This past week I've been going to school a little later in the morning that I normally do. That's when the magic happened! Well, magic might be too strong of a word but it a little funny.

Here's the story. Usually I leave my house between 7 and 7:15am to get to school early enough to do a few things and be prepared to teach. But this past week, with final exams over and me devoting my entire week to grading, entering grades electronically and entering them a second time in hard-copy in the dnevnitsi, I let myself head to school a little later in the morning between 8:15 and 8:30am.

Anyhow, the people on the bus are totally different an hour later than the normal people you ride the bus with--go figure. So spent the whole week doing people watching on the 111 or the 76 buses. It was great fun.

Then on Thursday (or Friday--I can't remember) I climbed on the 111.  It wasn't too crowded which is perfect for people watching because when it's too crowded it's hard to get the whole effect.

So I notice this guy in a little bit too tight black tee shirt with a gold necklace, baggy-ish jeans and tennis shoes.  Now this look alone isn't very surprising but he's talking a mile a minute on his blackberry and checking messages.  This was serious multi-tasking. He also had a full beard, a shaved head and too large diamond earrings in making for a pretty distinctive look. Then I notice that he has no arm hair--like it's gone--and a fancy-pants watch.

The whole thing is fascinating to me because he seems to be oblivious to everyone on the bus around him and at the same time, he doesn't seem to belong on the bus. It's an odd mix.  A piece of me really wants to take a picture but that's creepy so I just think: awesome and get off at my stop.

Fine. That's that.

Until this morning! Yes, this morning, when I was cleaning my apartment and watching music videos and who's on the Voice but Mr. Bus-Guy. <em><!--more-->Yeah, I named him Mr. Bus Guy in my head</em>. He's being interviewed. I do a double take. It can't be the same guy. But the hairless arm and the watch convince me otherwise. It turns out that Mr. Bus-Guy is a Bulgarian rapper.

That's when I just about lost it. What was he doing on the bus? Buses in Bulgaria are depressing. Sure the 111 is better than most but really?! He's taking the bus? <em>He's just like me? </em>

Or, maybe this speaks to the status of rap in the country. I'm on bus staring at this guy's shocking hairless arms and head while he's rocking a full beard. Because I think it's a striking look. Not because he's a rap start. And everyone else? Well, they're staring out the windows. Apparently totally unaware of Mr. Bus-Guy.

Also, it turns out that his name is not Mr. Bus-Guy--as my title suggests--it's <a href="http://www.myspace.com/mechoka" target="_blank">Mechoka</a>. This link will take you to his myspace page--just in case you're too lazy to look it up.  I felt the need to stalk him online after I figured out what his name was.Yeah, I know that's creepy but I chalked it up to research for my blog. That's okay, right?

So, Mechoka, you've got a great look but I am not really digging your rap. For better or worse, I am more inclined to giggle than to take you seriously. But this said, I am not generally a fan of rap. So don't take this the wrong way. Frankly, I am in no way, shape or form qualified or prepared to review, rate or judge your music.  Apparently what I am good at is staring at you and subsequently googling your name--which sounds nicer than stalking and frankly that's all I felt like doing.

So, readers, you too could google Mechoka, but I already did it for you. You know, researching this blog post. In case you're interested you can check out much of Mechoka work on youtube--his amazingly hairless arms are less clear but the shaved head, full beard and ear rings are pretty prominent.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cExzLlAQF9Y&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1]

And that's all I have on Mechoka. However it does make me wonder what other interesting, famous, or otherwise noteworthy people I pass each day but simply know. Maybe I need to take up reading Bulgarian tabloids. Actually that would be great.

Note to self: consider this for one of my "year-three-in-Bulgaria resolutions."