually were riding on roads that were built during the Communist period - and now they are filled with pot holes. These roads weren't just over hills or whatever . . . but thousand foot mountains, so pot holes were to be expected. The professors said that these roads hardly ever get any work done to them simply because there's no way to shut down the roads to work on them. . . . who knows, maybe one day they'll get fixed. Something tells me this road trip will never be forgotten. It'll definitely take some time to recover and read all this because of these pot holes, but maybe I'll figure it all out.
*Written once at the hotel in Plovdiv*
So, this bus ride took about 5 hours. It was fun though. We stopped at some war historic towns, and that's when all the material began to soak in. Tomorrow, we are goin to walk around Plovdiv, which will be fun. Also, I started writing a song that Meagan and I might perform next year for her last dance recital. It'll be a good way to end this chapter of our college friendship, and move into our adult lives. . .. that's deep.
Dinner was amazing, but incredibly difficult to get to. I wasn't expecting this, but we actually had to climb a mountain in order to get to the newer side of Plovdiv. We stayed in the "Old Town," which was simply beautiful. On our way to the town we actually passed by this,
Straight out the 2nd century, a Roman Amphitheater. How cool?! They were actually setting it up to have a ballet dancers there in a few days, but hey . . . . you do what you got to do :- ) After seeing this one, we kept walking to town only to find more Roman ruins.
This is Phillip II, who did something in Plovdiv - can't remember off the top of my head. I'll do an edit later once I remember, but below him actually was another amphitheater. It was neat.
After searching the "strip" we found a place to eat, and then we toured the town for about an hour or so. Kevin and I actually headed back to the dorms and passed out around 10:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Day 12 - GLORY!!
Got my midterm back . . . made a 91!! I won't lie, I was quite nervous to get my grade back for the sheer fact that I thought I wouldn't make an A. I went over my essay again after I got it back, and I left out so many key details that I knew. I felt like an idiot. . but hey - 1.5 hours for 2 questions was pretty intense. I'm shooting to make a 100 on the next one though, so I can tell everyone I made a 100 on a Dr. Hall essay . . . so I'm starting tonight with preparing my questions & answers.
I'm looking forward to this weekend . . . going to a medieval town, and that will be fun!
I'll try to blog one last time in the morning, but I'm not sure if it'll happen or not. We're leaving at 9 a.m. so who knows.
I'm looking forward to this weekend . . . going to a medieval town, and that will be fun!
I'll try to blog one last time in the morning, but I'm not sure if it'll happen or not. We're leaving at 9 a.m. so who knows.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
