It wont surprise you at all to learn that there are a lot of differences between life in Walla Walla and in Sofia. We've got <a href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2012/08/17/i-dream-of-mexican-food/" target="_blank">great Mexican food</a> and plenty of micro brew beer.

Then there are the big differences.

Stray dogs. Sidewalks. Public transportation. The langauge. Prices. Drivers.

However, on this trip it's the little things that I've been noticing.  Here's a short list:
<ul>
	<li>Iced americanos and iced lates actually have enough ice in them to make the drink cold. It turns out there are times I'd like a little more ice in my drinks, Bulgaria.</li>
	<li>I keep thinking that quarters are worth .50 cents when they are in fact only .25 cents and I need two of them to say pay for said iced drink when the total is $2.65. Oh Bulgaria, you're ruining me. Really, why do quarters and Bulgarian .50 cent coins have to be the same size and color?!</li>
	<li>Every time I try to lock the front door of our house the key will only turn once. These days I think it should turn twice to double lock. Then I have to remind myself that we don't have locks like this in Walla Walla.</li>
	<li>I have a mini-heart attack every time I get a bill or a see a total on the cash register. Then I remind myself I'm in the States. That seems to make it better. (Okay, this <em>might</em> not be a little thing. Oh well.)</li>
	<li>I love that in Walla Walla you pick up your grocery cart inside the grocery store and can return it to a bay of shopping carts in the middle of the parking lot. There's no fumbling around for a coin to check out the grocery cart.</li>
	<li>The car I'm driving is from 1988 and the doors don't lock any more. In Walla Walla, I am totally unconcerned by this. Heck it saves me time.  But for the record, the left turn signal is broken and this does concern me more. Luckily I don't have to make a lot of left hand turns and I can still make it work manually.</li>
	<li>Parking spots. They seem to magically appear whenever I need one in downtown Walla Walla. The same cannot be said for Sofia but that's okay because I don't drive in Sofia.</li>
	<li>A small box of tampons starts at 16 while the large box can have an upwards of 40, 60 or 80 tampons. The Bulgarian part of me wonders: <em>80?!</em> And the American part of me thinks: that's convenient.</li>
	<li>Even on a weeknight in a basically empty restaurant, the bill appeared as soon as I finished my last bite of food and before the dishes were cleared off the table. Hey, server-girl, what are you in a rush for? It's not like people are waiting for my table. It's a Monday night. In Walla Walla.</li>
	<li>Baby spinach and it's larger cousin rainbow chard. Why, oh why, can't I find you in Sofia?!</li>
	<li>Some goes for maple bars and apple fritters. Then again, maybe it's better for me that these don't exist in Sofia.</li>
	<li>This said, I was at a bakery recently and my heart skipped a beat:<em> banitsa</em>. Then I realized it was a row of slightly smooshed ham and cheese croissants.</li>
</ul>
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