Earlier this week Bulgarians gathered in downtown Sofia to protest rising heating costs. The protests turned violent and then the Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and his cabinet resigned on Wednesday. Today <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/21/us-bulgaria-easteurope-idUSBRE91K0TO20130221" target="_blank">the analysis begins</a>.

I don't really know what all of this means for the country.

It's changed very little in my day-to-day life. Well aside from this email from my parents titled: Riots in Sofia... The body of the email was a single line: Are you safe and alright?

My response: Yes.

I know they would have liked a little more information from me on the nature of these news-worthy events but I don't really have one to give. At the beginning of the week, I never guessed that things would turn violent, let alone that the Prime Minister would step down (really, who does that?!).

I find the whole thing is interesting and unexpected but I suspect that this may be because I am a foreigner. I think it must be wholly different if you're a Bulgarian. I suspect that if you're Bulgarian there's more eye rolling interspersed with heavy sighing and a lot of head shaking.

Me? I find myself reading these stories and thinking: <em>Oh, Bulgaria</em>. The appropriate tone to read into the phrase "<em>Oh, Bulgaria</em>" is part exasperated, over-worked mother and part sing-song-y Disney musical fairy god-mother. Ideally the result is reproach and wonderment all at once.

What's next, Bulgaria, what's next?!