I've been thinking a lot about how I can learn more Bulgarian and more about traditional Bulgarian cuisine.  It came to me recently.  I need my own Baba.  But how does an American girl go about this?  I know a few teachers at school but they are busy with their families. I know a number of 20-something Bulgarians but their English is so good that they usually talk to me in English. And I know 210 8th graders but I don't think they can really cook yet.

What I need to do is to adopt my own Baba but that's easier said than done.  It seems like one option is just to start talking to older people and see what happens but I really don't want to come across as the creepy American girl hitting on Babas in coffee shops--that and I don't actually know which haunts the Babas hang-out in.

That's why I've written this:<!--more-->
<p style="padding-left:90px;">Wanted: a patient, kind and understanding Bulgarian Baba to teach me, an American girl in her late 20's, how to cook traditional Bulgarian cuisine and to converse with me in Bulgarian.  Me? I bring to the table a smile, my fairly bad Bulgarian as well as a desire to learn more Bulgarian through conversation and to learn how to cook Bulgarian food.  Also, I'll bring all of the ingredients.</p>
<p style="padding-left:90px;">As of today, I am happy accepting applications or referrals for this position. I would like to fill this position ASAP.</p>

While you may think that my want ad is tongue in-cheek (and it is, a little), in all seriousness, I would love to be connected with a Baba who would be willing to teach me how to make Bulgarian food and who would also be willing to put up with my pretty bad Bulgarian (this would, I assume, mean that she is either very patient or a little bit deaf).

The only problem is that I am not sure how to get my advertisement to the appropriate demographic.  I don't think I have a following of Bulgarian Babas who regularly read my blog--surprise, surprise.  My demographic is comprised mainly of 20-something adults, English speakers and/or people related to me.  This makes it difficult for me to connect with an appropriate Baba--that and my written Bulgarian is by far worse than my spoken Bulgarian. So I am left with posting this ad on my blog and hoping that someone stumbles across it who can help me with my search.

Now seems like a good time to add the fact that generally people like me (young people and old people alike).  I am friendly, I like to talk, I also like to drink coffee and I feel like I am missing out by living in Bulgaria and not knowing any older Bulgarians.  I am also tall so I can get things off of high shelves and this week I managed to open a really, really hard to open jar all by myself.

In conclusion, if you have a Baba in your life or know someone who you think fits my description, please contact me. This said, the easiest way to contact me is probably by commenting on my blog.  When you post on my blog, I am notified by email and the email address you submit on the comment form is sent to me.  In this way I can reply to you via email.

Thank-you in advance for your help with this matter.