(1054,1478,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2009-11-27 12:47:17','2009-11-27 09:47:17','Ohh, come on, teenagers in Bulgaria are still babies. They are used for their parents or grandparents to look after them. They don\'t know how to do simple things around the house. I was like that - I was very trustworthy and serious and turned my papers on time but precisely for that reason I would not take the responsibility for somebody else\'s baby - probably the most important thing in the life of any person. What if something bad happens and I don\'t react properly because I lack life experience?\nOn the other hand, grandparents have life experience - they have raised children - bad things have happened and they have reacted... mostly properly we would assume...\nBut, yeah, it\'s a cultural thing - if we put it in a rather simplistic way - the western world values the energy and the strength of the young people and the eastern (oriental) values the knowledge and wisdom of the old.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1055,1478,'KG','connorsk@gmail.com','','97.80.143.237','2009-11-29 01:27:41','2009-11-28 22:27:41','I\'m American, married to Bulgarian and living in the states.  We are expecting our first child in March.  This is a huge debate for us about who can watch our child.  He will not agree to having any teenager come to watch our child.  He\'s belief is that only grandparents can handle the job.  BTW, I started babysitting when I was 13 yrs old, it was for a teacher I had in 2nd grade.  I did that job until I was 16 when I could get a better paying job at Pizza Hut.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1056,1478,'Robert Ivanov','subscriptions@robi-bobi.net','http://blog.robi-bobi.net','195.34.104.214','2009-12-03 13:46:38','2009-12-03 10:46:38','While I agree that it is not a tradition here, I don\'t think that the whole idea could be that difficult to grasp for me, or many of my friends.\n\nI was older brother and even as a pre-teenager I did look for my brother (and for no money :)) ). You know, kind of responsible child.\n\nWhile the generalized picture about non-trusty BG teenagers might be true, I don\'t love and believe in generalisations.\n\nThis post somehow reminded me about your earlier post, where you ask your students: where to take your foreigner guest, and they all (or most of them) suggested the mall as a place to go. I felt kind of sorry for those new generations.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1057,1478,'Someone','akilgi@abv.bg','','89.253.167.82','2010-05-19 22:00:21','2010-05-19 21:00:21','And how come you know Bulgarian teenagers so well??? :D',0,'1','','',1054,0),(1058,1478,'Someone','akilgi@abv.bg','','89.253.167.82','2010-05-19 22:01:54','2010-05-19 21:01:54','that is a ridiculous reply of yours; that is what i meant by my previous reply',0,'1','','',1057,0),(1059,1478,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-05-20 04:36:09','2010-05-20 03:36:09','@Someone: well, I am certainly not an expert on Bulgarian teenagers but this is my second year teaching English in Bulgarian high schools which I think gives me a pretty good insight in their lives.',0,'1','','',1058,0),(1060,1492,'me','me@me.com','','84.57.0.244','2009-11-27 17:57:44','2009-11-27 14:57:44','nice',0,'1','','',0,0),(1061,1492,'Lucinda','Lucinda227@hotmail.com','','98.212.135.132','2009-11-28 08:00:49','2009-11-28 05:00:49','Love your list, Carolyn!  Always a pleasure to read about your life.  I\'m so glad you are truly living it :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1062,1492,'Sergio','sergio.sagu@gmail.com','http://sullamiastrada.blogspot.com/','94.26.48.9','2009-11-28 18:27:22','2009-11-28 15:27:22','Great list! I agree with lots of your points... especially with 37 :D\nI hope you ended the night in a good way too, at least as good as the dinner was! Thanks again!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1063,1492,'contoveros','contoveros@gmail.com','http://contoveros.wordpress.com','69.142.165.212','2009-11-29 19:18:18','2009-11-29 16:18:18','No hot chocolate?\n\nHow about chocolate, period?\n\nFeta cheese?\n\nWestern Civilization?\n\nLiked your list. Wonder if there would be many changes should you make a new one in 2010?\n\nthanks from the USA\n\nmichael j',0,'1','','',0,0),(1064,1492,'Melissa','melissa@melissaroberts.org','','67.180.255.238','2009-12-01 07:38:20','2009-12-01 04:38:20','Awwwww... I am thankful for YOU, Karolinka!!! :) Love to you from California... I miss our kitchen dance parties, too!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1065,1502,'jds','johndstephens@gmail.com','http://www.comefriendlybombs.com','213.130.70.154','2009-11-29 23:40:01','2009-11-29 20:40:01','I am totally with you on the \'turkey = least interesting part\' thing. Stuffing is at the top of my list, too.\n\nNice Thanksgiving photo of you, by the way -- the black &amp; white one with the jazz-hands.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1066,1511,'Lilly','lmoinova@gmail.com','','84.238.210.178','2009-11-30 10:27:30','2009-11-30 07:27:30','Do you know that if you put the broken branch in water it will probably grow roots. So then you can plant it and have not one but two plants! :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1067,1511,'Ivet','ivet13@gmail.com','','212.36.24.179','2009-11-30 12:22:28','2009-11-30 09:22:28','OK here is another word for you :) This plant is called \"Коледна звезда\" (Christmas star) in Bulgarian. And I also think you should keep it. You can\'t just throw it away.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1068,1511,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.159','2009-11-30 22:29:08','2009-11-30 19:29:08','@Ivet Don\'t worry I wont throw it out. I love it now. I have a little piece of Christmas in my apartment now.',0,'1','','',1067,0),(1069,1518,'vlad','high@mail.bg','','212.117.42.164','2009-11-30 21:16:57','2009-11-30 18:16:57','I\'ll try to find another one with a K and present it to you for Christmas',0,'1','','',0,0),(1070,1518,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.159','2009-11-30 22:27:57','2009-11-30 19:27:57','@vlad sounds good to me--especially if the K is Cyrillic!',0,'1','','',1069,0),(1071,1518,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','92.247.227.129','2009-11-30 22:50:35','2009-11-30 19:50:35','haha Cyrillic K :P\n\nEarlier this year I bought Kopi Luwak just to see what the fuss was all about, didn\'t  come with free mug though :(',0,'1','','',0,0),(1072,1518,'К.','kregemail@gmail.com','','212.201.44.247','2009-12-01 00:44:39','2009-11-30 21:44:39','It\'s not really a soft \'J\' in Bulgarian, it\'s just the proper \'J\' in German.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1073,1518,'Cups of Coffee &laquo; Karolinka In &amp; Around Bulgaria','','http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/10/14/cups-of-coffee/','74.200.245.176','2010-10-14 09:01:02','2010-10-14 08:01:02','[...] are such hits on my blog as: I love coffee and Coffee, STAT. Because really, I do love coffee. Not a little bit but a [...]',0,'1','','pingback',0,0),(1074,1525,'MoM','djemigh@wwcc.edu','','134.39.208.139','2009-12-02 02:00:35','2009-12-01 23:00:35','When I read the NYT article I felt like they had captured something I felt when we were museum hopping during our tour of Bulgaria in the summer.  Thanks for helping me feel like I have a bigger \"word view\" than I had before.\nLove,\nMoM',0,'1','','',0,0),(1075,1534,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','92.247.227.129','2009-12-02 22:36:12','2009-12-02 19:36:12','Karolinka is now 2nd grade :P I was gonna ask you out for a coffee but now it would be just too creepy - хаха',0,'1','','',0,0),(1076,1534,'Audrey','ledgerja@donobi.net','','64.113.26.86','2009-12-02 23:30:46','2009-12-02 20:30:46','Second grade is better than kindergarden.  Keep up the studying and maybe you will make third grade by the end of the year.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1077,1534,'Ventsi','ventsy@gmail.com','','169.145.3.20','2009-12-02 23:43:55','2009-12-02 20:43:55','Did you know that when you say \"2nd Grade Bulgarian\" in Bulgarian it could have multiple things?\nLiteral translation could refer to gypsies.\nFunny coincidence, a?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1078,1534,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','68.189.140.223','2009-12-04 06:48:02','2009-12-04 03:48:02','This evening, I ran into Mr. Olds, your high school German (and Spanish?) teacher. He said he was not surprised that you were learning Bulgarian. We had a nice chat and he said to say \"hello\".   His daughter is in India.\nMy goodness, the world gets smaller every day.\nMoM',0,'1','','',0,0),(1079,1537,'KT','katherinemboyle@gmail.com','','188.20.227.178','2009-12-04 13:11:06','2009-12-04 10:11:06','I LOVE BILLA!!! I fully support doing Christmas shopping there!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1080,1537,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.195.201.88','2009-12-04 13:25:33','2009-12-04 10:25:33','Lutenitza RULZ!\n\nHO-HO-HO',0,'1','','',0,0),(1081,1537,'MoM','djemigh@wwcc.edu','','134.39.208.139','2009-12-04 21:11:32','2009-12-04 18:11:32','You can bring me some lutenitsa.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1082,1537,'beornours','beorn.ours@gmail.com','http://techatronic.wordpress.com','77.57.222.178','2009-12-07 22:55:46','2009-12-07 19:55:46','It\'s a sad and world renowned fact, that Sofia almaost always lacks Christmas decorations and is perhaps the saddest in winter. In the late summer-early autumn this city is in top-shape and can be really beautiful.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1083,1537,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2009-12-08 12:31:48','2009-12-08 09:31:48','Yes, Karolinka, they must be reading your blog. They are decorationg Alexander Malinov right now. 10 a.m on a working day - the best time to occupy one of the only two lanes of a busy road for the sake of Christmas cheer...',0,'1','','',0,0),(1084,1546,'Katy','picadella@gmail.com','http://www.docandadrink.com','207.172.95.16','2009-12-09 14:57:27','2009-12-09 11:57:27','Well, this made me laugh.  I was just talking with my blog partner the other day about the weird things that people search and get to us.  I think some of it has to be search engine webs just making things up and seeing what it hits.\n\nBut I think if I were searching for \"hugs\" (or \"trams tattoos\") - you\'d be a good person to find.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1085,1546,'Dimitar','Shadowmarn@gmail.com','http://Shadowden.wordpress.com','89.215.161.37','2009-12-09 21:35:00','2009-12-09 18:35:00','Haha, nice! People are strange... They find my blog with even stranger keywords that I never wrote about. At least I have fun reading the how-people-found-me words.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1086,1561,'bendyourcircuit','glutathione@gmail.com','http://bendyourcircuit.wordpress.com/','134.99.134.108','2009-12-09 19:31:33','2009-12-09 16:31:33','10 times the price of the ticket, ie 10 leva.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1087,1561,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','78.83.82.57','2009-12-09 19:33:33','2009-12-09 16:33:33','Foreigners do get a spanking though :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1088,1561,'Deia','deia@mail.bg','','89.253.167.115','2009-12-09 21:18:55','2009-12-09 18:18:55','usually nothing would happen :))))\n\nunless you\'re really unlucky...',0,'1','','',0,0),(1089,1561,'sts','ap.stamov@hotmail.com','','87.126.20.77','2009-12-10 00:38:57','2009-12-09 21:38:57','yeah it\'s $10, but i believe if you don\'t pay within a week it goes to $100, but according to my cousin they can\'t do anything to you if you don\'t pay that hundred bucks(i\'ll let you know if she ends up in jail haha)\n\nthe security get beat up sometimes so maybe if you give them a mean look they\'ll leave?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1090,1561,'kiril','kikcho@gmail.com','http://1024.cjb.net','82.147.135.2','2009-12-10 12:24:17','2009-12-10 09:24:17','According to the regulations, you\'d have to pay 10 times the price of the ticket on the spot. If you refuse, or don\'t have that much cash they\'d have to give you a \"statement for established administrative offence\". They should also take you off the vehicle.\n\nSee the official source:\nhttp://www.sumc.bg/en/transport/tarifa-i-prevozni-dokumenti/47/regulation\n\nIn reality, you\'ll bribe them with 2-5 lv and you\'d get away, unless you really piss them off.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1091,1561,'Nicole','nicolemfischer@hotmail.com','','110.138.130.255','2009-12-10 19:45:40','2009-12-10 16:45:40','How \'bout you just buy and validate the ticket?\nit\'s not like the petrol comes for free. and remember that those cheeting are driving up the prices for those payin. and they may be less able to afford the ticket from the start.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1092,1561,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.159','2009-12-10 21:03:54','2009-12-10 18:03:54','@Nicole Here in lies the problem--most of the time I walk to work but some mornings I need to take the bus.  I buy and keep a book of tickets in my wallet but sometimes in the mornings on my way to work it\'s too hard to validate said ticket.  It\'s easy on an empty bus at 7pm after work but not so easy when you can hardly move your arm to hold on in the bus.  On top of all of this, I have horrible luck and I <em>know </em> that I\'ll get checked one day on a crowed bus when I\'ve been unable to stamp my ticket.  This will make me mad because I usually have the ticket in my pocket but sometimes I just can\'t reach the machine to punch the ticket.  I\'ll be even madder if I get over charged when I have to pay my fine so when I get caught (and I know I\'ll get caught) I\'d like to know how much to expect to pay rather than trying to negotiate this in my questionable Bulgarian.',0,'1','','',1091,0),(1093,1561,'Kiril Zyapkov','kikcho@gmail.com','','84.238.210.178','2009-12-10 23:52:21','2009-12-10 20:52:21','If the bus/tram/trolley is _that_ crowded, don\'t expect inspectors. How do you imagine them walking around and checking tickets and cards? Not that I have too much experience with Sofia\'s public transport, but I\'ve never seen an inspector in a really overcrowded bus.\n\nStill, be on the safe side, try and punch one whenever you get the chance to move.\n\nEven better -- walk or take a cab :)',0,'1','','',1092,0),(1094,1561,'Djgeorgie','georgijivankin@gmail.com','http://www.georgijivankin.com','138.40.152.46','2009-12-11 03:39:26','2009-12-11 00:39:26','You have an advantage over the controllers because most (if not all of them) don\'t know any other language different than Bulgarian and possibly a little bit of Russian so even if they catch you, they cannot convey the crucial information to you. :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1095,1561,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2009-12-11 13:49:22','2009-12-11 10:49:22','You could always buy a card - 50 levs for one month for all public transportation including the metro. In this way you don\'t have to bother about buying tickets, validating them and so on...\nYou may also buy a cheaper card for only one line (the bus line) - you may still use it with other bus lines that have the same route and stop on the same bus stops. Or you could buy one for two lines (that is, the metro and the bus line). Plenty of choices there. The bureaus that sell / issue the cards work on weekends. There is one in the Serdica metrostation. Just take one of your Bulgarian friends to help you a little bit with translation. That\'s better than being constantly exposed to the risk of being caught in the bus without a ticket and all of its consequences.\nThere are also cards for three months period.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1096,1561,'Mila','melpomena@gmail.com','','195.34.105.87','2009-12-15 12:45:52','2009-12-15 09:45:52','Karolinka, when the bus/tram is overcrowded people would usually pass the ticket onto somebody sitting/staying next to the punching machine and then they get the ticket back. It would also be a great opportunity for you to practice some bulgarian ;-)\n\nИзвинЕте, бИхте ли ми продУпчили билЕта would work although a simple ИзвинЕте would also do because people know what you would ask of them passing them an intact ticket :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1097,1561,'Bridget','mullanski@yahoo.com','','68.55.207.218','2009-12-17 20:15:08','2009-12-17 17:15:08','I\'m a bit behind here (just catching up on your blog) but wanted to chime in. This reminds me of the time I got checked on the Berlin UBahn and the bus both on the same day! Luckily, I had a valid ticket but it was rather bizarre. Ah, European public transit.. how I miss it.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1098,1561,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.159','2009-12-19 10:26:30','2009-12-19 07:26:30','@Bridget Ha, ha. I think I was with you the day we got checked in Berlin not only on the UBahn and the bus but I\'ve now got one to top that. This summer I was checked twice on the same tram within 5 or 6 blocks by two different controllers.  Then I got checked again shortly there after on a different tram line.  It was a pretty exciting day--and luckily I had tickets for both rides.   I think that when you\'re tall and blond the controllers look at you and think that you must not understand how the tickets/validation/bus-riding works.  But I know: buy ticket, stamp it, when you change to a new line then you have to stamp a new ticket (this part is very important) and if you have a booklet of tickets you must use them in order from 1-10.',0,'1','','',1097,0),(1099,1555,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.195.201.87','2009-12-10 13:17:36','2009-12-10 10:17:36','Nice boots :) Wear them before the muddy days begin!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1100,1555,'Andrey','andrey.omega@gmail.com','http://wahregedanken.blogspot.com','95.43.240.219','2009-12-10 15:38:10','2009-12-10 12:38:10','The boots really look like a cute teddy (:',0,'1','','',0,0),(1101,1555,'Bridget','mullanski@yahoo.com','','68.55.207.218','2009-12-17 20:17:24','2009-12-17 17:17:24','Great post; I really get a sense of what it\'s like to live in Sofia through your writing. The boots are super cute! :) Do they have that leather/suede waterproofing stuff over there? Because that would definitely be a good investment.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1102,1569,'Elenko','mail@eenk.com','http://www.eenk.com','95.42.29.82','2009-12-12 13:10:44','2009-12-12 10:10:44','You should also try sofiaecho.com it\'s a pretty decent newspaper :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1103,1573,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','78.83.82.57','2009-12-13 14:35:52','2009-12-13 11:35:52','Any book store or school books store would have them, under kids stuff. We used to have a class in school (1-3rd grade) where the exercise was exactly that :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1104,1573,'Paper Stars &laquo; Karolinka In &amp; Around Bulgaria','','http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/01/31/paper-stars/','66.135.48.221','2010-01-31 10:53:15','2010-01-31 07:53:15','[...] got my act together to write a blog post about it).  I first posted about my desire to make these lovely stars in December.  For Christmas, I received kite paper (a waxy-stiffer kind of tissue paper) from not one but two [...]',0,'1','','pingback',0,0),(1105,1577,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','68.189.140.223','2009-12-15 18:28:12','2009-12-15 15:28:12','\"a very, very happy repeat customer\"\nThat is how I felt about Colours and Flavours. I think it is the only place we went more than once (and I\'m guessing i got in about 4 visits in 2 weeks.)  I wish that I was close enough to visit their new venture.\nLove,\nMoM',0,'1','','',0,0),(1106,1577,'Out with Friends &laquo; Karolinka In &amp; Around Bulgaria','','http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/02/14/out-with-friends/','66.135.48.196','2010-02-14 13:41:33','2010-02-14 10:41:33','[...] downtown 1 leva). We had dinner (hearty salad and red wine 20 leva),  went for a cocktail at Memento (7 leva) and then went dancing (cover 4 leva, coat check 1 lev and two drinks 9 leva). It was great [...]',0,'1','','pingback',0,0),(1107,1600,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2009-12-16 14:24:34','2009-12-16 11:24:34','Well, they must be saying that the content is more important than the form so they won\'t play any shallow tricks on you to attract you with decoration within the spirit of the season just like everybody else does but will, instead, put their best clothing out and that will do the job.\nOf course, in order for this trick to work you should not scream that loud to people and to make them feel silly. And, besides, this ridiculous bold text and the wreath just hide the content...',0,'1','','',0,0),(1108,1600,'deia','deia@mail.bg','','213.130.70.154','2009-12-17 10:55:47','2009-12-17 07:55:47','haha, this is  so awesomely ridiculous :)))',0,'1','','',0,0),(1109,1595,'Doug Spangler','dspang3.@yahoo.com','','216.178.50.181','2009-12-17 18:56:07','2009-12-17 15:56:07','Carolyn,   What an insight into Bulgaria.  Imagine Blue Christmas lights.\nDoug\n\nAre they Blue Light Specials?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1110,1595,'Raya','raya.deleva@gmail.com','','78.90.4.184','2009-12-17 22:33:01','2009-12-17 19:33:01','Also part of the Christmas light decoration in Sofia (on the streets) stays the whole year, it is turned on during the holidays.\n\nIt is strange to see dirty \"snowflake\" in the summer...\n\nCan you share some pictures with US Christmas decoration? :)\n\nHappy holidays!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1111,1595,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.159','2009-12-17 23:07:04','2009-12-17 20:07:04','@Raya Of course! I\'ll see what I can do when I am home in the States next week.',0,'1','','',1110,0),(1112,1595,'Спас Колев','spas_kolev@frisomat.net','http://az-pitam.org/nk/','217.18.249.78','2009-12-18 09:46:28','2009-12-18 06:46:28','I\'m afraid that the blue decoration is not unrelated to the color of the ruling party. Reminds me of the houses that are repeatedly repainted in One Hundred Years of Solitude.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1113,1595,'sts','ap.stamov@hotmail.com','','96.51.88.230','2009-12-20 05:42:34','2009-12-20 02:42:34','there is this big bank/office building with really nice christmas lights on gm dimitrov/dragan tsankov. right next to gm dimitrov metrostation',0,'1','','',0,0),(1114,1608,'Deia','deia@mail.bg','','89.253.132.191','2009-12-18 00:07:45','2009-12-17 21:07:45','The performance was great :) You were all really good...though my camera failed before the end, so I get to film again tomorrow :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1115,1608,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2009-12-18 09:14:23','2009-12-18 06:14:23','@Deia Thanks so much for your comment!  I am glad to hear that we weren\'t as bad as I felt we were!',0,'1','','',1114,0),(1116,1608,'Sergio','sergio.sagu@gmail.com','http://sullamiastrada.blogspot.com/','94.26.48.9','2009-12-18 12:33:43','2009-12-18 09:33:43','We\'re impatient for the video! I want to see how much you\'ve improved since ИЧС. \"Bravo\" хоро! :D',0,'1','','',0,0),(1117,1608,'Robyn','robyndyanrusso@gmail.com','','164.106.138.236','2009-12-18 22:26:55','2009-12-18 19:26:55','I WISH I WAS THERE! You look amazing! And you know how much I loooooooooooooove folk dancing. Miss and love you!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1118,1608,'Robyn','robyndyanrusso@gmail.com','','164.106.138.236','2009-12-18 22:27:47','2009-12-18 19:27:47','PS: Nice earrings. I miss Istanbul!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1119,1608,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.159','2009-12-19 10:19:21','2009-12-19 07:19:22','@Robyn I wish you were there to see me too. You would have gotten a huge kick out of it.  And the earrings--I am not sure they actually go with the Bulgarian costume but they are lovely and I want to go back to Istanbul ASAP.',0,'1','','',1118,0),(1120,1608,'Doug Spangler','dspang3.@yahoo.com','','216.178.50.233','2009-12-19 18:06:57','2009-12-19 15:06:57','Karolinka,  You are the one with the blue eyes right?\nDoug',0,'1','','',0,0),(1121,1608,'connie','xhollybabi@hotmail.co.uk','http://www.facebook.com','94.101.164.1','2010-02-02 16:11:17','2010-02-02 13:11:17','THis was AMAZZINIGGG     . i  loved it   &lt;3         :):):)\n\n\n\nLoveYou x',0,'1','','',0,0),(1122,1625,'Ruth S.','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','72.147.155.209','2009-12-20 23:11:11','2009-12-20 20:11:11','Hmm, it may not be that your mom doesn\'t like busy trees so much as the fact that in Idaho in the 50s and 60s the trees came from the mountains.  They were tall enough, but they were wild and unkempt with plenty of holes for ornaments.  We even went to the forest one year when they opened it for tree hunting.  The snow was so deep we couldn\'t tell what we were getting.  Maybe this is all just nostalgia for the trees of your mother\'s youth! Here in Kentucky the traditional wild cedar trees that shed like mad are favored by some.  Jack and I favor Douglas fir, but none are to be had.  California had it\'s favored tree when we were there, a variety I can\'t remember the name of.  Now of course in this section of the country Fraser firs are the top tree. Hope you enjoy your tree this year no matter how tall, how thin or how skimpy.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1123,1634,'vlad','high@mail.bg','','212.117.42.164','2009-12-21 09:32:52','2009-12-21 06:32:52','You don\'t have to apologize, a lot of Bulgarians (me included) would have fared worse. Compound meter (see here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compound_meter_(music)) is a blessing and a curse. I was intrigued, however, by another feature in the video: the guys to the right in folk costumes AND Santa caps! Is this an attempt at creating a syncretic Holiday uniform, or just a funny whim?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1124,1634,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.159','2009-12-21 09:55:30','2009-12-21 06:55:30','@Vlad--Thanks! As for the santa hats, I am not sure. When it comes to high school boys it\'s never 100% clear to me what they are up to.  I think that they liked the contrast and the irony of it but maybe it was a simple as the fact that they were dancing at the Christmas concert and the hats had already appeared a number of times on stage on the heads of a range of different students.',0,'1','','',1123,0),(1125,1634,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','78.83.82.57','2009-12-21 13:35:21','2009-12-21 10:35:21','Good Job!! I personally don\'t see the fun in bg horo (dance), but I see you are having fun. Ihaaa',0,'1','','',0,0),(1126,1634,'мара','michonna@yahoo.com','','83.86.205.244','2009-12-21 14:02:11','2009-12-21 11:02:11','Oh, I loved this video, it\'s funny too, but in a really endearing way. You are doing a great job, by the way, it is some rather complicated horo they taught you, most of those I know are quite a lot simpler.\nFor me horo is great fun, I feel connected with the others, and it\'s so energizing! I am often wondering how foreigners feel about horo, and I\'m glad you are also having fun with it. :)\ncheers',0,'1','','',0,0),(1127,1634,'Katy','docandadrink@gmail.com','http://www.docandadrink.com','207.172.95.16','2009-12-21 22:41:13','2009-12-21 19:41:13','You are fantastic!  Thank you for sharing!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1128,1634,'Nick','nick@macheesmo.com','http://www.macheesmo.com','24.126.56.218','2009-12-22 00:38:54','2009-12-21 21:38:54','Worst performance of The Nutcracker EVER.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1129,1634,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','198.134.88.181','2009-12-23 00:36:39','2009-12-22 21:36:39','@Nick: Well, humbug. This is how we do things in Bulgaria. Nutcracker out of my way we\'ve got better things to do!!',0,'1','','',1128,0),(1130,1644,'Deia','deia@mail.bg','','92.247.13.10','2009-12-23 01:21:34','2009-12-22 22:21:34','it seems to me that you have way too much fun traveling :P\n\nbtw, it\'s not fair...WE never studied In Cold Blood...\n\nanyway, happy hollidays! enjoy the rest of the break :)\n\n\n...let it snow, let it snow, let it snow :D',0,'1','','',0,0),(1131,1644,'Deia','deia@mail.bg','','92.247.13.10','2009-12-23 01:22:37','2009-12-22 22:22:37','omg, I managed to misspell \"holidays\"... this is so embarrassing :D anyway...sorry for the spam :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1132,1644,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','68.189.140.223','2009-12-27 21:24:59','2009-12-27 18:24:59','I sort of like the first spelling - hollidays (or alternately Holly-days.)',0,'1','','',1131,0),(1133,1646,'Aunt Jane','jlaaker@centurytel.net','','207.118.126.74','2009-12-29 07:46:49','2009-12-29 04:46:49','that house always delighted you as a little girl!!!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1134,1723,'Andreytcho','blog@andreytcho.com','http://andreytcho.com','78.83.82.57','2010-01-02 00:53:18','2010-01-01 21:53:18','My parents do home made things because they know what\'s in them as in the ingredients. There are no E-212, E-643, E-323 etc to keep the things feel fresh, they are fresh or they are preserved by the stone age method, boil the shit out of it or whatever.\n\nIn America there is this big phenomenon in BIO that, Eco this for the sake of charging more for the product which you should have already been eating instead of the genetically modified crap America enjoys.\n\nYes home made is about survival, but it is also for being a connoisseur. BIO ECO fuck it, make it yourself to your liking, know what\'s in it and enjoy.\n\nLast night on New Years Eve people had bought Jamesson/Jack Daniels and other alcohol, but guess what was on everyones lips? Is there any (home made) Rakiya?\n\nFeel yourself invited for a tasting of homemade stuff at my house.\n\nHappy New Year to you and your family, waiting for you to get back HOME in Bulgaria.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1135,1723,'Audrey','ledgerja@donobi.net','','64.113.24.135','2010-01-02 03:32:51','2010-01-02 00:32:51','I like canning, freezing,and drying home grown fruits and vegetables.  I do it because I love to be out in the fresh air during the summer hearing the birds sing and the wind in the trees. I took a frozen fruit salad to a New Year\'s Day potluck and the hostess put the left over salad in a dish.  She didn\'t even ask if I wanted the left overs.  She wanted them.  Frozen strawberries, peaches, apricots, cherries, raspberries and blueberries taste good on a snowy, cold winter day.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1136,1739,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-01-01 11:40:17','2010-01-01 08:40:17','I really do like your stories,keep going.I wish I could  visit Walla Walla one day,seems so nice place to me...Happy New Year to you too!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1137,1746,'Amy','adenev16@gmail.com','http://sansreason.com','69.201.149.232','2010-01-02 19:16:07','2010-01-02 16:16:07','Glad you had a good visit back in the states. Looking forward to seeing what adventures Sofia has in store this year! Can\'t wait to get back there myself, and enjoy some of the best food I\'ve ever eaten! YUM!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1138,1746,'Ruth S.','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','68.18.90.195','2010-01-02 22:34:15','2010-01-02 19:34:15','Good Heavens, Carolyn! You arrive in Sofia Sunday night and go to work on Monday morning?  You are a better woman than I.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1139,1746,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','84.238.226.41','2010-01-03 13:37:23','2010-01-03 10:37:23','Can\'t wait for the new story...',0,'1','','',0,0),(1140,1751,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-01-04 21:08:39','2010-01-04 18:08:39','Creat to be back! I am really addicted to your blog:)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1141,1751,'dawsr','cimbrio@hotmail.com','','80.36.158.253','2010-01-05 14:15:23','2010-01-05 11:15:23','Hello Karolinkie!!! It\'s been ages since I\'ve posted, sorry for my absence, I recently wrote Maximilian an e-mail and I know I have to write to you, which I will do shortly, promised! Spending X-mas at home (off till next Monday; in Spain traditionally we get presents not on X-mas day -that\'s such an American thing-, but on January 6th, after Twelfth Night. Anyway, enough of Catholic propaganda). Hope you\'ve had a wonderful start this year, and hope you\'re as pleased this year as you were last. When Mum gets well I promised to go back, so I\'ll keep my promise.\n\nBig kisses',0,'1','','',0,0),(1142,1753,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','92.247.219.168','2010-01-06 00:59:16','2010-01-05 21:59:16','You need to play hookie and spend tons of energy \'somehow\' then a 9hr sleep would set you free :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1143,1760,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2010-01-06 19:33:00','2010-01-06 16:33:00','ами така е като не ми следваш добронамерените съвети :)\n\nI was in Istanbul for New Year. Very glad of the bargaining I did - came back with beautiful silver earings :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1144,1760,'Marina','marina.6o6ko@gmail.com','http://marinka-shoshko.blogspot.com/','212.72.194.230','2010-01-07 13:04:18','2010-01-07 10:04:18','Great post and great position you had. You were stronger than lot of bulgarian girls could possibly be.\n\nCheers!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1145,1760,'Mr Bean','bean@bean.com','','94.26.7.83','2010-01-09 15:33:06','2010-01-09 12:33:06','I thought this was going to be a 50 euro horror story\nYou argued about a couple of dollars?\nNo wonder the Septic Tanks (Yanks) are not welcome around the world',0,'1','','',0,0),(1146,1760,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.159','2010-01-09 16:07:15','2010-01-09 13:07:15','@Mr Bean The thing is, I get it, taxi driving isn\'t a glamorous job and it is just a few dollars.  But after 1.5 years in Bulgaria, I expect better from OK Taxi than having to quibble over the price of a taxi ride. I am a polite and considerate rider and I always leave a tip--something more than just the few cents required to round up a whole number--and I also wish drivers a good day/night accordingly.  In the grand scheme of things, I guess it\'s not much but it\'s what I do.  So, no it\'s not a post about a 50 leva ride but it\'s a post about my experience and disappointment.',0,'1','','',1145,0),(1147,1760,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','90.154.134.195','2010-01-10 00:04:31','2010-01-09 21:04:31','As a general rule to the airport go these  OK taxi drivers that are as of right now in desperate need to make some cash quickly. That\'s why you need to be extra firm with them. They are there with the mind set to cheat foreigners or Bulgarians that are not used to using taxi on a regular basis - students or people from the country.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1148,1760,'ro-tex','inovakov@gmail.com','http://ro-tex.blogspot.com','217.75.131.199','2010-01-28 12:39:21','2010-01-28 09:39:21','As an additional small hint - always look at the prices on the label in the tasxi and on its windows - there are companies that mimic the logo of OK and have much higher prices. Thing is, when they ask you to pay 10 times as much as normal you will *have* to pay - they offer a certain service on a certain price. So, just be careful. :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1149,1766,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.57','2010-01-07 18:37:26','2010-01-07 15:37:26','Being a pretty blonde helps, of course, but what else do you bring to the table? Describe your 5 top qualities ;-)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1150,1766,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-01-07 18:47:12','2010-01-07 15:47:12','As always,so pleasant to read!Here I go to write down mine resolutions.....',0,'1','','',0,0),(1151,1766,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','92.247.219.168','2010-01-07 19:41:24','2010-01-07 16:41:24','Frankly I don\'t think you would match up well with a bulgarian husband, unless he is on the soft side -  if you know what i mean :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1152,1766,'MoM','djemigh@wwcc.edu','','134.39.208.139','2010-01-07 20:44:54','2010-01-07 17:44:54','Hey - I already said it was OK to marry a Bulgarian if he is so rich that he can afford to provide many trips to the US and Bulgaria for all involved.\nMoM',0,'1','','',0,0),(1153,1766,'Charlotte','charlotte.emigh@gmail.com','','128.193.28.225','2010-01-07 22:09:03','2010-01-07 19:09:03','I like all of your resolutions, and your ambition. I also like that our mother, the least material person ever, has told you to find a RICH Bulgarian husband. Hah.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1154,1766,'Adopted Grandad','ellija.jack@gmail.com','','68.189.129.8','2010-01-08 03:22:11','2010-01-08 00:22:11','Thank goodness that your not-grandfather grandfather got out of bed for this blog.  I like the one about more photos, and about you doing more reading - but blog the notes on what you read.\n\nI have heard that Bulgarian husbands provide a good way of improving a girl\'s ability to speak Bulgarian.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1155,1766,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','90.154.134.195','2010-01-08 09:42:39','2010-01-08 06:42:39','Hey, Carolyn, you mentioned \"husband\", that is \"marriage\" and men immediately took a step back out of their advances. Typical. For men. Not Bulgarians in particular.\n\nWhy \"on the soft side\"? Carolyn would make a good wife. She is a good cook. And on top of that she has resolved to improve that even more. Guys, you don\'t seem to pay enough attention as you read :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1156,1766,'Robyn','robyndyanrusso@gmail.com','','164.106.138.220','2010-01-12 19:19:27','2010-01-12 16:19:27','I can help you with the travel resolution! I\'m done teaching June 27...let\'s get planning!!!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1157,1780,'Bridget','mullanski@yahoo.com','','71.126.12.93','2010-01-10 00:17:48','2010-01-09 21:17:48','Somehow I always had the feeling that DM (Germany) and Boots (UK) were far superior to boring old Walgreens or CVS. I\'m not sure if they actually were better, or if it was just the novelty of new products and different selection.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1158,1780,'Heather','hetobeto@yahoo.com','','69.214.159.199','2010-01-10 21:07:46','2010-01-10 18:07:46','Oh, I loved DM! Probably for the same novelty that Bridget described - of COURSE the German products were superior to the same American ones: they were in German! And possibly also in French and English, too! Such diversity! Man, it really is the little things, huh?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1159,1780,'Alice','alice22@hotmail.com','','87.120.68.129','2010-02-05 20:35:55','2010-02-05 17:35:55','From what I have read I can conclude that little things, such as a store can make you smile or even make your day! That\'s great! The people I know usually have so many things happening for them as living their lives, that they don\'t notice the good things in life- such as stores. You inspired me. Maybe if I stayed home and didn\'t go out with friends I would notice the little things in life. Keep on believing!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1160,1780,'la','la.lalait@gmail.com','http://','95.111.45.232','2010-02-10 09:50:02','2010-02-10 06:50:02','The first time i saw a women with a DM plastic bag and found out that the place is open in BG i just jumped off the bus and danced :) it\'s one of my most favorite shops for cosmetics, i fell in love with it when i lived i vienna',0,'1','','',0,0),(1161,1780,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-02-10 10:00:35','2010-02-10 07:00:35','@ La I can\'t agree more. I love the shop!',0,'1','','',1160,0),(1162,1786,'maria','maria_nacheva@hotmail.com','','93.184.31.36','2010-01-09 22:22:29','2010-01-09 19:22:29','I am in the opposite yet same life situation (Bulgarian living aboad) and was also overwhelmed by the article. Had to re-read it after a few days just to make sure I grasp all its ideas. The one that really struck a cord in my heart was that over time your home country changes so you become an exile even in it - and then it is all a bit of nostalgia....',0,'1','','',0,0),(1163,1786,'Svetlio Blyahoff','svetlio.blyahoff@gmail.com','http://pmmaanger.biz','84.238.196.115','2010-01-09 23:58:22','2010-01-09 20:58:22','Very nice post! I became interested of your blog and will keep an eye on it ;)\n\nBest Regards,\nSvetlio',0,'1','','',0,0),(1164,1801,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.22','2010-01-10 14:27:32','2010-01-10 11:27:32','Great.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1165,1801,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','92.247.219.168','2010-01-10 15:16:02','2010-01-10 12:16:02','1. Reading - People read what they want (freedom) it\'s silly to judge them on what it is. I can read Playboy or just hard core porn with pix and no one would give a fuck - HERE. While in America I may end up being hard cored in jail.\n\nSilly Bulgarian longing for freedom :)\n\n2.Coffee (normal espresso) is the right size. Americano crapicano is the wrong size and taste, hence БЛЯК is used to describe it when bulgarians are offered to drink it.\n\n3.Holidays are more common thing in Bulgaria, as well as vacation days as well as other things which capitalism has taken away from Americans. When you are \"forced\" to work a day off on a weekend it is beacause the jerks in the government want you to have more days in a row to relax and not give a fuck about your mundane life, but go somewhere for 3-4 days and chill the fuck out. Usually done by drinking with friends, while taking strolls in Thessaloniki like I did yesterday.\n\n4. Bank fees are fees, you know about them which is what is wanted. Not to get surprised. If you are complaining about the fees, think about people who make 300lv a month. Then you would know why people prefer cash. Also i think it\'s wrong to assume that this is different in America, you pay so much already as a human in America that the banks don\'t bother stealing from you .20cents at a time, they just lose your house in the market, leave you homeless and tell you to fuck off - you know, the kind thing to do.\n\n5. Pickled things - It\'s what you eat in winter with rakiya. You don\'t have to, but if you don\'t like it then you are better off eating Mcdonalds, much more healthy -haha\n\n\n\nAbsofuckinglutely,\n\nAndrey',0,'1','','',0,0),(1166,1801,'Bloodymirova','evladimirova@gmail.com','http://bloodymirova.blogspot.com','77.70.125.221','2010-01-10 15:24:45','2010-01-10 12:24:45','I hate working on Saturdays, I hate the bank fees and I hate the broken/missing sidewalks. Sometimes I really feel like changing my country but I am still hopeful that things might get better. (yeah, right...)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1167,1801,'Димитър','dimiter.dimitrov@gmail.com','http://dimiterd.blogspot.com','95.43.104.26','2010-01-10 16:19:16','2010-01-10 13:19:16','For the 2% American of you there is Starbucks :).',0,'1','','',0,0),(1168,1801,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','90.154.134.195','2010-01-10 16:49:11','2010-01-10 13:49:11','My man Andrey :)\n\nThe other day I felt very badly when I realized that the streets and the sidewalks in Istanbul were better and cleaner than they are in Sofia. Istanbul - oriental country. With some 12,5 million residents officially and unofficially + the tourists some would estimate that they could easily be 18 million. Sad. To have to come to this realization.\n\nOn the metro I was reading a modern novel from a Lebanese author I believe (Rawi Hage) and there was a sex scene in the novel. I realized that the guy next to me was also reading behind my shoulder. So I closed it. Some things I don\'t want to share. Then we all watched a teenage couple making out :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1169,1801,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','90.154.134.195','2010-01-10 18:37:51','2010-01-10 15:37:51','Haha I just come across this one:\n\nhttp://improveverywhere.com/2010/01/04/no-pants-subway-ride-2010-details-for-new-york/\n\n:)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1170,1801,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.159','2010-01-10 18:50:49','2010-01-10 15:50:49','@Helen: I heard about this last year. I think it\'s a very, very funny but I don\'t think I\'d want to sit in the NYC subway without my pants on.  Then I thought about doing it in Sofia and I realized I have no idea how the other riders in Sofia would react to it.',0,'1','','',1169,0),(1171,1801,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','90.154.134.195','2010-01-10 22:33:34','2010-01-10 19:33:34','Yep. Funny. It is not for everyone. The funny part it is that it is actually an American thing. Maybe in Sofia we do not need this kind of shocking moves since we are already that tolerant towards all kind of bizarre displays of authenticity. Being awfully intolerant at the same time. Go figure!\n\nFor sure I would not do it in the heck of winter.',0,'1','','',1170,0),(1172,1809,'Andreytcho','blog@andreytcho.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.195.201.87','2010-01-11 15:33:13','2010-01-11 12:33:13','Did you learn what it is called in bulgarian? Дюла :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1173,1809,'Amy','adenev16@gmail.com','http://sansreason.com','69.201.149.232','2010-01-11 16:32:34','2010-01-11 13:32:34','I remember the first time I ate a quince in Bulgaria. The taste is hard to describe, a bit strange, although I still enjoyed it!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1174,1809,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2010-01-11 18:01:14','2010-01-11 15:01:14','Actually, it is \"дюля\", as you would already know probably. I assume that the western dialects would have it \"дюла\" and ultimately maybe both forms are accepted.\n\nAnyway, this is one of my favourite fruit. But you have to wait for it to be fully ripe. It\'s better to put it on your refrigerator and wait some more. It\'s very good for jams that could be later used as staffing in some pie-like desserts. But you need to be careful with quinces when you make jams since they contain a lot of pectin and that would make the jam very gluey and firm - difficult to consume (the phrase that comes to my mind is \"difficult to penetrate\") - unless you heat it a little bit (that is put it in sweet pies) :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1175,1809,'Toto','antoaneta.stefanova@hotmail.com','http://twitter.com/MySisterOfNight','85.11.176.28','2010-01-11 20:50:33','2010-01-11 17:50:33','I\'ve never liked quince, really, no matter if it\'s raw or in a jam. Well, my grandma\'s quince pies are quite a different thing, but she\'s an amazing cook. Most of the grandmas are ;)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1176,1809,'bendyourcircuit','glutathione@gmail.com','http://bendyourcircuit.wordpress.com/','134.99.134.108','2010-01-11 23:39:10','2010-01-11 20:39:10','Mmm, chicken with quince! Like chicken with plums. It definitely sounds weird, but it\'s a great dish.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1177,1809,'venimus','venimus@gmail.com','http://venimus.wordpress.com','90.154.150.152','2010-01-12 01:38:31','2010-01-11 22:38:31','fail',0,'1','','',1172,0),(1178,1809,'Yo','yolina.stoyanova@gmail.com','','85.2.252.39','2010-01-16 12:03:53','2010-01-16 09:03:53','My grandma also used it for pies and jams only. Every time we wanted to eat a fresh one she used to say: \"Why quince, dear, don\'t we have enough apples!\"',0,'1','','',0,0),(1179,1806,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.40','2010-01-12 11:04:23','2010-01-12 08:04:23','You don\'t say much in this text, actually. Has it happened? Was the experiment successful? Did you grow personally?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1180,1806,'doriana','doriana@gbg.bg','','95.43.129.234','2010-01-12 12:06:25','2010-01-12 09:06:25','I quite understand the grumbling-complaining attitude which is part of the experience of living abroad: I found myself do the same when I happened to live in England for several months - there were tons of little oddities that irritated me mildly - like the separate hot and cold water taps etc.\nAnyway, the fact alone that this article has made you think and analyze and ask yourself questions is part of the explanation why you are able to feel well (at least most of the time) being a foreigner in a country so different from your own.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1181,1806,'Nicole','nicolemfischer@hotmail.com','','125.161.221.15','2010-01-14 20:19:03','2010-01-14 17:19:03','having relocated for a while from switzerland to indonesia for the fun of it, i, too feel the same doubts: is it ok to express negative thoughts / impressions / observations to locals? you don\'t want to be the one always complaining and especially when going from a more to a less developped country, you constantly have an inherent, well, lets call it \"shame\" anyway for being in a better position and having more choices available through less effort for no good reason. so the last thing you want to sound like a teacher.\n\nbut in fact, i remind myself that, back in switzerland, i have changed, improved actually, thigs in my life, even if small and not too important, inspired by friends who were telling how this or that is done differently, or better, in their countries. so i really think it\'s perfectly fine to be honest about disliking the local coffee, if you from time to time also express your euphria about your host country - and i am sure there is plenty to be euphoric about.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1182,1775,'bendyourcircuit','glutathione@gmail.com','http://bendyourcircuit.wordpress.com/','134.99.134.108','2010-01-13 10:22:49','2010-01-13 07:22:49','Personally, I think strange can be sweet sometimes. Besides, if the boys speak English it\'ll be both easier for you, and they will be more or less in your shoes (when you speak Bulgarian). I\'ll keep my fingers crossed for you!\n\nPS: Do you have trouble sleeping or do you have to get up very early in the morning? I\'m asking, because I noticed you posted this one around half past six ;-)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1183,1775,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','92.247.223.191','2010-01-13 11:16:05','2010-01-13 08:16:05','haha Karolinke :) You assume the man you are gonna flirt with doesn\'t know english (as bendy says) and also that he knows nothing about American culture and humor. BAD.\n\nMany of the people who you would find interesting and would want to flirt with, have been to america one way or another, or at least a foreign country, has seen many US tv shows ( and yes most of it is true what\'s in there, although some disagree about the CSI finding criminals so fast :P)\n\nI think that most men when they are drunk are easy to flirt with, because they think you are talking to them in another language anyway and they just smile and nod -- thinking man i am getting lucky tonight :P\n\nYou will do fine, although woman\'s psychology would suggest that the flirting for the new boyfriend of your friend would commence only when she is ready to go to the farm with white horses and cowboys with perfect bodies.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1184,1775,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2010-01-13 11:50:10','2010-01-13 08:50:10','Why bother to flirt? Men would come anyway. You just need to be a good listener. :)\nHowever, if you were a man and had to flirt in Bulgarian, you would have been in trouble with that amount of knowledge of the language. I don\'t particularly enjoy it being questioned. :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1185,1775,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-01-13 12:00:49','2010-01-13 09:00:49','@bendyourcircut Thanks the comments.  And about the timing, I am a teacher--my day starts at 7:45 am--bright and early.  Actually, I get up before the sun does which more often than not makes me wonder why I am awake.',0,'1','','',1182,0),(1186,1775,'George','georgi@gardev.com','','87.121.243.231','2010-01-13 12:35:23','2010-01-13 09:35:23','Hey,\n\nI agree with the comments above, a lot of the younger people in Bulgaria speak English more or less (like me) :) So there\'s always the chance that you\'ll meet someone who speaks English ;)\n\nAlso - \"... I’m completely lost when it come to Bulgarian pop culture...\". IMHO, Bulgarian pop culture is something that ceased to exist like 20 or more years ago :D So, don\'t worry about that.\n\nI\'ve been reading your blog for quite a while now and it\'s really interesting for me to see how a foreigner is doing in our not-really-great country. It\'s amazing how enthusiastic you are, living here, learning the language and everything..\n\nCheers :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1187,1775,'Elena','el4o2bear@gmail.com','','62.44.102.236','2010-01-13 15:57:45','2010-01-13 12:57:45','A way to go!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1188,1775,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.40','2010-01-13 18:48:37','2010-01-13 15:48:37','Well, just learn the phrase \"Let\'s leave the eyes do the talking\" in Bulgarian and leave it to body language from then on. ;-)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1189,1775,'Chris','chrpopov@gmail.com','','87.194.124.145','2010-01-13 21:22:33','2010-01-13 18:22:33','I have been unable to flirt with English girls here in England (I am Bulgarian), not even talk. I can flirt with other nationals, but with the English there is something wrong. I know the language but I don\'t have the same accent and the same interests which are very oriented towards pop culture and I am not into it.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1190,1775,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.159','2010-01-13 21:34:35','2010-01-13 18:34:35','@Chris it\'s interesting the way that other expats/people of nationalities other than the dominate often find each other.  Many of my friends here are Spanish, Czech, Japanese, Polish, English or Greek foreign nationals. I think there\'s something about being outside of and separate from the dominate culture that leads to this.',0,'1','','',1189,0),(1191,1775,'neycho','neycho.mihov@gmail.com','http://neychomihov2007.blogspot.com','94.236.131.165','2010-01-14 00:59:30','2010-01-13 21:59:30','Just have fun... It\'s most important thing ever and  the rest will follow! Good Luck! :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1192,1775,'miter','m24800@yahoo.com','','158.35.225.231','2010-02-13 02:07:18','2010-02-12 23:07:18','I have to agree with that - I live in the states, and my last three girlfriends were Bulgarian, Spanish and Russian...',0,'1','','',1190,0),(1193,1844,'oliviapruszko','omprus10@holycross.edu','','38.111.224.50','2010-05-05 00:27:18','2010-05-04 23:27:18','Hi!\n\nI am actually really happy I found your blog because 2 weeks ago I was offered a Fulbright ETA grant to Bulgaria! My dilemma is that I was offered a traveling/teaching job and now I need to choose between the 2 offers. I am a graduating senior from Holy Cross in MA so I kind of need something to do with my first year out of school. Anyway, I don\'t have a placement yet as to where in Bulgaria I\'d be but I would really really really appreciate any advice or a quick overview on your experience.  I have read many of your posts but I was wondering if you could at all sum it all up.  If you prefer to email me, that would work too: omprus10@holycross.edu\nAnything would be so helpful! Thank you!\n\nOlivia',0,'1','','',0,0),(1194,1844,'Tyler','tylerwasson@hotmail.com','http://tylerbulgaria.blogspot.com','62.176.106.225','2010-06-26 10:57:56','2010-06-26 09:57:56','Hello Carolyn,\n\nMy name is Tyler Wasson. I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bulgaria from August of \'07 until October of \'09, and am currently living in Burgas with my Bulgarian wife. I have been reading and enjoying your blog for the past few months.\n\nA couple of times you mention having lived in Walla Walla. I have to admit this really caught my attention - I\'m from Spokane! Anyways, I think you have my e-mail as it\'s required to leave a comment. I think it would be nice to meet you sometime and share experiences. I\'m sure you\'re busy so no problems if not. Also, feel free to check out my blog if you get time: tylerbulgaria.blogspot.com\n\nHope all is well in Sofia,\n-Tyler',0,'1','','',0,0),(1195,1844,'Hristina','shekina@abv.bg','','92.247.92.113','2010-07-01 15:55:41','2010-07-01 14:55:41','Hi Carolyn,\n\nIm Hristina from FASHION Magazine - we\'ve met a couple of months ago for a article i wrote for you and other expads is Bulgaria. Im doing a new article dedicated to Sofia and i want to ask you to write something for us. Please send me your mobile to call and explain you better or contact me asap on shekina@abv.bg or in my cell 0898858493\n\nThank you in advance :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1197,1844,'Zara','zara_yaneva@yahoo.co.uk','','85.130.1.183','2010-08-02 15:27:53','2010-08-02 14:27:53','Hi, Carolyn,\n\nMy name is Zara and I am an editor at a lifestyle magazine called ROUGE. I read some of your stories in your blog and I found them really inspiring and full of very nice sense of humor, so I suggested to my colleagues to invite you for a short interview, let\'s say, for our September issue. I can\'t say now what exactly the topic would be but I am pretty sure that there is so much that you could discuss and share.\n\nSo, in a nutshell, I \'d be happy if you get in touch with me on zara_yaneva@yahoo.co.uk to tell me how you feel about it.\n\nNice day and take care,\nZara:))',0,'1','','',0,0),(1198,1844,'Kirsten','kirsten4e@gmail.com','','125.39.172.255','2010-10-05 11:37:58','2010-10-05 10:37:58','Hi Carolyn,\n\nI really enjoy your blog! I was a peace corps volunteer in Bulgaria a few years ago and I love the country. I\'m teaching at a university in Shanghai, China right now, but I\'d love to return to Bulgaria eventually. Do you have any idea how difficult it is for non-EU citizens to find work there?\n\nCheers,\nKirsten',0,'1','','',0,0),(1199,1844,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','84.40.125.59','2010-10-06 05:15:17','2010-10-06 04:15:17','@Kirsten It\'s not so easy to find work as an expat in Bulgaria without EU citizenship. I mean it\'s do-able but you\'ve really got to get a work permit to be able to obtain permission to stay in country. ACS does some international hiring in January, February through the two big international teacher headhunting firms and I think that their jobs are posted on the school\'s website as well. So with a little research I am sure you can find something if that\'s what you want.',0,'1','','',1198,0),(3661,4132,'katley','katley99@yahoo.com','http://katleyplanetbg.blogspot.com/','71.192.135.187','2011-01-07 04:45:08','2011-01-07 02:45:08','beautiful pictures.  For me travel was the best part of living in Europe.  \r\nThe one thing I remember most about the Colosseum was crossing the street to get there,  tourists, even in the crosswalk, are fair game for Italian drivers....',0,'1','Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Windows NT 6.0; SLCC1; .NET CLR 2.0.50727; Media Center PC 5.0; .NET CLR 3.5.30729; .NET CLR 3.0.30729; .NET4.0C)','',0,0),(1201,1878,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','92.247.223.191','2010-01-15 11:30:47','2010-01-15 08:30:47','The medical expenses are a bit high if you ask me, how much Tylenol do you intake? :) If you are employed there is no additional cost to you for medical/insurance. So add 56 to MISC :)\n\nAlso average salary for Sofia is higher than the country so add 50-100lv.\n\nUsually 20 something don\'t live alone and share an apartment so ~160 is about right.\n\nI don\'t pay rent and spend more than 1000 lv a month, so it would be interesting to watch the progress on this exercise.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1202,1878,'nicole','nicolemfischer@hotmail.com','','117.102.108.76','2010-01-15 11:47:04','2010-01-15 08:47:04','if you get this figured out and decide to go through the self experiment, i think you should consider contaction some magazines / papers and trying to get your account of the adventure published.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1203,1878,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2010-01-15 14:30:09','2010-01-15 11:30:09','But she is not twenty - something, she is nearly thirty. At this age a girl should be living alone and making her own money to pay for rent and whatsover. Hell, people marry at this age and have kids, buy appartments with mortgage (it\'s not as if you could easily buy a house in Sofia) and some get shot, too.\n560 leva in Sofia is not enough to pay for the rent and electricity, heat, water, internet and cell phone bills. Maybe you should drop the internet at home altogether and ask all your friends to call you instead of you calling them.\n1000 leva is a reasonable amount to spend a month... maybe without going out. But of course at this age you should be making at least that amount of money in Sofia. And don\'t forget the income tax and health/social insurance contributions that are withdrawn from your gross salary.\nI assume you don\'t have to pay for your housing, do you?\nYou will fail. I challenge you :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1204,1878,'Svetlina','svetlina.vitanova@gmail.com','http://vitanova.wordpress.com/','84.242.191.2','2010-01-15 14:34:16','2010-01-15 11:34:16','Lol :)\nI`m twenty something. I share the flat. I pay 225lv for the rent and 50 more for bills (not including my tiiiiny phone bill).\nI`d like to add some more corrections. If u r below 26 and do not work and u r a student, u don`t pay for health insurances. And if u r a student in Sofia ur transport costs are just 21lv if u don`t travel after midnight or by a taxi.\nIf I were in ur shoes, I`d move ur Medical and insurance 	10% and Auto–transportation 	15% to the housing 33%.\n\nAnd I wish u luck with the challenge :-D',0,'1','','',0,0),(1205,1878,'ro-tex','inovakov@gmail.com','http://ro-tex.blogspot.com','217.75.131.199','2010-01-15 14:55:30','2010-01-15 11:55:30','This seems pretty interesting. I would love to see how you do (I\'m cheering for you, not against you, btw).\n\nUsually people with income around 600 do not drive a car and use public transport. A monthly card for all lines is about 50lv and you can get even below that if you\'re a student or use the bus just twice a day and use tickets.\n\nKeep us posted and good luck! :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1206,1878,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-01-15 15:01:30','2010-01-15 12:01:30','@helen: you\'re such a good close reader of my blog!  I am nearly thirty but nearly-thirty-something doesn\'t have quite the same ring to it at a twenty-something. And you make some really good points in this comment.  The truth is that I make a good salary teaching at the American College and I am paid in dollars.  Because of this, my experience in Sofia isn\'t really comparable but I\'d still like to challenge myself to see what life looks like if I were making approximately the same salary of an average Bulgarian. So, my question for you is this, if I were an average nearly-thirty-something living in Sofia do you think I\'d be making the 560L I suggested, the 610-660L suggested by andreytcho or would I be able to make 1000L a month that you\'ve suggested?',0,'1','','',1203,0),(1207,1878,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-01-15 15:05:09','2010-01-15 12:05:09','@ro-tex Thanks for the cheering! I have a hunch I am going to need it. I guess it\'s a good thing that I am terrified of driving in Sofia--so I don\'t own a car and I live close enough to work that I am able to walk most days.',0,'1','','',1205,0),(1208,1878,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2010-01-15 15:14:54','2010-01-15 12:14:54','Average, college-educated, nearly thirty, not working for the Government (ministries, agencies, schools, etc) should be making at least 1500 in Sofia.',0,'1','','',1206,0),(1209,1878,'Nicole','nicolemfischer@hotmail.com','','125.161.207.35','2010-01-15 15:37:03','2010-01-15 12:37:03','http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=111242\n\ncomments to this article suggest unisono that a bulgarian teacher earns around 700 leva',0,'1','','',0,0),(1210,1878,'Ivan','trentbg@gmail.com','','97.81.19.178','2010-01-15 19:12:57','2010-01-15 16:12:57','...So are we talking about the average in Sofia or Bulgaria, as we know Sofia is not Bulgaria, so we can not make that kind of compartment (for the people that suggested to increase the average amount of monthly income)\nMy personal opinion is that is almost the same if we take a 25 year old person in the States and same in Bulgaria.\nThe person in the States earns more money, but also have more expenses, and the person in Bulgaria earns less, but in 95% of the cases don\'t have to pay for rent, and usually lives with his/hers parents, so basically not paying for utilities or food as well, so the largest % of his/hers income goes for clothes, going out and transportation.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1211,1878,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','68.210.132.31','2010-01-15 19:42:47','2010-01-15 16:42:47','Average income is a strange concept when talking about a full range of ages and across the geographic spectrum as mentioned by several people above.  Many people in their twenties and slightly older are supporting at least one other person on their average income, often a child.  An income that might be sufficient for one person can be a real challenge for two or more. Here in the States I notice that young people do not always realize that the income that is okay for now will not be okay for later.  Because of that lack of foresight they don\'t plan ahead for an adequate income for a family.  This experiment is going to be interesting to watch, but knowing you and your background, I expect that you will ace this as creatively as you do most things. Keep us posted.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1212,1878,'Ivet','ivet13@gmail.com','','212.36.24.179','2010-01-19 13:03:29','2010-01-19 10:03:29','In my opinion if you\'re almost 30 years old, well educated and you are in Sofia most probably you live in a rented accommodation and receive around 1000 lv. per month (unfortunately there are young educated people in Sofia who work for 500-600 leva). Of course there are people who live with their parents, but to be 28 and still live with your parenst ?! (I can\'t even imagine it.) So here\'s my list:\nrent - 400 lv.\nbills (heating, electricity, water, internet, cell phone) - 150 lv.\ntransport - 50 lv\nSo you\'ll have 400 lv left for food, drinks, coffee, pocket money, cosmetics, sports, clothes, shoes, books or whatever you need to buy. What a challenge, ha?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1213,1878,'To be 30 in Moda and Sofia &laquo; Karolinka In &amp; Around Bulgaria','','http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/09/10/to-be-30-in-moda-and-sofia/','72.233.96.141','2010-09-10 13:56:07','2010-09-10 12:56:07','[...] I started getting older and older. In January a reader, reminded me that maybe I am not a twenty-something  considering the fact that I am almost 30. [...]',0,'1','','pingback',0,0),(1214,1888,'Bloodymirova','evladimirova@gmail.com','http://bloodymirova.blogspot.com','77.70.125.221','2010-01-16 12:14:33','2010-01-16 09:14:33','It\'s a matter of personal preferences. If I want to hear/talk to this person, as I haven\'t talked to them in a while and miss them, for example, I would surely call instead of message them. If I want to send information, but don\'t want to engage in personal conversation necessarily, then I would text. And of course, there is the case when you think a phone call would be inappropriate at the time - as the person might be in a meeting, or sleeping, etc.\n\nOr it could have something to do with budgeting, even. Most cell phone plans in Bulgaria include free minutes to pre-specified numbers (they call it friends and family) so it would be cheaper to call them than text (very few plans give you free texts). So if you are cautious about your phone bill,you\'re likely to put that in the equation.\n\nI hate voice mail. We\'ve never had an answering machine. Heck, we got our homeline when I was four (there used to be long waiting to get a phone line). Very few people had answering machines actually. So when I got my cell phone, the first thing I did was to turn off the voice mail. It took me a while to start getting more comfortable leaving voice mails for clients but I still would very rarely do it when calling a friend. I guess we\'re just not good at monologues :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1215,1888,'Bloodymirova','evladimirova@gmail.com','http://bloodymirova.blogspot.com','77.70.125.221','2010-01-16 12:17:58','2010-01-16 09:17:58','As a side note - did you hear about that girl in Pennsylvania, who won $25 000 from a texting contest? (yeah, I guess there is such a thing in the States). Apparently she got her training from sending out 8000 text messages per month, on average. Now that\'s scary :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1216,1888,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.32','2010-01-16 13:09:37','2010-01-16 10:09:37','I really hate talking on the phone, not only the cell phone. The useful information that is exchanged is really too little and too much time is lost. Of course I talk, when I want to hear someone\'s voice.\n\nAnd I don\'t really like answering the phone, because it\'s nearly always on business and somebody wanting something from me.\n\nThat\'s not exactly inspiring ;-)\n\nI also text before calling when it\'s maybe inappropriate to call. \"Is it ok to call?\" \"Call me if you are awake\" or simply \"Awake?\" or \"I am available\".\n\nI check my voice mail only if it is from an unknown number. Otherwise I just call back.\n\nYou\'re quite right about the answering machines. They were in scarce use only for 5-6 years in the nineties and that wasn\'t enough to build a culture.\n\nAnd last but not least, the first time Bulgarians really had a free access to the phone, it was the cell phone. The wired phone was a luxury for the whole 20-th century.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1217,1888,'beornours','beorn.ours@gmail.com','http://techatronic.wordpress.com','77.57.222.178','2010-01-16 13:42:33','2010-01-16 10:42:33','Love reading your blog, I am often thankful for finding out in your comments what I thought about Bulgaria when I was there. There is one thing that one should never forget about this country - the real Bulgaria and the real Bulgarians are buried deep under layer of mediocrity which was and is still being state promoted.\n\nSorry for the short off-topic. Now, I have to say that I am amazed at how quick you identified the reason for this peculiar relationship that this country has with phones. As most other things in it\'s daily life it has been heavily marked by the scars of this country\'s recent history. YOu have to know that up until the late 80s there were hardly any key-phones- most of them were rotary dial ones. The answering machine was something that hardly existed and even when you had one it made no sense in turning it on, because no one would leave you a message.\n\nI recall my father, who asked a friend of his why didn\'t he leave a message and just hung up. The honest answer was: \"How the hell should I know if and when you will listen to that thing. So if I call often enough, it is most probable that I reach you before you have had the time to check it.\"\n\nAlmost the same thing happened with mobile phones. Here the situation is a bit more disastrous. By now you have been already informed what a \"moutra\" (мутра) or a \"borets\" (борец) is. Well those were the first to be able to afford a mobile phone. You have to understand that it was a status symbol not only to have one but as well to be able to talk on it. So in the subculture of those people, were tactfulness, regard of the other, respect, restraint and civility are unknown notions, every occasion was good to show off. Keeping up with the best traditions of modern Bulgaria, when the mobile phone was not a luxury anymore, the masses did not create a new code for using the phone (any phone, as a matter of fact), and the really intelligent, polite and civilized people have failed yet again to influence the rest. So there you go. That is why obnoxious ringtones are to be heard everywhere and leaving the mobile on the table in the restaurant is a national sport.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1218,1888,'bendyourcircuit','glutathione@gmail.com','http://bendyourcircuit.wordpress.com/','134.99.134.108','2010-01-16 15:23:29','2010-01-16 12:23:29','Well, your students are probably texting so much in class, because they can\'t call the person they\'re texting with. Perhaps texting is the middle ground between leaving a voice message (which they won\'t do anyway) or calling (which would be totally inappropriate since they\'re in class). If they could, they would definitely call, but they can\'t, which is why they\'re texting instead.\n\nI think it\'s all about relative advantages. What\'s similar between voice mail and texting is that you don\'t reach the person directly the way you do when you call him/her. The difference is that you don\'t have to call a number in order to check your messages, you just receive them directly on your phone. This, combined with the basically non-existent practice of using answering machines (I remember how confused my father was when we got a new phone that had an answering machine built in it -- the first thing he did was to switch it off) may be the answer to your question.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1219,1888,'Iliyan ILF Stoyanov','ilf.stoyanov@gmail.com','http://www.ilfsworld.com','95.87.231.36','2010-01-16 16:02:24','2010-01-16 13:02:24','Actually voice mail and/or answering machine got obsolete, when the mobile phone was introduced. The whole idea of leaving a message on a land-line was that you can\'t really pick up the phone and carry it around. When the mobile phones got introduced the answering machine was no more needed. Actually if you check around you\'ll find out that only Americans and Canadians are using voice mail on their mobile. It never picked up in Japan, it never did in China or Europe. Hell, why not answer your phone or call back if you are in a meeting? If you go with the excuse that you forget your phone to often, why getting a mobile (meaning you can carry it around) phone at all?\n\nHowever, when it comes to texting Bulgaria is on par with the rest of Europe, not the States, but Europe. Yes there are some of us, that love to text, but you hardly see people excited about it, so when you text, you do it with 2 or 3 people from your contact list.\n\nAnd what about Internet, with today phones, being smart ones, do your students use their browsers or messengers, do you, do Americans? I always have my twitter on, I regularly check my FaceBook and have at least two of my messengers on on my cell phone.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1220,1888,'Amanda','amandichke@gmail.com','','77.85.7.133','2010-01-16 21:24:03','2010-01-16 18:24:03','I noticed this almost as soon as I came here in August. In fact, I never ended up setting up voicemail on my phone - not sure the little 10-leva thing even has the option? At first I was like \"okay, fine, I can get used to this.\" Except eventually I realized that if someone is calling for something important (i.e. the lawyer\'s office who was helping with my lichna karta), and they can\'t or won\'t leave a voicemail, they just keep calling. And calling and calling. So if you\'re sleeping/napping/taking a minute away from the world/your phone, you have to give it up and answer the phone. Or turn it on silent, but then of course, you could miss said important information. Or unimportant, depending on the situation.\nIt\'s interesting the way this culture of cell phones/ non-culture of leaving messages makes for an annoying assumption that one ought to be accessible by phone 24 hours a day. For most cultural differences between the States and Bulgaria I can fairly easily say \"mm hm, I can definitely see how you would look at it that way,\" but I\'ve always had a hard time with this one.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1221,1888,'doriana','doriana@gbg.bg','','87.121.52.68','2010-01-17 19:13:36','2010-01-17 16:13:36','Can you give me an example of a country which is not \"buried under a layer of mediocrity\"? That would be interesting to find out.',0,'1','','',1217,0),(1222,1888,'debbie solum','dlsolum@aol.com','','65.103.155.126','2010-01-17 19:49:05','2010-01-17 16:49:05','Interesting that you talked with your students about this. My students who are 12 to 14 years old have discussed similar topics. They have concluded that the problem with texting is that the tone is tricky. It is difficult to tell if a texter is being sarcastic, supportive, or just plain mean because the message is so short. Many have experienced misunderstandings with friends due to misinterpretation of text messages. Or even ended up at the wrong place due to misinterpretation of spelling! They love texting and are constantly on their phones, even in the same room, but all acknowledge that it can cause problems. The other issue is sending a text on someone else\'s phone without their knowledge. There have been several instances where it was a prank but there were hurt feelings because of a text. I think this kind of behavior is not new, in the past notes were sent in someone else\'s name, but it continues to be hurtful. Communication is filled with human angst regardless of the mode of transmission! After all, we all view language through our own lens of experiences and misinterpretation is probable. But, given that, at least with a voice and body language to add more information, we have more to help us get the truer message. Same problems, different century, different technology!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1223,1888,'Valerie','valerie.goode@gmail.com','http://www.vgoode.blogspot.com','213.226.1.206','2010-01-17 20:26:50','2010-01-17 17:26:50','Hey, it\'s Valerie - one of the Peace Corps Volunteers.  I\'ve enjoyed reading your blog! The cell phone phenomena in BG amazes me and drives me nuts at the same time.  (From one of your older posts... you should try living on the average Bulgarian salary. It\'ll get you in check real quick!)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1224,1888,'beornours','beorn.ours@gmail.com','http://techatronic.wordpress.com','77.57.222.178','2010-01-18 05:29:13','2010-01-18 02:29:13','Wow, someone\'s offended. There\'s plenty, but it seems to me that you think that the chalga mediocrity is better than the other ones, so I\'m off this one.',0,'1','','',1221,0),(1225,1888,'nicole','nicolemfischer@hotmail.com','','117.102.111.103','2010-01-18 09:14:56','2010-01-18 06:14:56','calling your mailbox to listen to your messages is not free in every country / with every operator, so in such a case, sening a text (sender pays) is more polite than leaving a voice messgae (receiver pays)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1226,1888,'Nick','nick@macheesmo.com','http://www.macheesmo.com','208.73.109.10','2010-01-18 17:57:16','2010-01-18 14:57:16','Text when your in school and your teacher is watching... otherwise call.\n\n:)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1227,1888,'Jeff J','jefftjewett@yahoo.com','','213.130.70.154','2010-01-18 19:07:54','2010-01-18 16:07:54','Interesting discussion, Caroline. I was sort of surprised when the cell phone salesman didn\'t really know how to set up voicemail on my phone, and didn\'t really have any idea why I would want to do it in the first place. I still haven\'t set it up, which is weird to me. I appreciated the insight from you (and others) about the connection between the lack of landlines &amp; answering machines and the current lack of interest in voicemail.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1228,1888,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-01-18 22:18:58','2010-01-18 19:18:58','Dear beornours,\n\nI\'ll admit that the truth hurts,but your stingy tongue is not making any good,except of annoying and insulting most of the bulgarian readers of Karolin\'s blog.It\'s kind of unffair to judge so easily and to put evryone under one common  criteria,it\'s your point of view of course.The truth is that we can not expect to have voice mail culture when we do not have the chance to use answer machines,but it\'s not our fault,I guess,it\'s just the way the things were in our recent history.I don\'t blame anyone,but mediocrity,PLEASE,this is rude.There are a lot of pros and cons when discussing what is best-making a call,sending a short mesage or leaving a voice mail and you know what it so much depends.I am so slow when typing sms,that it drives me crazy and what I simply prefer is to make a phone call.I realize that my lazyness is not a good excuse,but here I am proud phone call maker:).Bla,bla,too mch words and nothing in the end.My point is that it\'s up to YOU.You are the one who is making the choice,so whatever your decision is,it has to be WISE.And moreover before making a call,sending sms or leaving voice mail THINK what suits the person,you are trying to reach best.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1229,1888,'beornours','beorn.ours@gmail.com','http://techatronic.wordpress.com','77.57.222.178','2010-01-19 00:28:24','2010-01-18 21:28:24','Look, first try to understand my comment, before you get annoyed. Since you don\'t seem to grasp the concept of different topics in a same comment I\'ll break it down for you: 1. The first paragraph was a general comment about the real Bulgaria, which was actually a compliment, but if you insist in recognizing yourself in the other group, I cannot argue with you. 2. The second paragraph was me agreeing that voicemail habits are connected to answering machines and that those were and still are practically inexistent in your country.\n\nNo talk about whose \"fault\" it is (puhleaaaase, we\'re not third graders, to look for the one who made an error; \"try to be part of the solution, don\'t point fingers\" is a principle I always have respected). So basically this second part was a rant about the mobsters and again, if you feel like being offended by that it\'s fine by me.\n\nWith that this discussion is concluded for me. If some other offended party wants to explain their indignation and annoyance with my obnoxious person, please do it via my blog and don\'t extend this discussion here. Carolyn, sorry for trolling.',0,'1','','',1228,0),(1230,1888,'miter','m24800@yahoo.com','','158.35.225.231','2010-02-13 02:31:59','2010-02-12 23:31:59','There you go ;) And it\'s universal rule too, I\'d think, haha!',0,'1','','',1226,0),(1231,1899,'Stefan','watashi@abv.bg','','212.117.62.161','2010-01-18 23:15:10','2010-01-18 20:15:10','Hi,\nJust curious, completely off-topic,\nwhat happened to your \'blog at least once a week in Bulgarian\' deliberation, eh? ;)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1232,1899,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','92.247.223.191','2010-01-18 23:32:25','2010-01-18 20:32:25','The world needs America!!! - no matter what the world says!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1233,1899,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','68.210.132.31','2010-01-19 15:44:20','2010-01-19 12:44:20','\"We’re EU members and have Peace Corps volunteers.\" Carolyn, you have become a Bulgarian in that \"we.\"  Nice.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1234,1899,'Valerie','valerie.goode@gmail.com','','213.226.1.206','2010-01-20 19:23:12','2010-01-20 16:23:12','Thanks for the shout out! FYI, I put a link to your blog on mine!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1235,1899,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.159','2010-01-20 23:01:35','2010-01-20 20:01:35','@Valerie Of course! It was great to meet you. Also, I hope that you had a better second night in Sofia than the first re: the hostel.',0,'1','','',1234,0),(1236,1908,'MoM','djemigh@wwcc.edu','','134.39.208.139','2010-01-20 00:20:06','2010-01-19 21:20:06','Thank you for making my day feel a little less \"ungood\".  I hope your knees are OK - I know your pride is or you wouldn\'t have posted.\nLove, MoM',0,'1','','',0,0),(1237,1908,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-01-20 09:05:55','2010-01-20 06:05:55','There was really someting wrong with yesterday!It was  double plus ungood day for me either.All I did in the university was let\'s say meaningless and on the top of all this I lost my wallet or perhaps I was robbed and  in the end my wallet is gone....Blah....Thanks for listening to me,let\'s wish a better day today!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1238,1908,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.159','2010-01-20 23:02:43','2010-01-20 20:02:43','@ Elena--hope that you had a better day today than yesterday!! I\'d never wish a double-plus-ungood day on anyone but there\'s a part of me that\'s glad to learn I wasn\'t alone.',0,'1','','',1237,0),(1239,1906,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','92.247.223.191','2010-01-20 23:18:23','2010-01-20 20:18:23','Very good Bulgarian. Only 3 tiny mistakes.\n\nWhen you do something that someone else does you don\'t have to repeat the whole thing, you can say I do too, or I do as well. Тя обича да танцува и аз също.\n\nI think someone corrected you last time.\n\nАвтобус - contains no Ф but В as in AВТО = AUTO\n\nAnd the other thing is too complicated to explain but it has something to do with possessive shit -\nАз не знам кой е любимият и цвят.\nShould have Й intead of И.\n\nHer favorite color = Любимият й цвят.\n\nKeep it up !',0,'1','','',0,0),(1240,1906,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.159','2010-01-20 23:33:59','2010-01-20 20:33:59','@Andreycho--thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!  I also owe a few thank-yous to the students at school I made look over my post today.',0,'1','','',1239,0),(1241,1906,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.34','2010-01-20 23:48:24','2010-01-20 20:48:24','You are getting better! Just two little things - to be perfectly correct, you should use ѝ (accented и) instead of й (short и). Lately, people use й, because their keyboards lack ѝ.\n\nThe other thing - Тя е малка момиче should be Тя е малко момиче. Момиче is neutral grammatic gender, it sound illogical, but that\'s the way it is, sorry ;-)\n\nOtherwise  great job, great improvement.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1242,1906,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.34','2010-01-20 23:54:30','2010-01-20 20:54:30','sounds illogical ;-)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1243,1906,'bendyourcircuit','glutathione@gmail.com','http://bendyourcircuit.wordpress.com/','134.99.134.108','2010-01-21 00:22:19','2010-01-20 21:22:19','Hey, way to go!\n\nOne more thing (though it\'s not that important) - in Bulgarian you don\'t have to have a subject in each sentence, because it\'s clear from the verb form if it\'s you or somebody else who\'s speaking, playing, cleaning etc.\n\nHere\'s an example:\n\n(Аз) ходя на училище = Ходя на училище.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1244,1906,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.159','2010-01-21 07:51:04','2010-01-21 04:51:04','@Komitata Ah, good to know I sat at my computer last night trying to find the ѝ so as not to be half-assed about things but when I started thinking getting frustrated with the placement of the ж (why are you the v key rather than the j key?), в (likewise, why is this the w key rather than the v?) and ц (I know we don\'t haven\'t an equivalent in English but the c key?! I can\'t count how many times I typed ц when I really wanted a c).  This is when I gave up looking for the  ѝ.  There\'s only so much time a girl wants to spending trying to figure things like this out for a 7 line post in Bulgarian. Even though I am inclined to perfectionism.',0,'1','','',1241,0),(1245,1906,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.159','2010-01-21 07:55:32','2010-01-21 04:55:32','@bendyourcircuit--I am better at this when I am talking. Maybe. But when I look at it in writing it seems totally strange to me.  So if I have a съм I need to to have a pronoun but otherwise I don\'t need to repeat the pronoun given the fact that the verb tenses conjugate differently--this I know. At least in theory.  Application of said rule is probably spotty. But in writing--what\'s the style rule?',0,'1','','',1243,0),(1246,1906,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.2','2010-01-21 14:30:37','2010-01-21 11:30:37','@karolinka27 - It seems to me that you use the Phonetic Bulgarian keyboard layout, which historically originates from the beginning of 80s, when nobody really cared about spelling on computers (the computers were badly pirated Apple II, and the layout was made by an anonymous German speaking IT specialist, who felt that В = W, and Й = J, and V as a spare letter should be given Ж ;-)), so you don\'t have ѝ on your keyboard. You are free to replace it with й at your choice. My advice was meant for the cases when you do have a choice - for example when writing in hand.\n\nThe other option is the Bulgarian Standard keyboard layout, but that would be too difficult for you, since it\'s built around the specific needs of Bulgarian speakers, making typing faster and more ergonomical, but placing the letters on most unexpected places.  Actually my present keyboard is the first that has ѝ and I take pleasure in using it.\n\nKeep up the good work, we are here to help!',0,'1','','',1242,0),(1247,1906,'redd','none@none.com','','87.126.128.132','2010-01-22 17:19:51','2010-01-22 14:19:51','A general rule you can follow is to use a pronoun only to introduce the person you\'re referring to or to specify the subject.\n\nIn theory you can rewrite your entire post without using a single pronoun :)\n\nCheck this:\nИмам нова приятелка.  Kазва се В.  Mалкo момиче е.  На четири и половина години е.   Дъщеря на моя колежка е.\n\nHowever, this sounds odd and would require at least some introduction:\nИмам нова приятелка.  Тя се казва В.  Mалкo момиче е.  На четири и половина години е.   Дъщеря на моя колежка е.\n\nSee if you can figure it out so far.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1248,1906,'Dimitar','shadowmarn@gmail.com','','89.215.161.37','2010-01-23 01:03:22','2010-01-22 22:03:22','Nice post! You should write those bulgarian posts more often. I like them!\n\nAnd for the ѝ - don\'t search for it on the keyboard, because it\'s a combination. So when you are on BG layout on your keyboard you can hit Shift + X (which is ь), and with the Shift it becomes ѝ.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1249,1917,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-01-21 22:37:40','2010-01-21 19:37:40','A nice whiff of positive thinking coming from the written above!Close your eyes and enjoy!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1250,1917,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','68.189.128.124','2010-01-22 05:06:14','2010-01-22 02:06:14','Yes, spring will come - is coming in fact.  Today I noticed that the day was noticeably longer.  Daylight, I love you!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1251,1925,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.2','2010-01-22 15:59:15','2010-01-22 12:59:15','I think that you are too low on medical and insurance in both cases. Of course, this is if you count your salary before or after taxes, which is not quite clear in the text. Usually salaries in Bulgarian statistics are given before taxes.\n\nUnfortunately, I do not know the exact percentage, but I pay considerably more for these things. Entertainment and clothing is also questionable, being too low, if you plan some entertainment and vacations outside Sofia.\n\nQuite a large amount of my expenses are communications and Internet - two land lines, two mobile phones, an internet line,  and cable, but I guess I am not the typical case, typically they must spend at least 50 leva. Many young professionals in the upper scale (case 1) drive second hand cars, which amount to more expenses.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1252,1925,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.2','2010-01-22 16:00:14','2010-01-22 13:00:14','One more thing - No way dental help is in these numbers in both cases.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1253,1925,'nv','nikolay@vladimiroff.com','','95.111.28.23','2010-01-22 16:22:26','2010-01-22 13:22:26','Medical insurance will be included in your salary if not, about 6% is reasonable. The housing expenses can be cut significantly.\nShare a rent of a nice flat with friends close to where you work. This will cut bills and transportation.\nA very nice small flat in nice neighbourhood(Vitosha)  for 2 will be around 300L per person. And the bills will be about 60 per month - inc. water(5), electricity(20), hot water(20), internet(10).\n\nThe food cost is greater than you think. You\'ll need at least 10lv. per day and in real life it goes to about 400 L per month.\n\nThe entertainment and clothing budget is extremely low.\nFor example a new pair of shoes will cost you around 150lv.\nAnd don\'t buy anything cheap, you\'ll regret it in a month or two.\n\nSo 1200 per month a realistic goal. You can live even with 800 but you\'ll have to cut all the clothing, entertainment, savings, etc. less than 1000 is hard for more than 3-4 months.\n\nRent and bills 	300 rent, 60 bills\nFood 	400 L\nTransportation 	40 L\nEntertainment and clothing 	200 L\nDebts and Savings 	100 L\nMisc. 	100 L',0,'1','','',0,0),(1254,1925,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.195.201.87','2010-01-22 16:24:30','2010-01-22 13:24:30','To make things simple - 1000/700 is after taxes.\nYoung people don\'t get sick with serious illnesses, so budget is adequate.\n\nFebruary 1st approaches and it\'s the best month to do this experiment as it has less days. Get goin\' girl!!!\n\nI would be surprised with either one not finishing with signs \"will do anything for food\" around your neck :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1255,1925,'Svetlina','svetlina.vitanova@gmail.com','http://vitanova.wordpress.com/','84.242.191.2','2010-01-22 19:20:37','2010-01-22 16:20:37',':) the thing that you are missing is that you are a girl and you don`t need/want to have savings (at least not when you are twenty something). I`d add them to the food cause with your current plan you are going to starve.\nBy the way my shoes cost 39lv and my winter boots cost 93lv. In case somebody needs that precious info :-P',0,'1','','',0,0),(1256,1925,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','134.39.208.139','2010-01-22 20:22:15','2010-01-22 17:22:15','I have the giggles - pretty bad!\nClearly everyone thinks about budgets differently.  I just can\'t wait to see you standing at the street corner with a sign saying \"will do anything for food.\"\nand I agree with Andreytcho - do this in February!\nMoM',0,'1','','',0,0),(1257,1925,'Svetlina','svetlina.vitanova@gmail.com','http://vitanova.wordpress.com/','79.132.29.231','2010-01-22 20:46:44','2010-01-22 17:46:44',':) I`m with MoM :) Do it in the shortest month :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1258,1925,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','68.210.132.31','2010-01-23 03:23:39','2010-01-23 00:23:39','I\'m with MoM, laughing!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1259,1925,'Gogo','gmoldi@gmail.com','','94.26.12.138','2010-01-23 16:43:11','2010-01-23 13:43:11','One more thing - I\'ve read all comments and still haven\'t seen anything about heating. Central (or electrical) heating takes a very big part of monthly bills - still it\'s cold outside so definitely you\'ll need to account this too. Here is an example of using space heater for 4 hours a day - it will cost about 30-40 leva for a month.\n\nAlso the food - on theory you can live with 4 leva per day - you can cook very simple vegetarian dishes and eat only at home. At work you have to prepare something like a sandwich with two slices of bread and one more slice (of bread) to put in between :(\n\nI\'ve always said that bulgarian families that live with an income around 500-600 leva per month (300 leva per person - yes unfortunately there are such low salaries in Bulgaria) deserve a Nobel Price in Economics. And if you add to this family one or two children...\n\nSo, I\'m not trying to tell you that your initiative will not work - it\'s just that it will be very hard and of course that you\'ve always an escape plan B. Good luck!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1260,1936,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.2','2010-01-23 17:31:10','2010-01-23 14:31:10','Don\'t blame yourself for being an outsider, you are doing more about getting an insight of your life than many people living here do for all of their lives.\n\nI am looking forward for the result of this experiment.\n\nPS. After all it cannot be all bad carrying a sign \"Will work for food\". You\'ll get used to it in a week maximum ;-)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1261,1936,'Andreytcho','blog@andreytcho.com','http://andreytcho.com','92.247.223.191','2010-01-23 22:33:23','2010-01-23 19:33:23','Outsider is a bit strong, after all you do have bulgarian friends. These days liking any american is hard to do, so I am sure you are a jewel in any bulgarian\'s book.\n\nOh and this cooking for one is kinda depressing to read, sounds as if you are 70, all alone in this world and just waiting to die.\n\nIMHO a boyfriend is needed to cheer up this situation :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1262,1936,'Matt','mthomp28@gmail.com','','24.121.104.116','2010-01-23 22:34:40','2010-01-23 19:34:40','Carolyn,\n\nBravo to you for doing this experiment. If you haven\'t already, you should talk to some current Peace Corps Volunteers about how much they live on. I recall (back in 2004-06) I received a stipend of 300 leva per month. My apartment was paid for (100 leva) and so were my utilities (I have no idea what that cost -- but it could not have been much since we didn\'t have central heat nor did I have any air conditioner). Every few months we received travel money (50 leva) so we could come into Sofia for meetings. I also forgot that our healthcare was paid for by PC, so I didn\'t have to pay for that.\n\nI found that is was very easy to live on that amount.  I was able to save around a quarter of that money each month and put it away for vacation. Then again, I lived in a town of 3,000 people in the middle of nowhere. I walked everywhere. Food selections were limited. Many people gave me veggies or fruit during the warm months or fed me in their home. I rarely ate out (there was only one restaurant). So I suppose it\'s not really a fair comparison to those who live in Sofia.\n\nObviously, it\'s more expensive to live in Sofia (I found that out last year), but it is possible to live on little in Bulgaria still. Fruits and vegetables are ridiculously cheap. Transport costs little. Alcohol is inexpensive. I know food prices have (comparatively) skyrocketed in the past few years, but Bulgaria is still cheap place to live.\n\nThe problem I saw with young people trying to make a living is that no one had the means to save enough money for investments, vacations, large purchases, etc. They were always just getting by. I suppose the same can be said for many people in the US as well.\n\nGood luck!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1263,1936,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.245','2010-01-24 17:37:17','2010-01-24 14:37:17','Yes, exactly! Please, stop feeling guilty for being different/an outsider. This would have been a problem if you were judging the rest based on your understandings. But you are not. You are trying to understand them/us. And you are doing quite well, I have to admit.\n\nThe rest turned out to be off-topic:\nThe reason why I follow your blog is that you say \"I like this, but I don\'t understand that, and I don\'t like it\". But the way you say it always helps me understand what is exactly is that you don\'t like, why you don\'t like it, how you would expect it to be. It helps me understand myself, because I also happen to wonder about these things, but being an INsider I cannot evaluate the whole picture.\nAnd you always say it somehow benevolently. Even not patronizingly, which is the case of many of the Americans who happen to teach in Bulgaria, not to mention those are clearly aggressive in their self-assertion.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1264,1936,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.245','2010-01-24 18:11:47','2010-01-24 15:11:47','Ah, yes, I forgot to mention an important point:\nIt is impossible that you starve in Bulgaria. People there/here (ok, I study in Germany which makes Bulgaria \"there\" rather than \"here\", but still I am a Bulgarian so it sounds very strange to write \"there in Bulgaria\") have developed their own safety net. It consists mainly of friends and of friends of friends but generally my observations show that we help each-other a lot. I\'ve had a friend (in the sense of someone you know, rather than someone who is your best friend) staying over at my place in Bremen because he had to stay for another week at the university but he had to leave his flat, a friends of a friend and her father went to a concert here and we provided accommodation, a friend of mine was refused a visa for Switzerland about 2 days before she left for her internship so she had to share a mattress with me (because I was in the process of moving to another place) for a week until she could arrange for a place to stay in Berlin and do her internship there. On the other hand, I always have someone to call if I need something in the Netherlands, Paris, Barcelona, Valencia, London, Gdansk, Milano, Saint Louis, Romania, Germany, Bulgaria...\nSo, I think that Bulgarians tend to help each-other more than people from your culture. With this I do not mean that you don\'t help each-other at all, I just mean that it would be a bit weird for you to let, for instance, me sleep on your couch for a night if I get stuck in Sofia while I would find it absolutely normal if you just call my mobile one day and say \"Hi, I am the author of Karolinka in and around Bulgaria, could you arrange for a bed for me?\" I would just ask you what you drink because I would not miss the opportunity to gather some people and listen to some funny stories from the place we call home. :)\nOf course, we have some success in educating Germans in this \"You can rely on me not only when your boyfriend leaves you, but also when you turn out to be HOMELESS\" friendship thing, and I am sure that there are many Bulgarians, especially in Sofia, who would rather leave you in the cold than let you sleep next to their shoes in the hall of their flat. So I would totally believe if your observations differ from mine. It could be just my own mind setup because being students abroad, my friends and I can rely only on each-other - without the family in the home-town and the extended family in every possible region of the country.\n\nBut I dare you to starve! :P',0,'1','','',0,0),(1265,1936,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.159','2010-01-24 22:46:11','2010-01-24 19:46:11','@TAfricanski Thank-you for your kind comments and insight on life inside and outside of Bulgaria.  I often think that this is a wonderfully confusing and complex country and I enjoy unraveling the place as carefully as I can.',0,'1','','',1264,0),(1266,1936,'kathaireinv','jessyp7889@gmail.com','http://','74.88.142.179','2010-02-28 21:04:40','2010-02-28 18:04:40','TAfricanski, I\'ve heard the same thing about Bulgarians....what a beautiful, selfless thing to do! :) Things are so vastly different here, especially in New York, where \"people are rude/don\'t talk to other people/don\'t know their neighbors\" and all the other commonly heard classifications.\n\nI also think it\'s great that you can budget yourself so well. It\'s definitely not the easiest thing to do but I feel like being independent teaches you a lot of self-reliance really quickly. It\'s incredibly hard to budget here in NY, and in America in general, I think. Kudos to you for having a plan and sticking to it, Carolyn! Total role model ;) (And seriously, Bulgaria doesn\'t get enough credit or recognition...From what I hear/read about it, I think its absolutely wonderful.)',0,'1','','',1264,0),(1267,1936,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.198','2010-02-28 21:13:38','2010-02-28 18:13:38','The people in Sofia are generally the same as in New York — rude, selfish and alienated. I live in this flat for 12 years, still I am not sure how do all my neighbours look like. And the safety net - It\'s mainly due to larger families, and ties from the university... This has a negative connotation as well - corruption. You have to maintain some friendships in order not to bribe.\nAnyway, I like the fact that you find Bulgaria amusing.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1268,1936,'kathaireinv','jessyp7889@gmail.com','http://','74.88.142.179','2010-02-28 21:47:08','2010-02-28 18:47:08','Komitata,\n\nThat would make some sense, thankfully, I would like to think I make friends quickly ^__^ haha. I find that some things said about New Yorkers, are true as well, so I don\'t get defensive when they\'re said. It is something I think is typical of \'city life\' -- I know very few of my neighbors, and the ones I do know, I am acquainted with only because we attended school together.\n\nDo you think the \'familial unit\' is of more importance in BG than in the US? Does this differ from the city, than in the rural areas? I just don\'t know where the shift from more communal life/concerns to individualistic ways of life occurs...Hmm..\n\nAh, that \"C-word\" haha. I did a 25 page paper &amp; slideshow on corruption in my \"Democracy and Development\" class. And of course I just had to write about Bulgaria (the judicial system, more specifically.) :) Az iskam edin camolet do Bulgariya sega! Edin den... haha. I don\'t know how to explain my fascination either, but I love it!',0,'1','','',1267,0),(1269,1945,'charlotte','charlotte.emigh@gmail.com','','24.20.130.57','2010-01-25 08:18:09','2010-01-25 05:18:09','I made this for dinner tonight and it was amazing! But I have left over pizza for a small army now. Not that that\'s a bad thing, but still, so much pizza.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1270,1956,'beth.','beth.ashworth@gmail.com','','98.206.140.213','2010-01-25 09:16:48','2010-01-25 06:16:48','I moved to Russia in 2006 and didn\'t have a bank account there (and got paid exclusively in cash) until 2008!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1271,1956,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2010-01-25 12:51:27','2010-01-25 09:51:27','Oh, dear. If you were a Bulgarian twenty-something girl (or boy) you would have to live with the idea of not saving. Unless, your Mom and Dad do manage to do that somehow for you. Or more often your grandparents.\nThis is especially true if you are the independent kind of girl and pay for your own bills out of your own money. I understand the young lady pretty well.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1272,1956,'Svetlina','svetlina.vitanova@gmail.com','http://vitanova.wordpress.com/','84.242.191.2','2010-01-25 18:26:43','2010-01-25 15:26:43',':) Me again :)\nIf you are 20 something there are 2 option - u r a home-and-family-orientated and you believe that your husband will take care of everything while you are giving births; option 2 - u r a feminist or a girl wanting a career and therefore you don`t plan having a family or vacation the next few years so you go to the shop and buy an expensive cactus :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1273,1956,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.244','2010-01-25 19:10:14','2010-01-25 16:10:14','That particular comment sounded quite strange to me, too. It looks like a sentence taken out of the context of the other thoughts accompanying it. Of course, in Bulgaria many people don\'t even think of saving. When you save, you save for something - an iPod, a new high-class Nokia that also brews coffee, a new sound system for the car... It could be that the comment refers to this - you are a girl, you don\'t play with the expensive toys guys need (cars), you don\'t have to eat pasta without sauce so that you can spend 100 leva on drinks at a disco in order to get a girl for the night... And that\'s how we get to the quite sexist (even for my taste) idea that you don\'t need to save because you will always have someone to buy you an iPod...\nYou need to know the person who made the comment in order to understand what exactly she meant.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1274,1956,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.159','2010-01-25 22:24:37','2010-01-25 19:24:37','@Svetlina There\'s nothing easy about this saving thing that\'s for sure.  What\'s hard for me is the fact that if I sign up, so to speak, for option one so much is out of my hands--hope I find a nice guy who can take care of me.  Or option two, forgo a family in order to have a little bit of control over my career and a little bit of my own savings.  I\'d like to think that there\'s got to be other options say three, four and five that allows for some balance between option one and two.',0,'1','','',1272,0),(1275,1956,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.159','2010-01-25 22:29:06','2010-01-25 19:29:06','@TAfricanski you make  good point. I guess part of it is a question of what we\'re saving for but also what our expectations are that really influence our spending (and saving) habits.',0,'1','','',1273,0),(1276,1956,'Svetlina','svetlina.vitanova@gmail.com','http://vitanova.wordpress.com/','89.215.206.19','2010-01-26 00:26:21','2010-01-25 21:26:21','Sorry to disappoint you, guys. I don`t know any other option for a girl`s dream. They/we either want their own place of importancy or want to take part of something as important as the family is. If someone gets them both, it`s chance but it has nothing to do with girl`s wishes/plans/acts/savings.\nI don`t know a single 20 something girl that has savings, wants a family and is working for her carrer. In fact I know just 1 20 something girl that has savings. And it`s not me :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1277,1956,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-01-26 09:32:37','2010-01-26 06:32:37','\"I have accounts open at three different banks in the States and one account in Bulgaria. \"\n\nYou really do have three different accounts in 3 banks?Wowww!I am twenty something Bulgarian girl and I barely have only one opened account with rediculously low presence of money in it.And to say the truth for the bulgarian twenty something girls:IT\"S SO HARD TO SAVE money when your incomes are such that can not allow saving.Anyway,how you managed to feet three accounts in the US and one here,I mean,do you invest money,or you have any passive incomes,or...I don\'t know...let us know,because I really do want to be saver and good manager of my money.\n\n\nEli',0,'1','','',0,0),(1278,1956,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.242','2010-01-26 18:42:27','2010-01-26 15:42:27','You don\'t have to be rich in order to have bank accounts. It\'s a matter of money habits/culture. I have 2 Bulgarian (Visa Electron and Maestro from different banks) and one German (local German Electronic Cash+another local German Geldcarte+Maestro on the same card) debit accounts (this is разплащателна сметка/debit account/Girokonto - it\'s not for saving, rather for operating with your money) and a Mastercard card from a Luxembourg-based bank operating in Germany. This helps me save from service fees because I believe banks should earn their money from interests and NOT from stupid fees.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1279,1956,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.159','2010-01-26 18:57:22','2010-01-26 15:57:22','@Elena I mentioned the accounts as a comparison to the the Bulgarian stats but also because it reveals the cultural differences around saving/money and @TAfricanski I too have accounts more out of necessity rather than out of a desire to have the different accounts.\n\nThe thing I haven\'t mentioned yet is the fact that as an American the ability to save also goes hand in hand with the ease of taking on debt--it\'s stupidly-easy to get credit cards and nearly everyone graduates from university with student loans. I have college loans that I\'ll paying off slowly over the next 15 years or so.',0,'1','','',1278,0),(1280,1956,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.245','2010-01-27 01:19:43','2010-01-26 22:19:43','This is true. Bulgarians don\'t like credits. We hate owing money.',0,'1','','',1279,0),(1281,1956,'Djgeorgie','georgijivankin@gmail.com','http://www.georgijivankin.com','138.40.152.46','2010-02-01 07:01:04','2010-02-01 04:01:04','I think the comment is being taken out of the context, but it\'s true that most Bulgarians:\nA) Don\'t earn enough to save\nB) Are reluctant to save due to a misunderstanding about how the financial system works (I\'m refering to the hyperinflation crisis from 1996-7 when the Bulgarian lev lost its value to 1 Bulgarian lev = 3000USD) and many Bulgarians still don\'t trust the banks for anything\nC) There are no central credit system as it\'s in the states, Germany, the UK or any western nation where when you borrow money you are being added to a central credit agency file and if you don\'t return what you\'ve borrowed, your credit file is being updated with the corresponding information and a score is being calculated that helps all other lenders to see it and base there future decisions on your assessed situation. In Bulgaria many people borrow money and then couldn\'t repay them back to the banks, but it\'s still easy for them to get credit just by going to the other bank across the street. In fact, many people take 2-3 loans at the same time and use the last one to repay some of the previous ones.\nD) credit cards are not popular in Bulgaria, simply because most Bulgarians didn\'t see the necessity of having a credit card. It seemed to me that they just couldn\'t get how a credit card works and what are the benefits. Recently I tryed hard to explain to a fellow Bulgarian how I was trying to apply for a credit card and I was refused here in the UK and he was absolutely puzzled why am I trying to apply for such a thing in the first place?\n\nI\'m 20-not-something guy and am having two bank accounts in Bulgaria and 2 accounts in the UK with prospects to open another one shortly.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1282,1971,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.24','2010-01-26 13:10:15','2010-01-26 10:10:15','You certainly have a gift of pleading and advocating ;-) Will watch.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1283,1971,'Martin','donbass1@yahoo.com','http://turnovec.blogspot.com','93.152.176.57','2010-01-26 13:46:47','2010-01-26 10:46:47','Komita, the following moment(in the quote below) which Karolinka described in her review is stuck in my mind after watching this movie... It is worth losing 2 hours of your life, even for this only tiny moment :)\n\n<i>\"When Alex arrives in Bulgaria he rides by a billboard that says welcome to the New Bulgaria.  However the face that greets the reader on the billboard is one of a politician who we recognize as one of communist party leaders who instigated this journey to Germany so many years before.  Is this really the new Bulgaria? The names of the parties have changed but the faces remain the same–only now they are smiling.\"</i>',0,'1','','',0,0),(1284,1971,'Anonymous','private@disposeamail.com','','134.134.137.75','2010-01-26 21:08:27','2010-01-26 18:08:27','Unfortunately, we _cannot_ watch it on NetFlix, just yet. The info on the movie is there, but it says \"DVDs are not yet available.\" Hopefully, they\'ll get the DVDs even if it doesn\'t win the Oscar foreign film category, but my experience with these case on NetFlix has been that often they take years to get the DVDs... Sadly.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1285,1971,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.159','2010-01-26 21:25:50','2010-01-26 18:25:50','Oh, that\'s a shame.  I guess you could try out the option I offered to the Bulgarians.',0,'1','','',1284,0),(1286,1978,'charlotte','charlotte.emigh@gmail.com','','24.20.130.57','2010-01-27 09:34:44','2010-01-27 06:34:44','Personally, I am so excited to see this! You look so pretty. That\'s really all I can take from this, seeing as the Bulgarian language is a pretty significant stumbling block to me getting anything else out of this.\nDoes this makes me famous by association? And shared genetics?\nPS I\'m really glad you included that picture of the cover. And that it is not you.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1287,1978,'Stefan','watashi@abv.bg','','212.117.62.161','2010-01-27 09:48:20','2010-01-27 06:48:20','Hehe. Congratulations!\nOtherwise, that was a great post!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1288,1978,'Andreytcho','blog@andreytcho.com','http://andreytcho.com','92.247.223.191','2010-01-27 10:43:58','2010-01-27 07:43:58','Homemade super star :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1289,1978,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.57','2010-01-27 14:49:08','2010-01-27 11:49:08','That\'s cool, you\'ve taught in my school - The First English Language School in Sofia. Yo, teach!\n\nA nice article.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1290,1978,'inni4ka','inni4ka@gmail.com','http://inni4ka.blogspot.com','85.91.158.141','2010-01-27 15:18:19','2010-01-27 12:18:19','LOL, i was looking at it today :) I knew I had to buy it, congrats Carolyn :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1291,1978,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','68.189.128.124','2010-01-27 17:35:59','2010-01-27 14:35:59','(insert me laughing)\n\"I liked it la lot. Maybe even more than I should have.\"\n\nWell I have always know you were headed for great things, but I had no idea that \'fame\' was likely to get you high! I\'m looking forward to seeing it up close.  Can you send a translation of the part about you - I\'ll pay your tutor if you can\'t do it (smiling). After all I really deserve to know just what you said about me.\nLove,\nMoM',0,'1','','',0,0),(1292,1978,'Katy','picadella@gmail.com','http://www.docandadrink.com','206.136.32.210','2010-01-28 01:25:36','2010-01-27 22:25:36','This is awesome.  You look really beautiful!  I love your blog and I\'m not at all surprised you were found that way.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1293,1978,'Tiberii','zlatinapetrova@yahoo.com','','78.128.95.133','2010-02-22 09:55:54','2010-02-22 06:55:54','It was a really great post.I liked it so much:-P Go ahead girl!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1294,1978,'Maxim','foreigndude86@yahoo.com','http://www.Maxim-Bashchenko.com','71.249.210.192','2010-05-25 16:23:31','2010-05-25 15:23:31','Hello guys. I\'m from NEW YORK and I need to buy one Bulgarian magazine ROUGE, I just got published there as a photographer. Does anyone know any links to buy magazines from bulgaria online? Thank you for you help!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1295,1978,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-05-27 19:01:47','2010-05-27 18:01:47','@Maxim I might be able to find a copy of Rouge for you. What issue do you need? May or June?',0,'1','','',1294,0),(1296,1978,'To be 30 in Moda and Sofia &laquo; Karolinka In &amp; Around Bulgaria','','http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/09/10/to-be-30-in-moda-and-sofia/','72.233.96.171','2010-09-10 13:53:29','2010-09-10 12:53:29','[...] it helps that I am in Moda again. Unlike in February where I was interviewed about being a foreigner in Bulgaria this time I&#8217;ve written a short [...]',0,'1','','pingback',0,0),(1297,1994,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-01-28 09:24:26','2010-01-28 06:24:26','You are really  a girl of stubborn temper(this frase I got from the dictionary:)).Your Bulgarian is getting better and better.Would you accept a few corrections.Here they are:\n\n1.First of all evry new sentence is supposed to start with capital letter.Like:\"Всеки Вторник и ЧетвъРтък след училиЩе аз танцувам\".If we are following the grammar, the way the sentence sounds better  is to start with the subject and the verb like:Аз танцувам всеки Вторник и Четвъртък.I forgot to mention that the days of the week are with capital letters too.\n2.The name of the teacher is with capital letter also,it\'s the same rule as in English:)\n3.You are supposed to try to avoid repetitions,so it will be better said if you start the sentence \"Той знае най-много от България и затова танцуваме наи-много танци от България\".There is something missing in this sentence and it\'s not very clear what was your point,but see what I wrote,may be you will agree with me...:)\n4.In two words you have typed \"Х\" instead of \"Н\".And the words are: зная and носия.\n5.Краката ми не работяТ(1.Аз не работя,но 2.Те не раоботяТ).\n6.There is missing comma before \"но\" and again in order to avoid repetition,see what is my suggestion:\n\"Аз не мога да танцувам добре , но аз обичам да го правя.In English sound like:I can\'t dance well,but I love doing it.\n\nAnd the last sentence is really a good one:).\n\n\nYou shoud really keep going!\n\nA way to go!\n\n\nNice day!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1298,1994,'Stefan','watashi@abv.bg','','79.100.7.161','2010-01-28 10:38:26','2010-01-28 07:38:26','Good effort!\n\nMy advice: you could actually do without any of those many \'аз\' you place in everywhere, it sounds more natural :) (in the first sentence it\'s ok since you introduce the topic, but from then on you should try avoiding repetitions)   Since the \'I\' is actually \'coded\' in the verb that follows, it only makes the phrase heavier if you add the personal pronoun before that verb. In Bulgarian you pretty much only say \'аз\' when you want to particularly emphasize that it\'s you, not anybody else\n\nOh and Elena is actually wrong, names of the days of the week and months are not spelled with a capital letter, unlike many other languages.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1299,1994,'Elena','el4o2bear@gmail.com','','62.44.102.236','2010-01-28 11:30:16','2010-01-28 08:30:16','Oh,shame on me!\n\nI do apologize,THE NAMES OF THE MONTHS AND THE DAYS OF THE WEEK ARE REALLY SUPPOSED TO BE WRITTEN WITH SMALL LETTERS.I know from where the confusion is coming from....English :)\n\nThanks Stefan!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1300,1994,'Dimitar','shadowmarn@gmail.com','http://shadowden.wordpress.com','89.215.161.37','2010-01-29 14:31:25','2010-01-29 11:31:25','That\'s pretty good! Friends of mine, that are native Bulgarians, and learn Bulgarian from 9 years, have worse grammar. So your post is pretty good!\n\nHere\'s a little advice from me. You should try to avoid this repeating of I (Аз) like in this sentence: Аз не мога да танцувам добре но аз обичам да танцувам.\n\nIt\'ll sound a little bit better like this: Не мога да танцувам добре, но (аз) обичам да танцувам.\nIn this case, in the first sentence (Не мога да танцувам добре) there isn\'t direct pronoun (Аз), but the verb (танцувам) shows who does the action:\n(аз) танцувам\n(ти) танцуваш\n(той, тя, то) танцува\n\nKeep writing those posts in Bulgarian!\nI hope I\'ve helped.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1301,1994,'Deia','deia@mail.bg','','92.247.13.10','2010-01-29 20:19:07','2010-01-29 17:19:07','I say \"YAY\" for Bulgarian blog posts :) I can see that you\'ve improved since your last BG post. Keep them coming!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1302,1994,'Иво','i_tparvanov@yahoo.com','http://detsta.zornitsa.com','78.90.141.12','2010-10-11 14:54:11','2010-10-11 13:54:11','Хубава статия',0,'1','','',0,0),(1303,1994,'Рали','rali_d_p@abv.bg','http://hora.zornitsa.com','78.90.141.12','2010-10-18 20:25:55','2010-10-18 19:25:55','интересно :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1304,2009,'MoM','djemigh@wwcc.edu','','134.39.208.139','2010-01-29 20:10:36','2010-01-29 17:10:36','I can\'t quite tell from your post whether you want to look like a bear or a walking sleeping bag!\nLove,  MoM',0,'1','','',0,0),(1305,2009,'sts','ap.stamov@hotmail.com','','96.51.88.230','2010-01-30 12:46:14','2010-01-30 09:46:14','should have come 5 years ago when there were literal urban bears :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1306,2009,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-01-30 12:48:31','2010-01-30 09:48:31','@sts: Um really? My first thought was: why do I miss out on everything good? And my second thought was: actually, no thanks, I don\'t want to meet a real urban bear.',0,'1','','',1305,0),(1307,2009,'Deia','deia@mail.bg','','92.247.13.10','2010-01-30 15:39:43','2010-01-30 12:39:43','urban bears were fun :P',0,'1','','',1306,0),(1308,2020,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','90.154.134.195','2010-01-31 14:56:28','2010-01-31 11:56:28','beautiful',0,'1','','',0,0),(1309,2020,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','68.210.132.31','2010-02-01 01:46:32','2010-01-31 22:46:32','I disagree about the wow factor.  The tissue paper stars can be stunning but not quite as durable as the kite paper stars.  Some of the favorites I\'ve given around here have been made with variegated tissue which gives the stars an even greater appeal than solid colored stars. They also look like blossoms, a nice bonus this time of year. Some of the most delicately beautiful ones are the more complex ones  (the stars I sent a pattern for) folded from pastel colored tissue. Perhaps I can send you variegated tissue paper and you can see for yourself.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1310,2020,'Charlotte','charlotte.emigh@gmail.com','','128.193.28.225','2010-02-01 22:58:33','2010-02-01 19:58:33','These turned out so beautiful! You are the crafty one.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1311,2020,'Aunt Jane','jlaaker@centurytel.net','','207.118.44.171','2010-02-07 22:39:44','2010-02-07 19:39:44','Of course I approve\n\nlove aunt Jane',0,'1','','',0,0),(1312,2025,'It&#8217;s official, it&#8217;s a&#8230;. &laquo; Karolinka In &amp; Around Bulgaria','','http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/05/08/its-official-its-a/','72.233.2.64','2010-05-08 07:38:34','2010-05-08 06:38:34','[...] This morning I was gmail chatting with my sister and told her about the blog post I was working on. She thought it was interesting that Bulgaria would chose to accept a detainee.  I think so too.  But I&#8217;ve written about this already in a post on February 1st. [...]',0,'1','','pingback',0,0),(1313,2038,'Andreytcho','blog@andreytcho.com','http://andreytcho.com','92.247.223.191','2010-02-01 22:33:57','2010-02-01 19:33:57','Hehe I thought I\'d match your challenge and start tracking how much I spend for the month. 6.30leva today :P\n\nDon\'t your friends have a phone they don\'t use? Why buy when you can use frequent friend points?\n\nI use a cheap phone that does the job, no need to be fancy.\n\nRakia cures the cold, don\'t ya have any left over?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1314,2038,'Charlotte','charlotte.emigh@gmail.com','','128.193.28.225','2010-02-01 22:41:40','2010-02-01 19:41:40','Not even a few weeks ago you told me that your next ipod would be an iphone.  Maybe its just time to make the jump to an iphone? Otherwise will you have to wait 4 more years until your replacement phone poops out. Hmmm don\'t read this MoM, I\'m not recommending that she spend a ton of money on a phone...',0,'1','','',0,0),(1315,2038,'doriana','doriana@gbg.bg','','87.121.52.68','2010-02-01 22:49:40','2010-02-01 19:49:40','You can\'t buy an iphone in Bulgaria without signing quite an expensive at-least-one-year deal with Globul, which would mean changing your cell phone number and much higher monthly bills. Unfortunately it\'s not a good deal at all...My info is recent - I checked the offers last month.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1316,2038,'amanda','amandaludwigster@gmail.com','','109.160.61.86','2010-02-01 22:51:25','2010-02-01 19:51:25','hi karolinka!\n\ni\'ve been a lurker on your blog for a few months now but thought i\'d pipe in my two cents today.  i am a peace corps volunteer in pernik, bulgaria and have had the distinct pleasure of buying three phones in this country.  the most recent trip to the store found me buying a phone + simcard deal which put the price of the phone at 45 leva, all fees included.  as i simply needed a new phone at the time, i stuck my old simcard in the new phone and have had no problems since.  the new simcard has taken up residence in my desk and has yet to be used.\n\ni have enjoyed reading this particular thread on your blog about living on your specific budget of 400 leva; this amount is akin to where we\'re at as volunteers and i can offer my experience as testimony that, while it is hard to operate within this budget when close to Sofia (or for that matter, IN Sofia) do not despair!  you can get a phone without completely blowing your budget.  you might just be a few levs shy of your original budget.  i commend you for giving it a go and hope you\'re able to find a store that will help you get a phone, so long as it\'s not the card you have problems with.\ni am in sofia often and would love to meet up for coffee, or for a change of scenery.  i was not able to find your email address on the blog, but if you\'re interested, maybe you could write it in your comments here and i will get in touch with you?  i will be here until june!\n\nbest of luck!\n\nsincerely,\namanda ludwig',0,'1','','',0,0),(1317,2038,'amanda','amandaludwigster@gmail.com','','109.160.61.86','2010-02-01 22:56:29','2010-02-01 19:56:29','oh.  and i suppose i did not mention that i have stubbornly stuck to the pay-as-you-go option with my phones, surrendering to buying vouchers only as i see the need to have them.  this might be different for you, which i had not originally considered.  disregard all of my cheap phone tal blabber if it is the case that having a contract vs. operating on vouchers alters your ability to get a new phone. surely, it does.\n\namanda',0,'1','','',0,0),(1318,2038,'K.','kabelincho@gmail.com','','212.201.44.242','2010-02-01 23:37:39','2010-02-01 20:37:39','This may not be a part of US mentality, but if your phone is not displaying signs of certain death i.e. it\'s crushed, burnt or just doesn\'t want to switch on (which based on your post it isn\'t) then why not just try and get it fixed at some of the many GSM Repair shops around Sofia (there is probably one close to where you live, just ask around). You can at least ask them how much it will cost, and if it isn\'t much you can brag that you even managed to fix your phone on your budget ;)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1319,2038,'Svetlina','svetlina.vitanova@gmail.com','http://vitanova.wordpress.com/','89.215.206.19','2010-02-01 23:46:08','2010-02-01 20:46:08','When I was living on 400lv monthly I used a phone for 10lv. And I truly believe that a dinner with wine costs way more than 3lv.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1320,2038,'vgoode326','valerie.goode@gmail.com','','213.226.1.206','2010-02-01 23:59:07','2010-02-01 20:59:07','I had to buy a new phone this past wknd. I ended up going to Globul and bought an 80lv Samsung flip phone. It ain\'t fancy though! So far, so good!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1321,2038,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.240','2010-02-02 00:30:19','2010-02-01 21:30:19','You don\'t have to change your phone number when you change operators: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_number_portability#Europe\nAnyways, iPhone is expensive in Bulgaria.\nYou should be able to find a new phone for up to 50 leva. And a used one is also an option :)',0,'1','','',1315,0),(1322,2038,'Shadowmar','shadowmarn@gmail.com','','89.215.161.37','2010-02-02 01:24:28','2010-02-01 22:24:28','You must get one of the so called \"GO-Phones\", which are only good for... phones! You can just go and get Nokia 1200... It\'ll cost you about 21lv. with 1 year contract with Globul, and without contract I\'m sure it\'s below 50lv. Or you can just go into any good shop (Like Globul), and ask them for their cheapest phone without contract. Now, the cheapest ones have games, alarm clock, calendar, and all that good stuff.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1323,2038,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-02-02 09:15:18','2010-02-02 06:15:18','@K. You are exactly right. I <em>should</em> give this a shot first and it is a very un-American thing to do.  I guess in part it has to do with the cellphone culture.  Most people sign a contract for two years and get a cellphone for free. Then when your contract is up the company will offer you a new phone with the renewal of your contract. I am however about 95% sure that my phone is on it\'s last legs. I\'ve had it for 4+ years.',0,'1','','',1318,0),(1324,2038,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-02-02 09:23:55','2010-02-02 06:23:55','@Svetlina I wondered the same thing. I made the bagels at home on Sunday.  I think that I used: .50 leva flour, 1.99 leva raisins, .19 leva in cinnamon, .25 yeast and a couple of table spoons of sugar and I ended up with 12 bagels for a total cost of 3 leva (per bagel .50 leva).  My yogurt was .75 leva and I ate half of it. The mandarin oranges were something like 2 leva a kilo and I ate three.  As for the wine, it was a school night so I only had one glass and I really hate spending more than 9 leva for a bottle moreover when I can find it I prefer the 6 leva bottle (which is probably something I shouldn\'t admit on my blog). So this said, I\'d guess that my dinner was really within this 3 leva range.',0,'1','','',1319,0),(1325,2038,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-02-02 09:26:11','2010-02-02 06:26:11','@Amanda, Thanks for the comment! I\'ll have to look into the phone. I too have been in Bulgaria for over a year and a half and I am still on the pre-pay plan.  It works for me. And why change something that works? Also, check your email I am going to send you a quick note--I\'d love to meet up for coffee some time.',0,'1','','',1316,0),(1326,2038,'Svetlina','svetlina.vitanova@gmail.com','http://vitanova.wordpress.com/','89.215.206.19','2010-02-02 10:25:28','2010-02-02 07:25:28','My apologies. I`m just used to the idea that a glass of juice costs 2lv and a glass of wine - more. Maybe cause I dont keep wine at home. Or juice.\nIn return I`ll show you an online shop where you can buy a phone for below 50: http://get.bg/catalog/index.php?cPath=74&amp;osCsid=c4ed0a0e990b3670cee2f20fc7df17f7',0,'1','','',0,0),(1327,2038,'Ограничения &laquo; Жълтурчето','','http://vitanova.wordpress.com/2010/02/04/boundaries/','74.200.245.190','2010-02-05 00:09:39','2010-02-04 21:09:39','[...] че който иска да си сменя телефона, който иска да си стои на сегашната тарифа, понеже работ.... Нищо не мога да направя по въпроса. И не бива. Малко ми [...]',0,'1','','pingback',0,0),(1328,2043,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.47','2010-02-02 22:53:51','2010-02-02 19:53:51','Creature of habit, I am following your expenses, they seem too low to me for the things you are consuming.\n\nThe coffee at the vending machines costs me more.\n\nNo offence meant, where do you get so cheap food and coffee?\n\nThe dinner also sounds a bit more expensive than you have described.\n\nYou can get quite normal non-smelly toilet paper for around 2 leva (4-pack).\n\nKeep on with the experiment, I am really curious.\n\nBTW, I eat an oatmeal everyday, well, kind of.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1329,2043,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-02-03 07:29:10','2010-02-03 04:29:10','@Комитата well, this is good question. As luck would have it, I think lunch at school must somehow be subsidized. Yesterday, the most expensive thing on the menu was 2.60 leva. At this price, lunch isn\'t always hot and sometimes the taste is so-so but for the price, convenience and ease of it--it\'s really hard to beat.  I did find myself wondering based on my 2 leva lunch how the school pays for the cost of food and the salaries of the staff who make lunch everyday and feed the kids in the dorms for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  The coffee\'s the same deal. A woman makes it at our little snack window. Again it\'s not the best coffee but for the price it\'s pretty hard to complain about. And regarding the toilet paper, I am not really sure how much it cost. It was mixed in on my Billa receipt and when I looked for it, I couldn\'t find it. So I guessed that it was the one thing of the few things I couldn\'t figure out--this said, it could have been cheaper.\n\nOh, and what do you mean that you <em>kind of</em> eat oatmeal?',0,'1','','',1328,0),(1330,2043,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.47','2010-02-03 13:35:16','2010-02-03 10:35:16','I suspected that you eat at the school canteen. Good question about the budget of the school - I am wondering too.\n\nThe toilet paper can cost 4.90, I am saying that if you look at the price tags, you can find a cheaper one and with no smell (the aroma is a bonus), which can get you to your goal, if you are consuming it with a vengeance, of course. ;-)\n\nOn the receipt it is probably written with the trademark, and not as \"toilet paper\".\n\nWell, oat bran with yogurt, does it count?',0,'1','','',1329,0),(1331,2043,'K.','kabelincho@gmail.com','','212.201.44.241','2010-02-03 14:06:38','2010-02-03 11:06:38','Chicken, mixed vegetables and a slice of bread for 2lv? I\'m not saying you\'re lying, but most definitely prices in the cafeteria have changed for the better in the last four years. Which is great to know, actually.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1332,2043,'Cassie','cabousamak@gmail.com','','69.86.43.232','2010-02-15 06:37:52','2010-02-15 03:37:52','Perfect timing to find your blog! Interviewed Friday for the school and was browsing around the internet to learn more :)\n\nCassie',0,'1','','',0,0),(1333,2043,'kathaireinv','jessyp7889@gmail.com','http://','74.88.142.179','2010-02-28 21:31:39','2010-02-28 18:31:39','This doesn\'t break my heart at all. I love oatmeal. I officially think you\'re my hero. haha. You are so economical! I can overlook the smelling of the toilet paper thing. hahah :P\nI adore coffee, I feel like I\'d be spending way too. Do you know how much it would cost to make at home, and maybe carry around?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1334,2048,'neycho','neycho.mihov@gmail.com','http://neychomihov2007.blogspot.com/','212.56.1.234','2010-02-03 11:49:10','2010-02-03 08:49:10','It looks so yummy :) I\'ll try to prepare them, when i have such opportunity. Nice try! :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1335,2048,'Svetlina','svetlina.vitanova@gmail.com','http://vitanova.wordpress.com/','84.242.191.2','2010-02-03 12:42:32','2010-02-03 09:42:32','I know I`m acting like a man by giving advices every time I hear somebody had a problem instead of just being the compassionate girl everybody expects me to be :)\nAnyway... for sweet bakery you can use: http://www.lubeks.com/photos/small/brashno_small/brashno_kozunaci_small.jpg and you can leave the sponge or dough somewhere warm and cover it with a towel.\nAnd I`d really try making these myself. But with oatmeal and walnuts.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1336,2048,'inni4ka','konstantinna@gmail.com','http://inni4ka.blogspot.com','85.91.158.141','2010-02-03 15:00:27','2010-02-03 12:00:27','YESSSSS! PLEASEEEEEE! Please do! If you\'re good at pumpernickel and sourdough bagels I\'m ready to like give you my monthly salary just to have a place like that to grab breakfast and coffee :))',0,'1','','',0,0),(1337,2048,'Nick','nick@macheesmo.com','http://www.macheesmo.com','24.126.56.218','2010-02-03 15:27:08','2010-02-03 12:27:08','Looks like they turned out great!  Keep in mind you can freeze them for a very long time also.\n\nJust thaw them in an oven for 5 minutes at 300 and then toast them as you normally would.  Works perfectly.\n\nNice work!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1338,2048,'MoM','djemigh@wwcc.edu','','134.39.208.139','2010-02-03 20:02:49','2010-02-03 17:02:49','I just want to know why you are not living at home in Walla Walla this year.  I could really use a \"room mate\" who makes bagels.\nLove,\nMoM',0,'1','','',0,0),(1339,2048,'Robyn','robyndyanrusso@gmail.com','','164.106.138.220','2010-02-03 22:29:05','2010-02-03 19:29:05','I can\'t tell you  now much I looooooove this. When we were in Budapest last year, Natalie and I used to fantasize about bagels. Constantly. We finally found a place called \"Bagel Mama\" in Krakow, run by an American ex-pat.\n\nWe went 4 times in 4 days. And even brought back a dozen frozen bagels each, which we hoarded like gold in our post-Soviet freezers.\n\nReally, though, Macheesmo/Nick should be proud to call itself an internationally-reknown food blog -- I mean, his stuffing made an appearance at Budapestian Christmas \'08, his bagels are in Bulgaria...\n\nIf you DO choose to open a Bulgarian Bagel shop, remember I am skilled with a bagel guillotine and an espresso machine ... if you need a manager, or anything :-)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1340,2048,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','','2010-02-03 22:44:37','2010-02-03 19:44:37','@Robyn: I went to the bagel shop in Krakow too. I had the Obama Mama--yes the bagel is spread with cream cheese and then covered with swirls of nutella. I even have the business card to prove it. It makes me laugh and laugh even though it probably shouldn\'t.',0,'1','','',1339,0),(1341,2015,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','92.247.223.191','2010-02-04 11:20:33','2010-02-04 08:20:33','Good idea :)\n\n2 things :\n\nThe above is true for all big cities, not just Sofia.\n\nKarolinka In &amp; Around Bulgaria to sounds like Alice in Wonderland :)\n\nKarolinka is a great name - cute and Bulgarian-ish. I may have never started reading the blog if it was Carolyn in Sofia.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1342,2015,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-02-04 11:40:30','2010-02-04 08:40:30','@Andreytcho--that\'s funny because sometimes I feel like I am Alice in Wonderland.  I wonder if I\'ve fallen down a rabbit hole into some alternate universe that on the surface seems much like my own but I can\'t read all of the signs and I don\'t understand what people are saying to me.  Sometimes I am too big and other times too small.  On top of all of this, I met people like the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat and the Queen of Hearts but rather than playing cards or croquet with them, I am supposed to teach them English.',0,'1','','',1341,0),(1343,2015,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2010-02-04 12:17:46','2010-02-04 09:17:46','OK, smarthats, did you check out the tag-line of my own blog? :)',0,'1','','',1342,0),(1344,2015,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.243','2010-02-04 17:57:21','2010-02-04 14:57:21','So, generally, from this post I got 3 things:\n\n1. Karolinka is not a cool name.\n2. No place (in Bulgaria) but Sofia is cool.\n3. Sofia is THE BIG CITY so it\'s very very COOL to live there and everyone else is a loser.\n4. You are an expert in transportation BUT you prefer to use the opportunity to declare 1-3.\n\nOh, please, dear Helen, do refute my conclusion!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1345,2015,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2010-02-05 17:40:25','2010-02-05 14:40:25','Hey Toshko,\n\nThese are in-jokes between me and Carolyn. And finally it is for her to decide what to publish. I don\'t believe you\'re questioning that.\n\nYour comment sounds a little bit aggressive - do you mean that way?',0,'1','','',1344,0),(1346,2015,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','68.210.132.31','2010-02-05 19:56:10','2010-02-05 16:56:10','From my perspective in Kentucky, Helen\'s blog post adds some interesting new ways of looking at Sophia.  What she describes is not so different from any other big city, it is just that she revels so in the opportunity to have so many choices.  I think people here pretty much take the range of choices for granted.  So Helen, where did you grow up?  In a city?  In the countryside?  Is your appreciating of the benefits of city life typical of city dwelling Bulgarians?  Or do you simply have a positive mindset that helps you appreciate the broad offerings of a large city?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1347,2015,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','90.154.136.33','2010-02-05 20:52:40','2010-02-05 17:52:40','Yes, Ruth, true - that\'s why I call it \"the Big City\". Because Sofia holds more than one third of the population of Bulgaria. I have grown up in a very delicate and cultural city on the Danube river (a big one, too) but deprived of choices partially because of the unhealthy relationship we had with Romania being both part of the Eastern block. Ecoglasnost started there. I am sure Carolyn would guess which one is the city. So when I finished high school and had to choose an University, I did not hesitate for a minute.\n\nI am trying to be optimistic and to remember the good things about Sofia, which is mostly this feeling of freedom you have to express yourself the way you like it but I have to say that the general untidiness and the vulgar behaviour of people start to get on my nerves.',0,'1','','',1346,0),(1348,2015,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.245','2010-02-12 19:30:14','2010-02-12 16:30:14','I do mean it that way. I am honestly tired of people who think they are cool because they live in Sofia (because they imply the others are not cool because they do not live in Sofia). It turns personal for which I am sorry, but it is still personal.\nThe population of Sofia as a proportion of the population of Bulgaria is 1,449,277/7,606,000=0.190543913 which is roughly 1/5.\nThe \"more than one third of the population of Bulgaria\" is a typical \"we are so cool\" distortion of the truth for the Sofians...',0,'1','','',1345,0),(1349,2068,'Charlotte','Charlotte.emigh@gmail.com','','98.232.178.102','2010-02-05 09:56:29','2010-02-05 06:56:29','Kiki, I can\'t wait to hear/see/read all about your adventures in Rome. Honestly, I am a little jealous! Hope it\'s a fantastic trip.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1350,2068,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.245','2010-02-05 10:33:01','2010-02-05 07:33:01','Damn, I love this feeling (that you are experiencing) :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1351,2068,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2010-02-05 14:26:30','2010-02-05 11:26:30','If you knew that you were going on a trip to Rome, why did you start the \"experiment\" in February?\n\nTrips or savings are not in a 400 leva budget. The only perks you could enjoy is buying a cheap phone.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1352,2080,'charlotte','charlotte.emigh@gmail.com','','24.20.130.57','2010-02-08 03:32:48','2010-02-08 00:32:48','I\'m glad to hear that your trip was good. I can totally help you brush up on both Greek and Roman mythology AND bible stories. How are we sisters, again?\nAlso, I love The Swell Season. For a while Pandora Radio was offering their new CD as a station, and you could listen to all of it, and it only. Not sure if that is still available though...\nI want to hear more about your trip to Rome.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1353,1969,'Deia','deia@mail.bg','','92.247.13.10','2010-02-08 23:36:51','2010-02-08 20:36:51','You can\'t possibly end up hating it because it\'s just too awesome to be ruined :D',0,'1','','',0,0),(1354,2091,'Uncle Hicks','jfemigh@aol.com','','69.220.184.198','2010-02-09 23:28:39','2010-02-09 20:28:39','I believe that you should teach your friends in the Washington, DC area about Martenitsas.  They could use some hope for spring with all the snow they have on the ground with more to come.  I think it is time for more craft lessons for those of us in the States!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1355,2091,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-02-10 09:36:05','2010-02-10 06:36:05','Well,honestly I haven\'t heard that for good luck, one should put his/her martenitsa under a stone.I\'ve heard the \"tree\" story and also I hope that you\'ve been told about the stork and swallow.Basically you should take off your martenitsa in two occasions:1.You saw a stork or a swallow and then put the martenitsa over a tree,or option nimber 2.You saw blossoming tree.The red colour symbolizes life and the white colour symbolizes cleanness and happiness.Anyway,your feeling about this little gift is so warm,so that it makes me look at it in different way form now on.:)Lets start a count-down.So 18 days before 1st of March.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1356,2091,'la','la.lalait@gmail.com','http://','95.111.45.232','2010-02-10 09:53:53','2010-02-10 06:53:53','Go ice skating :) Take an afternoon walk in the park :) Join a snow fight! Just enjoy winter, you\'ll have plenty of time to enjoy spring afterwards. I love it, that we have full 4 seasons here.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1357,2091,'Ivet','ivet13@gmail.com','','212.36.24.179','2010-02-10 12:57:04','2010-02-10 09:57:04','I\'m tired of the winter as well. But as my grandmother says \"Snowy winter is good for nature - for the plants, for the rivers and for the crops..\" We should try to stay positive :) At least we live in a country with four seasons.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1358,2091,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','68.210.132.31','2010-02-10 18:32:53','2010-02-10 15:32:53','Love my martenitsas, Carolyn.  Thank you.  Just wish I could remember the name for more than three seconds, oh, and how to pronounce it!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1359,2091,'Aunt Sharon','sspangler@rockisland.com','','64.119.5.53','2010-02-10 19:41:09','2010-02-10 16:41:09','MARTENIITSAS martenitsas martenitsas!  I put mine on the shrub next door several weeks ago.  The bulbs are up, the trees are budding and the roses have started to sprout again.... I didn\'t know I was supposed to WEAR it!  Dang.  I wanted to \'cause it fit around my wrist so nicely and the red and white was so pretty....  I am blowing Spring!  Ack.\n\nWell, the broccoli and cauliflower is coming up in the cold frame but the garden isn\'t dry enough yet to think about tilling.... oh.  So you think YOU are obsessed with Srping.  Silly, pale comparison.  It even smells like Spring here.  Sorry about all the snow everywhere else.  :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1360,2091,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','84.238.226.41','2010-02-10 21:38:42','2010-02-10 18:38:42','Where do you live Aunt Sharon?:)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1361,2091,'Spring as Sprung! &laquo; Karolinka In &amp; Around Bulgaria','','http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/04/14/spring-as-sprung/','72.233.104.4','2010-04-14 05:04:43','2010-04-14 04:04:43','[...] back from Morocco to find out that Spring had come to Sofia without me. The luck. I&#8217;ve been waiting for Spring for months now if you remember I was thrilled for March 1st. Sure it&#8217;s not super warm and [...]',0,'1','','pingback',0,0),(1362,2102,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.201','2010-02-11 12:27:27','2010-02-11 09:27:27','My experience will probably disappoint you, but you cannot give the money to someone who is not prepared to take it. And those who are willing to take it, are maybe too prepared to take it.\n\nEven giving it to a orphanage or a charity may be a bad thing, because sometimes you support some bureaucracy and the awful practices in the orphanage and not the kids themselves. Giving it to a bum in central Sofia it\'s quite certain that it gets directly into the hands of the mafia, who have divided the centre into zones of control and are \"managing\" the beggars and the bums.\n\nI like to buy books to people, who would otherwise never have bought this particular book. It doesn\'t help too much, but sometimes it helps.\n\nI am quite curious to learn how did you do with your experiment.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1363,2102,'Andreytcho','blog@andreytcho.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.195.201.90','2010-02-11 16:05:46','2010-02-11 13:05:46','You don\'t really know any people who REALLY need money to survive. So you can\'t make a choice.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1364,2102,'Mimi','mariya.mitova@gmail.com','','132.229.121.152','2010-02-11 21:26:20','2010-02-11 18:26:20','i think a little money at the right time can make a huge difference. it can really change the course of life for someone, it can give hope exactly when one needs it most. i know it from experience. i was trying to get the documents I need in order to start the job of my dreams. at that precise moment when I had to do it, however, I didn\'t have any money, and it was a very costly procedure. i was giving up and feeling extremely miserable when one acquaintance found out about my situation and offered to give me the money I needed to get the documents to apply for the job. to me it was a miracle that might change a lot in my life.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1365,2102,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','134.39.208.139','2010-02-11 22:34:15','2010-02-11 19:34:15','A friend of mine (who graduated from your alma mater Wittenberg University by the way) gives her adult children $100.00 each year for Christmas with the instructions to give it to someone in need.\n\nEach year at Christmas they share the stories of how that $100.00 made a difference.  It has been given to people for medical expenses. It has been given to people who need money for gas to get to work.  It has been given to families who need money for food or bills. It has been given anonymously or not. The list goes on and on. The stories are touching.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1366,2102,'Jeff J','jefftjewett@yahoo.com','','213.130.70.154','2010-02-25 16:09:39','2010-02-25 13:09:39','At Christmas time, I have been trying to start giving more and more gifts of time, experiences, and donations to charities in someone\'s name.  I\'m especially hoping to make an impression on some of my more materialistic nieces/nephews.  Most of the people I know (and give gifts to) already have too much STUFF.  I like your mom\'s idea of giving money that must be re-gifted. Very interesting.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1367,2105,'Мелиса','melissa@melissaroberts.org','http://www.twitter.com/melissa_ann','216.156.82.110','2010-02-11 22:51:46','2010-02-11 19:51:46','Is Мелиса my name in Bulgarian?!? I\'m so excited!!!! Yay!!!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1368,2105,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-02-11 22:54:39','2010-02-11 19:54:39','@Мелиса--See Bulgarian is great!! You should probably start learning the language and then come and visit me. Or I guess you could come and visit without learning the language... Miss you.',0,'1','','',1367,0),(1369,2105,'Jon','jonlongobardi@gmail.com','','207.237.88.153','2010-02-11 23:22:05','2010-02-11 20:22:05','Aw, Carolyn you are so sweet.  There was a time where Melissa was sweet too but she decided not to be my friend anymore.  I don\'t know why that happened but it makes me sad.  I hope Bulgaria and San Fran are treating you ladies well!\n\nI would love to see your description of Dr. Scott Scotterson, M.D.  Hmmm, I wonder how you say \"dead sexy\" in Bulgarian ...',0,'1','','',0,0),(1370,2105,'stoyan','svdabov@gmail.com','','67.180.210.167','2010-02-12 00:16:28','2010-02-11 21:16:28','hey carolyn,\n\ni\'m stoyan. i work with melissa at free range and i\'m bulgarian. my wife is learning bulgarian right now and know about as much as you do... reading your post was funny and reminds me of my wife speaking in bg. :)\n\nst',0,'1','','',0,0),(1371,2105,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.79','2010-02-12 01:24:38','2010-02-11 22:24:38','You’re getting better at this. Still, I hope you don’t mind if I point a few things out. In the first sentence, when you say it like that - \"приятелката\", it sounds more like “Melissa is my girlfriend”, because it implies that there’s only one of her. It should be “Мелиса е моя приятелка” or “Мелиса ми е приятелка”. However, you can specify something like „Мелиса е приятелката (ми), за която ще ви пиша” – As in she’s the friend I’m going to write about. In such a case the „-та” is correct. Also, in Bulgarian it’s Сан Франциско, with a ц. And „добъра” should be „добра” – it\'s one of the words where the „ъ” or \"е\" near the end in the masculine is dropped in the feminine, neuter and plural. Words like добър - добра, зъл - зла, кръгъл - кръгла, топъл - топла, пълен - пълна, горен - горна... Like you did with the eyebrows: тънък - тънки.\nAnd again, keep at it, you’re doing great. :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1372,2105,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-02-12 09:12:23','2010-02-12 06:12:23','And of course,don\'t forget to try to avoid repetition.You have used \"Тя\",many times and the text sounds a little elaborated,but generally,your headway is remerkable.And one more thing \"Очите и\", is not correct.You should use \"и\" with accent,but unfortunatelly I can not find it on my keyboard,in order to show it to you.I hope that you\'ll understand what I meant.\n\nHave a great day!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1373,2105,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-02-12 11:37:22','2010-02-12 08:37:22','@Stoyan--I am glad I am not alone in my pursuit to learn Bulgarian. And I hope that you can tell Melissa what I good job I did describing her!!',0,'1','','',1370,0),(1374,2105,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-02-12 11:40:02','2010-02-12 08:40:02','@Jon: will do. Look for a post on Scotty-G sometime in the next week or two. I will however probably have to ask some students how to say \"dead sexy\" and this will probably embarrass either me or them. It will be great fun.',0,'1','','',1369,0),(1375,2105,'Katy','docandadrink@gmail.com','http://www.docandadrink.com','207.172.95.16','2010-02-13 05:08:33','2010-02-13 02:08:33','Great stuff, Carolyn!  And great picture!  I am so envious of everything you are learning!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1376,2105,'Djgeorgie','georgijivankin@gmail.com','http://www.georgijivankin.com','138.40.152.46','2010-02-13 08:05:04','2010-02-13 05:05:04','Wow. You\'re duing great job at learning Bulgarian Karolinka, keep it up! Just one note: жевее should be written as живее. As Elena pointed out, when you say something about her such as косата й, очите й, you need to use accented \"и\" which can be found on the \"X\" key on the Bulgarian layout of the keyboard (if you of course are using the standard Bulgarian keyboard).',0,'1','','',0,0),(1377,2105,'ilian','imar@abv.bg','','85.130.11.146','2010-02-13 13:42:42','2010-02-13 10:42:42','Hi Carolyn,\n\nMaybe it\'s better to say \"Мелиса е моя приятелка\" (Melissa is a friend of mine). When you say \"Мелиса е приятелката ми\" (Melissa is my girlfriend) it sounds like she\'s the only one you have and, most of all, you are more than just friends :)\n\nAnyway, keep the good work!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1378,2105,'Nick','nick@macheesmo.com','http://www.macheesmo.com','24.126.56.218','2010-02-14 01:00:52','2010-02-13 22:00:52','Do me next!!!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1379,2105,'charlotte','charlotte.emigh@gmail.com','','24.20.130.57','2010-02-14 10:13:30','2010-02-14 07:13:30','I love reading the feedback on these. I think I enjoy seeing people tell my big sis she is wrong about something!\nHowever if you are going to write one about Scott or Nick, you should probably make you don\'t say you are dating him. You know, just a thought.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1380,2105,'Мелиса','melissa@melissaroberts.org','http://www.twitter.com/melissa_ann','216.156.82.110','2010-02-16 02:47:48','2010-02-15 23:47:48','Hee hee, Stoyan, so glad you got a kick out of reading this. I now want to hear Hope\'s bulgarian. :)\n\nJon, I love you x100,000,0000 + 1!!!!\n\nAnd Karolinka - I love being referred to as your girlfriend. :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1381,2105,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-02-16 07:42:43','2010-02-16 04:42:43','@Мелиса I figured that you wouldn\'t mind too much--but I am writing a post now in Bulgarian on Scott and Nick and figured I\'d better double check and make sure that I knew how say they\'re my friends and not my boyfriends.  Two boyfriends and a girlfriend would just be too much!',0,'1','','',1380,0),(1382,2114,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','74.241.1.53','2010-02-12 18:02:38','2010-02-12 15:02:38','What on earth is a lutinitsa?  And where are the seven to nine fruits and or vegetables a day?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1383,2114,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-02-12 19:00:45','2010-02-12 16:00:45','@Ruth: Ha, ha! I knew either you or my mom would ask this. The lentils are a serious soup/meal. I usually put in one pot 1-2 onions, carrots, potatoes, a bag of frozen spinach, a large can of tomatoes, mushrooms and any other veggie in my fridge that needs to be consumed. Basically lentils are a way to convey other veggies to my mouth. At don\'t worry, at lunch, most meals are served with a side of cabbage salad, potatoes or pickles (which I am not convinced are a veggie but the school seems to be).  So I might be running a little low on fruits this week but normally I eat a banana, apple and an orange or a glass of orange juice--I\'ve just been at school way to late to shop easily given it\'s the end of the semester.',0,'1','','',1382,0),(1384,2114,'MoM','djemigh@wwcc.edu','','134.39.208.139','2010-02-12 19:41:25','2010-02-12 16:41:25','I take it that you made a pizza with lutinitsa, cheese, brussels sprouts and olives? Weird!\nI wasn\'t worried about vegetables - I know you well.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1385,2114,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-02-12 19:53:48','2010-02-12 16:53:48','@MoM Yes. This is exactly what I did. It sounds weird but it turned out great. I was a little worried about it but then I told myself you\'d eat all of these things separately why not combine them and use the pizza crust as a way to carry everything to your mouth? So that\'s what I did. Maybe I\'ll post pictures tomorrow.',0,'1','','',1384,0),(1386,2114,'Andrey','andrey.omega@gmail.com','http://wahregedanken.blogspot.com/','77.70.61.85','2010-02-14 01:27:45','2010-02-13 22:27:45','The only weird thing in the pizza is the brussels sprouts, and you should consider you lucky for the school\'s cafeteria that you have. A lunch in 2 to 3 leva? I\'mean a normal dish in a normal restaurant starts from 3 to 4. 30 leva for the second week of the month is nice. If you can make for the next week with such a budget, you can even go out one night. And by the way, I\'ve tried all sorts of coffee in Onda, and:\na)they are ridiculously expensive\nb)they like a normal .60 leva cofee.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1387,2114,'Tiberius','zlatinapetrova@yahoo.com','','78.128.95.133','2010-02-22 16:29:41','2010-02-22 13:29:41','The name Lutenitsa is strange -yes, but its so delicious on a slice of bread ...yamiiiii',0,'1','','',0,0),(1388,2118,'VGG','valerie.goode@gmail.com','','213.226.1.206','2010-02-13 15:18:31','2010-02-13 12:18:31','Pretty sure I\'ll be doing the exact same thing!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1389,2118,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-02-13 16:25:03','2010-02-13 13:25:03','@VGG Have fun!',0,'1','','',1388,0),(1390,2118,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.245','2010-02-19 05:13:31','2010-02-19 02:13:31','I call this day \"The Bulgarian International Drinking Day\" and it is becoming quite popular at my university because many people seem not to like the idea of Valentine\'s.\nWe call Dec. 8th - the Students\' day in BG - the same way but no one notices. It\'s too long to explain every time what the occasion is, so whenever we feel for drinking, we invite our friends for one of the Bulgarian International Drinking Days (every second Tuesday, as well as every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Christmas Eve (for those who don\'t manage to get home), March 3rd (independence), September 18th (unification), and any other day that is announced as a drinking day).',0,'1','','',0,0),(1391,2118,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.243','2010-02-19 05:24:35','2010-02-19 02:24:35','The usually celebrated date of the Unification of Bulgaria with Eastern Rumelia is September 6th because this is the original date in the Old Style. If someone wonders why the difference is 12 rather than 13 days, it turns out that for dates in the 19th century the correction is 12 days and for dates in the 20th century - 13 days. This is because years like 1700, 1800 and 1900 are not leap, but 1600 and 2000 are leap. Could it be more confusing?!',0,'1','','',1390,0),(1392,2130,'Sibel','sibellcaliskan@gmail.com','','85.130.107.204','2010-02-15 11:04:00','2010-02-15 08:04:00','Wow! this overlaps with what i am studying currently. (Zygmunt Bauman \'Liquid Modernity\')\n\nCongratulations on this radical decision! and i totally agree with you.\n\nP.S. Maybe i haven\'t noticed but did you also post this onto facebook?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1393,2130,'Tiberii','zlatinapetrova@yahoo.com','','78.128.95.133','2010-02-22 16:26:23','2010-02-22 13:26:23','May be you should change the shampoo:-)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1394,2138,'Sibel','sibellcaliskan@gmail.com','','85.130.107.204','2010-02-15 20:19:38','2010-02-15 17:19:38','when i came close to being checked i immediately started stamping my tickets and maybe also because i was fed up with counting, recounting the bus stops and checking empty seats for already stamped tickets :P But truth be told, you are quite lucky. 110 times? Wow!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1395,2138,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','92.247.223.191','2010-02-15 21:53:09','2010-02-15 18:53:09','As far as I know ticket is 1lv now, so you can afford to get caught 10 more times.However i doubt that you would get checked as often if you travel each morning in the peak hours.\nSo if you get caught 2 more times, then may be start buying tickets?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1396,2138,'John &amp; Audrey','ledgerja@donobi.net','','97.117.133.38','2010-02-15 22:56:20','2010-02-15 19:56:20','The guilties will catch up with you.  You were raised to be honest and it will stay with you forever.  The guilt is not worth it, stamp your ticket.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1397,2138,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-02-16 00:12:30','2010-02-15 21:12:30','I don\'t know on which side I am supposed to be.Why don\'t you by a card for one line for 3 months,it\'s not that expensive...but when I think for the \"quality\" of our transport  and taking i mind that you are 4 stops away from the school, it seems fair to me not to stamp your ticket...Anyway,I was thinking that the foreigners are very strict with the rules and they stick to them,but after spending more than a year or so,you are catching from our mentality.Strange!What do you think is the right thing to do and why?Do we really not have to stamps our tickets?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1398,2138,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.245','2010-02-16 02:04:50','2010-02-15 23:04:50','If the chance to get caught is 1/100 and the fine is 10*price of ticket... I myself would feel like an idiot if I bought and stamped tickets. The only valid reason to do so is idealism - you believe that your money goes for a good cause. It\'s strongly arguable whether in the case of Sofia public transportation the money actually does go for a good cause. Bad management, lack of good ideas, combined with huge corruption mean that you must be an idealist at a very high level in order to do it (to believe that if everyone does what they are supposed to do, the system will work =&gt; at least you do what you are supposed to do).',0,'1','','',0,0),(1399,2138,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-02-16 07:50:51','2010-02-16 04:50:51','@Elena I was thinking about this myself. And I realized that when I take the metro I always ride with a ticket. It\'s easy.  I have an electronic card and you can put lots of rides on all at the same time.  While a month or a three month pass is convenient, for those of us who don\'t take the bus every day it\'s not necessarily the best option and paper tickets seem clunky and antiquated. But I think that what really compounds the problem is the low price of the fine. Yesterday I was totally fine handing over 10leva.  50 leva? That would have been a different story and a serious fine like that probably would motivate me to stamp my ticket for every ride.',0,'1','','',1397,0),(1400,2138,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-02-16 07:58:11','2010-02-16 04:58:11','@TAfranski: idealism, yes, and I think I\'d add honesty.  The system isn\'t set up to police by fear--which is okay--but given the system idealism doesn\'t police riders either.  Or apparently not me.  I guess now for me it comes down to how I justify my choice.  I see the fine as paying for past bus rides (which I should do). So why not pay for my rides in advance with a bus pass if I am happy to pay for them after the fact? I am not sure. I need to think about that (probably when I am riding the bus to school this morning).',0,'1','','',1398,0),(1401,2138,'Ivet','ivet13@gmail.com','','212.36.24.179','2010-02-16 15:21:38','2010-02-16 12:21:38','Besides Sofia, if you\'re using public transport in another Bulgarian town you have to buy a ticket when you\'re already in the bus. There is a person who constantly goes back and forth around the bus and sells tickets to the new passengers. (Imagine what a boring job!) So as my sister says \"I love Sofia public transport because it\'s the only one in Bulgaria that is free.\" Тhe choice \"To buy or not to buy a ticket\" depends on what kind of person you are. If you are a model citizen and always follow the rules just buy a ticket. But if you\'re more likely a rebel at your heart and you believe in the motto \"F**c the system or the system will f**c you\" so just don\'t bother buying a ticket. I personally think that the charging method in Sofia is fundamentally wrong. There are so many charging methods in other countries which are much more effective. So why don\'t we just borrow some of them? Not to mention that Bulgarians are so creative when it comes to cheating. So come on Sofia Public transport - challenge us!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1402,2138,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-02-16 21:09:45','2010-02-16 18:09:45','What I was thinking and I missed to say is that whether to stamp or not my ticket, strongly depends on which bus line I am using.I live in Studentski grad,that\'s why my evryday lines are 102 and 94,and thrust me if you do use 94 regularly,I stronly reccomends to stamp your ticket or to by a card,because I doubt that you will be able to make 100 rides witout being caught at least 5-6 times,or even more.Still thinking about the issue and wondering whether I should change my attitude and stop being \"moral\" citizen.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1403,2138,'Katy','picadella@gmail.com','http://www.docandadrink.com','206.136.32.224','2010-02-17 02:59:49','2010-02-16 23:59:49','I do gamble, and I think I\'d stamp.  Sounds like you are going to lose more money than you gain.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1404,2138,'Muncho','koi_ubi_kennedy@yahoo.com','','78.128.22.51','2010-02-17 20:03:03','2010-02-17 17:03:03','I don\'t stamp, because it\'s cheaper that way. This is quite simple:) Nobody wants to pay more for one and the same thing.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1405,2138,'llcoolj','vassil100@gmail.com','','212.201.44.241','2010-02-20 20:30:23','2010-02-20 17:30:23','well, there is not much math there - if your daily commute is on a stretch, which isn\'t checked regularly, then it is more profitable to just pay the fine.\nI live in the center, rarely take anything for more than 4 stops and never buy tickets - if I get to be fined I just pay the fine and go on - it costs me much less than having a card or buying tickets.\nI would agree that the fines should be higher and there should be more control, but I don\'t have the say.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1406,2138,'sasha','sasch87@abv.bg','','79.100.31.5','2010-03-09 19:33:32','2010-03-09 16:33:32','don\'t you feel bad about sucking up the money bulgarian people (mostly children and retired) pay to ride the public transport? how would you feel if I went to wella wella or whatever the monkey name of that town was and not pay for a pack of your dad\'s infamous coffee? I am surprised that the progressive and great american nation sends its people  to live on the backs of 3rd world nations. next time you feel like a bus fare is unimportant and does not deserve one lev off your budget, feel free to ask anyone standing next to you for one lev. most people would be happy to support our fellow americans',0,'1','','',0,0),(1407,2148,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','92.247.223.191','2010-02-17 01:09:56','2010-02-16 22:09:56','If people know you are a teacher, then they will accept any fashion you can afford. Usually they all dress alike and you can tell a poor teacher from afar.\n\nHowever also by being foreign anything you wear is acceptable, we just think that YOU PEOPLE don\'t have a fashion sense :P',0,'1','','',0,0),(1408,2148,'Lindsay','lindsay.bouton@gmail.com','','213.130.70.154','2010-02-17 11:30:05','2010-02-17 08:30:05','1) You dress very nicely, Carolyn!\n2) I really want to be on WNTW. $5000 for a new wardrobe plus professional advice? Count me in! I actually had my friend nominate me while we were in college, but alas, TLC did not choose me.\n3) Stacy and Clinton aren\'t catty--they\'re hilarious!\n4) Yesterday was a long day indeed. I think we were all going a little crazy by the end...',0,'1','','',0,0),(1409,2151,'Jon','jonlongobardi@gmail.com','','130.132.149.64','2010-02-17 21:48:34','2010-02-17 18:48:34','I\'m okay with this too Carolyn.\n\nBut please stop letting this go to your head.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1410,2151,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','84.238.226.41','2010-02-17 22:19:33','2010-02-17 19:19:33','Can\'t wait to see the result!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1411,2151,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','92.247.223.191','2010-02-17 23:34:05','2010-02-17 20:34:05','This is a lame attempt for Nova TV to make something original, however there was such thing done on bTV with the show \" That is life.... or Такъв е животът\"\n\nhttp://takuvejivotut.supernovamedia.bg/index.php?p=14&amp;l=2\n\nThe story follows random foreigners who live in Bulgaria.\n\nI wonder what their angle is... can\'t be all that interesting for those who watch the news at 7 pm (old people) to see how someone who is not Bulgarian just for kicks is trying to survive on 400lv. All the while the old people watching are surviving on less than 200 lv pension.\n\nSomething about this whole thing i don\'t like. May be it\'s the American - I want to be famous/rich or the lame programming our local tv has.\n\nNothing personal!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1412,2151,'Raya','raya.deleva@gmail.com','','78.90.4.184','2010-02-17 23:34:28','2010-02-17 20:34:28','Ha, you live next to my office :))\nI work for Telerik...\n\nAnyway, I think that most of the people who will see your story on Nova TV have never heard for you before. Your story will be new to most of them.\n\nIn my opinion your blog is well-known for a certain amount of Bulgarian readers, those who:\n- know English;\n- probably live in Sofia;\n- use Internet for at least lets say 6 hours per day\n- are interested to see Bulgaria through your foreigner eyes...',0,'1','','',0,0),(1413,2151,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-02-18 07:33:56','2010-02-18 04:33:56','@Andreytcho Um. <em>Thanks</em>. It\'s not every day my life and the funny things that happen to me get summed up in a single phrase like \"lame attempt.\"  This said, the thing that I am most interested in how a blog like mine can function and influence a story like this and the way that the story I am telling on my blog is double exposed.  I tell a story that happens to me contained within time and space (gasp, I hold back and I don\'t reveal everything) and the crew used this and had specific copies of my blog printed out to use as the base of the project and interviews. So while I don\'t know what they are doing in comparison to another tv station, what emerged today is that the traditional role of media is shifting.  I mean this is the second time in just as many months that I\'ve been contacted because of my blog by a traditional media source--tv and magazine.',0,'1','','',1411,0),(1414,2151,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-02-18 07:57:28','2010-02-18 04:57:28','@Raya--Ha, ha. In many ways, Sofia is a pretty small place! I absolutely agree with your comments and especially, the fact that I write in English is limiting for a huge number of Bulgarians. It will be funny to see what the result of all of this is.',0,'1','','',1412,0),(1415,2151,'robyn','robyndyanrusso@gmail.com','','164.106.138.226','2010-02-18 22:25:55','2010-02-18 19:25:55','Well, I see NOTHING lame about this -- it\'s an amazing example of the way modern communications technology works: Carolyn writes, people read, and debate occurs.\n\nWe back in the States read her blog one way; Bulgarians read it another way because of our point of reference.  For me, it\'s a reminder of my own year in a Eastern European country, a chance to learn new things about Sofia &amp; Bulgarian -- a place I visited briefly and loved, but still know little about -- and a chance to follow my best friend and travel companion.  :-) But for a Bulgarian, who knows the places and problems C. describes better than anyone else, the same tale of buying shampoo or trying to dance is obviously going to conjure different feelings and reaction. That\'s why I love reading the comments almost as much as the blog itself: I\'m always interested to try to analyze my own perspective through seeing the way other people \"read\" C.\'s life\n\nNow, the television station is coming to open up the experience of C. for a whole other group, who will surely view it in different way than either the English-speaking, Internet connected Bulgarian or her American friends. It\'s another chance for different backgrounds and perspectives to collide. And for all the problems of modern media, I think that\'s one of the best benefits of it.\n\nNow, can I get this series online ?? :-)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1416,2151,'Ivan','trentbg@gmail.com','','97.81.19.178','2010-02-19 16:23:49','2010-02-19 13:23:49','Wow, you are a star now!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1417,2151,'Tiberii','zlatinapetrova@yahoo.com','','78.128.95.133','2010-02-22 10:01:25','2010-02-22 07:01:25','I\'ve watched the first epizode and i am really glad to see you on Nova Tv.Your life is an interesting one.Congratulations:-P.Can\'t wait for the next one tomorrow may be',0,'1','','',0,0),(1418,2159,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.247','2010-02-19 04:55:34','2010-02-19 01:55:34','Polenta should be thicker than what\'s in the picture. While hot, it should be with the thickness of something like scrambled eggs (not overcooked). However, it must be consumed warm because when it gets cold, it tastes worse than a shoe and a bit better than a brick...\nNext time try making the following sauce for the polenta: put some crumbled sirene (cow\'s white cheese) in hot vegetable oil, add paprika (maybe chilly - depending on your taste), stir energetically (paprika tends to burn easily!) for around 30 seconds and you\'re done. Pour over the polenta and enjoy.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1419,2159,'MoM','djemigh@wwcc.edu','','134.39.208.139','2010-02-19 20:02:03','2010-02-19 17:02:03','I\'m not seeing much of a source of protein (yes I noticed the cheese) in this meal.  Inexpensive is great, but I do want my girl well nourished.  Tell me you had some sort of meat alternate (legumes, eggs, nuts...) so you don\'t lose out on your iron, magnesium and zinc sources.\n\n(Help - I think I am still grading my students\' assignments!)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1420,2159,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.247','2010-02-19 20:48:20','2010-02-19 17:48:20','One doesn\'t need to have meat or eggs every day. A menu needs to be balanced on the long run. Don\'t you just have days when you don\'t feel for anything but a big salad?',0,'1','','',1419,0),(1421,2159,'tiberius','zlatinapetrova@yahoo.com','','78.128.52.168','2010-02-22 19:15:04','2010-02-22 16:15:04','I am amused how you can eat this?I am native bulgarian but i hate this dishhhhh!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1422,2159,'Bridget','mullanski@yahoo.com','','68.48.185.118','2010-02-23 07:14:31','2010-02-23 04:14:31','I saw this recipe in the NYT and was also inspired! Great minds.. :) I just stuck with the sausage, though; I was afraid it would be too salty but it was actually really good. Vegetables are a better idea; I\'ll have to try that next time. Who knew polenta was so easy!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1423,2170,'K.','kabelincho@gmail.com','','212.201.44.246','2010-02-19 15:17:33','2010-02-19 12:17:33','Unless they\'ve completely changed the cafeteria staff, they do smile a lot and they are quite friendly. They were to me anyway, and I see no reason why they shouldn\'t be to anyone else.\nAnd yes, probably the two best things about the cafeteria are the banana cream pudding and the картофени кюфтета с кисело мляко, no idea how this is in English, but I guess you can understand it, so it\'s OK.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1424,2170,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','74.241.1.53','2010-02-20 17:20:44','2010-02-20 14:20:44','But that is not banana cream pudding in the last picture!  Too bad I can\'t join you at school for lunch some days.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1425,2175,'Andreytcho','blog@andreytcho.com','http://andreytcho.com','92.247.223.191','2010-02-21 17:02:29','2010-02-21 14:02:29','I couldn\'t force myself reading about veggies, but by not finding the word meat in the whole text I would conclude you don\'t eat meat much if at all.\n\nThat\'s no way to live IMHO.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1426,2175,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','74.241.1.53','2010-02-21 17:02:51','2010-02-21 14:02:51',':-)  Thanks, it really is nice to know the veggies are there.  And frankly I wish I could come to dinner at your house, sounds good.  But no peas?  How can you justify that with the roots you have in pea geography?  Have you never eaten tiny tender peas?  Or snow peas?  Surely dislike of peas stems from eating peas that are too mature.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1427,2175,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-02-21 20:15:56','2010-02-21 17:15:56','And what\'s the American average diet?It will be interesting to hear.....I am also surprised for the green peas,I mean would you really like more green beans instead of green peas:)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1428,2175,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-02-21 20:17:07','2010-02-21 17:17:07','And yes,no meat at all,even chicken or fish....Souds like vegetarian menu....',0,'1','','',0,0),(1429,2175,'Yo','yolina.stoyanova@gmail.com','','62.202.126.15','2010-02-21 20:53:22','2010-02-21 17:53:22','I watched this on TED the other day and found it quite interesting  (Jamie is over acting a bit, but he has a point).\n\nIt\'s about food in general, but especially in US:\nhttp://www.ted.com/talks/jamie_oliver.html\n\nCarolyn, I think you are pretty close to perfect eater :).',0,'1','','',0,0),(1430,2175,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','68.189.128.124','2010-02-22 05:16:13','2010-02-22 02:16:13','Karolinka doesn\'t eat peas because her \"little\" brother loves them.',0,'1','','',1426,0),(1431,2175,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','74.241.1.53','2010-02-22 18:40:58','2010-02-22 15:40:58','Yes, Carolyn.  I agree with Yo.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1432,2175,'Jon','jonlongobardi@gmail.com','','130.132.149.82','2010-02-22 18:41:01','2010-02-22 15:41:01','There is very little meat in lentils.\n\nI am still bitter about you tricking me into eating tofu meatballs.  I\'ll never trust a vegetarian again.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1433,2175,'Sarah','sarahreid1@gmail.com','http://dailynibbles.com','132.198.165.220','2010-02-22 22:05:44','2010-02-22 19:05:44','Hey Carolyn! You\'ll have to send me some of your veggie-infused recipes. I loved the lentil recipe you sent me a while back. I actually don\'t like veggies all that much and sweets a lot:) I like your idea of putting veggies in dishes instead of plain on the side......I am writing this after I forced down some bland steamed broccoli for lunch.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1434,2175,'Maxine','maxine.t.greene@gmail.com','http://www.noblewi.org','125.160.180.160','2010-02-23 12:09:00','2010-02-23 09:09:00','I think your diet is good enough. I like to make it average. Not too much meat yet not all veggies also.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1435,2175,'cid','s.roussev@gmail.com','','84.238.217.4','2010-02-23 23:34:10','2010-02-23 20:34:10','Well, I couldn\'t help it - I had to make a comment. Do you think it\'s acceptable for a teacher in English with a degree in English (no less) to misuse \"then\" and \"than\" and \"it\'s\" and \"its\"?\nI enjoy reading your blog but this just drives me nuts...',0,'1','','',0,0),(1436,2175,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-02-24 07:24:16','2010-02-24 04:24:16','@cid Ha, ha. Thanks for the comment. The answer is no (tempered with a big however).  The however is this--it\'s an issue of typing and time.  Should I reread? and do a better job copying editing? probably but I\'ve only got so much time and so it happens sometimes.  Sorry. I\'ll try to do better than last time.',0,'1','','',1435,0),(1437,2184,'tiberius','zlatinapetrova@yahoo.com','','78.128.52.168','2010-02-22 19:24:00','2010-02-22 16:24:00','I watch \"Zdravei Bulgaria\" every day.It is the most interesting morning, how to say\"kind of show for me\":-P and I saw you also today.It was funny but quite short i think.Can\'t wait for the next one tomorrow morning with a bus story.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1438,2184,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-02-23 09:22:22','2010-02-23 06:22:22','I can\'t find the edition of \"Zdravei Bulgaria\",where you are making your debute on the internet.I want to see it so much...pls help with some link or something:)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1439,2184,'Tiberius','zlatinapetrova@yahoo.com','','78.128.95.133','2010-02-23 12:26:33','2010-02-23 09:26:33','http://www.novatv.bg/bg/videos/view/2628/',0,'1','','',0,0),(1440,2184,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.195.201.90','2010-02-23 12:48:46','2010-02-23 09:48:46','I have edited it and published here.\nhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tgZPkPOjdQ',0,'1','','',0,0),(1441,2184,'MoM','djemigh@wwcc.edu','','134.39.208.139','2010-02-23 18:22:53','2010-02-23 15:22:53','Thank you!  Thank you!\n\nAnd did I say THANK YOU!  I just figured this would be something I would never get to see, just read about the blog followers comments and listen to Carolyn\'s side of what it was like.\nBTW - Thank you!',0,'1','','',1440,0),(1442,2184,'tiberius','zlatinapetrova@yahoo.com','','78.128.52.168','2010-02-23 19:54:14','2010-02-23 16:54:14','To mom\n\nYou should be so proud of her.She is going to be a movie star:-)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1443,2184,'PollZ','paola.dimova@yahoo.com','','83.228.9.150','2010-02-23 20:15:24','2010-02-23 17:15:24','From now on I\'m your fan!!!!! :D',0,'1','','',0,0),(1444,2184,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-02-23 21:08:20','2010-02-23 18:08:20','@andreytcho I owe you a tremendous thank-you! The clip is excellent and the cartoon bubbles summarizing what people are saying is hysterical. I was just doubled over in laughter. Thank-you so much.',0,'1','','',1440,0),(1445,2184,'kathaireinv','jessyp7889@gmail.com','http://','74.88.142.179','2010-02-25 17:18:18','2010-02-25 14:18:18','tooo cool! :) and I\'m eating oatmeal I just made as I was reading this, haha. I guess heart health can be kind of sexy, no? haha',0,'1','','',0,0),(1446,2194,'tiberius','zlatinapetrova@yahoo.com','','78.128.52.168','2010-02-23 07:57:06','2010-02-23 04:57:06','Oh i don\'t think you could teach him English :-).He is tragic and annoying.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1447,2194,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.195.201.90','2010-02-23 11:36:38','2010-02-23 08:36:38','Well for the record he has only lived 2 years as a football player in US, so english is not his first foreign language, in spanish he has no problems. Karolinka is 2 years in BG I wonder how funny her bulgarian is when really being used to have a conversation....',0,'1','','',0,0),(1448,2194,'Toto','antoaneta.stefanova@hotmail.com','http://twitter.com/MySisterOfNight','85.11.176.28','2010-02-23 21:36:42','2010-02-23 18:36:42','\'And even funnier than my students.\'\nThat\'s the sentence that got me. C\'mon, we aren\'t THAT bad at English. At least not bad enough to be funny. Or are we? I hope not... Don\'t kill our childish hopes, Ms Emigh!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1449,2194,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-02-23 21:41:49','2010-02-23 18:41:49','@Toto Don\'t worry. Even at 10 graders, your English is 100 times better than Hristo\'s but no matter how hard you guys try to imitate Hristo Stoichkov he is by far funnier.',0,'1','','',1448,0),(1450,2194,'kathaireinv','jessyp7889@gmail.com','http://','74.88.142.179','2010-02-25 08:35:16','2010-02-25 05:35:16','If you don\'t listen carefully, (as I cannot seem to do at this moment with all these people around me) it still seems like he is speaking Bulgarian. Oh man. You certainly know more Bulgarian than I do -- Imagine my insecurity! :(\n\nI don\'t think there\'s any such thing as an \'easy foreign language\'..and English is definitely not one of the simpler ones.. we have too many wacky rules, and even more exceptions to those rules. Hristo is wonderful for his effort, and certainty in his speech.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1451,2194,'miter','m24800@yahoo.com','','158.35.225.227','2010-03-01 19:08:03','2010-03-01 16:08:03','By far my favorite Stoichkov quote:\n\"... but first, три more дена vacation!\" ;)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1452,2194,'NinjaDude','info@kuturak.net','http://fiftagon.com','77.70.118.62','2010-03-07 22:15:20','2010-03-07 19:15:20','Oh man, your post is much funnier than the video :D',0,'1','','',0,0),(1453,2199,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.195.201.90','2010-02-24 15:02:37','2010-02-24 12:02:37','Episode 3 is now uploaded:\n\nhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3g_6Ufg71c',0,'1','','',0,0),(1454,2199,'Day 3: Nova, Me &amp; the Bus &laquo; Karolinka In &amp; Around Bulgaria','','http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/02/25/day-3-nova-me-the-bus/','72.233.104.4','2010-02-25 08:11:39','2010-02-25 05:11:39','[...] with bated breath for day three of me and Nova television. Oh and if you haven&#8217;t checked out day 2 you probably should. It turns out that I am part of my own video montage&#8211;that plays to [...]',0,'1','','pingback',0,0),(1455,2204,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2010-02-24 11:08:39','2010-02-24 08:08:39','Now, imagine what would have been if you had to say \"no\" to the trip to Rome also.\n\noff-topic: Why doesn\'t Nova give the url of your blog? Or at least mention the name of it so that it is easier for people to google it?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1456,2204,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.41','2010-02-24 11:28:43','2010-02-24 08:28:43','That is a disadvantage, in a way. Your Mom would like that you find someone that would pay often her air tickets from the States. ;-)\n\nOn a more serious note, I have found out that money habits prevent me from meeting younger people, who are not so well off. And friends do influence you, for example I felt this way when I had to choose my car. I really struggled to have it my own way (figuring what I really want).\n\nThat was the big lesson from it for me — being in such situations makes me think hard what do I REALLY want, and this is a very precious skill in life.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1457,2204,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.195.201.90','2010-02-24 12:58:15','2010-02-24 09:58:15','Not all bulgarians complain about expensive restaurants, we just know that expensive doesn\'t mean good.\nI think that americans are different than most other foregners in Bulgaria.I am sure everyone who has ever known one would confirm.\nI had a boss who ate nothing but junk food for 2 years, never liked OUR food, and didn\'t speak a word of bulgarian.\n\n\"Why try, I can just be an American, people love our shit, they won\'t hate me...\"\n\nYeah right.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1458,2204,'Charlotte','charlotte.emigh@gmail.com','','128.193.28.225','2010-02-24 22:19:12','2010-02-24 19:19:12','I think you are under selling yourself here. I think that because of the year you spent as a case worker and the frugal family we grew up in that you understand what it means to not have money. During your volunteer year you knew what it meant to never be able to afford a coffee or to have to say, sorry I can\'t,  to everything but the cheapest restaurants. So do you think its the intervening years that have distanced this feeling or the cultural differences? I think in this blog post you have not presented yourself as culturally sensitive as I know you are.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1459,2204,'beth.','beth.ashworth@gmail.com','','98.206.140.213','2010-02-25 06:56:04','2010-02-25 03:56:04','These are really interesting thoughts, thanks for posting them.\n\nAlso, re: your tv series, the other day I saw my brother dressed up as a militsioner in a Russian play he\'s doing, today I see my dear cousin \"breakin\' the law breakin\' the law\" on the evening news... What a week I\'ve had!\n\nCan\'t wait to watch the rest, American woman.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1460,2204,'kathaireinv','jessyp7889@gmail.com','http://','74.88.142.179','2010-02-28 21:25:02','2010-02-28 18:25:02','I agree! expensive doesn\'t mean good here either...There\'s a saying that goes something like \'You can tell how good a Chinese restaurant is by the number of Chinese people in it.\" I think that applies all across the board. I\'m quite thankful that there are plenty of overlooked, cheap eats in the city.\n\nAmericans anywhere are different than other foreigners, and while it can be a good thing, I often find that when I speak to other people, this difference may not always be the greatest thing. I don\'t think your boss wanting to \'be American\' abroad is necessarily wrong unless he spoke of Bulgaria in condescending terms, which is just wrong no matter where you are or who you are speaking to/about.\n\nI understand that as a foreigner anywhere, you want to hold on to the things you know and understand. But to purposely not attempt to submerge yourself in the culture of the country you are in (for 2 years!) just doesn\'t make sense to me personally. Did he ever call Bulgarian cuisine \"Your\" food?? That\'s awful and extremely rude and insensitive! Boo!',0,'1','','',1457,0),(1461,2209,'charlotte','charlotte.emigh@gmail.com','','24.20.130.57','2010-02-25 08:31:06','2010-02-25 05:31:06','Oh Kiki, this is so great! You are such a law breaker in this episode (breaking the law, breaking the law)! The tortillas and the bus! I love it all. I love that they blurred out the label on your alcohol. That makes it seem so naughty. And you have always loved homemade jam, so I\'m glad you found someone to make it for you in Bulgaria. And dAd\'s coffee. I can\'t wait for the rest of the series! I\'m going to be so sad when I have to stop watching you on TV though!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1462,2209,'Lindsay','lindsay.bouton@gmail.com','','213.130.70.154','2010-02-25 08:54:48','2010-02-25 05:54:48','Carolyn, this is HILARIOUS! Breakin the law, breakin the law. Sarah and I watched the fourth episode on TV this morning (thanks to Junior Jumpstart, no first block class for me!) and it was EVEN BETTER. I need to start going to Balkan dance class again so I can watch you and Jeff in action.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1463,2209,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.195.201.90','2010-02-25 14:09:40','2010-02-25 11:09:40','And now Heeeere is Johnny: Episode 4\n\nhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUkAvjZAfHc',0,'1','','',0,0),(1464,2209,'Maya','maja_batschvarova@abv.bg','','89.25.58.145','2010-02-25 16:43:36','2010-02-25 13:43:36','Hi, Carolyn!\nI really enjoy the things you write - they make me smile - even when I had a bad day!\nThe first time when I read a post in your blog was about 3 months ago and it was the post with the things you like and you don\'t understand in Bulgaria. Until now I have red almost every post in this blog - they are all so fun and interesting. You represent the life in Bulgaria very accurate and I\'m happy, that I can see my country through the eyes of the foreigners. The project of Nova TV is a good idea and the episodes are great (except the stupid comments in Bulgarian). Can you tell me, please, where I can find the first episode of the film, because the link under one of the previous posts lead to the clip with the second part. I really want to see all of the clips!:)\n\nP.S. Please excuse my English. I\'ve learned English only from 5th to 7th grade and now I exercise it by Internet, movies and music. :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1465,2209,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.195.201.90','2010-02-25 17:11:29','2010-02-25 14:11:29','First episode is not uploaded anywhere.I think Karolinka should ask Nova to do it, the rest of the clips are uploaded.Expecting the last one tomorrow.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1466,2209,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-02-25 17:46:22','2010-02-25 14:46:22','@Andreytcho! Got it. Thanks for the information. I\'ll ask right now!',0,'1','','',1465,0),(1467,2213,'kathaireinv','jessyp7889@gmail.com','http://','74.88.142.179','2010-02-25 17:38:33','2010-02-25 14:38:33','I won\'t be able to watch this now, I have to run off to get ready for classes -- I\'m already late, haha.. but if this is Horo, then I am awfully jealous! I\'ll re-check this post once I get home tonight!\n:)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1468,2213,'Isabel','isazgza@gmail.com','','83.61.156.111','2010-02-25 19:42:38','2010-02-25 16:42:38','Hi Carolyn! U look really good in this video, congrats! And I see your approach to BG culture has increased tons! ;)\n\nKisses from Spain!\n\nOh! Here I attach my video when I was there, just in case u haven\'t watched it...we\'re THE stars my girl, loool!\n\nhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUGgTZz4pRc\n\nHugs to everyone, take care!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1469,2213,'Charlotte','charlotte.emigh@gmail.com','','128.193.28.225','2010-02-25 22:05:17','2010-02-25 19:05:17','Again, adorable! I\'m so glad that \"American Woman\" is your soundtrack. And that we get to see you dance!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1470,2213,'Shadowmar','shadowmarn@gmail.com','','89.215.161.37','2010-02-25 22:53:33','2010-02-25 19:53:33','I\'ll definitely watch you tomorrow morning. It\'s well done \'series\' but the BTV ones were better. \'The New Bulgarians\' was like 45 minutes per episode, and was quite interesting.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1471,2213,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.195.201.90','2010-02-26 16:23:52','2010-02-26 13:23:52','Episode 5 is online, was in a rant mode for a bit, sorry!\n\nhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vGsRt-BEPc',0,'1','','',0,0),(1472,2218,'Кирил','kiril.zyapkov@gmail.com','http://1024.cjb.net','84.238.210.178','2010-02-27 11:42:28','2010-02-27 08:42:28','High-five to the person who did the video annotations.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1473,2218,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-02-27 11:44:14','2010-02-27 08:44:14','@Кирил Yes, I second that. I can\'t believe that I forgot to thank Andreytcho in this blog post. None of these would be up or nearly as funny as they are with out him!! Thanks so much.',0,'1','','',1472,0),(1474,2218,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','74.241.1.53','2010-02-27 17:42:18','2010-02-27 14:42:18','Thanks Carolyn, this was fun.  For those of us watching in the States, Sofie seems so much more real, as do the people.  I like them, even the \"boring\" news commentator!  I thought Bulgarian would sound like Russian, but it sounds quite different to me -- softer, almost melodious.  Bulgaria always seemed like someplace so exotic that it might not even quite exist.  The name seemed strange, more like a grain than a country.  It\'s a place we don\'t think about much.  My \"Bulgaria\" receptors are now fully alert and I notice Bulgaria surprisingly often in the media and other places. Thanks!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1475,2218,'luchko','luchezar.petkov@gmail.com','http://luchko.wordpress.com/','87.246.66.149','2010-02-27 18:22:21','2010-02-27 15:22:21','Don\'t worry about not knowing much about politics and culture... I lived in Denmark for a year without knowing the language, without a TV, etc, and I didn\'t knew almost anything about this kind of stuff in Denmark. Now I live in the UK and I can barely recognize a few politicians and even fewer British, um, \"stars\".\nAfter all, it\'s up to you - if you don\'t care who\'s the prime minister or if you don\'t care about soccer players, or whatever that\'s cool. Everybody has different interests.\nPlus, I find the fact that you\'ve been to Koprivshtitsa (its really hard to write this one in English, heh), Melnik, Veliko Tarnovo, etc more important. You actually learned more about Bulgarian culture this way compared to what you\'d learn if you read the magazines or watch tv or whatever.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1476,2218,'NinjaDude','info@kuturak.net','http://fiftagon.com','77.70.118.62','2010-03-07 22:58:24','2010-03-07 19:58:24','You are incredibly cute :)\nIt\'s a pity these episodes are so short.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1477,2218,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-03-08 21:06:41','2010-03-08 18:06:41','@NinjaDude: Thanks! But you\'ll have to take up the length of the episodes with Nova TV!',0,'1','','',1476,0),(1478,2218,'dawsr','cimbrio@hotmail.com','','95.18.53.93','2010-04-06 17:22:24','2010-04-06 16:22:24','OH MY F. DOG!!!!\n\nKAROLINKIE YOU DID NOT TELL ME YOU\'RE FAMOUS HERE!!!!\n\nI AM ABSOLUTELY GOBSMACKED!!! YOU\'RE LIKE A SORT OF BALKAN ANJELINA JOLIE NOW!!!\n\nCONGRATULATIOSN, YOU REPRESENT US FOREIGNERS SO WELL, I SALUTE YOU MADAME AMBASSADOR!!!\n\nPS: HOW COME I\'VE BEEN TO BULGARIA SO MANY TIMES, LOVE BULGARIA TO BITS AND NEVER ACTUALLY GET TO BE ON TV?\n\nLots of Kisses from Madrid.\n\nD.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1479,2225,'kathaireinv','jessyp7889@gmail.com','http://','74.88.142.179','2010-02-28 20:44:23','2010-02-28 17:44:23','Yeah, I plan on wearing red and white tomorrow to celebrate, I wanted to make some bracelets, but I couldn\'t get to the textile store to buy some velvet, so I might just see what I have lying around the house. :) I don\'t have enough string to make the cute little dolls.\n\nI\'m dying for spring too, the weather in NY is not great at all, it just finished snowing a ton...booo! What is your favorite flower? Mine is the lily...I really like orange ones with the spots. :D',0,'1','','',0,0),(1480,2225,'Deia','deia@mail.bg','','92.247.13.10','2010-02-28 20:47:11','2010-02-28 17:47:11','Yay for spring and мартеници...and snowdrops :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1481,2225,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-03-01 09:23:42','2010-03-01 06:23:42','@kathaireinv I am a huge fan of tulips.  These are in my mind a very spring flower. I think it\'s because growing up my MoM used to grow them!',0,'1','','',1479,0),(1482,2234,'kathaireinv','jessyp7889@gmail.com','http://','74.88.142.179','2010-03-01 08:54:39','2010-03-01 05:54:39','Chestita Baba Marta, Carolyn! :D\n\nI just stayed up making a martenitsi for my friend, but I can\'t find any white string anywhere.. I\'m so sad! :(\n\nI tried to bleach the red ones i used and it doesn\'t seem to be working at all. I might have to go buy yarn somewhere in the city if i want to finish \'Penda\' (the female doll) correctly.. I spent the time listening to traditional music too, so I would have really liked to have finished it before bed, but if you haven\'t made one by hand, (this is my first time) they are really fun to make! I\'m sure you have lots of grading to do though, not to mention I have to wake up for class tomorrow. Boo.\nLeka Nosht!\n\nJessy',0,'1','','',0,0),(1483,2234,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-03-01 09:20:13','2010-03-01 06:20:13','Честита Баба Марта!\n\nIt\'s time for one blog in bulgarian:).You\'ve pretty much said almost evrything I know for Baba Marta,but I\'ll try to summarise a story and write it down later on...\n\nС пожелание за един хубав, емоционален,пролетен 1 Март!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1484,2234,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-03-01 09:24:38','2010-03-01 06:24:38','@Elena I can\'t agree more. Look for a Bulgarian post either tomorrow or on Wednesday!',0,'1','','',1483,0),(1485,2234,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.79','2010-03-01 20:47:26','2010-03-01 17:47:26','Martenitsi made in China? That\'s just wrong...\nIt really wasn\'t like this before. Each year there are more and more martenitsa stands. There\'s so much red it\'s hurting my eyes sometimes and I these days I think there are about ten martenitsi per capita. But I still like the holiday. It\'s good, it\'s old and it\'s as Bulgarian as it can be.\nBasically the red stands for blood and life and the white is for happiness. Also some stories say that Baba Marta likes the colour red and if she\'s happy, it\'ll be a good month. And there\'s a new thing a heard this year - you are supposed to make a wish when someone\'s tying a martenitsa on your wrist. That, I think, is bollocks :P Most legends put the start of the tradition around 681 AD, when the current Bulgaria was founded. Though I\'ve been told that written evidence from Arab scholars shows that Bulgarian khans have been tying red and white strings on their troops for health and strength.\nBut I can tell you the legend I\'ve been told as a kid and which is by far my favorite. I don\'t know how much you know about but Bulgarian history, so here\'s a brief introduction. Around 630 AD there was an Old Great Bulgaria bordering on the north-east Black Sea. It was invaded by the Khazars some thirty years later and Asparouch, one of the sons of the khan, called Kubrat, led some of our people across the Danube and founded this Bulgaria.\nSo the legend goes like this: Kubrat had five sons and a daughter. On his deathbed he gave his sons a final lesson - he gave them five spears bound together (or a stack of twigs in some stories) and told them to break the stack. None could. Then he untied it and showed them that separately each spear or twig is easily broken. And the brothers too must stay together to be strong. After his death, the Khazars invaded their leader demanded that the brothers recognize his authority and bow down before him and in exchange they could keep their lands and people. He had also imprisoned their sister, Huba, and the brothers were afraid he might kill her if they fight him. One of the sons, Bayan, stayed there to be with his sister and accepted the Khazars\' authority. The others left - the one called Kotrag headed north and Asparouch, Kuber and Altsek headed west. They told Huba that however finds free land for their tribes, would send a hawk with a golden string tied to its leg.\nSo the four brothers left and the Khazars pursued them. Soon Asparouch reached the Danube river and while Kuber and Altsek continued west to find a crossing, he stayed and searched for one near the delta. A silver stag appeared and hopped through the river, showing Asparouch where his people might cross. So the women and children crossed, while the warriors stayed to fight and chase away their pursuers.\nAsparouch, having found a free land for his people, sent a hawk with a golden string to Huba and Bayan. No one else had sent one and the two escaped and headed to the Danube. The Khazar leader sent his fastest riders to get them back. They caught up to them when Huba and Bayan had reached the river. Huba sent the hawk to find Asparouch and to find a way across the river. They tied a long white string to the its leg. But then a Khazar arrow hit Bayan and as he fell and the ball of string unraveled, his blood painted some of it red.\nRight then Asparouch appeared on the opposite shore and because the Khazars were afraid of him, they retreated. Asparouch wiped his sisters tears and spoke to his people: \"Brothers. My father, Kubrat, left us but one order - to stay united. We did not follow it and now we pay for that with blood. With our brother\'s blood.\" He then walked took the blooded string and pinned a piece of it on everyone. After that he called to Tangra (the deity that Bulgars believed in): \"Oh, Tangra, creator of all things! Sky, that dominates all! Make it so that when need arises, these pieces come together again in one whole thing with no beginning and no end!\"\nSo now we wear the white and red pieces of string, so that the big string that connects us all never breaks.\n\n\nWell, that\'s it. I hope you liked the story. :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1486,2234,'zikata','militza_nic_zic@yahoo.com','http://zikata.wordpress.com','168.122.246.69','2010-03-02 05:03:32','2010-03-02 02:03:32','Hi Carolyn,\n\nMartenitsi are not only all over Sofia and Bulgaria, but also in Boston, and undoubtedly, in many many cities all over the world:\n\nhttp://zikata.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/baba-marta-martenitsi-boston/\n\nI love your blog! Keep writing! I\'m homesick :)\nAnd say hi to whoever is supervising College Life this year, they are doing a great job with my favorite newspaper!\n\nCheers!\n\nMilitza Zikatanova\nACS\'08',0,'1','','',0,0),(1487,2234,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-03-02 07:45:34','2010-03-02 04:45:34','@Zikata  Thanks for the comment! Don\'t worry I\'ll keep writing.  I love writing too much not to.  As for College Life--I\'ll pass your message down the hall to my colleagues. They\'ll be glad to hear this. Hope that spring will find you sooner than later in Boston!! K.',0,'1','','',1486,0),(1488,2234,'Спас Колев','spas_kolev@frisomat.net','http://az-pitam.org/nk/','217.18.249.78','2010-03-02 09:21:49','2010-03-02 06:21:49','Well March 1 is also an American holiday, it seems. :D\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Pig_Day',0,'1','','',0,0),(1489,2234,'Spring as Sprung! &laquo; Karolinka In &amp; Around Bulgaria','','http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/04/14/spring-as-sprung/','72.233.96.190','2010-04-14 04:55:27','2010-04-14 03:55:27','[...] Sofia without me. The luck. I&#8217;ve been waiting for Spring for months now if you remember I was thrilled for March 1st. Sure it&#8217;s not super warm and rain has been threatening all spring but isn&#8217;t what we [...]',0,'1','','pingback',0,0),(1490,2252,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.198','2010-03-02 13:10:04','2010-03-02 10:10:04','I usually carry the whole bunch for several days and then carry just some of the bracelets. ;-)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1491,2252,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-03-02 19:24:53','2010-03-02 16:24:53','@ Комитата I feel kind of like a 14 year old girl wearing all of these martenitsi on my arm but I guess I stick it out for a day or two more and then pair back.',0,'1','','',1490,0),(1492,2252,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.198','2010-03-02 21:57:23','2010-03-02 18:57:23','Even if you carry just one, you keep the tradition. Watch out how others reduce the load and imitate ;-)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1493,2252,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-03-03 12:10:15','2010-03-03 09:10:15','@Комитата Great advice. When in Rome... or I guess in this case, when in Sofia. Anyhow I reduced. It now makes it much easier to wash my hands and to eat meals now that there are no frayed martenitsa tails in my way!',0,'1','','',1492,0),(1494,2252,'ilian','imar@abv.bg','','85.130.24.100','2010-03-03 12:20:59','2010-03-03 09:20:59','Wow!\nI haven\'t looked like this since I was 8 :)\nI like the enthusiasm you have about everything around you !',0,'1','','',0,0),(1495,2252,'eva','evapopov@hotmail.com','http://epowen.blogspot.com','68.101.109.10','2010-03-07 05:00:55','2010-03-07 02:00:55','Hello. I found your blog when searching for a picture of a martenitza for my blog...and I am so glad I found it, I browsed through your archives and I love your take on living in Bulgaria.\n\nEva\nfrom Sofia, now living in California',0,'1','','',0,0),(1496,2252,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-03-07 10:05:14','2010-03-07 07:05:14','@Eva I am glad you found the blog and like what I am writing. Thanks for your comment and of course, Chestita Baba Marta!!',0,'1','','',1495,0),(1497,2252,'charlotte','charlotte.emigh@gmail.com','','24.20.130.57','2010-03-08 10:48:38','2010-03-08 07:48:38','Oh and I have the Martenitsa you gave me, but I wasn\'t sure what to do with it since everything was in bud here way before March 1st. I guess I could wait for a stork, but then I might be waiting forever.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1498,2259,'highbg','high@mail.bg','','212.50.6.12','2010-03-03 12:21:05','2010-03-03 09:21:05','I am afraid you might be disappointed of Under the Yoke. It\'s too old-fashioned, modelled after French cloak-and-dagger novels, and totally non-PC... Anyway, there was a conference on xenophobia in the Balkans about a dozen years ago, and one of the findings was that, of all notable 19th c. Bulgarian intellectuals, the only one who could be called a Democrat by today\'s Europan standards is \'Grandpa\' Petko R. Slaveykov...',0,'1','','',0,0),(1499,2259,'highbg','high@mail.bg','','212.50.6.12','2010-03-03 12:25:16','2010-03-03 09:25:16','A better novel (or rather a memoir) of the April Uprising by an eyewitness and participant is Zahari Stoyanov\'s Zapiski po Bulgarskite Vustania (Notes on the Bulgarian uprisings). There is an abridged version (140 pp.) translated into English.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1500,2259,'Andreytcho','blog@andreytcho.com','http://andreytcho.com','92.247.238.106','2010-03-03 12:42:28','2010-03-03 09:42:28','http://www.pe-bg.com/?cid=3&amp;pid=11981\n\nThere are plenty of books stores around from this chain.\nIt lists Orange in business park Mladost or on Graf Ignatiev.\n\n22lv &lt; $24\n\nThe book is great!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1501,2259,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-03-03 12:44:06','2010-03-03 09:44:06','@highbg  I think there\'s a good chance that I\'ll be disappointed by the novel but after studying and now teaching literature for the better part of my adult life there are a great number of novels I\'ve read and been disappointed by. So, why shouldn\'t I give this novel a shot? In some ways it seems like Joyce\'s Ulysses or Tolstoy\'s War and Peace--a behemoth of a novel that many claim to have read, think they should read or mean to read but never do.  So why not? It\'s only a novel.',0,'1','','',1498,0),(1502,2259,'ilian','imar@abv.bg','','85.130.24.100','2010-03-03 12:56:47','2010-03-03 09:56:47','Vazov sets the standards for modern Bulgarian literature, but his writing is not such a big deal.\nAnyway, you are an English teacher - you have to manage.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1503,2259,'pet','bewitched@mail.bg','','136.173.62.145','2010-03-03 13:29:35','2010-03-03 10:29:35','My personal favourite is \"Time of Parting\" (Vreme razdelno by Anton Donchev), the book is beautifully written and made me cry. There is a film based on the book - \"Time of Violence\", you can find some excerpts in youtube. Really, really touching...\nAnd I might re-read this book indeed (unfortunately I don\'t have a copy of \"Under the Yoke\" right now), thanks for the idea and the challenge : )',0,'1','','',0,0),(1504,2259,'bendyourcircuit','glutathione@gmail.com','http://bendyourcircuit.wordpress.com/','134.99.134.108','2010-03-03 14:03:46','2010-03-03 11:03:46','Last year I saw some copies of the English translation at Slaveykov Square.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1505,2259,'amanda','amandaludwigster@gmail.com','','109.160.61.86','2010-03-03 14:54:43','2010-03-03 11:54:43','hi!\n\ni am the same volunteer who commented earlier and has yet to contact you for a sofia play date.\n\ni was in sofia the other day at the book bazaar in front of the national library and saw one reallllllly old hardback copy of this book in english.\n\nit\'s price?  70 leva.  i asked around and was told the book was only recently translated into english and was hard to get a hold of.  i am not surprised, then, that it is $24 for a paperback version.\n\nif you find a copy of it, tell me where.  i\'d also like to read it!  and don\'t worry, i haven\'t forgotten about getting together.  i will email soon!\n\namanda',0,'1','','',0,0),(1506,2259,'amanda','amandaludwigster@gmail.com','','109.160.61.86','2010-03-03 14:55:23','2010-03-03 11:55:23','ahem. excuse the \"it\'s\" and assume i wrote \"its\".',0,'1','','',0,0),(1507,2259,'Спас Колев','spas_kolev@frisomat.net','http://az-pitam.org/nk/','217.18.249.78','2010-03-03 15:30:28','2010-03-03 12:30:28','Thank you pet. I was wondering what could be worst than Under the Yoke and you are proposing a good solution. :D\n\nAnd the copy you are looking for is <a href=\"http://chitanka.info/lib/text/3753\" rel=\"nofollow\">here</a>.',0,'1','','',1503,0),(1508,2259,'kathaireinv','jessyp7889@gmail.com','http://www.imatelivreme.blogspot.com','74.88.142.179','2010-03-03 16:54:21','2010-03-03 13:54:21','Wow, sounds interesting.\nI am up for this challenge too! :)\n\nHappy book hunting!! (And thank you everyone else for the mention of other books and movies that I will try to scourge the net for. ^__^)\n\nJessy',0,'1','','',0,0),(1509,2259,'pet','bewitched@mail.bg','','136.173.62.145','2010-03-03 19:38:39','2010-03-03 16:38:39','Thanks a lot for the link. I still prefer rereading \"Time of Parting\" though : )',0,'1','','',1507,0),(1510,2259,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.23','2010-03-03 22:10:42','2010-03-03 19:10:42','I  am not sure if this book has much of literature qualities. It is more a nostalgic icon, a mass literature, intended for patriotic education. I would recommend \"<a href=\"http://www.amazon.co.uk/Extracts-Bulgarian-Uprisings-Zachary-STOYANOFF/dp/B001PASPVU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1267643072&amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\">The Notes on Bulgarian Uprisings\"</a> by Zachary Stoyanov. It is more difficult to read, but is much more realistic and biographical. I know that you mean well, but I feel uneasy if someone judges the Bulgarian literature according to this rather naive and simple book.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1511,2259,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.23','2010-03-03 22:11:59','2010-03-03 19:11:59','BTW, the books from amazon.co.uk come here faster and do not pass customs.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1512,2259,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-03-03 22:19:57','2010-03-03 19:19:57','@ Комитата Hum. It sounds like I am beginning to gather a long list of books to read! Thanks for the insight.',0,'1','','',1511,0),(1513,2259,'windtank','windtank@abv.bg','','78.90.116.112','2010-03-04 10:30:43','2010-03-04 07:30:43','Hey!\nI\'m an ex-student of yours from Sofia University. :) I think I\'ve seen the English copy of Под игото in our library (that is now also the British Council library). Today I\'m going there to return some books so I\'ll look for it.\nIf it\'s there I can take it and give it to you (of course as long as you don\'t forget returning it :)))\nBy the way, I\'m following your blog and so do some of my classmates so we haven\'t forgotten you. :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1514,2259,'windtank','windtank@abv.bg','','78.90.116.112','2010-03-04 16:03:36','2010-03-04 13:03:36','I found it! There is one copy at the Resource Center in my university.\nIf you want, I can get it for you. :)',0,'1','','',1513,0),(1515,2259,'mthomp28','mthomp28@gmail.com','','134.114.26.122','2010-03-04 20:42:58','2010-03-04 17:42:58','The American Research Center (where I used to live) has a copy of \"Pod Igoto\" in their library. They would let you use it for free.\n\nI read this book for one of my classes at UW last year and came away both impressed and disappointed. Without any knowledge of the history, the story comes off as kind of corny. Some of the action is over the top, but it\'s a good story that explains the April Uprising through the eyes of Bulgarians. The best part is the subtle themes underneath what is known as an ultra-patriotic book. \"Pod Igoto\" is usually used by Bulgarian nationalists to support their agendas, but there plenty of instances in the book where Vazoz questions blind patriotism and solidarity of a nationalist agenda. Perhaps the greatest strength of the book is that is details village life in Bulgaria during the 19th century.\n\nIt\'s definitely worth a read. I wish I could have read it during my Peace Corps days. If nothing it will give you something interesting to chat about with a Bulgarian.\n\nAs someone else pointed out, Stoyanov’s \"Notes on the Bulgarian Uprising\" is really interesting and \"Vreme Razdelno\" is long, but probably a better written book than \"Pod Igoto\".',0,'1','','',0,0),(1516,2259,'Ventsi','ventsy@gmail.com','','207.105.30.53','2010-03-06 02:19:57','2010-03-05 23:19:57','Karolinka,\nyou could download the Under the Yoke from the net. It is in the public domain:\nhttp://www.archive.org/details/underyokeromance00vazorich\nHave fun!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1517,2259,'ZornGold','dangershark7@mail.ru','','94.73.32.255','2010-03-07 10:05:30','2010-03-07 07:05:30','Honestly, \"Under the Yoke\" is incredibly uninteresting book. The fist Bulgarian novel - this makes it quite obvious that the book is just... not good. Most of the (older) Bulgarians like it \'cause they\'ve never read another book, hehe... it\'s just an obligatory at school for 6th grade.\n\nSo, in my humble opinion, don\'t waste your time by reading this boring wannabe novel and maybe get a history book about the heroic Bulgarian battles in the past.\n\nBut if you want a novel, I can\'t help ya. For me 95% of the Bulgarian literature is weak, pointless and boring. And the only good stuff makes no sense in English.\n\nAnd I say that as a reading Bulgarian.\n\nGood luck!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1518,2259,'miter','m24800@yahoo.com','','158.35.225.227','2010-03-09 19:53:29','2010-03-09 16:53:29','Under the Yoke will be a disappointment.\nBut do check Vazov\'s poems in \"Epopee to the Forgotten\". There are some good ones, the translations are decent, and what better way to learn some Bulgarian by going verse by verse with the original and the translation.\n\nEverything can be found online. Here\'s an example:\nhttp://www.slovo.bg/showwork.php3?AuID=283&amp;WorkID=10654&amp;Level=2',0,'1','','',0,0),(1519,2259,'Me &amp; Under the Yoke &laquo; Karolinka In &amp; Around Bulgaria','','http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/03/18/me-under-the-yoke/','74.200.244.18','2010-03-18 08:16:15','2010-03-18 07:16:15','[...] of Ivan Vasov&#8217;s novel. And don&#8217;t worry, I am going to blog about reading it.  If you remember, I thought I&#8217;d start reading it for the March 3rd holiday in Bulgaria but that date came and [...]',0,'1','','pingback',0,0),(1520,2265,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','134.39.208.139','2010-03-04 19:36:55','2010-03-04 16:36:55','And it is March - so you are clearly no longer living in fear of spending too much.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1521,2265,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.79','2010-03-04 22:56:07','2010-03-04 19:56:07','I must be really out of sync with the times, if that\'s what people my age wear. My response to most of these photos was a giggle, a facepalm or a gaze of speechless disbelief. In the words of Wilde, from an artistic point of view, fashion is usually a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months. That\'s pretty much my opinion, but maybe I\'m just too old on the inside.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1522,2265,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','74.241.1.53','2010-03-05 00:46:34','2010-03-04 21:46:34','Bobby, it seems to me it\'s a city thing.  And it depends greatly on the city.  I\'ve continent hopped stopping at several places in Europe and the US on route to my destination. Along the way I noticed just how differently people dress in each place.  What seemed perfectly comfortable and normal as I set out, seemed totally out of place at other places. The extreme dressers where one lives become familiar and are sort of normal after a while. Maybe you don\'t live in Sofie?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1523,2265,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.79','2010-03-05 04:13:27','2010-03-05 01:13:27','Au contraire, I\'ve been here in Sofia all my life - all 25 years of it. It\'s more like I can see how much fashion has changed over the last 15-20 years. Be it gradually like the belt getting lower or much faster like the pants-in-boots thing. Clothes became less practical and more for show. And I don\'t really like the show. But I get what you mean. I traveled to Denmark recently and a trend in an Aarhus ghetto was to stuff one\'s trousers in the socks. Completely normal to them, alien to me. So maybe I can\'t get used to the local fashion, because I don\'t go out enough or I don\'t pay much attention to what people are wearing. I\'m not saying I hate everyone\'s clothes, though - in fact I see a lot of people looking really well. It\'s just that some of the girls in this street style blog look like the wardrobe fell on them.\nOh, and it\'s always funny when people go nuts over a \"brand new\" piece of clothing and it\'s actually something my grandmother has had for decades.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1524,2265,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-03-05 07:52:05','2010-03-05 04:52:05','@Bobby, I am afraid the giggle you describe in your first comment is the thing I like so much about the blog. You give it a different name but I think we\'re giggling for the same reason--it\'s the relative absurdity of the whole thing. The photos on a whole are well taken, the subjects are wearing visually interesting clothes (even if their fashion-ness may be questionable) and the blog isn\'t trashy. This said, it\'s <em>Sofia</em>. It\'s not Paris, London, Milan or even New York and that\'s okay but I think that\'s what makes the whole thing so silly and interesting to me at the same time.',0,'1','','',1523,0),(1525,2265,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','74.241.1.53','2010-03-05 18:34:49','2010-03-05 15:34:49','OOOOOkay, I get it now.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1526,2265,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.79','2010-03-05 19:59:58','2010-03-05 16:59:58','@Karolinka - \"the relative absurdity of the whole thing\" - then indeed, we\'re giggling at the same thing. :)',0,'1','','',1524,0),(1527,2269,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','87.126.179.118','2010-03-05 12:13:33','2010-03-05 09:13:33','I like the word cosmopolitan and also broad-minded, non-judgemental, tolerant, eyes wide open.\nCosmopolitan describes mental attitude that is not confined by stereotypes or expectations.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1528,2274,'Andreytcho','blog@andreytcho.com','http://andreytcho.com','92.247.223.191','2010-03-06 21:38:17','2010-03-06 18:38:17','If you pay $25 for photo storage I am stopping to read this blog!\nPaying for something which has free alternatives is stupid.\nBut let\'s say you want to pay after all, why not pay for google storage? Picasaweb already has 1GB, but for only $5 per year you get 20GB.\nI understand if you want to pay because you can, but think like a normal person who would ask themselves: would I get money back by doing this? Fuck NO!, you are not a national geographic photographer.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1529,2274,'akolev','alexander.kolev@gmail.com','','87.60.161.25','2010-03-06 22:44:05','2010-03-06 19:44:05','please ignore the previous comment. picasa is useless for real photographic purposes - for storage of your holiday pics it\'s fine, but for everything else it pretty much loses it to flickr.\n\nflickr is the #1 online photo site for a good reason. the 25$ per year, besides allowing you all the things you mentioned, will also let you:\n- have unlimited storage (not 1gb, nor 20gb...)\n- upload your pictures in their original size - a feature which for advanced amateurs and pro photographers is quite essential\n- have access to the FlickrAPI which would allow you easily one day to build up a photo-blog or a dedicated site to host your galleries\n- get to use the flickr tools (web and desktop) for uploading, managing and slightly retouching your pics\n- access to the biggest ever photographic community\n\n$25 per year is a ridiculously low price and I\'m not even sure why you\'re still in doubt what to do...\n\ncompared to the average Bulgarian income, the amount is a bit high so I could easily understand the previous comment, but as an American you should know how much $2.5 is...',0,'1','','',0,0),(1530,2274,'Deia','deia@mail.bg','','92.247.13.10','2010-03-06 23:02:39','2010-03-06 20:02:39','Yay, you wrote a post about the elective :) Btw, I\'m considering the same thing...well, I\'m trying to decide whether to make my parents pay for a Pro account...\n\nSince we\'re probably going to take a LOT of pictures for the elective, it might be reasonable to upgrade to a Pro account, since you get unlimited storage space and bandwidth, while in Picasa, for example, you only get 25 Gigabytes for the same price per year...\n\nNow I convinced myself that I need to convince my parents to do just that :D',0,'1','','',0,0),(1531,2274,'Deia','deia@mail.bg','','92.247.13.10','2010-03-06 23:04:03','2010-03-06 20:04:03','p.s. where did you take that photo in the post?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1532,2274,'Deia','deia@mail.bg','','92.247.13.10','2010-03-06 23:06:16','2010-03-06 20:06:16','and btw, a Flickr Pro account does not limit the size of the uploaded photos, while Picasa has a 10 mb limit...I think :)\n\np.s. sorry for the spam :D',0,'1','','',0,0),(1533,2274,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.79','2010-03-07 00:21:59','2010-03-06 21:21:59','I\'m with Andreytcho on this one. I\'ve been using Picasa since 2007 and I\'m happy with it. I can upload my photos in albums and in their actual size if I want. And I don\'t pay. When I reach the 1GB limit, I just register another gmail address and put a link to that one\'s gallery. So you could have karolinka@gmail, karolinka1@gmail, karolinka2 etc. So far I have three accounts with 23 albums. All free and neatly organized. So I\'d say give Picasa a shot, before spending any money on flickr. And if you are the paying type, $5 for 20 GB isn\'t that bad (you can also buy more, if you want). But come on... do it the Bulgarian way. Don\'t pay. :P\nI don\'t know about the 10 MB limit, I only know you can upload no more than 1000 photos (per account).',0,'1','','',0,0),(1534,2274,'beth.','beth.ashworth@gmail.com','','98.206.140.213','2010-03-07 03:59:08','2010-03-07 00:59:08','I had a pro account until it expired when I was jobless. I am planning o renew it in a couple of months.\n\nFlickr is worth it I think if you have other friends who use Flickr.You know they are occasionally logging on and seeing your updates and likewise it\'s fun to see your friends photos when you do. Also with tagging, other people might find your pictures when they do a search for something. For example if I am going on a trips some where, I often search Flickr for the name of the city to see what it looks like (or to see how much snow is on the ground--weather reports don\'t tell you that). Perhaps Picasa has all of these features... I don\'t know.\n\nAlso, maybe I\'m just speaking as the sister of a software designer here, but... what\'s wrong with paying for technology that you like? I know there are free alternatives, but if you are using a service enough to need the souped up version, I think that means you should pay for it. And $25 is really not that much for a year. So I say DO IT! :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1535,2274,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-03-07 11:05:48','2010-03-07 08:05:48','Thanks everyone for your advice! I\'ve got a little thinking and research to do before I make my decision.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1536,2274,'windtank','windtank@abv.bg','','78.90.116.112','2010-03-07 11:21:45','2010-03-07 08:21:45','I\'m not using Flickr but I\'m really happy with DeviantArt. There is no limit on how many pictures you can submit. Besides, you can put there not only pictures but practically everything else - poetry, short stories, videos, paintings, everything.\nWhat I love about DeviantArt is that everyone has a place there - beginners and professionals.\nBut of course, you might want to stick to the site you\'ve got used to. That\'s petty understandable. :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1537,2274,'Jeff J','jefftjewett@yahoo.com','http://www.mountainpiratephoto.com','213.130.70.154','2010-03-07 12:37:28','2010-03-07 09:37:28','I got a FlickrPro account partly because I was trying to figure out how to make some money from my photos (still working on that) but mostly for the bandwidth and storage issues. I will often take 1GB of photos or more on one trip if it\'s pretty, and I believe the free Flickr account  limits bandwidth (only 200MB a month or something like that), and you are right about it replacing your older images when you hit the limit. If you just want to use it for sharing photos, it\'s not a big deal to resize to low-res to avoid the bandwidth limit. I like to be able to upload full-res images for an off-site backup of my best images in case something should happen to my laptop.  That said, I\'ve often been annoyed with some of the user interface features of Flickr, and have not really been making full use of the $25 I\'ve been dropping for the pro account.  I figure it\'s less than you used to spend on film in a few months, and it\'s nice not to have to worry about bandwidth and storage.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1538,2274,'noname','noname@mailinator.com','','207.38.197.229','2010-03-08 01:46:14','2010-03-07 22:46:14','Flickr holds your photos hostage if you do not renew your account; something to consider. Good thing I kept them on my hard drive.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1539,2274,'Raya','raya.deleva@gmail.com','','78.90.4.184','2010-03-09 23:56:14','2010-03-09 20:56:14','I have Flickr Pro account as well.\n\nI think that the most valuable thing about Flickr is the community.\n\nIf you want to share your photos and discuss something about photography, that is the place.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1540,2279,'NinjaDude','info@kuturak.net','http://fiftagon.com','77.70.118.62','2010-03-07 22:10:55','2010-03-07 19:10:55','Um, can you elaborate a bit on the Dutch bakery? :)\nIn case you have a post where there\'s more information about it, it would be mighty nice of you to direct me. Thanks a bunch!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1541,2279,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-03-07 22:32:04','2010-03-07 19:32:04','@NinjaDude The Dutch bakery I referred to in my post is the<a href=\"http://sofiaecho.com/2008/04/25/660321_jovan-the-dutch-baker\" rel=\"nofollow\"> JoVan Dutch Bakery</a>.  I don\'t have a separate post on the bakery but I probably should.',0,'1','','',1540,0),(1542,2279,'NinjaDude','info@kuturak.net','http://fiftagon.com','77.70.118.62','2010-03-07 22:59:03','2010-03-07 19:59:03','Thanks :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1543,2279,'charlotte','charlotte.emigh@gmail.com','','24.20.130.57','2010-03-08 01:09:25','2010-03-07 22:09:25','Carolyn, I have also tried the Starbucks Via in a moment of desperation, and found it pretty good. Better than the kind of fresh coffee you might get at someplace like the bank, for example. But I agree that there is something kind of strange about Starbucks going the instant coffee place.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1544,2279,'Robyn','robyndyanrusso@gmail.com','http://misplacedyinzer.wordpress.com','69.243.109.104','2010-03-12 21:40:45','2010-03-12 18:40:45','Oh, I became familar with nescafe 3-in-1 myself: our coffee stand at school closed before my last class in the spring, and one needs a bit of a jolt before that...but fortunately the tanar szoba (teacher room) always had those packets. Not quite coffee, but when one had too much palinka the night before and there is a late afternoon seminar waiting, who am I to judge? :-)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1545,2279,'Mike Kern','mikekern@npgcable.com','http://servebulgaria.blogspot.com','149.169.212.220','2010-03-15 23:37:00','2010-03-15 20:37:00','I love Nescafe 3-in-1\'s!! You\'re right, they\'re not great coffee, but I love them anyway for nostalgia\'s sake. I come to Bulgaria every summer for two weeks with a church group and the 3-in-1\'s are what we are served during morning prayer meetings at the Black Sea youth camp we help with. I have come to associate them with Bulgaria and I buy a big bag to take home every year. They make a great quick cup when you don\'t want to fire up the coffee maker, and guests are intrigued by them since you can\'t get them here in the U.S. and they have Bulgarian writing all over them.\n\nI just drank my last one the other day and now I have to wait until July for more... :-(',0,'1','','',0,0),(1546,2279,'Cups of Coffee &laquo; Karolinka In &amp; Around Bulgaria','','http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/10/14/cups-of-coffee/','74.200.245.176','2010-10-14 09:01:10','2010-10-14 08:01:10','[...] are such hits on my blog as: I love coffee and Coffee, STAT. Because really, I do love coffee. Not a little bit but a [...]',0,'1','','pingback',0,0),(1547,2284,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','87.126.179.118','2010-03-08 10:31:48','2010-03-08 07:31:48','Tulips! Honestly there was a time in my life that I hated tulips. It\'s true, flowers get hugely overpriced and everything sells even the old and ugly ones and they sell at high prices.\n\n\nToday it is my Birthday. I don\'t know what other women are celebrating :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1548,2284,'doriana','doriana@gbg.bg','','95.43.129.234','2010-03-08 10:50:31','2010-03-08 07:50:31','Quote from Wikipedia: \"The first IWD was observed on 28 February 1909 in the United States...\" :)\nThe holiday may be a remnant from socialism indeed, but since there is no tradition of celebrating Mother\'s Day on a different day in the year, it\'s more natural to keep this holiday, instead of trying to adopt another one. And it\'s celebrated in a number of European countries actually.\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Women\'s_Day',0,'1','','',0,0),(1549,2284,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-03-08 11:06:34','2010-03-08 08:06:34','@helen: Happy Birthday and Happy Women\'s Day to you!!',0,'1','','',1547,0),(1550,2284,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','87.126.179.118','2010-03-08 11:13:57','2010-03-08 08:13:57','Thank you! Happy Women\'s Day to you, too! :)',0,'1','','',1549,0),(1551,2284,'Jon','jonlongobardi@gmail.com','','130.132.149.64','2010-03-08 16:43:46','2010-03-08 13:43:46','In a completely sexist move Carolyn refused to recognize the highly popular and immensely cooler International Men\'s Day. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Men%27s_Day\n\nThank you Trinidad for starting this blessed tradition.  You too Tobago.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1552,2284,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-03-08 21:05:28','2010-03-08 18:05:28','@Jon I think you\'ve known for a long time that I\'m sexist... what?! or actually that I am just writing a little blog about traditions in Bulgaria regardless of gender or relative coolness. Also, call your mom.',0,'1','','',1551,0),(1553,2284,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-03-08 22:31:30','2010-03-08 19:31:30','Where is ht epromised blog in Bulgarian :)!\n\nHappy Women\'s day !',0,'1','','',0,0),(1554,2284,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-03-08 22:31:54','2010-03-08 19:31:54','I meant to write \"the promised\"',0,'1','','',0,0),(1555,2284,'charlotte','charlotte.emigh@gmail.com','','24.20.130.57','2010-03-09 09:11:35','2010-03-09 06:11:35','Apparently its not only Women\'s Day but the 100th anniversary of Women\'s day! Woo hoo!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1556,2284,'Jon','jonlongobardi@gmail.com','','71.233.142.207','2010-03-09 09:16:09','2010-03-09 06:16:09','I\'d read your blog a lot more if you talked more about relative coolness.\n\nAlso, happy Women\'s Day to Carolyn\'s mom.  Without your daughter\'s blog I would have no idea that Women\'s Day was more than just a magazine.',0,'1','','',1552,0),(1557,2284,'Jon','jonlongobardi@gmail.com','','71.233.142.207','2010-03-09 09:18:08','2010-03-09 06:18:08','PS Mrs. Carolyn\'s Mom, why is your daughter so against International Men\'s Day?',0,'1','','',1552,0),(1558,2291,'MoM','djemigh@wwcc.edu','','134.39.208.139','2010-03-08 20:11:17','2010-03-08 17:11:17','My instinct is to say that you would not necessarily have \"rocked the 60\'s.\"\n\nRemember that I had to wear a dress to school until my senior year (1968-69) when our dress code changed to allow us to wear nice pants suits (which I couldn\'t afford).  Jeans were not allowed.\n\nMy freshman year in college we had to \"dress for dinner\" one day a week. We were lucky that times had changed and we didn\'t have to wear a skirt or dress to go into the library or to go downtown.  Just a couple of years earlier those rules were in place at Whitman College.\n\nFashion aside, you would have had trouble with the prevailing attitudes about a woman\'s role in home and society.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1559,2291,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','74.241.1.53','2010-03-08 20:55:40','2010-03-08 17:55:40','Ditto the above; but take the gloves off, the mink, the drink and the pearls – on and the lip stick – and you look like your mom circa 1967.  (Sorry, Jill!)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1560,2291,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','74.241.1.53','2010-03-08 20:56:14','2010-03-08 17:56:14','Make that \"oh, and the lipstick.\"',0,'1','','',0,0),(1561,2291,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.195.201.90','2010-03-09 13:00:55','2010-03-09 10:00:55','I want Joan to be my secretary!\nShe has huuuuge drive and awesome lips :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1562,2302,'NinjaDude','info@kuturak.net','http://fiftagon.com','77.70.118.62','2010-03-09 12:00:45','2010-03-09 09:00:45','Well, that\'s just it - you are not supposed to be able to guess which of the three will get the job. :) I suppose they are trying to say that no matter if you are nervous, normally calm or overly unperturbed, at the end it would matter how fluent in English you are.\nWhat\'s interesting is that you are perceiving the guy as a \'slacker\' :). He\'s simply trying to project confidence. Perhaps even trying to convince himself how unworried he is about the outcome of the interview.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1563,2302,'angel_fire','angle_fire008@mail.bg','','79.100.31.5','2010-03-09 19:36:04','2010-03-09 16:36:04','the better-looking will get the job. don\'t bother trying',0,'1','','',0,0),(1564,2311,'bendyourcircuit','glutathione@gmail.com','http://bendyourcircuit.wordpress.com/','134.99.134.108','2010-03-10 11:08:44','2010-03-10 08:08:44','I think most people have no idea where Bulgaria is, which allows them to make just about any joke about the country or its people. It\'s not that Bulgaria has become extra popular these days, it\'s just some unheard-of-country one could pull a joke about. And, because it\'s small and far off, the chance of offending someone in the States is close to non-existent. I also think your sister may have noticed the mention, because she is personally involved by you being there.\n\nWhen I was in the States, someone asked me if we had TV back there or if I meant Bolivia instead of Bulgaria. Personally, I don\'t get offended by questions like that. You can\'t possibly know everything, so it\'s fine by me if you ask  me a question, even if it may seem ridiculous to me. What I get offended by is if one asks me in a bad way, like if they\'re being condescending to me.\n\nSince I moved to Germany, I noticed that most Westerners think of the Balkan region as a big piece of... something. Most people think it\'s a cluster of countries that are pretty much alike, which, given the history of the region and specifically the Balkan Wars, is not true. The difference in attitude here, in Germany, is that most people have heard of Bulgaria or the other countries of the region, but they consider them to be all the same in terms of language, politics, economics and so on.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1565,2311,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.79','2010-03-10 11:41:45','2010-03-10 08:41:45','References to Bulgaria aren\'t that uncommon. I remember that in MacGyver (my favorite series after SG-1) it was referenced once, (they were probably just using the name of a country no one\'s heard of) and later on an entire episode was shot here. And the action took place here as well - I think so they could show a communist country without going to Russia. That was about 20 years ago. Also, filming here is cheap. In that line of thought I think one or more episodes of Eureka were shot here, though it\'s not referenced in the show. Part of the Hitman movie too. Even I played a Gaul warrior once.\nBut back to references. I think Bulgaria and Bulgarian are used mostly as something unknown or something people have only heard of. A far away place, less familiar than Russia or the middle east. And that\'s the \"funny\" part, with most responses being \"Where\'s that?\" or even \"You\'re just making it up\", because the unfamiliar always has comic potential. I also think that now that you know about Bulgaria, you\'re just noticing it more often.\nI don\'t I\'ve watched that Psych episode. And I\'d probably watch Valentine\'s Day just to see if it\'s really Bulgarian they speak. I remember a similar joke in a Bulgarian series called Морска сол (Sea salt): An armed and not very bright guy bursts into a room, waves his gun at the four people there and shouts:\n- (in English) Hey! Hands up! *mumbles indistinct English sounds* OK?\n- Какво? (What?)\n- Уча английски. (I\'m studying English.)\n\nAlso, check this trailer out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYE3HQGMWSA It\'s the first Bulgarian (well, Bulgarian-English) movie I\'m actually hopeful about. Not that we don\'t have good ones, but I never saw trailers for them.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1566,2311,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.36','2010-03-10 14:06:08','2010-03-10 11:06:08','There was another occasion these days, but maybe your sister missed it — Jay Leno had been joking with Scarlett Johansson about her filming in Bulgaria (and not in Rome, as she was supposed to).\n\nI do not mind the jokes, but I don\'t like when they are made with ignorance. Especially when Bulgarians are mistaken with Russians, this can make me angry sometimes ;-)\n\nBulgarians are not innocent too — they also like to joke with nations and peoples that they do not know anything about, just based on prejudices and stereotypes - like white South Africans (for being racist), Albanians (for being extremely backward), Chukcha (a small people, living on the Far East edge of Russia, just in front of Alaska, for being mentally challenged). Everything in brackets is a Bulgarian prejudice, not the truth! So it\'s the same anywhere in the world, just the scale is different and more noticeable in the USA.\n\nAnd the probability that someone will sue you over a Bulgarian joke is quite low in the USA, when a Polish or a Jewish joke can be expensive, nowadays.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1567,2311,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2010-03-10 14:48:46','2010-03-10 11:48:46','Tom Hanks in The Terminal - speaks perfect Bulgarian but of course there they refer to a non - existent nation. Interesting move -  instead of inventing some fictional language - use one that is hardly recognized in the states.\n\nGreat movie, btw:\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Terminal',0,'1','','',0,0),(1568,2311,'Andreytcho','blog@andreytcho.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.195.201.90','2010-03-10 15:24:39','2010-03-10 12:24:39','I see most of the TV Series in the US and it has fairly common to hear a reference to Bulgaria. There are two main reasons:\n\n150,000 Bulgarians now live in the US, if not more.\nIn Los Angeles there are many who work for the studios for movies etc, as actors or programmers for CGI movies.\n\nI don\'t know if you are aware that the wife of Tom Hanks is Bulgarian. Also there are plenty of movies being filmed here in Bulgaria for global/us markets and these big Hollywood stars talk to people about their experience in Bulgaria. I have seen in at least 10 times on Leno/Letterman.\n\nSo there are plenty of people involved in the business that sooner or later a Bulgarian this and that would creep in to the picture.\n\nNot to mention that for Americans anything foreign is funny, it ain\'t like the good \'ol US of A, that Tambuktu - a made up place in the universe, and shit like that which is all GREEK to them.\n\nhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxTUHCCjJm8',0,'1','','',0,0),(1569,2311,'miter','m24800@yahoo.com','','158.35.225.227','2010-03-10 19:55:56','2010-03-10 16:55:56','Not up-to-date with the modern trends, but back in the days Bulgaria was used as a punch-line in various jokes that required a nationality to make fun of.\n\nOne of my favorites was in an episode of ALF (80s sitcom), where Alf watches the Miss Universe contest:\n-- Hey! That\'s Benny Hill!! Oh wait, miss Bulgaria ...\n\nA lot of other shows also used it. I can\'t remember the particular joke now, but something along the lines of \"the Bulgarian national (soccer?) team being a bunch of drunken lumberjacks\" was used in Murphy Brown.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1570,2311,'Amy Denev','adenev16@gmail.com','http://amysdailyphoto.blogspot.com','74.66.3.152','2010-03-10 21:04:52','2010-03-10 18:04:52','I can relate to your sister\'s email because, like her, before I had any attachments to it, I had barely even heard of it, barely knew the country existed. Then, I met and eventually married a Bulgarian man, and I started to notice references to it EVERYWHERE. Until this blog post I had not put much thought into it, thinking that I was only noticing it because now I knew it. I never really considered the references to be \"cheap jokes\". It is interesting to read everyone\'s take on it.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1571,2311,'mthomp28','mthomp28@gmail.com','','134.114.26.122','2010-03-10 21:20:10','2010-03-10 18:20:10','Carolyn,\n\nMichael Scott, the obnoxious lead character on the American version of \"The Office\" referenced Bulgaria in Season 2:\n\nDwight Schrute: That suit is amazing.\n\nMichael Scott: Thank you very much, it is from Italy-- actually [checks inside of blazer] no, Bulgaria.\n\nYou\'re right, once you notice, Bulgaria does get referenced quite often because, frankly, no one really knows anything about Bulgaria let alone where it is. On a related note, do you think Walla Walla gets referenced in pop culture as much as Bulgaria?\n\nIt\'s mentioned in Bugs Bunny cartoons. Even Woody Allen referenced Walla Walla in one of his films. I believe it was something like, \"Bora Bora? I wouldn\'t know Bora Bora from Walla Walla!\"',0,'1','','',0,0),(1572,2311,'lyd','lyd.students@gmail.com','http://lydblog.wordpress.com/','93.183.149.169','2010-03-11 14:42:32','2010-03-11 11:42:32','When I finished reading the email, I thought of Bulgarian jokes about Albanians :) I think we, Bulgarians, used to tell (or are we still telling?) jokes about these guys exactly because we did not know anything about them, so they were somehow exotic.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1573,2311,'NinjaDude','info@kuturak.net','http://fiftagon.com','77.70.118.62','2010-03-12 11:18:07','2010-03-12 08:18:07','\"How does tuna even get to Bulgaria?\" Hahahahahaha :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1574,2311,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-03-12 21:37:45','2010-03-12 18:37:45','http://vbox7.com/play:56ebc16a&amp;al=1&amp;vid=\n\nHere is episode of \" Evrybody loves Raymond\",Bulgaria is mentioned here also,but in a good way :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1575,2311,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.245','2010-03-15 04:05:48','2010-03-15 01:05:48','Well, I perfectly understand the people who make such jokes. :)\nMost people know nothing about Bulgaria. Yeah, it\'s one of the communist countries, but it was not in the USSR, it\'s not Russia, we don\'t have nukes, we are not threatening to take-over the world... On the other hand, some people may have heard about corruption and that Bulgaria is poor. And when people hear poor, they do not imagine a place where people live in flats, have water supply, drive cars, ride buses and go to school, they imagine children playing in the dust and dying of hunger and spider-bites, with the closest hospital being in Solun (Thessaloniki) if they know that we are neighboring Greece and that Solun is in Greece.\nIt\'s just very easy to use Bulgaria as a generic country that can be anything for the Americans - a home for Islamic fundamentalists, home of the mafia, the place where the USSR used to store its nuclear waste, the place where the taxi-driver emigrated from, and really anything you can think of.\nIf they want to show something positive in Europe, they have what they need in Greece and Italy - ancient stuff, in Austria, Germany and Switzerland - medieval stuff, in France, UK, Germany - modern stuff.\nIf they want something truly ex-communist, they have the ex-USSR. If they want ethnic problems, they have Bosnia.\nFor everything else - there are Bulgaria and Romania. The latter, however, bears more rural associations.\nBulgarians also have these generic examples for different occasions - a Bulgarian generic village is Dolno Uino, a generic small town is Dolni Dabnik, a generic city would be Ruse (since very few Bulgarians have actually been there - it\'s not on the way to the sea). A generic communist place is Kazakhstan, a generic poor place is Zimbabwe, a generic Islam center is Afganistan, a generic place where there is nothing is Albania, a generic rich place is Germany, a generic very rich place is the USA, a generic place full of gypsies is Romania, a generic place full of drunk people is somewhere in Siberia...',0,'1','','',0,0),(1576,2311,'kicko','gkicko@gmail.com','','212.72.211.22','2010-03-17 16:32:28','2010-03-17 12:32:28','http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHf7kO4lFp4',0,'1','','',0,0),(1577,2311,'Jeel','jeel@neb.rr.com','http://www.peripheralknowledge.blogspot.com','76.84.255.224','2010-03-29 04:50:25','2010-03-29 03:50:25','I catch a reference to Bulgaria now and then in the media and it always peaks my interest.  I do agree with the generalized ignorance regarding where Bulgaria  is, though.  Just after my Bulgarian-born son came home at age 2 1/2, we were in an insurance office and the receptionist spoke to him.  He just looked blankly at her so I explained that he didn\'t yet speak English.  She smiled and asked, \"OH! So do you speak Spanish??\"\n\nWhat could I say?  \"Gee, thanks for the racial profiling...but no, he\'s Bulgarian.\"  lol',0,'1','','',0,0),(1578,2323,'yana','yana.lozeva@gmail.com','','94.26.30.13','2010-03-11 09:24:29','2010-03-11 06:24:29','Hunting Park is very nice but I think that yesterday\'s show was the last one. It might appear on the torrent sites soon... and you won\'t have to worry about the subtitles - if you find it and want to watch it I\'ll just ask the director for the subs, I know him personally.\nEastern plays is also quite good!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1579,2323,'hrissy','htahchieva@gmail.com','','194.12.247.9','2010-03-12 16:21:50','2010-03-12 13:21:50','Carolyn,\n\nlast sunday I went to watch \"Объркана Броеница\" (the way the title was translated \"the wrong rosary\" works) - it is a Turkish movie but it has english and Bulgarian subtitles.\n\nWhen we were watching it I noticed that the Bulgarian subtitles were based on the original speech rather than the English (kinda better because two or three times there were misunderstandings).\n\nAs a whole, however, I recommend it to you! it is worth spending an hour and a half!\n\nEnjoy watching it!\n\nx',0,'1','','',0,0),(1580,2332,'Rock The Boat','infx@email.com','http://infx.wordpress.com','119.161.71.12','2010-03-12 10:19:51','2010-03-12 07:19:51','Cool photos -I like the 2 of the reference book.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1581,2332,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2010-03-12 13:00:58','2010-03-12 10:00:58','no raincoats and umrellas. meeh. flip-flops and racer back tops.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1582,2332,'kseverny','kseverny@yahoo.com','http://kseverny.wordpress.com','82.132.136.205','2010-03-12 16:15:38','2010-03-12 13:15:38','it has.\ni like how these images represent that fact',0,'1','','',0,0),(1583,2337,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.247','2010-03-13 11:59:00','2010-03-13 08:59:00','I watched it yesterday too and I loved it. The Hatter was epic! :) But I didn\'t really like the ending.\nI usually try to ignore the subtitles, partly because I don\'t need them and partly because sometimes the translation is laughable. But I didn\'t feel like they were in my lap or something. I think we, Bulgarians, are used to the subtitles (as only kids\' movies get dubbed) so when they jump out a bit it\'s nothing special - it\'s like they\'re supposed to be there.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1584,2337,'Greeny','mrgreeny00@gmail.com','','82.199.195.210','2010-03-13 12:47:13','2010-03-13 09:47:13','Saw it last night too. I don\'t need subtitles, but they were indeed terrible and blurry and i think kinda unreadable with those 3D glasses.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1585,2337,'Toto','antoaneta.stefanova@hotmail.com','','85.11.176.28','2010-03-13 18:26:52','2010-03-13 15:26:52','I watched this movie yesterday for the second time, and I\'m watching it next week again. And the week after. And the week after. And then I\'ll download it and watch it again. I adore it. I\'ve been waiting for it for more than a year and a half. Burton, Johnny, and Helena are amazing as always, but what surprized me was that Anne Hathaway was terrific too. I also loved the crazy crazy March Hare (\'you\'rr all late frr tea!!!\') and Cheshire, voice by Stephen Fry (who is a genious). Subtitles didn\'t bother me, since I never read them. One thing that I can say about this movie, however, is that it was better the second time I watched it, and that is a thing I never expected. So my advice for everybody is, go watch it again! or atleast download it..',0,'1','','',0,0),(1586,2337,'George','slavchev94@gmail.com','http://drowme.wordpress.com','94.155.218.157','2010-03-15 22:10:16','2010-03-15 19:10:16','Now you know how we, the non-English speakers, deal with  movies, which aren\'t in our language! It\'s difficult to focus on the movie and on the subs, but it\'s not impossible... :) And yes, the movie was really great!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1587,2341,'lammoth','guardian1982@gmail.com','http://lammoth.wordpress.com','94.236.162.207','2010-03-14 14:42:17','2010-03-14 11:42:17','haven\'t watched the film yet, but it\'s a lovely review :) Hopefully it\'s not another over-hyped film.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1588,2341,'infestor_vx','gaffurabi@gmail.com','http://junkiewarrior.blogspot.com','195.249.186.125','2010-04-10 15:31:13','2010-04-10 14:31:13','i havent seen any film like that captures eastern europe\'s bleakness.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1589,2353,'sts','ap.stamov@hotmail.com','','96.51.88.230','2010-03-16 10:00:36','2010-03-16 07:00:36','i like it when dogs are on walls, once i saw this tiny dog on a concrete wall that was much taller than me, probably about a 9 foot wall. running back and forth like a squirrel and barking.\n\nexcellent photo',0,'1','','',0,0),(1590,2353,'Radislav','radi.delov@hotmail.com','','99.241.129.101','2010-03-18 22:16:21','2010-03-18 21:16:21','This made my day. It has been awhile since I went back to Bulgaria, and this brought much nostalgia.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1591,2353,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-03-19 05:26:43','2010-03-19 04:26:43','@Radislav It made my day too! A dog on a wall wearing a martenitsa--it doesn\'t get much better than that.',0,'1','','',1590,0),(1592,2353,'The Series: Dog on A &laquo; Karolinka In &amp; Around Bulgaria','','http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/06/02/the-series-dog-on-a/','72.233.2.30','2010-06-02 05:10:38','2010-06-02 04:10:38','[...] what has apparently become an on going series. Dog on A.  If you remember correctly the first is Dog on A Wall.  This is the second in the series: Dog on A Piece of Foam. Dog on a piece of [...]',0,'1','','pingback',0,0),(1593,2359,'windtank','windtank@abv.bg','','78.90.116.112','2010-03-16 08:29:25','2010-03-16 05:29:25','It doesn\'t sound very excited in Bulgarian bit it\'s very sweet nevertheless. Especially the idea of \"walking with the plane\" :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1594,2359,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-03-16 09:06:38','2010-03-16 06:06:38','Finally,my long expected blog in bulgarian:).Thank you!\n\nAs always,I would like to give some suggestions. I would change \"През април\" with \"Тогава\" in order to avoid repetition.\"Моята приятелка А. ще ходИ също(1.Аз ходя,2.Ти ходиш,3.Той/Тя ходи).Usually un bulgarian we say\"Ще пътуваме или ше ходим със самолет\". Аз искам да видЯ всичко.(again the conjugation of the verb is not correct).\nЩе посетим(I guess that Ше is just technical mistake).Работа instead of рапота:).\n\nAnway you are so lucky!I hope that you\'ll have great fun and entertainment,and of course can\'t wait for the pictures with your new camera and skills:)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1595,2359,'Zer0C001','doctorche@abv.bg','','94.73.63.170','2010-03-16 11:25:39','2010-03-16 08:25:39','why don\'t you have a spellchecker ?\n\nhttps://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/browse/type:3',0,'1','','',0,0),(1596,2359,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2010-03-16 11:45:05','2010-03-16 08:45:05','For sure, your excitement comes through in Bulgarian. Love your tittle! It just makes my day today.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1597,2359,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.247','2010-03-16 13:56:35','2010-03-16 10:56:35','Well done! Yes, the excitement is there, most notably in the sentences with the exclamation marks.\nBut \"Аз искам да видим всичко\" could be correct, depends on what you wanted to say. If it was \"I want to see it all\" - then Elena is right, it should be видЯ. But if it was \"I want US to see it all\" - then it\'s correct.\nYou could still lose all the \"аз\" and \"ние\" and it will be perfectly OK. Like in the sentences \"Ще посетим...\" and \"Няма да мислим...\".\n\nBut apparently you\'ve learned a lot in both grammar and vocabulary. Kudos to you and your teacher :)\n\nOh, also, a shorter way to say \"Ще правя много снимки\" (not that it\'s incorrect) is \"Ще снимам много\".',0,'1','','',0,0),(1598,2359,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.243','2010-03-16 17:59:42','2010-03-16 14:59:42','You should ask your friends to teach you correct Bulgarian rather than their dialect.\n\"вървиме\" is a dialect form originating from Sofia, or more correctly - the villages around it. The correct form for 1st person plural is \"вървим\".\nAs to the pronouns - you seem to omit them only if they are to be otherwise repeated. That\'s what I mean:\n\nАз искам да видим всичко! (here you omit it because it\'s again \"аз\") Ще правя много снимки. (here you don\'t because it changes) Ние ще спим на хотел и ще ядем в ресторанти.  (here you omit it because it\'s again \"ние\") Ше посетим музеи, църкви и джамии.\n\nActually, you need none. The verb conjugation carries this information. You need a pronoun only when you want to emphasize it:\nWe had lunch but I paid.\nОбядвахме и аз платих. (I emphasize that I paid, it\'s good/bad/to be discussed)\nОбядвахме и платих. (I just paid, it\'s a fact, but totally normal and expected)\n\nAlso, the pronoun can change the connotation:\nWe had lunch and I left.\nОбядвахме и аз си тръгнах. (you somehow emphasize that YOU left, maybe the other person stayed)\nОбядвахме и си тръгнах. (well, you just had lunch and then you left, nothing so special about it)\n\nOtherwise it\'s amazing how well you actually use Bulgarian. You are right that the emotion is not communicated as you probably want it, probably because I would expect excitedness (this word did not pass spellcheck - is it wrong?) to come with longer sentences with a lot of \"and\".  Something like:\n\nПрез пролетта ще имаме ваканция! През април няма да работя, а ще посетя Мароко с моята приятелка А. Ще пътуваме със самолет. Искам да видим всичко и да направя много снимки! Ще спим на хотел, ще ядем в ресторанти, ще посещаваме музеи, църкви и джамии, няма да мислим за работа, а само ще си почиваме! Нямам търпение!\n\nThe differences are minor - more or less connecting the simple sentences. But I think it would express more feelings like that.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1599,2359,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.247','2010-03-16 18:14:54','2010-03-16 15:14:54','I think вървиме is an honest mistake. It appears only once. She wrote видим, спим, ядем etc. correctly.',0,'1','','',1598,0),(1600,2359,'NinjaDude','info@kuturak.net','http://fiftagon.com','77.70.118.62','2010-03-16 18:52:53','2010-03-16 15:52:53','Има логика българите да вървят със самолет, след като ходят със самолет :P :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1601,2359,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.242','2010-03-16 20:20:54','2010-03-16 17:20:54','A foreigner cannot make such an honest mistake. :) It is not something natural to say вървиме if you are not influenced by people who say аз вървим, ние вървиме. Of course, I am not saying that someone taught her that THIS is the correct form of all such verbs, I am just saying that apparently people don\'t always pay attention to teach Karolinka (or just talk to her in) proper Bulgarian.\nWhen I teach foreigners some Bulgarian, I make sure that I do not teach them dialect.',0,'1','','',1599,0),(1602,2359,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-03-16 20:39:39','2010-03-16 17:39:39','@TAfricanski, @Bobby and anyone else who\'s pointed out many of my mistakes, First thanks! Second, sorry for getting everyone so riled up about my Bulgarian and the аз вървим, ние вървиме issue.  Here\'s the worst part, my tutor and teacher are both very qualified.  I just make mistakes.  It\'s hard for me to type using the Cyrillic keys. It\'s hard for me to spell sometimes.  It\'s hard to remember verb conjugations when I am trying to make sure that I\'ve got the correct articles on my nouns or adjectives. It\'s hard to read my handwriting sometimes because I still have to write out every post before I type it out or I get writer\'s block.  It\'s also a challenge for me to proof read my own writing--at this point more or less everything sounds right to me.  Well, unless the only word I can think of is a German one; then I know it\'s not right. So, I wish I could blame all of this post on someone else but it\'s really just me and my bad Bulgarian.',0,'1','','',1601,0),(1603,2359,'Toto','antoaneta.stefanova@hotmail.com','','85.11.176.28','2010-03-16 21:23:41','2010-03-16 18:23:41','Aha!!! \'Ние ще вървиме със самолет\' I told you it wasn\'t \'ходя\'!!! But apparently you know the word \'вървя\' ;) so that\'s good :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1604,2359,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.240','2010-03-17 00:46:21','2010-03-16 20:46:21','I must have expressed myself wrong. :) I did not mean that you have a bad tutor who is not teaching you right. I meant that when Bulgarians are talking to you in Bulgarian, they should use correct Bulgarian.\nI suppose you don\'t use double negation when talking to your students. It ain\'t no good to do it, because regardless of how you teach them, they will eventually use English the way you have used it, not the way you have taught it. :)\nAnd no, your Bulgarian is not bad. It\'s totally comprehensible and you are far more literate than 80% of the Bulgarian students after finishing their secondary education.\nYour confusing п/б and ш/щ makes it even sweeter because it shows that you generally know how it should be and just sometimes you get confused.\nAnd this whole thing is amazing for me because it offers me a different way to view my own language. It took me maybe an hour to formulate what I meant with the pronouns and I think I understand them better now.',0,'1','','',1602,0),(1605,2359,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','74.241.1.53','2010-03-17 17:23:12','2010-03-17 13:23:12','And the other thing that people aren\'t noticing, or perhaps thinking about is this: the likelihood of you using Bulgarian in your future life is so small that your motivation to spend loads of time learning to speak it AND write it has to be something you work at – the motivation that is.  You are doing it for the here and now.  Good for you!  Not so many people would undertake the task.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1606,2367,'MoM','djemigh@wwcc.edu','','134.39.208.139','2010-03-17 20:29:45','2010-03-17 16:29:45','You title your post \"The Art of Blogging.  I think you have caught a very important concept of art and performance.  If you put yourself out there and do a good job, many will appreciate it (silently as well as by giving kudos) others will find they need to try to \"critique\" your work.\n\nI really got a warm fuzzy feeling when I read most of the comments on your recent post in Bulgarian.  Your loyal readers actually want to help you improve.  In other words, on top of your tutor, your teacher and your two students who help, you have a whole bunch of native speakers you can ask questions about how Bulgarian \"works.\" (And how to spell check - face it you are a bad speller in English, why would you be a good speller in Bulgarian?)\n\nI think you do a remarkable job of being willing to be honest (but then I am your MoM!)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1607,2367,'N','nico@mail.bg','','92.247.8.174','2010-03-17 21:44:51','2010-03-17 17:44:51','Keep blogging and don\'t take the comments too seriously :)\n\nThere are plenty of people (like me) who don\'t usually comment, but still like your posts, especially the ones in Bulgarian.\n\nAs for the spell checker, I think you shouldn\'t install one if you really want to learn Bulgarian. Installing a spell checker can be comfortable, but it makes you not care about writing correctly, as you have confidence that the system will correct you. Learning the hard way is better.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1608,2367,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-03-17 22:41:21','2010-03-17 18:41:21','@N Thanks so much for the comment and don\'t worry, I\'ll keep posting in Bulgarian and in English!!',0,'1','','',1607,0),(1609,2367,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.243','2010-03-17 23:03:14','2010-03-17 19:03:14','Hey, I am sorry if my comments made you feel like this. My last intention would be to discourage you.\nYou should be proud of yourself!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1610,2367,'Andreytcho','blog@andreytcho.com','http://andreytcho.com','92.247.223.191','2010-03-17 23:22:04','2010-03-17 19:22:04','I think your friends are to blame if your bulgarian is getting worse or stays at the same level.Both english speakers and bulgarians. You should try not to hang out with too many english speakers and then you will be forced to interact in bulgarian.\nHowever the bulgarians like to show off how smart they are and they talk to you in english. Make them stop!\n\nIn the bulgarian post I saw a comment of some asshole who corrected the dialect in which you had written some of the words. Don\'t try to learn proper bulgarian, any bulgarian is good enough, so long it makes sense to the listener.\n\nАре че одим да гледам мачо :)\n\nKeep it up!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1611,2367,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-03-17 23:47:33','2010-03-17 19:47:33','@TAfricanski No way. Don\'t worry about it. I appreciate all of the comments that you regularly make on my blog.  I think I was just having one of those days.  Please don\'t stop commenting. I need the push to get better at my Bulgarian!',0,'1','','',1609,0),(1612,2367,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-03-17 23:53:08','2010-03-17 19:53:08','@Andreytcho Bulgarians show off? <em>Never</em>!? Anyhow, Thanks for the comment and I\'ll try to make more people speak Bulgarian to me!!',0,'1','','',1610,0),(1613,2367,'PollZ','paola.dimova@yahoo.com','','79.100.14.193','2010-03-17 23:18:46','2010-03-17 22:18:46','First I read this post and then read that one in Bulgarian and ....why do you take it to heart???there are plenty of idiots over the Internet who will ask you such stupid questions like \"why don\'t you use a spellchecker?\"they even can\'t appreciate the efforts that you make to learn Bulgarian which is a hard language in general.It wont even come to mind that the spellchecker is completely useless when it\'s about grammar rules.I think that your Bulgarian is very good and you deserve only congratulation! When I started reading your blog I decided to forbear from posting comments cuz my English is not so good but I keep reading it every day and I must admit that  this is one of the most interesting blogs ever!I adore reading your posts especially in Bulgarian and I\'m asking you...nope,I\'m begging you to carry on writing in bg :) !!!                           Успех!!!                                                                                       Paola',0,'1','','',0,0),(1614,2367,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.243','2010-03-18 03:13:52','2010-03-18 02:13:52','Greetings from the asshole. :) This discussion is not for here. It\'s, how do you say it in Sofia... too provincial. :P\nI don\'t see anything wrong with pointing that maybe the people who speak Bulgarian with Karolinka should use proper Bulgarian - the same way teachers at schools should use proper Bulgarian.\nWould you call me an asshole if I said that \"Happy today?\" is not the proper way to ask where the \"Happy\" restaurant is in Bulgarian? Or maybe it\'s because I am pointing out that YOUR speaking is wrong and you feel offended because, you know, you are from the capital, you cannot speak improperly? Think about that.\n\nP.S. I\'ve always hated my teachers speaking in the local dialect. I am from Ruse.',0,'1','','',1610,0),(1615,2367,'NinjaDude','info@kuturak.net','http://fiftagon.com','77.70.118.62','2010-03-18 11:11:18','2010-03-18 10:11:18','Great comment by your MoM :)\nShe\'s absolutely right.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1616,2381,'Andreytcho','blog@andreytcho.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.195.201.90','2010-03-18 11:55:13','2010-03-18 10:55:13','I can join the club with the online Bulgarian version.\nI have forgotten most of it so a refresh read would at least fill up my free time at work and cut down on the English crap i read all day :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1617,2381,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','134.39.208.139','2010-03-18 17:32:11','2010-03-18 16:32:11','I got an email from Amazon saying the book was shipped on the 14th so I am expecting it any day.\n\nI promised Char she could read it over her spring break. Even though I don\'t think she\'ll get her own copy so she won\'t read it in the chunks you decide are appropriate, she has an amazing memory for what she reads and she\'ll have some opinions I am sure. (Boy is that a run on sentence!)\n\nWith Andreytcho that makes four in your blog/book club.  I bet you will have a lot of folks deciding to be part of it.\nLove,\nMoM',0,'1','','',0,0),(1618,2381,'Martin','donbass1@yahoo.com','http://turnovec.blogspot.com','93.152.176.57','2010-03-31 10:38:13','2010-03-31 09:38:13','I joined the club yesterday as well :) Bought a copy in English just to see how the book sounds in a different language. I am currently at chapter #4. Waiting for either Karolinka or Mom to kick off the discussion.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1619,2381,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','','2010-03-31 10:43:25','2010-03-31 09:43:25','@Martin Excellent look for a post in the next day or two!',0,'1','','',1618,0),(1620,2381,'It&#8217;s starting: Under the Yoke! &laquo; Karolinka In &amp; Around Bulgaria','','http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/04/01/its-starting-under-the-yoke/','74.200.243.228','2010-04-01 05:07:54','2010-04-01 04:07:54','[...] 1, 2010 by karolinka27    Today is April 1st. Day One of my Under the Yoke challenge and book club in celebration of the April Uprising in Bulgaria (if celebration is actually the right [...]',0,'1','','pingback',0,0),(1621,2375,'Yo','yolina.stoyanova@gmail.com','','81.63.106.232','2010-03-19 14:37:17','2010-03-19 13:37:17','Dear Mrs Carolyn\'s MoM, would you mind sharing the original recipe of \"chocolatey, soft, chewy brownies\" mentioned in the beginning of the post? I love baking, but I do not like cooking books. I do prefer real, tried and tested recipes from someone\'s household. According to Wikipedia chocolate brownies originate from the States, so I figured yours must be the real McCoy.\nIf possible, give the measurments of the ingredients in metrics - the US system with the cups is a bit confusing. Thank you :)!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1622,2375,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','74.241.1.53','2010-03-19 15:00:01','2010-03-19 14:00:01','Mmm, they look and sound good.  I wish I could eat chocolate – I\'d try your recipe.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1623,2375,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','68.113.7.254','2010-03-19 15:38:30','2010-03-19 14:38:30','Yo,\nI\"ll give it a try.  I never cook using metric measures, but I did teach chemistry for a while, so I know how to convert. I\'ll get back to you later.\nCarolyn\'s MoM (smiling)',0,'1','','',1621,0),(1624,2375,'Yo','yolina.stoyanova@gmail.com','','81.63.106.232','2010-03-19 22:38:44','2010-03-19 21:38:44','Much appreciated, Mrs Carolyn’s MoM!\nLooking fwd :)!\nYo',0,'1','','',1623,0),(1625,2375,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','87.126.17.34','2010-03-20 18:50:13','2010-03-20 17:50:13','Carolyn, I made them. Well, not with raisins and nuts but with some strange very dry jam I have (home-made). And I added a little bit on the chocolate and the butter. My kitchen smells very good right now. I am sure that all my neighbours envy me. :) Thanks!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1626,2375,'hanna','wyckdgrl@yahoo.com','','174.16.64.23','2010-03-24 23:48:56','2010-03-24 22:48:56','You might try using one less egg to get a more fudge-like consistency.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1627,2375,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-03-25 05:41:09','2010-03-25 04:41:09','@Hanna, Thanks for the comment! When talking to people about the more cakey consistency most have agreed one less egg and maybe slightly more butter. I am dying to make them again but when you	live on your own you only need to eat so many brownies and I\'ve hit my brownie wall for this week. But I\'ll make them soon and let everyone know how they turned out.',0,'1','','',1626,0),(1628,2397,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','74.241.1.53','2010-03-20 15:10:25','2010-03-20 14:10:25','For Bulgarians, you might have added that anyone who can drive in DC is no timid driver.  Your origins may be Walla Walla, but you were honed in DC.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1629,2397,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.246','2010-03-20 15:57:12','2010-03-20 14:57:12','The situation is that sometimes strictly following the rules is more dangerous than breaking them. This is because rules in Bulgaria are not made to protect you, they are a way to avoid responsibility. Actually, if you dig into it, you will notice that almost every rule in Bulgaria is designed not to be a guideline, but to be something like a \"disclaimer\".\nWhat do I mean - a speed limit at a dangerous curve rather than redesigning the curve to make it safe, a speed limit because of bad road rather than repairing the road...\nGenerally, a traffic sign does not mean \"DO NOT SPEED\", it means \"I am not assuming responsibility if you kill someone here, regardless of the fact that it\'s my job to make the road safe. It\'s safe - there is a speed limit and you will die because you are driving at 90 in the middle of nowhere, not because I am lazy and I did not repair the road\".\nSo, having the disclaimer type of rules teaches you that you don\'t have to follow the rules in order to be safe. If I see a speed limit of 40 on a German Autobahn, I will slow down because there is probably a very good reason for this, not because I am afraid of a fine. On the other hand, if I see a speed limit of 40 on a Bulgarian road, I will just assume that either there is a junction or there were construction works 3 years and no one removed the sign. So you drive at 90, you slow down because there is a junction, then you accelerate again and in a kilometer comes the next junction. I even developed a rule of thumb for speed limits in Bulgaria that are to be obeyed - if you are driving in a hilly region and you see an old rusty sign, you\'d better obey it.\nThis, combined with the almost zero control and enforcement of rules makes the situation quite interesting :)\nFurthermore, Sofia traffic is crazy.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1630,2397,'Кирил','kiril.zyapkov@gmail.com','http://1024.cjb.net','84.238.210.178','2010-03-21 10:16:03','2010-03-21 09:16:03','Your observations are correct. Though you say nothing new to me here, it makes me feel shame for being a Bulgarian.\n\nSome of us Bulgarian drivers try to observe the rules -- drive in one lane only, always use blinkers, observe the rules and be friendly to others. However, there are many situations in which not breaking the rules gets you honked/yelled/cursed at -- for, say, driving too slow, yielding to other cars/pedestrians, etc. Bulgarian roads are an extremely hostile environment in which reasonable and tolerant drivers are forced to act accordingly in order to \"survive\". All of this caused by a minority of drivers who just don\'t care.\n\nOf course, there\'s the extremely bad road conditions, lack of control and enforcement etc. which TAfricanski mentions, but that\'s not really an excuse, is it? Also, I\'m mainly speaking about driving in the city, not country roads or highways. Not that the attitude there is any different.\n\nI wish I could not drive in Sofia too, so in a way I envy you :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1631,2397,'Andreytcho','blog@andreytcho.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.195.201.90','2010-03-22 13:04:08','2010-03-22 12:04:08','I drive fine anywhere in Bulgaria, you just have to be always ready to kill or be killed.\nDriving is not for everyone and should stay that way.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1632,2397,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-03-22 15:33:52','2010-03-22 14:33:52','@Andreytcho--Without a doubt, you\'re comment is exactly right and while living here in Bulgaria I am happily part of the non-driving population.  Once in a while I miss driving and then I look at the traffic backed-up down the block and I don\'t miss it at all.',0,'1','','',1631,0),(1633,2397,'Matt','mthomp28@gmail.com','','134.114.26.122','2010-03-24 19:53:23','2010-03-24 18:53:23','I drove a car in Bulgaria exactly once -- from Sofia to Burgas. I survived, but it was a little scary. I got passed by a car on my right while I was in the far right lane. Yes, he passed me on the shoulder of the road doing 70 mph.\n\nI did find out that Bulgarian drivers help one another. Before going through a village on the highway, oncoming cars would flash their lights incessantly to warn of a police car hiding up ahead. It was very helpful as the speed limit would go from 75 kph to 35 kph in a matter of meters.\n\nIronically, my good Bulgarian friend went to driver\'s training in the US and then a few years later in Bulgaria. She said the Bulgaria test was much stricter and harder (she had to get something like 96 out of 100 on the written to pass). The driving test was more difficult as well, she said. Obviously this stellar training doesn\'t translate into real-world driving.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1634,2397,'Raya','raya.deleva@gmail.com','','78.90.4.184','2010-04-12 21:50:26','2010-04-12 20:50:26','I am Bulgarian and I share your feelings!\n\nI took my driving licence in Sofia. I am not sure how they gave it to me as I am so scared to drive here in Sofia.\n\nAt my first lesson the teacher insisted on joining the morning traffic jam! It was really frightful...\nThen I took another 11 driving lessons (about 1h long each) and passed the written test with 100%, and VOILA - I took my licence. That happened three years ago.\n\nSince then I\'ve tried several times to drive my boyfriend\'s car, but I felt a lot of stress and I gave up (at least for now).',0,'1','','',0,0),(1635,2402,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.247','2010-03-21 12:58:41','2010-03-21 11:58:41','It is a total mystery for me why and how the system works. My friends and I have had numerous discussions and we came to the conclusion that somehow we managed to get the best out of our schools. It was not the system that forced us to study. Just now do I understand my classmates who never cared about school - why would they?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1636,2402,'Toto','antoaneta.stefanova@hotmail.com','','85.11.176.28','2010-03-21 19:18:45','2010-03-21 18:18:45','Four hundred and fifty plus students*\n\nforgot the exact number. I did sharpen (almost) all their pencils though |-(',0,'1','','',0,0),(1637,2402,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.5','2010-03-22 02:05:25','2010-03-22 01:05:25','My entrance exam in the (First) English Language School in Sofia was before 1989 and quite difficult. My schoolmates were very bright and interesting kids (the girs were a bit nerdy, maybe). There was no way someone could enter this school without extracurricular literature lessons. I don\'t know how it was in other schools, but in my average middle school the level of literature education was not enough for the exam. So I took some lessons, and learned some basic essay writing skills, which proved to be quite useful in later periods of my life.\n\nI did not prepare in maths with a teacher, I was quite good at it. ;-) I entered the school, being 19-th on the exam and very proud of myself.\n\nAnd the Party connections - I never did have or used any of these. 2-3 of my schoolmates (from our class of 25) entered maybe because of their family connections, but they did not mess with the application process, they joined the class some months later.\n\nWe were very competitive and became great friends, all of us, regardless of family ties and background. In the school nothing of these really mattered. It sounds strange, but that\'s how it was.\n\nBeing true to myself, I have to stress out that maybe, if one belonged to a family of the former elite (from before 1944), maybe he wouldn\'t be allowed to apply for the school (there were methods to do that quietly), but even this rule was quite loose at my time. I had schoolmates, who belonged to the family of one of the last Bulgarian regents. (And one of the guys is a very famous economist nowadays).',0,'1','','',0,0),(1638,2402,'Anonymous','foobar@disposeamail.com','','134.134.139.70','2010-03-22 20:54:48','2010-03-22 19:54:48','Not that dissimilar to ACTs, SATs, GREs, GMATs, etc., except that it\'s done at an earlier stage. *shrug*',0,'1','','',0,0),(1639,2402,'Advokat','svilenk@gmail.com','','216.239.45.4','2010-03-23 20:52:02','2010-03-23 19:52:02','Just a couple of notes: (1) public schools in the US (and, with small exceptions, everywhere else in the world) also run the gamut from excellent to questionable and (2) private schools in the US also administer entrance exams for candidates (see Exeter, http://www.exeter.edu/admissions/147_189.aspx#faq274).\n\nThings are not nearly as different as they may look on the surface.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1640,2407,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.234','2010-03-22 12:02:44','2010-03-22 11:02:44','Bravo! *clap-clap*\nThere are just a few minor mistakes - стъдено should be студено, след обед is a single word - следобед, and the comma should be before че and not after. Since you\'re learning about commas, I could tell you that there are also two more places where there should be one - before но in \"...с градина, но мисля, че...\" and in front of the second нито - \"не е нито много студено, нито много топло\". But comma rules can be a bit difficult, so don\'t sweat it. I\'m pretty sure 1/3 of all Bulgarians don\'t know them (just as I don\'t know the English ones) .\nBut as I said, these are minor mistakes. When I read this, my first thought was how you\'re actually starting to sound Bulgarian. You still need to remove all the \"аз\"-s but the rest isn\'t any different from what I could\'ve written, provided I liked spring that much.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1641,2407,'ilian','imar@abv.bg','','87.118.150.53','2010-03-22 12:31:43','2010-03-22 11:31:43','Yes,\nIt is well structured and sounds Bulgarian.\nOnly the constant use of pronouns gives you away.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1642,2407,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.234','2010-03-22 13:22:30','2010-03-22 12:22:30','I\'m sorry if this looks a little nitpick-y, I\'m just trying to help :) Also, nice colors in the photo.\nOn a side note, were you by any chance in the underpass near Sofia University aroun 1:30 PM today? I walked pass someone and I heard they were talking in English and used the word \"Bulgarian\". I turned around and saw one of the two people was a blonde girl. But by that time they were too far for me to ask \"Carolyn?\" without sounding weird.',0,'1','','',1640,0),(1643,2407,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-03-22 15:30:25','2010-03-22 14:30:25','@Bobby: Yep that was me! We were checking out the new frozen yogurt shop (which was great). You should have hollered--it would have been really funny.  I guess there\'s always next time.',0,'1','','',1642,0),(1644,2407,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-03-22 15:35:18','2010-03-22 14:35:18','@Ilian Thanks! The pronouns are going to be the thing that give me away for a while I am sure.  I still hear them in my head when I am conjugating verbs...',0,'1','','',1641,0),(1645,2417,'kathaireinv','jessyp7889@gmail.com','http://www.imatelivreme.blogspot.com','173.2.117.119','2010-03-23 05:22:35','2010-03-23 04:22:35','Oh man... I already sense a craving... I love frozen yogurt! it makes the world go around. :D',0,'1','','',0,0),(1646,2417,'Niki Gorchilov','niki@gorchilov.com','http://www.struvasi.com','122.162.83.126','2010-03-23 06:38:34','2010-03-23 05:38:34','Looks like a little brother of Pinkberry - the popular US frozen yogurt franchise. Mmmm...',0,'1','','',0,0),(1647,2417,'charlotte','charlotte.emigh@gmail.com','','75.139.189.67','2010-03-23 06:52:34','2010-03-23 05:52:34','I was literally explaining this style of frozen yogurt to MoM earlier today. A new yogurt shop just open in right next to campus and I went last week and it was great. Yum.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1648,2417,'Antonia','antoniaradkova@gmail.com','','84.238.197.145','2010-03-23 08:09:40','2010-03-23 07:09:40','\"It did lead us to discuss what the word for medium was in Bulgarian.  You know, had we actually wanted a medium frozen yogurt and not a small or a large.  Neither one of us knew the word.\"\n\nСреден (йогурт), средна (големина), средно (голям), средни (сладоледи).\nBut you\'re right, голям is better than среден ;)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1649,2417,'Al','freecycle@ftml.com','','76.66.222.210','2010-03-23 15:20:32','2010-03-23 14:20:32','Actually, Yogen Früz looks like the big brother to Pinkberry since it has way more locations and they\'re worldwide. And they\'ve been around a lot longer.',0,'1','','',1646,0),(1650,2417,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-03-23 15:33:04','2010-03-23 14:33:04','@Antonia Ha, ha! Thanks for the new word!',0,'1','','',1648,0),(1651,2417,'Slava, a Bulgarian in America','slavabowman@yahoo.com','','64.251.157.16','2010-03-27 00:30:25','2010-03-26 23:30:25','I\'ll definitely check out the frozen yoghurt when we come back to BG in May!! It looks scrumptious!!! I\'ve had my eye on teh shop since December, but it wasn\'t open yet...',0,'1','','',0,0),(1652,2417,'Andreytcho','blog@andreytcho.com','http://andreytcho.com','92.247.223.191','2010-03-29 19:30:56','2010-03-29 18:30:56','There is another one in Serdika Mall',0,'1','','',0,0),(1653,2417,'Марин','mguergov@yahoo.com','','212.43.39.106','2010-04-19 20:23:24','2010-04-19 19:23:24','Last years I liked Jimmy\'s ice creams.\nNow I know - yogen früz is the best place for ice cream in Sofia.  I need at least size XL :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1654,2429,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','74.241.1.53','2010-03-24 14:11:54','2010-03-24 13:11:54','Your dairying forebearers who built the creamery in Walla Walla would be proud of your love of cheese!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1655,2432,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.195.201.90','2010-03-25 16:31:07','2010-03-25 15:31:07','What a cheesy thing to say :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1656,2432,'HappyEditor','mailregistration@abv.bg','','78.83.131.105','2010-03-25 17:10:42','2010-03-25 16:10:42','Аз обичам да ям сирне и кашкавал. В шопската салата и пържените картофи също има сирене, затова обичам да  похапвам и от тях.  Мисля, че българското сирене е най-доброто в света. За съжаление в Америка няма нито сирене, нито кашкавал.\n\nRegards.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1657,2432,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-03-25 17:22:25','2010-03-25 16:22:25','@HappyEditor: Hey, Thanks so much.',0,'1','','',1656,0),(1658,2432,'Anonymous','foobar@disposeamail.com','','134.134.139.70','2010-03-25 19:23:48','2010-03-25 18:23:48','Both can be found in specialty stores in the bigger cities in the US. There also are online shops that ship them, e.g. http://www.malincho.com, though they\'re rather pricey...',0,'1','','',0,0),(1659,2432,'Svetlina','svetlina.vitanova@gmail.com','http://vitanova.wordpress.com/','79.132.30.142','2010-03-25 19:36:07','2010-03-25 18:36:07','А аз обичам чийзкейк :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1660,2432,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-03-25 21:29:34','2010-03-25 20:29:34','So what we\'ve got here is another cheese and kashkaval lover in Carolyn\'s face.\n\nWe share one and the same passion about the above mentioned products:)At least one thing which makes me not being sorry for being born in Bulgaria.Sad,right?!\n\nAnyway I am so glad that you keep your promises and you are  posting regularly in Bulgarian.I whish I were so enthusiastic for learning new languages as you are.I\'ve bought French self tutor recently and the result is that I am on page 10:).\n\nHave a nice evening!\n\nP.S.I will try the frozen yoghourt,your inspiring smile in the end left no doubts in me.\n\nI wish I could meet you somewhere accidentaly(and not only),like the guy who saw you that day.\n\nTake care!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1661,2434,'John Fotheringham','john@l2mastery.com','http://languagemastery.com','24.22.221.130','2010-03-26 07:55:11','2010-03-26 06:55:11','Hi Carolyn.  I just found your blog doing a Twitter search for \"language learning\". I\'m the creator of Foreign Language Mastery, a site aimed at helping people learn foreign languages more effectively.\n\nIt\'s hard to believe that such blatant racism still exists. I don\'t know what annoys me more: bigotry or boring textbooks.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1662,2434,'Stoimen','stoyostoimen@abv.bg','http://sistoimenov.blogspot.com/','87.121.30.13','2010-03-26 08:31:58','2010-03-26 07:31:58','I am a Bulgarian and I don\'t think that the picture is racist. It is normal. People on earth are different. I am a student and in our geography lessons we study the differences among the nations on our planet and where people with common feature live.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1663,2434,'Ivet','ivet13@gmail.com','','212.36.24.179','2010-03-26 10:03:32','2010-03-26 09:03:32','Well, I also don\'t think this picture is racist. Different people live in different places around the world. It\'s a bit childish though.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1664,2434,'bendyourcircuit','glutathione@gmail.com','http://bendyourcircuit.wordpress.com/','134.99.134.108','2010-03-26 11:00:04','2010-03-26 10:00:04','I\'m not sure if the pictures are racist, but they are very, very ugly.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1665,2434,'Natalia','nbowlus1@gmail.com','','84.0.205.45','2010-03-26 12:01:32','2010-03-26 11:01:32','Every now and then you have to remember that you live in Eastern Europe and they haven\'t been inundated with the same political correctness that Americans receive via their umbilical cords. I am surprised every now and then myself.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1666,2434,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.241','2010-03-26 15:34:36','2010-03-26 14:34:36','This is not racist in Bulgarian standards :) We just don\'t have the history of any racism. We may have history of hatred towards nations (Turkish, although this has never been prevalent in the Bulgarian society) or certain lifestyles (Gypsies), not towards races so we just don\'t understand what\'s wrong with saying that the Native Americans (we have two slightly different words for people from India and Native Americans - индийци and индианци, respectively) are red-skinned.\nIn Bulgarian the word for a black person is негър (negro) and it\'s totally neutral - it just means a black person.\nAnd we don\'t understand why calling a Chinese Chinese is not politically correct. :)\nOn the other hand, when one is making a text book in Bulgarian for foreigners, one should take into account that in Western cultures the fact that Africans are from Africa is actually considered a stereotype. Yeah, really, how dare we say that Africans are from Africa and that they are usually curly, with big noses and lips ;)\nBut still, it would be nice for a language book to teach the language, not the way of thinking.\nI am currently studying Russian from a text book for adults and I want to scream - WHY do the keep making me connect stuff with lines and all the other childish stuff that I\'ve hated since first grade?!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1667,2434,'Harry','hkdobrev@gmail.com','http://hkdobrev.blogspot.com','78.130.241.175','2010-03-26 15:36:00','2010-03-26 14:36:00','I\'m Bulgarian and just wanted to tell you that the Bulgarian children don\'t study the world directions this way. I mean this is some kind of bullshit from the author of your textbook.\n\nAnd on the other hand... There is definitely no racism in the picture. I mean this textbook (made for children apparently) teaches the children there are different kinds of people on the earth and we can all shine together and enjoy the same sun.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1668,2434,'Bridget','mullanski@yahoo.com','','129.2.21.173','2010-03-26 20:44:55','2010-03-26 19:44:55','People from different places look different: point taken. But <i>everyone</i> looks different. I think what\'s offensive here is lumping everyone from a certain area of the world into one group, saying everyone from the east looks like one particular example, if that makes sense. Americans have a strong sense of individualism, and so generalizations that \"all <i>these</i> people are like <i>this</i>\" are sort of appalling, especially in a textbook. Particularly when these generalizations rely on race/ethnicity; it\'s sort of an unspoken us-vs.-them mentality.\n\nAlso, Americans have a volatile history of stereotyping people based on their looks, so we try really hard not to do that. It still happens, of course, but people make a conscious effort not to. Not all cultures have this history or think about this much either way, I don\'t think.\n\nOne more thought: The problem we have with calling someone by their race/ethnicity goes back to the individualism issue. If you call someone an Indian, you\'re defining him/her by ethnicity and all the implied stereotypes that go along with that. But if you say he\'s a guy from India, you\'re putting him (as a person) first, and then adding that he happens to be from India. Like I told my German students, you can use the stand-alone adjective when you\'re talking about food (\"Let\'s go out for Chinese!\") but not about a person.\n\n*gets off soapbox* :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1669,2434,'Slava, a Bulgarian in America','slavabowman@yahoo.com','','64.251.157.16','2010-03-27 00:24:27','2010-03-26 23:24:27','That\'s funny!! And those faces are ugly! Unfortunately, there still isn\'t a good Bulgarian textbook for foreigners. I used to teach Bulgarian and that was the biggest problem. I agree that to a Bulgarian, the faces are not racist, but this doesn\'t excuse the fact that they are of not help in teaching you the directions... Interesting blog, by the way! I just stumbled upon it andI\'ll keep on reading. Успех с българския!!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1670,2434,'Z','zdravko_s_s@abv.bg','','93.152.149.236','2010-03-27 08:34:14','2010-03-27 07:34:14','It doesn\'t say that all the people from certain area fall into one group. It just says that the group of people, that is associated with the picture, comes from the corresponding area. This is quite different and is something everybody knows. It\'s not racism. It\'s something normal to say. There are not bad feelings associated with it as is in a case of racism. Everyone is different, but people can be divided into groups that have something similar in many different ways. That is something normal and here in Bulgaria we don\'t see people that are a little different from us as, for example, aliens. They are just normal people like us. We are all people after all and most things in us are the same.\n\nAnd when we see say \"Indian\" we just mean a person from India. When we say \"negro\" we just mean a person that have a black skin. We don\'t associate with these words anything more.',0,'1','','',1668,0),(1671,2434,'Boris','mastylo@gmail.com','http://www.mastylo.net/','78.130.204.229','2010-03-27 13:58:37','2010-03-27 12:58:37','Здрасти, Каролинка!\nWhen we were working on chapter 6, our friend Garth told me that the authors of this textbook would go to the jail straight away, if it`s published in the US. One of the reasons I love working with foreigners - only a foreigner can ask you a question or show you a fact, revealing interesting things about the BG culture (and language as well).\nBtw, those pictures were supposed to be a funny break from the torturous grammar sections - da-construction, aspect of the verb and the imperative... What a bloody chapter indeed!\nПриятен уикенд!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1672,2434,'Svetlina','svetlina.vitanova@gmail.com','http://vitanova.wordpress.com/','79.132.30.142','2010-03-28 12:42:02','2010-03-28 11:42:02','I find the idea very clever - instead of connecting EAST with RIGHT and SOUTH with DOWN it assosiates the directions with well know idioms - everybody calls the wild west wild west and the cold north cold north and there`s nothing wrong with that. If they`ve ment something racist they would have put human faces. Moreover, this picture is giving you a subject for discussion which is waht pictures in textbooks are supposed to do (you are just having the discussion in the wrong language ;)).',0,'1','','',0,0),(1673,2434,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.247','2010-03-28 13:52:27','2010-03-28 12:52:27','Ok, it\'s not racist, but it doesn\'t help you learn anything, either. It\'s not funny, it\'s not interesting. WHY is it there?\nAnd talking about whether a language book should teach just the language:\nWhy does every American standardized test include a text about feminists and about black people?! And why are correct answers ALWAYS positive towards these groups of people? I mean - is my English bad because I think that feminism is stupid? Or because I don\'t find it amusing to read texts trying to make me feel guilty for something that was done 6000 km away from the place where I live while actually my own people was massacred by one of the closest allies of the US - Turkey?\nAnd this is not a textbook - it\'s a test, for which I pay and which is decisive for my future. Cool. :P',0,'1','','',0,0),(1674,2434,'Matt','mthomp28@gmail.com','','24.121.104.116','2010-03-28 19:54:04','2010-03-28 18:54:04','Two cents:\n\n1. I believe the Ottoman Empire was responsible for massacres against the Bulgarian people, not Turkey.\n\n2. The textbook was obviously written by a Bulgarian (I worked with textbooks like that and directions in English were often bungled).\n\n3. This example demonstrates how little interaction the every-day Bulgarian has with different ethnic groups (asian, african, etc.) It\'s an honest mistake of generalities that don\'t effect most Bulgarians.\n\n4. It might be difficult for us Americans to understand this at first, but people around the world are going to see the world differently and their language is going to reflect that. That exercise might not be politically correct, but I\'m certain there are examples in English that reveal a biased and discriminatory point of view (without us even knowing). One obvious example is the use of the word \"Balkan\" -- it\'s been used in many ways by Westerners to look down upon the people of southeastern Europe. Another one used often by Americans is the word \"gypped\" (actually, I\'m not sure of the spelling) -- a common reference to getting cheated. Many Americans use that term not knowing it\'s a degrading reference to Gypsies.\n\nIt\'s better to discuss these issues with Bulgarians and ask questions than to get upset and make accusations about Bulgarians\' attitudes toward race and ethnicity.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1675,2434,'Djgeorgie','georgijivankin@gmail.com','http://www.georgijivankin.com','138.40.152.46','2010-03-29 06:58:15','2010-03-29 05:58:15','I completely agree with you. I remember when I was taking my Toefl, the speaking section consisted of texts related to:\n1. Feminism\n2. Black people\n3. U.S. Psychology\nThe first two were quite easy to regurgitate since we have seen so many films and have red so many books on such topics, but the third one was really difficult to interpret simply because I have never been introduced to the U.S. psychology before. I have noticed that every nation does the same thing actually, for example, when I was studying English from a British textbook, we was reading nonstop about drinking tea, dining or waging wars in the 15th century and sending prisoners to another continent (probably meant to be Australia) and they didn\'t find those topics boring or racist.\n\nIf I was a creator of Bulgarian textbooks, I would have included chapters describing what a Shopska salad is or providing a chapter dedicated to the national Bulgarian heros such as Vasil Levski or Hristo Botev because their American counterparts teach us about their national heros such as JFK or Martin Luther King Jr., etc.',0,'1','','',1673,0),(1676,2434,'lilly','lmoinova@gmail.com','','212.36.5.57','2010-03-29 13:21:46','2010-03-29 12:21:46','It just happened that i saw an old South Park episode yesterday, closely related to the topic. It was about the town flag showing several white guys \"dancing\" around a hanged black man. The society was split in half -- those who wanted to keep the flag as it was part of the history and the others, who wanted it to be changed because it was racist. At the end, much like in the tale about the naked king, it turned out that none of the kids sees the racism in the flag. What they saw was the hanging of a man.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1677,2434,'miter','m24800@yahoo.com','','158.35.225.228','2010-03-30 14:00:18','2010-03-30 13:00:18','Racist??? I think you Americans are way too touchy on the subject ;)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1678,2439,'ilian','imar@abv.bg','','85.130.24.100','2010-03-27 12:22:01','2010-03-27 11:22:01','I didn\'t know there is a raw egg in it.\nIf it\'s true I\'ll think twice before taking one of these in future.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1679,2439,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','79.100.4.190','2010-03-27 12:36:12','2010-03-27 11:36:12','Ha-ha, Carolyn, with the last two blog-posts you prove your americanism to us :)\n\"Salami\" is an excellent treat but it has nothing to do with baking. Aren\'t these students cheating? :)\ntake care!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1680,2439,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-03-27 13:19:34','2010-03-27 12:19:34','@Helen: Ha, ha! It\'s true--I am human and American.  It\'s pretty hard to escape from the cultural trappings of the second and I am not sure I could escape even if I wanted.',0,'1','','',1679,0),(1681,2439,'Aunt Jane','jlaaker@centurytel.net','','98.125.213.180','2010-03-27 21:06:47','2010-03-27 20:06:47','Yes, yes... but I know you have sampled your share of cookie dough.\n\nLove Aunt Jane',0,'1','','',0,0),(1682,2439,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-03-28 10:06:34','2010-03-28 09:06:34','@Aunt Jane. Ha, ha. As usual, you are right. I\'ve eaten my fair share and then some of raw cookie dough and I lived through that!!',0,'1','','',1681,0),(1683,2439,'Svetlina','svetlina.vitanova@gmail.com','http://vitanova.wordpress.com/','79.132.30.142','2010-03-28 12:58:40','2010-03-28 11:58:40','I bet you liked it :) Anyway.. if you want to cook it without the egg, try replacing the jam with melted Turkish delight.\nAs for the salmonela... it`s a problem that can be fixed ;)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1684,2447,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.244','2010-03-28 13:37:06','2010-03-28 12:37:06','On the one hand, it makes sense to have a quarter of your currency. Just the natural way I\'d divide a pizza is 1/2, then 1/4, then 1/8.\nOn the other hand, money is not pizza. As procrastination from (is it \"from\"?) writing my thesis, I calculated how many coins one would need in order to pay any sum between 0,01 BGN and 1 BGN. The maximum number of coins is 6, first appearing when you want to pay 0,88 BGN. The average number of coins you need is 3,41 with the mode being 3.\nIf I do the same calculation for USD, it will be too much procrastination on the same issue already, so maybe later :) But I have the feeling that the results will be quite similar and maybe with some small advantage for the USD since the quarter is closer to the average of 0,1 and 0,5 than 0,2.\nBut yes, I will be very very confused without the 0,2 coin, especially in the presence of a 0,25.\nMaybe you\'ve mentioned this but I\'ve missed it - how are you with meters, kilograms and liters? :)\nHave you already gotten used to thinking in leva rather than calculating prices in dollars?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1685,2447,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-03-28 15:38:10','2010-03-28 14:38:10','@TAfricanski good points, thanks.  As for thinking in leva, yep I always think in leva now. So much so that when I was home at Christmas in the States I was really shocked by the cost of everything.',0,'1','','',1684,0),(1686,2447,'Radu','radu.panciuc@favit.com','http://panciuc.ro','78.83.97.239','2010-03-28 20:08:07','2010-03-28 19:08:07','I am not very sure about this but the missing .25 might be something European or just not American. The Euro and the Romanian Leu do not have 0.25 as well. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Euro_coins_version_II.png The British pound does have a quarter but it is rarely used.\nFor some reason, the whole quarter thing makes me think of the American unit system and esp. the fact that 1 quarter of a  gallon is approx. 1 liter here :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1687,2447,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-03-28 20:18:10','2010-03-28 19:18:10','@Radu I have a hunch the only reason I miss it is because I grew up with it.  The cashier told me the price and I thought find a quarter--you have a lot of change. It\'s just been engraved in my mind .25 is a quarter and even though I know there is no quarter in Bulgaria, I found myself looking for it. It\'s just funny how things like this work.  What you <em>know</em> is often over powered by instinct. And in my case it was this: Quarter, quarter, quarter. Find a quarter.',0,'1','','',1686,0),(1688,2447,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.234','2010-03-29 04:44:43','2010-03-29 03:44:43','Carolyn, TAfrikanski may not know it, but I think he\'s right on the money (tee-hee) with the pizza slicing. A couple of years ago I researched this for one of my American Culture classes. Well, come to think of it, you probably know how the quarters came to be, but for anyone else who wonders why Americans have them and we don\'t, I could shed some light (and you can correct me if I mess up your history).\nSo the 1/4 denomination wasn\'t unique for the US back then and neither was the word \"dollar\". Charles II of England struck coins for Scotland - a dollar, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 and 1/16. The United States began cutting their own coins in 1794. But between 1776 and 1794 the Royal Mint didn\'t provide (go figure) the coins needed for commerce, so the Thirteen Colonies used whatever foreign coins they had available. Like the Spanish dollar. The Spanish cut the silver they mined into coins worth eight reales. Most of those were shipped to Spain, but some were used locally. They became very popular in the colonies and were used well into the 19th century. The Charles II dollar fractions were used, but Spanish coins of lesser value were scarce. So what did the people do? They cut the silver Spanish dollars into pie-shaped halves, quarters, eighths and sixteenths - the famous \"pieces of eight\" in romantic literature. The very first quarters that were cut weren\'t even labeled as 25 cents - that came later. New denomination was accepted, like the 10c, but the quarter remained popular to this day.\nWhy don\'t we have quarters? Well, I haven\'t done research on Bulgarian coins, so this is just what I know from history books.\nAfter our liberation in 1878, there were all sorts of coins that were left in the newly freed Bulgaria - German, Austrian, Hungarian, Russian, Dutch etc.. Some no longer used in their respective countries. A lot were so worn out, people told them apart by size and shape. So we needed coins. The National Bank was promptly founded in 1879 and a currency was chosen on June 4th 1880 - Lev, made up of 100 stotinkas. \"Лев\" comes from an old form of \"лъв\" which means \"lion\" and \"стотинка\" translates into \"little 1/100\". The first copper coins were cut in England and were 2, 5 and 10 stotinkas, as was decided - no 1 stotinka coin. Later came the silver 0.50 and 1 and 2 levs, made in Russia. The silver 5 and the golden 10 and 20 levs were struck several decades later. The myriad of foreign coins in circulation is gradually replaced by our own. And the 1-2-5 tradition has been followed ever since. I don\'t know how the decision was made, probably this division was the most popular. So we never had and were never supposed to have quarters. But here\'s the funny thing: Before the introduction of the lev and its rates to existing coins, all financial accounts (and the country\'s budget) were kept in franks. We loved the French. Then there was also the whole \"Russian occupational government\" thing. So we had Russians governing us. (This I researched now) Both the Russians and the French had coins of 0.25 yet we managed not to copy either system.\nWell… I\'m sorry, Carolyn. We were so close to a quarter, but alas… :P\nI hope this rather long post wasn’t too boring. Apologies to anyone who fell asleep reading it. :)\nPS: Some of the theories about the origin of the dollar sign are connected to the Spanish dollar - a slashed eight, the superimposed PTSI (these coins were cut in Potosi) or the pillars with ribbons around them, depicted on said coins.\n\nMan, I need some synonyms for \"coin\"...',0,'1','','',0,0),(1689,2447,'пламен','plamenj@gmail.com','http://theplamen.blogspot.com','91.199.36.10','2010-03-29 10:48:35','2010-03-29 09:48:35','You know, 100 years ago, there was a 2 1/2 stotinki coin in Bulgaria - half of the 5 stotinki :-)\n\nWith the Euro it would be much harder - the smallest note is a fiver, i. e. equaling 10 leva. 1 and 2 euros are only coins.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1690,2447,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.247','2010-03-29 14:21:36','2010-03-29 13:21:36','How is this hard? It\'s actually quite handy. The only problem is that you can spend considerable amounts of money without noticing because, you know, no one keeps track of their coins...\nActually, Italy has requested many times the substitution of 1€ and 2€ coins with banknotes because of this but the ECB never agreed.\nAnd in the Netherlands and Finland coins of 0,01€ and 0,02€ are not minted, prices are rounded to 5 cents. Such coins, minted by other countries, are a legal tender, though.',0,'1','','',1689,0),(1691,2447,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.243','2010-03-29 14:39:53','2010-03-29 13:39:53','Radu, I can\'t wait until we (BG and RO) introduce the euro. I am from Ruse, so I go to Romania regularly (mostly to use the airports of Bucuresti, because the stupid bridge tax makes casual visits quite expensive) and I have to go to only to places that accept credit/debit cards in order to avoid exchanging money. It\'s just an unnecessary complication, although in crises like the current one your free floating currency gives you the flexibility we lack because of the fixed exchange rate BGN/EUR.',0,'1','','',1686,0),(1692,2447,'Radu','radu.panciuc@favit.com','http://panciuc.ro','212.72.204.44','2010-03-29 14:47:53','2010-03-29 13:47:53','As I heard, Bulgaria is closer to adopt the Euro than Romania. I know about the complications of exchanging money. I have 3 currencies with me: Leva, Euro, and Leu when I go to Romania. I need Leva here, Leu in Romania, and the Euro is always good to have cause you never know what you need: more Leva or Lei :D',0,'1','','',1691,0),(1693,2447,'Djgeorgie','georgijivankin@gmail.com','http://www.georgijivankin.com','138.40.152.46','2010-03-29 19:35:40','2010-03-29 18:35:40','Hmm an interesting discussion here. At least you didn\'t pay with multiple currencies without even realizing it. I remember once when I was returning to Bulgaria I had so many coins in different currencies that I tryed to pay a bill using a £1, 0.50EUR coin and 5 leva banknote. You couldn\'t imagine what was my reaction when I realized what I had just done.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1694,2447,'Мелиса','melissa@melissaroberts.org','http://www.twitter.com/melissa_ann','67.180.255.238','2010-03-31 06:28:33','2010-03-31 05:28:33','My Karolinka --- this, for some reason, makes me homesick for you -- and I will never take quarters for granted again. Though, to be honest, I need them for laundry -- can\'t imagine living without them. That makes me wonder -- how can you do laundry in Bulgaria without quarters?!?!?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1695,2447,'Slava','slavabowman@yahoo.com','','64.251.157.16','2010-03-31 22:11:29','2010-03-31 21:11:29','Здрасти Каролинка!!\n\nI love the last sentence of your post:\n\n\"changing and being changed by a place and the surprise you feel when the world you used to live in catches up to you in unexpected places and in unexpected ways.\"\n\nIt\'s weird how no matter how much time you spent in a foreign country, there are these moments when little things from your past stike you and make you ponder... You feel a little homesick, the differences make you mad,  and then you realize that having two lives is quite enriching, actually!  Think how boring it would be if the whole world had quarters, and McDonald\'s and Starbucks were everywhere (wait a minute, sadly the last one is already true!!!) ;-P',0,'1','','',0,0),(1696,2447,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-04-01 04:29:01','2010-04-01 03:29:01','@Slava It\'s such an interesting feeling--to know and to see the way your thinking changes.  It\'s disconcerting and at the same lovely.',0,'1','','',1695,0),(1697,2447,'Meeting! &laquo; Karolinka In &amp; Around Bulgaria','','http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/06/06/meeting/','72.233.96.157','2010-06-06 20:56:22','2010-06-06 19:56:22','[...] a Bulgarian quarter from 1951! You may (or may not) remember my blog post about the moment I was searching for a quarter to pay my grocery bill and couldn&#8217;t find one but luckily one of my readers [...]',0,'1','','pingback',0,0),(1698,2455,'Bloodymirova','evladimirova@gmail.com','https://bloodymirova.blogspot.com','85.95.78.2','2010-03-29 10:34:57','2010-03-29 09:34:57','Wasn\'t it 9 hours instead of the regular 10? US moved an hour forward and we are ahead, so it made the difference smaller :)\n\nBut I agree about changing time. The first couple of weeks I feel like killing myself.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1699,2455,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2010-03-29 11:44:11','2010-03-29 10:44:11','\"Men are more likely to commit suicide during the first few weeks of daylight saving time than they are during the rest of the year.\"\n\nOnly men? Are they more vulnerable? :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1700,2455,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.245','2010-03-29 15:01:52','2010-03-29 14:01:52','WTF, most parts of Arizona do not follow DST?\nI don\'t know why American rules for DST are different from European. It\'s tiring to have different standards for EVERYTHING.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1701,2462,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-03-30 05:59:25','2010-03-30 04:59:25','Glad to hear that you had good time there.How about the prices of the things in the menu,how do you find them -normal or a bit exessive when taking in mind the average for bars of this type:)\n\nFew days to your trip to Morocco,are you ready:)?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1702,2462,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-03-30 14:47:49','2010-03-30 13:47:49','@Elena: Good Question! I can\'t believe I didn\'t include that in this post. The drinks were pretty standard between 3 leva and 6 leva and the food was maybe a little more expensive than many places salads and sandwiches started at about 9 leva and went to about 15 leva.',0,'1','','',1701,0),(1703,2475,'Slamdunk','theslamdunktrove@gmail.com','http://theslamdunktrove.blogspot.com','71.161.248.121','2010-03-31 05:18:44','2010-03-31 04:18:44','Good post.\n\n\"How can it be that I always go to the post office stand in line for at least 10 minutes and then when it’s my turn to buy stamps there’s not a single person in line behind me?\"\n\nI have that kind of luck.  I hope from now on you see nothing but short wait lines.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1704,2475,'Whitney','whit.graves@gmail.com','','174.23.201.31','2010-03-31 06:05:15','2010-03-31 05:05:15','Yay! I had been wondering lately where I would find another blog to stalk once you left Bulgaria. Happy to hear that you are staying another year, therefore, giving me another year as an avid reader!\n\nMy boyfriend is Bulgarian and I plan on moving there within a year or so. I\'m going to start a blog of my experiences living and marrying in BG and I have a sneaking suspicion that, consciously or not, a fair amount of my posts will parallel yours. Having visited the country, I most definitely related to many of the things you posted in \"Things I don\'t understand\" and will likely share similar frustrations. But I guess I shouldn\'t be worried about you taking all the material, there seems to be plenty to go around!\n\nHere\'s to another year!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1705,2475,'Djgeorgie','georgijivankin@gmail.com','http://www.georgijivankin.com','138.40.152.46','2010-03-31 09:43:12','2010-03-31 08:43:12','Good news for us and probably bad ones for your parents in the states.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1706,2475,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.41','2010-03-31 09:50:26','2010-03-31 08:50:26','\"You can checkout any time you like, but you can never leave!\"\n\nBulgaria grows on you ;-)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1707,2475,'erin','gosign@yahoo.com','','75.179.24.37','2010-03-31 14:08:33','2010-03-31 13:08:33','you make me laugh.  i miss you',0,'1','','',0,0),(1708,2475,'MoM','djemigh@wwcc.edu','','134.39.208.139','2010-03-31 16:33:11','2010-03-31 15:33:11','I\'m glad to hear the contract is signed.  I\'m OK with another year as long as you blog and we can connect via Skype.\n\nWith electronic communication what it is, it really doesn\'t feel like you are that far away. (That is until I remember what a plane ticket to Sofia from Walla Walla actually costs!)\n\nLove you,\nMoM',0,'1','','',0,0),(1709,2475,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','74.241.1.53','2010-03-31 19:31:06','2010-03-31 18:31:06','But she returns regularly just like Beth did from Moscow.  Now that Beth is in Chicago, just a few hours away, I hear from her far less frequently.  So enjoy the \"closeness\" of the distance, it doesn\'t last!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1710,2475,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.234','2010-03-31 19:35:46','2010-03-31 18:35:46','I\'m also happy that you\'re staying longer. Both because that\'s your wish and because you\'ll keep writing about your stay. Seeing my country through the eyes of a foreigner is always enlightening. And sometimes amusing.\nI wonder, have you made sense of or gotten used to these things? Or have new mysteries and wtf-s emerged?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1711,2475,'soregashi','temelkovv@gmail.com','http://soregashi1.blogspot.com','89.215.201.67','2010-04-04 12:26:05','2010-04-04 11:26:05','You know, the funny thing it\'s that I feel the same way as you, at least for most of the time, and I\'m from Bulgaria, not a foreigner like you.\nI\'m really glad that you feel OK here. This makes me feel little better about staying here and fighting the bad things, that we (the Bulgarians) do, take and make.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1712,2475,'Cameron Ottens','Cameron.Ottens@gmail.com','','208.91.7.72','2010-04-07 06:09:36','2010-04-07 05:09:36','I like this post.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1713,2351,'Andrey','andrey.omega@gmail.com','http://wahregedanken.blogspot.com','95.43.240.219','2010-04-01 14:48:03','2010-04-01 13:48:03','Most overrated Bulgarian novel ever',0,'1','','',0,0),(1714,2351,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-04-01 16:32:44','2010-04-01 15:32:44','@Andrey, okay. What Bulgarian novels/authors should I be reading in translation?',0,'1','','',1713,0),(1715,2351,'MoM','djemigh@wwcc.edu','','134.39.208.139','2010-04-01 16:41:55','2010-04-01 15:41:55','Wow, you do sound a lot like an Literature teacher. I guess I mostly read to see if I like the plat.  I\'ll approach this more seriously :)\n\nTo show how serious I am, I have printed out your questions and I will put them with the book (use them as a book mark?)\n\nWish your science oriented MoM good luck.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1716,2351,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-04-01 18:19:14','2010-04-01 17:19:14','@MoM I guess it makes me even more of an English teacher to do what I am about to: it\'s plot not plat...',0,'1','','',1715,0),(1717,2351,'Charlotte','charlotte.emigh@gmail.com','','128.193.28.225','2010-04-01 18:22:09','2010-04-01 17:22:09','Wow, you made me sound like the worst literature major ever. For the sake of clarification, I didn\'t want to read it on my spring break. But you just shamed me into finding a copy. Interestingly, OSU\'s library doesn\'t have it, but Puget Sound does. So I ordered it through interlibrary loan from my own undergraduate institution. Hah.\nI\'m going to get a late start though, it will be a few days. So count me in, unless grad school (my main priority believe it or not) interferes.\nBecause while I am stubborn, apparently you are the boss of me.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1718,2351,'ilian','imar@abv.bg','','85.130.24.100','2010-04-01 18:48:24','2010-04-01 17:48:24','Why don\'t you try Yordan Yovkov\'s short stories. I don\'t know if you can find them in English, but they are short enough to test your Bulgarian.',0,'1','','',1714,0),(1719,2351,'anonimnikoff','anonimnikoff@notmyrealname.com','','207.38.197.229','2010-04-01 20:36:12','2010-04-01 19:36:12','Agreed with comment #1: this guy is talentless and the only reason why he has reached the sort of prominence he has is that there was no competition. The new country (post 1878) was scrambling to build a new state, including an imported king, and sought to glorify anything that was written by Bulgarians, regardless of quality, in an attempt to create a \"culture\" (meaning narrowly kultura, vs. the wider US \"general attitudes\" meaning)\n\nThe visibility of his works has been perpetuated by inertia. The world of BG lit is pretty insular and the lack of intl success should tell you something about its quality. Of course, all those bg lit teachers and scholars are protective of their turf and never really allow dissent. I do not think that most BG lit \"experts\" can imagine their lives without spending 20% of their time on Vazov.\n\nIf you are interested in learning more about BG from that period, read Bay Ganyu (1 and 2) by Aleko Konstantinov. He gets it. Vazov does not. And the current relevance of the main character in the book is phenomenal. Yovkov is also good, and a bit more genteel vs. Bay Ganyu. Yavorov, Debelyanov and Vaptzarov on the poetry side.\n\nReading Pod Igoto is a colossal waste of time. There is some ethnographic value to it but the novel is worthless from a literary perspective.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1720,2351,'NinjaDude','info@kuturak.net','http://six.fiftagon.com','77.70.118.62','2010-04-02 06:52:23','2010-04-02 05:52:23','While I agree with Andrey and anonimnikoff on Vazov, I also think that this should not discourage you. :) You already have your book club and your assignment; it\'s too late. Anyway, it\'s an interesting project, and I for one am curious what will come of it.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1721,2351,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-04-02 07:04:27','2010-04-02 06:04:27','@NinjaDude--Don\'t worry. The thing is, I love to read. My \"To-Read\" list is always much longer than the time I have to commit to it. I\'m just glad to have more suggestions. And, for the record, I do think that there is value in reading a novel like this.  It\'s part of the Bulgarian education/psyche/myth/culture.',0,'1','','',1720,0),(1722,2351,'neshtastnik','kuturak@yahoo.com','http://neshtastnik.wordpress.com','77.70.118.62','2010-04-02 10:17:41','2010-04-02 09:17:41','Of course there is. I myself was never able to read this novel to the end, but I\'m rooting for you and your club buddies :)',0,'1','','',1721,0),(1723,2351,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','79.100.4.190','2010-04-02 10:19:56','2010-04-02 09:19:56','I must say that I am really shocked by all these comments. What\'s it with that youth? :) The book is good for the time it was written and for the genre it represents.\nOn the other hand, really good prose is by no doubt Yordan Yovkov. Poetry - Yavorov.\n\"Bay Ganyu\" is a satire, focused on the negative side and frankly it made me sad reading it. But it is a very well written book.\nJust read what you feel like reading. Like your Mom. \"Shoulds\" are overrated. :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1724,2351,'anonimnikoff','anonimnikoff@notmyrealemail.com','','207.38.197.229','2010-04-02 13:30:39','2010-04-02 12:30:39','Also, the novel is written with a ton of anachronistic words, which get lost in translation, while a native speaker might at least enjoy those.\n\nHelen: some of us are not that \"young\", and, with the benefit of retrospect, have realized that most of the seven years spent reading BG lit was a waste, that\'s all: the time would have been better spent doing world lit. Many of the so-called \"writers\" are nothing more than \"draskatchi\"; many post-44 were on the dole from the Ministry of Culture, which is just an Orwellian propaganda outfit.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1725,2351,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','134.39.206.43','2010-04-02 17:43:11','2010-04-02 16:43:11','Oops! I saw that after posting - typos happen to the best of us!',0,'1','','',1716,0),(1726,2351,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','134.39.206.43','2010-04-02 17:47:08','2010-04-02 16:47:08','But would you know this about Bulgarian literature if you had not actually read it?  I believe there is some value in making an informed conclusion that the book is not a good representation of an era.  I will keep your opinion in mind as I read the book.',0,'1','','',1724,0),(1727,2351,'Mike Kern','mikekern@npgcable.com','http://servebulgaria.blogspot.com','74.39.182.212','2010-04-07 19:24:40','2010-04-07 18:24:40','Well, in spite of the critics, I downloaded my copy today and began reading. Almost a week behind the rest of you, but I will endeavor to catch up quickly! I am enjoying the first chapter so far.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1728,2488,'bendyourcircuit','glutathione@gmail.com','http://bendyourcircuit.wordpress.com/','134.99.134.108','2010-04-02 09:33:33','2010-04-02 08:33:33','Uhm, I didn\'t really get it. How should someone steal you identity, if this is what you\'re afraid of? And what\'s this (obviously) common practice in Washington DC you\'re talking about?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1729,2488,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','79.100.4.190','2010-04-02 10:01:10','2010-04-02 09:01:10','People look for:\na) food\nb) clothing\nc) cardboard, jars and other things they can turn in for recycling and receive money in return\nd) something of value that somebody accidentally dropped in the garbage - jewellery, cash...\n\nThey do it at regular intervals during the day and they are often accompanied by stray dogs. But in these case these dogs are not really stray, are they?\n\nThey are not concerned with the person you are. They are concerned with what valuable things they could find in the garbage and they are concerned to find them first. I am most sure that they don\'t think about you in particular and that they don\'t analyze you. I can only imagine that they have seen far more shocking things than the results of the ordinary life of one young woman.\n\nFinally, when I decide that I don\'t want to wear one particular pair of boots anymore because I don\'t like them but they are still usable I just put them in a separate bag and in 15 minutes they are gone from the garbage dumpster. You could do the same. Both recycling and clothes donation are not very well organized in Bulgaria. Or they are organized but through this means.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1730,2488,'Svetlina','svetlina.vitanova@gmail.com','http://vitanova.wordpress.com/','79.132.30.142','2010-04-02 12:43:47','2010-04-02 11:43:47','I don`t really think that ur garbage can embarass u. Your style of living, your home, your haircut can be embarassing but not the leftovers of it.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1731,2488,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.234','2010-04-02 16:07:38','2010-04-02 15:07:38','I remember an episode of Law &amp; Order: Criminal Intent that I translated, where the bad guys paid homeless people to look for any kind of personal documents in the garbage, precisely for the purpose to steal identities. It was quite an operation. I don\'t know if such a thing is an actual possibilty here. But if you\'ve ever thrown out a piece of clothing, there\'s a good chance someone is wearing it right now.\nIf you are concerned, you can minimize the risk by throwing out your garbage late at night, as the garbage truck will pick it up soon. Also itt\'s unlikely someone will go through the trash at night, especially if the dumpster isn\'t near a streetlight or something - it\'s dark and they don\'t exactly have torches. Sometimes people do this with bags of clothes too. They know that if they throw it away in daytime, alf an hour later the area around the dumpster would be littered with their grandfathers shirts or whatever the garbage diggers didn\'t like. It\'s not a pretty sight.\nBut if you want to \"donate\" something, leaving it by the dumpster is a good option.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1732,2488,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','79.100.10.204','2010-04-02 16:28:31','2010-04-02 15:28:31','Actually, I don\'t believe that any of these things could be embarrassing either.\nAlright, if you leave the ladies room and your skirt is tucked in in your underwear, that could be embarrassing.  But still not worth all the fuss over it.',0,'1','','',1730,0),(1733,2488,'sts','ap.stamov@hotmail.com','','96.51.88.230','2010-04-03 06:52:39','2010-04-03 05:52:39','i\'ve never heard of anything bad happening to people because their info was in the garbage. but if you have a bank statement with your address that says you have $500,000 in the bank....i would tear that up into very small pieces haha',0,'1','','',0,0),(1734,2488,'Lilly','lmoinova@gmail.com','','84.238.210.178','2010-04-03 12:23:30','2010-04-03 11:23:30','Hehe, this post reminds me of the \'plums for garbage\' tale ;)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1735,2488,'Туриста','givanov@mica.edu','','38.118.23.100','2010-04-05 02:16:55','2010-04-05 01:16:55','waste in Maryland:\nhttp://vimeo.com/8313063\nand also:\nhttp://georgi-ivanov.hit.bg/singleuse_01.html\n\nwaste in BG is poorly managed, however, there\'s something really positive - reusable beer bottles. in the US manufacturers switched to single use containers around the 60-70\'s.\ngenerally, in BG people produce less waste. or at least that is my impression due to less food delivery (pizzas and others with all their containers).\n\nYou can see people picking trash on the streets in the US too, depends on where you go. these are usually homeless people using shopping carts to gather things. a movie on that topic is \"Dark Days\" (I haven\'t seen it yet)\n\n\nпоздрав',0,'1','','',0,0),(1736,2488,'Svetlina','svetlina.vitanova@gmail.com','http://vitanova.wordpress.com/','84.242.191.2','2010-04-08 15:26:15','2010-04-08 14:26:15',':) Since a part of my job is to recognize fake docs I dare say that there`re easier ways to steal identity than digging in the dumpsters (also cheaper than paying people for digging). Also there are much better ways :) Say... getting ur medical files from the hospital or ex school, or just calling ur grandmother. And since some days I`m a programmer I guarantee that having a blog can be 100 times more embarrassing and revealing than having to throw something out.\nI take the risk every day and use both dumpsters and blogs though ;)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1737,2536,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.243','2010-04-04 21:03:58','2010-04-04 20:03:58','When you come back, please tell us whether it was a problem for two girls to be alone in Morocco. I want to visit it with a good friend of mine but the problem is that she is a girl and she is not my wife... so I\'m worried :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1738,2536,'DZ','dz.zaaf@gmail.com','','108.7.203.136','2010-04-06 03:29:34','2010-04-06 02:29:34','well there is this unjustified cliche that girls traveling to Morocco alone may be unsafe. It is just ridiculous. Morocco is one of teh safest countries per capital. You are likely to be raped or killed in some large US cities than anywhere in Morocco. This country is one of top 5 destinations in the world for last 5+ years.\nOf course there is sporadic petty crime here and there like everywhere else.\nCulturally speaking yes, good looking girls (Moroccan or not) will likely to be solicited for a date or a dinner etc. If you are not interested just say no politely or say that you are engaged, married or whatever. That will end it.\nRemember there is also a sexual revolution in Morocco and they have millions of gorgeous and beautiful ladies that will make many jealous.\nHope this helps',0,'1','','',0,0),(1739,2515,'Andreytcho','blog@andreytcho.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.195.201.90','2010-04-09 09:50:46','2010-04-09 08:50:46','Restaurants don\'t need turn over to make money, they need people who will order dinner and then order more stuff until the place closes.\nUnlike Americans we do get drunk in restaurants because we drink alcohol while eating and this can last for days.\n\nYou also need reservation for a table in a dance club, because when you drink your stuff can\'t always you be in your hands, how are you gonna grope the pretty ladies?\n\nThat being said, restaurants are usually used by large groups of friends hence the reservation. 2 person reservation is a joke and those people should just eat junk food and not take up valuable seating space.\n\n:) Welcome back',0,'1','','',0,0),(1740,2515,'Yo','yolina.stoyanova@gmail.com','','85.2.112.69','2010-04-09 12:23:20','2010-04-09 11:23:20',':) so true !',0,'1','','',1739,0),(1741,2515,'infestor_vx','gaffurabi@gmail.com','http://junkiewarrior.blogspot.com','195.249.186.125','2010-04-10 15:35:55','2010-04-10 14:35:55','Bulgarian waitresses might qualify for the world\'s top rude ones though',0,'1','','',0,0),(1742,2541,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','87.126.13.130','2010-04-11 11:29:00','2010-04-11 10:29:00','Looks good. You must\'ve recharged your baterries. Please post some more genuine photos. I feel so overwhelmed with winter.\n:)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1743,2541,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.40','2010-04-11 12:16:32','2010-04-11 11:16:32','Welcome back. Glad you enjoyed your vacation and good luck with the list :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1744,2564,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','75.139.187.69','2010-04-13 14:56:03','2010-04-13 13:56:03','Oh - I never imagined seeing you on a camel.  How does it happen that our marathon skype session on Sunday didn\'t include even a mention of such an unexpected experience.  You\'ve really never even been the \"kid\" who wanted to ride the ponies or the horses. Then again, there was a time when you didn\'t eat much in the way of vegetables.\nThanks for all the photos in the last couple of blogs.\nMOM',0,'1','','',0,0),(1745,2564,'Audrey','ledgerja@donobi.net','','64.113.26.86','2010-04-14 05:10:46','2010-04-14 04:10:46','I noticed your trade mark big green purse also made the camel ride.  It looked like a lot of fun.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1746,2572,'Rohit','rohitmaiya@gmail.com','http://rohitmaiya.wordpress.com','117.192.65.208','2010-04-13 17:11:40','2010-04-13 16:11:40','Lovely views.\n\nBut was it Bulgaria?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1747,2572,'everydayadventuregirl','sirkk1@yahoo.com','http://everydayadventuregirl.wordpress.com','208.65.192.1','2010-04-13 17:14:54','2010-04-13 16:14:54','love it. I would love to do this!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1748,2572,'Jessica','takenoko006@yahoo.fr','http://takenoko.wordpress.com','173.14.247.201','2010-04-13 17:33:04','2010-04-13 16:33:04','Thanks for sharing this. I would really like to ride a camel sometime. I went to Morrocco but didn\'t get a chance to do it. Great pictures!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1749,2572,'Liv','livvy_jane@live.com','http://www.livlovelaugh.wordpress.com','69.216.38.93','2010-04-13 18:02:11','2010-04-13 17:02:11','Now I want to ride a Camel!! That looks like a lot of fun =D',0,'1','','',0,0),(1750,2572,'slamdunk','theslamdunktrove@gmail.com','http://theslamdunktrove.blogspot.com','71.161.248.121','2010-04-13 18:47:03','2010-04-13 17:47:03','Great photos.  That looks like some adventure.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1751,2572,'ritasecret','margherita_x@yahoo.com','','87.255.89.38','2010-04-13 19:14:53','2010-04-13 18:14:53','Nice pictures! :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1752,2572,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-04-13 19:31:24','2010-04-13 18:31:24','@Rohit--Nope sorry. It was Morocco. I was on spring break there but live and teach full time in Bulgaria!',0,'1','','',1746,0),(1753,2572,'A Demented ShArk','alexiskarant@yahoo.gr','http://adementedshark.wordpress.com','109.242.189.87','2010-04-13 20:10:30','2010-04-13 19:10:30','nc pics! riding a camel is a wonderful experience',0,'1','','',0,0),(1754,2572,'tzhang71','y.zhang@queensu.ca','http://tracyzhangphoto.wordpress.com','74.14.128.163','2010-04-13 21:15:16','2010-04-13 20:15:16','seems like an amazing experience.\nthat\'s one of the things on my Bucket List!\n\nhttp://www.tracyzhangphoto.wordpress.com/',0,'1','','',0,0),(1755,2572,'dancingirja','giwaalberg@gmail.com','http://dancingirja.wordpress.com','92.225.55.75','2010-04-13 23:16:47','2010-04-13 22:16:47','Looks like fun. I like the photos taken from the camel\'s back, somehow seems surreal ;)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1756,2572,'kl2217','kl2217@gmail.com','http://kl2217.wordpress.com/','128.148.109.200','2010-04-14 00:05:18','2010-04-13 23:05:18','you know what? The ugly camel makes the scene and ladies looks even more beautiful. :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1757,2572,'En. Kafli','kapli_mail@yahoo.com','http://kaflismail.wordpress.com','60.49.43.223','2010-04-14 00:39:09','2010-04-13 23:39:09','quite hard to camel riding..but you did',0,'1','','',0,0),(1758,2572,'millayt','thomas.millay@gmail.com','http://millayt.wordpress.com','95.172.5.186','2010-04-14 02:25:05','2010-04-14 01:25:05','Very nice pictures and writing!  I rode a camel in India up a dune to watch the sunset (with a few thousand other people!), and found it very uncomfortable.  I\'d like to find more comfortable seating or a more comfortble camel.  They are cute animals.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1759,2572,'Gryphon','gryphonsfall@hotmail.com','','71.206.170.144','2010-04-14 02:47:29','2010-04-14 01:47:29','I don\'t think vegetarian would come into it unless you rode it with the intent to barbecue it after the jaunt.  As for being a liberal . . .  You got me on that one.  :)\n\nLong time no see.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1760,2572,'Justin','jus789@hotmail.com','http://penofjustin.wordpress.com/','60.53.220.82','2010-04-14 03:37:22','2010-04-14 02:37:22','Musta been awesome! =)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1761,2572,'Richard Kleeberg','starbase222@sbcglobal.net','http://richardkleeberg.wordpress.com','71.137.200.49','2010-04-14 06:09:27','2010-04-14 05:09:27','Makes me remember  --  with regret  --  that I passed up an opportunity, 30 years ago, to ride a camel.   I was in Egypt, in front of the Great Pyramid of Khufu, and the camel ride was free.  But the darn animal just looked so BIG,  and SO mean!\n\nMaybe I will get back there someday.......\n\nhttp://justthepoint.wordpress.com',0,'1','','',0,0),(1762,2572,'peppermint08','ssalomia@gmanmi.tv','','180.94.37.254','2010-04-14 06:42:40','2010-04-14 05:42:40','it makes me wanna ride a camel too! it looks like a lot of fun! i like the first pic by the way :D',0,'1','','',0,0),(1763,2572,'Kris','krystalmoderator@hotmail.com','http://sayitinasong.wordpress.com/','90.200.164.250','2010-04-14 07:02:57','2010-04-14 06:02:57','Nice pics! lol@planning holidays to ride camels.... I rode on a camel once- years ago in Egypt... quite nice actually but guite scary when the cames gets up and goes down on his knees in the end.... you feel like you\'ll tip over from the saddle! Looks like you had a lovely time!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1764,2572,'Ionut','cc_net20@yahoo.com','http://www.ccmp3.net','193.231.148.204','2010-04-14 08:36:43','2010-04-14 07:36:43','Nice pictures ! I like them',0,'1','','',0,0),(1765,2572,'freemasonry','freemasonry_kryptonite@yahoo.com.ph','http://www.clementdampal.wordpress.com','203.84.180.174','2010-04-14 09:59:50','2010-04-14 08:59:50','wow! its totally awesome. I\'m loving it. How I wish to ride camels like you did. pretty cool.\n\nYalla! Let\'s go!\n\n^_^',0,'1','','',0,0),(1766,2572,'Moranna','annamorris@terra.es','http://www.keypurserhangers.com','88.9.34.172','2010-04-14 10:03:33','2010-04-14 09:03:33','Great pics and blog!!  Glad you enjoyed you enjoyeds your camel rides.  They can be pretty tricky.  I had a superb time in Morocco cam-riding (a lonf=g time ago!!)  Younsay you didn\'t know they were so fast - if you get the chance to to again, try to get to see some Camel racing!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1767,2572,'bountex925','james.jianzhong@gmail.com','http://bountex925.wordpress.com','123.156.54.25','2010-04-14 10:36:42','2010-04-14 09:36:42','nice pics, want to free from the office and experece it...',0,'1','','',0,0),(1768,2572,'ellysuryani','Ecomering@Gmail.com','http://ellysuryani.wordpress.com','114.120.114.132','2010-04-14 12:35:19','2010-04-14 11:35:19','Great pictures. Great adventures too.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1769,2572,'Jeena','jeenag@gmail.com','http://www.jeeney.wordpress.com','57.92.118.225','2010-04-15 03:53:52','2010-04-15 02:53:52','Great post, great pics, good views. You got to love the camels - if you get used to the smell. :D',0,'1','','',0,0),(1770,2572,'denagus','den@gustri.com','http://www.gustri.com','118.97.8.252','2010-04-15 04:52:32','2010-04-15 03:52:32','Oh My!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1771,2572,'Cam','c.tero@murdoch.edu.au','http://rustybrowndog.wordpress.com','125.168.163.75','2010-04-15 07:31:51','2010-04-15 06:31:51','One of my students had a pet camel, called Jikkuboy, he used to bring to school - I used to teach in a remote community in Western Australia.\n\nSmelly yes, but lots of personality, and as he (the camel) grew he became more unsociable and used to chase us occasionally during sport lessons. The kids who were up trees quickly had lots of laughs at their teacher stumbling trying to escape the rampaging Jikkuboy.\n\nGood on you for having a go - never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1772,2572,'nirmalblogger','nirmalblogger@gmail.com','http://nomadbird.wordpress.com','169.155.33.1','2010-04-15 13:29:23','2010-04-15 12:29:23','5th one &amp; 7th one are looking really good ....\nMorocco is beautiful',0,'1','','',0,0),(1773,2589,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2010-04-14 09:24:47','2010-04-14 08:24:47','Plan a trip to, let\'s say, Plovdiv by car and look for storks at both sides of the road. They are impossible to miss.\nOh, and I thought that by this age you would already know that it is not storks that bring babies :) Good you came to Bulgaria to learn that fact :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1774,2589,'Gingi','loke_sss@yahoo.com','','212.36.24.178','2010-04-14 12:15:45','2010-04-14 11:15:45','Several years ago I decided to wait for a stork to shed my martenitsi... and as I live in Sofia I ended up wearing them until the end of August when I saw one on my way to the sea :) So, if you don\'t travel much, I guess it\'s better to opt for the budding tree ;)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1775,2589,'Lindsay','lindsay.bouton@gmail.com','','213.130.70.154','2010-04-15 06:01:25','2010-04-15 05:01:25','Those are my martenitsi!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1776,2589,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-04-15 06:06:52','2010-04-15 05:06:52','@Lindsay: What!? How do you know that?! They all look the same.',0,'1','','',1775,0),(1777,2589,'JDS','johndstephens@gmail.com','http://www.comefriendlybombs.com','213.130.70.154','2010-04-15 10:22:09','2010-04-15 09:22:09','On our brief trip to Belogradchik we saw four storks, or possibly five if you count one that may have been dead.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1778,2589,'Lindsay','lindsay.bouton@gmail.com','','213.130.70.154','2010-04-20 04:40:38','2010-04-20 03:40:38','Well, the elephants were my first clue. And the big pink bead. And the fact that they are hung in a bunch the same way I hung mine... in front of my house!\n\nI think that I know my martenitsi better than you know yours because I didn\'t take mine off in the first week!',0,'1','','',1776,0),(1779,2600,'Whitney','whit.graves@gmail.com','','155.101.171.145','2010-04-14 19:52:14','2010-04-14 18:52:14','This reminds me a lot of my trip to India, especially the bit about the children beggars. That was really hard for me.\n\nYour pictures are amazing! They definitely make we want to visit Moroccos, STAT!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1780,2600,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','77.85.13.187','2010-04-14 20:10:25','2010-04-14 19:10:25','I am not sure that I could survive this (the food beggars). Maybe this is the reason why I am never tempted by this kind of exotic destinations like Cuba, India...',0,'1','','',0,0),(1781,2600,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-04-14 20:15:36','2010-04-14 19:15:36','@Helen it was hard. It definitely reminds you of your own privilege.',0,'1','','',1780,0),(1782,2600,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','84.238.226.41','2010-04-14 22:13:17','2010-04-14 21:13:17','The atmosphere,my God, the atmosphere!\n\nI can even smell the food from your pictures!You are such a good storyteller,evrything is so vivid in my mind:).And yes,there are food beggars....To close your eyes and pretend that they are not there is impossible,still it\'s part of the experience.....It definitely reminds us of our own privilege.\n\nThanks for shareing!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1783,2600,'Gryphon','gryphonsfall@hotmail.com','http://www.gryphonscry.wordpress.com','71.206.170.144','2010-04-15 07:01:30','2010-04-15 06:01:30','I agree.  Giving away your leftovers to hungry children was the least you could do.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1784,2622,'Gryphon','gryphonsfall@hotmail.com','http://www.gryphonscry.wordpress.com','71.206.170.144','2010-04-15 06:55:40','2010-04-15 05:55:40','Pretty flowers.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1785,2622,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2010-04-15 09:19:27','2010-04-15 08:19:27','Very beautiful indeed. I believe they are something like Poinsettias that we have for Christmas (mine is actually red red right now) but then you say \"vines\" and the poinsettia is something more like a bush. But, yeah, these are coloured leaves and not petals.\nVery beautiful! But I already said that :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1786,2622,'sangeeta','sangeetag1@gmail.com','','61.17.152.155','2010-04-15 12:19:36','2010-04-15 11:19:36','Excellent Picture. Yes, they are bougainvilleas. Perennials that grow as these beautiful sturdy vines on windows, garden cupolas or just other trees, as in our home in Bengal. No fragrance, but vibrant hues in thick bunches, typical to the tropics where the sun shines down all year and the soil drains fast. Great Pic.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1787,2622,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-04-15 13:31:32','2010-04-15 12:31:32','@sangeeta Thank-you so much. I had no idea what the name of this flowering plant was!!',0,'1','','',1786,0),(1788,2618,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','90.154.135.100','2010-04-15 20:21:42','2010-04-15 19:21:42','Carolyn, this blogpost is very well written. Well done!\nThis year the weather is really unbearable even / especially for Bulgarians. People (women) are murmuring under their nose: the summer is never gonna come.\nTake a walk to the Business Park - we have planted trees and flowers here. It\'s green and flowerly and orderly (sort of). You would enjoy it.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1789,2618,'Adopted Grandad','ellija.jack@gmail.com','','68.189.129.8','2010-04-17 04:31:10','2010-04-17 03:31:10','Yesterday in my crossword puzzle the clue for one word was \"Sofia is its capitol.\" Thanks to your blogs I aced that one in brief seconds.\n\nThen the other day at Andy\'s we saw some large jars of pickled tiny tomatoes.  On close examination we learned that they came from Bulgaria.  Suddenly that place has become part of the International community.\n\nBy the way how do pickled tomatoes taste?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1790,2656,'blog . funkt &raquo; Blog Archive &raquo; какво да се прави, хората го харесват','','http://blog.funkt.eu/?p=1094','87.120.40.152','2010-04-19 09:06:52','2010-04-19 08:06:52','[...] Отново за Supa Star и отново хубави неща! Към блога на Каролинка [...]',0,'1','','pingback',0,0),(1791,2656,'Детски дрехи','geooceoo@gmail.com','http://www.kidi.bg','85.91.150.83','2010-04-19 13:49:31','2010-04-19 12:49:31','Страхотно е супарничето, вече редовно зареждаме супички всяка събота и неделя за малките муцунки ;) Много сладко !',0,'1','','',0,0),(1792,2656,'MoM','djemigh@wwcc.edu','','134.39.208.139','2010-04-19 17:32:14','2010-04-19 16:32:14','It looks really fun.  I wash I could come back and visit.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1793,2656,'Bahamama','bahamama@gmail.com','','77.70.118.62','2010-04-20 11:28:27','2010-04-20 10:28:27','Hi,\nIt\'s not my intention to be obnoxious, and you don\'t have to approve this comment if you feel that one of us could end up embarrassed. :) I just wanted to point out a couple of mistakes in your post:\n\n\"what kind of sandwich did you picked out\" - what kind of sandwich did you pick out\n\n\"over looking Shishman\" - overlooking\n\nCheers!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1794,2656,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-04-20 13:23:12','2010-04-20 12:23:12','@Bahamama Thanks for your comment. Who needs grammar? Certainly not me as an English teacher... Just kidding. I could use my own proof-checker... Anyhow thanks for looking out for me!',0,'1','','',1793,0),(1795,2656,'Augusta','info@augusta-books.com','http://www.augusta-books.com','78.128.48.5','2010-05-02 18:02:08','2010-05-02 17:02:08','Very cozy and light interior. Next week I am going to visit it. Btw, why do we talk in English? Хубави снимки.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1796,2656,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-05-02 18:18:58','2010-05-02 17:18:58','@Augusta Thanks for the comment. As for the question, why English? Well, my MoM doesn\'t speak Bulgarian. And the more serious answer? What it boils down to is that my Bulgarian is pretty bad.',0,'1','','',1795,0),(1797,2665,'Whitney','whit.graves@gmail.com','','155.101.171.145','2010-04-19 23:03:14','2010-04-19 22:03:14','Do you mean DIY (Do It Yourself)?\n\n:)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1798,2665,'Adopted Grandad','ellija.jack@gmail.com','','68.189.129.8','2010-04-20 03:40:57','2010-04-20 02:40:57','Culture as dark matter moves you into a world of Quantum Physics, a world where our three dimension perceptions get very blurred, worlds where our concept of time becomes almost irrelevant.\n\nIt seems to me that culture is a function of time and behavioral practices - how do you equate that with dark matter?\n\nBy the way I love how you have broadened my cultural perceptions of Bulgaria.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1799,2665,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-04-20 04:36:19','2010-04-20 03:36:19','@Whitney--oh yes you\'re right and I\'ve corrected the post accordingly. Apparently I should never write a blog post right before bed and make it live immediately. I guess I should also look over the vocabulary quiz I wrote last night before the blog post...',0,'1','','',1797,0),(1800,2665,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2010-04-20 09:38:41','2010-04-20 08:38:41','That\'s exactly how it equates with dark matter and quantum physics - time and all our other misconceptions about the \"real\" world become irrelevant.\n\nI pretty much get the idea behind the article but it is written in a very fancy language :) If it were for me, I would not use these metaphors or construct sentences in this way. Maybe this is because I am not a fan of \"qualified writing\" http://www.copyblogger.com/qualified-and-respectful/',0,'1','','',1798,0),(1801,2620,'Radu','radu.panciuc@favit.com','http://panciuc.ro','212.72.204.44','2010-04-20 09:41:56','2010-04-20 08:41:56','I enjoy biking around Sofia and esp. around Vitosha. I am still waiting for the sunny days to come. It\'s funny that in December I remember biking in the mountains only wearing some shorts and a T-shirt, and now we\'re in April and I am wearing a sweater...',0,'1','','',0,0),(1802,2620,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.195.201.90','2010-04-20 11:47:51','2010-04-20 10:47:51','Borislava gradina :)\n\nThere are better places for picnic!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1803,2620,'Ivet','ivet13@gmail.com','','212.36.24.179','2010-04-20 13:04:24','2010-04-20 12:04:24','If it\'s a sunny spring weekend all I want to do is spend it somewhere out of Sofia.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1804,2620,'Temelkov a.k.a. soregashi','temelkovv@gmail.com','http://soregashi1.blogspot.com','194.145.161.170','2010-04-20 13:27:48','2010-04-20 12:27:48','Yeah, I prefer the hot weekend out of Sofia, too, but there are so much nice places here. My favorite it\'s playing cards with friends at Zaimov Park, biking all around the Borisova Gradina or/and on the way to Boyana. It\'s fun, because on the way to there it\'s only climbing and you are like death at the top, but after this you just go as fast as you can down the way back... it\'s very refreshing to be faster with the bike than a car :D And all time favorite it\'s a after-work beer in some park or the backyard of some friends :D\nBut now it\'s cold and rainy, so I\'ll stay home all day long and will clean around, watch some nice movies, read few (hundred I hope) pages of my book. This is nice and refreshing just like the above things :) At least for me.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1805,2620,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','74.85.71.19','2010-04-20 19:40:49','2010-04-20 18:40:49','It may not be helpful, but sitting out in the sunshine here in Walla Walla where I just happen to be this week is fulfilling my desire for a good spring experience.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1806,2676,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.195.201.90','2010-04-21 12:01:33','2010-04-21 11:01:33','Were you even properly invited to the wedding? If not I don\'t see how it\'s an issue.\n\nWeddings are overrated, if your friends are really your friends, they wouldn\'t care that you didn\'t spend couple of thousand dollars just to fly to their stupid wedding.\n\nYou will be in the US for their divorce in a few years, that will make up the time lost.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1807,2676,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-04-21 13:36:20','2010-04-21 12:36:20','@Andreytcho, I\'ve actually incredibly thoughtful friends and they sent me an actual wedding invitation.  It was a lovely gesture.  In fact of the two different sets of friends I\'ve got who are marrying this year both have taken the time to send me invitations in Bulgaria.',0,'1','','',1806,0),(1808,2676,'Nick','nick@macheesmo.com','http://www.macheesmo.com','24.126.56.218','2010-04-21 13:36:57','2010-04-21 12:36:57','You were definitely missed C.  We owe you a night of eating, drinking, and dancing :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1809,2676,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-04-21 13:42:31','2010-04-21 12:42:31','@Nick Ha. I guess it\'s a good thing I am coming to Washington for a week in August (13th to the 20th) under the auspices of a conference at the Library of Congress. Hopefully you\'ll be around still!',0,'1','','',1808,0),(1810,2676,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.243','2010-04-21 13:53:31','2010-04-21 12:53:31','Wow, andreytcho, you are sooo positive today. :) This is not the right way to think, not to mention write, about people\'s weddings.\nKarolinka, I\'ve been wondering... why are intra-US flights so cheaper compared to transcontinental flights? A return flight from Anchorage to Miami with two changes in a bit more than a month from now costs around $700-$800 from US Airways. You spend more than 14 hours in transit.\nAnd then a flight from Sofia to Miami costs 860€ from Lufthansa and you spend 13 hours in transit. This means that the transcontinental flight is around $300 more expensive which is largely due to the psychological feeling that it\'s a transcontinental flight. Thus passengers are ready to pay more. (Yeah, also Lufthansa is not a cheap airline, so part of the difference could be there, another part of the difference is the longer distance of flight =&gt; more fuel and more occupation time of the machine and crew, but with one airport transfer less there is some saving from airport taxes)\nSo why would flying from Sofia to Miami be something bigger than flying from Anchorage to Miami? Why are you talking about being abroad rather than being far from home? ;) This is my question.\n\nP. S. I know you are not from Miami, I just wanted a city that\'s on the opposite side of Anchorage in America.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1811,2676,'Svetlina','svetlina.vitanova@gmail.com','http://vitanova.wordpress.com/','84.242.191.2','2010-04-21 15:01:51','2010-04-21 14:01:51',':-D As a professional bridesmaid (in BG) I say that a wedding invitation sent to a friend is no gesture, it`s an invitation unlike the wedding invitations sent to relatives. The ones that should be sad are the married couple, not the one going to Paris :-D\nThere`s something completely wrong in this story :-)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1812,2676,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','75.139.187.69','2010-04-21 15:04:04','2010-04-21 14:04:04','Andreytcho, sometimes I wonder if you realize how negative almost everything you say sounds.  There is a cultural tendency for techno-savy guys to be macho negative, but it isn\'t very appealing in the final analysis. Are you really like that? Or is it your web persona?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1813,2676,'Andreytcho','blog@andreytcho.com','http://andreytcho.com','92.247.223.191','2010-04-21 20:19:11','2010-04-21 19:19:11','@Ruth :)\n\nMarriage is a joke so yeah I may sound negative.\nI am a lovely person in real life, though my uncensored opinionated nature may be a bit too much for some.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1814,2676,'Betsy','betsyatk@gmail.com','','141.161.127.75','2010-04-22 15:21:40','2010-04-22 14:21:40','We missed you too Carolyn!  You were there in spirit though (and in several pictures hanging around)!  You were certainly in our thoughts and we\'ll celebrate with you in August.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1815,2676,'MoM','djemigh@wwcc.edu','','134.39.208.139','2010-04-22 16:52:17','2010-04-22 15:52:17','I was going to stay out of this, but apparently I can\'t.\n\nMarriage may be joke to some, but it is one of most wonderful things in my life. The right person and the right commitment to living life together; the only thing that comes close is being a parent.\n\nI will say that it is not possible to explain what it is about to someone who has not experienced it. (And I don\'t mean that in a superior way.)  I have a sister who said to me after her baby was born, \"Why didn\'t you tell me how wonderful it is to be a parent?\"  My response, \"I did, you just couldn\'t hear it.\"',0,'1','','',1813,0),(1816,2682,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.195.201.90','2010-04-22 08:26:17','2010-04-22 07:26:17','The whole problem is that the separation of church and state DOES NOT WORK.\nMost politicians are elected by the religious lobby.\nAnd we all know how stupid and hypocritical religion is.\nGuns are also with same problem, America makes guns and wars, which bring money to the gun lobby, which elects more officials who think that $$$ is protected by the 2nd amendment.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1817,2682,'soregashi','temelkovv@gmail.com','http://soregashi1.blogspot.com','84.54.163.67','2010-04-22 09:14:20','2010-04-22 08:14:20','This is very, very nice post really. I\'ve been shocked by the fear of sex of americans not just once. It\'s very stupid to hide the sexual things from kids, and not violence. Sex it\'s the most natural thing one earth. If there were no sex we would be unable to reproduce ourselves, but the violence? It\'s stupid. It\'s evil, it\'s unnatural (I mean violence, not fighting for a female :) ). But the US gov likes it. I think it\'s because if americans wasn\'t so liberal to violence all those wars that the US it\'s battling these days would be taking more negative opinions than now.\nOr something like this...\n*I hate that I can\'t say anything I wont in english ;(*',0,'1','','',0,0),(1818,2682,'andrew','reason.decrystallized@gmail.com','http://reasondecrystallized.blogspot.com/','85.130.54.134','2010-04-22 09:34:26','2010-04-22 08:34:26','\"remember what the MPAA says: horrific deplorable violence is okay, so long as no one says any naughty words!\"\n--Sheila Broflofski\n\nor shows any naughty bits, i might add.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1819,2682,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2010-04-22 10:49:29','2010-04-22 09:49:29','Actually, the same thing has struck me at some time and I even posted some musings on that in my own blog. I watch a lot of American TV shows. My all time favourite is naturally Sex and the City. But I tend to get repulsed by the all so popular medical TV shows that started with ER. The only exception is Scrubs - I love it! I would like to watch House M.D also but the blood scenes there are still too much.\nAnd now, the biggest shock - we also have this parental guidelines signs for TV shows; ours are based on age. Medical TV shows that are full of scenes of death, pain, shocks, bodily parts, blood etc get a parental pre-screening clearance for age 12. The L-word show which is about lesbians gets a clearance for 16-year-old. Why? I simply don\'t get it. What\'s so scary there? Love between women?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1820,2682,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.242','2010-04-22 13:48:44','2010-04-22 12:48:44','Yes, this is a cultural difference. I follow the website fmylife.com and I\'ve been astonished by the number of people who complain about their \"purity rings\" (not having kept the promise) or that their parents caught them having sex or losing one\'s virginity to someone who had a bet he\'d manage to sleep with the girl.\nSo, first of all, Americans try to protect their children from sex. They want them to remain \"pure\" until they get married (and even after that, if possible).\nSecondly, because the topic is taboo, it turns into something nasty to be discussed with friends groups. \"The walk of shame\" as a term illustrates the idea - it\'s cool to get a chick drunk, do her, then in the morning she feels ashamed and you tell all your friends and you make fun of her. I never understood why I would make fun of a girl who slept with me. I never saw this as degrading - it\'s a matter of honor. And I am left with the impression that in the US this would be a source of ridicule.\nHowever, Europe is not homogeneous from this point of view (and I suppose the US is not, either). Our neighbors, the Romanians, are similar to the Americans from this point of view. The parents of my 21-year-old ex-girlfriend thought she was a virgin and it was a serious issue when she told her mother she was not. On the other hand, they do it like rabbits within their friend-groups and do not break-up until they find a better partner. So, for them it\'s enough to be with the best available option. And this is sooo strange for me as I am always looking for \"the one\" and it\'s totally natural to just break-up as soon as I make sure that there is not too much future in a relationship. :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1821,2682,'MoM','djemigh@wwcc.edu','','134.39.208.139','2010-04-22 16:44:00','2010-04-22 15:44:00','It is interesting to me that this topic has come up.  Very recently, I found myself thinking that sex was becoming a less \"taboo\" subject in American television.\n\nWatch an episode of Grey\'s Anatomy - they \"do it like rabbits.\" (Thanks for the phrase, TAfricanski.)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1822,2682,'mthomp28','mthomp28@gmail.com','','134.114.26.122','2010-04-22 18:34:06','2010-04-22 17:34:06','Good observations, Carolyn. I think my students had the same reactions when I told them they wouldn\'t be able to get into rated R movies in the US. They were shocked.\n\nI agree with a poster from above that American parents really do want to protect their kids from the \"evils\" of sex. Broken relationships, loss of innocence, and pregnancy seem to be the biggest worries. And maybe this is a good thing as preventing all of those seems to open the door to a higher living standard in the future and more opportunities for women.\n\nI think post-communist Bulgaria is more open about sex compared to the US. From chalga to fashion, everything screams sex in BG. I find it interesting that it\'s this way yet birthrates are extremely low. I know condoms are kind of expensive for Bulgarians and I didn\'t know of many women on birth control. Makes you wonder.\n\nBut I also agree with your mom. People grinding and having sex on American TV is hardly uncommon. From Grey\'s to the new 90210 to Gossip Girl, someone usually \"does it\" every episode. (I know these shows because of my sister-in-law, who watches all the time. haha)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1823,2682,'Dave','beachroad@yahoo.com','','208.58.253.73','2010-04-22 22:40:18','2010-04-22 21:40:18','This may explain the reason why over half the births in BG are out of wedlock.\n\nJust a thought...',0,'1','','',0,0),(1824,2682,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2010-04-23 09:19:30','2010-04-23 08:19:30','Oh, come on, you truly believe that it is safer for kids to watch violence scenes than listen to suggestive dialogue and watch love/sex scenes?\nYou may have a strong family bond even out of wedlock. The mere institution and the wedding rituals do not make the commitment stronger if it is lacking in the first place.\nYes, Bulgarian does not mean European. And yes generally in Europe people are far more relaxed when discussing sexuality.\nYes, chalga is ugly, yes \"silicone vips\" are ugly but they simply follow international trends and they are louder than the other people and that\'s why they get more attention. I believe that it is equally ugly to wear a \"purity ring\".  After all this is something very personal and intimate - you don\'t wear it for public display. Sorry, but among other things that reminds me also of the Orwell\'s 1984.\nAnd finally from an ethical perspective protecting kids from the \"evils of sex\" but not protecting them from watching violent acts is hypocritical. And it has nothing to do with religion. I never heard of a monotheistic religion that is pro-violent. Quite on the contrary.',0,'1','','',1823,0),(1825,2682,'mthomp28','mthomp28@gmail.com','','134.114.26.122','2010-04-23 17:17:05','2010-04-23 16:17:05','I\'m pretty sure most parents don\'t try to protect their kids from sex, but from distorted, unhealthy views of sex. And I\'m pretty sure those same parents are trying to protect their kids from viewing violence as well. They go hand in hand, but you make good points, Helen.\n\nBut no one is going to argue that the messages of the text and music videos of chalga are helping Bulgarian society, right?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1826,2682,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','90.154.135.100','2010-04-23 19:31:09','2010-04-23 18:31:09','Unfortunately, I don\'t have any super powers to stop chalga. My powers are limited only to expressing my views in front of my friends, on my blog and in the comments section on other people\'s blogs. Also, I can skip the chalga channels, not go to chalga clubs and leave the room when people are listening to it.',0,'1','','',1825,0),(1827,2692,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.40','2010-04-23 09:39:20','2010-04-23 08:39:20','Looks delicious. Where is this Asian food shop?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1828,2692,'charlottec','charlotte.emigh@gmail.com','','24.21.222.217','2010-04-24 07:26:15','2010-04-24 06:26:15','I LOVE Pad Thai. And even though I have the ability walk half a mile and be at a Thai restaurant, I may try this recipe at home. Its so tasty, but you are right, it is sort of the easiest and the most accessible of Thai food.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1829,2692,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-04-24 07:38:40','2010-04-24 06:38:40','@Комитата the shop is sort of a catch all Chinese-Asian shop. It has food, make up, dishes, house hold goods and a little bit of everything in between. I\'ve always taken the pedestrian street Pirotska from Maria Luisa. You walk down Pirtoska about three blocks and then turn right on, I think, Tsar Samuil. And maybe two store fronts from the corner is the shop. You can\'t miss it. I think it has something very Chinese in front of it--red flags and yellow lions or maybe a dragon on the sign.',0,'1','','',1827,0),(1830,2697,'Gryphon','gryphonsfall@hotmail.com','http://www.gryphonscry.wordpress.com','216.197.64.99','2010-04-26 13:56:07','2010-04-26 12:56:07','Having been educated at the master\'s level in education and practicing the trade since then I can attest to the truthfulness of the assertion that it is neither glamorous nor is it particularly exciting.  It has its moments but taken as a whole . . .\n\nBut, you know, I think I pretty much knew that before I signed up for the degree.  \"Glamorous and exciting\" weren\'t on the brochure.  \"Underpaid and overworked\" were.\n\nIt is rewarding on SOOO many other levels though, no?  Like that special moment when you see the light go on in a student\'s eyes indicating that they really get what you are saying?  It is moments like those that make the long hours and short pay completely inconsequential.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1831,2701,'Ivet','ivet13@gmail.com','','79.124.58.46','2010-04-26 20:25:56','2010-04-26 19:25:56','Carolyn, you can make cheesecake with Bulgarian cream cheese instead - it\'s called СИРЕНЕ КРЕМА and the pack looks like butter. You can find it in every grocery store, even the small ones and it\'s usually on the same shelf where butter is. The package is silver in colour, just look for the sign \"сирене крема\" written on it. I always make cheesecake with it, it\'s cheaper than philadelphia cheese and it works perfect for this kind of cakes. Good luck!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1832,2701,'Anonimnikoff','noone@mailniator.com','','207.38.197.229','2010-04-27 19:45:17','2010-04-27 18:45:17','You know, you will feel a lot less frustrated if you simply assume that Bulgaria is a third-world country (which it is, imo). If you have that assumption as a starting point, then the garbage, the stray dogs and so on will be much less surprising or annoying.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1833,2701,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.245','2010-04-30 16:02:17','2010-04-30 15:02:17','Anonimnikoff, having your complexes is ok. But \"advising\" other people to accept them is, hm, pathetic?\nGo ahead, enjoy your empty life, explain your dissatisfaction with Bulgaria being a 3rd world country. If you want to prove it, die of hunger, of thirst or of the flu.',0,'1','','',1832,0),(1834,2705,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2010-04-28 08:52:08','2010-04-28 07:52:08','\"One of the questionable food and wine tours has my favorite bad Bulgarian of the day… when “in 1936 Bulgaria got down under Turkish slavery.”  I can only assume that Bulgaria was in fact not dancing or enjoying the “Turkish slavery” a lot but I digress.\"\n\nWhat\'s it with this sentence and what\'s it with that date? Bulgarians are touchy - feely for one some-five-hundred-years period of their history that started just on the verge of Rennaissance in Europe. How is the \"Under the Yoke\" project going on?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1835,2705,'Doriana','doriana@gbg.bg','','95.43.129.234','2010-04-28 10:10:25','2010-04-28 09:10:25','CASAVINO hold wine tastings quite often. You can subscribe to their newsletter to get notified of upcoming events. They have several shops around the city and the newest one is in Mladost :)))',0,'1','','',0,0),(1836,2705,'Svetlina','svetlina.vitanova@gmail.com','http://vitanova.wordpress.com/','84.242.191.2','2010-04-28 10:37:05','2010-04-28 09:37:05','Since grapes don`t grow in the city, I`d recommend you to use the spring summer and finally start the \"Karolinka In &amp; Around Bulgaria\" project by going out of the capital.\nYou should definitely visit this cave which is not only a great sightseeing place but also a great winery - http://www.magurawinery.bg/',0,'1','','',0,0),(1837,2705,'Svetlina','svetlina.vitanova@gmail.com','http://vitanova.wordpress.com/','84.242.191.2','2010-04-28 10:38:04','2010-04-28 09:38:04','Sorry :) I really meant to say \"spring and summer\" :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1838,2705,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','74.241.1.53','2010-04-28 14:54:31','2010-04-28 13:54:31','Your remark, \"But wine is also a status thing–something to be discovered, discussed and shown off. The more exotic the better.\" makes me think of Walla Walla wineries from which I just returned.  I\'m trying to imagine Walla Walla wine in a Bulgarian store.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1839,2705,'N.','nico@mail.bg','','92.247.8.174','2010-04-28 17:49:38','2010-04-28 16:49:38','Here\'s a wine I would recommend http://tinyurl.com/2c7pwuk I also like CASA VINO wineries http://www.casavino.bg/?lang=en they have nice shops and a nice website in English too. A couple of years ago I really enjoyed the wines of Zagreus winery (available in shops like Hit &amp; Billa in Mladost), but I wouldn\'t recommend their cheap wines. They have an exceptional cuvee (shiraz+cabernet) though.\n\nCheers!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1840,2705,'N.','nico@mail.bg','','92.247.8.174','2010-04-28 17:55:17','2010-04-28 16:55:17','.... sorry for the double post... if you insist on the Bulgarian varieties, here is a page about them http://www.bulgarianwines.org/pages.php?name=vins_1&amp;ParentName=vins&amp;lng=en',0,'1','','',0,0),(1841,2705,'Robyn','robyndyanrusso@gmail.com','','164.106.138.226','2010-04-29 17:10:39','2010-04-29 16:10:39','Looooooooove the references to Hungarian wines.\n\nCan we please wine-taste when I am back in Bulgaria?\n\n:-)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1842,2710,'i','ivanmanolov@yahoo.com','','69.181.18.55','2010-04-29 08:08:26','2010-04-29 07:08:26','oh no, fluent is when your american friends speak bulgarian to you in your dreams. then you wake up not having a clue about what your default language is:)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1843,2710,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-04-29 08:22:06','2010-04-29 07:22:06','@ i. Yeah, well given the current dream and my language level this is going to be a long time coming. I do like the idea of some of my very American friends speaking Bulgarian though!!',0,'1','','',1842,0),(1844,2710,'Gryphon','gryphonsfall@hotmail.com','http://www.gryphonscry.wordpress.com','216.30.189.214','2010-04-30 14:07:40','2010-04-30 13:07:40','I started dreaming in German during my second semester in Intermediate German an die Uni!  :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1845,2710,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.245','2010-04-30 15:33:57','2010-04-30 14:33:57','An dER Uni, Alter. Das sollte im Dativ sein. ;)\nI think that my dreams are currently in the 3 languages I can use (close to) fluently but I usually don\'t realize this. I dream the meaning - not the words.\nAnd when we talk, rarely do I account for the language we are using since we sometimes switch in the middle of the sentence when a non-Bulgarian comes or leaves. I recently had to explain in court (long story) in what language I had conducted a conversation a year ago and the judge had problems with grasping the idea that I really don\'t know. I was just preparing to make a sentence starting in English, continuing in German and ending in Bulgarian as a demonstration but she accepted the explanation that there are 90+ nationalities at my universities.\nAnyways, I started \"thinking\" in English in 2nd grade. I had been learning the language for a bit more than a year and I don\'t think that I knew a lot more than 100 words, such as \"a kite\" and \"a ball\". But when you start learning a new language, your brain finds it entertaining to just play with this language and exercise it as soon as a certain point of understanding has been reached. :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1846,2710,'Gryphon','gryphonsfall@hotmail.com','http://www.gryphonscry.wordpress.com','216.30.189.214','2010-04-30 19:20:31','2010-04-30 18:20:31','es tut mir leid.  :O',0,'1','','',0,0),(1847,2710,'Vergil','vergilg@hotmail.com','','99.241.2.231','2010-05-02 01:53:02','2010-05-02 00:53:02','Karolinka,\n\nIt must be very tough talking to the locals, especially at the market, since they speak with a heavy slang or really quickly someitmes.  But like with any new language there comes a point where your brain starts decyphering what the ears hear and you become fluent! :))  The key is to keep at it!\nGood luck!\n\nAvid reader,\nVergil',0,'1','','',0,0),(1848,2716,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.247','2010-04-30 15:23:00','2010-04-30 14:23:00','Well, some people just cannot hear lyrics of songs. I myself cannot hear what people sing even in Bulgarian, so subtitles could be quite helpful for me. :)\nFurthermore, if your English is not too good, Ken Lee is what comes from misheard lyrics :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1849,2722,'Gryphon','gryphonsfall@hotmail.com','http://www.gryphonscry.wordpress.com','216.197.64.99','2010-05-01 15:41:33','2010-05-01 14:41:33','gesundheit!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1850,2727,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','75.139.187.69','2010-05-02 18:29:53','2010-05-02 17:29:53','Oh, I enjoyed those folks a lot.  I wish them the best. I remember it as friendly baristas, great coffee, and a wonderful people watching corner.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1851,2727,'Ahmnodt Heare','ahmnodtheare@politician.com','http://ahmnodtheare.wordpress.com','68.192.21.90','2010-05-03 04:11:53','2010-05-03 03:11:53','It\'s sad when a place like that closes.  it\'s like a part of your life closes with it.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1852,2727,'Danielle','daniellemm85@gmail.com','','173.66.206.27','2010-05-03 23:59:33','2010-05-03 22:59:33','Hi, I just came across your blog when searching for info about Bulgaria. A good friend of mine is leaving this weekend for Bulgaria with the Peace Corps. I will definitely have to share your blog with her!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1853,2727,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-05-04 04:28:36','2010-05-04 03:28:36','@Danielle, Sounds great! Hope that you and your friend found the blog helpful/funny/informative. Good luck to her!!',0,'1','','',1852,0),(1854,2731,'charlotte','charlotte.emigh@gmail.com','','24.21.222.217','2010-05-03 06:38:56','2010-05-03 05:38:56','While I appreciate your dilemma, I can\'t help but thinking of crimping as something fun we did to our hair when we were little. Or if you want to dress up like Madonna circa the 80\'s. So it is a little hard to take crimping as a new trend seriously. Although I believe you! Maybe you just have to think about which one will you be able to use more over the next year?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1855,2731,'Svetlana','svdoneva@gmail.com','','196.25.0.114','2010-05-03 07:50:19','2010-05-03 06:50:19','Hi Carolyn,\n\nI love your blog! I am Bulgarian but I live in South Africa. One word of advice - dont start crimping your hair! Bulgarian people have a style of dressing and grooming that is well....East European, I guess...Once you are in the country, it kind of seduces you and you also want to look like that. As soon as you are in a different country, you look a bit weird and not as cool as you did stomping down those mean streets of Sofia (I am from Varna BTW).\n\nTrust me, I have many unworn clothes in my cupboard from my annual visits to BG that seemed like a great idea at the time.\n\nDon\'t ask me why but this is a phenomenon I have noticed. There is no explanation for it.\n\nAs for the food processor, why not just buy a hand held blender? Its less of an investment...\n\nCarry on writing. Your blog is wonderfull.\n\nS xxxx',0,'1','','',0,0),(1856,2731,'Lindsay','lindsay.bouton@gmail.com','','213.130.70.154','2010-05-03 12:08:11','2010-05-03 11:08:11','SERIOUSLY, Carolyn?? I need to second Svetlana\'s advice... especially because you and I are sometimes seen together in public. NO CRIMPING! Yikes.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1857,2731,'ilian','imar@abv.bg','','87.118.150.53','2010-05-03 13:20:54','2010-05-03 12:20:54','Crimping brings certain chalga feel and food processors require a lot of cleaning, so you can skip both...',0,'1','','',0,0),(1858,2731,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','134.39.208.139','2010-05-03 16:33:49','2010-05-03 15:33:49','I vote for the knife and cutting board (as long as you are careful about your fingers!)\nThe crimping iron - ugh!\nRemember though, I will love you whatever you decide.\nMoM',0,'1','','',0,0),(1859,2731,'robyn','robyndyanrusso@gmail.com','','164.106.138.226','2010-05-03 17:16:33','2010-05-03 16:16:33','If you buy the crimping iron, you know you have to crimp and hairspray my hair when I come back to Sofia!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1860,2731,'i','ivanmanolov@yahoo.com','','64.9.240.136','2010-05-03 19:04:43','2010-05-03 18:04:43','im going to have to agree with ilian here. crimping definitely swings you in a chalga direction.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1861,2731,'hanna','wyckdgrl@yahoo.com','','174.16.64.23','2010-05-03 19:07:28','2010-05-03 18:07:28','I was also going to suggest a hand/wand blender, but Svetlana beat me to it.  I have one and use it for any task that I can, especially since it lets me avoid pulling out the food processor.  If you get a Cuisinart hand blender you can even get one with a mini food processor attachment that works quite well.  And as someone who is not (yet) in Bulgaria, I thought you were kidding about the crimping iron.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1862,2731,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-05-03 20:19:07','2010-05-03 19:19:07','@robyn but I guess when you come to visit you could also use my food processor. It\'s just not as exciting as a crimping iron.',0,'1','','',1859,0),(1863,2731,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-05-03 20:20:23','2010-05-03 19:20:23','@ilian you\'ve got an excellent point chalga and crimping do fit together pretty nicely.',0,'1','','',1857,0),(1864,2731,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-05-03 20:21:42','2010-05-03 19:21:42','Thanks! This is exactly what I needed confirmed--the intersection of the crimping iron and chalga.',0,'1','','',1860,0),(1865,2731,'amanda','amandajmcgrath@gmail.com','','216.164.44.4','2010-05-04 00:08:23','2010-05-03 23:08:23','I was really excited about the food processor I got for xmas but I find I don\'t use it nearly as much as I thought I would, so it just takes up space in our teeny tiny kitchen. It\'s also annoying to clean. On the other hand, my hair crimper has provided an instant costume for 80s parties/Legwarmers concerts I\'ve been to, and I\'ve loaned it to friends more often than you\'d think. Even if it never gets used, it\'s an excellent conversation piece. So assuming they have 80s parties in Bulgaria, I vote crimping iron.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1866,2731,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-05-04 04:27:23','2010-05-04 03:27:23','@amanda this makes the decision that much harder.  I guess I\'ve got some more thinking to do. And maybe I\'d better photoshop myself with crimped hair to see how it will look...',0,'1','','',1865,0),(1867,2734,'Svetlina','svetlina.vitanova@gmail.com','http://vitanova.wordpress.com/','84.242.191.2','2010-05-04 11:29:46','2010-05-04 10:29:46','Weird. Bulgarian strawberries grow in the summer and cant` colour. Here`s how they look in June: http://www.wayn.com/waynphotos.html?wci=photo&amp;photo_key=19638561&amp;member=6495495',0,'1','','',0,0),(1868,2734,'gl0be','shaman.tribe@gmail.com','','84.242.191.2','2010-05-04 12:46:58','2010-05-04 11:46:58','The ones she got are grown in greenhouses, are around almost all year, are a GEO and are full of growth hormone :)\n\nNevertheless, they do taste surprisingly good...',0,'1','','',0,0),(1869,2734,'ilian','imar@abv.bg','','87.118.150.53','2010-05-04 13:51:45','2010-05-04 12:51:45','But those in the pictures are forest fruits...',0,'1','','',1867,0),(1870,2734,'eva','evapopov@hotmail.com','http://epowen.blogspot.com','24.248.97.150','2010-05-05 17:21:48','2010-05-05 16:21:48','Yum! Your pictures are making me hungry.\nI bought the sweetest, red all the way to the middle strawberries @ Farmers\' Market this Sunday. I had forgotten how good good strawberries really are!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1871,2734,'Holly Day','withoutyou_66@yahoo.fr','http://www.squidoo.com/growing-strawberry-plants-in-pots','87.64.122.182','2010-05-05 23:13:20','2010-05-05 22:13:20','OMG! Now I\'m hungry for strawberries and wouldn\'t be patient enough to wait till those in my garden blossom ;)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1872,2746,'windtank','windtank@abv.bg','','78.90.116.112','2010-05-06 09:40:43','2010-05-06 08:40:43','I am not really sure what exactly a litmus test is but as I was reading the questions (which were pretty funny :)) I noticed that almost all of them are somehow related to the bad things about Bulgaria. Maybe that\'s the point of the litmus test, I don\'t know.\nBut even though I can add many more bad things about my country there are certainly a lot of good things as well. If I was the guy who was hesitating about coming to Bulgaria, I\'d probably abandon the idea of doing it after reading these questions.\nBut then I guess it\'s because I\'ve lived in this country for more than 20 years and I\'m used to all these bad things and know that they\'re not actually so bad.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1873,2746,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-05-06 09:50:21','2010-05-06 08:50:21','@windtank well a litmus test is used to test materials for acidity.  So the list is tongue in cheek playing with the idea of acid as something that is sour, biting or sarcastic.  I also hope that list gets one thinking about the importance of attitude, outlook and perspective. I happen to like/love/get a huge kick out most of the things on the above list.  They are a fundamental part of life in my Bulgaria but if you can\'t see yourself embracing these things in Bulgaria, I have a hunch you\'ll spend a huge amount of time being frustrated rather than enjoying the country.',0,'1','','',1872,0),(1874,2746,'Irina','ira.ruseva@gmail.com','http://iruseva.blogspot.com/','164.143.240.34','2010-05-06 09:58:23','2010-05-06 08:58:23','Having lived away from Bulgaria for the past 9 years, 5 of those in Moscow, travelled to almost all the Eastern European countries and a few in Central Asia, now living in the UK, I can say that those questions would fit with small adjustments under the general title: Are you fit to live outside of the Western world?  :)))',0,'1','','',0,0),(1875,2746,'ilian','imar@abv.bg','','85.130.40.186','2010-05-06 11:08:54','2010-05-06 10:08:54','\"Bulgaria is part of the European Union but you can’t mistake this for being European\"\n\nI\'ve noticed people often define something as European or not European, but the criteria they use are not always clear to me.\nAs there are so many different cultures and countries in Europe - what is genuinely European?\n\nSo an outside (American girl\'s) point of view could bring some clarity.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1876,2746,'Svetlina','svetlina.vitanova@gmail.com','http://vitanova.wordpress.com/','89.215.203.192','2010-05-06 13:10:41','2010-05-06 12:10:41','Hey :)\n\nPlease move your test to http://quizfarm.com/ so many people will take the quiz and we can get some stats + fun :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1877,2746,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','92.247.223.191','2010-05-06 23:32:16','2010-05-06 22:32:16','Only one question is needed: Are you a black guy ?\n\nI have yet to see a miserable black guy in Bulgaria.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1878,2746,'Linka','morobba@abv.bg','http://linkasblog.blogspot.com','84.238.196.117','2010-05-08 16:43:37','2010-05-08 15:43:37','Good stuff! And great humour :-) Keep up the good blogging and the positive attitude! Hope you have a fun time in Bulgaria!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1879,2746,'Katie','hearoyekings@gmail.com','','154.5.141.54','2010-05-09 11:36:06','2010-05-09 10:36:06','Ha! Well, as a Fulbrighter heading to Bulgaria, I appreciate your post! I\'ve been before so many of these things sound familiar. The others I look forward to experiencing. I think...',0,'1','','',0,0),(1880,2746,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.199','2010-05-11 07:39:50','2010-05-11 06:39:50','Stray dogs and mud, anyone?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1881,2754,'deia','deia@mail.bg','','92.247.13.10','2010-05-07 19:53:04','2010-05-07 18:53:04','The cookies seem great :) I might give them a shot...though I need to decrease the total quantity of sweet things I\'ve been consuming lately:))))\n\nWhy are you in Sofia?\n\nP.S. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1882,2754,'Emi','skinchickSS@yahoo.com','','84.40.94.92','2010-05-13 13:09:58','2010-05-13 12:09:58','I actually had a craving for chocolate chip cookies last month so I decided to make some... my baba ate them all *cry*',0,'1','','',0,0),(1883,2760,'Monomon','monstara@gmail.com','','83.86.137.254','2010-05-09 13:31:44','2010-05-09 12:31:44','Hopefully they won\'t make him wait for his papers at <a href=\"http://bulgaria.indymedia.org/article/36528\" rel=\"nofollow\">Busmanci</a>',0,'1','','',0,0),(1884,2766,'Ivet','ivet13@gmail.com','','79.124.58.46','2010-05-09 10:50:15','2010-05-09 09:50:15','A suggestion how to say Pad Thai in Bulgarian and be understood - Тайландска (оризова) паста ;)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1885,2766,'Vergil','vergilg@hotmail.com','','199.243.173.106','2010-05-09 15:08:58','2010-05-09 14:08:58','Karolinka,\n\nI saw your earlier posts about M.Bittman\'s NYT cook-blog and I checked it out.  I made the Pad Thai recipe for work this past week, too!!  It turned out great - num-num-num.\n\nThank you for your blog!!\n\n-Vergil\n\nP.S. A question about kids from a Bulgarian woman can come up at any time, in almost any context - weird but fact.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1886,2766,'sgazzetti','sgazzetti@gmail.com','http://www.comefriendlybombs.com','213.130.70.154','2010-05-09 16:12:35','2010-05-09 15:12:35','Wow, your Pad Thai sounds great! We have a similar south-asian noodle dish that we make on a regular basis, which uses most of the same ingredients, though the exact makeup varies from week to week.\n\nAfter forcing a brave friend to hand-carry a large amount of fish sauce in her luggage to us in Slovenia a while back, we were very happy to find on moving here that it\'s available at Hit. Same for rice wine vinegar.\n\nAlso, the fresh mint they always have at Hit may not be a canonical Pad Thai ingredient, but it complements cilantro really well in a Thai noodle feast.\n\nWell done!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1887,2766,'charlotte','charlotte.emigh@gmail.com','','24.21.222.217','2010-05-09 19:15:02','2010-05-09 18:15:02','Umm I made this last night too. Mine turned out amazing. And I had trouble finding all the ingredients too even here in the US.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1888,2766,'kathaireinv','jessyp7889@gmail.com','http://','74.88.190.72','2010-05-13 14:07:09','2010-05-13 13:07:09','Oh man, thank you so much for this post. I had great Pad Thai in the city last week, and would totally love to try making some on my own! :)\nNYT has some grrreat recipes. :]',0,'1','','',0,0),(1889,2766,'Pat','pptk1@hotmail.com','','79.100.15.99','2010-06-01 15:31:44','2010-06-01 14:31:44','Hello Karolinka,\n\nDo you know you can used Glass noodles to make PAD-THAI? it\'s very good ;-) i came to your blog because i\'m looking for asian shop in Bulgaria and found you on google ..we are visiting papa for my little boys for 3 weeks in Sofia I\'m original Thailand but live in Germany ;-)  i\'ll check the asian shop in city soon before i go back to germany i always make Pad-thai but with Glass noodles ..my friend said if i eat glass noodle most of the time i will get slim..hahaha that\'s why i\'m glass noodle addicted\n\nhave a nice day\nPattira',0,'1','','',0,0),(1890,2744,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.243','2010-05-10 05:29:37','2010-05-10 04:29:37','I\'ve been thinking recently... Why should wearing a seatbelt be necessarily safer? Maybe statistically it\'s safer but I really don\'t want to burn in a car because the damn thing doesn\'t want to un-click. Or if I have to choose between flying out of the car and forcing my organs to decelerate from 120 to 0 within 10-20 cm I\'d totally pick flying out of the car. Not to mention all those crazy situations where you may get the idea to just jump out of a car before it falls in an abyss...\nWhat are the odds? Small. Statistically, for the whole population, it is better to use seatbelts. But I cannot perceive myself as part of the statistics.\nOn the other hand, I really feel uncomfortable in a car without having my seatbelt on. I hate taxis in Bulgaria because of this.\nI read somewhere an article that was claiming that safety features of cars actually produce a moral hazard - you know you are less likely to die so you drive less safely. The author was proposing that by removing all safety features from cars the death rate on roads would fall considerably. And I was thinking how Bulgaria is a perfect example that he is WRONG. :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1891,2744,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.243','2010-05-10 05:32:13','2010-05-10 04:32:13','Oh, yes, a decision I made today while discussing with a friend. My car will be equipped with knives in the sleeves of the doors so that one can cut the seatbelt in case of need.',0,'1','','',1890,0),(1892,2744,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','75.139.187.69','2010-05-10 15:14:06','2010-05-10 14:14:06','Carolyn,\nWhen you could barely talk I put you \"in charge\" of seat belts. You were responsible to remind your dAd and me that we needed to buckle up. It made my job of buckling you in a cinch. (Please forgive the pun.)\nI\'m sorry if that thoughtless decision has led you into an adult obsession although it is hardly \"new\".  Worthy though your thoughts are, there is almost nothing we can do about the choices other folks make.\n\nI\'ve seen some pretty awful bruises from seat belts. I\'ve also worked with a student who had brain damage from being thrown from a car. I\'d choose the bruises anytime.\n\nLove,\nMoM',0,'1','','',0,0),(1893,2744,'Emi','skinchickSS@yahoo.com','','84.40.94.92','2010-05-13 13:05:13','2010-05-13 12:05:13','Hey Carolyn it\'s been a while since I\'ve seen you but I just wanted to let you know that there are actually new rules regarding seat belts now that require everyone in the car to be buckled up. The fines for getting caught without a seatbelt are pretty severe and range from a few hundred leva to revoking your license hehe. I hope everything with you is going good and I hope I get to see you soon. I\'ve been super busy with school :(',0,'1','','',0,0),(1894,2788,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','74.241.1.53','2010-05-12 14:06:21','2010-05-12 13:06:21','Ah Carolyn, working on Saturday AND holidays is the reason I moved on from newspaper work.  It is also the time frame I see my husband working in academia: morning, noon, night, holidays and weekends.  Law, business owner, medicine, teaching – they all seem to require a week far greater than a 40 hour week.  I\'m not sure how one avoids this unless you take a 40-hour-a-week job and abide by the limits. The Saturday work to make up for a holiday is hard to swallow, but in our culture we do it all the time and do not always recognize that we do it.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1895,2788,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','134.39.208.139','2010-05-12 22:39:01','2010-05-12 21:39:01','I just read an article ( http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/188497.php ) that attributes caffeine consumption to fewer errors made by workers on night shift.\n\nPerhaps the research could be expanded to include teachers who have to teach on Saturday.\n\nI just recommend lots of coffee and a big smile.  The students won\'t want to be there either.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1896,2788,'Andrey','nero2@abv.bg','http://wahregedanken.blogspot.com','77.70.61.85','2010-05-12 22:50:44','2010-05-12 21:50:44','Hm..As far as I can remember, no one takes working on Saturdays seriously',0,'1','','',0,0),(1897,2788,'TAfricanski','teodor_slavchev@mail.bg','','212.201.44.247','2010-05-13 13:34:05','2010-05-13 12:34:05','Yes, students are expected to be quite uncooperative if you want to seriously work on Saturday. Consider taking the whole class to a cafe. :P',0,'1','','',0,0),(1898,2795,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.195.201.91','2010-05-13 11:58:13','2010-05-13 10:58:13','You can ask not to change the music or that never crossed your mind?\n\nI doubt you know even one chalga song.\n\n\"Напипай го,в ръцете твои нека то да си играе.\"',0,'1','','',0,0),(1899,2795,'kathaireinv','jessyp7889@gmail.com','http://','74.88.190.72','2010-05-13 13:59:14','2010-05-13 12:59:14','I assume you\'re talking about the traditional folk music Chalga, and not the pop music Chalga, but hmm I wonder why that is. I wish the taxi drivers here in NY would play Chalga... I\'d take extra long trips, haha. :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1900,2795,'martin','m.p.petrov@gmail.com','','78.90.10.162','2010-05-13 20:53:07','2010-05-13 19:53:07','The assumption is that chalga (oriental music) is preferred by people of lower class. Modern people don\'t like chalga, if you know what I mean.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1901,2795,'i','ivanmanolov@yahoo.com','','69.181.18.55','2010-05-13 21:04:13','2010-05-13 20:04:13','yep, that is definitely the assumption because, what foreigner in their right mind would want to listen to chalga? imo, this \"music\" should be banned from playing in public',0,'1','','',0,0),(1902,2795,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','82.137.113.224','2010-05-14 17:01:46','2010-05-14 16:01:46','Frankly, I have noticed quite the opposite. It is very rare that the taxi driver would listen to chalga. Usually it is radio Edno which is a hard-rock radio. For which I am thankful  - I have a lot of \"miles\" using taxis ....',0,'1','','',0,0),(1903,2795,'Търновец','donbass1@yahoo.com','http://turnovec.blogspot.com','93.152.176.57','2010-05-17 11:05:45','2010-05-17 10:05:45','There was and old t-shirt of Pearl Jam with the sign <i>\"Nine out of 10 kids prefer crayons to guns\" </i> ... so i guess it could be intrpreted in this case as <i>\"Nine out of 10 inteligent young people/foreigners prefer rock/pop/radio 1 to chalga/radio veselina etc. \" </i> :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1904,2795,'Henrik Hargitai','hhargitai@gmail.com','','95.42.145.237','2010-06-15 22:34:20','2010-06-15 21:34:20','I just listen to my radio and found that in deep countryside Serbia there are some turbofolk stations but in Bulgaria I dont find a dedicated chalga station. Do you know of any? There is a TV station with a blue globe-like logo which plays it, but no radio.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1905,2798,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','82.137.113.224','2010-05-14 17:17:38','2010-05-14 16:17:38','AC/DC is Bulgaria is not such a big deal. We have seen better :) ... and would very soon ....',0,'1','','',0,0),(1906,2798,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-05-14 21:55:49','2010-05-14 20:55:49','@helen Hum. Who are you looking forward to? Rammstein and Metallica perhaps?',0,'1','','',1905,0),(1907,2798,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','82.137.113.224','2010-05-15 07:53:01','2010-05-15 06:53:01','Yeah, good guess. :)\nDid you enjoy the concert? I read in the news that it broke all records for attendance. I guess it is just a matter of personal likings also... and maybe age - people in their forties mainly.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1908,2798,'Jenny','Jnikol11@yahoo.com','','76.184.44.218','2010-05-15 16:12:39','2010-05-15 15:12:39','I saw them in Dallas a few years ago. They tend to put out a great show! Enjoy:)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1909,2808,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','75.145.42.157','2010-05-17 14:40:14','2010-05-17 13:40:14','Happy Birthday (from West Virginia) on the day before your real birthday!!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1910,2808,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','134.39.208.139','2010-05-17 15:40:18','2010-05-17 14:40:18','Let\'s hope the volcano is done messing up travel.  I do want to remind you that it may be a curse.  You were born on the first anniversary of the 1990 eruption of Mount St Helens.\n\nI\'ll have my fingers crossed for you about your trip to Paris.\nLove,\nMoM',0,'1','','',0,0),(1911,2808,'A','blahblah@gmail.com','','63.139.37.2','2010-05-18 21:49:04','2010-05-18 20:49:04','Hehe, funny how I landed on your blog on your very birthday. Well, happy B-day!!!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1912,2821,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-05-18 08:29:24','2010-05-18 07:29:24','Happy Birth Day!\n\nI sincerely hope that you will have one amazing birthday filled with love and joy..You are an excellent blogger and I am a huge fan of yours:)I\'ll also keep my fingers crossed for the upcoming weekend in Paris!\nBe healthy and happy!\n\n\nYours:Eli',0,'1','','',0,0),(1913,2821,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2010-05-18 09:00:10','2010-05-18 08:00:10','Actually, I don\'t need an excuse to have some chocolate and quite by coincidence I did have some this morning. Coffee and chocolate, this is the perfect breakfast easpecially when it is such a gloomy, cold and rainy day like today.\n\nHappy Birthday, Carolyn! And lots of warm wishes!\n\nDo not worry about the weather. In Bulgaria we spill water in front of somebody who is taking some major steps in their life - heading for an exam, new job, etc. That\'s for good luck - to make your first steps in the spilled water. And now with all this raining you are off for a great start :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1914,2821,'Лита','gergana.j.kostadinova@gmail.com','http://terraincoglita.wordpress.com/','88.80.103.198','2010-05-18 10:30:12','2010-05-18 09:30:12','Happy Birthday :) Let\'s all your dreams come true :)\n\n(hint: you should post a picture of chocolates ;))',0,'1','','',0,0),(1915,2821,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.29','2010-05-18 11:25:21','2010-05-18 10:25:21','Happy, happy birthday!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1916,2821,'ilian','imar@abv.bg','','85.130.40.186','2010-05-18 17:33:09','2010-05-18 16:33:09','Happy birthday!\nI wish you another year full of adventures',0,'1','','',0,0),(1917,2821,'i','ivanmanolov@yahoo.com','','69.181.18.55','2010-05-18 17:51:45','2010-05-18 16:51:45','happy birthday, carolyn! what a gloomy day in san francisco as well. had some chocolate and coffee for breakfast as you suggested and they have already brightened the day. in fact, im more wired than i needed to be :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1918,2821,'Jenny','Jnikol11@yahoo.com','','166.205.9.82','2010-05-18 18:37:15','2010-05-18 17:37:15','Happy Birthday!! Wishing a wonderful day filled with love, happiness, and content! Да ти върви по вода през следващата година. My birthday is next Monday and because it falls on a holiday, during my school years in Sofia, I never got to bring chocolate to class, simply due to the fact that we didn\'t have one and was kind of bummed about it haha',0,'1','','',0,0),(1919,2821,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','134.39.208.139','2010-05-18 19:09:46','2010-05-18 18:09:46','I just had a mocha!  Does that count?  It is chocolate and coffee rolled into one and it was just what I needed.\nHappy happy day!\nLove',0,'1','','',0,0),(1920,2821,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.10','2010-05-22 07:00:51','2010-05-22 06:00:51','A bit late, but still - a birthday is a birthday, so Happy Carolyn\'s Day! Have a wonderful chocolaty year in and around Bulgaria! May you find new friends and more and more good and interesting things wherever you go!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1921,2824,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','75.139.187.69','2010-05-19 14:39:00','2010-05-19 13:39:00','Special thanks from my heart to all of you in Bulgaria who are taking such loving care of my daughter while she is far away from her family.\n\nThanks to students, Bulgarian guards (males are the same all over the world- smiles), tutors, colleagues and friends - thanks and thanks again.\n\nKarolinka\'s MoM',0,'1','','',0,0),(1922,2824,'windtank','windtank@abv.bg','','78.90.116.112','2010-05-19 16:45:57','2010-05-19 15:45:57','Hey!\nI\'ve been following your blog for some months now and it\'s really entertaining. I think your Bulgarian is sweet. :)\nI am pasting here a link to a part of a Bulgarian talk show in which foreigners are given the task to imitate a Bulgarian dialect. So, not only do they know Bulgarian but they also try to speak different varieties of Bulgarian which even we, native Bulgarians, find hard to imitate (and understand) sometimes.\nSo, the girl in this video is an American and she imitates Northwest dialect (which sounds like Serbian language :) She tells the famous fairy tale of the Little Red Riding Hood. I think she does a great job and I also think you\'ll find it interesting.\n\nhttp://www.vbox7.com/play:8e4d499b',0,'1','','',0,0),(1923,2837,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','84.238.226.41','2010-05-20 06:15:45','2010-05-20 05:15:45','Lucky you! A great experience is right around the corner....By mentioning tower did you mean the world famous  Eiffel tower cause that\'s something that you must visit in Paris :) I\'ve never been in Paris,so please do your best to make a lot of pictures and to grab special moments so that you can share all these with us when back in Bulgaria!\n\nWish you an amazing trip!\n\nEli',0,'1','','',0,0),(1924,2837,'galateya','b.boyana@gmail.com','','192.92.94.23','2010-05-20 16:40:49','2010-05-20 15:40:49','hi, i\'m reading your blog for couple of months now and find it really interesting to see your view on Bulgaria. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and expiriences :) We were in Paris couple of weeks ago and wanted to suggest couple of places to you. Sacré-Coeur Basilica is very nice and located on top of a hill with amazing view of Paris. Right beside it is a lovely Art area where a lot of the famous painters and artist use to hang out. A lovely park: jardin du luxembourg. A market to get nice lunch: Marché des Enfants Rouges, it was really packed to sit there so we just got food and sat in a park near by. Enjoy! and keep up the blog',0,'1','','',0,0),(1925,2837,'Whitney','whit.graves@gmail.com','','155.101.171.145','2010-05-20 17:44:49','2010-05-20 16:44:49','I would recommend visiting the Sacré-Coeur Basilica and surrounding Montmartre neighborhood. The church itself is really beautiful and sits atop a hill overlooking the city (hence there are great views). If you are a fan of the film Amelie you will DEFINITELY want to go here. Many of the scenes were filmed in the Montmartre area. There are a lot of little cafes and bistros and a lot of artists hang out there. It\'s really fun to just grab an espresso and wander around watching them work.\n\nHave fun!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1926,2837,'Amy Denev','adenev16@gmail.com','http://amysdailyphoto.blogspot.com','74.66.3.152','2010-05-21 01:36:14','2010-05-21 00:36:14','I would recommend a 3 hour bike tour from Bike About Tours. http://www.bikeabouttours.com/ Ive been to Paris a few times, and definitely saw more and learned more about the city in those short 3 hours than I did the rest of my times in Paris! The guides are great, personable, and know so much about Paris, one great thing is that they skip all the \"main attractions\" and focus on places and neighborhoods that you might not easily find on your own! It\'s well worth it, and SO much fun! Enjoy your time, Paris is such a lovely city!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1927,2837,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-05-21 05:33:18','2010-05-21 04:33:18','@Amy Denev Thanks so much! I love bike tours after my last bike tour in Amsterdam I was convinced that I needed to move there so that I could ride my bike around all of the time. I\'ll definitely check this out!',0,'1','','',1926,0),(1928,2837,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-05-21 05:35:14','2010-05-21 04:35:14','@gelateya: what a wonderful suggestion. I\'ve added it to my to-do list--a list that is getting too long to do in one trip I am afraid.  Also, thanks for your inspiring comments about my blog!',0,'1','','',1924,0),(1929,2837,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-05-21 05:35:33','2010-05-21 04:35:33','@Whitney Sounds great!',0,'1','','',1925,0),(1930,2841,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.23','2010-05-21 11:01:26','2010-05-21 10:01:26','Come on, girls, let\'s be friends, it\'s not rocket science!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1931,2841,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.195.201.91','2010-05-21 11:48:12','2010-05-21 10:48:12','If only you had a blog and tons of Bulgarians reading it...\n\nWe are always up for a coffee/beer and even friendship if we don\'t have to split bill for drinks each time :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1932,2841,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-05-21 13:11:35','2010-05-21 12:11:35','@andreytcho... hum... this is a good point that you make. I do have a blog and a few (or maybe even a ton) of Bulgarian readers.  I guess if they like me well enough to read my blog maybe they\'d want to have a coffee/beer with me sometime.',0,'1','','',1931,0),(1933,2841,'Ivet','ivet13@gmail.com','','212.36.24.179','2010-05-21 13:54:49','2010-05-21 12:54:49','You may not be suprised to hear it from me but I think the language is the most significant thing. If you want to have more Bulgarian friends you should know the language. Otherwise you will limit yourself only to people who can speak good English. Communication is the most important thing among good friends - sharing stories and thoughts, telling and listening to jokes (and you\'ll be able to understand the jokes only if you know the language), discussing movies and books, even sharing a common slang. And still you’re lucky because you can find people fluent in English to be friend with but imagine if your mother tongue was not so common. When we (Bulgarians) live abroad we don’t expect anyone to speak to us in our own language and thus make things easier for us. If we want to have friends we have to speak the language of the country we live in. So when hanging out with your Bulgarian friends ask them to speak to you in Bulgarian so you’ll be able to learn phrases and words the easiest way. But I should also say that your Bulgarian is already very good, you just have to be more self-confident and break this language barrier. I know this is the hardest thing especially for people like you (and me) who have a linguistic and literature education because we know exactly how wrong we sound sometimes and we care a lot – this is our professional deformation :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1934,2841,'Whitney','whit.graves@gmail.com','','155.101.171.145','2010-05-21 20:54:43','2010-05-21 19:54:43','My boyfriend is Bulgarian, so his friends are mine by default now! It helps that they are all actually really cool and interested in getting to know me. So, maybe you just need to find yourself a Bulgarian boy. It\'s that simple! ;)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1935,2841,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.10','2010-05-22 07:56:11','2010-05-22 06:56:11','Indeed, arranging a sort of blog meeting would be ideal for your purposes. People who read (and comment on) your blog are obviously interested communicating with you so you are halfway there for the friendship thing. You just gotta pick the ones you like :P Seeing as how most of us are Bulgarian, you\'d also get to practice the language. I\'m sure more than a couple of people here would like to meet you for beer/coffee and some stories - I for one would jump at the chance.\nAlso, I\'d expect everyone would pay for their beer or whatever, andreytcho is joking :) And it\'s hardly desperate - forum meetings are common here, so why not blogs?\nSo go for it. You could ask here who would like to come, to get a general idea of the number of people, then pick out a place to go. Or set up a meeting at a park or something, then based on the turnout (and suggestions from \"the locals\" if needed), decide where to go.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1936,2841,'Erin','eukahle@gmail.com','','200.25.218.84','2010-05-22 23:00:56','2010-05-22 22:00:56','Carolyn- Hey, I don\'t know if you remember me, but we met at the end of last school year.  I think I was leaving just as you were getting a job.  Anyway, I like reading your blog because it gives me a little insight to Bulgaria.  I miss it a lot.  After reading your post about making friends in Bulgaria, I thought about how I made my best Bulgarian friends: through softball.  It took me a while to find a team, but once I did, I became good friends with my teammates, even though most of the time we didn\'t speak (much of) the same language.  I feel like finding a group of people who like to do the same things, and spending a lot of time with them, was a great way to start some friendships.  Now I only wish I hadn\'t left!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1937,2841,'Wellwisher','somethingsomething@abv.bg','','92.247.196.242','2010-05-23 05:36:53','2010-05-23 04:36:53','Check this:\n\nConversation Swap\n\nIf you are interested in learning Bulgarian and practicing\nBulgarian conversation, check out the Bulgarian/English conversation\nswap at DaDa Cultural Bar, near the corner of Benkovski and Moskovska,\nnear Alexander Nevski. (It is a square building with big windows.)\n\n\nThe way it works is we get English and Bulgarian speakers\ntogether, then speak to each other in Bulgarian, then in English. We\nmeet every Saturday at Cultural Bar DaDa, starting at 4 pm. Please let\nme know if you\'re interested.\n\n\n\nOur website      http://sites.google.com/site/mejduchasie/bensen/conversat\n\nOur Facebook page\nhttp://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=189482856077&amp;index=1#/group.php?gid=96844621075',0,'1','','',0,0),(1938,2841,'Antonia','antoniaradkova@gmail.com','','84.238.197.230','2010-05-23 07:54:45','2010-05-23 06:54:45','Maybe you don\'t look as if you like to have Bulgarian friendsq to make friendship with local people. I\'m reading your blog for about a half an year and I have the feeling you feel rather estranged from the life here, the people here, a kind of accidentally drop in for a short time. Maybe Bulgarians just don\'t want to interfere your foreignness',0,'1','','',0,0),(1939,2841,'Vergil','vergilg@hotmail.com','','99.241.2.231','2010-05-23 18:08:42','2010-05-23 17:08:42','I agree with Ivet and Whitney:\n- put yourself out there and try to speak as much Bulgarian as possible in a group of Bulgarian friends; laugh about your mistakes and soon you\'ll overcome them\n- find a Bulgarian boyfriend Karo (!!); talking dirty is still speaking the language ;)\n\nThe bottom line is you\'ll feel part of the group and have friends once you are able to share a joke with some Bulgarian friends.  Get out there and don\'t be shy.  In fact, be more assertive in approaching people and just throwing out a sarcastic comment or a joke.  :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1940,2841,'Svetlina','svetlina.vitanova@gmail.com','http://vitanova.wordpress.com/','89.215.206.190','2010-05-24 23:04:38','2010-05-24 22:04:38','And here`s something bg-cultural: get to know your neighbours. Some of them may make good friends, many of them will be polite enaugh to say good morning every rainy day, a few may even have nephews and cousins and ex-husbands that will suit ur needs.\nThe b-o-n-u-s is that this way u can never spend money on sugar or salt :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1941,2841,'Some Real Buglarians? &laquo; Karolinka In &amp; Around Bulgaria','','http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/06/03/some-real-buglarians/','74.200.243.210','2010-06-03 20:03:59','2010-06-03 19:03:59','[...] 3, 2010 by karolinka27    Okay, two weeks ago, I wrote about making friends in Bulgaria. My post garnered lots of insight and plenty of advice. I think that the advice was basically the [...]',0,'1','','pingback',0,0),(1942,2841,'ASHU','ashu_cg9308@yahoo.com','','115.184.181.177','2010-09-28 18:34:19','2010-09-28 17:34:19','hi,\nmy friend?',0,'1','','',1940,0),(1943,2841,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','84.40.125.59','2010-09-28 18:37:27','2010-09-28 17:37:27','@ASHU--yes?',0,'1','','',1942,0),(1944,2807,'Trekkie','trekkiemonster@ymail.com','','194.63.137.180','2010-05-23 00:25:35','2010-05-22 23:25:35','Maybe you forgot the main point about these dating agency : some are scams. And those who aren\'t aren\'t better.\n\nWhy ? Most of the woman in these agencies don\'t really speak anything else than their own language. How can you fell in love with somebody with whom you can\'t communicate ?\n\nOh, some western men persist on the idea of meeting young eastern European (or Asian) ladies. Then maybe after 3 years and at least 10 journey in the same foreign country, they find the perfect one, they think. They marry her, they have some children, and then, she asks for divorce. This happens very very often in these kind of inter cultural dating. And you don\'t want to become famous after having killed her because you couldn\'t bear her leaving ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Reiser ).\n\nBut why are some men investing so much time and money dating a foreign girl ? Because they find it hard dating a local one ! Why ? Because they are looking for what you would call an old-fashioned relationship ? For some, maybe yes. But it\'s not impossible to find such a local one. In fact, many of the men who are looking for an exotic relationship don\'t interest local girls, like boring people who only think about work.\n\nWould you want to date a workaholic who only speaks about his job, works 12h a day, and would prefer to work rather than having dinner with you on candlelight ? No. Difficult to find a women for them, and they won\'t think the problem is themselves, they prefer to think that the local girls are too arrogant. That\'s mostly how it happens. So, an attack against feminism ? You go too far... These people who can\'t maintain a relationship because of themselves being uninteresting, you can safely ignore them. Although I would say that Parisian girls (and boys) are really arrogant (That\'s one of the reasons why I left Paris, and France).\n\nAnd why wouldn\'t exotic girls find these people boring ? When they left their countries to meet foreign girls, they are on holidays and people are never the same on holidays. Plus it\'s so easy to discuss about cross-cultural things, and it\'s less boring than filesystems and B-Trees... And of course, you look richer with you foreign currency and you passport is interesting too. Plus you don\'t have a bad drinking habit, unlike most people in Russia (speaking about Russia, on a side note, some MP wanted to legalise polygamy there, in order to increase the birth rate. See in french : http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2010/01/19/russie-prime-a-la-naissance-et-polygamie-pour-doper-les-naissances_1294046_3214.html ).\n\nIn every country, as a male, the richer you are/seem the easier you met girls. Without any doubt in France, where I worked for a famous online dating site. It\'s very uncommun to see couples where the women earns more money than the men.\n\nTwo tips for westerners who are thinking about marying a young eastern european/asian girl :\n- learn her native langage (even if she speaks yours better than I write english). Learn to know her country. Intercultural mariage can, in my opinion, only work if both know the other culture.\n- don\'t use any of these agencies, it\'s not worth the money. If you want to meet young russian ladies, start by learning russian and travel to St Peterburg.\n- third one, bonus : Even if you aren\'t living abroad, I\'m sure there are also lots of nice women living near you. They aren\'t arrogant, you just need to know how to interest them (be an interesting guy yourself).\n\nNow, about expats : who is this arrogant person with such an opinion ? an american girl ? (Just kidding).\n\nIn France, we don\'t have the same stereotypes about expats. They can be :\na) People gone for (trying to) earn a lot of money\nb) People who just love to travel &amp; meet new cultures\nc) People who noticed they could look richer if they go to a cheaper country\nd) People who were looking for more sun\nAnd very often, a mix of a) and b) ; and sometimes even c) or d).\n\nIn fact, I would even say that for some, if not all of the American and British men you\'re speaking about didn\'t come to Bulgaria for the girls at the first place. But, hey, it\'s a nice bonus for them : if it\'s so easy to meet plenty girls, why shouldn\'t they do it ? Arrogance there ? I don\'t think so. In fact, aren\'t you jealous ? Like \"if those expats wouldn\'t date local girls, I could date them ?\".',0,'1','','',0,0),(1945,2807,'Vergil','vergilg@hotmail.com','','99.241.2.231','2010-05-23 17:59:33','2010-05-23 16:59:33','\"Unequal\" marriages and relationships are what make marriage interesting, I suppose.  In my view, that means people are following their desires and interests in another person, and not only forming relationships at the same status and economical level, as in pre-arranged Eastern marriages.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1946,2807,'Svetlina','svetlina.vitanova@gmail.com','http://vitanova.wordpress.com/','84.242.191.2','2010-05-24 17:54:46','2010-05-24 16:54:46','I believe that Russian girls are not Asian girls but Europeans :) Anyway... if you happen to find a man that needs to rule a woman`s heart, send him to me. I could use 1-2 of those.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1947,2807,'Luba','blowmeblinde@fuckoff.com','','70.134.86.37','2010-10-23 01:04:41','2010-10-23 00:04:41','The replay is very funny. She proves the point that she is arrogant, and of course arrogance stems from inadequacy. She is jealous, because the average Russian lady is thinner, better educated, better looking, and still takes good care of her family. American women are fat, lazy, ignorant, and behave like children.\n\nAs for an American man meeting a Russian girl, I would suggest first you try dating some of the single Russian ladies in your own country. When you see they will not even respond to you, then you can ask why a woman by the same description in Russia says she loves you. How did these single, really divorced, women from Russia come to your country?\n\nDon\'t be stupid. These women are only using you, and they will leave you and take with them a good settlement. A good Russian woman does not want to leave her homeland. Unless she thinks it can be as on some movie. This is why 86% of Russian brides return home without their husband within six months of marriage. When they see how stupid and fat you all are, then they naturally want to run from there.',0,'trash','','',0,0),(1948,2850,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','75.139.187.69','2010-05-24 15:01:41','2010-05-24 14:01:41','Think about all those folks who were trying to travel to Paris when the volcano interrupted their plans.  48 hour deodorant - what a blessing!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1949,2850,'Betty','bety24@yahoo.com','','87.120.5.129','2010-06-03 19:21:53','2010-06-03 18:21:53','No it is not good for 48 hours. When you put it on it lasts for 48 hours and you don\'t sweat for 48 hours. It is good for months.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1950,2857,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','84.238.226.41','2010-05-27 06:05:22','2010-05-27 05:05:22','So glad that you are back! Can\'t wait for the rest of the story:)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1951,2857,'Bridget','mullanski@yahoo.com','','129.2.21.173','2010-05-27 18:24:43','2010-05-27 17:24:43','I had a sketchy hostel in Paris, too! Hostel owners must figure that since the city is so nice, they don\'t have to put the effort into making their hostel secure/non-sketchy/flea-free. (But I also agree that spending time in Paris trumps the sketchy hostel experience.)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1952,2857,'charlotte','charlotte.emigh@gmail.com','','24.20.161.240','2010-05-28 06:11:42','2010-05-28 05:11:42','I like your pictures and I\'m glad to see you are home safe. During class on Monday we had a spirited debate about politics in France, and I thought, wait, Carolyn is IN France right now! Can\'t wait to hear more about your experience!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1953,2869,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','95.42.11.153','2010-05-27 18:32:45','2010-05-27 17:32:45','In my teenage life alcohol had no role whatsoever. But then again I am very much resistent to peer pressure. I make my own choices for me  thank you very much. Which lead to other misunderstandings of course and classmates asking me to solve math problems for them at parties for the next morning test ... which is equally unacceptable, I am at a party, enjoying myself, I\'m not doing maths. :)\n\nGenerally I like the prom tradition - it is a good thing but I have another problem with the whole aesthetics of it all. These dresses are ugly and vulgar. They are sexy for sure but far from classy. And all that noise. Aaa, I guess I have to blame it all on chalga again... :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1954,2869,'i','ivanmanolov@yahoo.com','','69.181.18.55','2010-05-27 18:43:42','2010-05-27 17:43:42','well, noone really teaches you how to drink when you are a  teenager. the fact that you can buy liquor in bulgaria when you are 14, certainly makes it easier to get your puking out of the way, thats for sure.\n\ni have to tell you, it was quite amusing for me to see what was going down in the dorms when i attended college in the US. there were kids throwing up left and right, getting excited about drinking insane amounts of alcohol. the urge to get obliterated was insane. my classmates were paying me to go and buy Everclear for them at the store, which is the most suicidal thing you can do to your body.\n\nthe aftermath - since alcohol wasnt a taboo at the age of 19, i was able to focus on my academics instead of abusing it. i dont necessarily agree that 21 is a good drinking age limit, but thats an entirely different topic:)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1955,2869,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.10','2010-05-28 17:29:50','2010-05-28 16:29:50','I think the concept of \"teaching someone how to drink\" is quite foreign here. Most people figure it out themselves - you get wasted a couple of times and you take it down a notch. That\'s how it was with me. I think I stared at 16, which is rather late here - the first time I saw a classmate drunk we were in 7th grade, and that was 11 years ago. By the time I was 18 I had figured out that alcohol-induced memory wipes aren\'t nice, so I stopped drinking too much. At my graduation ball I drank very little - a bottle of wine, shared with my date. But there were also a couple of guys who got drunk quite fast and now probably don\'t remember a minute from that night. Thing is, prom is seen as the day you go all-out - you\'re the loudest, shiniest, prettiest, happiest person at the noisiest party. It\'s less about celebrating your graduation and more abour celebrating because it\'s time to celebrate. Combine that with the common idea of \"I\'m drinking because everyone else is\" and a sort of perverted Bulgariand Dream of rakia, chalga and ass and you get Bulgarian prom.\nSo the ones who are your influence on how to drink are those, that have a wrong idea about it - \"Get drunk, it\'s what all the cool kids are doing\". But there\'s hope - people are getting used to the idea that kids are drinking one way or another, so instead of stopping them, they are teaching them about it. For example, my dad gives my sister, who is 16, a glass of wine at dinner or at celebrations. He himself sets an example by drinking very little. It\'s better that she gets used to this manner of drinking, rather than gulping down vodka with kids who don\'t know what they\'re doing.\nAlso, I too have helped a friend of mine to see that drinking isn\'t just something you do, and then you get drunk. Drinking is about having fun and when you have too much, you\'ve failed.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1956,2869,'Anton','info@kuturak.net','http://six.fiftagon.com','77.70.118.62','2010-05-31 09:03:42','2010-05-31 08:03:42','I had such a good time in high school, I didn\'t want it to end. I wasn\'t celebrating at my prom; it was a sad affair -- I knew I\'d either join the military or move to a far-away city and won\'t get to see my friends every day (some of them were still in high school), won\'t get to play with my band. And it did play out like that.\nAnyway, I still don\'t get what\'s there to celebrate, but I guess many think growing up and growing old is good for them. I suppose many dislike going to school, dislike lessons and teachers. Maybe they didn\'t get to have such good friends, I don\'t know. I suppose they also thought that growing up meant not being told what to do. Talk about unpleasant surprise on that front... :)\nWith regard to drinking alcohol I tend to agree with the previous two commenters. Perhaps it\'s not such a bad idea to get it out of your system at a somewhat earlier age.\nI myself was a member of the teetotaler\'s club until the age of 15, when I drank my first bottle of wine while at camp and discovered how much fun it can be. Indeed, one gets totally wasted 3 or 4 times, and then they learn their limit. :)\n\nMost of the prom dresses are simply hideous, I don\'t know what are those girls and their mothers thinking.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1957,2869,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2010-05-31 15:50:53','2010-05-31 14:50:53','To illustrate what I mean\n\nhttp://picasaweb.google.com/Siana.B/MFjCHD?authkey=Gv1sRgCN6XmsXht9X6Lg&amp;feat=directlink#',0,'1','','',1953,0),(1958,2869,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-05-31 19:37:18','2010-05-31 18:37:18','@helen: Ha, ha! I saw this album this afternoon--it\'s unbelievably good.',0,'1','','',1957,0),(1959,2869,'Elena','elena.radeva@gmail.com','','24.155.65.102','2010-06-18 07:23:55','2010-06-18 06:23:55','Hey girl, great blog! Love keeping up with it!\nI do understand your concern and surprise with teenage drinking in Bulgaria but here are also my observations of teens/young people in US (Dallas, TX): I was as shocked with the drinking in US as you were with the drinking in Bulgaria. The only difference is that young people in US can\'t legally purchase/drink alcohol until age 21 but they sure do drink (a lot) - I work with lots of high schoolers and have heard unbelievable stories! Also, once they hit 21, it gets out of control...They feel like they need to catch up for all these years! And then all the binge drinking and frat parties that happen in college are just outrageous! Same goes with \"casual drugs\"....It is extremely sad that teens (and, in that manner, anyone else) enjoys getting wasted or high! And I guess, teens/youngsters in US try to hide these behaviors from their parents and other adults, while those in Bulgaria don\'t even try to hide it! I am wishing for people \"learning\" to have fun without the need to any substances!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1960,2878,'Slamdunk','theslamdunktrove@gmail.com','http://theslamdunktrove.blogspot.com','72.79.132.80','2010-05-28 05:12:54','2010-05-28 04:12:54','I go for the blogs with the good pictures as well...',0,'1','','',0,0),(1961,2878,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.10','2010-05-28 16:44:40','2010-05-28 15:44:40','I love looking at old pictures of Bulgaria and Sofia in particular. I often get nostalgic, seeing how a lot of things looked better back then, or (with the more recent photos) remembering a time when I was but a wee lad with not a care in the world. But often I see buildings that are still standing and have remained pretty much the same. I love it when I recognize something and both when looking at the pictures and walking in these old buildings (like the Art Gallery or the central wing of Sofia University) it\'s a bit like time travel made allt he more realistic by the link to the present.\nSo thank you for the link :) Ihadn\'t read the blog, though I knew the site (stara-sofia.com).\nIf you like these photos, maybe you\'ll also like lostbulgaria.com It has more pictures and I haven\'t even seen them all.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1962,2878,'Stara Sofia Crew','stara-sofia@dir.bg','','84.21.221.120','2010-05-28 22:19:56','2010-05-28 21:19:56','Hello, Karolinka!\n\nWe are very happy that you like our blog. Fortunately photos can overcome any language barrier and we hope that you will continue following our posts. We basically don\'t have plenty of text and stick to the photos, so it must not be a real problem for you to understand. In case you want to know something more or make something clear, do not hesitate to ask in English.\n\nRegrads,\n\nVictor\n\np.s. One of us has a birthday today, so we do like your tweet ;)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1963,2878,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-05-29 00:27:24','2010-05-28 23:27:24','@Stara Sofia Crew! Thanks so much for your blog and your comment. Of course, happy birthday as well!',0,'1','','',1962,0),(1964,2878,'soregashi Ilia Temelkov','temelkovv@gmail.com','http://temelkoff.blogspot.com','84.54.163.67','2010-05-29 08:21:09','2010-05-29 07:21:09','Thanks for the link, Karolinka. I really love old Sofia pictures. I think Sofia was better place back in the 20s and 30s.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1965,2884,'charlotte','charlotte.emigh@gmail.com','','24.20.161.240','2010-05-30 20:02:06','2010-05-30 19:02:06','Looks like you a had a wonderful time in Paris! Thanks for sharing the pictures!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1966,2884,'Jeff J','j.jewett@acs.bg','','213.130.70.154','2010-05-30 20:05:47','2010-05-30 19:05:47','Great Eifel Tower pic!',0,'1','','',0,0),(1967,2900,'sgazzetti','sgazzetti@gmail.com','http://www.comefriendlybombs.com','213.130.70.154','2010-05-31 18:39:28','2010-05-31 17:39:28','Nice picture! And not to disappoint or nit-pick, but there was no Worcestershire sauce happening in those burgers -- it was accidentally left behind, and the substitution was Heinz барбькю сос. I agree that Adam was an outstanding and selfless grill operator.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1968,2915,'Andrey','nero2@abv.bg','http://wahregedanken.blogspot.com/','95.43.240.219','2010-06-02 14:38:51','2010-06-02 13:38:51','I don\'t think that\'s a piece of foam. To me it looks like a part of an old bed, or a couch. And it\'s probably smart enough to pull it himself, but I cannot excluding human interference',0,'1','','',0,0),(1969,2915,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','68.18.91.86','2010-06-02 16:03:46','2010-06-02 15:03:46','And the weed is growing almost at the center of the cobblestone pattern.  For one second I thought it was planted.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1970,2915,'eva','evapopov@hotmail.com','http://epowen.blogspot.com','24.248.97.150','2010-06-02 18:09:17','2010-06-02 17:09:17','Are there still a lot of homeless dogs wandering the streets of Sofia?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1971,2915,'Йордан','jordan.milev@gmail.com','','205.156.84.229','2010-06-02 20:08:29','2010-06-02 19:08:29','Глутниците бездомни кучета са един от негативните ефекти на чуждото влияние в България.  Каузата на бездомните кучета беше лансирана от неправителствени организации и кучетата станаха символ на това как \"студеното\" ни общество се справяше погрешно с проблемите като се опитваше да премахне кучетата в стар социалистически стил.  Много средства бяха вложени в опазване на тези животни без да си даваме сметка за последиците, и сега резултатът е налице в цялата страна.\n\n----------------------------------------------------------\n\nPacks of homeless dogs are one of the negative impacts foreign influence has had on Bulgaria.  Stray dogs were \"adopted\" by foreign-funded NGOs, they became emblematic of the way hard and cruel communist or post-communist Bulgaria dealt with problems.  Money was spent on defending these animals without further thought for the consequences and the result is to be seen all across Bulgaria.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1972,2918,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.195.201.91','2010-06-03 09:12:15','2010-06-03 08:12:15','So basically aside from the mexican salsa, all the things on your list can be bought in Bulgaria if needed.\n\nThis post would have been to short to write:\n\nAll you need to move to Bulgaria is some cash and you are set.\n\nWhat happened with under the Yoke? I finished my reading month ago.\n\nAlso what happened to plans for hanging out with real Bulgarians?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1973,2918,'Ivet','ivet13@gmail.com','','212.36.24.179','2010-06-03 09:57:43','2010-06-03 08:57:43','I agree with @andreytcho. You can buy everything you need from Bulgaria (may be with a little help from a friend about where exactly you can find it that will save you time). And if you\'re obsessed with a specific brand of food (cookies) or clothes that can\'t be found in Bulgaria you can always order those things from ebay or amazon.\nBut still I can understand your worries. Living abroud is stressful in the beginning and you just want to be safe and secure surrounded by your own things and belongings that will make you feel at home.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1974,2918,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.3','2010-06-03 10:15:00','2010-06-03 09:15:00','Great posting. I have lived abroad for some time. If it is in the civilised world, you don\'t need anything actually. When I lived in Belgium I carried only some white cheese with me, I don\'t like feta and I don\'t like its price in Belgium. Carrying suitcases with clothes just saves some shopping time and money (otherwise you should buy clothing when you arrive and later throw it away when you head back), otherwise what is sold in the shops is practically the same.\n\nI had this realisation when I tried to shop for presents from abroad.  Nowadays I buy local beer (for the boys) and local candy (for girls) and that\'s pretty much it.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1975,2918,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-06-03 10:17:52','2010-06-03 09:17:52','Here\'s to my real Bulgarians @andreytcho and @Ivet who put the whole process of moving in perspective!! And for the record, they are right. So for anyone thinking about moving I guess you could put somethings in suitcases, bring along smile and your debit card and hit the ground running. If you\'re more extreme, you can book a ticket, grab your passport, a decent amount of cash and jump right into the deep end.',0,'1','','',1973,0),(1976,2918,'Den','sayaddina@gmail.com','','99.103.25.250','2010-06-04 16:01:13','2010-06-04 15:01:13','Isn\'t it funny how people who grew up in two completely different countries have the same worries when it comes to traveling. I read your list and it strikes me that, when I moved from Bulgaria to the US those are exactly the things that I took with me. Except the measuring cups. Instead to took a two sets of sheets and a blanket:) What I find hilarious though is the fact that you brought your own pharmacy - I\'ve been here for four years and I just recently started using Advil Liquid Gels because my Bulgarian headache medicine was stopped from production... I\'ve been moving away from packing up the country in my suitcase every time I go home, but I still can\'t live without my Bulgarian tooth paste!\n\nAnyway, the more I read the more I realized that right now some of the american things you mention I would need if I ever had to leave... the measuring cups no make sense, and don\'t get me started about the salsa - still can\'t believe there is no good (or any) Mexican food in Bulgarian. Maybe I would need to pack an entire Chipotle with me...\n\nSo mu question I guess is: if you ever have to move away from Bulgaria for good or for a long period of time, are there things that you will terribly miss and will need to pack and take with you?',0,'1','','',0,0),(1977,2918,'mimichka','maria.letki@gmail.com','','208.120.88.91','2010-06-05 05:02:21','2010-06-05 04:02:21','http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvgN5gCuLac\n\n\n\nEnjoy good tips from George Carlin.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1978,2918,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-06-05 06:45:06','2010-06-05 05:45:06','@mimichka Ha, ha! This is perfect! Thanks.',0,'1','','',1977,0),(1979,2918,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-06-05 07:12:05','2010-06-05 06:12:05','@Den I think that I\'ll miss plenty. Much of it though aren\'t things that you can necessarily take with you--I\'ll miss how fresh the fruits and veggies are and how tasty the dairy products are. Moreover, I think it\'s interesting how global most of the products I have to choose from are--from shampoo to lotion and even things like katchup. I was a little surprised to see Dove, Heinz, Palmolive and Maybelline in shops in Bulgaria. But really why should I be? The part I have the hardest time with though is picking from a range of different products and brands because often I have no experience with any of them. I don\'t know what I like and dislike. So its been a learning process.',0,'1','','',1976,0),(1980,2883,'Йордан','jordan.milev@gmail.com','','24.193.115.250','2010-06-04 04:17:11','2010-06-04 03:17:11','To get Bulgarians to hang out with you and like you, find out what Bulgarians like in other Bulgarians they hang out with and like...\n\nAnd besides, \"real Bulgarians\" ... what\'s that? :)\n---------------------------------------\nАко искаш да накараш българи да те харесват и да искат да излизате заедно, опитай се да разбереш какво харесват българите в хората c които дружат.\n\nНе знам какво имаш пред вид под \"истински българи\" :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1981,2883,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-06-04 04:45:27','2010-06-04 03:45:27','@Йордан Good question. I used \"real Bulgarian\" because it showed up in a comment on my blog post yesterday--as I quoted in the post above. I think it\'s a joke. Because what would a not-real Bulgarian be? A fake Bulgarian?\n\nAlso, Thanks for posting in both English and Bulgarian!',0,'1','','',1980,0),(1982,2883,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.10','2010-06-04 07:21:47','2010-06-04 06:21:47','\"Real Bulgarian\" probably means they have a \"Made in Bulgaria\" stamp on their birth certificate. And Lactobacillus Bulgaricus in their blood. :)\nBut anyway - I don\'t think it\'s too soon. Especially if you mean Sunday - a couple of days\' warning is enough usually. Also, I\'ve learned that no matter how far ahead you plan something, it\'s quite difficult to pick a time that works for absolutely everyone. A lazy Sunday afternoon is as close to that as you can guess, I think. And if it\'s after your Bulgarian lesson, here\'s your first topic of conversation - what did you learn today? Though after saying that it\'s easy to imagine a scene where several Bulgarians with polite smiles and a calm mixture of curiosity and eagerness await the answer while a slightly blushing Carolyn wonders \"What did I get myself into\" :)\nBut I digress. This weekend is OK, let\'s see what the others will say. As for the place, \"outdoor\" sounds nice. I say let\'s meet up and if it\'s raining, we\'ll decide on the spot.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1983,2883,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.10','2010-06-04 07:25:11','2010-06-04 06:25:11','@Йордан: stop! Grammar time: When talking about people\'s character, interests, etc., it should be \"какво харесват българите У хората\" not \"В хората\". The first refers to traits (or possession - документите са у него), whereas the second indicates an unhealthy interest in someone\'s internal organs or a fondness for the locker key they just swallowed. Also, \"предвид\" is a single word. Hardly grave errors, yes, but we shouldn\'t let Carolyn learn it like this. Don\'t be mad :)',0,'1','','',1980,0),(1984,2883,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2010-06-04 09:17:24','2010-06-04 08:17:24','However, I still think that you are doing it wrong :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1985,2883,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-06-04 12:11:16','2010-06-04 11:11:16','I have been waiting for this opportunity for so long....honestly!When I am shopping at \"yours\" Billa in Mladost I am always thinking how I am going to say \"hi\" to you if you somehow show up there in the crowd:),so I will be really very happy to meet you.Saturday after your lesson sounds perfect to me!\n\nThanks andreytcho for the initiation of all this :)\n\n\nWaiting for more concrete details of the meeting!\n\nEli',0,'1','','',0,0),(1986,2883,'Йордан','jordan.milev@gmail.com','','24.193.115.250','2010-06-04 13:19:02','2010-06-04 12:19:02','Thanks Bobby, I stand corrected.',0,'1','','',1983,0),(1987,2883,'Den','sayaddina@gmail.com','','99.103.25.250','2010-06-04 16:10:27','2010-06-04 15:10:27','just a short note from me: I wouldn\'t be able to come since I am currently across the ocean but... One thing you need to learn about Bulgarians is that they/we don\'t need any particular organization especially when it come to hanging out or parties... You can pretty much say let\'s hang out in Borisova in an hour and most people will show up. If you add \"there will be beer\" your guaranteed to have your chances if meeting people just doubled :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1988,2935,'Ilia Temelkov - soregashi','temelkovv@gmail.com','http://temelkoff.blogspot.com','194.145.163.137','2010-06-04 12:53:39','2010-06-04 11:53:39','Oh, really. Exactly on the day that I have other plans ;(. I would really like to make this second time and tell us little earlier :). Have a nice meeting and make some friends :).',0,'1','','',0,0),(1989,2935,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-06-04 13:20:57','2010-06-04 12:20:57','@Ilia Temelkov – soregashi Oh, I am sorry! Of course, I am sure it will happen again and the next time, I\'ll plan ahead a little bit more.',0,'1','','',1988,0),(1990,2935,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.195.201.91','2010-06-04 13:24:31','2010-06-04 12:24:31','Let\'s all hope that we know what an American looks like.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1991,2935,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-06-04 13:29:55','2010-06-04 12:29:55','@andreytcho Don\'t worry. I\'ll have a bag of McDonalds in one hand, an American flag on my t-shirt and I\'ll be complaining loudly.  Or maybe not.',0,'1','','',1990,0),(1992,2935,'windtank','windtank@abv.bg','','78.90.116.112','2010-06-04 13:35:07','2010-06-04 12:35:07','Well, you know me - I was your student at the University of Sofia. I guess my friends from university would like to see how you\'ve been doing but our first exam is on Monday so I guess everyone will dedicate their weekend to studying.\nHave a great time, though. I hope you meet new and interesting people.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1993,2935,'i','ivanmanolov@yahoo.com','','68.26.102.138','2010-06-04 16:20:20','2010-06-04 15:20:20','an interesting question is what portion of your bulgarian followers are actually in bulgaria. i would love to have coffee with you when i get back in july.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1994,2935,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','68.18.91.86','2010-06-04 16:23:12','2010-06-04 15:23:12','Gotta have a picture of this for everyone in the US of A.',0,'1','','',0,0),(1995,2935,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.22','2010-06-04 19:47:43','2010-06-04 18:47:43','Are you ready to cope with the crowd? ;-)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1996,2935,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.10','2010-06-04 21:48:07','2010-06-04 20:48:07','4:45 it is. I\'ll be there! :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(1997,2935,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-06-05 06:55:46','2010-06-05 05:55:46','@i Sure! I\'ll be traveling for part of July and part of August but I\'d be happy to meet up with you for a coffee.',0,'1','','',1993,0),(1998,2935,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-06-05 06:57:25','2010-06-05 05:57:25','@Комитата Crowd!? I am just hoping that I wont get stood up.',0,'1','','',1995,0),(1999,2935,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.22','2010-06-05 09:51:50','2010-06-05 08:51:50','don\'t worry',0,'1','','',1996,0),(2000,2935,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.22','2010-06-05 09:52:23','2010-06-05 08:52:23','don\'t worry!',0,'1','','',1998,0),(2001,2935,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.22','2010-06-05 09:53:28','2010-06-05 08:53:28','oops, I commented in a wrong place, sorry',0,'1','','',1999,0),(2002,2935,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-06-05 10:06:57','2010-06-05 09:06:57','Well,I am at work tomorrow untill 18:00,so that\'s un hour later than planed.Is there any chance to catch you up later?The problem is that I won\'t know where all you guys will decide to go/hang out...Here is my mobile phone-0886 053321,if and when you settle down to a coffee/park/wherever,please send me sms and I\'ll do my best to show up.If this doesn\'t work out,I will be happy to see you some other time.\n\n\nBye for now!\n\nEli',0,'1','','',0,0),(2003,2935,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-06-05 10:13:58','2010-06-05 09:13:58','@Elena: Sounds great. I am happy to text you with the location!',0,'1','','',2002,0),(2004,2935,'Jon','jonlongobardi@gmail.com','','71.192.216.222','2010-06-05 16:11:24','2010-06-05 15:11:24','Sorry Carolyn, I don\'t think I\'m going to be able to make it on Sunday (last minute flights to Bulgaria are hard to come by).  Have a good time my friend!',0,'1','','',0,0),(2005,2935,'Miro','Miroslavm@gmail.com','','85.130.121.29','2010-06-06 12:17:59','2010-06-06 11:17:59','Well I would love to come but I had different plans. Today At the South Park (lol I just realized that :D ) is being held the second day of the \"Flower for Gosho\" rock festival. There will be a lot of bulgarian rock bands performing. I suppose you won\'t regret coming to see it but I don\'t know if this is the way you wanted to meet some \"real bulgarians\". If you decide to come I will be looking around for the tall american blonde. If not... well I hope you won\'t be disappointed by today\'s meeting and you\'re going to do it again sometime and hopefully I\'ll be able to come then. Have a great time anyway!',0,'1','','',0,0),(2006,2939,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','87.126.13.183','2010-06-05 12:40:32','2010-06-05 11:40:32','Maybe not. You could always have guilty free tourism in Cuba.\nIt is very often that I feel like your friend K in Sofia and frankly you do share some responsibility - you could have chosen the place for dinner better - there are places where smoking is not allowed and / or the ventilation is very good.\nAnd since you mentioned Greece, they have managed to impose the ban on smoking at public places last June and even heavy smokers (because Greeks really do smoke more than Bulgarians) abide to it because they would really do anything not to lose their day job.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2007,2939,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','68.18.91.86','2010-06-05 13:47:32','2010-06-05 12:47:32','Smoke free can happen in the most unlikely places.  Kentucky produces some huge percentage of the tobacco produced in the US.  There is a higher percentage of people who smoke in Kentucky than any other state.  Louisville and other areas of KY have had a smoke-free ban in restaurants and bars for some time.  For someone who grew up with a parent who died from smoking, even one person smoking in a large space tends to close up my airways. It is a tremendous relief to be able to eat out or party out and still breath and enjoy myself.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2008,2939,'Andrey','nero2@abv.bg','http://wahregedanken.blogspot.com','77.70.61.85','2010-06-05 14:00:04','2010-06-05 13:00:04','Tobacco and smoking are a blessing from God, but there should be a ban for smoking in places which purpose is dinning. But a bar, without cigarettes?! No wai! And yes, people in Bulgaria smoke a lot, even I\'m sometimes disgusted by the amounts of cigarettes a person can smoke.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2009,2939,'Йордан','jordan.milev@gmail.com','','24.193.120.52','2010-06-05 15:47:40','2010-06-05 14:47:40','I actually thought your last paragraph was funny, in a Bulgarian-humor type of way.\n\nI am also bothered by smoking every time I am in Bulgaria.  In NYC the law is that there is no smoking anywhere in restaurants, clubs, cafes, and in general, inside public building, period.  Also, no smoking near a public building\'s entrance, unless the space is specifically marked for that purpose.  Yes, there still are smokers here.  They survive, they smoke, they do not protest or light a cigarette against the law in protest.\n\nThe law works well because there is public support and also because people and establishments do get fined whenever police show up and catch someone smoking.  I have seen that.  I also know a couple of Bulgarian cafes and Greek clubs where there is (unofficially) smoking inside - the owner pays the fine when he has to and views it just as the cost of doing business with Bulgarians and Greeks.\n\nI think there are plenty of people in Bulgaria who do not like smoking.  I have heard that less than a third of people in Bulgaria smoke regularly.  Nonsmokers are not a minority.  It just seems like they are because they are less vocal than the smokers who think it is their right to smoke wherever they like.  Yes, they have the right to smoke.  But not in any place they like and at any cost to society.\n\nAnother argument for allowing smoking in restaurants and public places that was used very recently to lift the ban on smoking (a ban that was in effect for one day, June 1) is that forbidding smoking will reduce business for food and entertainment establishments.  Maybe in the short run, but even if that is true, I have not noticed that people have stopped going to restaurants or clubs or cafes in New York City...\n\nJust my 2 stotinki.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2010,2939,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.10','2010-06-05 15:52:02','2010-06-05 14:52:02','You\'re not alone, I think most if not all non-smokers want a ban on public smoking. I hate smoking. I despise it in all it\'s forms. It\'s not a \"guilty pleasure\", it\'s a weakness. A disease. And it\'s ugly to look at. I hate how my hair and clothes smell after I\'ve been out for a pizza and a couple of beers with firends. Or how I was coughing the whole day after an evening in \"One more bar\". Now I\'m seriously thinking of buying a gas mask. So I was getting ready to open the champagne when I heard there was a smoking ban coming. But then it was decided it would be something much less. The politicians who are supposed to introduce tha ban openly said that they would still somke, no matter what. So now it\'s up to each establishment\'s owner to decide wether or not to be a no smoking zone (or include a special smokers area if it it\'s big enough). Three guesses which option they\'d choose.\nHowever, hope springs eternal - in Kyustendil the ban is still very much coming. After July 1st there\'ll be no smoking inside, no matter how big your cafe or restaurant is. Maybe other cities will follow suit...',0,'1','','',0,0),(2011,2939,'i','ivanmanolov@yahoo.com','','69.181.18.55','2010-06-05 17:29:29','2010-06-05 16:29:29','what\'s even worse, smokers in BG don\'t even bother asking if you mind them lighting a cigarette, which is something I really appreciate in the US. it\'s like smoking is a norm and you better be cool with it. also, the recent rejection of the ban for smoking in public has made me realize how far we are from being a normal country',0,'1','','',0,0),(2012,2939,'Ventsy','ventsy@gmail.com','','69.107.87.144','2010-06-06 02:09:28','2010-06-06 01:09:28','Cigarette smoke irritate me the most when I go back in Bulgaria. I hate it and I\'m so disappointed that the law banning smoking was voided.\nI think the two main reasons smoking is legal everywhere in Bulgaria are that the people selling cigarettes are influential and second most smokers in Bulgaria could not understand that they will have as much fun going out in a smoke free environment.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2013,2939,'mthomp28','mthomp28@gmail.com','','134.114.26.122','2010-06-15 18:51:37','2010-06-15 17:51:37','I had the same experience, Carolyn. I basically didn\'t notice the smoke too much until I came back to the US. In the village where I lived there was one restaurant. It was quite small and in the winter they would close all the windows. The one-room establishment became a big, hazy cloud of smoke. The smoke didn\'t bother me too much; it\'s just something you get used to. Hopefully it didn\'t have any long term effects on my health.\n\nI wrote a thing on smoking in Bulgaria two years ago.\n\nhttp://backinbulgaria.blogspot.com/2008/11/smoke-it-up.html',0,'1','','',0,0),(2014,2942,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','68.18.91.86','2010-06-06 21:24:08','2010-06-06 20:24:08','Weeellll, thanks, but darn it Carolyn, why not a picture of all five of you?',0,'1','','',0,0),(2015,2942,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.10','2010-06-06 23:00:22','2010-06-06 22:00:22','And thank you for setting it up. It was great fun meeting you and talking about stuff, so I\'m definitely signing up for next time. By the way, I actually wanted to come 10-15 minutes earlier, so you wouldn\'t have to wait and wonder who\'s showing up, but I kind of lost track of time. Sorry. Speaking of which, was it just me, or did time flew by quite rapidly? One moment we\'re all talking and the next one it\'s already closing time. Did anyone else notice that?',0,'1','','',0,0),(2016,2942,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.22','2010-06-06 23:18:52','2010-06-06 22:18:52','I had a great time, and I admire this incredibly good looking person next to you ;-)',0,'1','','',0,0),(2017,2942,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-06-07 04:42:46','2010-06-07 03:42:46','@Комитата Funny how that works... don\'t you know him well?',0,'1','','',2016,0),(2018,2942,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','84.238.226.41','2010-06-07 20:26:11','2010-06-07 19:26:11','Well,finally my turn to say that it was a REALLY nice meeting and I am looking forward the next one:)\n\nYou all were great,it was so much fun....\n\nThanks!\n\nP.S.And yes the time flew quite rapidly:)!',0,'1','','',0,0),(2019,2947,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','95.42.9.221','2010-06-07 18:30:51','2010-06-07 17:30:51','I like this one too. It\'s very simple and sweet. But although it is really clever that it is half filled in half not I have the nagging feeling that the artist simply ran out of paint :) or got tired / bored / distracted :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(2020,2947,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','68.18.91.86','2010-06-07 18:59:50','2010-06-07 17:59:50','The person with the sensibility to put the heart on the corner with a jagged edge probably had the artistic inclination to leave one half empty.  One seems to suggest the other.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2021,2947,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','134.39.208.139','2010-06-07 19:34:18','2010-06-07 18:34:18','I\'m not convince that both halves are from the same graffiti artist.  I think the solid one came first and was not even intended to be \"half a heart.\"  The second artist with one curve created the heart.\n\nBut who knows...',0,'1','','',0,0),(2022,2947,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','68.18.91.86','2010-06-08 02:42:15','2010-06-08 01:42:15','Yes, I think you are right.  You have the mind of a scientist at work instead of that of an English major (me) trying to find meaning. Good work.',0,'1','','',2021,0),(2023,2955,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.49','2010-06-08 23:25:43','2010-06-08 22:25:43','I plan to visit all the exhibitions and I have visited already one of them - German Communication Design',0,'1','','',0,0),(2024,2955,'Elle','evonessen@gonzaga.edu','','67.185.243.39','2010-06-09 17:42:38','2010-06-09 16:42:38','Karolinka! I must admit to lurking your blog for a while as I\'ve been undergoing the Bulgarian ETA process. Anyway, if you\'d be willing I\'d love to chat with you about life in Bulgaria and your ETA experience :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(2025,2955,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','95.87.199.158','2010-06-10 04:35:38','2010-06-10 03:35:38','@Elle Hello! Of course I\'d be happy to talk to you! Have you won a Fulbright or are you applying for one this next year?',0,'1','','',2024,0),(2026,2958,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','134.39.208.139','2010-06-10 18:17:58','2010-06-10 17:17:58','Did \'Skype MoM\' make the list anywhere?  I hope so, but I do understand.\nLove,\nMoM',0,'1','','',0,0),(2027,2966,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.194','2010-06-13 21:50:39','2010-06-13 20:50:39','Bulgaria could also be like a ride in the metro. You don\'t have a lot of expectations, everything is a bit worn out, often smelly and you\'re rumbling down a tunnel with no light. But when you come out, you realize this is where you want to be and you feel that was pretty much the best way to get here.\nOh, and the cheese is сирене (sirene), not серине. Серин is something else :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(2028,2966,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','75.139.190.181','2010-06-14 05:36:24','2010-06-14 04:36:24','What exactly is the \"something else?\" (smiling!)',0,'1','','',0,0),(2029,2966,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.194','2010-06-14 08:01:14','2010-06-14 07:01:14','It\'s something out of a DNA lesson in a biology book. An amino acid. I\'d wager it\'s far less tasty than sirene. :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(2030,2966,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2010-06-14 09:19:57','2010-06-14 08:19:57','I guess you\'re heading for the beach :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(2031,2966,'Ilia Temelkov - soregashi','temelkovv@gmail.com','http://temelkoff.blogspot.com','194.145.163.137','2010-06-14 14:57:16','2010-06-14 13:57:16','Actually топло means warm, not hot. Горещо is hot. And the question is warm or cold ;).',0,'1','','',0,0),(2032,2966,'Betty','bety24@yahoo.com','','87.120.5.129','2010-06-19 11:36:50','2010-06-19 10:36:50','Please stop insulting Bulgaria. If you don\'t like it here just go back to America. No one is forcing you to stay!',0,'1','','',0,0),(2033,2966,'zikata','militza_nic_zic@yahoo.com','http://zikata.wordpress.com','87.126.9.33','2010-07-10 19:29:12','2010-07-10 18:29:12','Dear Karolinka,\n\nI really liked this post! I like your bittersweet sense of humor; you are becoming Bulgarian!\n\nI posted a link to your article in my blog: http://zikata.wordpress.com/2010/07/10/life-in-bulgaria-is-like-swimsuit-shopping/\n\nTell me if you want me to take it off. Otherwise, I\'ll assume that I have your permission.\n\nCheers,\n\nMilitza',0,'1','','',0,0),(2034,2970,'vn','nikolay@vladimiroff.com','','95.111.28.14','2010-06-14 07:39:41','2010-06-14 06:39:41','The city center is not that great I\'d recommend  Lozenetz or Vitosha. In the past year on three occasions I had friends looking for apartments and I also went trough this about two years ago.\n\nThere is only one thing to it: use real estate agency. About 98% of the ads for apartments for rent are from real estate agencies even the ones that appear to be from the landlord. And If you just try calling, the agent will play stupid and loose your time until you sign a contract with his agency( it may take for about a week or two).\n\nJust find some agency directly and take some bulgarian to look very well trough their contract and make sure you give nothing upfront and their commission is no more than half the rent of the apartment they find. And the whole thing takes about two weeks.\n\nFor about 550-600 you can find great furnished apartment.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2035,2970,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2010-06-14 09:17:46','2010-06-14 08:17:46','\"food in the housing market\"? how great is this expression?! :)\n400 leva in the city centre - well, just forget it - 600 leva is a more reasonable starter price - we are talking about furnished appartments, of course.\nI would not recommend Lozenetz or Vitosha - traffic in Sofia is horrible - they would spend hours in the car. And besides, what car? I assume that they won\'t drive... Public transportation... well, you know pretty well. However, they could still choose something in Mladost that is near the metro station',0,'1','','',0,0),(2036,2970,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','85.118.192.131','2010-06-14 09:23:43','2010-06-14 08:23:43','http://bulgaria-property.imoti.net/',0,'1','','',0,0),(2037,2970,'trvl','trvl_far@yahoo.com','','68.203.71.91','2010-06-14 16:51:09','2010-06-14 15:51:09','If I may jump in here to ask some questions: in addition to one-half month\'s rent for agent commission, what are other typical conditions for renting? For example, is it normal to have to pay the first (and perhaps last, as sometimes is the case here in the US) month\'s rent? Security/damage deposit?\n\nThanks',0,'1','','',2034,0),(2038,2970,'helen','evelikova@hotmail.com','http://just-helen.blogspot.com','95.42.9.221','2010-06-14 18:54:00','2010-06-14 17:54:00','yes, one month rent security / damage deposit',0,'1','','',2037,0),(2039,2970,'Biliana','biliana_velkova@yahoo.ca','','128.233.169.95','2010-06-14 22:39:10','2010-06-14 21:39:10','Is this price range (400-600) for one bedroom apartment in the centre?',0,'1','','',0,0),(2040,2970,'Trekkie','monster@trekkie.fr','','193.110.146.231','2010-06-20 06:00:07','2010-06-20 05:00:07','It\'s a lot easier to find accomodation in Sofia than say, Paris (and cheaper to). Really. But you need to pass through a real estate agent agency, or it will be a nightmare, like vn said. Most of these agents are, well ... bulgarian. But you\'re lucky, I know a nice one who speaks well english and helped many expats : wusbg@abv.bg\n\nAs helen said, don\'t forget to look about transportation in Sofia when choosing your appartement. For an european city, public transport is poor in Sofia, and there are traffic jams (but not more than other european cities of the same size).\n\nThe price range is more like 600-900 levas for a nice furnished one bedroom apartment in Sofia centre. Most landlords negotiate the rent price in euros (300-450 €).',0,'1','','',0,0),(2041,2972,'i','ivanmanolov@yahoo.com','','24.23.216.207','2010-06-15 19:44:59','2010-06-15 18:44:59','no walnuts?',0,'1','','',0,0),(2042,2972,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-06-16 06:15:56','2010-06-16 05:15:56','Promise,that you\'ll make banana bread not only for some of your students,but for our next meeting :).Sounds delicious..',0,'1','','',0,0),(2043,2972,'Toto','antoaneta.stefanova@hotmail.com','','85.11.176.28','2010-06-16 17:18:02','2010-06-16 16:18:02','How awesome! Now I can make Bananna Bread! Thanks for the recipe, and, yes, that was an amazing *cake* you had cooked on Friday ;)',0,'1','','',0,0),(2044,2972,'Trekkie','monster@trekkie.fr','','193.110.146.231','2010-06-20 05:33:21','2010-06-20 04:33:21','This recipe is unusable in Bulgaria : cup and degrees F aren\'t in use here. (English langage also).\n\nSo, for people, like me, who are wondering how to convert :\n1 US cup = 240 millilitres\n1 cup sugar ≃ 250 gr. sugar\n2 cup flour ≃ 250 gr. flour.\n\n325 degree F ≃ 165 °C.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2045,2972,'dh','toyman123@yahoo.com','http://www.bakingsodacleaning.org/','66.208.120.80','2010-07-29 01:35:06','2010-07-29 00:35:06','Hey, I enjoyed your article it is very informative.  I gained 5 pounds just looking at the picture. Keep up the good work.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2046,2981,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.203.233.77','2010-06-16 12:19:04','2010-06-16 11:19:04','Retro sexy !!!',0,'1','','',0,0),(2047,2981,'bendyourcircuit','glutathione@gmail.com','http://bendyourcircuit.wordpress.com/','134.99.134.108','2010-06-16 12:25:35','2010-06-16 11:25:35','Cool :-)',0,'1','','',0,0),(2048,2981,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','68.18.91.86','2010-06-16 15:17:05','2010-06-16 14:17:05','Yeah, I used to make huge photo murals for the Honors Program using that site.  Up close you could hardly tell what you were seeing, from across the courtyard or farther away it had a lot of impact.  It was one way of getting some attention on campus.  And it was fun.  People loved being showcased.  Oh, and the mural of you is relatively small.  It can be made much, much larger.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2049,2981,'Dzheci','jessyp7889@gmail.com','http://www.imatelivreme.blogspot.com','74.88.190.72','2010-06-16 16:02:15','2010-06-16 15:02:15','So pretty! It\'s so cool that they made this huge photo of you in the school! :) I would be so embarrassed, but it\'s so sweet and flattering! You\'re a celebrity now! (As if you weren\'t after your television appearance :P)\n\nDzheci',0,'1','','',0,0),(2050,2981,'Antonia','antoniaradkova@gmail.com','','84.238.197.230','2010-06-16 16:43:05','2010-06-16 15:43:05','You are looking really beautiful, много красива :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(2051,2981,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','84.238.226.41','2010-06-16 22:09:07','2010-06-16 21:09:07','Beautiful picture indeed,but it was kind of strange for me....is this really you :),surreal!\n\nEnvy you in a good way for this photo:)!\n\nEnjoy it!',0,'1','','',0,0),(2052,2981,'Deia','deia@mail.bg','','92.247.13.10','2010-06-17 05:08:28','2010-06-17 04:08:28','Yay, you posted it :))) is it still there?',0,'1','','',0,0),(2053,2981,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','75.139.190.181','2010-06-17 16:46:28','2010-06-17 15:46:28','This picture made me want to hurry through June and July, so it could be August and I could see, talk to and touch you in person.  It is amazing what a photo can do to our emotions.\n\nPlease tell these students thanks from your MoM - if that isn\'t too \"uncool.\"\nLove,\nMoM',0,'1','','',0,0),(2054,2792,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-06-19 13:16:21','2010-06-19 12:16:21','Very interesting indeed!Well I think I am allergic to kiwi (the fruit ),because when I am trying something with kiwi(cake etc.),even a small piece of it causes me very unpleasant feeling on my tongue,I even can not describe what exactly it is but hell it is awful.But that\'s all I think I might have allergy to....\n\n\nJust to let you know that we have here also food allergies,but we are just not aware of them:)\n\nHugs!',0,'1','','',0,0),(2055,2792,'windtank','windtank@abv.bg','','78.90.116.112','2010-06-19 15:22:26','2010-06-19 14:22:26','Hm. Does this thing with the tongue have anything to do with allergies? Because that means I am allergic to one of the most delicious dish for me - mashed eggplant. Every time I eat it my tongue starts to hurt but I love it so much that I can\'t possibly quit it. There are other things that make my tongue hurt as well but I can\'t remember them right now.\nIt could have something to do with allergies.\nI know that babies usually have allergy to strawberries or other kinds of berries and mothers are not advised to give them such kind of fruit until they grow up. I also know little kids that are allergic to chocolate.\nBut I guess food allergies are common to little children all over the world and it\'s something they grow out of eventually.\nBut this whole idea that Bulgarians don\'t have allergies sounds really nice. :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(2056,2792,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','75.139.190.181','2010-06-19 15:49:49','2010-06-19 14:49:49','There is a whole other category of problems with food that the \"experts\" call food intolerance.  It is not life threatening like a food allergy.  It may be the tongue pain mentioned in two previous responses would fall in that category.\n\nA true food allergy results in the production of antibodies (an immune system response).  When the response is strong it can result in aniphylactic shock and be life threatening. Folks with true food allergies carry epinephrine to counteract this response. I didn\'t read the NYT story (in spite of the useful link) but the 5% of adults with food allergies probably is this group.\n\nFrom the point of view of nutritional scientists, the effect of allergies and intolerance is similar in that it limits the food choices of individuals.  Any limits such as these can contribute to a diet that does not provide the variety and balance that is recommended for good health. (Oops ... it is summer and I am not supposed to be teaching nutrition!)',0,'1','','',0,0),(2057,2792,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','68.18.91.142','2010-06-19 21:33:10','2010-06-19 20:33:10','Well, Jill got to the blog first, so she had the most to say on this topic, and rightly so.  It is her field.  However, that won\'t keep me from pointing out that a very familiar food intolerance is lactose intolerance, one which may be more familiar in this country than in Bulgaria because of our more diverse population many of whom have lactose intolerance.  If you have it, digesting a number of dairy products range from very uncomfortable to extreme discomfort.  Intolerance like lactose intolerance may not be life threatening but they can make you extremely unhappy for a while. Often food intolerance leads you to a distaste for the food.  It\'s also conceivable that a low cultural tolerance to \"not liking\" foods – a common idea in previous decades in this country, lead people to keep quiet about food intolerance and food allergies.  The topic is more acceptable here now.  Is there a cultural acceptance of food problems in Bulgaria?  Food dislike or avoidance was not an acceptable attitude some years ago when I lived in Germany.  War food shortages translated to a virtual requirement to eat every last shred of everything you were offered. Food intolerance existed, but you tended to hide it.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2058,2792,'Trekkie','monster@trekkie.fr','','193.110.146.231','2010-06-20 05:21:17','2010-06-20 04:21:17','I\'m not Bulgarian, but French, and I have spent most of my life in Europe, and never met somebody there worrying about walnuts in a cake (or any other nut). Some people with strong lactose intolerance (worldwide, most people are lactose intolerant), a friend of mine is allergic to coca-cola (really), maybe a girl with a cucumber allergy (but pretending she hates the taste), and I think that\'s all.\n\nSo I would say for continental Europe, food allergies are not common.\n\nThere is another difference between Europe and the US regarding peanuts : most people never buy peanut butter in Europe. And we avoid giving peanuts to children before the age of 4 or 5. The younger you start eating peanuts, the more chance you have to become allergic to them, so please don\'t feed your child with peanut butter.\n\nRuth : regarding your experience in Germany, you\'re speaking only about elderly people ? For my grand-parents, food dislike is not an acceptable attitude in children... except for Jerusalem Artichoke or Rutabaga. These 2 vegetables been notorious as \"war time food\" ; nowadays they are very hard to find (and expensive, too), because of this reputation. Most french people born after WWII never ate them, and the one who tried say that in fact, they are not that bad. But for grownup, there is no problem about a food dislike in France (or Belgium).',0,'1','','',0,0),(2059,2792,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','68.18.91.142','2010-06-20 18:33:52','2010-06-20 17:33:52','Gosh, it was quit a while ago, but really we weren\'t allowed to dislike food.  The kids were 7, 9, 13, and 15.  And I was 20.  So I don\'t think we were elderly!  We all knew we couldn\'t complain about how something tasted or weather we wanted to eat it or not.  This wasn\'t an authoritarian family either.  It\'s just the way things were.  The standards could be different there now, but I suspect they aren\'t that different.',0,'1','','',2058,0),(2060,2792,'katley','katley99@yahoo.com','http://katleyplanetbg.blogspot.com/','71.192.135.187','2010-06-23 21:27:17','2010-06-23 20:27:17','I don\'t remember people having food allergies when I was a kid.  We had peanut butter &amp; jelly at school all the time and no one had a problem with it, nor was it considered life threatening.\n\nI only knew of one kid in my class who had asthma, and my brother had hay fever.  Allergies seem to be more common now.  Is it our environment or it is the cleanliness thing that people have nowadays, using hand sanitizer and disinfectants all the time? Or is it all the chemicals in the environment that are causing the allergies?  I\'ve been wondering about that.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2061,2792,'teo','copingkoala@yahoo.com','http://copingkoala.wordpress.com','78.94.206.79','2010-06-24 19:37:04','2010-06-24 18:37:04','I\'m Bulgarian, I had an allergy and I really don\'t know what you\'re talking about - we do have food allergies here, we\'re not immune or something, just a lot of people are avoiding that term or don\'t like talking about stuff like that. Food shortage in the past is connected to that attitude of course, but it\'s really going away I think.\n\nI guess you can still put walnuts where you want, if someone have an allergy he/she would probably say, that he/she is on a diet, that\'s accepted by society more than allergy apparently :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(2062,3001,'Marko','gnomeo@gmail.com','http://www.facebook.com/sofiapride','92.247.199.73','2010-06-21 20:51:23','2010-06-21 19:51:23','Your publication made me cry... Thank you...',0,'1','','',0,0),(2063,3001,'hanna','wyckdgrl@yahoo.com','','97.124.56.123','2010-06-21 21:00:30','2010-06-21 20:00:30','Wonderful post.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2064,3001,'the_PhaRaoN','the_craft@abv.bg','','77.85.3.190','2010-06-21 21:34:21','2010-06-21 20:34:21','Amazing...I\'m on it.That is the truth,no matter of sexuality...all is matter is\"People don\'t hate anyone,because of his different.We are all different,even if we are gay,lesbian,hetero,fat,thin,tall,small .....\"\n\nLOVE IS ALL !!',0,'1','','',0,0),(2065,3001,'Vlad','vlady.nicolov@gmail.com','','93.19.73.10','2010-06-21 22:41:49','2010-06-21 21:41:49','Just gorgeous, Karolinka!\nTHANKS!\nI couldn\'t come back to Bulgaria to be there, but if moral support by shared thoughts helps, well you have mine, fullest.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2066,3001,'Deia','deia@mail.bg','','92.247.13.10','2010-06-22 08:13:50','2010-06-22 07:13:50','It\'s my turn to say thanks :) Thank you for this post, and for being the awesome person you are! And see you on Saturday :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(2067,3001,'k','nikolova.kris@gmail.com','http://www.sofiapride.info/','87.126.210.239','2010-06-22 11:58:48','2010-06-22 10:58:48','karolinka, thanks for the supportive words, they\'re very inspiring to both participants and organizers! see you saturday!',0,'1','','',0,0),(2068,3001,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','213.130.70.154','2010-06-22 12:18:41','2010-06-22 11:18:41','@K Of course. I think this is a really important event and I couldn\'t be happier to show my support for the event, the participants and the organizers.',0,'1','','',2067,0),(2069,3001,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-06-22 16:36:27','2010-06-22 15:36:27','So well written! So inspireing!\n\nThank you!\n\n\nI\'ll try to show up If I am in Sofia:)',0,'1','','',0,0),(2070,3001,'i','ivanmanolov@yahoo.com','','24.23.216.207','2010-06-22 18:24:53','2010-06-22 17:24:53','very well written!\nsan francisco pride parade is celebrating its 40th anniversary this coming weekend. this is one of the best SF annual events and i cant wait for it.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2071,3001,'k','nikolova.kris@gmail.com','http://www.sofiapride.info/','78.128.23.107','2010-06-22 18:52:39','2010-06-22 17:52:39','sometimes it\'s really hard to explain even to members of our own community why this is important. thanks for putting it so well.',0,'1','','',2068,0),(2072,3001,'dete','nimfomanche@gmail.com','http://','95.111.51.209','2010-06-24 00:31:07','2010-06-23 23:31:07','great!\nthank you!\nsee you on saturday : )',0,'1','','',0,0),(2073,3009,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.203.233.77','2010-06-24 11:51:19','2010-06-24 10:51:19','\"Also, what does it mean that the Bulgarian government now has more information about me than my own government?\"\n\nOh Karolinke, I highly doubt that !!!\n\nI was at the DMV in 1999 when I got my license and ID (California) they took my fingerprints.\nGiven how crazed up the US is about 9/11, terror and other loony shit. I am sure they have mooooore information about you than anyone would ever want to share with the public.\n\nThis is why i have no secrets.\n\nA message for the NSA - Death to America !!! haha',0,'1','','',0,0),(2074,3009,'Йордан','jordan.milev@gmail.com','','24.193.120.99','2010-06-24 13:38:05','2010-06-24 12:38:05','\"what does it mean that the Bulgarian government now has more information about me than my own government?\"\n\nNothing, really. You can always leave. That\'s what I tell myself living in the US. If I didn\'t want the US government to have my fingerprints, I could just leave.  As it happens, I don\'t think it\'s that infringing on my freedoms, and in Bulgaria\'s case, if used well, fingerprints can help solve a lot of crimes, eventually, and with a lot of political goodwill.  Wishing, I know.\n\nLook on the brighter side: the US government has wider worldwide reach and can do more with your (or my) fingerprints than the Bulgarian government can.  There aren\'t any James Borne stories, Bulgarian style, yet...',0,'1','','',0,0),(2075,3009,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','68.18.91.142','2010-06-24 17:58:36','2010-06-24 16:58:36','Finger prints in the California DMV?  I\'ve had Idaho, Washington State, California, Vermont and Kentucky licenses.  Never have I been asked for finger prints.  Was it because you are from another country?',0,'1','','',2073,0),(2076,3009,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','92.247.223.191','2010-06-24 19:03:09','2010-06-24 18:03:09','I saw others being scanned as well. May be we are the chosen ones :P',0,'1','','',2075,0),(2077,3009,'Deia','deia@mail.bg','','92.247.13.10','2010-06-24 21:22:14','2010-06-24 20:22:14','Speaking of smiling in passport photos, have you seen this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbk980jV7Ao ?\nIt\'s fun and has plenty of smiling photos :D  :D',0,'1','','',0,0),(2078,3009,'hanna','wyckdgrl@yahoo.com','','97.124.56.123','2010-06-25 05:19:21','2010-06-25 04:19:21','Fingerprinting is par for the course for teachers in most states in the US.  Somehow it\'s not a nationwide system though.  So since I have taught or subbed in CA, CO and AZ I have been fingerprinted three times.  I think in the educational context it makes sense.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2079,3013,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','68.18.91.142','2010-06-25 15:21:20','2010-06-25 14:21:20','Cyrillic, oh my goodness, of course!  You\'re courageous.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2080,3013,'Charlotte','charlotte.emigh@gmail.com','','216.186.42.218','2010-06-25 18:08:33','2010-06-25 17:08:33','This is great. dAd and I have both had eye exams recently too and we talked about our own eye exam anxiety. We both feel like there is never a big difference between the two choice when they ask you which one is better. And that always makes me feel like something is wrong with me! Maybe we are just a family of perfectionists. Can\'t wait to see your new glasses!',0,'1','','',0,0),(2081,3013,'ilian','imar@abv.bg','','85.130.53.4','2010-06-25 19:11:55','2010-06-25 18:11:55','I think you are getting too stressed about the language and the Cyrillic. Just relax and you\'ll see how everything comes to its place and that your Bulgarian is much better than you think. Perfectionism is not always a good thing.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2082,3017,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','68.189.135.162','2010-06-28 22:09:13','2010-06-28 21:09:13','You may fall short of the definition of \"well rounded!\"\n\nBut let me assure you that it is possible to figure out the basics when you have to volunteer to help be a line \"judge\" when your third grader gets on a soccer team.\n\nI had to learn some rules really fast.  My role seemed to be keeping track of who kicked the ball last so I could say which team could get the ball after it went out of bounds. (You may remember I wasn\'t very good at this.)\n\nMaybe you come to your role as a  \"seriously disinterested observer\" naturally.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2083,3024,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','68.189.135.162','2010-06-28 22:00:54','2010-06-28 21:00:54','It is definitely your dashing good looks.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2084,3024,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','84.40.125.59','2010-06-29 06:03:47','2010-06-29 05:03:47','@MoM Thanks! But you did read the interview right? It just seemed to hit the nail on the head and when I read it I had an ah-ha moment: that\'s why people like what I am doing with my blog.',0,'1','','',2083,0),(2085,3024,'Ivet','ivet13@gmail.com','','212.36.24.179','2010-06-29 12:53:53','2010-06-29 11:53:53','No one can tell what is wrong and what is right. Wrongness is subjective. One thing can be wrong for you and simultaneously right for me. We all make mistakes and not always do the right thing or make the right choices. And sometimes we even choose to be wrong by not following the rules. Living abroad doesn’t mean you\'re always wrong, it just means you\'re different, you think outside the box, you have different point of view, different education, different understanding of the world. This is what makes your blog interesting. In your case being an American is a narrative device. Imagine if you were an ordinary Bulgarian, living in Bulgaria, who always tries to do the right thing and never dare to do anything wrong, take a risk or step out the right line. Boring. Does anyone want to read her blog? Nope. ',0,'1','','',0,0),(2086,3024,'Bridget','mullanski@yahoo.com','','68.48.185.118','2010-06-30 03:22:59','2010-06-30 02:22:59','You haven\'t read \"Me Talk Pretty One Day\"? It is fantastic! You\'ll definitely be able to relate, and laugh at the stories, particularly in the language class. That book is one of my favorites. :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(2087,3034,'Ilia Temelkov - soregashi','temelkovv@gmail.com','http://temelkoff.blogspot.com','194.145.163.137','2010-07-02 01:25:49','2010-07-02 00:25:49','Wow, this sounds nice. I would really like to read this :).',0,'1','','',0,0),(2088,3034,'Jason Morrison','jmorrison@teletrac.net','','173.144.118.68','2010-07-04 01:38:20','2010-07-04 00:38:20','Just happened to be in Chicago and attended a book signing by Cynthia Phoel.  I purchased the book and have been able to read through almost the whole book.  I would definitely recomend it to anybody that is looking for a well written book and that really gives great insight to the culture in Bulgaria when she lived there in 1994.  By the way it came to my attention that the city she lived in is Pravetz, just outside Sophia.',0,'1','','',2087,0),(2089,3034,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','84.40.125.59','2010-07-04 06:14:27','2010-07-04 05:14:27','@Jason Morrison, I\'ll definitely be picking up a copy of the short stories in August. I can\'t wait to get my hands on a the book.',0,'1','','',2088,0),(2090,3034,'petya','petya.kirilova@gmail.com','http://howtomarryabulgarian.com','74.177.8.32','2010-07-16 22:22:11','2010-07-16 21:22:11','Cynthia was my Peace Corps volunteer when I was in high-school in Pravetz (\'94-\'99). She was a magnificent teacher and her book is really poignant. I look forward to hearing what you think of it. It\'s the first selection for The Migrant Bookclub that I just started at the beginning of July.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2091,3034,'Cold Snap and Cynthia Morrison Phoel &laquo; Karolinka In &amp; Around Bulgaria','','http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/10/22/cold-snap-and-cynthia-morrison-phoel/','72.233.96.175','2010-10-22 04:33:32','2010-10-22 03:33:32','[...] wrote about this book the first time in June/July but I didn&#8217;t finish reading it until September and I haven&#8217;t been inspired to write [...]',0,'1','','pingback',0,0),(2092,3044,'Apostol','Guardian.Hearts@gmail.com','','78.83.248.196','2010-07-03 22:05:42','2010-07-03 21:05:42','It\'s so refreshing to read your blog. :) This post made me smile just by reading the headline and  I\'m still smiling. :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(2093,3044,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','92.247.223.191','2010-07-05 18:45:53','2010-07-05 17:45:53','Everytime i read something like that I wonder who your bulgarian friends are. You should have already seen tons of chalga crap, bad rap (G.P) good rap (Gumeni Glavi, Spens), chalga rap - Ustata. You should have heard the great Lili Ivanova, the great Bulgarian rock groups, the lame pop music singers of the 80s (Veselin Marinov) or good but homo as fuck - Vasil Naydenov.\n\nSomehow I just think that you aren\'t experiencing Bulgaria.More or less you are still American who is on a layover in a place which is near the good places you really want to visit.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2094,3044,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.203','2010-07-08 22:40:32','2010-07-08 21:40:32','Actually, even the most famous Bulgarian rappers won\'t make enough money to have the lifestyle of a rap star. It\'s a small place and nearly everybody takes the bus, if it is not too crowded. You can meet tons of famous people at some cafes and restaurants downtown, actually.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2095,3085,'Deia','deia@mail.bg','','92.247.13.10','2010-07-05 20:39:27','2010-07-05 19:39:27','I demand pictures from last night :P :D',0,'1','','',0,0),(2096,3085,'katley','katley99@yahoo.com','http://katleyplanetbg.blogspot.com/','71.192.135.187','2010-07-10 04:19:14','2010-07-10 03:19:14','Bulgarians seem to know more about our holidays than we do about theirs.\n\nCheck this out:\n\nhttp://bnr.bg/sites/en/Lifestyle/BulgariaAndWorld/Pages/0207bulgaroamerikanskiotnosheniaPB.aspx\n\nIf you read my blog (website) you\'ll know what I mean.\n\nI lived in Germany for several years and became part of the community there.  I loved living abroad and mention it in my blog.  Unfortunately I didn\'t make it to Bulgaria because back in the day it was communist.\n\nWishing you a happy belated 4th.\n\nKatley',0,'1','','',0,0),(2097,3051,'andreytcho','andreytcho@yahoo.com','http://andreytcho.com','15.203.233.77','2010-07-06 09:19:17','2010-07-06 08:19:17','I vote for purple-black !!! HOT !!!\nThe others make you 10 yrs older and look like a virgin musical teacher.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2098,3051,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-07-06 16:20:23','2010-07-06 15:20:23','I vote for the purple also:).As I have a huge experience with glasses,I can say that the brown one has their advantages...anyway good for you:).',0,'1','','',0,0),(2099,3051,'miter','miter@gmail.com','','158.35.225.228','2010-07-06 19:23:33','2010-07-06 18:23:33','Clearly, purple and black.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2100,3051,'Deia','deia@mail.bg','','92.247.13.10','2010-07-06 21:05:36','2010-07-06 20:05:36','I vote for the brown ones :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(2101,3051,'Toto','antoaneta.stefanova@hotmail.com','','85.11.176.28','2010-07-06 21:30:05','2010-07-06 20:30:05','Definitely the brown ones.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2102,3051,'i','ivanmanolov@yahoo.com','','24.211.29.153','2010-07-07 00:03:09','2010-07-06 23:03:09','definitely the purple and black ones',0,'1','','',0,0),(2103,3051,'mimichka','maria.letki@gmail.com','','208.120.88.91','2010-07-07 03:06:18','2010-07-07 02:06:18','It is not that it matters but I like the brown ones also : )',0,'1','','',0,0),(2104,3051,'Ger','bast@gbg.bg','','77.76.43.51','2010-07-07 12:08:51','2010-07-07 11:08:51','Purple! :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(2105,3051,'Ilia Temelkov - soregashi','temelkovv@gmail.com','http://temelkoff.blogspot.com','194.145.163.137','2010-07-07 20:37:30','2010-07-07 19:37:30','I think the good looking one aren\'t the glasses, but the eyes behind them :). I can\'t imagine glasses that will look bad on such eyes :).',0,'1','','',0,0),(2106,3051,'Vergil','vergilg@hotmail.com','','99.241.2.231','2010-07-07 22:58:32','2010-07-07 21:58:32','I vote for contacts - you have beautiful eyes and the world deserves to see them :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(2107,3051,'Комитата','komitata@gmail.com','http://komitata.blogspot.com','85.130.127.203','2010-07-08 00:01:37','2010-07-07 23:01:37','glasses #2 - sexy!',0,'1','','',0,0),(2108,3051,'Melly','melissa@melissaroberts.org','http://www.twitter.com/melissa_ann','209.220.223.66','2010-07-29 23:44:53','2010-07-29 22:44:53','Ok, I have been travelling all month and am grossly behind on reading Karolinka! I love your new glasses -- the purple ones are amazing!!!\n\nMiss you!',0,'1','','',0,0),(2109,3058,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','78.90.92.40','2010-07-08 16:19:46','2010-07-08 15:19:46','Great!  Great!  Great!\n\nI envy you for the courage!But the haircut is pretty ......great:).Have a lot of fun with your new styling!',0,'1','','',0,0),(2110,3058,'Charlotte','charlotte.emigh@gmail.com','','216.186.42.218','2010-07-08 17:46:00','2010-07-08 16:46:00','So if you just shaved off 5 years, am I the older sister now? Its very pretty, but suddenly I might be in danger of being the blonder sister too! But I love it. Cannot wait to see you.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2111,3058,'Jane Laaker','jlaaker@centurytel.net','','207.118.45.6','2010-07-16 18:07:26','2010-07-16 17:07:26','Love your hair cut and glasses.  The color and cut are great.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2112,3058,'lilia','ivaivanova0@abv.bg','','84.21.221.222','2010-10-03 10:54:22','2010-10-03 09:54:22','ОК! Ще опитам',0,'1','','',0,0),(2113,3058,'lilia','ivaivanova0@abv.bg','','84.21.221.222','2010-10-03 10:55:32','2010-10-03 09:55:32','Това ми беше първто желание , но спец. каза че е трудно за поддръжка и минаха на сегашния.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2114,3070,'bozhidar','bb05@sbcglobal.net','','99.33.68.152','2010-07-09 17:17:03','2010-07-09 16:17:03','Thank you for the post and also a huge thank you for being at the pride.  Bulgaria being a relatively new democracy needs all the support in order to form a free civil society, where all human rights are respected. I think people are very hypocrite, in public they are homophobic,  otherwise they are liberal and accept all people. Especially young people are sexually very open and eager to just have all kinds of sex. The sexual revolution is way late in Bulgaria, but it’s better late than never.  The United States is a free country in terms of political and social rights, while I consider Bulgaria to be free only in the political aspect of what is the definition of a democracy. Once again, Thank you!',0,'1','','',0,0),(2115,3070,'Ruth','ruth.spangler@gmail.com','','68.210.132.39','2010-07-11 15:49:01','2010-07-11 14:49:01','Hey, thanks Carolyn. :-D  Since I\'m not in the mainstream with your MoM, I don\'t always get to keep up except through the blog, which is one of the points, isn\'t it?  Poor camera man.  It looks like he didn\'t feel comfortable with this assignment.  He needs to spend some time working in the states.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2116,3070,'dawsr','cimbrio@hotmail.com','','80.103.182.62','2010-07-16 17:07:16','2010-07-16 16:07:16','ARGH! My Skype doesn\'t work and I soooo want to speak to you Karolinkie! (Nothing the matter, just missing Bulgaria a bit...).\n\nAnyhoo, glad to see you went to the Parade; I wanted to go last year but no one backed me up :( I\'m glad every year more and more people go (the first time they marched three years ago I believe there were more people against the march than marchers themselves!).\n\nHope to hear from you soon. Kisses &amp; Banitsas',0,'1','','',0,0),(2117,3070,'dawsr','cimbrio@hotmail.com','','80.103.182.62','2010-07-16 17:17:06','2010-07-16 16:17:06','OMG I just saw you on this video!\n\nWhat is it with you and TV in BG!\n\nhttp://www.gay.bg/news-article.php?id=139\n\nxD',0,'1','','',0,0),(2118,3073,'Den','sayaddina@gmail.com','','99.103.25.250','2010-07-10 09:07:32','2010-07-10 08:07:32','Hahaha, I find your post hilarious:) I don\'t know I would have understood it four years ago but now I get every word you say:)\n\nP.S. There is  another type of cookies that is quite similar to Oreo and has been present in Bulgaria ever since I can remember (1990 that is ;))... this fact makes is that much funnier to see how Oreo is presented as a life changing ...well cookie...',0,'1','','',0,0),(2119,3073,'Andrey','nero2@abv.bg','http://wahregedanken.blogspot.com','77.70.61.85','2010-07-10 09:20:58','2010-07-10 08:20:58','Is it just me, but I find the Oreo to be a normal biscuit. I mean there were a lots of such biscuits in Bulgaria for the past 20 years. But it seems that Oreos are something really big in the States',0,'1','','',0,0),(2120,3073,'Deia','deia@mail.bg','','85.130.53.145','2010-07-10 12:46:14','2010-07-10 11:46:14','I love Oreos :) ...and can\'t wait to get my hands on the double-stuffed ones...',0,'1','','',0,0),(2121,3073,'Bobby','lordnosfy@gmail.com','','87.120.221.16','2010-07-11 10:32:55','2010-07-11 09:32:55','I actually didn\'t know Oreos came from the US. Up untill a few minutes ago I thought they were just the same old buscuits with a different name. A way to sell us the old stuff at a new price. Especially advertising the dipping in milk as some great new idea. We\'ve been dipping our biscuits in milk and whatever for decades - when all you have are plain biscuts dipping comes to mind really quick. :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(2122,3073,'teo','copingkoala@yahoo.com','http://copingkoala.wordpress.com','78.94.206.29','2010-07-11 16:26:26','2010-07-11 15:26:26','I think that Oreo will never get very popular in Bulgaria, because we\'ve always eaten the other ones, that taste the same or better, because that\'s \"the cookies of our childhood\" (I can\'t think of the name, I mean the ones that the first comment talks about).\n\nIf that comforts you, Oreo is not big at all in Germany, it\'s not even available in the most supermarkets in my city :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(2123,3073,'Deia','deia@mail.bg','','92.247.13.10','2010-07-14 12:58:41','2010-07-14 11:58:41','Omg, you need to write a new post...It\'s been almost 5 days without an update... :D',0,'1','','',0,0),(2124,3073,'Deia','deia@mail.bg','','85.130.11.21','2010-07-16 14:23:40','2010-07-16 13:23:40','seriously, a WEEK without a post?! :D\n\np.s. sorry for the spam :P',0,'1','','',0,0),(2125,3073,'Andrey','nero2@abv.bg','http://wahregedanken.blogspot.com','77.70.61.85','2010-07-19 08:39:22','2010-07-19 07:39:22','Carolyn wrote on the 10th of July:\n\n\"I’ll be meeting my good friend R. in Budapest on July 10th and from there we will begin our Balkan Adventure. \"',0,'1','','',0,0),(2126,3073,'Йордан','jordan.milev@gmail.com','','69.27.242.130','2010-07-28 19:56:30','2010-07-28 18:56:30','American consumerism and obesity.  You have that right.  I hope Bulgarians don\'t become as overweight as the general population in America. Hope.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2127,3073,'Linka','morobba@abv.bg','http://linkasblog.blogspot.com','84.238.196.117','2010-07-31 17:41:28','2010-07-31 16:41:28','Are Oreos from the US originally? Never would have thought that. They seemed pretty Turkish-y to me. (I mean, until I saw an Oreo-flavoured icecream in London). And who eats a cookie in a three-step-routine..by numbers??\n(great and totally funny blog, btw, I am checking it out regularly).\n\nKeep it going!\n\nL.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2128,3073,'Mercedes','m.aburt@yahoo.com','','68.28.147.116','2010-09-26 14:43:26','2010-09-26 13:43:26','wow. why so much fuss over a little cookie? dip it, don\'t dip it. it\'s just a cookie. ps: the general population in America is not obese. and I am sure there are obese people in Bulgaria just like there are in every part of the world. Stop US bashing.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2129,3089,'Charlotte','charlotte.emigh@gmail.com','','216.186.42.218','2010-07-20 18:09:42','2010-07-20 17:09:42','Thank you for the travel update. You are so bold. Its amazing that you went with a fruit and vegetable vendor. Stay safe, can\'t wait to see you!',0,'1','','',0,0),(2130,3089,'Ivet','ivet13@gmail.com','','212.36.24.179','2010-07-21 09:08:00','2010-07-21 08:08:00','If you ever get in a situation like this again you can just try hitch-hiking. The traffic along the sea-side is very busy all summer long and a lot of drivers are ready to take you for such short distances. Enjoy your trip!',0,'1','','',0,0),(2131,3089,'bendyourcircuit','glutathione@gmail.com','http://bendyourcircuit.wordpress.com/','134.99.134.108','2010-07-21 15:49:37','2010-07-21 14:49:37','That\'s right, but I wouldn\'t recommend it to a female foreigner unless someone\'s hitch-hiking with her.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2132,3089,'Ger','bast@gbg.bg','','87.119.67.42','2010-07-22 08:00:41','2010-07-22 07:00:41','Or you could try 3na100.com',0,'1','','',0,0),(2133,3092,'Elena','el4o2_bear@abv.bg','','109.160.6.145','2010-07-30 15:12:52','2010-07-30 14:12:52','Welcome back!\n\nGlad to have you here in BG!When are you leaving for the US?\n\nCan\'t wait for more posts,regarding your travelling!\n\nEli',0,'1','','',0,0),(2134,3095,'bendyourcircuit','glutathione@gmail.com','http://bendyourcircuit.wordpress.com/','80.152.250.229','2010-08-01 08:24:15','2010-08-01 07:24:15','Well, that part about the Northern Black Sea Coast is not exactly true. Yes, Varna is overpopulated by tourist in the summer, but Shabla, Kamen bryag and Yailata are not. Dulboka is definitely worth going to: it\'s a mussel farm and it has a large menu of seafood specialties. Besides, the Southern Coast is overpopulated in summer, too... just take a look at Kiten or Primorsko. The Northern Coast, especially the part that\'s closer to the Romanian border is wilder and rockier, which makes it even more beautiful in my opinion. But hey, what do I know, I come from Varna and it\'s understanable if I\'m partial :)',0,'1','','',0,0),(2135,3095,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','84.40.125.59','2010-08-01 09:01:46','2010-08-01 08:01:46','@bendyourcircuit Of course you\'re right! I did paint a wide sweeping picture about the north of the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast which was undeserved. And in fact, I am interested in many of the places you\'ve mentioned.',0,'1','','',2134,0),(2136,3095,'cid','s.roussev@gmail.com','','84.238.217.4','2010-08-01 18:01:22','2010-08-01 17:01:22','Dulboka is a place which is way overrated. Ridiculous prices, tiny amounts of mussels, plenty of rice and stuff to make up for it, and on top of that - poor service. I visited it because I was drawn exactly by such good vibe but I have rarely been so disappointed - it wasn\'t even worth going down that steep road. Steer clear of it and find a better place to eat seafood.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2137,3095,'bendyourcircuit','glutathione@gmail.com','http://bendyourcircuit.wordpress.com/','134.99.134.108','2010-08-01 18:03:26','2010-08-01 17:03:26','Interesting. I guess things have changed since I was there for the last time (which was a little bit more than two years ago).',0,'1','','',0,0),(2138,3111,'MoM','djemigh@charter.net','','68.189.143.80','2010-08-02 15:18:09','2010-08-02 14:18:09','Please remember that it has been HOT in Walla Walla.',0,'1','','',0,0),(2139,3111,'karolinka27','carolyn.emigh@gmail.com','http://','84.40.125.59','2010-08-02 15:26:32','2010-08-02 14:26:32','@MoM good to know! Thanks and I\'ll see you soon.',0,'1','','',2138,0);
