(4823,1,'2011-04-25 10:42:17','2011-04-25 08:42:17','I got a request from one of my readers via <a title=\"Twitter: Carolyn Emigh\" href=\"https://twitter.com/#!/CarolynEmigh\" target=\"_blank\">twitter</a> a couple of days ago. She wanted to know what to do in Sofia for a day in June before grabbing a flight to Varna at 11pm with a friend.\n\nGood question.\n\nUltimately, I guess it depends on what you are into. In a new city, I generally like to mix up my routine a little bit usually this includes a museum or something culture, a stroll around town, a coffee and people watching, snacking on some local food, seeking out some young and hip shops and then topping it off with beer or a cocktail on a pedestrian zone watching the transition between late afternoon before hitting up a new-to-me restaurant.\n\nThese days I feel no pressure to hit up every museum or to seek out every famous building/monument/statue/neighborhood. I\'d rather have a good taste of the city rather than the alternative which is to rush, rush, rush in order to check tourist sites off of some arbitrary list made up by a guidebook.\n\nSo if I were in Sofia for a day, I think about checking out one of these museums/galleries.\n\nOr I might consider a walking tour with Free Sofia Tour.\n\nI\'d have a coffee in one of these two parks.\n\nI\'d visit these two shops.\n\nI\'d pick between one of these quick and cheep restaurants for lunch or dinner.\n\nI\'d have a drink on Vitosha at Memento.\n\n&nbsp;','Sofia for a Day? ','','inherit','open','open','','4821-revision-2','','','2011-04-25 10:42:17','2011-04-25 08:42:17','',4821,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/25/4821-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4878,1,'2011-05-03 21:01:16','2011-05-03 19:01:16','I turn 30 this month and frankly, I haven\'t spent much time thinking about it.\r\n\r\nActually, I\'ve spent a lot more time trying to come up with a blog post about the fact that in this country a girl can buy by volume twice as much beer as shampoo. I realized this one morning a few weeks ago while washing my hair: most shampoo bottles are 250 ml while beer bottles are 500 ml. This of course seems like a noteworthy fact.\r\n\r\nBut it turns out this fact is neither interesting enough nor funny enough to garner its own blog post.  It seems that no amount of time (or beer for that matter) will make it funnier or more interesting so I\'ve let it go. <em>Well, kind of</em>.\r\n\r\nAnyhow, back to this 30 thing. I think it\'s great. I am going to buy myself a great new dress and maybe some heels. I\'ll top the look off with red lipstick and invite my friends to join me for dinner and drinks in downtown Sofia. I can\'t really think of a better way to celebrate.\r\n\r\nThe only thing that\'s not <em>so</em> great?\r\n\r\n<em>Pimples</em>. I never imagined that being just days away from 30, I would still find myself fighting a pimple here and there. I assumed that turning 30 was a ticket to being a grown-up and with that you got to trade in pimples for gray hair. Apparently this is not the case.\r\n\r\nThere\'s something kind of unfair about this whole thing.  Don\'t worry though. There\'s an upside. At least, I\'m a lot more adept at the art of foundation and cover-up at nearly-30 than I was at 15.','Turning 30 This Month ','','publish','open','open','','turning-30-this-month','','','2011-05-03 21:01:16','2011-05-03 19:01:16','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=4878',0,'post','',2),(4825,1,'2011-04-25 21:13:38','2011-04-25 19:13:38','','Palace of Justice ','Lion at the Palace of Justice ','inherit','open','open','','img_8187','','','2011-04-25 21:13:38','2011-04-25 19:13:38','',4821,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_8187.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4826,1,'2011-04-25 21:11:58','2011-04-25 19:11:58','I got a request from one of my readers via <a title=\"Twitter: Carolyn Emigh\" href=\"https://twitter.com/#!/CarolynEmigh\" target=\"_blank\">twitter</a> a couple of days ago. She wanted to know what to do in Sofia for a day in June before grabbing a flight to Varna at 11pm with a friend.\n\nGood question.\n\nUltimately, I guess it depends on what you are into.\n\nIn a new city, I generally like to mix up my routine a little bit usually this includes a museum or something culture, a stroll around town, a coffee and people watching, snacking on some local food, seeking out some young and hip shops and then topping it off with beer or a cocktail on a pedestrian zone watching the transition between late afternoon before hitting up a new-to-me restaurant.\n\nThese days I feel no pressure to hit up every museum or to seek out every famous building/monument/statue/neighborhood. I\'d rather have a good taste of the city rather than the alternative which is to rush, rush, rush in order to check tourist sites off of some arbitrary list made up by a guidebook.\n\nSo if I were in Sofia for a day, I\'d consider some combination of the following suggestions depending on what I like, the weather forecast and how ambitious I felt. <!--more-->I \'d probably start by checking out one of these museums/galleries.\n<ul>\n	<li>If you want to see one of the best collections in the city terms of accessibility, history, the display of artifacts and information in English you really can\'t go wrong with the <a href=\"http://www.naim.bg/main.php?lang=BG\" target=\"_blank\">Archaeological Museum</a> (good thing their website is only in Bulgaria--here\'s <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Archaeological_Museum_%28Bulgaria%29\" target=\"_blank\">wikipedia</a> for you English speakers). The only thing is it\'s not cheep--I think tickets are 10 leva so if you\'re a student say so. This said it\'s worth it. The museum is housed in an old mosque and even the building is beautiful.</li>\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.sghg.bg/newsite/index.php?lg=en\" target=\"_blank\">The Sofia Art Gallery</a> (or maybe it\'s the Sofia Municipal Gallery of Art--but that\'s a mouthful) on the other hand is free and two rooms of Bulgarian art. Collections are usually curated around a single theme and the great thing about this is that if you don\'t like what you see you have no obligation to stay. This said, some of my favorite shows have taken place in this gallery and you\'ll definitely find yourself in the park in front of the <a href=\"http://www.nationaltheatre.bg/bg/\" target=\"_blank\">National Theater</a> at some point so why not pop in and see what\'s showing?!</li>\n	<li>Finally, I have a love/hate relationship with the <a href=\"http://www.programata.bg/?p=60&amp;l=2&amp;c=1&amp;id=66\" target=\"_blank\">Ethnographic Museum</a>/<a href=\"http://www.nationalartgallerybg.org/index.php?l=67\" target=\"_blank\">National Art Gallery</a> both of which are housed in the former Royal Palace. I hate that the building is falling apart around the museum/gallery and that seemingly very little is being done to keep up the building. This said, I love the National Art Gallery\'s collection. The Ethnographic Museum I could pass on and may actually be closed for repairs if I am to believe <a href=\"http://www.programata.bg/?p=1&amp;l=2&amp;c=1\" target=\"_blank\">programata.bg</a> (a great resource for what\'s happening in the city each week).  The cafe/bar Toba &amp; Co around back behind the palace is fine but for the record there are more interesting places to have a coffee in the city.</li>\n</ul>\nOr if museums aren\'t your thing and it\'s a beautiful day, I\'d consider a walking tour with <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/freesofiatour?ref=ts\" target=\"_blank\">Free Sofia Tour</a> and here\'s <a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/23/sofia-and-easter-weekend/\" target=\"_blank\">my review</a> of the tour I went on. Really I can\'t stress this enough there are two tour times each day 11am and 6pm and if you have two hours to spare you won\'t regret it.\n\nI\'d have a coffee or a beer (or maybe both) in one of these two parks.\n<ul>\n	<li>The park in front of the National Theater (guide books refer to it as the Sofia City Garden but I\'ve never heard anyone call it that.)</li>\n	<li>The park/garden/space behind the fruit and vegetable market on Graf Ignatiev and in front of the Church of the Seven Holy Saints (Sveti Sedmochislenitsi Church). The people watching here after lunch and in the early afternoon is excellent. Old men and women line the sides of the park on benches, mothers push babies around in strollers and businessmen relax in the sun.</li>\n</ul>\nI\'d visit these two shops. Why? Well because they are my favorite shops in the city. Here\'s why. Both shops are run by young locals who speak English and who are happy to talk to you about what they are doing, why they are passionate about it and the prices while maybe expensive for local Bulgarians are excellent when compared to other major European cities.\n<ul>\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2009/04/17/friday-finds-paradise-garage/\" target=\"_blank\">Paradise Garag</a>e is a boutique which sells women\'s clothing and accessories made by up and coming Bulgarian designers. Every time I go, I fall in love with something and come out with a new addition to my wardrobe. Be warned, the shop is dangerous.  It’s one block off Vitosha Blvd on Karnigradska and one block before the Irish pub JJ Murphy’s.</li>\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/12/14/zona-urbana/\" target=\"_blank\">Zona Urbana</a> is a boutique of sorts which sells a variety of different things made from recycled materials like old communist newspapers. Items range from wallets to purses to tote bags/messenger bags, earrings and buttons. They also have leather cuffs and a line of toys. Zona Urbana is across the street from the Moroccan restaurant Annette\'s (which is tasty if your in the mood for Moroccan but the service is often slow. This said, they have some great vegetarian options).  The shop is at Angel Kunchev #24 for those of you who are interested.</li>\n</ul>\nI\'d pick between one of these quick and cheep restaurants for lunch or dinner. Both of the restaurants listed below serve what I call modern Bulgarian fare. The food is traditionally Bulgarian but often with a lighter twist and without the kitschy pottery and woven table cloths. In both of these restaurants two people could easily eat lunch for less than 20 leva and yes, that price includes a beer.\n<ul>\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294452-d806676-Reviews-Divaka-Sofia.html\" target=\"_blank\">Divaka</a> apparently means wild person in Bulgarian not that this matters too much. The food is good. It\'s usually pretty easy to get a table and they\'ve got an English menu.  Interestingly, I\'ve never written a review of this restaurant but I take anyone who has ever visited me here and they love it. Maybe one of these days I\'ll write a review of the restaurant. There are three Divaka\'s in the city center. One at the little five corners off of Graf Ignatiev on the 6th of September (#41), another at 54 Gladston Street and the third is off of Vitosha Street on 16 Hristo Belchev Street (which runs parallel to Vitosha).</li>\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/03/07/new-sofia-restaurant-tavite-or-%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5/\" target=\"_blank\">Tavite/Тавите</a> is a new love of mine. They serve both lunch and dinner in a super cute atmosphere for a great price. They are kind of tucked away behind the book market on Slaveykov Square. The street address is 58 William Gladsone Str but the link offers walking directions.</li>\n</ul>\nAfter all of this, I\'d have a drink on Vitosha Street at <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/MementoCafe\" target=\"_blank\">Memento</a>. The cafe is cozy and has seats inside and outside. Outside is clearly the place to park yourself while you sip on a drink or two--unless it\'s raining. Then do the smart thing. Sit inside and chat up the bartender/barista. The great thing about Memento is that they offer excellent coffee, loose tea and cocktails so there\'s something for everyone.\n\nAnd, that\'s that. Sofia in a day.\n\nSure I\'ve left off banitsa and rakiya. I don\'t have a traditional Bulgarian restaurant in the mix and I haven\'t listed a single souvenir shop but here\'s the thing, you can\'t do everything in a day. I guess if you were desperate you could probably squeeze banitsa and rakiya in for breakfast but I am not sure that combination is recommended. It\'s probably a safer bet to sub in some form of Bulgarian yogurt.\n\nOh and if you really wanted to do it up like a local, you could do the whole thing in heals. Just beware of the cobble stones and uneven sidewalks.','Sofia for a Day? ','','inherit','open','open','','4821-revision-3','','','2011-04-25 21:11:58','2011-04-25 19:11:58','',4821,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/25/4821-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(4827,1,'2011-04-25 21:15:30','2011-04-25 19:15:30','I got a request from one of my readers via <a title=\"Twitter: Carolyn Emigh\" href=\"https://twitter.com/#!/CarolynEmigh\" target=\"_blank\">twitter</a> a couple of days ago. She wanted to know what to do in Sofia for a day in June before grabbing a flight to Varna at 11pm with a friend.\r\n\r\nGood question.\r\n\r\nUltimately, I guess it depends on what you are into.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4825\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Lion at the Palace of Justice \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4825\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4825\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4825 \" title=\"Palace of Justice \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_8187-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn a new city, I generally like to mix up my routine a little bit usually this includes a museum or something culture, a stroll around town, a coffee and people watching, snacking on some local food, seeking out some young and hip shops and then topping it off with beer or a cocktail on a pedestrian zone watching the transition between late afternoon before hitting up a new-to-me restaurant.\r\n\r\nThese days I feel no pressure to hit up every museum or to seek out every famous building/monument/statue/neighborhood. I\'d rather have a good taste of the city rather than the alternative which is to rush, rush, rush in order to check tourist sites off of some arbitrary list made up by a guidebook.\r\n\r\nSo if I were in Sofia for a day, I\'d consider some combination of the following suggestions depending on what I like, the weather forecast and how ambitious I felt. <!--more-->I \'d probably start by checking out one of these museums/galleries.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>If you want to see one of the best collections in the city terms of accessibility, history, the display of artifacts and information in English you really can\'t go wrong with the <a href=\"http://www.naim.bg/main.php?lang=BG\" target=\"_blank\">Archaeological Museum</a> (good thing their website is only in Bulgaria--here\'s <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Archaeological_Museum_%28Bulgaria%29\" target=\"_blank\">wikipedia</a> for you English speakers). The only thing is it\'s not cheep--I think tickets are 10 leva so if you\'re a student say so. This said it\'s worth it. The museum is housed in an old mosque and even the building is beautiful.</li>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.sghg.bg/newsite/index.php?lg=en\" target=\"_blank\">The Sofia Art Gallery</a> (or maybe it\'s the Sofia Municipal Gallery of Art--but that\'s a mouthful) on the other hand is free and two rooms of Bulgarian art. Collections are usually curated around a single theme and the great thing about this is that if you don\'t like what you see you have no obligation to stay. This said, some of my favorite shows have taken place in this gallery and you\'ll definitely find yourself in the park in front of the <a href=\"http://www.nationaltheatre.bg/bg/\" target=\"_blank\">National Theater</a> at some point so why not pop in and see what\'s showing?!</li>\r\n	<li>Finally, I have a love/hate relationship with the <a href=\"http://www.programata.bg/?p=60&amp;l=2&amp;c=1&amp;id=66\" target=\"_blank\">Ethnographic Museum</a>/<a href=\"http://www.nationalartgallerybg.org/index.php?l=67\" target=\"_blank\">National Art Gallery</a> both of which are housed in the former Royal Palace. I hate that the building is falling apart around the museum/gallery and that seemingly very little is being done to keep up the building. This said, I love the National Art Gallery\'s collection. The Ethnographic Museum I could pass on and may actually be closed for repairs if I am to believe <a href=\"http://www.programata.bg/?p=1&amp;l=2&amp;c=1\" target=\"_blank\">programata.bg</a> (a great resource for what\'s happening in the city each week).  The cafe/bar Toba &amp; Co around back behind the palace is fine but for the record there are more interesting places to have a coffee in the city.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nOr if museums aren\'t your thing and it\'s a beautiful day, I\'d consider a walking tour with <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/freesofiatour?ref=ts\" target=\"_blank\">Free Sofia Tour</a> and here\'s <a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/23/sofia-and-easter-weekend/\" target=\"_blank\">my review</a> of the tour I went on. Really I can\'t stress this enough there are two tour times each day 11am and 6pm and if you have two hours to spare you won\'t regret it.\r\n\r\nI\'d have a coffee or a beer (or maybe both) in one of these two parks.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>The park in front of the National Theater (guide books refer to it as the Sofia City Garden but I\'ve never heard anyone call it that.)</li>\r\n	<li>The park/garden/space behind the fruit and vegetable market on Graf Ignatiev and in front of the Church of the Seven Holy Saints (Sveti Sedmochislenitsi Church). The people watching here after lunch and in the early afternoon is excellent. Old men and women line the sides of the park on benches, mothers push babies around in strollers and businessmen relax in the sun.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nI\'d visit these two shops. Why? Well because they are my favorite shops in the city. Here\'s why. Both shops are run by young locals who speak English and who are happy to talk to you about what they are doing, why they are passionate about it and the prices while maybe expensive for local Bulgarians are excellent when compared to other major European cities.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2009/04/17/friday-finds-paradise-garage/\" target=\"_blank\">Paradise Garag</a>e is a boutique which sells women\'s clothing and accessories made by up and coming Bulgarian designers. Every time I go, I fall in love with something and come out with a new addition to my wardrobe. Be warned, the shop is dangerous.  It’s one block off Vitosha Blvd on Karnigradska and one block before the Irish pub JJ Murphy’s.</li>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/12/14/zona-urbana/\" target=\"_blank\">Zona Urbana</a> is a boutique of sorts which sells a variety of different things made from recycled materials like old communist newspapers. Items range from wallets to purses to tote bags/messenger bags, earrings and buttons. They also have leather cuffs and a line of toys. Zona Urbana is across the street from the Moroccan restaurant Annette\'s (which is tasty if your in the mood for Moroccan but the service is often slow. This said, they have some great vegetarian options).  The shop is at Angel Kunchev #24 for those of you who are interested.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nI\'d pick between one of these quick and cheep restaurants for lunch or dinner. Both of the restaurants listed below serve what I call modern Bulgarian fare. The food is traditionally Bulgarian but often with a lighter twist and without the kitschy pottery and woven table cloths. In both of these restaurants two people could easily eat lunch for less than 20 leva and yes, that price includes a beer.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294452-d806676-Reviews-Divaka-Sofia.html\" target=\"_blank\">Divaka</a> apparently means wild person in Bulgarian not that this matters too much. The food is good. It\'s usually pretty easy to get a table and they\'ve got an English menu.  Interestingly, I\'ve never written a review of this restaurant but I take anyone who has ever visited me here and they love it. Maybe one of these days I\'ll write a review of the restaurant. There are three Divaka\'s in the city center. One at the little five corners off of Graf Ignatiev on the 6th of September (#41), another at 54 Gladston Street and the third is off of Vitosha Street on 16 Hristo Belchev Street (which runs parallel to Vitosha).</li>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/03/07/new-sofia-restaurant-tavite-or-%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5/\" target=\"_blank\">Tavite/Тавите</a> is a new love of mine. They serve both lunch and dinner in a super cute atmosphere for a great price. They are kind of tucked away behind the book market on Slaveykov Square. The street address is 58 William Gladsone Str but the link offers walking directions.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nAfter all of this, I\'d have a drink on Vitosha Street at <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/MementoCafe\" target=\"_blank\">Memento</a>. The cafe is cozy and has seats inside and outside. Outside is clearly the place to park yourself while you sip on a drink or two--unless it\'s raining. Then do the smart thing. Sit inside and chat up the bartender/barista. The great thing about Memento is that they offer excellent coffee, loose tea and cocktails so there\'s something for everyone.\r\n\r\nAnd, that\'s that. Sofia in a day.\r\n\r\nSure I\'ve left off banitsa and rakiya. I don\'t have a traditional Bulgarian restaurant in the mix and I haven\'t listed a single souvenir shop but here\'s the thing, you can\'t do everything in a day. I guess if you were desperate you could probably squeeze banitsa and rakiya in for breakfast but I am not sure that combination is recommended. It\'s probably a safer bet to sub in some form of Bulgarian yogurt.\r\n\r\nOh and if you really wanted to do it up like a local, you could do the whole thing in heals. Just beware of the cobble stones and uneven sidewalks.','Sofia for a Day? ','','inherit','open','open','','4821-revision-4','','','2011-04-25 21:15:30','2011-04-25 19:15:30','',4821,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/25/4821-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(4828,1,'2011-04-25 21:15:30','2011-04-25 19:15:30','I got a request from one of my readers via <a title=\"Twitter: Carolyn Emigh\" href=\"https://twitter.com/#!/CarolynEmigh\" target=\"_blank\">twitter</a> a couple of days ago. She wanted to know what to do in Sofia for a day in June before grabbing a flight to Varna at 11pm with a friend.\r\n\r\nGood question.\r\n\r\nUltimately, I guess it depends on what you are into.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4825\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Lion at the Palace of Justice \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4825\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4825\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4825 \" title=\"Palace of Justice \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_8187-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn a new city, I generally like to mix up my routine a little bit usually this includes a museum or something culture, a stroll around town, a coffee and people watching, snacking on some local food, seeking out some young and hip shops and then topping it off with beer or a cocktail on a pedestrian zone watching the transition between late afternoon before hitting up a new-to-me restaurant.\r\n\r\nThese days I feel no pressure to hit up every museum or to seek out every famous building/monument/statue/neighborhood. I\'d rather have a good taste of the city rather than the alternative which is to rush, rush, rush in order to check tourist sites off of some arbitrary list made up by a guidebook.\r\n\r\nSo if I were in Sofia for a day, I\'d consider some combination of the following suggestions depending on what I like, the weather forecast and how ambitious I felt. <!--more-->I \'d probably start by checking out one of these museums/galleries.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>If you want to see one of the best collections in the city terms of accessibility, history, the display of artifacts and information in English you really can\'t go wrong with the <a href=\"http://www.naim.bg/main.php?lang=BG\" target=\"_blank\">Archaeological Museum</a> (good thing their website is only in Bulgaria--here\'s <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Archaeological_Museum_%28Bulgaria%29\" target=\"_blank\">wikipedia</a> for you English speakers). The only thing is it\'s not cheep--I think tickets are 10 leva so if you\'re a student say so. This said it\'s worth it. The museum is housed in an old mosque and even the building is beautiful.</li>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.sghg.bg/newsite/index.php?lg=en\" target=\"_blank\">The Sofia Art Gallery</a> (or maybe it\'s the Sofia Municipal Gallery of Art--but that\'s a mouthful) on the other hand is free and two rooms of Bulgarian art. Collections are usually curated around a single theme and the great thing about this is that if you don\'t like what you see you have no obligation to stay. This said, some of my favorite shows have taken place in this gallery and you\'ll definitely find yourself in the park in front of the <a href=\"http://www.nationaltheatre.bg/bg/\" target=\"_blank\">National Theater</a> at some point so why not pop in and see what\'s showing?!</li>\r\n	<li>Finally, I have a love/hate relationship with the <a href=\"http://www.programata.bg/?p=60&amp;l=2&amp;c=1&amp;id=66\" target=\"_blank\">Ethnographic Museum</a>/<a href=\"http://www.nationalartgallerybg.org/index.php?l=67\" target=\"_blank\">National Art Gallery</a> both of which are housed in the former Royal Palace. I hate that the building is falling apart around the museum/gallery and that seemingly very little is being done to keep up the building. This said, I love the National Art Gallery\'s collection. The Ethnographic Museum I could pass on and may actually be closed for repairs if I am to believe <a href=\"http://www.programata.bg/?p=1&amp;l=2&amp;c=1\" target=\"_blank\">programata.bg</a> (a great resource for what\'s happening in the city each week).  The cafe/bar Toba &amp; Co around back behind the palace is fine but for the record there are more interesting places to have a coffee in the city.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nOr if museums aren\'t your thing and it\'s a beautiful day, I\'d consider a walking tour with <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/freesofiatour?ref=ts\" target=\"_blank\">Free Sofia Tour</a> and here\'s <a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/23/sofia-and-easter-weekend/\" target=\"_blank\">my review</a> of the tour I went on. Really I can\'t stress this enough there are two tour times each day 11am and 6pm and if you have two hours to spare you won\'t regret it.\r\n\r\nI\'d have a coffee or a beer (or maybe both) in one of these two parks.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>The park in front of the National Theater (guide books refer to it as the Sofia City Garden but I\'ve never heard anyone call it that.)</li>\r\n	<li>The park/garden/space behind the fruit and vegetable market on Graf Ignatiev and in front of the Church of the Seven Holy Saints (Sveti Sedmochislenitsi Church). The people watching here after lunch and in the early afternoon is excellent. Old men and women line the sides of the park on benches, mothers push babies around in strollers and businessmen relax in the sun.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nI\'d visit these two shops. Why? Well because they are my favorite shops in the city. Here\'s why. Both shops are run by young locals who speak English and who are happy to talk to you about what they are doing, why they are passionate about it and the prices while maybe expensive for local Bulgarians are excellent when compared to other major European cities.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2009/04/17/friday-finds-paradise-garage/\" target=\"_blank\">Paradise Garag</a>e is a boutique which sells women\'s clothing and accessories made by up and coming Bulgarian designers. Every time I go, I fall in love with something and come out with a new addition to my wardrobe. Be warned, the shop is dangerous.  It’s one block off Vitosha Blvd on Karnigradska and one block before the Irish pub JJ Murphy’s.</li>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/12/14/zona-urbana/\" target=\"_blank\">Zona Urbana</a> is a boutique of sorts which sells a variety of different things made from recycled materials like old communist newspapers. Items range from wallets to purses to tote bags/messenger bags, earrings and buttons. They also have leather cuffs and a line of toys. Zona Urbana is across the street from the Moroccan restaurant Annette\'s (which is tasty if your in the mood for Moroccan but the service is often slow. This said, they have some great vegetarian options).  The shop is at Angel Kunchev #24 for those of you who are interested.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nI\'d pick between one of these quick and cheep restaurants for lunch or dinner. Both of the restaurants listed below serve what I call modern Bulgarian fare. The food is traditionally Bulgarian but often with a lighter twist and without the kitschy pottery and woven table cloths. In both of these restaurants two people could easily eat lunch for less than 20 leva and yes, that price includes a beer.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294452-d806676-Reviews-Divaka-Sofia.html\" target=\"_blank\">Divaka</a> apparently means wild person in Bulgarian not that this matters too much. The food is good. It\'s usually pretty easy to get a table and they\'ve got an English menu.  Interestingly, I\'ve never written a review of this restaurant but I take anyone who has ever visited me here and they love it. Maybe one of these days I\'ll write a review of the restaurant. There are three Divaka\'s in the city center. One at the little five corners off of Graf Ignatiev on the 6th of September (#41), another at 54 Gladston Street and the third is off of Vitosha Street on 16 Hristo Belchev Street (which runs parallel to Vitosha).</li>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/03/07/new-sofia-restaurant-tavite-or-%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5/\" target=\"_blank\">Tavite/Тавите</a> is a new love of mine. They serve both lunch and dinner in a super cute atmosphere for a great price. They are kind of tucked away behind the book market on Slaveykov Square. The street address is 58 William Gladsone Str but the link offers walking directions.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nAfter all of this, I\'d have a drink on Vitosha Street at <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/MementoCafe\" target=\"_blank\">Memento</a>. The cafe is cozy and has seats inside and outside. Outside is clearly the place to park yourself while you sip on a drink or two--unless it\'s raining. Then do the smart thing. Sit inside and chat up the bartender/barista. The great thing about Memento is that they offer excellent coffee, loose tea and cocktails so there\'s something for everyone.\r\n\r\nAnd, that\'s that. Sofia in a day.\r\n\r\nSure I\'ve left off banitsa and rakiya. I don\'t have a traditional Bulgarian restaurant in the mix and I haven\'t listed a single souvenir shop but here\'s the thing, you can\'t do everything in a day. I guess if you were desperate you could probably squeeze banitsa and rakiya in for breakfast but I am not sure that combination is recommended. It\'s probably a safer bet to sub in some form of Bulgarian yogurt.\r\n\r\nOh and if you really wanted to do it up like a local, you could do the whole thing in heals. Just beware of the cobble stones and uneven sidewalks.','Sofia for a Day? ','','inherit','open','open','','4821-revision-5','','','2011-04-25 21:15:30','2011-04-25 19:15:30','',4821,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/25/4821-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(4829,1,'2011-04-25 21:17:29','2011-04-25 19:17:29','I got a request from one of my readers via <a title=\"Twitter: Carolyn Emigh\" href=\"https://twitter.com/#!/CarolynEmigh\" target=\"_blank\">twitter</a> a couple of days ago. She wanted to know what to do in Sofia for a day in June before grabbing a flight to Varna at 11pm with a friend.\r\n\r\nGood question.\r\n\r\nUltimately, I guess it depends on what you are into.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4825\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Lion at the Palace of Justice \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4825\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4825\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4825 \" title=\"Palace of Justice \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_8187-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn a new city, I generally like to mix up my routine a little bit usually this includes a museum or something culture, a stroll around town, a coffee and people watching, snacking on some local food, seeking out some young and hip shops and then topping it off with beer or a cocktail on a pedestrian zone watching the transition between late afternoon before hitting up a new-to-me restaurant.\r\n\r\nThese days I feel no pressure to hit up every museum or to seek out every famous building/monument/statue/neighborhood. I\'d rather have a good taste of the city rather than the alternative which is to rush, rush, rush in order to check tourist sites off of some arbitrary list made up by a guidebook.\r\n\r\nSo if I were in Sofia for a day, I\'d consider some combination of the following suggestions depending on what I like, the weather forecast and how ambitious I felt. <!--more-->I \'d probably start by checking out one of these museums/galleries.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>If you want to see one of the best collections in the city terms of accessibility, history, the display of artifacts and information in English you really can\'t go wrong with the <a href=\"http://www.naim.bg/main.php?lang=BG\" target=\"_blank\">Archaeological Museum</a> (good thing their website is only in Bulgaria--here\'s <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Archaeological_Museum_%28Bulgaria%29\" target=\"_blank\">wikipedia</a> for you English speakers). The only thing is it\'s not cheep--I think tickets are 10 leva so if you\'re a student say so. This said it\'s worth it. The museum is housed in an old mosque and even the building is beautiful.</li>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.sghg.bg/newsite/index.php?lg=en\" target=\"_blank\">The Sofia Art Gallery</a> (or maybe it\'s the Sofia Municipal Gallery of Art--but that\'s a mouthful) on the other hand is free and two rooms of Bulgarian art. Collections are usually curated around a single theme and the great thing about this is that if you don\'t like what you see you have no obligation to stay. This said, some of my favorite shows have taken place in this gallery and you\'ll definitely find yourself in the park in front of the <a href=\"http://www.nationaltheatre.bg/bg/\" target=\"_blank\">National Theater</a> at some point so why not pop in and see what\'s showing?!</li>\r\n	<li>Finally, I have a love/hate relationship with the <a href=\"http://www.programata.bg/?p=60&amp;l=2&amp;c=1&amp;id=66\" target=\"_blank\">Ethnographic Museum</a>/<a href=\"http://www.nationalartgallerybg.org/index.php?l=67\" target=\"_blank\">National Art Gallery</a> both of which are housed in the former Royal Palace. I hate that the building is falling apart around the museum/gallery and that seemingly very little is being done to keep up the building. This said, I love the National Art Gallery\'s collection. The Ethnographic Museum I could pass on and may actually be closed for repairs if I am to believe <a href=\"http://www.programata.bg/?p=1&amp;l=2&amp;c=1\" target=\"_blank\">programata.bg</a> (a great resource for what\'s happening in the city each week).  The cafe/bar Toba &amp; Co around back behind the palace is fine but for the record there are more interesting places to have a coffee in the city.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nOr if museums aren\'t your thing and it\'s a beautiful day, I\'d consider a walking tour with <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/freesofiatour?ref=ts\" target=\"_blank\">Free Sofia Tour</a> and here\'s <a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/23/sofia-and-easter-weekend/\" target=\"_blank\">my review</a> of the tour I went on. Really I can\'t stress this enough there are two tour times each day 11am and 6pm and if you have two hours to spare you won\'t regret it.\r\n\r\nI\'d have a coffee or a beer (or maybe both) in one of these two parks.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>The park in front of the National Theater (guide books refer to it as the Sofia City Garden but I\'ve never heard anyone call it that.)</li>\r\n	<li>The park/garden/space behind the fruit and vegetable market on Graf Ignatiev and in front of the Church of the Seven Holy Saints (Sveti Sedmochislenitsi Church). The people watching here after lunch and in the early afternoon is excellent. Old men and women line the sides of the park on benches, mothers push babies around in strollers and businessmen relax in the sun.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nI\'d visit these two shops. Why? Well because they are my favorite shops in the city. Here\'s why. Both shops are run by young locals who speak English and who are happy to talk to you about what they are doing, why they are passionate about it and the prices while maybe expensive for local Bulgarians are excellent when compared to other major European cities.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2009/04/17/friday-finds-paradise-garage/\" target=\"_blank\">Paradise Garag</a>e is a boutique which sells women\'s clothing and accessories made by up and coming Bulgarian designers. Every time I go, I fall in love with something and come out with a new addition to my wardrobe. Be warned, the shop is dangerous.  It’s one block off Vitosha Blvd on Karnigradska and one block before the Irish pub JJ Murphy’s.</li>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/12/14/zona-urbana/\" target=\"_blank\">Zona Urbana</a> is a boutique of sorts which sells a variety of different things made from recycled materials like old communist newspapers. Items range from wallets to purses to tote bags/messenger bags, earrings and buttons. They also have leather cuffs and a line of toys. Zona Urbana is across the street from the Moroccan restaurant Annette\'s (which is tasty if your in the mood for Moroccan but the service is often slow. This said, they have some great vegetarian options).  The shop is at Angel Kunchev #24 for those of you who are interested.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nI\'d pick between one of these quick and cheep restaurants for lunch or dinner. Both of the restaurants listed below serve what I call modern Bulgarian fare. The food is traditionally Bulgarian but often with a lighter twist and without the kitschy pottery and woven table cloths. In both of these restaurants two people could easily eat lunch for less than 20 leva and yes, that price includes a beer.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294452-d806676-Reviews-Divaka-Sofia.html\" target=\"_blank\">Divaka</a> apparently means wild person in Bulgarian not that this matters too much. The food is good. It\'s usually pretty easy to get a table and they\'ve got an English menu.  Interestingly, I\'ve never written a review of this restaurant but I take anyone who has ever visited me here and they love it. Maybe one of these days I\'ll write a review of the restaurant. There are three Divaka\'s in the city center. One at the little five corners off of Graf Ignatiev on the 6th of September (#41), another at 54 Gladston Street and the third is off of Vitosha Street on 16 Hristo Belchev Street (which runs parallel to Vitosha).</li>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/03/07/new-sofia-restaurant-tavite-or-%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5/\" target=\"_blank\">Tavite/Тавите</a> is a new love of mine. They serve both lunch and dinner in a super cute atmosphere for a great price. They are kind of tucked away behind the book market on Slaveykov Square. The street address is 58 William Gladsone Str but the link offers walking directions.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nAfter all of this, I\'d have a drink on Vitosha Street at <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/MementoCafe\" target=\"_blank\">Memento</a>. The cafe is cozy and has seats inside and outside. Outside is clearly the place to park yourself while you sip on a drink or two--unless it\'s raining. Then do the smart thing. Sit inside and chat up the bartender/barista. The great thing about Memento is that they offer excellent coffee, loose tea and cocktails so there\'s something for everyone.\r\n\r\nAnd, that\'s that. Sofia in a day.\r\n\r\nSure I\'ve left off banitsa and rakiya. I don\'t have a traditional Bulgarian restaurant in the mix and I haven\'t listed a single souvenir shop but here\'s the thing, you can\'t do everything in a day. I guess if you were desperate you could probably squeeze banitsa and rakiya in for breakfast but I am not sure that combination is recommended. It\'s probably a safer bet to sub in some form of Bulgarian yogurt.\r\n\r\nOh and if you really wanted to do it up like a local, you could do the whole thing in heals. Just beware of the cobble stones and uneven sidewalks.','Sofia for a Day? ','','inherit','open','open','','4821-revision-6','','','2011-04-25 21:17:29','2011-04-25 19:17:29','',4821,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/25/4821-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(4830,1,'2011-04-26 05:25:42','2011-04-26 03:25:42','I got a request from one of my readers via <a title=\"Twitter: Carolyn Emigh\" href=\"https://twitter.com/#!/CarolynEmigh\" target=\"_blank\">twitter</a> a couple of days ago. She wanted to know what to do in Sofia for a day in June before grabbing a flight to Varna at 11pm with a friend.\n\nGood question.\n\nUltimately, I guess it depends on what you are into.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4825\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Lion at the Palace of Justice \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4825\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/26/sofia-for-a-day/img_8187/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4825 \" title=\"Palace of Justice \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_8187-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nIn a new city, I generally like to mix up my routine a little bit usually this includes a museum or something culture, a stroll around town, a coffee and people watching, snacking on some local food, seeking out some young and hip shops and then topping it off with beer or a cocktail on a pedestrian zone watching the transition between late afternoon before hitting up a new-to-me restaurant.\n\nThese days I feel no pressure to hit up every museum or to seek out every famous building/monument/statue/neighborhood. I\'d rather have a good taste of the city rather than the alternative which is to rush, rush, rush in order to check tourist sites off of some arbitrary list made up by a guidebook.\n\nSo if I were in Sofia for a day, I\'d consider some combination of the following suggestions depending on what I like, the weather forecast and how ambitious I felt. <!--more-->I \'d probably start by checking out one of these museums/galleries.\n<ul>\n	<li>If you want to see one of the best collections in the city terms of accessibility, history, the display of artifacts and information in English you really can\'t go wrong with the <a href=\"http://www.naim.bg/main.php?lang=BG\" target=\"_blank\">Archaeological Museum</a> (good thing their website is only in Bulgaria--here\'s <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Archaeological_Museum_%28Bulgaria%29\" target=\"_blank\">wikipedia</a> for you English speakers). The only thing is it\'s not cheap--I think tickets are 10 leva so if you\'re a student say so. This said it\'s worth it. The museum is housed in an old mosque and even the building is beautiful.</li>\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.sghg.bg/newsite/index.php?lg=en\" target=\"_blank\">The Sofia Art Gallery</a> (or maybe it\'s the Sofia Municipal Gallery of Art--but that\'s a mouthful) on the other hand is free and two rooms of Bulgarian art. Collections are usually curated around a single theme and the great thing about this is that if you don\'t like what you see you have no obligation to stay. This said, some of my favorite shows have taken place in this gallery and you\'ll definitely find yourself in the park in front of the <a href=\"http://www.nationaltheatre.bg/bg/\" target=\"_blank\">National Theater</a> at some point so why not pop in and see what\'s showing?!</li>\n	<li>Finally, I have a love/hate relationship with the <a href=\"http://www.programata.bg/?p=60&amp;l=2&amp;c=1&amp;id=66\" target=\"_blank\">Ethnographic Museum</a>/<a href=\"http://www.nationalartgallerybg.org/index.php?l=67\" target=\"_blank\">National Art Gallery</a> both of which are housed in the former Royal Palace. I hate that the building is falling apart around the museum/gallery and that seemingly very little is being done to keep up the building. This said, I love the National Art Gallery\'s collection. The Ethnographic Museum I could pass on and may actually be closed for repairs if I am to believe <a href=\"http://www.programata.bg/?p=1&amp;l=2&amp;c=1\" target=\"_blank\">programata.bg</a> (a great resource for what\'s happening in the city each week).  The cafe/bar Toba &amp; Co around back behind the palace is fine but for the record there are more interesting places to have a coffee in the city.</li>\n</ul>\nOr if museums aren\'t your thing and it\'s a beautiful day, I\'d consider a walking tour with <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/freesofiatour?ref=ts\" target=\"_blank\">Free Sofia Tour</a> and here\'s <a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/23/sofia-and-easter-weekend/\" target=\"_blank\">my review</a> of the tour I went on. Really I can\'t stress this enough there are two tour times each day 11am and 6pm and if you have two hours to spare you won\'t regret it.\n\nI\'d have a coffee or a beer (or maybe both) in one of these two parks.\n<ul>\n	<li>The park in front of the National Theater (guide books refer to it as the Sofia City Garden but I\'ve never heard anyone call it that.)</li>\n	<li>The park/garden/space behind the fruit and vegetable market on Graf Ignatiev and in front of the Church of the Seven Holy Saints (Sveti Sedmochislenitsi Church). The people watching here after lunch and in the early afternoon is excellent. Old men and women line the sides of the park on benches, mothers push babies around in strollers and businessmen relax in the sun.</li>\n</ul>\nI\'d visit these two shops. Why? Well because they are my favorite shops in the city. Here\'s why. Both shops are run by young locals who speak English and who are happy to talk to you about what they are doing, why they are passionate about it and the prices while maybe expensive for local Bulgarians are excellent when compared to other major European cities.\n<ul>\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2009/04/17/friday-finds-paradise-garage/\" target=\"_blank\">Paradise Garag</a>e is a boutique which sells women\'s clothing and accessories made by up and coming Bulgarian designers. Every time I go, I fall in love with something and come out with a new addition to my wardrobe. Be warned, the shop is dangerous.  It’s one block off Vitosha Blvd on Karnigradska and one block before the Irish pub JJ Murphy’s.</li>\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/12/14/zona-urbana/\" target=\"_blank\">Zona Urbana</a> is a boutique of sorts which sells a variety of different things made from recycled materials like old communist newspapers. Items range from wallets to purses to tote bags/messenger bags, earrings and buttons. They also have leather cuffs and a line of toys. Zona Urbana is across the street from the Moroccan restaurant Annette\'s (which is tasty if your in the mood for Moroccan but the service is often slow. This said, they have some great vegetarian options).  The shop is at Angel Kunchev #24 for those of you who are interested.</li>\n</ul>\nI\'d pick between one of these quick and cheep restaurants for lunch or dinner. Both of the restaurants listed below serve what I call modern Bulgarian fare. The food is traditionally Bulgarian but often with a lighter twist and without the kitschy pottery and woven table cloths. In both of these restaurants two people could easily eat lunch for less than 20 leva and yes, that price includes a beer.\n<ul>\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294452-d806676-Reviews-Divaka-Sofia.html\" target=\"_blank\">Divaka</a> apparently means wild person in Bulgarian not that this matters too much. The food is good. It\'s usually pretty easy to get a table and they\'ve got an English menu.  Interestingly, I\'ve never written a review of this restaurant but I take anyone who has ever visited me here and they love it. Maybe one of these days I\'ll write a review of the restaurant. There are three Divaka\'s in the city center. One at the little five corners off of Graf Ignatiev on the 6th of September (#41), another at 54 Gladston Street and the third is off of Vitosha Street on 16 Hristo Belchev Street (which runs parallel to Vitosha).</li>\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/03/07/new-sofia-restaurant-tavite-or-%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5/\" target=\"_blank\">Tavite/Тавите</a> is a new love of mine. They serve both lunch and dinner in a super cute atmosphere for a great price. They are kind of tucked away behind the book market on Slaveykov Square. The street address is 58 William Gladsone Str but the link offers walking directions.</li>\n</ul>\nAfter all of this, I\'d have a drink on Vitosha Street at <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/MementoCafe\" target=\"_blank\">Memento</a>. The cafe is cozy and has seats inside and outside. Outside is clearly the place to park yourself while you sip on a drink or two--unless it\'s raining. Then do the smart thing. Sit inside and chat up the bartender/barista. The great thing about Memento is that they offer excellent coffee, loose tea and cocktails so there\'s something for everyone.\n\nAnd, that\'s that. Sofia in a day.\n\nSure I\'ve left off banitsa and rakiya. I don\'t have a traditional Bulgarian restaurant in the mix and I haven\'t listed a single souvenir shop but here\'s the thing, you can\'t do everything in a day. I guess if you were desperate you could probably squeeze banitsa and rakiya in for breakfast but I am not sure that combination is recommended. It\'s probably a safer bet to sub in some form of Bulgarian yogurt.\n\nOh and if you really wanted to do it up like a local, you could do the whole thing in heals. Just beware of the cobble stones and uneven sidewalks.','Sofia for a Day? ','','inherit','open','open','','4821-autosave','','','2011-04-26 05:25:42','2011-04-26 03:25:42','',4821,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/25/4821-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(4831,1,'2011-04-25 21:17:29','2011-04-25 19:17:29','I got a request from one of my readers via <a title=\"Twitter: Carolyn Emigh\" href=\"https://twitter.com/#!/CarolynEmigh\" target=\"_blank\">twitter</a> a couple of days ago. She wanted to know what to do in Sofia for a day in June before grabbing a flight to Varna at 11pm with a friend.\r\n\r\nGood question.\r\n\r\nUltimately, I guess it depends on what you are into.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4825\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Lion at the Palace of Justice \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4825\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/26/sofia-for-a-day/img_8187/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4825 \" title=\"Palace of Justice \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_8187-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn a new city, I generally like to mix up my routine a little bit usually this includes a museum or something culture, a stroll around town, a coffee and people watching, snacking on some local food, seeking out some young and hip shops and then topping it off with beer or a cocktail on a pedestrian zone watching the transition between late afternoon before hitting up a new-to-me restaurant.\r\n\r\nThese days I feel no pressure to hit up every museum or to seek out every famous building/monument/statue/neighborhood. I\'d rather have a good taste of the city rather than the alternative which is to rush, rush, rush in order to check tourist sites off of some arbitrary list made up by a guidebook.\r\n\r\nSo if I were in Sofia for a day, I\'d consider some combination of the following suggestions depending on what I like, the weather forecast and how ambitious I felt. <!--more-->I \'d probably start by checking out one of these museums/galleries.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>If you want to see one of the best collections in the city terms of accessibility, history, the display of artifacts and information in English you really can\'t go wrong with the <a href=\"http://www.naim.bg/main.php?lang=BG\" target=\"_blank\">Archaeological Museum</a> (good thing their website is only in Bulgaria--here\'s <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Archaeological_Museum_%28Bulgaria%29\" target=\"_blank\">wikipedia</a> for you English speakers). The only thing is it\'s not cheep--I think tickets are 10 leva so if you\'re a student say so. This said it\'s worth it. The museum is housed in an old mosque and even the building is beautiful.</li>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.sghg.bg/newsite/index.php?lg=en\" target=\"_blank\">The Sofia Art Gallery</a> (or maybe it\'s the Sofia Municipal Gallery of Art--but that\'s a mouthful) on the other hand is free and two rooms of Bulgarian art. Collections are usually curated around a single theme and the great thing about this is that if you don\'t like what you see you have no obligation to stay. This said, some of my favorite shows have taken place in this gallery and you\'ll definitely find yourself in the park in front of the <a href=\"http://www.nationaltheatre.bg/bg/\" target=\"_blank\">National Theater</a> at some point so why not pop in and see what\'s showing?!</li>\r\n	<li>Finally, I have a love/hate relationship with the <a href=\"http://www.programata.bg/?p=60&amp;l=2&amp;c=1&amp;id=66\" target=\"_blank\">Ethnographic Museum</a>/<a href=\"http://www.nationalartgallerybg.org/index.php?l=67\" target=\"_blank\">National Art Gallery</a> both of which are housed in the former Royal Palace. I hate that the building is falling apart around the museum/gallery and that seemingly very little is being done to keep up the building. This said, I love the National Art Gallery\'s collection. The Ethnographic Museum I could pass on and may actually be closed for repairs if I am to believe <a href=\"http://www.programata.bg/?p=1&amp;l=2&amp;c=1\" target=\"_blank\">programata.bg</a> (a great resource for what\'s happening in the city each week).  The cafe/bar Toba &amp; Co around back behind the palace is fine but for the record there are more interesting places to have a coffee in the city.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nOr if museums aren\'t your thing and it\'s a beautiful day, I\'d consider a walking tour with <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/freesofiatour?ref=ts\" target=\"_blank\">Free Sofia Tour</a> and here\'s <a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/23/sofia-and-easter-weekend/\" target=\"_blank\">my review</a> of the tour I went on. Really I can\'t stress this enough there are two tour times each day 11am and 6pm and if you have two hours to spare you won\'t regret it.\r\n\r\nI\'d have a coffee or a beer (or maybe both) in one of these two parks.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>The park in front of the National Theater (guide books refer to it as the Sofia City Garden but I\'ve never heard anyone call it that.)</li>\r\n	<li>The park/garden/space behind the fruit and vegetable market on Graf Ignatiev and in front of the Church of the Seven Holy Saints (Sveti Sedmochislenitsi Church). The people watching here after lunch and in the early afternoon is excellent. Old men and women line the sides of the park on benches, mothers push babies around in strollers and businessmen relax in the sun.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nI\'d visit these two shops. Why? Well because they are my favorite shops in the city. Here\'s why. Both shops are run by young locals who speak English and who are happy to talk to you about what they are doing, why they are passionate about it and the prices while maybe expensive for local Bulgarians are excellent when compared to other major European cities.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2009/04/17/friday-finds-paradise-garage/\" target=\"_blank\">Paradise Garag</a>e is a boutique which sells women\'s clothing and accessories made by up and coming Bulgarian designers. Every time I go, I fall in love with something and come out with a new addition to my wardrobe. Be warned, the shop is dangerous.  It’s one block off Vitosha Blvd on Karnigradska and one block before the Irish pub JJ Murphy’s.</li>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/12/14/zona-urbana/\" target=\"_blank\">Zona Urbana</a> is a boutique of sorts which sells a variety of different things made from recycled materials like old communist newspapers. Items range from wallets to purses to tote bags/messenger bags, earrings and buttons. They also have leather cuffs and a line of toys. Zona Urbana is across the street from the Moroccan restaurant Annette\'s (which is tasty if your in the mood for Moroccan but the service is often slow. This said, they have some great vegetarian options).  The shop is at Angel Kunchev #24 for those of you who are interested.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nI\'d pick between one of these quick and cheep restaurants for lunch or dinner. Both of the restaurants listed below serve what I call modern Bulgarian fare. The food is traditionally Bulgarian but often with a lighter twist and without the kitschy pottery and woven table cloths. In both of these restaurants two people could easily eat lunch for less than 20 leva and yes, that price includes a beer.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294452-d806676-Reviews-Divaka-Sofia.html\" target=\"_blank\">Divaka</a> apparently means wild person in Bulgarian not that this matters too much. The food is good. It\'s usually pretty easy to get a table and they\'ve got an English menu.  Interestingly, I\'ve never written a review of this restaurant but I take anyone who has ever visited me here and they love it. Maybe one of these days I\'ll write a review of the restaurant. There are three Divaka\'s in the city center. One at the little five corners off of Graf Ignatiev on the 6th of September (#41), another at 54 Gladston Street and the third is off of Vitosha Street on 16 Hristo Belchev Street (which runs parallel to Vitosha).</li>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/03/07/new-sofia-restaurant-tavite-or-%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5/\" target=\"_blank\">Tavite/Тавите</a> is a new love of mine. They serve both lunch and dinner in a super cute atmosphere for a great price. They are kind of tucked away behind the book market on Slaveykov Square. The street address is 58 William Gladsone Str but the link offers walking directions.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nAfter all of this, I\'d have a drink on Vitosha Street at <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/MementoCafe\" target=\"_blank\">Memento</a>. The cafe is cozy and has seats inside and outside. Outside is clearly the place to park yourself while you sip on a drink or two--unless it\'s raining. Then do the smart thing. Sit inside and chat up the bartender/barista. The great thing about Memento is that they offer excellent coffee, loose tea and cocktails so there\'s something for everyone.\r\n\r\nAnd, that\'s that. Sofia in a day.\r\n\r\nSure I\'ve left off banitsa and rakiya. I don\'t have a traditional Bulgarian restaurant in the mix and I haven\'t listed a single souvenir shop but here\'s the thing, you can\'t do everything in a day. I guess if you were desperate you could probably squeeze banitsa and rakiya in for breakfast but I am not sure that combination is recommended. It\'s probably a safer bet to sub in some form of Bulgarian yogurt.\r\n\r\nOh and if you really wanted to do it up like a local, you could do the whole thing in heals. Just beware of the cobble stones and uneven sidewalks.','Sofia for a Day? ','','inherit','open','open','','4821-revision-7','','','2011-04-25 21:17:29','2011-04-25 19:17:29','',4821,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/25/4821-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(4832,1,'2011-04-26 05:24:30','2011-04-26 03:24:30','I got a request from one of my readers via <a title=\"Twitter: Carolyn Emigh\" href=\"https://twitter.com/#!/CarolynEmigh\" target=\"_blank\">twitter</a> a couple of days ago. She wanted to know what to do in Sofia for a day in June before grabbing a flight to Varna at 11pm with a friend.\r\n\r\nGood question.\r\n\r\nUltimately, I guess it depends on what you are into.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4825\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Lion at the Palace of Justice \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4825\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/26/sofia-for-a-day/img_8187/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4825 \" title=\"Palace of Justice \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_8187-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn a new city, I generally like to mix up my routine a little bit usually this includes a museum or something culture, a stroll around town, a coffee and people watching, snacking on some local food, seeking out some young and hip shops and then topping it off with beer or a cocktail on a pedestrian zone watching the transition between late afternoon before hitting up a new-to-me restaurant.\r\n\r\nThese days I feel no pressure to hit up every museum or to seek out every famous building/monument/statue/neighborhood. I\'d rather have a good taste of the city rather than the alternative which is to rush, rush, rush in order to check tourist sites off of some arbitrary list made up by a guidebook.\r\n\r\nSo if I were in Sofia for a day, I\'d consider some combination of the following suggestions depending on what I like, the weather forecast and how ambitious I felt. <!--more-->I \'d probably start by checking out one of these museums/galleries.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>If you want to see one of the best collections in the city terms of accessibility, history, the display of artifacts and information in English you really can\'t go wrong with the <a href=\"http://www.naim.bg/main.php?lang=BG\" target=\"_blank\">Archaeological Museum</a> (good thing their website is only in Bulgaria--here\'s <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Archaeological_Museum_%28Bulgaria%29\" target=\"_blank\">wikipedia</a> for you English speakers). The only thing is it\'s not cheap--I think tickets are 10 leva so if you\'re a student say so. This said it\'s worth it. The museum is housed in an old mosque and even the building is beautiful.</li>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.sghg.bg/newsite/index.php?lg=en\" target=\"_blank\">The Sofia Art Gallery</a> (or maybe it\'s the Sofia Municipal Gallery of Art--but that\'s a mouthful) on the other hand is free and two rooms of Bulgarian art. Collections are usually curated around a single theme and the great thing about this is that if you don\'t like what you see you have no obligation to stay. This said, some of my favorite shows have taken place in this gallery and you\'ll definitely find yourself in the park in front of the <a href=\"http://www.nationaltheatre.bg/bg/\" target=\"_blank\">National Theater</a> at some point so why not pop in and see what\'s showing?!</li>\r\n	<li>Finally, I have a love/hate relationship with the <a href=\"http://www.programata.bg/?p=60&amp;l=2&amp;c=1&amp;id=66\" target=\"_blank\">Ethnographic Museum</a>/<a href=\"http://www.nationalartgallerybg.org/index.php?l=67\" target=\"_blank\">National Art Gallery</a> both of which are housed in the former Royal Palace. I hate that the building is falling apart around the museum/gallery and that seemingly very little is being done to keep up the building. This said, I love the National Art Gallery\'s collection. The Ethnographic Museum I could pass on and may actually be closed for repairs if I am to believe <a href=\"http://www.programata.bg/?p=1&amp;l=2&amp;c=1\" target=\"_blank\">programata.bg</a> (a great resource for what\'s happening in the city each week).  The cafe/bar Toba &amp; Co around back behind the palace is fine but for the record there are more interesting places to have a coffee in the city.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nOr if museums aren\'t your thing and it\'s a beautiful day, I\'d consider a walking tour with <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/freesofiatour?ref=ts\" target=\"_blank\">Free Sofia Tour</a> and here\'s <a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/23/sofia-and-easter-weekend/\" target=\"_blank\">my review</a> of the tour I went on. Really I can\'t stress this enough there are two tour times each day 11am and 6pm and if you have two hours to spare you won\'t regret it.\r\n\r\nI\'d have a coffee or a beer (or maybe both) in one of these two parks.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>The park in front of the National Theater (guide books refer to it as the Sofia City Garden but I\'ve never heard anyone call it that.)</li>\r\n	<li>The park/garden/space behind the fruit and vegetable market on Graf Ignatiev and in front of the Church of the Seven Holy Saints (Sveti Sedmochislenitsi Church). The people watching here after lunch and in the early afternoon is excellent. Old men and women line the sides of the park on benches, mothers push babies around in strollers and businessmen relax in the sun.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nI\'d visit these two shops. Why? Well because they are my favorite shops in the city. Here\'s why. Both shops are run by young locals who speak English and who are happy to talk to you about what they are doing, why they are passionate about it and the prices while maybe expensive for local Bulgarians are excellent when compared to other major European cities.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2009/04/17/friday-finds-paradise-garage/\" target=\"_blank\">Paradise Garag</a>e is a boutique which sells women\'s clothing and accessories made by up and coming Bulgarian designers. Every time I go, I fall in love with something and come out with a new addition to my wardrobe. Be warned, the shop is dangerous.  It’s one block off Vitosha Blvd on Karnigradska and one block before the Irish pub JJ Murphy’s.</li>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/12/14/zona-urbana/\" target=\"_blank\">Zona Urbana</a> is a boutique of sorts which sells a variety of different things made from recycled materials like old communist newspapers. Items range from wallets to purses to tote bags/messenger bags, earrings and buttons. They also have leather cuffs and a line of toys. Zona Urbana is across the street from the Moroccan restaurant Annette\'s (which is tasty if your in the mood for Moroccan but the service is often slow. This said, they have some great vegetarian options).  The shop is at Angel Kunchev #24 for those of you who are interested.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nI\'d pick between one of these quick and cheep restaurants for lunch or dinner. Both of the restaurants listed below serve what I call modern Bulgarian fare. The food is traditionally Bulgarian but often with a lighter twist and without the kitschy pottery and woven table cloths. In both of these restaurants two people could easily eat lunch for less than 20 leva and yes, that price includes a beer.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294452-d806676-Reviews-Divaka-Sofia.html\" target=\"_blank\">Divaka</a> apparently means wild person in Bulgarian not that this matters too much. The food is good. It\'s usually pretty easy to get a table and they\'ve got an English menu.  Interestingly, I\'ve never written a review of this restaurant but I take anyone who has ever visited me here and they love it. Maybe one of these days I\'ll write a review of the restaurant. There are three Divaka\'s in the city center. One at the little five corners off of Graf Ignatiev on the 6th of September (#41), another at 54 Gladston Street and the third is off of Vitosha Street on 16 Hristo Belchev Street (which runs parallel to Vitosha).</li>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/03/07/new-sofia-restaurant-tavite-or-%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5/\" target=\"_blank\">Tavite/Тавите</a> is a new love of mine. They serve both lunch and dinner in a super cute atmosphere for a great price. They are kind of tucked away behind the book market on Slaveykov Square. The street address is 58 William Gladsone Str but the link offers walking directions.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nAfter all of this, I\'d have a drink on Vitosha Street at <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/MementoCafe\" target=\"_blank\">Memento</a>. The cafe is cozy and has seats inside and outside. Outside is clearly the place to park yourself while you sip on a drink or two--unless it\'s raining. Then do the smart thing. Sit inside and chat up the bartender/barista. The great thing about Memento is that they offer excellent coffee, loose tea and cocktails so there\'s something for everyone.\r\n\r\nAnd, that\'s that. Sofia in a day.\r\n\r\nSure I\'ve left off banitsa and rakiya. I don\'t have a traditional Bulgarian restaurant in the mix and I haven\'t listed a single souvenir shop but here\'s the thing, you can\'t do everything in a day. I guess if you were desperate you could probably squeeze banitsa and rakiya in for breakfast but I am not sure that combination is recommended. It\'s probably a safer bet to sub in some form of Bulgarian yogurt.\r\n\r\nOh and if you really wanted to do it up like a local, you could do the whole thing in heals. Just beware of the cobble stones and uneven sidewalks.','Sofia for a Day? ','','inherit','open','open','','4821-revision-8','','','2011-04-26 05:24:30','2011-04-26 03:24:30','',4821,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/26/4821-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(4833,1,'2011-04-26 05:48:56','0000-00-00 00:00:00','Nostalgia sneaks up on you in strange and interesting ways when you\'re living abroad. For me it started two weeks ago after Spring Break when I started digging back through my music archives and listening to music I\'d basically been uninterested in or had fallen off my radar for the last three years.','Nostaliga and Life Abroad','','draft','open','open','','','','','2011-04-26 05:48:56','2011-04-26 03:48:56','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=4833',0,'post','',0),(4834,1,'2011-04-26 05:47:16','2011-04-26 03:47:16','Nostalgia sneaks up on you in strange and interesting ways when you\'re living abroad. For me it started two weeks ago after Spring Break when I started digging back through my music archives and listening to music I\'d basically been uninterested in or had fallen off my radar for the last three years.','Nostaliga and Life Abroad','','inherit','open','open','','4833-revision','','','2011-04-26 05:47:16','2011-04-26 03:47:16','',4833,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/26/4833-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4836,1,'2011-04-27 18:13:27','2011-04-27 16:13:27','I think that the hardest week at work is the one after a vacation. On vacation you get to eat when you want, you get to sleep as long as you\'d like. It\'s okay to be lazy and to spend an afternoon reading a good book or browsing in shops. It\'s generally encouraged to have a beer or a glass (or two) of wine at dinner.\n\nAs a result, it\'s that much harder to go back to work after a holiday.\n\nAfter the four day weekend I just enjoyed here in Sofia this has turned out to be especially true. I\'ve really struggled to get back into the swing of things after only four days off from work. Sure it doesn\'t help that on Tuesday I spent 12 hours at work thanks to parent conferences.\n\nStill, it\'s been difficult to get out of bed in the mornings. I\'ve found myself craving a mid-morning snack <em>and </em>a mid-afternoon snack. today, I would have loved to take a nap at my desk.  I\'m telling you when 3:30 rolled around this afternoon and I couldn\'t keep my eyes open--even though I had a million things to do.\n\nA million, I tell you. A part of me wonders how it is possible that I could have so much work to do considering how busy and hardworking I was <em>before</em> the holiday. It\'s sort of like my multiplied while I was away.\n\nSo that\'s that. I am back at work. Luckily it\'s a short week--thanks Easter weekend.\n\nDon\'t get me wrong, I love holidays. I love taking time for myself. I love seeing and doing new things. But, it\'s hard to get back into the swing of things at work.\n\nThis said, I\'ll be getting some serious practice in the month of May considering I\'ve got a three-day weekend early in the month for St. George\'s Day and a five-day weekend at the end of the month for the Saints Kiril and Methodius, the creators of the Cyrillic alphabet.','Back at work, kind of','','inherit','open','open','','4835-revision','','','2011-04-27 18:13:27','2011-04-27 16:13:27','',4835,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/27/4835-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4837,1,'2011-04-27 18:14:27','2011-04-27 16:14:27','I think that the hardest week at work is the one after a vacation. On vacation you get to eat when you want, you get to sleep as long as you\'d like. It\'s okay to be lazy and to spend an afternoon reading a good book or browsing in shops. It\'s generally encouraged to have a beer or a glass (or two) of wine at dinner.\n\nAs a result, it\'s that much harder to go back to work after a holiday.\n\nAfter the four day weekend I just enjoyed here in Sofia this has turned out to be especially true. I\'ve really struggled to get back into the swing of things after only four days off from work. Sure it doesn\'t help that on Tuesday I spent 12 hours at work thanks to parent conferences.\n\nStill, it\'s been difficult to get out of bed in the mornings. I\'ve found myself craving a mid-morning snack <em>and </em>a mid-afternoon snack. Moreover, today, I would have loved to take a nap at my desk.  I\'m telling you when 3:30 rolled around this afternoon and I couldn\'t keep my eyes open--even though I had a million things to do.\n\nA million things. A part of me wonders how it is possible that I could have so much work to do considering how busy and hardworking I was <em>before</em> the holiday. It\'s sort of like my multiplied while I was away.\n\nSo that\'s that. I am back at work. Luckily it\'s a short week--thanks, Easter weekend.\n\nDon\'t get me wrong, I love holidays. I love taking time for myself. I love seeing and doing new things. But, it\'s hard to get back into the swing of things at work.\n\nThis said, I\'ll be getting some serious practice in the month of May considering I\'ve got a three-day weekend early in the month for St. George\'s Day and a five-day weekend at the end of the month for the Saints Kiril and Methodius, the creators of the Cyrillic alphabet.','Back at work, kind of','','inherit','open','open','','4835-autosave','','','2011-04-27 18:14:27','2011-04-27 16:14:27','',4835,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/27/4835-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(4838,1,'2011-04-28 20:22:26','2011-04-28 18:22:26','Much of my day-to-day life in Sofia is routine. For better or worse that\'s what happens when you live abroad. In the beginning the place is foreign, very foreign, and then it becomes more and more normal and your life becomes more and more routine.\r\n\r\nLife abroad is not all rainbows and puppies nor is it all maps, airplane tickets, guidebooks and sunglasses. In fact, life abroad often requires from me a number of tedious tasks like making my bed in the morning, fixing dinner, doing laundry, going to the grocery store and cleaning things. Things I might add that seem to get dirty and/or collect dust even when I am not spending much time at home.\r\n\r\nThe thing is that sometimes the day-to-day abroad can get you down because many of these tasks take more time and effort abroad than they do at home--or at least it seems this way.\r\n\r\nSo things like going to the grocery store which start out exciting (just think about all of the interesting unknown foods, flavors, spices and brands) slowly become tedious as you peer at labels, guess at brands and hope that you ultimately like what you\'re buying. So as if other things in your life aren\'t a constant reminder that you\'re a foreigner, the grocery store becomes just one of the many places where you come face to face with your own foreignness.\r\n\r\nYou stand in front of the cheese and yogurt case trying to make sense of the two-dozen brands and varieties while others breeze by deftly picking out a block of cheese or a few containers of yogurt.  The choice is easy for them. <em>Me? </em>I pick things out based on things how cute the cow on the packaging is or how much I like the font.\r\n\r\nBut then sometimes there are little things that surprise you.\r\n\r\n<em>Like today! <!--more--></em>\r\n\r\nToday, after a long, long day at school I stopped by Hit to pick up some things to make nachos because this weekend we\'re having a nacho competition among the American teachers in honor Cinco de Mayo.  (Okay I know, I know, it\'s a little early for Cinco de Mayo but we\'ve got a long weekend starting on May 6th for St. George\'s which makes celebrating on the actual day that much harder.)\r\n\r\nAnyhow, I was in the aisle with beans staring at bag after bag of beans wishing for one of two things: black beans or red-kidney beans. Needless to say, neither of those were options so I was busy trying to decide which bag of semi-red-semi-spotted beans to buy in order to make refried beans. Finally, I settled on a bag that seemed to have the most red-colored beans in it. Beans in basket, I headed down the aisle to find tortilla chips and cheese.\r\n\r\nThat\'s when I saw it!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4839\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Wall of Ritter Sport \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4839\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/28/sometimes-its-the-little-things/dsc02457/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4839 \" title=\"Wall of Ritter Sport \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC02457-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<em>Ritter Sport</em>.\r\n\r\nA wall of Ritter Sport in fact. Okay a wall might be a little bit of an exaggeration but really the display is impressive.\r\n\r\nAnd it was on sale.\r\n\r\nThat\'s when I remembered: sometimes it\'s the little things. Or in this case squares of chocolate filled with delicious things. It was all I could do to limit myself to one.\r\n\r\nI went with a new flavor. Even though I wanted one of each.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4844\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"New Ritter Sport\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4844\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/28/sometimes-its-the-little-things/dsc02458/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4844 \" title=\"New Ritter Sport\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC02458-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]','Sometimes it\'s the Little Things ','','publish','open','open','','sometimes-its-the-little-things','','','2011-04-28 20:22:28','2011-04-28 18:22:28','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=4838',0,'post','',5),(4839,1,'2011-04-28 20:04:00','2011-04-28 18:04:00','','Wall of Ritter Sport ','Wall of Ritter Sport ','inherit','open','open','','dsc02457','','','2011-04-28 20:04:00','2011-04-28 18:04:00','',4838,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC02457.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4840,1,'2011-04-28 20:06:24','2011-04-28 18:06:24','Much of my day-to-day life in Sofia is routine. For better or worse that\'s what happens when you live abroad. In the beginning the place is foreign, very foreign, and then it becomes more and more normal and your life becomes more and more routine.\n\nLife abroad is not all rainbows and puppies nor is it all maps, airplane tickets, guidebooks and sunglasses. In fact, life abroad often requires from me a number of tedious tasks like making my bed in the morning, fixing dinner, doing laundry, going to the grocery store and cleaning things. Things I might add that seem to get dirty and/or collect dust even when I am not spending much time at home.\n\nThe thing is that sometimes the day-to-day abroad can get you down because many of these tasks take more time and effort abroad than they do at home--or at least it seems this way.\n\nSo things like going to the grocery store which start out exciting (just think about all of the interesting unknown foods, flavors, spices and brands) slowly become tedious as you peer at labels, guess at brands and hope that you ultimately like what you\'re buying. So as if other things in your life aren\'t a constant reminder that you\'re a foreigner, the grocery store becomes just one of the many places where you come face to face with your own foreignness.\n\nYou stand in front of the cheese and yogurt case trying to make sense of the two-dozen brands and varieties while others breeze by deftly picking out a block of cheese or a few containers of yogurt.  The choice is easy for them. <em>Me? </em>I pick things out based on things how cute the cow on the packaging is or how much I like the font.\n\nBut then sometimes there are little things that surprise you.\n\n<em>Like today! </em>\n\nToday, after a long, long day at school I stopped by Hit to pick up some things to make nachos because this weekend we\'re having a nacho competition among the American teachers in honor Cinco de Mayo.  (Okay I know, I know, it\'s a little early for Cinco de Mayo but we\'ve got a long weekend starting on May 6th for St. George\'s which makes celebrating on the actual day that much harder.)\n\nAnyhow, I was in the isle with beans staring at bag after bag of beans wishing for one of two things: black beans or red-kidney beans. Needless to say, neither of those were options so I was busy trying to decide which bag of semi-red-semi-spotted beans to buy in order to make refried beans. Finally, I settled on a bag that seemed to have the most red-colored beans in it.\n\nBeans in basket I headed down the isle to find tortilla chips and cheese. That\'s when I saw it!\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4839\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"1024\" caption=\"Wall of Ritter Sport \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4839\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4839\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4839\" title=\"Wall of Ritter Sport \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC02457-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n<em>Ritter Sport</em>. A wall of Ritter Sport in fact. Okay a wall might be a little bit of an exaggeration but really the display is impressive.\n\nAnd it was on sale.\n\nThat\'s when I remembered: sometimes it the little things.','Sometimes it\'s the Little Things ','','inherit','open','open','','4838-revision','','','2011-04-28 20:06:24','2011-04-28 18:06:24','',4838,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/28/4838-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4841,1,'2011-04-28 20:06:36','2011-04-28 18:06:36','Much of my day-to-day life in Sofia is routine. For better or worse that\'s what happens when you live abroad. In the beginning the place is foreign, very foreign, and then it becomes more and more normal and your life becomes more and more routine.\r\n\r\nLife abroad is not all rainbows and puppies nor is it all maps, airplane tickets, guidebooks and sunglasses. In fact, life abroad often requires from me a number of tedious tasks like making my bed in the morning, fixing dinner, doing laundry, going to the grocery store and cleaning things. Things I might add that seem to get dirty and/or collect dust even when I am not spending much time at home.\r\n\r\nThe thing is that sometimes the day-to-day abroad can get you down because many of these tasks take more time and effort abroad than they do at home--or at least it seems this way.\r\n\r\nSo things like going to the grocery store which start out exciting (just think about all of the interesting unknown foods, flavors, spices and brands) slowly become tedious as you peer at labels, guess at brands and hope that you ultimately like what you\'re buying. So as if other things in your life aren\'t a constant reminder that you\'re a foreigner, the grocery store becomes just one of the many places where you come face to face with your own foreignness.\r\n\r\nYou stand in front of the cheese and yogurt case trying to make sense of the two-dozen brands and varieties while others breeze by deftly picking out a block of cheese or a few containers of yogurt.  The choice is easy for them. <em>Me? </em>I pick things out based on things how cute the cow on the packaging is or how much I like the font.\r\n\r\nBut then sometimes there are little things that surprise you.\r\n\r\n<em>Like today! </em>\r\n\r\nToday, after a long, long day at school I stopped by Hit to pick up some things to make nachos because this weekend we\'re having a nacho competition among the American teachers in honor Cinco de Mayo.  (Okay I know, I know, it\'s a little early for Cinco de Mayo but we\'ve got a long weekend starting on May 6th for St. George\'s which makes celebrating on the actual day that much harder.)\r\n\r\nAnyhow, I was in the isle with beans staring at bag after bag of beans wishing for one of two things: black beans or red-kidney beans. Needless to say, neither of those were options so I was busy trying to decide which bag of semi-red-semi-spotted beans to buy in order to make refried beans. Finally, I settled on a bag that seemed to have the most red-colored beans in it.\r\n\r\nBeans in basket I headed down the isle to find tortilla chips and cheese. That\'s when I saw it!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4839\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"1024\" caption=\"Wall of Ritter Sport \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4839\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4839\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4839\" title=\"Wall of Ritter Sport \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC02457-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<em>Ritter Sport</em>. A wall of Ritter Sport in fact. Okay a wall might be a little bit of an exaggeration but really the display is impressive.\r\n\r\nAnd it was on sale.  That\'s when I remembered: sometimes it the little things.','Sometimes it\'s the Little Things ','','inherit','open','open','','4838-revision-2','','','2011-04-28 20:06:36','2011-04-28 18:06:36','',4838,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/28/4838-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4842,1,'2011-04-28 20:06:36','2011-04-28 18:06:36','Much of my day-to-day life in Sofia is routine. For better or worse that\'s what happens when you live abroad. In the beginning the place is foreign, very foreign, and then it becomes more and more normal and your life becomes more and more routine.\r\n\r\nLife abroad is not all rainbows and puppies nor is it all maps, airplane tickets, guidebooks and sunglasses. In fact, life abroad often requires from me a number of tedious tasks like making my bed in the morning, fixing dinner, doing laundry, going to the grocery store and cleaning things. Things I might add that seem to get dirty and/or collect dust even when I am not spending much time at home.\r\n\r\nThe thing is that sometimes the day-to-day abroad can get you down because many of these tasks take more time and effort abroad than they do at home--or at least it seems this way.\r\n\r\nSo things like going to the grocery store which start out exciting (just think about all of the interesting unknown foods, flavors, spices and brands) slowly become tedious as you peer at labels, guess at brands and hope that you ultimately like what you\'re buying. So as if other things in your life aren\'t a constant reminder that you\'re a foreigner, the grocery store becomes just one of the many places where you come face to face with your own foreignness.\r\n\r\nYou stand in front of the cheese and yogurt case trying to make sense of the two-dozen brands and varieties while others breeze by deftly picking out a block of cheese or a few containers of yogurt.  The choice is easy for them. <em>Me? </em>I pick things out based on things how cute the cow on the packaging is or how much I like the font.\r\n\r\nBut then sometimes there are little things that surprise you.\r\n\r\n<em>Like today! </em>\r\n\r\nToday, after a long, long day at school I stopped by Hit to pick up some things to make nachos because this weekend we\'re having a nacho competition among the American teachers in honor Cinco de Mayo.  (Okay I know, I know, it\'s a little early for Cinco de Mayo but we\'ve got a long weekend starting on May 6th for St. George\'s which makes celebrating on the actual day that much harder.)\r\n\r\nAnyhow, I was in the isle with beans staring at bag after bag of beans wishing for one of two things: black beans or red-kidney beans. Needless to say, neither of those were options so I was busy trying to decide which bag of semi-red-semi-spotted beans to buy in order to make refried beans. Finally, I settled on a bag that seemed to have the most red-colored beans in it.\r\n\r\nBeans in basket I headed down the isle to find tortilla chips and cheese. That\'s when I saw it!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4839\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"1024\" caption=\"Wall of Ritter Sport \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4839\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4839\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4839\" title=\"Wall of Ritter Sport \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC02457-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<em>Ritter Sport</em>. A wall of Ritter Sport in fact. Okay a wall might be a little bit of an exaggeration but really the display is impressive.\r\n\r\nAnd it was on sale.  That\'s when I remembered: sometimes it the little things.','Sometimes it\'s the Little Things ','','inherit','open','open','','4838-revision-3','','','2011-04-28 20:06:36','2011-04-28 18:06:36','',4838,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/28/4838-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(4843,1,'2011-04-28 20:06:37','2011-04-28 18:06:37','Much of my day-to-day life in Sofia is routine. For better or worse that\'s what happens when you live abroad. In the beginning the place is foreign, very foreign, and then it becomes more and more normal and your life becomes more and more routine.\r\n\r\nLife abroad is not all rainbows and puppies nor is it all maps, airplane tickets, guidebooks and sunglasses. In fact, life abroad often requires from me a number of tedious tasks like making my bed in the morning, fixing dinner, doing laundry, going to the grocery store and cleaning things. Things I might add that seem to get dirty and/or collect dust even when I am not spending much time at home.\r\n\r\nThe thing is that sometimes the day-to-day abroad can get you down because many of these tasks take more time and effort abroad than they do at home--or at least it seems this way.\r\n\r\nSo things like going to the grocery store which start out exciting (just think about all of the interesting unknown foods, flavors, spices and brands) slowly become tedious as you peer at labels, guess at brands and hope that you ultimately like what you\'re buying. So as if other things in your life aren\'t a constant reminder that you\'re a foreigner, the grocery store becomes just one of the many places where you come face to face with your own foreignness.\r\n\r\nYou stand in front of the cheese and yogurt case trying to make sense of the two-dozen brands and varieties while others breeze by deftly picking out a block of cheese or a few containers of yogurt.  The choice is easy for them. <em>Me? </em>I pick things out based on things how cute the cow on the packaging is or how much I like the font.\r\n\r\nBut then sometimes there are little things that surprise you.\r\n\r\n<em>Like today! </em>\r\n\r\nToday, after a long, long day at school I stopped by Hit to pick up some things to make nachos because this weekend we\'re having a nacho competition among the American teachers in honor Cinco de Mayo.  (Okay I know, I know, it\'s a little early for Cinco de Mayo but we\'ve got a long weekend starting on May 6th for St. George\'s which makes celebrating on the actual day that much harder.)\r\n\r\nAnyhow, I was in the isle with beans staring at bag after bag of beans wishing for one of two things: black beans or red-kidney beans. Needless to say, neither of those were options so I was busy trying to decide which bag of semi-red-semi-spotted beans to buy in order to make refried beans. Finally, I settled on a bag that seemed to have the most red-colored beans in it.\r\n\r\nBeans in basket I headed down the isle to find tortilla chips and cheese. That\'s when I saw it!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4839\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"1024\" caption=\"Wall of Ritter Sport \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4839\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4839\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4839\" title=\"Wall of Ritter Sport \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC02457-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<em>Ritter Sport</em>. A wall of Ritter Sport in fact. Okay a wall might be a little bit of an exaggeration but really the display is impressive.\r\n\r\nAnd it was on sale.  That\'s when I remembered: sometimes it the little things.','Sometimes it\'s the Little Things ','','inherit','open','open','','4838-revision-4','','','2011-04-28 20:06:37','2011-04-28 18:06:37','',4838,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/28/4838-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(4844,1,'2011-04-28 20:15:39','2011-04-28 18:15:39','','New Ritter Sport','New Ritter Sport','inherit','open','open','','dsc02458','','','2011-04-28 20:15:39','2011-04-28 18:15:39','',4838,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC02458.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4845,1,'2011-04-28 20:08:45','2011-04-28 18:08:45','Much of my day-to-day life in Sofia is routine. For better or worse that\'s what happens when you live abroad. In the beginning the place is foreign, very foreign, and then it becomes more and more normal and your life becomes more and more routine.\n\nLife abroad is not all rainbows and puppies nor is it all maps, airplane tickets, guidebooks and sunglasses. In fact, life abroad often requires from me a number of tedious tasks like making my bed in the morning, fixing dinner, doing laundry, going to the grocery store and cleaning things. Things I might add that seem to get dirty and/or collect dust even when I am not spending much time at home.\n\nThe thing is that sometimes the day-to-day abroad can get you down because many of these tasks take more time and effort abroad than they do at home--or at least it seems this way.\n\nSo things like going to the grocery store which start out exciting (just think about all of the interesting unknown foods, flavors, spices and brands) slowly become tedious as you peer at labels, guess at brands and hope that you ultimately like what you\'re buying. So as if other things in your life aren\'t a constant reminder that you\'re a foreigner, the grocery store becomes just one of the many places where you come face to face with your own foreignness.\n\nYou stand in front of the cheese and yogurt case trying to make sense of the two-dozen brands and varieties while others breeze by deftly picking out a block of cheese or a few containers of yogurt.  The choice is easy for them. <em>Me? </em>I pick things out based on things how cute the cow on the packaging is or how much I like the font.\n\nBut then sometimes there are little things that surprise you.\n\n<em>Like today! </em>\n\nToday, after a long, long day at school I stopped by Hit to pick up some things to make nachos because this weekend we\'re having a nacho competition among the American teachers in honor Cinco de Mayo.  (Okay I know, I know, it\'s a little early for Cinco de Mayo but we\'ve got a long weekend starting on May 6th for St. George\'s which makes celebrating on the actual day that much harder.)\n\nAnyhow, I was in the isle with beans staring at bag after bag of beans wishing for one of two things: black beans or red-kidney beans. Needless to say, neither of those were options so I was busy trying to decide which bag of semi-red-semi-spotted beans to buy in order to make refried beans. Finally, I settled on a bag that seemed to have the most red-colored beans in it.\n\nBeans in basket I headed down the isle to find tortilla chips and cheese. That\'s when I saw it!\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4839\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Wall of Ritter Sport \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4839\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4839\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4839 \" title=\"Wall of Ritter Sport \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC02457-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n<em>Ritter Sport</em>. A wall of Ritter Sport in fact. Okay a wall might be a little bit of an exaggeration but really the display is impressive.\n\nAnd it was on sale.  That\'s when I remembered: sometimes it the little things. Or in this case squares of chocolate filled with','Sometimes it\'s the Little Things ','','inherit','open','open','','4838-revision-5','','','2011-04-28 20:08:45','2011-04-28 18:08:45','',4838,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/28/4838-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(4846,1,'2011-04-28 20:17:25','2011-04-28 18:17:25','Much of my day-to-day life in Sofia is routine. For better or worse that\'s what happens when you live abroad. In the beginning the place is foreign, very foreign, and then it becomes more and more normal and your life becomes more and more routine.\r\n\r\nLife abroad is not all rainbows and puppies nor is it all maps, airplane tickets, guidebooks and sunglasses. In fact, life abroad often requires from me a number of tedious tasks like making my bed in the morning, fixing dinner, doing laundry, going to the grocery store and cleaning things. Things I might add that seem to get dirty and/or collect dust even when I am not spending much time at home.\r\n\r\nThe thing is that sometimes the day-to-day abroad can get you down because many of these tasks take more time and effort abroad than they do at home--or at least it seems this way.\r\n\r\nSo things like going to the grocery store which start out exciting (just think about all of the interesting unknown foods, flavors, spices and brands) slowly become tedious as you peer at labels, guess at brands and hope that you ultimately like what you\'re buying. So as if other things in your life aren\'t a constant reminder that you\'re a foreigner, the grocery store becomes just one of the many places where you come face to face with your own foreignness.\r\n\r\nYou stand in front of the cheese and yogurt case trying to make sense of the two-dozen brands and varieties while others breeze by deftly picking out a block of cheese or a few containers of yogurt.  The choice is easy for them. <em>Me? </em>I pick things out based on things how cute the cow on the packaging is or how much I like the font.\r\n\r\nBut then sometimes there are little things that surprise you.\r\n\r\n<em>Like today! </em>\r\n\r\nToday, after a long, long day at school I stopped by Hit to pick up some things to make nachos because this weekend we\'re having a nacho competition among the American teachers in honor Cinco de Mayo.  (Okay I know, I know, it\'s a little early for Cinco de Mayo but we\'ve got a long weekend starting on May 6th for St. George\'s which makes celebrating on the actual day that much harder.)\r\n\r\nAnyhow, I was in the isle with beans staring at bag after bag of beans wishing for one of two things: black beans or red-kidney beans. Needless to say, neither of those were options so I was busy trying to decide which bag of semi-red-semi-spotted beans to buy in order to make refried beans. Finally, I settled on a bag that seemed to have the most red-colored beans in it.\r\n\r\nBeans in basket I headed down the isle to find tortilla chips and cheese. That\'s when I saw it!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4839\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Wall of Ritter Sport \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4839\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4839\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4839 \" title=\"Wall of Ritter Sport \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC02457-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<em>Ritter Sport</em>. A wall of Ritter Sport in fact. Okay a wall might be a little bit of an exaggeration but really the display is impressive.\r\n\r\nAnd it was on sale.  That\'s when I remembered: sometimes it the little things. Or in this case squares of chocolate filled with delicious things. It was all I could do to limit myself to one.\r\n\r\nI went with a new flavor.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4844\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"New Ritter Sport\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4844\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4844\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4844 \" title=\"New Ritter Sport\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC02458-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]','Sometimes it\'s the Little Things ','','inherit','open','open','','4838-revision-6','','','2011-04-28 20:17:25','2011-04-28 18:17:25','',4838,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/28/4838-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(4847,1,'2011-04-28 20:17:25','2011-04-28 18:17:25','Much of my day-to-day life in Sofia is routine. For better or worse that\'s what happens when you live abroad. In the beginning the place is foreign, very foreign, and then it becomes more and more normal and your life becomes more and more routine.\r\n\r\nLife abroad is not all rainbows and puppies nor is it all maps, airplane tickets, guidebooks and sunglasses. In fact, life abroad often requires from me a number of tedious tasks like making my bed in the morning, fixing dinner, doing laundry, going to the grocery store and cleaning things. Things I might add that seem to get dirty and/or collect dust even when I am not spending much time at home.\r\n\r\nThe thing is that sometimes the day-to-day abroad can get you down because many of these tasks take more time and effort abroad than they do at home--or at least it seems this way.\r\n\r\nSo things like going to the grocery store which start out exciting (just think about all of the interesting unknown foods, flavors, spices and brands) slowly become tedious as you peer at labels, guess at brands and hope that you ultimately like what you\'re buying. So as if other things in your life aren\'t a constant reminder that you\'re a foreigner, the grocery store becomes just one of the many places where you come face to face with your own foreignness.\r\n\r\nYou stand in front of the cheese and yogurt case trying to make sense of the two-dozen brands and varieties while others breeze by deftly picking out a block of cheese or a few containers of yogurt.  The choice is easy for them. <em>Me? </em>I pick things out based on things how cute the cow on the packaging is or how much I like the font.\r\n\r\nBut then sometimes there are little things that surprise you.\r\n\r\n<em>Like today! </em>\r\n\r\nToday, after a long, long day at school I stopped by Hit to pick up some things to make nachos because this weekend we\'re having a nacho competition among the American teachers in honor Cinco de Mayo.  (Okay I know, I know, it\'s a little early for Cinco de Mayo but we\'ve got a long weekend starting on May 6th for St. George\'s which makes celebrating on the actual day that much harder.)\r\n\r\nAnyhow, I was in the isle with beans staring at bag after bag of beans wishing for one of two things: black beans or red-kidney beans. Needless to say, neither of those were options so I was busy trying to decide which bag of semi-red-semi-spotted beans to buy in order to make refried beans. Finally, I settled on a bag that seemed to have the most red-colored beans in it.\r\n\r\nBeans in basket I headed down the isle to find tortilla chips and cheese. That\'s when I saw it!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4839\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Wall of Ritter Sport \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4839\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4839\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4839 \" title=\"Wall of Ritter Sport \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC02457-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<em>Ritter Sport</em>. A wall of Ritter Sport in fact. Okay a wall might be a little bit of an exaggeration but really the display is impressive.\r\n\r\nAnd it was on sale.  That\'s when I remembered: sometimes it the little things. Or in this case squares of chocolate filled with delicious things. It was all I could do to limit myself to one.\r\n\r\nI went with a new flavor.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4844\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"New Ritter Sport\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4844\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4844\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4844 \" title=\"New Ritter Sport\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC02458-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]','Sometimes it\'s the Little Things ','','inherit','open','open','','4838-revision-7','','','2011-04-28 20:17:25','2011-04-28 18:17:25','',4838,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/28/4838-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(4848,1,'2011-04-28 20:17:26','2011-04-28 18:17:26','Much of my day-to-day life in Sofia is routine. For better or worse that\'s what happens when you live abroad. In the beginning the place is foreign, very foreign, and then it becomes more and more normal and your life becomes more and more routine.\r\n\r\nLife abroad is not all rainbows and puppies nor is it all maps, airplane tickets, guidebooks and sunglasses. In fact, life abroad often requires from me a number of tedious tasks like making my bed in the morning, fixing dinner, doing laundry, going to the grocery store and cleaning things. Things I might add that seem to get dirty and/or collect dust even when I am not spending much time at home.\r\n\r\nThe thing is that sometimes the day-to-day abroad can get you down because many of these tasks take more time and effort abroad than they do at home--or at least it seems this way.\r\n\r\nSo things like going to the grocery store which start out exciting (just think about all of the interesting unknown foods, flavors, spices and brands) slowly become tedious as you peer at labels, guess at brands and hope that you ultimately like what you\'re buying. So as if other things in your life aren\'t a constant reminder that you\'re a foreigner, the grocery store becomes just one of the many places where you come face to face with your own foreignness.\r\n\r\nYou stand in front of the cheese and yogurt case trying to make sense of the two-dozen brands and varieties while others breeze by deftly picking out a block of cheese or a few containers of yogurt.  The choice is easy for them. <em>Me? </em>I pick things out based on things how cute the cow on the packaging is or how much I like the font.\r\n\r\nBut then sometimes there are little things that surprise you.\r\n\r\n<em>Like today! </em>\r\n\r\nToday, after a long, long day at school I stopped by Hit to pick up some things to make nachos because this weekend we\'re having a nacho competition among the American teachers in honor Cinco de Mayo.  (Okay I know, I know, it\'s a little early for Cinco de Mayo but we\'ve got a long weekend starting on May 6th for St. George\'s which makes celebrating on the actual day that much harder.)\r\n\r\nAnyhow, I was in the isle with beans staring at bag after bag of beans wishing for one of two things: black beans or red-kidney beans. Needless to say, neither of those were options so I was busy trying to decide which bag of semi-red-semi-spotted beans to buy in order to make refried beans. Finally, I settled on a bag that seemed to have the most red-colored beans in it.\r\n\r\nBeans in basket I headed down the isle to find tortilla chips and cheese. That\'s when I saw it!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4839\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Wall of Ritter Sport \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4839\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4839\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4839 \" title=\"Wall of Ritter Sport \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC02457-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<em>Ritter Sport</em>. A wall of Ritter Sport in fact. Okay a wall might be a little bit of an exaggeration but really the display is impressive.\r\n\r\nAnd it was on sale.  That\'s when I remembered: sometimes it the little things. Or in this case squares of chocolate filled with delicious things. It was all I could do to limit myself to one.\r\n\r\nI went with a new flavor.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4844\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"New Ritter Sport\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4844\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4844\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4844 \" title=\"New Ritter Sport\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC02458-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]','Sometimes it\'s the Little Things ','','inherit','open','open','','4838-revision-8','','','2011-04-28 20:17:26','2011-04-28 18:17:26','',4838,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/28/4838-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(4849,1,'2011-04-28 20:21:40','2011-04-28 18:21:40','Much of my day-to-day life in Sofia is routine. For better or worse that\'s what happens when you live abroad. In the beginning the place is foreign, very foreign, and then it becomes more and more normal and your life becomes more and more routine.\n\nLife abroad is not all rainbows and puppies nor is it all maps, airplane tickets, guidebooks and sunglasses. In fact, life abroad often requires from me a number of tedious tasks like making my bed in the morning, fixing dinner, doing laundry, going to the grocery store and cleaning things. Things I might add that seem to get dirty and/or collect dust even when I am not spending much time at home.\n\nThe thing is that sometimes the day-to-day abroad can get you down because many of these tasks take more time and effort abroad than they do at home--or at least it seems this way.\n\nSo things like going to the grocery store which start out exciting (just think about all of the interesting unknown foods, flavors, spices and brands) slowly become tedious as you peer at labels, guess at brands and hope that you ultimately like what you\'re buying. So as if other things in your life aren\'t a constant reminder that you\'re a foreigner, the grocery store becomes just one of the many places where you come face to face with your own foreignness.\n\nYou stand in front of the cheese and yogurt case trying to make sense of the two-dozen brands and varieties while others breeze by deftly picking out a block of cheese or a few containers of yogurt.  The choice is easy for them. <em>Me? </em>I pick things out based on things how cute the cow on the packaging is or how much I like the font.\n\nBut then sometimes there are little things that surprise you.\n\n<em>Like today! <!--more--></em>\n\nToday, after a long, long day at school I stopped by Hit to pick up some things to make nachos because this weekend we\'re having a nacho competition among the American teachers in honor Cinco de Mayo.  (Okay I know, I know, it\'s a little early for Cinco de Mayo but we\'ve got a long weekend starting on May 6th for St. George\'s which makes celebrating on the actual day that much harder.)\n\nAnyhow, I was in the aisle with beans staring at bag after bag of beans wishing for one of two things: black beans or red-kidney beans. Needless to say, neither of those were options so I was busy trying to decide which bag of semi-red-semi-spotted beans to buy in order to make refried beans. Finally, I settled on a bag that seemed to have the most red-colored beans in it. Beans in basket, I headed down the aisle to find tortilla chips and cheese.\n\nThat\'s when I saw it!\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4839\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Wall of Ritter Sport \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4839\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4839\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4839 \" title=\"Wall of Ritter Sport \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC02457-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n<em>Ritter Sport</em>.\n\nA wall of Ritter Sport in fact. Okay a wall might be a little bit of an exaggeration but really the display is impressive.\n\nAnd it was on sale.\n\nThat\'s when I remembered: sometimes it the little things. Or in this case squares of chocolate filled with delicious things. It was all I could do to limit myself to one.\n\nI went with a new flavor.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4844\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"New Ritter Sport\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4844\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4844\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4844 \" title=\"New Ritter Sport\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC02458-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]','Sometimes it\'s the Little Things ','','inherit','open','open','','4838-revision-9','','','2011-04-28 20:21:40','2011-04-28 18:21:40','',4838,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/28/4838-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(4850,1,'2011-04-28 20:22:26','2011-04-28 18:22:26','Much of my day-to-day life in Sofia is routine. For better or worse that\'s what happens when you live abroad. In the beginning the place is foreign, very foreign, and then it becomes more and more normal and your life becomes more and more routine.\r\n\r\nLife abroad is not all rainbows and puppies nor is it all maps, airplane tickets, guidebooks and sunglasses. In fact, life abroad often requires from me a number of tedious tasks like making my bed in the morning, fixing dinner, doing laundry, going to the grocery store and cleaning things. Things I might add that seem to get dirty and/or collect dust even when I am not spending much time at home.\r\n\r\nThe thing is that sometimes the day-to-day abroad can get you down because many of these tasks take more time and effort abroad than they do at home--or at least it seems this way.\r\n\r\nSo things like going to the grocery store which start out exciting (just think about all of the interesting unknown foods, flavors, spices and brands) slowly become tedious as you peer at labels, guess at brands and hope that you ultimately like what you\'re buying. So as if other things in your life aren\'t a constant reminder that you\'re a foreigner, the grocery store becomes just one of the many places where you come face to face with your own foreignness.\r\n\r\nYou stand in front of the cheese and yogurt case trying to make sense of the two-dozen brands and varieties while others breeze by deftly picking out a block of cheese or a few containers of yogurt.  The choice is easy for them. <em>Me? </em>I pick things out based on things how cute the cow on the packaging is or how much I like the font.\r\n\r\nBut then sometimes there are little things that surprise you.\r\n\r\n<em>Like today! <!--more--></em>\r\n\r\nToday, after a long, long day at school I stopped by Hit to pick up some things to make nachos because this weekend we\'re having a nacho competition among the American teachers in honor Cinco de Mayo.  (Okay I know, I know, it\'s a little early for Cinco de Mayo but we\'ve got a long weekend starting on May 6th for St. George\'s which makes celebrating on the actual day that much harder.)\r\n\r\nAnyhow, I was in the aisle with beans staring at bag after bag of beans wishing for one of two things: black beans or red-kidney beans. Needless to say, neither of those were options so I was busy trying to decide which bag of semi-red-semi-spotted beans to buy in order to make refried beans. Finally, I settled on a bag that seemed to have the most red-colored beans in it. Beans in basket, I headed down the aisle to find tortilla chips and cheese.\r\n\r\nThat\'s when I saw it!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4839\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Wall of Ritter Sport \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4839\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4839\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4839 \" title=\"Wall of Ritter Sport \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC02457-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<em>Ritter Sport</em>.\r\n\r\nA wall of Ritter Sport in fact. Okay a wall might be a little bit of an exaggeration but really the display is impressive.\r\n\r\nAnd it was on sale.\r\n\r\nThat\'s when I remembered: sometimes it\'s the little things. Or in this case squares of chocolate filled with delicious things. It was all I could do to limit myself to one.\r\n\r\nI went with a new flavor. Even though I wanted one of each.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4844\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"New Ritter Sport\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4844\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4844\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4844 \" title=\"New Ritter Sport\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC02458-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]','Sometimes it\'s the Little Things ','','inherit','open','open','','4838-revision-10','','','2011-04-28 20:22:26','2011-04-28 18:22:26','',4838,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/28/4838-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(4851,1,'2011-04-28 20:23:35','2011-04-28 18:23:35','Much of my day-to-day life in Sofia is routine. For better or worse that\'s what happens when you live abroad. In the beginning the place is foreign, very foreign, and then it becomes more and more normal and your life becomes more and more routine.\n\nLife abroad is not all rainbows and puppies nor is it all maps, airplane tickets, guidebooks and sunglasses. In fact, life abroad often requires from me a number of tedious tasks like making my bed in the morning, fixing dinner, doing laundry, going to the grocery store and cleaning things. Things I might add that seem to get dirty and/or collect dust even when I am not spending much time at home.\n\nThe thing is that sometimes the day-to-day abroad can get you down because many of these tasks take more time and effort abroad than they do at home--or at least it seems this way.\n\nSo things like going to the grocery store which start out exciting (just think about all of the interesting unknown foods, flavors, spices and brands) slowly become tedious as you peer at labels, guess at brands and hope that you ultimately like what you\'re buying. So as if other things in your life aren\'t a constant reminder that you\'re a foreigner, the grocery store becomes just one of the many places where you come face to face with your own foreignness.\n\nYou stand in front of the cheese and yogurt case trying to make sense of the two-dozen brands and varieties while others breeze by deftly picking out a block of cheese or a few containers of yogurt.  The choice is easy for them. <em>Me? </em>I pick things out based on things how cute the cow on the packaging is or how much I like the font.\n\nBut then sometimes there are little things that surprise you.\n\n<em>Like today! <!--more--></em>\n\nToday, after a long, long day at school I stopped by Hit to pick up some things to make nachos because this weekend we\'re having a nacho competition among the American teachers in honor Cinco de Mayo.  (Okay I know, I know, it\'s a little early for Cinco de Mayo but we\'ve got a long weekend starting on May 6th for St. George\'s which makes celebrating on the actual day that much harder.)\n\nAnyhow, I was in the aisle with beans staring at bag after bag of beans wishing for one of two things: black beans or red-kidney beans. Needless to say, neither of those were options so I was busy trying to decide which bag of semi-red-semi-spotted beans to buy in order to make refried beans. Finally, I settled on a bag that seemed to have the most red-colored beans in it. Beans in basket, I headed down the aisle to find tortilla chips and cheese.\n\nThat\'s when I saw it!\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4839\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Wall of Ritter Sport \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4839\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/28/sometimes-its-the-little-things/dsc02457/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4839 \" title=\"Wall of Ritter Sport \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC02457-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n<em>Ritter Sport</em>.\n\nA wall of Ritter Sport in fact. Okay a wall might be a little bit of an exaggeration but really the display is impressive.\n\nAnd it was on sale.\n\nThat\'s when I remembered: sometimes it\'s the little things. Or in this case squares of chocolate filled with delicious things. It was all I could do to limit myself to one.\n\nI went with a new flavor. Even though I wanted one of each.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4844\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"New Ritter Sport\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4844\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/28/sometimes-its-the-little-things/dsc02458/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4844 \" title=\"New Ritter Sport\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC02458-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]','Sometimes it\'s the Little Things ','','inherit','open','open','','4838-autosave','','','2011-04-28 20:23:35','2011-04-28 18:23:35','',4838,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/28/4838-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(4852,1,'2011-04-30 09:17:25','2011-04-30 07:17:25','I just bought my ticket to the Elevation Music Festival in Razlog in June. It\'s a two day festival on the 25th and 26th and I\'m already getting excited about it. <em>Jamiroquai</em>, anyone?!\r\n\r\nApparently this is the Festival\'s first year.\r\n\r\nI guess it\'s for this reason that the <a title=\"Elevation Music Festival\" href=\"http://www.elevation.bg/en/line-up\" target=\"_blank\">official website</a> has a clock counting down the days (as well as hours, minutes and seconds) to the festival. Just for the record, there are still 55 days until the festival gets kicked off.  That gives you time to get your tickets too.\r\n\r\nAnyhow, the band line up is pretty great and includes Jamiroquai, Cypress Hill, 30 Seconds to Mars, Morcheeba and many, many more.  I know who I am going to be listening two over the next two months.','Elevation Music Festival in June','','publish','open','open','','elevation-music-festival-in-june','','','2011-04-30 09:17:25','2011-04-30 07:17:25','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=4852',0,'post','',0),(4853,1,'2011-04-30 09:10:08','2011-04-30 07:10:08','I just bought my ticket to the Elevation Music Festival in Razlog in June. It\'s a two day festival on the 25th and 26th and I\'m already looking forward to it.\n\nApparently this is the Festival\n\nFor some reason the <a title=\"Elevation Music Festival\" href=\"http://www.elevation.bg/en/line-up\" target=\"_blank\">official website</a> has a clock counting down the days (as well as hours, minutes and seconds) to the festival. Just for the record, there are still 55 days until the festival gets kicked off.  That gives you time to get your tickets too.\n\nAnyhow, the band line up is pretty great and includes Jamiroquai, Cypress Hill, 30 Seconds to Mars, Morcheeba and many, many more.\n\n&nbsp;','Looking Forward: Elevation Music Festival ','','inherit','open','open','','4852-revision','','','2011-04-30 09:10:08','2011-04-30 07:10:08','',4852,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/30/4852-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4854,1,'2011-04-30 09:11:08','2011-04-30 07:11:08','I just bought my ticket to the Elevation Music Festival in Razlog in June. It\'s a two day festival on the 25th and 26th and I\'m already looking forward to it.\n\nApparently this is the Festival\'s first year.\n\nI guess it\'s for this reason that the <a title=\"Elevation Music Festival\" href=\"http://www.elevation.bg/en/line-up\" target=\"_blank\">official website</a> has a clock counting down the days (as well as hours, minutes and seconds) to the festival. Just for the record, there are still 55 days until the festival gets kicked off.  That gives you time to get your tickets too.\n\nAnyhow, the band line up is pretty great and includes Jamiroquai, Cypress Hill, 30 Seconds to Mars, Morcheeba and many, many more.','Looking Forward: Elevation Music Festival ','','inherit','open','open','','4852-revision-2','','','2011-04-30 09:11:08','2011-04-30 07:11:08','',4852,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/30/4852-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4855,1,'2011-05-01 21:04:05','2011-05-01 19:04:05','Yesterday, I participated in a nacho competition!!\r\n\r\nThere were nachos, nachos, nachos everywhere.\r\n\r\nA nacho party is great because you get to get to eat nachos. You get to drink a beer. You get to eat more nachos. And you get to hangout with your friends outside enjoying the good weather.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4856\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"608\" caption=\"Table of Nachos!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4856\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/01/nacho-party/dsc02465/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4856   \" title=\"Table of Nachos!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02465-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"608\" height=\"457\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd, drum roll please, for the second year in a row, I garnered an honorable mention for my nachos!! That\'s pretty good considering there were a dozen entries.\r\n\r\n<em>Hip-hip-hooray</em>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4857\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"My Nachos!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4857\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/01/nacho-party/dsc02467/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4857 \" title=\"My Nachos!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02467-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSure some might be disappointed by not placing in the top three or in actually winning but not me. <!--more-->In my mind it\'s not winning the competition that\'s most important, it\'s whether or not you\'re left with any nachos at the end of the night. And I am happy to report that both years my nachos were completely devoured.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4858\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"A Beautiful Plate of Nachos\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4858\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/01/nacho-party/dsc02468/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4858 \" title=\"A Beautiful Plate of Nachos\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02468-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nGiven how much food there is at this party, going home with an empty plate isn\'t that easy. So I stand pretty firmly behind my claim that an empty plate is the best sign of how good the nachos are!!\r\n\r\nAlso it makes me feel better about not winning. Even though both years, I\'ve more or less suspected that I wouldn\'t win given the nontraditional takes I\'ve had on nachos.\r\n\r\nLast year I went with the sweet nacho--refried beans, strawberry salsa and topped the nachos with brie. This year I went simple and spicy. I labored over spicy homemade refried beans and then layered up my tortilla chips with the beans, two kinds of cheese, green onion, spicy green peppers and sour cream.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4859\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"One happy Judge\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4859\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/01/nacho-party/dsc02475/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4859 \" title=\"One happy Judge \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02475-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI made a bold choice and skipped the tomatoes, guacamole and olives in favor of focusing on a few great ingredients. This is probably why I didn\'t win but that\'s okay. The nachos were tasty.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4860\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Enjoying Nachos\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4860\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/01/nacho-party/dsc02477/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4860 \" title=\"Enjoying Nachos\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02477-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe big problem is that with 12-plus entries all of the nachos are tasty. Some just are more tasty. Some you like more than others. Everyone has his own taste for what makes a great plate of nachos.\r\n\r\nWe have judges who take their jobs very seriously--from creating a nacho rubric to wearing costumes and sampling all of the nachos before announcing the winners. The seriousness with which they take their thankless-job was commendable.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4861\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Nachos, Nachos everywhere!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4861\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/01/nacho-party/dsc02479/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4861 \" title=\"Nachos, Nachos everywhere!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02479-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAfter 20 minutes or so of eating, judging and cleaning their pallets with Corona, the rest of us were allowed to dig in. The winners were announced and we spent the rest of the night eating (or over-eating as the case may be), chatting and otherwise celebrating Cinco de Mayo.\r\n\r\nNeedless to say, it was great fun.','Nacho Party','','publish','open','open','','nacho-party','','','2011-05-01 21:04:07','2011-05-01 19:04:07','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=4855',0,'post','',2),(4856,1,'2011-05-01 20:28:49','2011-05-01 18:28:49','','Table of Nachos!','Table of Nachos!','inherit','open','open','','dsc02465','','','2011-05-01 20:28:49','2011-05-01 18:28:49','',4855,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02465.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4857,1,'2011-05-01 20:36:36','2011-05-01 18:36:36','','My Nachos!','My Nachos!','inherit','open','open','','dsc02467','','','2011-05-01 20:36:36','2011-05-01 18:36:36','',4855,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02467.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4858,1,'2011-05-01 20:38:14','2011-05-01 18:38:14','','A Beautiful Plate of Nachos','A Beautiful Plate of Nachos','inherit','open','open','','dsc02468','','','2011-05-01 20:38:14','2011-05-01 18:38:14','',4855,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02468.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4859,1,'2011-05-01 20:40:20','2011-05-01 18:40:20','','One happy Judge ','One happy Judge','inherit','open','open','','dsc02475','','','2011-05-01 20:40:20','2011-05-01 18:40:20','',4855,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02475.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4860,1,'2011-05-01 20:43:38','2011-05-01 18:43:38','','Enjoying Nachos','Enjoying Nachos','inherit','open','open','','dsc02477','','','2011-05-01 20:43:38','2011-05-01 18:43:38','',4855,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02477.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4861,1,'2011-05-01 20:45:12','2011-05-01 18:45:12','','Nachos, Nachos everywhere!','Nachos, Nachos everywhere!','inherit','open','open','','dsc02479','','','2011-05-01 20:45:12','2011-05-01 18:45:12','',4855,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02479.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4862,1,'2011-05-01 20:47:13','2011-05-01 18:47:13','Yesterday I participated in a nacho competition!! It was great fun.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4856\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"1024\" caption=\"Table of Nachos!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4856\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4856\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4856\" title=\"Table of Nachos!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02465-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd, drum roll please, for the second year in a row, I garnered an honorable mention for my nachos!!\n\n<em>Hip-hip-hooray</em>.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4857\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"1024\" caption=\"My Nachos!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4857\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4857\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4857\" title=\"My Nachos!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02467-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nSure some might be disappointed by not placing in the top three or in actually winning but not me. In my mind it\'s not winning the competition that\'s most important, it\'s whether or not you\'re left with any nachos at the end of the night. And I am happy to report that both years my nachos were completely devoured.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4858\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"A Beautiful Plate of Nachos\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4858\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4858\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4858 \" title=\"A Beautiful Plate of Nachos\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02468-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThere you have it. An empty plate is the best sign of how good the nachos are!!\n\nLast year I went with the sweet nacho--refried beans, strawberry salsa and topped the nachos with brie. This year I went simple and spicy. I labored over spicy homemade refried beans and then layered up my tortilla chips with the beans, two kinds of cheese, green onion, spicy green peppers and sour cream.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4859\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"One happy Judge\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4859\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4859\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4859 \" title=\"One happy Judge \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02475-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI skipped the tomatoes, guacamole and olives in favor of focusing on a few great ingredients. This is probably why I didn\'t win but that\'s okay. The nachos were tasty.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4860\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Enjoying Nachos\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4860\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4860\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4860 \" title=\"Enjoying Nachos\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02477-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe big problem is that with 12-plus entries all of the nachos are tasty. Some just are more tasty. Some you like more than others. Everyone has his own taste for what makes a great plate of nachos.\n\nWe have judges who take their jobs very seriously--from creating a nacho rubric to wearing costumes and sampling all of the nachos before announcing the winners. The seriousness with which they take their thankless-job was commendable.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4861\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Nachos, Nachos everywhere!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4861\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4861\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4861 \" title=\"Nachos, Nachos everywhere!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02479-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAfter 20 minutes or so of eating, judging and cleaning their pallets with Corona, the rest of us were allowed to dig in. The winners were announced and we spent the rest of the night eating (or over-eating as the case may be), chatting and otherwise celebrating Cinco de Mayo.','Nacho Party','','inherit','open','open','','4855-revision','','','2011-05-01 20:47:13','2011-05-01 18:47:13','',4855,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/01/4855-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4864,1,'2011-05-01 20:48:13','2011-05-01 18:48:13','Yesterday I participated in a nacho competition!! It was great fun.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4856\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Table of Nachos!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4856\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4856\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4856 \" title=\"Table of Nachos!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02465-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd, drum roll please, for the second year in a row, I garnered an honorable mention for my nachos!!\n\n<em>Hip-hip-hooray</em>.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4857\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"My Nachos!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4857\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4857\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4857 \" title=\"My Nachos!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02467-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nSure some might be disappointed by not placing in the top three or in actually winning but not me. In my mind it\'s not winning the competition that\'s most important, it\'s whether or not you\'re left with any nachos at the end of the night. And I am happy to report that both years my nachos were completely devoured.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4858\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"A Beautiful Plate of Nachos\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4858\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4858\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4858 \" title=\"A Beautiful Plate of Nachos\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02468-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThere you have it. An empty plate is the best sign of how good the nachos are!!\n\nLast year I went with the sweet nacho--refried beans, strawberry salsa and topped the nachos with brie. This year I went simple and spicy. I labored over spicy homemade refried beans and then layered up my tortilla chips with the beans, two kinds of cheese, green onion, spicy green peppers and sour cream.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4859\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"One happy Judge\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4859\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4859\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4859 \" title=\"One happy Judge \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02475-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI skipped the tomatoes, guacamole and olives in favor of focusing on a few great ingredients. This is probably why I didn\'t win but that\'s okay. The nachos were tasty.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4860\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Enjoying Nachos\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4860\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4860\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4860 \" title=\"Enjoying Nachos\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02477-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe big problem is that with 12-plus entries all of the nachos are tasty. Some just are more tasty. Some you like more than others. Everyone has his own taste for what makes a great plate of nachos.\n\nWe have judges who take their jobs very seriously--from creating a nacho rubric to wearing costumes and sampling all of the nachos before announcing the winners. The seriousness with which they take their thankless-job was commendable.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4861\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Nachos, Nachos everywhere!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4861\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4861\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4861 \" title=\"Nachos, Nachos everywhere!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02479-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAfter 20 minutes or so of eating, judging and cleaning their pallets with Corona, the rest of us were allowed to dig in. The winners were announced and we spent the rest of the night eating (or over-eating as the case may be), chatting and otherwise celebrating Cinco de Mayo.','Nacho Party','','inherit','open','open','','4855-revision-3','','','2011-05-01 20:48:13','2011-05-01 18:48:13','',4855,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/01/4855-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(4863,1,'2011-05-01 20:47:46','2011-05-01 18:47:46','Yesterday I participated in a nacho competition!! It was great fun.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4856\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Table of Nachos!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4856\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4856\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4856 \" title=\"Table of Nachos!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02465-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd, drum roll please, for the second year in a row, I garnered an honorable mention for my nachos!!\r\n\r\n<em>Hip-hip-hooray</em>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4857\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"My Nachos!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4857\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4857\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4857 \" title=\"My Nachos!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02467-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSure some might be disappointed by not placing in the top three or in actually winning but not me. In my mind it\'s not winning the competition that\'s most important, it\'s whether or not you\'re left with any nachos at the end of the night. And I am happy to report that both years my nachos were completely devoured.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4858\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"A Beautiful Plate of Nachos\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4858\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4858\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4858 \" title=\"A Beautiful Plate of Nachos\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02468-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThere you have it. An empty plate is the best sign of how good the nachos are!!\r\n\r\nLast year I went with the sweet nacho--refried beans, strawberry salsa and topped the nachos with brie. This year I went simple and spicy. I labored over spicy homemade refried beans and then layered up my tortilla chips with the beans, two kinds of cheese, green onion, spicy green peppers and sour cream.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4859\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"One happy Judge\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4859\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4859\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4859 \" title=\"One happy Judge \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02475-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI skipped the tomatoes, guacamole and olives in favor of focusing on a few great ingredients. This is probably why I didn\'t win but that\'s okay. The nachos were tasty.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4860\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Enjoying Nachos\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4860\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4860\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4860 \" title=\"Enjoying Nachos\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02477-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe big problem is that with 12-plus entries all of the nachos are tasty. Some just are more tasty. Some you like more than others. Everyone has his own taste for what makes a great plate of nachos.\r\n\r\nWe have judges who take their jobs very seriously--from creating a nacho rubric to wearing costumes and sampling all of the nachos before announcing the winners. The seriousness with which they take their thankless-job was commendable.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4861\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Nachos, Nachos everywhere!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4861\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4861\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4861 \" title=\"Nachos, Nachos everywhere!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02479-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAfter 20 minutes or so of eating, judging and cleaning their pallets with Corona, the rest of us were allowed to dig in. The winners were announced and we spent the rest of the night eating (or over-eating as the case may be), chatting and otherwise celebrating Cinco de Mayo.','Nacho Party','','inherit','open','open','','4855-revision-2','','','2011-05-01 20:47:46','2011-05-01 18:47:46','',4855,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/01/4855-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4865,1,'2011-05-01 20:52:52','2011-05-01 18:52:52','Yesterday, I participated in a nacho competition!!\r\n\r\nNachos, nachos, nachos everywhere. A nacho party is great because you get to get to eat nachos. You get to drink a beer. You get to eat more nachos. And you get to hangout with your friends outside enjoying the good weather.\r\n\r\nNeedless to say, it was great fun.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4856\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"553\" caption=\"Table of Nachos!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4856\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4856\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4856  \" title=\"Table of Nachos!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02465-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"553\" height=\"415\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd, drum roll please, for the second year in a row, I garnered an honorable mention for my nachos!!\r\n\r\n<em>Hip-hip-hooray</em>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4857\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"My Nachos!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4857\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4857\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4857 \" title=\"My Nachos!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02467-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSure some might be disappointed by not placing in the top three or in actually winning but not me. In my mind it\'s not winning the competition that\'s most important, it\'s whether or not you\'re left with any nachos at the end of the night. And I am happy to report that both years my nachos were completely devoured.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4858\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"A Beautiful Plate of Nachos\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4858\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4858\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4858 \" title=\"A Beautiful Plate of Nachos\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02468-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThere you have it. An empty plate is the best sign of how good the nachos are!!\r\n\r\nLast year I went with the sweet nacho--refried beans, strawberry salsa and topped the nachos with brie. This year I went simple and spicy. I labored over spicy homemade refried beans and then layered up my tortilla chips with the beans, two kinds of cheese, green onion, spicy green peppers and sour cream.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4859\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"One happy Judge\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4859\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4859\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4859 \" title=\"One happy Judge \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02475-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI skipped the tomatoes, guacamole and olives in favor of focusing on a few great ingredients. This is probably why I didn\'t win but that\'s okay. The nachos were tasty.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4860\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Enjoying Nachos\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4860\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4860\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4860 \" title=\"Enjoying Nachos\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02477-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe big problem is that with 12-plus entries all of the nachos are tasty. Some just are more tasty. Some you like more than others. Everyone has his own taste for what makes a great plate of nachos.\r\n\r\nWe have judges who take their jobs very seriously--from creating a nacho rubric to wearing costumes and sampling all of the nachos before announcing the winners. The seriousness with which they take their thankless-job was commendable.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4861\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Nachos, Nachos everywhere!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4861\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4861\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4861 \" title=\"Nachos, Nachos everywhere!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02479-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAfter 20 minutes or so of eating, judging and cleaning their pallets with Corona, the rest of us were allowed to dig in. The winners were announced and we spent the rest of the night eating (or over-eating as the case may be), chatting and otherwise celebrating Cinco de Mayo.','Nacho Party','','inherit','open','open','','4855-revision-4','','','2011-05-01 20:52:52','2011-05-01 18:52:52','',4855,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/01/4855-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(4866,1,'2011-05-01 20:52:52','2011-05-01 18:52:52','Yesterday, I participated in a nacho competition!!\r\n\r\nNachos, nachos, nachos everywhere. A nacho party is great because you get to get to eat nachos. You get to drink a beer. You get to eat more nachos. And you get to hangout with your friends outside enjoying the good weather.\r\n\r\nNeedless to say, it was great fun.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4856\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"553\" caption=\"Table of Nachos!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4856\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4856\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4856  \" title=\"Table of Nachos!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02465-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"553\" height=\"415\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd, drum roll please, for the second year in a row, I garnered an honorable mention for my nachos!!\r\n\r\n<em>Hip-hip-hooray</em>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4857\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"My Nachos!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4857\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4857\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4857 \" title=\"My Nachos!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02467-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSure some might be disappointed by not placing in the top three or in actually winning but not me. In my mind it\'s not winning the competition that\'s most important, it\'s whether or not you\'re left with any nachos at the end of the night. And I am happy to report that both years my nachos were completely devoured.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4858\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"A Beautiful Plate of Nachos\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4858\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4858\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4858 \" title=\"A Beautiful Plate of Nachos\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02468-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThere you have it. An empty plate is the best sign of how good the nachos are!!\r\n\r\nLast year I went with the sweet nacho--refried beans, strawberry salsa and topped the nachos with brie. This year I went simple and spicy. I labored over spicy homemade refried beans and then layered up my tortilla chips with the beans, two kinds of cheese, green onion, spicy green peppers and sour cream.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4859\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"One happy Judge\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4859\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4859\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4859 \" title=\"One happy Judge \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02475-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI skipped the tomatoes, guacamole and olives in favor of focusing on a few great ingredients. This is probably why I didn\'t win but that\'s okay. The nachos were tasty.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4860\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Enjoying Nachos\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4860\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4860\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4860 \" title=\"Enjoying Nachos\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02477-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe big problem is that with 12-plus entries all of the nachos are tasty. Some just are more tasty. Some you like more than others. Everyone has his own taste for what makes a great plate of nachos.\r\n\r\nWe have judges who take their jobs very seriously--from creating a nacho rubric to wearing costumes and sampling all of the nachos before announcing the winners. The seriousness with which they take their thankless-job was commendable.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4861\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Nachos, Nachos everywhere!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4861\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4861\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4861 \" title=\"Nachos, Nachos everywhere!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02479-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAfter 20 minutes or so of eating, judging and cleaning their pallets with Corona, the rest of us were allowed to dig in. The winners were announced and we spent the rest of the night eating (or over-eating as the case may be), chatting and otherwise celebrating Cinco de Mayo.','Nacho Party','','inherit','open','open','','4855-revision-5','','','2011-05-01 20:52:52','2011-05-01 18:52:52','',4855,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/01/4855-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(4867,1,'2011-05-01 20:53:46','2011-05-01 18:53:46','Yesterday, I participated in a nacho competition!!\r\n\r\nNachos, nachos, nachos everywhere. A nacho party is great because you get to get to eat nachos. You get to drink a beer. You get to eat more nachos. And you get to hangout with your friends outside enjoying the good weather.\r\n\r\nNeedless to say, it was great fun.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4856\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"608\" caption=\"Table of Nachos!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4856\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4856\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4856   \" title=\"Table of Nachos!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02465-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"608\" height=\"457\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd, drum roll please, for the second year in a row, I garnered an honorable mention for my nachos!!\r\n\r\n<em>Hip-hip-hooray</em>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4857\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"My Nachos!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4857\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4857\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4857 \" title=\"My Nachos!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02467-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSure some might be disappointed by not placing in the top three or in actually winning but not me. In my mind it\'s not winning the competition that\'s most important, it\'s whether or not you\'re left with any nachos at the end of the night. And I am happy to report that both years my nachos were completely devoured.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4858\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"A Beautiful Plate of Nachos\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4858\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4858\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4858 \" title=\"A Beautiful Plate of Nachos\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02468-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThere you have it. An empty plate is the best sign of how good the nachos are!!\r\n\r\nLast year I went with the sweet nacho--refried beans, strawberry salsa and topped the nachos with brie. This year I went simple and spicy. I labored over spicy homemade refried beans and then layered up my tortilla chips with the beans, two kinds of cheese, green onion, spicy green peppers and sour cream.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4859\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"One happy Judge\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4859\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4859\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4859 \" title=\"One happy Judge \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02475-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI skipped the tomatoes, guacamole and olives in favor of focusing on a few great ingredients. This is probably why I didn\'t win but that\'s okay. The nachos were tasty.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4860\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Enjoying Nachos\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4860\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4860\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4860 \" title=\"Enjoying Nachos\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02477-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe big problem is that with 12-plus entries all of the nachos are tasty. Some just are more tasty. Some you like more than others. Everyone has his own taste for what makes a great plate of nachos.\r\n\r\nWe have judges who take their jobs very seriously--from creating a nacho rubric to wearing costumes and sampling all of the nachos before announcing the winners. The seriousness with which they take their thankless-job was commendable.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4861\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Nachos, Nachos everywhere!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4861\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4861\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4861 \" title=\"Nachos, Nachos everywhere!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02479-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAfter 20 minutes or so of eating, judging and cleaning their pallets with Corona, the rest of us were allowed to dig in. The winners were announced and we spent the rest of the night eating (or over-eating as the case may be), chatting and otherwise celebrating Cinco de Mayo.','Nacho Party','','inherit','open','open','','4855-revision-6','','','2011-05-01 20:53:46','2011-05-01 18:53:46','',4855,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/01/4855-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(4868,1,'2011-05-01 20:53:47','2011-05-01 18:53:47','Yesterday, I participated in a nacho competition!!\r\n\r\nNachos, nachos, nachos everywhere. A nacho party is great because you get to get to eat nachos. You get to drink a beer. You get to eat more nachos. And you get to hangout with your friends outside enjoying the good weather.\r\n\r\nNeedless to say, it was great fun.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4856\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"608\" caption=\"Table of Nachos!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4856\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4856\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4856   \" title=\"Table of Nachos!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02465-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"608\" height=\"457\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd, drum roll please, for the second year in a row, I garnered an honorable mention for my nachos!!\r\n\r\n<em>Hip-hip-hooray</em>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4857\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"My Nachos!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4857\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4857\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4857 \" title=\"My Nachos!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02467-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSure some might be disappointed by not placing in the top three or in actually winning but not me. In my mind it\'s not winning the competition that\'s most important, it\'s whether or not you\'re left with any nachos at the end of the night. And I am happy to report that both years my nachos were completely devoured.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4858\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"A Beautiful Plate of Nachos\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4858\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4858\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4858 \" title=\"A Beautiful Plate of Nachos\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02468-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThere you have it. An empty plate is the best sign of how good the nachos are!!\r\n\r\nLast year I went with the sweet nacho--refried beans, strawberry salsa and topped the nachos with brie. This year I went simple and spicy. I labored over spicy homemade refried beans and then layered up my tortilla chips with the beans, two kinds of cheese, green onion, spicy green peppers and sour cream.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4859\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"One happy Judge\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4859\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4859\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4859 \" title=\"One happy Judge \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02475-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI skipped the tomatoes, guacamole and olives in favor of focusing on a few great ingredients. This is probably why I didn\'t win but that\'s okay. The nachos were tasty.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4860\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Enjoying Nachos\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4860\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4860\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4860 \" title=\"Enjoying Nachos\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02477-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe big problem is that with 12-plus entries all of the nachos are tasty. Some just are more tasty. Some you like more than others. Everyone has his own taste for what makes a great plate of nachos.\r\n\r\nWe have judges who take their jobs very seriously--from creating a nacho rubric to wearing costumes and sampling all of the nachos before announcing the winners. The seriousness with which they take their thankless-job was commendable.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4861\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Nachos, Nachos everywhere!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4861\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4861\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4861 \" title=\"Nachos, Nachos everywhere!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02479-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAfter 20 minutes or so of eating, judging and cleaning their pallets with Corona, the rest of us were allowed to dig in. The winners were announced and we spent the rest of the night eating (or over-eating as the case may be), chatting and otherwise celebrating Cinco de Mayo.','Nacho Party','','inherit','open','open','','4855-revision-7','','','2011-05-01 20:53:47','2011-05-01 18:53:47','',4855,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/01/4855-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(4869,1,'2011-05-01 20:56:23','2011-05-01 18:56:23','Yesterday, I participated in a nacho competition!!\r\n\r\nThere were nachos, nachos, nachos everywhere.\r\n\r\nA nacho party is great because you get to get to eat nachos. You get to drink a beer. You get to eat more nachos. And you get to hangout with your friends outside enjoying the good weather.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4856\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"608\" caption=\"Table of Nachos!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4856\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4856\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4856   \" title=\"Table of Nachos!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02465-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"608\" height=\"457\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd, drum roll please, for the second year in a row, I garnered an honorable mention for my nachos!! That\'s pretty good considering there were a dozen entries.\r\n\r\n<em>Hip-hip-hooray</em>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4857\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"My Nachos!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4857\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4857\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4857 \" title=\"My Nachos!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02467-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSure some might be disappointed by not placing in the top three or in actually winning but not me. In my mind it\'s not winning the competition that\'s most important, it\'s whether or not you\'re left with any nachos at the end of the night. And I am happy to report that both years my nachos were completely devoured.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4858\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"A Beautiful Plate of Nachos\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4858\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4858\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4858 \" title=\"A Beautiful Plate of Nachos\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02468-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThere you have it. An empty plate is the best sign of how good the nachos are!!\r\n\r\nLast year I went with the sweet nacho--refried beans, strawberry salsa and topped the nachos with brie. This year I went simple and spicy. I labored over spicy homemade refried beans and then layered up my tortilla chips with the beans, two kinds of cheese, green onion, spicy green peppers and sour cream.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4859\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"One happy Judge\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4859\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4859\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4859 \" title=\"One happy Judge \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02475-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI skipped the tomatoes, guacamole and olives in favor of focusing on a few great ingredients. This is probably why I didn\'t win but that\'s okay. The nachos were tasty.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4860\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Enjoying Nachos\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4860\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4860\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4860 \" title=\"Enjoying Nachos\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02477-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe big problem is that with 12-plus entries all of the nachos are tasty. Some just are more tasty. Some you like more than others. Everyone has his own taste for what makes a great plate of nachos.\r\n\r\nWe have judges who take their jobs very seriously--from creating a nacho rubric to wearing costumes and sampling all of the nachos before announcing the winners. The seriousness with which they take their thankless-job was commendable.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4861\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Nachos, Nachos everywhere!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4861\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4861\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4861 \" title=\"Nachos, Nachos everywhere!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02479-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAfter 20 minutes or so of eating, judging and cleaning their pallets with Corona, the rest of us were allowed to dig in. The winners were announced and we spent the rest of the night eating (or over-eating as the case may be), chatting and otherwise celebrating Cinco de Mayo.\r\n\r\nNeedless to say, it was great fun.','Nacho Party','','inherit','open','open','','4855-revision-8','','','2011-05-01 20:56:23','2011-05-01 18:56:23','',4855,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/01/4855-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(4870,1,'2011-05-01 20:56:23','2011-05-01 18:56:23','Yesterday, I participated in a nacho competition!!\r\n\r\nThere were nachos, nachos, nachos everywhere.\r\n\r\nA nacho party is great because you get to get to eat nachos. You get to drink a beer. You get to eat more nachos. And you get to hangout with your friends outside enjoying the good weather.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4856\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"608\" caption=\"Table of Nachos!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4856\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4856\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4856   \" title=\"Table of Nachos!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02465-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"608\" height=\"457\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd, drum roll please, for the second year in a row, I garnered an honorable mention for my nachos!! That\'s pretty good considering there were a dozen entries.\r\n\r\n<em>Hip-hip-hooray</em>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4857\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"My Nachos!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4857\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4857\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4857 \" title=\"My Nachos!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02467-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSure some might be disappointed by not placing in the top three or in actually winning but not me. In my mind it\'s not winning the competition that\'s most important, it\'s whether or not you\'re left with any nachos at the end of the night. And I am happy to report that both years my nachos were completely devoured.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4858\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"A Beautiful Plate of Nachos\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4858\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4858\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4858 \" title=\"A Beautiful Plate of Nachos\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02468-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThere you have it. An empty plate is the best sign of how good the nachos are!!\r\n\r\nLast year I went with the sweet nacho--refried beans, strawberry salsa and topped the nachos with brie. This year I went simple and spicy. I labored over spicy homemade refried beans and then layered up my tortilla chips with the beans, two kinds of cheese, green onion, spicy green peppers and sour cream.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4859\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"One happy Judge\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4859\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4859\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4859 \" title=\"One happy Judge \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02475-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI skipped the tomatoes, guacamole and olives in favor of focusing on a few great ingredients. This is probably why I didn\'t win but that\'s okay. The nachos were tasty.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4860\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Enjoying Nachos\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4860\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4860\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4860 \" title=\"Enjoying Nachos\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02477-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe big problem is that with 12-plus entries all of the nachos are tasty. Some just are more tasty. Some you like more than others. Everyone has his own taste for what makes a great plate of nachos.\r\n\r\nWe have judges who take their jobs very seriously--from creating a nacho rubric to wearing costumes and sampling all of the nachos before announcing the winners. The seriousness with which they take their thankless-job was commendable.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4861\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Nachos, Nachos everywhere!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4861\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4861\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4861 \" title=\"Nachos, Nachos everywhere!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02479-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAfter 20 minutes or so of eating, judging and cleaning their pallets with Corona, the rest of us were allowed to dig in. The winners were announced and we spent the rest of the night eating (or over-eating as the case may be), chatting and otherwise celebrating Cinco de Mayo.\r\n\r\nNeedless to say, it was great fun.','Nacho Party','','inherit','open','open','','4855-revision-9','','','2011-05-01 20:56:23','2011-05-01 18:56:23','',4855,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/01/4855-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(4871,1,'2011-05-01 21:01:22','2011-05-01 19:01:22','Yesterday, I participated in a nacho competition!!\r\n\r\nThere were nachos, nachos, nachos everywhere.\r\n\r\nA nacho party is great because you get to get to eat nachos. You get to drink a beer. You get to eat more nachos. And you get to hangout with your friends outside enjoying the good weather.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4856\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"608\" caption=\"Table of Nachos!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4856\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4856\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4856   \" title=\"Table of Nachos!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02465-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"608\" height=\"457\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd, drum roll please, for the second year in a row, I garnered an honorable mention for my nachos!! That\'s pretty good considering there were a dozen entries.\r\n\r\n<em>Hip-hip-hooray</em>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4857\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"My Nachos!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4857\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4857\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4857 \" title=\"My Nachos!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02467-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSure some might be disappointed by not placing in the top three or in actually winning but not me. In my mind it\'s not winning the competition that\'s most important, it\'s whether or not you\'re left with any nachos at the end of the night. And I am happy to report that both years my nachos were completely devoured.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4858\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"A Beautiful Plate of Nachos\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4858\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4858\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4858 \" title=\"A Beautiful Plate of Nachos\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02468-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nGiven how much food there is at this party, going home with an empty plate isn\'t that easy. So I stand pretty firmly behind my claim that an empty plate is the best sign of how good the nachos are!!\r\n\r\nAlso it makes me feel better about not winning. Even though both years, I\'ve more or less suspected that I wouldn\'t win given the nontraditional takes I\'ve had on nachos.\r\n\r\nLast year I went with the sweet nacho--refried beans, strawberry salsa and topped the nachos with brie. This year I went simple and spicy. I labored over spicy homemade refried beans and then layered up my tortilla chips with the beans, two kinds of cheese, green onion, spicy green peppers and sour cream.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4859\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"One happy Judge\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4859\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4859\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4859 \" title=\"One happy Judge \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02475-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI made a bold choice and skipped the tomatoes, guacamole and olives in favor of focusing on a few great ingredients. This is probably why I didn\'t win but that\'s okay. The nachos were tasty.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4860\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Enjoying Nachos\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4860\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4860\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4860 \" title=\"Enjoying Nachos\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02477-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe big problem is that with 12-plus entries all of the nachos are tasty. Some just are more tasty. Some you like more than others. Everyone has his own taste for what makes a great plate of nachos.\r\n\r\nWe have judges who take their jobs very seriously--from creating a nacho rubric to wearing costumes and sampling all of the nachos before announcing the winners. The seriousness with which they take their thankless-job was commendable.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4861\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Nachos, Nachos everywhere!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4861\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4861\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4861 \" title=\"Nachos, Nachos everywhere!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02479-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAfter 20 minutes or so of eating, judging and cleaning their pallets with Corona, the rest of us were allowed to dig in. The winners were announced and we spent the rest of the night eating (or over-eating as the case may be), chatting and otherwise celebrating Cinco de Mayo.\r\n\r\nNeedless to say, it was great fun.','Nacho Party','','inherit','open','open','','4855-revision-10','','','2011-05-01 21:01:22','2011-05-01 19:01:22','',4855,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/01/4855-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(4872,1,'2011-05-01 21:01:22','2011-05-01 19:01:22','Yesterday, I participated in a nacho competition!!\r\n\r\nThere were nachos, nachos, nachos everywhere.\r\n\r\nA nacho party is great because you get to get to eat nachos. You get to drink a beer. You get to eat more nachos. And you get to hangout with your friends outside enjoying the good weather.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4856\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"608\" caption=\"Table of Nachos!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4856\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4856\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4856   \" title=\"Table of Nachos!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02465-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"608\" height=\"457\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd, drum roll please, for the second year in a row, I garnered an honorable mention for my nachos!! That\'s pretty good considering there were a dozen entries.\r\n\r\n<em>Hip-hip-hooray</em>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4857\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"My Nachos!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4857\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4857\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4857 \" title=\"My Nachos!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02467-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSure some might be disappointed by not placing in the top three or in actually winning but not me. In my mind it\'s not winning the competition that\'s most important, it\'s whether or not you\'re left with any nachos at the end of the night. And I am happy to report that both years my nachos were completely devoured.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4858\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"A Beautiful Plate of Nachos\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4858\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4858\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4858 \" title=\"A Beautiful Plate of Nachos\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02468-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nGiven how much food there is at this party, going home with an empty plate isn\'t that easy. So I stand pretty firmly behind my claim that an empty plate is the best sign of how good the nachos are!!\r\n\r\nAlso it makes me feel better about not winning. Even though both years, I\'ve more or less suspected that I wouldn\'t win given the nontraditional takes I\'ve had on nachos.\r\n\r\nLast year I went with the sweet nacho--refried beans, strawberry salsa and topped the nachos with brie. This year I went simple and spicy. I labored over spicy homemade refried beans and then layered up my tortilla chips with the beans, two kinds of cheese, green onion, spicy green peppers and sour cream.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4859\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"One happy Judge\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4859\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4859\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4859 \" title=\"One happy Judge \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02475-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI made a bold choice and skipped the tomatoes, guacamole and olives in favor of focusing on a few great ingredients. This is probably why I didn\'t win but that\'s okay. The nachos were tasty.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4860\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Enjoying Nachos\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4860\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4860\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4860 \" title=\"Enjoying Nachos\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02477-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe big problem is that with 12-plus entries all of the nachos are tasty. Some just are more tasty. Some you like more than others. Everyone has his own taste for what makes a great plate of nachos.\r\n\r\nWe have judges who take their jobs very seriously--from creating a nacho rubric to wearing costumes and sampling all of the nachos before announcing the winners. The seriousness with which they take their thankless-job was commendable.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4861\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Nachos, Nachos everywhere!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4861\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4861\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4861 \" title=\"Nachos, Nachos everywhere!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02479-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAfter 20 minutes or so of eating, judging and cleaning their pallets with Corona, the rest of us were allowed to dig in. The winners were announced and we spent the rest of the night eating (or over-eating as the case may be), chatting and otherwise celebrating Cinco de Mayo.\r\n\r\nNeedless to say, it was great fun.','Nacho Party','','inherit','open','open','','4855-revision-11','','','2011-05-01 21:01:22','2011-05-01 19:01:22','',4855,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/01/4855-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(4873,1,'2011-05-01 21:04:05','2011-05-01 19:04:05','Yesterday, I participated in a nacho competition!!\r\n\r\nThere were nachos, nachos, nachos everywhere.\r\n\r\nA nacho party is great because you get to get to eat nachos. You get to drink a beer. You get to eat more nachos. And you get to hangout with your friends outside enjoying the good weather.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4856\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"608\" caption=\"Table of Nachos!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4856\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4856\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4856   \" title=\"Table of Nachos!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02465-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"608\" height=\"457\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd, drum roll please, for the second year in a row, I garnered an honorable mention for my nachos!! That\'s pretty good considering there were a dozen entries.\r\n\r\n<em>Hip-hip-hooray</em>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4857\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"My Nachos!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4857\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4857\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4857 \" title=\"My Nachos!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02467-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSure some might be disappointed by not placing in the top three or in actually winning but not me. <!--more-->In my mind it\'s not winning the competition that\'s most important, it\'s whether or not you\'re left with any nachos at the end of the night. And I am happy to report that both years my nachos were completely devoured.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4858\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"A Beautiful Plate of Nachos\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4858\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4858\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4858 \" title=\"A Beautiful Plate of Nachos\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02468-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nGiven how much food there is at this party, going home with an empty plate isn\'t that easy. So I stand pretty firmly behind my claim that an empty plate is the best sign of how good the nachos are!!\r\n\r\nAlso it makes me feel better about not winning. Even though both years, I\'ve more or less suspected that I wouldn\'t win given the nontraditional takes I\'ve had on nachos.\r\n\r\nLast year I went with the sweet nacho--refried beans, strawberry salsa and topped the nachos with brie. This year I went simple and spicy. I labored over spicy homemade refried beans and then layered up my tortilla chips with the beans, two kinds of cheese, green onion, spicy green peppers and sour cream.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4859\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"One happy Judge\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4859\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4859\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4859 \" title=\"One happy Judge \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02475-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI made a bold choice and skipped the tomatoes, guacamole and olives in favor of focusing on a few great ingredients. This is probably why I didn\'t win but that\'s okay. The nachos were tasty.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4860\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Enjoying Nachos\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4860\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4860\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4860 \" title=\"Enjoying Nachos\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02477-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe big problem is that with 12-plus entries all of the nachos are tasty. Some just are more tasty. Some you like more than others. Everyone has his own taste for what makes a great plate of nachos.\r\n\r\nWe have judges who take their jobs very seriously--from creating a nacho rubric to wearing costumes and sampling all of the nachos before announcing the winners. The seriousness with which they take their thankless-job was commendable.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4861\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Nachos, Nachos everywhere!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4861\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4861\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4861 \" title=\"Nachos, Nachos everywhere!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02479-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAfter 20 minutes or so of eating, judging and cleaning their pallets with Corona, the rest of us were allowed to dig in. The winners were announced and we spent the rest of the night eating (or over-eating as the case may be), chatting and otherwise celebrating Cinco de Mayo.\r\n\r\nNeedless to say, it was great fun.','Nacho Party','','inherit','open','open','','4855-revision-12','','','2011-05-01 21:04:05','2011-05-01 19:04:05','',4855,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/01/4855-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(4874,1,'2011-05-02 17:56:47','2011-05-02 15:56:47','In my previous life in Washington DC, I used to read the Washintong Post newspaper (a real <em>paper</em> copy of the newspaper) every morning and on Sundays, I\'d curl up with the New York Times and read it cover to cover.  I felt plugged in. I knew what Congress was up to, I could follow along with local issues and I generally felt well read.\r\n\r\nCurling up Sunday morning with a cup of coffee and my laptop is nowhere near as wonderful as reading the newspaper section by section and trading read sections with roommates was but my first year abroad, I quickly adjusted to reading my news online. The New York Times threw me for a loop earlier this year when they launched their paid subscription plan but then I ended up getting a free subscription until January 2012.\r\n\r\nStill I find that it\'s harder to keep current living abroad. I think that this is because of two things. <!--more-->\r\n\r\nFirst, generally speaking in Washington DC people care about what\'s happening locally, nationally and internationally because the city is the nation\'s capitol and because of this many residents have jobs in fields that require that they stay current. Topics and events like this spill over nicely at happy hour, over dinner or at a party. It\'s kind of like talking about work without actually talking about work. The problem today is that I have fewer friends who regularly read or watch the news and then discuss it.\r\n\r\nIn Washington DC, I used to say things like: did you see that <a title=\"Is Sugar Toxic?\" href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/magazine/mag-17Sugar-t.html?scp=2&amp;sq=sugar&amp;st=cse\" target=\"_blank\">article in the NYT about sugar</a>? And the response would be: Yes, wasn\'t such-and-such-fact a surprise? I\'ve decided to cut back on my sugar intake because of it. Today though I find myself saying things like: I read this article in the NYT about whether or not sugar is toxic and it got me thinking about reducing the amount of sugar in my diet. Have you ever thought about doing that? Then I feel nerdy because I am citing newspapers in my day-to-day conversations.\r\n\r\nBut that\'s okay because I am really a nerd at heart.\r\n\r\nThe second thing that makes keeping current hard is that I don\'t have access to the same cultural references and touch-stones as I used to. So it isn\'t as easy for me to parse out what events, topics and issues are garnering the most attention because people actually care about them or if they are garnering attention because of a sensational element of the story.  So in addition to reading widely, I also find myself watching much, much more of <a href=\"http://www.thedailyshow.com/\" target=\"_blank\">The Daily Show with Jon Stewart</a> than I ever did the in the States.  It\'s clearly because he filters the news, distills it and mocks it all at the same time that I like it. And it helps me digest all of the various different mediums and sources that I get my news through.\r\n\r\nLast week, it was basically impossible to avoid royal wedding drama and then in one night, the royal wedding has been replaced with Osama bin Laden\'s death.  Certainly part of this had to do with the cycle of 24-hour news programs but it <em>is</em> also news. Am I shocked by his death? No. Not really. It seemed inevitable--but then again so was the royal wedding.','Abroad: The News and Keeping Current ','','publish','open','open','','abroad-the-news-and-keeping-current','','','2011-05-02 17:56:47','2011-05-02 15:56:47','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=4874',0,'post','',4),(4875,1,'2011-05-02 17:56:25','2011-05-02 15:56:25','In my previous life in Washington DC, I used to read the Washintong Post newspaper (a real <em>paper</em> copy of the newspaper) every morning and on Sundays, I\'d curl up with the New York Times and read it cover to cover.  I felt plugged in. I knew what Congress was up to, I could follow along with local issues and I generally felt well read.\n\nCurling up Sunday morning with a cup of coffee and my laptop is nowhere near as wonderful as reading the newspaper section by section and trading read sections with roommates was but my first year abroad, I quickly adjusted to reading my news online. The New York Times threw me for a loop earlier this year when they launched their paid subscription plan but then I ended up getting a free subscription until January 2012.\n\nStill I find that it\'s harder to keep current living abroad. I think that this is because of two things. <!--more-->\n\nFirst, generally speaking in Washington DC people care about what\'s happening locally, nationally and internationally because the city is the nation\'s capitol and because of this many residents have jobs in fields that require that they stay current. Topics and events like this spill over nicely at happy hour, over dinner or at a party. It\'s kind of like talking about work without actually talking about work. The problem today is that I have fewer friends who regularly read or watch the news and then discuss it.\n\nIn Washington DC, I used to say things like: did you see that <a title=\"Is Sugar Toxic?\" href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/magazine/mag-17Sugar-t.html?scp=2&amp;sq=sugar&amp;st=cse\" target=\"_blank\">article in the NYT about sugar</a>? And the response would be: Yes, wasn\'t such-and-such-fact a surprise? I\'ve decided to cut back on my sugar intake because of it. Today though I find myself saying things like: I read this article in the NYT about whether or not sugar is toxic and it got me thinking about reducing the amount of sugar in my diet. Have you ever thought about doing that? Then I feel nerdy because I am citing newspapers in my day-to-day conversations.\n\nBut that\'s okay because I am really a nerd at heart.\n\nThe second thing that makes keeping current hard is that I don\'t have access to the same cultural references and touch-stones as I used to. So it isn\'t as easy for me to parse out what events, topics and issues are garnering the most attention because people actually care about them or if they are garnering attention because of a sensational element of the story.  So in addition to reading widely, I also find myself watching much, much more of <a href=\"http://www.thedailyshow.com/\" target=\"_blank\">The Daily Show with Jon Stewart</a> than I ever did the in the States.  It\'s clearly because he filters the news, distills it and mocks it all at the same time that I like it. And it helps me digest all of the various different mediums and sources that I get my news through.\n\nLast week, it was basically impossible to avoid royal wedding drama and then in one night, the royal wedding has been replaced with Osama bin Laden\'s death.  Certainly part of this had to do with the cycle of 24-hour news programs but it <em>is</em> also news. Am I shocked by his death? No. Not really. It seemed inevitable--but then again so the royal wedding.','Abroad: The News and Keeping Current ','','inherit','open','open','','4874-revision','','','2011-05-02 17:56:25','2011-05-02 15:56:25','',4874,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/02/4874-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4876,1,'2011-05-02 17:57:54','2011-05-02 15:57:54','In my previous life in Washington DC, I used to read the Washintong Post newspaper (a real <em>paper</em> copy of the newspaper) every morning and on Sundays, I\'d curl up with the New York Times and read it cover to cover.  I felt plugged in. I knew what Congress was up to, I could follow along with local issues and I generally felt well read.\n\nCurling up Sunday morning with a cup of coffee and my laptop is nowhere near as wonderful as reading the newspaper section by section and trading read sections with roommates was but my first year abroad, I quickly adjusted to reading my news online. The New York Times threw me for a loop earlier this year when they launched their paid subscription plan but then I ended up getting a free subscription until January 2012.\n\nStill I find that it\'s harder to keep current living abroad. I think that this is because of two things. <!--more-->\n\nFirst, generally speaking in Washington DC people care about what\'s happening locally, nationally and internationally because the city is the nation\'s capitol and because of this many residents have jobs in fields that require that they stay current. Topics and events like this spill over nicely at happy hour, over dinner or at a party. It\'s kind of like talking about work without actually talking about work. The problem today is that I have fewer friends who regularly read or watch the news and then discuss it.\n\nIn Washington DC, I used to say things like: did you see that <a title=\"Is Sugar Toxic?\" href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/magazine/mag-17Sugar-t.html?scp=2&amp;sq=sugar&amp;st=cse\" target=\"_blank\">article in the NYT about sugar</a>? And the response would be: Yes, wasn\'t such-and-such-fact a surprise? I\'ve decided to cut back on my sugar intake because of it. Today though I find myself saying things like: I read this article in the NYT about whether or not sugar is toxic and it got me thinking about reducing the amount of sugar in my diet. Have you ever thought about doing that? Then I feel nerdy because I am citing newspapers in my day-to-day conversations.\n\nBut that\'s okay because I am really a nerd at heart.\n\nThe second thing that makes keeping current hard is that I don\'t have access to the same cultural references and touch-stones as I used to. So it isn\'t as easy for me to parse out what events, topics and issues are garnering the most attention because people actually care about them or if they are garnering attention because of a sensational element of the story.  So in addition to reading widely, I also find myself watching much, much more of <a href=\"http://www.thedailyshow.com/\" target=\"_blank\">The Daily Show with Jon Stewart</a> than I ever did the in the States.  It\'s clearly because he filters the news, distills it and mocks it all at the same time that I like it. And it helps me digest all of the various different mediums and sources that I get my news through.\n\nLast week, it was basically impossible to avoid royal wedding drama and then in one night, the royal wedding has been replaced with Osama bin Laden\'s death.  Certainly part of this had to do with the cycle of 24-hour news programs but it <em>is</em> also news. Am I shocked by his death? No. Not really. It seemed inevitable--but then again so was the royal wedding.','Abroad: The News and Keeping Current ','','inherit','open','open','','4874-autosave','','','2011-05-02 17:57:54','2011-05-02 15:57:54','',4874,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/02/4874-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(4905,1,'2011-05-12 17:50:21','2011-05-12 15:50:21','I stumbled across an article about <a href=\"http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=128072&amp;utm_source\" target=\"_blank\">Bulgarians studying and earning university degrees abroad</a>.  This is of course a topic that interests me. I teach in a high school in Bulgaria and I worked in higher education in the States.\r\n\r\nIt\'s been clear to me since I moved to Bulgaria three years ago that as a Bulgarian student if you can, you study abroad. At my high school for example, I would guess that 95% (or more) of our students study in the US, the UK or Europe. Our students just simply don\'t stay in Bulgaria for university.\r\n\r\nIn my mind this happens for two major reasons. The perception is that you can get a better education abroad <em>and</em> there is a sense that are more opportunities in the long term for students who are educated in Western Europe and America.\r\n\r\nApparently, more than half of Bulgarian students are interested in studying outside of Bulgaria and apply to foreign schools.  That\'s a huge number. The article doesn\'t make it clear how many percentage wise actually end up abroad and how many of these students actually earn degrees but the numbers are big enough to give you pause.\r\n\r\nIf 50% of Bulgarian students are applying abroad, what does this say about the state of higher education in Bulgaria? What does this suggest about student\'s faith in the system? And what can be done?<!--more-->\r\n\r\nHowever instead of addressing this questions, the article took an interesting albeit surprising turn:\r\n<blockquote>Bulgaria\'s Education Minister Sergey Ignatov, a former President of the New Bulgarian University in Sofia, the largest private Bulgarian university, stated that Bulgarian universities should be able to start opening branches abroad in order to attract more foreign students.\r\n\r\n\"Bulgaria can contribute a lot in terms of intellectual and educational product, and it is about time that we start thinking about the Bulgarian lobby abroad. Higher education is also a business; we cannot expect that it will bring us a rain of gold in the future years but we shouldn\'t neglect it,\" Ignatov stated.</blockquote>\r\n<em>What?!</em> How is this supposed to help solve the problem?\r\n\r\nYes, education is a business but if your own countrymen and women don\'t like what you\'re offering and are seeking educations abroad how is opening branches of un-popular school going to change things?\r\n\r\nSo as I see it here\'s the problem in a nutshell: Bulgarian students don\'t like Bulgarian schools and are applying elsewhere but the Education Ministry likes the schools and is suggesting that the solution is open branches abroad.\r\n\r\nGiven this problem, I would have been looking inward at the education system rather than outward but that\'s just me.\r\n\r\nThoughts? Am I missing something?','Higher Eduction in Bulgaria ','','publish','open','open','','higher-eduction-in-bulgaria','','','2011-05-12 17:50:21','2011-05-12 15:50:21','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=4905',0,'post','',7),(4879,1,'2011-05-03 21:01:10','2011-05-03 19:01:10','I turn 30 this month and frankly, I haven\'t spent much time thinking about it.\n\nActually, I\'ve spent a lot more time trying to come up with a blog post about the fact that in this country a girl can buy by volume twice as much beer as shampoo. I realized this one morning a few weeks ago while washing my hair: most shampoo bottles are 250 ml while beer bottles are 500 ml. This of course seems like a noteworthy fact.\n\nBut it turns out this fact is neither interesting enough nor funny enough to garner its own blog post.  It seems that no amount of time (or beer for that matter) will make it funnier or more interesting so I\'ve let it go. <em>Well, kind of</em>.\n\nAnyhow, back to this 30 thing. I think it\'s great. I am going to buy myself a great new dress and maybe some heels. I\'ll top the look off with red lipstick and invite my friends to join me for dinner and drinks in downtown Sofia. I can\'t really think of a better way to celebrate.\n\nThe only thing that\'s not <em>so</em> great?\n\n<em>Pimples</em>. I never imagined that being just days away from 30, I would still find myself fighting a pimple here and there. I assumed that turning 30 was a ticket to being a grown-up and with that you got to trade in pimples for gray hair. Apparently this is not the case.\n\nThere\'s something kind of unfair about this whole thing.  Don\'t worry though. There\'s an upside. At least, I\'m a lot more adept at the art of foundation and cover-up at nearly-30 than I was at 15.','Turning 30 This Month ','','inherit','open','open','','4878-revision','','','2011-05-03 21:01:10','2011-05-03 19:01:10','',4878,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/03/4878-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4912,1,'2011-05-13 11:09:49','2011-05-13 09:09:49','Wow. Sometimes all of the great things happen at once.\r\n\r\nThe sun is out today and I am not sitting in my classroom freezing and cursing the rain. I have two sets of quizzes left to grade and a quick set of homework to check and then I\'ll actually be caught up on all of my grading. Meaning, I wont have to grade anything this weekend (nor will I have to feel guilty about not grading anything).\r\n\r\nMoreover, tomorrow I am buying myself a smart phone. (Happy early birthday to me!) And on Saturday evening, I am going to round up some friends to go and check out the night of museums in Sofia. Museums all over the city are going to be open after hours <em>and</em> free for the night.\r\n\r\nThe Sofia Echo ran <a title=\"Sofia Echo\" href=\"http://sofiaecho.com/2011/05/13/1088590_a-night-at-the-museum\" target=\"_blank\">an article about the event this morning</a>.\r\n<blockquote>Museum and gallery hours rarely co-operate with the hectic schedule of one\'s life, but once a year, the busy schedule cannot serve as an excuse to stay away. As in previous years, Bulgaria will join the European Night of the Museums and Galleries on May 14 2011, with 60 venues throughout the country hosting impressive, creative and lively performances and exhibitions. Entrance to all events is free.</blockquote>\r\nSounds great to me. I love museums and I love free.\r\n\r\nOne spot on my list to check out is the Sofia City Gallery.  I\'ve just really like nearly every exhibit that I\'ve seen there and right now there is an exhibit which is part of the <a title=\"Paper Arts Fest\" href=\"http://www.amateras.eu/foudation/home3.html\" target=\"_blank\">Sofia Paper Art Fest 2011</a> called<a title=\"In Harmony with Nature\" href=\"http://www.sghg.bg/newsite/index.php?module=exhibitions&amp;lg=en\" target=\"_blank\"> In Harmony with Nature</a>.\r\n\r\nThoughts? Where are you headed? Which museums and galleries will you check out?','A Night of Museums in Sofia ','','publish','open','open','','a-night-of-museums-in-sofia','','','2011-05-13 11:09:49','2011-05-13 09:09:49','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=4912',0,'post','',1),(4881,1,'2011-05-04 19:43:02','2011-05-04 17:43:02','Surprise, surprise. It\'s already May. But I think that the surprise is on me.\r\n\r\nGenerally I believe that spring is supposed to come in May. Maybe in April, if you\'re lucky. Only this year that doesn\'t seem to be the case.\r\n\r\nIt\'s 6 degrees celsius outside right now. I don\'t know how cold it is in my apartment but I am currently wearing sweatpants, socks, slippers (which I only believe in wearing during winter), a tank top, a t-shirt and a fleece lined sweatshirt. That\'s a lot of clothing for May.\r\n\r\nOh, and did I mention that I am shivering and getting ready to drink my third cup of tea for the night? Or that it\'s been raining on and off all week?\r\n\r\nUg. I don\'t even know any rhymes about this to make me feel better. For example, April showers bring May flowers is out. As is beware the ides of March.  Maybe the only place I can turn is the musical Annie and her song: the sun will come out tomorrow. You can bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow there\'ll be sun!\r\n\r\nOnly in my case, I don\'t think that the sun has been forecast for days upon days.\r\n\r\nThis is all just to say that spring is taking a long time coming. A really long time this year.','Spring is a long time coming ','','publish','open','open','','spring-is-a-long-time-coming','','','2011-05-04 19:43:02','2011-05-04 17:43:02','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=4881',0,'post','',5),(4882,1,'2011-05-04 19:42:09','2011-05-04 17:42:09','Surprise, surprise. It\'s alreay May. But I think that the surprise is on me.\n\nGenerally I believe that spring is supposed to come in May. Maybe in April, if you\'re lucky. Only this year that doesn\'t seem to be the case.\n\nIt\'s 6 degrees celsius outside right now. I don\'t know how cold it is in my apartment but I am currently wearing sweatpants, socks, slippers (which I only believe in wearing during winter), a tank top, a t-shirt and a fleece lined sweatshirt. That\'s a lot of clothing for May.\n\nOh, and did I mention that I am shivering and getting ready to drink my third cup of tea for the night? Or that it\'s been raining on and off all week?\n\nUg. I don\'t even know any rhymes about this to make me feel better. For example, April showers bring May flowers is out. As is beware the ides of March.  Maybe the only place I can turn is the musical Annie and her song: the sun will come out tomorrow. You can bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow there\'ll be sun!\n\nOnly in my case, I don\'t think that the sun has been forecast for days upon days.\n\nThis is all just to say that spring is taking a long time coming. A really long time this year.','Spring is a long time coming ','','inherit','open','open','','4881-revision','','','2011-05-04 19:42:09','2011-05-04 17:42:09','',4881,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/04/4881-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4883,1,'2011-05-06 10:18:18','2011-05-06 08:18:18','[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"339\" caption=\"Bulgarian Orthodox Icon of St George and the Dragon\"]<img class=\" \" title=\"Bulgarian Orthodox Icon of St George and the Dragon\" src=\"http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/Orthodox_Bulgarian_icon_of_St._George_fighting_the_dragon.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"339\" height=\"511\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\nToday\'s a pretty big holiday in Bulgaria!\r\n\r\nThere\'s no work and lots of things to celebrate.\r\n\r\nIt\'s St George\'s Day!\r\n\r\nYou may or may not know this but St George is known for slaying a dragon.\r\n\r\nIt\'s not really clear to me how St. George found himself in the position to kill a dragon but he\'s well known for and loved for this act.\r\n\r\nI don\'t really know the story of St George. But after three years in Bulgaria, I\'ve seen plenty of icons immortalizing St George and the dragon. Based on the various painting I\'ve seen of George and the dragon it\'s clear that two things are important. St George and the dragon.\r\n\r\nThe paintings are pretty great. I really like the dragons they reveal a lot about the imagination of the painter--sometimes it looks like an overgrown snake, sometimes a lizard, sometimes a reptile with wings and more often than not the dragon looks a little sickly. I think how you imagine a dragon says a lot about you.  I mean, I\'ve never seen a dragon before so I like to imagine how I might paint it if I were in the same situation. This said, I don\'t think I am really supposed to focus on the dragon as much as I am supposed to focus on St George.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nNow St George, let\'s talk about him. He\'s good looking. He rides a beautiful horse. And he seems to be both brave and strong. In all of the paintings I\'ve seen of  St George the dragon cowers under him having just been stabbed. Sometimes there\'s a little blood coming out of the wound but sometimes there\'s not either way it\'s clear that St George has triumphed and that the dragon will not last long. (But who is the little guy on the back of St George\'s horse?!)\r\n\r\nA quick perusal of <a title=\"St George \" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_George\" target=\"_blank\">wikipedia explains the myth</a>. Here\'s my quick informal paired back version: there\'s a city that relies on a spring for water but a dragon moves in and builds his nest next to the spring. In order to get water each day the people offer the dragon a sheep or a young girl if there aren\'t any sheep. One day the kings daughter, a princess, is selected. The king begs for her to be saved but the people will not be deterred. They offer her to the dragon and this when St George enters the story. Protecting himself with the sign of the cross, he fights the dragon and rescues the princess!! The people convert to Christianity.\r\n\r\nToday in Bulgaria, St George\'s Day is widely celebrated.  It\'s the day of the Bulgarian Army which is celebrated with a parade downtown.  But more probably more importantly, it\'s a big nameday--Гергьовден! Anyone with a name linked to George  gets to celebrate their namesake and their nameday. I think the two most popular names are Georgi and Gergana but apparently these names are also linked to George--Galin, Galina, Galya, Ganka, Gancho, Genko, Genoveva, Gergin, Gergina, Ginka, Gyuro and as such they will be celebrating the day too.\r\n\r\nMany people regardless of whether or no they are celebrating their nameday will be eating roast lamb today as it is extremely popular on this holiday. I think this is because in addition to being the patron saint of soldiers St George is also the patron saint of shepherds.\r\n\r\nHappy St. George\'s Day to you!','St George\'s Day ','','publish','open','open','','st-georges-day','','','2011-05-06 10:18:18','2011-05-06 08:18:18','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=4883',0,'post','',6),(4884,1,'2011-05-06 10:06:16','2011-05-06 08:06:16','[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"424\" caption=\"Bulgarian Orthodox Icon of St George and the Dragon\"]<img title=\"Bulgarian Orthodox Icon of St George and the Dragon\" src=\"http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/Orthodox_Bulgarian_icon_of_St._George_fighting_the_dragon.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"424\" height=\"639\" />[/caption]\n\nToday\'s a pretty big holiday in Bulgaria. There\'s no work and lots of things to celebrate. It\'s St George\'s Day!\n\nYou may or may not know this but St George is known for slaying a dragon.\n\nIt\'s not really clear to me how St. George found himself in the position to kill a dragon. I don\'t know the story of St George. But after three years in Bulgaria, I\'ve seen plenty of icons immortalizing St George and the dragon. Based on the various painting I\'ve seen of George and the dragon it\'s also not very clear to me what kind of a dragon we\'re talking about--sometimes it looks like an overgrown snake, sometimes a lizard and more often than not the dragon looks a little sickly. I guess this is inherently a problem among icon painters and paintings. I mean, I\'ve never seen a dragon before. This said, I don\'t think I am really supposed to focus on the dragon as much as I am supposed to focus on St George.\n\nNow St George, let\'s talk about him. He\'s good looking. He rides a beautiful horse. And he seems to be both brave and strong. In all of the paintings I\'ve seen of  St George the dragon cowers under him having just been stabbed. Sometimes there\'s a little blood coming out of the wound but sometimes there\'s not either way it\'s clear that St George has triumphed and that the dragon will not last long. (But who is the little guy on the back of St George\'s horse?!)\n\nA quick perusal of <a title=\"St George \" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_George\" target=\"_blank\">wikipedia explains the myth</a>. Here\'s my quick informal paired back version: there\'s a city that relies on a spring for water but a dragon moves in and builds his nest next to the spring. In order to get water each day the people offer the dragon a sheep or a young girl if there aren\'t any sheep. One day the kings daughter, a princess, is selected. The king begs for her to be saved but the people will not be deterred. They offer her to the dragon and this when St George enters the story. Protecting himself with the sign of the cross, he fights the dragon and rescues the princess!! The people convert to Christianity.\n\nToday in Bulgaria, St George\'s Day is widely celebrated.  It\'s the day of the Bulgarian Army which is celebrated with a parade downtown.  But more probably more importantly, it\'s a big nameday--Гергьовден! Anyone with a name linked to George  gets to celebrate their namesake and their nameday. I think the two most popular names are Georgi and Gergana but apparently these names are also linked to George--Galin, Galina, Galya, Ganka, Gancho, Genko, Genoveva, Gergin, Gergina, Ginka, Gyuro and as such they will be celebrating the day too.\n\nMany people regardless of whether or no they are celebrating their nameday will be eating roast lamb today as it is extremely popular on this holiday. I think this is because in addition to being the patron saint of soldiers St George is also the patron saint of shepherds.\n\nHappy St. George\'s Day to you!','St George\'s Day ','','inherit','open','open','','4883-revision','','','2011-05-06 10:06:16','2011-05-06 08:06:16','',4883,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/06/4883-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4885,1,'2011-05-06 10:06:16','2011-05-06 08:06:16','[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"424\" caption=\"Bulgarian Orthodox Icon of St George and the Dragon\"]<img title=\"Bulgarian Orthodox Icon of St George and the Dragon\" src=\"http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/Orthodox_Bulgarian_icon_of_St._George_fighting_the_dragon.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"424\" height=\"639\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\nToday\'s a pretty big holiday in Bulgaria. There\'s no work and lots of things to celebrate. It\'s St George\'s Day!\r\n\r\nYou may or may not know this but St George is known for slaying a dragon.\r\n\r\nIt\'s not really clear to me how St. George found himself in the position to kill a dragon. I don\'t know the story of St George. But after three years in Bulgaria, I\'ve seen plenty of icons immortalizing St George and the dragon. Based on the various painting I\'ve seen of George and the dragon it\'s also not very clear to me what kind of a dragon we\'re talking about--sometimes it looks like an overgrown snake, sometimes a lizard and more often than not the dragon looks a little sickly. I guess this is inherently a problem among icon painters and paintings. I mean, I\'ve never seen a dragon before. This said, I don\'t think I am really supposed to focus on the dragon as much as I am supposed to focus on St George.\r\n\r\nNow St George, let\'s talk about him. He\'s good looking. He rides a beautiful horse. And he seems to be both brave and strong. In all of the paintings I\'ve seen of  St George the dragon cowers under him having just been stabbed. Sometimes there\'s a little blood coming out of the wound but sometimes there\'s not either way it\'s clear that St George has triumphed and that the dragon will not last long. (But who is the little guy on the back of St George\'s horse?!)\r\n\r\nA quick perusal of <a title=\"St George \" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_George\" target=\"_blank\">wikipedia explains the myth</a>. Here\'s my quick informal paired back version: there\'s a city that relies on a spring for water but a dragon moves in and builds his nest next to the spring. In order to get water each day the people offer the dragon a sheep or a young girl if there aren\'t any sheep. One day the kings daughter, a princess, is selected. The king begs for her to be saved but the people will not be deterred. They offer her to the dragon and this when St George enters the story. Protecting himself with the sign of the cross, he fights the dragon and rescues the princess!! The people convert to Christianity.\r\n\r\nToday in Bulgaria, St George\'s Day is widely celebrated.  It\'s the day of the Bulgarian Army which is celebrated with a parade downtown.  But more probably more importantly, it\'s a big nameday--Гергьовден! Anyone with a name linked to George  gets to celebrate their namesake and their nameday. I think the two most popular names are Georgi and Gergana but apparently these names are also linked to George--Galin, Galina, Galya, Ganka, Gancho, Genko, Genoveva, Gergin, Gergina, Ginka, Gyuro and as such they will be celebrating the day too.\r\n\r\nMany people regardless of whether or no they are celebrating their nameday will be eating roast lamb today as it is extremely popular on this holiday. I think this is because in addition to being the patron saint of soldiers St George is also the patron saint of shepherds.\r\n\r\nHappy St. George\'s Day to you!','St George\'s Day ','','inherit','open','open','','4883-revision-2','','','2011-05-06 10:06:16','2011-05-06 08:06:16','',4883,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/06/4883-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4886,1,'2011-05-06 10:08:22','2011-05-06 08:08:22','[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"339\" caption=\"Bulgarian Orthodox Icon of St George and the Dragon\"]<img class=\" \" title=\"Bulgarian Orthodox Icon of St George and the Dragon\" src=\"http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/Orthodox_Bulgarian_icon_of_St._George_fighting_the_dragon.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"339\" height=\"511\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\nToday\'s a pretty big holiday in Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nThere\'s no work and lots of things to celebrate.\r\n\r\nIt\'s St George\'s Day!\r\n\r\nYou may or may not know this but St George is known for slaying a dragon.\r\n\r\nIt\'s not really clear to me how St. George found himself in the position to kill a dragon but he\'s well known for and loved for this act.\r\n\r\nI don\'t really know the story of St George. But after three years in Bulgaria, I\'ve seen plenty of icons immortalizing St George and the dragon. Based on the various painting I\'ve seen of George and the dragon it\'s also not very clear to me what kind of a dragon we\'re talking about--sometimes it looks like an overgrown snake, sometimes a lizard and more often than not the dragon looks a little sickly. I guess this is inherently a problem among icon painters and paintings. I mean, I\'ve never seen a dragon before. This said, I don\'t think I am really supposed to focus on the dragon as much as I am supposed to focus on St George.\r\n\r\nNow St George, let\'s talk about him. He\'s good looking. He rides a beautiful horse. And he seems to be both brave and strong. In all of the paintings I\'ve seen of  St George the dragon cowers under him having just been stabbed. Sometimes there\'s a little blood coming out of the wound but sometimes there\'s not either way it\'s clear that St George has triumphed and that the dragon will not last long. (But who is the little guy on the back of St George\'s horse?!)\r\n\r\nA quick perusal of <a title=\"St George \" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_George\" target=\"_blank\">wikipedia explains the myth</a>. Here\'s my quick informal paired back version: there\'s a city that relies on a spring for water but a dragon moves in and builds his nest next to the spring. In order to get water each day the people offer the dragon a sheep or a young girl if there aren\'t any sheep. One day the kings daughter, a princess, is selected. The king begs for her to be saved but the people will not be deterred. They offer her to the dragon and this when St George enters the story. Protecting himself with the sign of the cross, he fights the dragon and rescues the princess!! The people convert to Christianity.\r\n\r\nToday in Bulgaria, St George\'s Day is widely celebrated.  It\'s the day of the Bulgarian Army which is celebrated with a parade downtown.  But more probably more importantly, it\'s a big nameday--Гергьовден! Anyone with a name linked to George  gets to celebrate their namesake and their nameday. I think the two most popular names are Georgi and Gergana but apparently these names are also linked to George--Galin, Galina, Galya, Ganka, Gancho, Genko, Genoveva, Gergin, Gergina, Ginka, Gyuro and as such they will be celebrating the day too.\r\n\r\nMany people regardless of whether or no they are celebrating their nameday will be eating roast lamb today as it is extremely popular on this holiday. I think this is because in addition to being the patron saint of soldiers St George is also the patron saint of shepherds.\r\n\r\nHappy St. George\'s Day to you!','St George\'s Day ','','inherit','open','open','','4883-revision-3','','','2011-05-06 10:08:22','2011-05-06 08:08:22','',4883,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/06/4883-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(4887,1,'2011-05-06 10:16:28','2011-05-06 08:16:28','[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"339\" caption=\"Bulgarian Orthodox Icon of St George and the Dragon\"]<img class=\" \" title=\"Bulgarian Orthodox Icon of St George and the Dragon\" src=\"http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/Orthodox_Bulgarian_icon_of_St._George_fighting_the_dragon.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"339\" height=\"511\" />[/caption]\n\nToday\'s a pretty big holiday in Bulgaria!\n\nThere\'s no work and lots of things to celebrate.\n\nIt\'s St George\'s Day!\n\nYou may or may not know this but St George is known for slaying a dragon.\n\nIt\'s not really clear to me how St. George found himself in the position to kill a dragon but he\'s well known for and loved for this act.\n\nI don\'t really know the story of St George. But after three years in Bulgaria, I\'ve seen plenty of icons immortalizing St George and the dragon. Based on the various painting I\'ve seen of George and the dragon it\'s clear that two things are important. St George and the dragon.\n\nThe paintings are pretty great. I really like the dragons they reveal a lot about the imagination of the painter--sometimes it looks like an overgrown snake, sometimes a lizard, sometimes a reptile with wings and more often than not the dragon looks a little sickly. I think how you imagine says a lot about you.  I mean, I\'ve never seen a dragon before so . This said, I don\'t think I am really supposed to focus on the dragon as much as I am supposed to focus on St George.\n\nNow St George, let\'s talk about him. He\'s good looking. He rides a beautiful horse. And he seems to be both brave and strong. In all of the paintings I\'ve seen of  St George the dragon cowers under him having just been stabbed. Sometimes there\'s a little blood coming out of the wound but sometimes there\'s not either way it\'s clear that St George has triumphed and that the dragon will not last long. (But who is the little guy on the back of St George\'s horse?!)\n\nA quick perusal of <a title=\"St George \" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_George\" target=\"_blank\">wikipedia explains the myth</a>. Here\'s my quick informal paired back version: there\'s a city that relies on a spring for water but a dragon moves in and builds his nest next to the spring. In order to get water each day the people offer the dragon a sheep or a young girl if there aren\'t any sheep. One day the kings daughter, a princess, is selected. The king begs for her to be saved but the people will not be deterred. They offer her to the dragon and this when St George enters the story. Protecting himself with the sign of the cross, he fights the dragon and rescues the princess!! The people convert to Christianity.\n\nToday in Bulgaria, St George\'s Day is widely celebrated.  It\'s the day of the Bulgarian Army which is celebrated with a parade downtown.  But more probably more importantly, it\'s a big nameday--Гергьовден! Anyone with a name linked to George  gets to celebrate their namesake and their nameday. I think the two most popular names are Georgi and Gergana but apparently these names are also linked to George--Galin, Galina, Galya, Ganka, Gancho, Genko, Genoveva, Gergin, Gergina, Ginka, Gyuro and as such they will be celebrating the day too.\n\nMany people regardless of whether or no they are celebrating their nameday will be eating roast lamb today as it is extremely popular on this holiday. I think this is because in addition to being the patron saint of soldiers St George is also the patron saint of shepherds.\n\nHappy St. George\'s Day to you!','St George\'s Day ','','inherit','open','open','','4883-revision-4','','','2011-05-06 10:16:28','2011-05-06 08:16:28','',4883,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/06/4883-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(4888,1,'2011-05-06 10:17:28','2011-05-06 08:17:28','[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"339\" caption=\"Bulgarian Orthodox Icon of St George and the Dragon\"]<img class=\" \" title=\"Bulgarian Orthodox Icon of St George and the Dragon\" src=\"http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/Orthodox_Bulgarian_icon_of_St._George_fighting_the_dragon.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"339\" height=\"511\" />[/caption]\n\nToday\'s a pretty big holiday in Bulgaria!\n\nThere\'s no work and lots of things to celebrate.\n\nIt\'s St George\'s Day!\n\nYou may or may not know this but St George is known for slaying a dragon.\n\nIt\'s not really clear to me how St. George found himself in the position to kill a dragon but he\'s well known for and loved for this act.\n\nI don\'t really know the story of St George. But after three years in Bulgaria, I\'ve seen plenty of icons immortalizing St George and the dragon. Based on the various painting I\'ve seen of George and the dragon it\'s clear that two things are important. St George and the dragon.\n\nThe paintings are pretty great. I really like the dragons they reveal a lot about the imagination of the painter--sometimes it looks like an overgrown snake, sometimes a lizard, sometimes a reptile with wings and more often than not the dragon looks a little sickly. I think how you imagine a dragon says a lot about you.  I mean, I\'ve never seen a dragon before so I like to imagine how I might paint it if I were in the same situation. This said, I don\'t think I am really supposed to focus on the dragon as much as I am supposed to focus on St George.<!--more-->\n\nNow St George, let\'s talk about him. He\'s good looking. He rides a beautiful horse. And he seems to be both brave and strong. In all of the paintings I\'ve seen of  St George the dragon cowers under him having just been stabbed. Sometimes there\'s a little blood coming out of the wound but sometimes there\'s not either way it\'s clear that St George has triumphed and that the dragon will not last long. (But who is the little guy on the back of St George\'s horse?!)\n\nA quick perusal of <a title=\"St George \" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_George\" target=\"_blank\">wikipedia explains the myth</a>. Here\'s my quick informal paired back version: there\'s a city that relies on a spring for water but a dragon moves in and builds his nest next to the spring. In order to get water each day the people offer the dragon a sheep or a young girl if there aren\'t any sheep. One day the kings daughter, a princess, is selected. The king begs for her to be saved but the people will not be deterred. They offer her to the dragon and this when St George enters the story. Protecting himself with the sign of the cross, he fights the dragon and rescues the princess!! The people convert to Christianity.\n\nToday in Bulgaria, St George\'s Day is widely celebrated.  It\'s the day of the Bulgarian Army which is celebrated with a parade downtown.  But more probably more importantly, it\'s a big nameday--Гергьовден! Anyone with a name linked to George  gets to celebrate their namesake and their nameday. I think the two most popular names are Georgi and Gergana but apparently these names are also linked to George--Galin, Galina, Galya, Ganka, Gancho, Genko, Genoveva, Gergin, Gergina, Ginka, Gyuro and as such they will be celebrating the day too.\n\nMany people regardless of whether or no they are celebrating their nameday will be eating roast lamb today as it is extremely popular on this holiday. I think this is because in addition to being the patron saint of soldiers St George is also the patron saint of shepherds.\n\nHappy St. George\'s Day to you!','St George\'s Day ','','inherit','open','open','','4883-revision-5','','','2011-05-06 10:17:28','2011-05-06 08:17:28','',4883,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/06/4883-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(4889,1,'2011-05-06 10:19:26','2011-05-06 08:19:26','[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"339\" caption=\"Bulgarian Orthodox Icon of St George and the Dragon\"]<img class=\" \" title=\"Bulgarian Orthodox Icon of St George and the Dragon\" src=\"http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/Orthodox_Bulgarian_icon_of_St._George_fighting_the_dragon.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"339\" height=\"511\" />[/caption]\n\nToday\'s a pretty big holiday in Bulgaria!\n\nThere\'s no work and lots of things to celebrate.\n\nIt\'s St George\'s Day!\n\nYou may or may not know this but St George is known for slaying a dragon.\n\nIt\'s not really clear to me how St. George found himself in the position to kill a dragon but he\'s well known for and loved for this act.\n\nI don\'t really know the story of St George. But after three years in Bulgaria, I\'ve seen plenty of icons immortalizing St George and the dragon. Based on the various painting I\'ve seen of George and the dragon it\'s clear that two things are important. St George and the dragon.\n\nThe paintings are pretty great. I really like the dragons they reveal a lot about the imagination of the painter--sometimes it looks like an overgrown snake, sometimes a lizard, sometimes a reptile with wings and more often than not the dragon looks a little sickly. I think how you imagine a dragon says a lot about you.  I mean, I\'ve never seen a dragon before so I like to imagine how I might paint it if I were in the same situation. This said, I don\'t think I am really supposed to focus on the dragon as much as I am supposed to focus on St George.<!--more-->\n\nNow St George, let\'s talk about him. He\'s good looking. He rides a beautiful horse. And he seems to be both brave and strong. In all of the paintings I\'ve seen of  St George the dragon cowers under him having just been stabbed. Sometimes there\'s a little blood coming out of the wound but sometimes there\'s not either way it\'s clear that St George has triumphed and that the dragon will not last long. (But who is the little guy on the back of St George\'s horse?!)\n\nA quick perusal of <a title=\"St George \" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_George\" target=\"_blank\">wikipedia explains the myth</a>. Here\'s my quick informal paired back version: there\'s a city that relies on a spring for water but a dragon moves in and builds his nest next to the spring. In order to get water each day the people offer the dragon a sheep or a young girl if there aren\'t any sheep. One day the kings daughter, a princess, is selected. The king begs for her to be saved but the people will not be deterred. They offer her to the dragon and this when St George enters the story. Protecting himself with the sign of the cross, he fights the dragon and rescues the princess!! The people convert to Christianity.\n\nToday in Bulgaria, St George\'s Day is widely celebrated.  It\'s the day of the Bulgarian Army which is celebrated with a parade downtown.  But more probably more importantly, it\'s a big nameday--Гергьовден! Anyone with a name linked to George  gets to celebrate their namesake and their nameday. I think the two most popular names are Georgi and Gergana but apparently these names are also linked to George--Galin, Galina, Galya, Ganka, Gancho, Genko, Genoveva, Gergin, Gergina, Ginka, Gyuro and as such they will be celebrating the day too.\n\nMany people regardless of whether or no they are celebrating their nameday will be eating roast lamb today as it is extremely popular on this holiday. I think this is because in addition to being the patron saint of soldiers St George is also the patron saint of shepherds.\n\nHappy St. George\'s Day to you!','St George\'s Day ','','inherit','open','open','','4883-autosave','','','2011-05-06 10:19:26','2011-05-06 08:19:26','',4883,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/06/4883-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(4890,1,'2011-05-08 09:28:32','2011-05-08 07:28:32','In the States, today is Mother\'s Day.\r\n\r\nWe don\'t really go in for the International Women\'s Day in the States--I think because there\'s some sense that it\'s a <em>socialist</em> holiday (<em>gasp</em>).  Instead, we get all riled up for Mother\'s Day because of course everyone has a mother <em>and</em> being a mother is all a girl can really hope for from her life anyway.\r\n\r\nOkay, that last line is a little more sarcastic than necessarily given the fact that I am about to write a whole post in praise of my mother but the feminist in me thinks it\'s more than a little ridiculous that the only day we choose to celebrate women in the Sates we decide to celebrate her fertility rather than, um, anything else.\r\n\r\nWell, here\'s everything else.\r\n\r\n___________\r\n\r\nDear MoM (and hi dAd!),\r\n\r\nHappy Mother\'s Day.\r\n\r\nI woke up this morning thinking: You know what would be nice? Blueberry pancakes with syrup, a side of bacon along with glass of orange juice and a cup of coffee in bed.\r\n\r\nThat\'s when I realized that it was Mother\'s Day.\r\n\r\n<em>And</em>, I don\'t know who\'s going to be feeding you this year seeing as you no longer have any children at home, let alone three little children, to wrangle their father into making you breakfast in bed using the most pots and pans possible.  And what\'s worse, these small children won\'t be thrilled by the joy of sneaking--very quietly I might add--in your room to surprise you with breakfast. They also won\'t be able to climb into bed with you and eat your breakfast in your bed for you.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nWhile I was standing in my apartment in Sofia making coffee  and thinking about this problem, it struck me what a good sport you are--from being surprised each year even though I am sure that the three of us kids were making an unholy racket in the kitchen with dAd to letting us eat your sticky and greasy breakfast in your bed on top of your very white bedspread. But thinking back, there never really syrup on those pancakes. I blame dAd or maybe he was in cahoots with you either way, that\'s pretty cool of you. <em>Thanks</em>!\r\n\r\nSo, I am sorry I won\'t be there to make you breakfast and then to climb into bed with you to eat it. I am especially sorry because I\'d love some real bacon right about now--it\'s pretty impossible to find in Sofia and because dAd makes a killer blueberry pancake.  Yes, when I say <em>make</em> breakfast, I really mean, <em>direct</em> dAd in making breakfast. Hum, I guess when you look at it that way, maybe you will get breakfast today after all. That\'s pretty lucky.\r\n\r\nYou know what else is pretty lucky? Having you as my MoM!\r\n\r\nLet me elaborate (but also please know that while I\'ve condensed my praise into 10 bullet points there could have been many, many more and many of the ten bullet points should have subsections, I was just too lazy to do this):\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Thanks for giving birth to me nearly 30 years ago. You know that means? I\'ve know you longer than anyone else in my life.</li>\r\n	<li>Thanks teaching me that important lesson about money when I was in kindergarten or maybe first grade. It really wasn\'t as cleaver as I thought it was to ask for my allowance (.25 cents)  from both you and dAd on the same Sunday in order to have enough money to buy the stickers I desperately wanted. Then when you caught me (which for the life of me I can\'t figure out how you did) you didn\'t let me give back the quarter. No sir, you took me across the street to buy the stickers I\'d been pinning after and those stickers were never as sweet. This, for the record, is probably the reason I didn\'t go into fiance.</li>\r\n	<li>Thanks for putting my hair in a side ponytail with three braids or whatever crazy hairstyle I dreamed up at age 7. Between my hair and my love of \'80s style clothing and my refusal to wear jeans I must have been a hard child to live with.</li>\r\n	<li>Thanks for taking me to a whole range of lessons and practices: ballet, dance, gymnastics/tumbling, swimming, piano, basketball, softball, oboe, volleyball. And I am sorry I was never really great at any of them but I did love to doing them--well most of them.</li>\r\n	<li>Thanks for reading endlessly to me when I was little and instilling a love of reading in me.</li>\r\n	<li>Thanks for instilling me in the idea that the world is my oyster.  And for being so supportive of me when I went out to explore it--from college in Ohio to my early twenties in Washington DC and now my late twenties in Bulgaria.</li>\r\n	<li>Thanks for imparting on me the important lesson: pick your battles.</li>\r\n	<li>Thanks for everything you do for me while I am living abroad including but not limited to sorting through my mail, keeping an eye on my fiances (and sending me new debit/credit cards as necessary), giving me a hand with my taxes, picking me up from the airport be it Seattle, Pasco or Walla Walla and for taking the time to talk to me almost every weekend on skype.</li>\r\n	<li>Thank-you for teaching me how to be a generous and kind person through your own examples.</li>\r\n	<li>Oh and finally thanks for doing all of those thank-less jobs like grocery shopping, doing laundry, cleaning house, paying bills, cooking dinner <em>and</em> doing dishes, cutting the grass, taking out the garbage, hosting family birthdays, holidays and other random events and everything else in between.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nFinally, MoM, thanks for being you (and for being my most loyal blog-reader).  I hope that you have a wonderful Mother\'s Day and that you know how much I love you.\r\n\r\nTalk to you later on skype!\r\n\r\nXOXO.\r\n\r\nPS. I wanted to include a photo of me and my MoM in this post but apparently I was too sick at Christmas time to actually take a picture with her. I guess that\'s what happens when you have pneumonia but you think it\'s just a really bad case of jetlag.','This one is for my MoM','','publish','open','open','','this-one-is-for-my-mom','','','2011-05-08 09:28:32','2011-05-08 07:28:32','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=4890',0,'post','',3),(4891,1,'2011-05-08 09:24:55','2011-05-08 07:24:55','In the States, today is Mother\'s Day. We don\'t really go in for the International Women\'s Day in the States--I think because there\'s some sense that it\'s a <em>socialist</em> holiday (<em>gasp</em>).  Instead, we get all riled up for Mother\'s Day because of course everyone has a mother and being a mother is all one can really hope for from her life anyway.\n\nOkay, that last line is a little more sarcastic than necessarily given the fact that I am about to write a whole post in praise of my mother but the feminist in me thinks it\'s more than a little ridiculous that the only day we choose to celebrate women in the Sates we decide to celebrate her fertility rather than, um, anything else.\n\n___________\n\nDear MoM (and hi dAd!),\n\nHappy Mother\'s Day.\n\nI woke up this morning thinking: You know what would be nice? Blueberry pancakes with syrup, a side of bacon along with glass of orange juice and a cup of coffee in bed.\n\nThat\'s when I realized that it was Mother\'s Day.  And, I don\'t know who\'s going to be feeding you this year seeing as you no longer have any children at home, let alone three little children, to wrangle their father into making you breakfast in bed using the most pots and pans possible.  And what\'s worse, these small children won\'t be thrilled by the joy of sneaking--very quietly I might add--in your room to surprise you with breakfast. They also won\'t be able to climb into bed with you and eat your breakfast in your bed for you.\n\nWhile I was standing in my apartment in Sofia making coffee  and thinking about this problem, it struck me what a good sport you are--from being surprised each year even though I am sure that the three of us kids were making an unholy racket in the kitchen with dAd to letting us eat your sticky and greasy breakfast in your bed on top of your very white bedspread. But thinking back, there never really syrup on those pancakes. I blame dAd or maybe he was in cahoots with you either way, that\'s pretty cool of you. <em>Thanks</em>!\n\nSo, I am sorry I won\'t be there to make you breakfast and then to climb into bed with you to eat it. I am especially sorry because I\'d love some real bacon right about now--it\'s pretty impossible to find in Sofia and because dAd makes a killer blueberry pancake.  Yes, when I say <em>make</em> breakfast, I really mean, <em>direct</em> dAd in making breakfast. Hum, I guess when you look at it that way, maybe you will get breakfast today after all. That\'s pretty lucky.\n\nYou know what else is pretty lucky? Having you as my MoM!\n\nLet me elaborate (but also please know that while I\'ve condensed my praise into 10 bullet points there could have been many, many more and many of the ten bullet points should have subsections, I was just too lazy to do this):\n<ol>\n	<li>Thanks for giving birth to me nearly 30 years ago. You know that means? I\'ve know you longer than anyone else in my life.</li>\n	<li>Thanks teaching me that important lesson about money when I was in kindergarten or maybe first grade. It really wasn\'t as cleaver as I thought it was to ask for my allowance (.25 cents)  from both you and dAd on the same Sunday in order to have enough money to buy the stickers I desperately wanted. Then when you caught me (which for the life of me I can\'t figure out how you did) you didn\'t let me give back the quarter. No sir, you took me across the street to buy the stickers I\'d been pinning after and those stickers were never as sweet. This, for the record, is probably the reason I didn\'t go into fiance.</li>\n	<li>Thanks for putting my hair in a side ponytail with three braids or whatever crazy hairstyle I dreamed up at age 7. Between my hair and my love of \'80s style clothing and my refusal to wear jeans I must have been a hard child to live with.</li>\n	<li>Thanks for taking me to a whole range of lessons and practices: ballet, dance, gymnastics/tumbling, swimming, piano, basketball, softball, oboe, volleyball. And I am sorry I was never really great at any of them but I did love to doing them--well most of them.</li>\n	<li>Thanks for reading endlessly to me when I was little and instilling a love of reading in me.</li>\n	<li>Thanks for instilling me in the idea that the world is my oyster.  And for being so supportive of me when I went out to explore it--from college in Ohio to my early twenties in Washington DC and now my late twenties in Bulgaria.</li>\n	<li>Thanks for imparting on me the important lesson: pick your battles.</li>\n	<li>Thanks for everything you do for me while I am living abroad including but not limited to sorting through my mail, keeping an eye on my fiances (and sending me new debit/credit cards as necessary), giving me a hand with my taxes, picking me up from the airport be it Seattle, Pasco or Walla Walla and for taking the time to talk to me almost every weekend on skype.</li>\n	<li>Thank-you for teaching me how to be a generous and kind person through your own examples.</li>\n	<li>Oh and finally thanks for doing all of those thank-less jobs like grocery shopping, doing laundry, cleaning house, paying bills, cooking dinner <em>and</em> doing dishes, cutting the grass, taking out the garbage, hosting family birthdays, holidays and other random events and everything else in between.</li>\n</ol>\nFinally, MoM, thanks for being you (and for being my most loyal blog-reader).  I hope that you have a wonderful Mother\'s Day and that you know how much I love you.\n\nTalk to you later on skype!\n\nXOXO.\n\nPS. I wanted to include a photo of me and my MoM in this post but apparently I was too sick at Christmas time to actually take a picture with her. I guess that\'s what happens when you have pnenomia but you think it\'s just a really bad case of jetlag.','This one is for my MoM','','inherit','open','open','','4890-revision','','','2011-05-08 09:24:55','2011-05-08 07:24:55','',4890,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/08/4890-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4892,1,'2011-05-08 09:25:14','2011-05-08 07:25:14','In the States, today is Mother\'s Day. We don\'t really go in for the International Women\'s Day in the States--I think because there\'s some sense that it\'s a <em>socialist</em> holiday (<em>gasp</em>).  Instead, we get all riled up for Mother\'s Day because of course everyone has a mother and being a mother is all one can really hope for from her life anyway.\r\n\r\nOkay, that last line is a little more sarcastic than necessarily given the fact that I am about to write a whole post in praise of my mother but the feminist in me thinks it\'s more than a little ridiculous that the only day we choose to celebrate women in the Sates we decide to celebrate her fertility rather than, um, anything else.\r\n\r\n___________\r\n\r\nDear MoM (and hi dAd!),\r\n\r\nHappy Mother\'s Day.\r\n\r\nI woke up this morning thinking: You know what would be nice? Blueberry pancakes with syrup, a side of bacon along with glass of orange juice and a cup of coffee in bed.\r\n\r\nThat\'s when I realized that it was Mother\'s Day.  And, I don\'t know who\'s going to be feeding you this year seeing as you no longer have any children at home, let alone three little children, to wrangle their father into making you breakfast in bed using the most pots and pans possible.  And what\'s worse, these small children won\'t be thrilled by the joy of sneaking--very quietly I might add--in your room to surprise you with breakfast. They also won\'t be able to climb into bed with you and eat your breakfast in your bed for you.\r\n\r\nWhile I was standing in my apartment in Sofia making coffee  and thinking about this problem, it struck me what a good sport you are--from being surprised each year even though I am sure that the three of us kids were making an unholy racket in the kitchen with dAd to letting us eat your sticky and greasy breakfast in your bed on top of your very white bedspread. But thinking back, there never really syrup on those pancakes. I blame dAd or maybe he was in cahoots with you either way, that\'s pretty cool of you. <em>Thanks</em>!\r\n\r\nSo, I am sorry I won\'t be there to make you breakfast and then to climb into bed with you to eat it. I am especially sorry because I\'d love some real bacon right about now--it\'s pretty impossible to find in Sofia and because dAd makes a killer blueberry pancake.  Yes, when I say <em>make</em> breakfast, I really mean, <em>direct</em> dAd in making breakfast. Hum, I guess when you look at it that way, maybe you will get breakfast today after all. That\'s pretty lucky.\r\n\r\nYou know what else is pretty lucky? Having you as my MoM!\r\n\r\nLet me elaborate (but also please know that while I\'ve condensed my praise into 10 bullet points there could have been many, many more and many of the ten bullet points should have subsections, I was just too lazy to do this):\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Thanks for giving birth to me nearly 30 years ago. You know that means? I\'ve know you longer than anyone else in my life.</li>\r\n	<li>Thanks teaching me that important lesson about money when I was in kindergarten or maybe first grade. It really wasn\'t as cleaver as I thought it was to ask for my allowance (.25 cents)  from both you and dAd on the same Sunday in order to have enough money to buy the stickers I desperately wanted. Then when you caught me (which for the life of me I can\'t figure out how you did) you didn\'t let me give back the quarter. No sir, you took me across the street to buy the stickers I\'d been pinning after and those stickers were never as sweet. This, for the record, is probably the reason I didn\'t go into fiance.</li>\r\n	<li>Thanks for putting my hair in a side ponytail with three braids or whatever crazy hairstyle I dreamed up at age 7. Between my hair and my love of \'80s style clothing and my refusal to wear jeans I must have been a hard child to live with.</li>\r\n	<li>Thanks for taking me to a whole range of lessons and practices: ballet, dance, gymnastics/tumbling, swimming, piano, basketball, softball, oboe, volleyball. And I am sorry I was never really great at any of them but I did love to doing them--well most of them.</li>\r\n	<li>Thanks for reading endlessly to me when I was little and instilling a love of reading in me.</li>\r\n	<li>Thanks for instilling me in the idea that the world is my oyster.  And for being so supportive of me when I went out to explore it--from college in Ohio to my early twenties in Washington DC and now my late twenties in Bulgaria.</li>\r\n	<li>Thanks for imparting on me the important lesson: pick your battles.</li>\r\n	<li>Thanks for everything you do for me while I am living abroad including but not limited to sorting through my mail, keeping an eye on my fiances (and sending me new debit/credit cards as necessary), giving me a hand with my taxes, picking me up from the airport be it Seattle, Pasco or Walla Walla and for taking the time to talk to me almost every weekend on skype.</li>\r\n	<li>Thank-you for teaching me how to be a generous and kind person through your own examples.</li>\r\n	<li>Oh and finally thanks for doing all of those thank-less jobs like grocery shopping, doing laundry, cleaning house, paying bills, cooking dinner <em>and</em> doing dishes, cutting the grass, taking out the garbage, hosting family birthdays, holidays and other random events and everything else in between.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nFinally, MoM, thanks for being you (and for being my most loyal blog-reader).  I hope that you have a wonderful Mother\'s Day and that you know how much I love you.\r\n\r\nTalk to you later on skype!\r\n\r\nXOXO.\r\n\r\nPS. I wanted to include a photo of me and my MoM in this post but apparently I was too sick at Christmas time to actually take a picture with her. I guess that\'s what happens when you have pneumonia but you think it\'s just a really bad case of jetlag.','This one is for my MoM','','inherit','open','open','','4890-revision-2','','','2011-05-08 09:25:14','2011-05-08 07:25:14','',4890,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/08/4890-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4893,1,'2011-05-08 09:28:24','2011-05-08 07:28:24','In the States, today is Mother\'s Day.\n\nWe don\'t really go in for the International Women\'s Day in the States--I think because there\'s some sense that it\'s a <em>socialist</em> holiday (<em>gasp</em>).  Instead, we get all riled up for Mother\'s Day because of course everyone has a mother <em>and</em> being a mother is all a girl can really hope for from her life anyway.\n\nOkay, that last line is a little more sarcastic than necessarily given the fact that I am about to write a whole post in praise of my mother but the feminist in me thinks it\'s more than a little ridiculous that the only day we choose to celebrate women in the Sates we decide to celebrate her fertility rather than, um, anything else.\n\nWell, here\'s everything else.\n\n___________\n\nDear MoM (and hi dAd!),\n\nHappy Mother\'s Day.\n\nI woke up this morning thinking: You know what would be nice? Blueberry pancakes with syrup, a side of bacon along with glass of orange juice and a cup of coffee in bed.\n\nThat\'s when I realized that it was Mother\'s Day.\n\n<em>And</em>, I don\'t know who\'s going to be feeding you this year seeing as you no longer have any children at home, let alone three little children, to wrangle their father into making you breakfast in bed using the most pots and pans possible.  And what\'s worse, these small children won\'t be thrilled by the joy of sneaking--very quietly I might add--in your room to surprise you with breakfast. They also won\'t be able to climb into bed with you and eat your breakfast in your bed for you.<!--more-->\n\nWhile I was standing in my apartment in Sofia making coffee  and thinking about this problem, it struck me what a good sport you are--from being surprised each year even though I am sure that the three of us kids were making an unholy racket in the kitchen with dAd to letting us eat your sticky and greasy breakfast in your bed on top of your very white bedspread. But thinking back, there never really syrup on those pancakes. I blame dAd or maybe he was in cahoots with you either way, that\'s pretty cool of you. <em>Thanks</em>!\n\nSo, I am sorry I won\'t be there to make you breakfast and then to climb into bed with you to eat it. I am especially sorry because I\'d love some real bacon right about now--it\'s pretty impossible to find in Sofia and because dAd makes a killer blueberry pancake.  Yes, when I say <em>make</em> breakfast, I really mean, <em>direct</em> dAd in making breakfast. Hum, I guess when you look at it that way, maybe you will get breakfast today after all. That\'s pretty lucky.\n\nYou know what else is pretty lucky? Having you as my MoM!\n\nLet me elaborate (but also please know that while I\'ve condensed my praise into 10 bullet points there could have been many, many more and many of the ten bullet points should have subsections, I was just too lazy to do this):\n<ol>\n	<li>Thanks for giving birth to me nearly 30 years ago. You know that means? I\'ve know you longer than anyone else in my life.</li>\n	<li>Thanks teaching me that important lesson about money when I was in kindergarten or maybe first grade. It really wasn\'t as cleaver as I thought it was to ask for my allowance (.25 cents)  from both you and dAd on the same Sunday in order to have enough money to buy the stickers I desperately wanted. Then when you caught me (which for the life of me I can\'t figure out how you did) you didn\'t let me give back the quarter. No sir, you took me across the street to buy the stickers I\'d been pinning after and those stickers were never as sweet. This, for the record, is probably the reason I didn\'t go into fiance.</li>\n	<li>Thanks for putting my hair in a side ponytail with three braids or whatever crazy hairstyle I dreamed up at age 7. Between my hair and my love of \'80s style clothing and my refusal to wear jeans I must have been a hard child to live with.</li>\n	<li>Thanks for taking me to a whole range of lessons and practices: ballet, dance, gymnastics/tumbling, swimming, piano, basketball, softball, oboe, volleyball. And I am sorry I was never really great at any of them but I did love to doing them--well most of them.</li>\n	<li>Thanks for reading endlessly to me when I was little and instilling a love of reading in me.</li>\n	<li>Thanks for instilling me in the idea that the world is my oyster.  And for being so supportive of me when I went out to explore it--from college in Ohio to my early twenties in Washington DC and now my late twenties in Bulgaria.</li>\n	<li>Thanks for imparting on me the important lesson: pick your battles.</li>\n	<li>Thanks for everything you do for me while I am living abroad including but not limited to sorting through my mail, keeping an eye on my fiances (and sending me new debit/credit cards as necessary), giving me a hand with my taxes, picking me up from the airport be it Seattle, Pasco or Walla Walla and for taking the time to talk to me almost every weekend on skype.</li>\n	<li>Thank-you for teaching me how to be a generous and kind person through your own examples.</li>\n	<li>Oh and finally thanks for doing all of those thank-less jobs like grocery shopping, doing laundry, cleaning house, paying bills, cooking dinner <em>and</em> doing dishes, cutting the grass, taking out the garbage, hosting family birthdays, holidays and other random events and everything else in between.</li>\n</ol>\nFinally, MoM, thanks for being you (and for being my most loyal blog-reader).  I hope that you have a wonderful Mother\'s Day and that you know how much I love you.\n\nTalk to you later on skype!\n\nXOXO.\n\nPS. I wanted to include a photo of me and my MoM in this post but apparently I was too sick at Christmas time to actually take a picture with her. I guess that\'s what happens when you have pneumonia but you think it\'s just a really bad case of jetlag.','This one is for my MoM','','inherit','open','open','','4890-revision-3','','','2011-05-08 09:28:24','2011-05-08 07:28:24','',4890,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/08/4890-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(4894,1,'2011-05-09 20:03:32','2011-05-09 18:03:32','I saw this very clever and very funny video this weekend. Since then I\'ve watched it a couple of times in an open tab in my browser because I think it\'s so funny and upbeat. And I didn\'t want to forget to write about it. \r\n\r\nThat happens sometimes.\r\n\r\nAfter watching the clip three (<em>or more</em>) times I am afraid it might only be funny because it\'s related to life in Sofia. Making it Sofia humor. Maybe I\'m wrong. \r\n\r\nI think the sound track, the fact that it\'s being shot from a moving car and pacing of the whole thing really makes the video-clip. The song starts like it might be Ace of Base (which is probably another reason I secretly like it) but no. It\'s not. I don\'t know who it is but basic words are: no one can resist the desire to escape to paradise. That part makes me giggle.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<iframe src=\"http://player.vimeo.com/video/23412531?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe><p><a href=\"http://vimeo.com/23412531\">Ring Road</a> from <a href=\"http://vimeo.com/rado\">radoslav sharapanov</a> on <a href=\"http://vimeo.com\">Vimeo</a>.</p>\r\n\r\nNow that you\'ve watched the video (you have haven\'t you!?), you\'ve seen the view from the Ring Road in Sofia--hopefully you payed attention to the building-scape in the background. It\'s bloc-building Sofia in a nutshell. \r\n\r\nSo if the name doesn\'t say it all the Ring Road is supposed to encircle the city to ease up on traffic in the city. In practice, I am not sure that it really makes much of a difference. Traffic in the city and on the Ring Road is pretty stop-and-go. In fact, in my memory there are very few times were I\'ve been able to drive (well, ride) steadily and uninterrupted on the Ring Road. Paradise it is not.\r\n\r\nIt makes me wonder what time of day this clip was filmed.\r\n\r\nAnyhow, here\'s to the creator: <a href=\"http://vimeo.com/23412531\">radoslav sharapanov</a>. Great job! Oh and he\'s got a great blog too: <a href=\"http://rado.bg/\">rado.bg</a>','Video: Ring Road','','publish','open','open','','video-ring-road','','','2011-05-09 20:08:13','2011-05-09 18:08:13','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=4894',0,'post','',1),(4895,1,'2011-05-09 06:04:19','2011-05-09 04:04:19','I saw this very clever video this weekend and since then I\'ve watched it a couple of times in an open tab because I think it\'s so funny. I am afraid it might only be Sofia humor though.\n\nThe other thing I have to say is that there are very few my memory were I\'ve been able to drive steadily and uninterrupted on the Ring Road.','Video: Ring','','inherit','open','open','','4894-revision','','','2011-05-09 06:04:19','2011-05-09 04:04:19','',4894,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/09/4894-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4896,1,'2011-05-09 06:05:19','2011-05-09 04:05:19','I saw this very clever video this weekend and since then I\'ve watched it a couple of times in an open tab because I think it\'s so funny. I am afraid it might only be Sofia humor though. <a>Ring Road</a>\n\nThe other thing I have to say is that there are very few my memory were I\'ve been able to drive steadily and uninterrupted on the Ring Road.','Video: Ring Road','','inherit','open','open','','4894-revision-2','','','2011-05-09 06:05:19','2011-05-09 04:05:19','',4894,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/09/4894-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4897,1,'2011-05-09 06:05:45','2011-05-09 04:05:45','I saw this very clever video this weekend and since then I\'ve watched it a couple of times in an open tab because I think it\'s so funny. I am afraid it might only be Sofia humor though.\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://player.vimeo.com/video/23412531?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe><p><a href=\"http://vimeo.com/23412531\">Ring Road</a> from <a href=\"http://vimeo.com/rado\">radoslav sharapanov</a> on <a href=\"http://vimeo.com\">Vimeo</a>.</p>\r\n\r\nThe other thing I have to say is that there are very few my memory were I\'ve been able to drive steadily and uninterrupted on the Ring Road.','Video: Ring Road','','inherit','open','open','','4894-revision-3','','','2011-05-09 06:05:45','2011-05-09 04:05:45','',4894,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/09/4894-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(4898,1,'2011-05-09 19:33:25','2011-05-09 17:33:25','I saw this very clever and very funny video this weekend. Since then I\'ve watched it a couple of times in an open tab in my browser because I think it\'s so funny and upbeat. And I didn\'t want to forget to write about it. That happens sometimes.\n\nAfter watching the clip three (or more) times I am afraid it might only be funny because it\'s Sofia humor. Maybe I\'m wrong. \n\nI think the sound track really makes the video-clip the basic words are: no one can resist the desire to escape to paradise.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://vimeo.com/23412531\">Ring Road</a> from <a href=\"http://vimeo.com/rado\">radoslav sharapanov</a> on <a href=\"http://vimeo.com\">Vimeo</a>.\n\nThing I have to say is that there are very few my memory were I\'ve been able to drive steadily and uninterrupted on the Ring Road.\n\nHere\'s to the creator: <a href=\"http://vimeo.com/23412531\">radoslav sharapanov</a>.','Video: Ring Road','','inherit','open','open','','4894-revision-4','','','2011-05-09 19:33:25','2011-05-09 17:33:25','',4894,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/09/4894-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(4899,1,'2011-05-09 19:36:02','2011-05-09 17:36:02','I saw this very clever and very funny video this weekend. Since then I\'ve watched it a couple of times in an open tab in my browser because I think it\'s so funny and upbeat. And I didn\'t want to forget to write about it. That happens sometimes.\r\n\r\nAfter watching the clip three (or more) times I am afraid it might only be funny because it\'s Sofia humor. Maybe I\'m wrong. \r\n\r\nI think the sound track really makes the video-clip the basic words are: no one can resist the desire to escape to paradise.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://vimeo.com/23412531\">Ring Road</a> from <a href=\"http://vimeo.com/rado\">radoslav sharapanov</a> on <a href=\"http://vimeo.com\">Vimeo</a>.\r\n\r\nThing I have to say is that there are very few my memory were I\'ve been able to drive steadily and uninterrupted on the Ring Road.\r\n\r\nHere\'s to the creator: <a href=\"http://vimeo.com/23412531\">radoslav sharapanov</a>.','Video: Ring Road','','inherit','open','open','','4894-revision-5','','','2011-05-09 19:36:02','2011-05-09 17:36:02','',4894,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/09/4894-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(4900,1,'2011-05-09 19:36:09','2011-05-09 17:36:09','I saw this very clever and very funny video this weekend. Since then I\'ve watched it a couple of times in an open tab in my browser because I think it\'s so funny and upbeat. And I didn\'t want to forget to write about it. That happens sometimes.\r\n\r\nAfter watching the clip three (or more) times I am afraid it might only be funny because it\'s Sofia humor. Maybe I\'m wrong. \r\n\r\nI think the sound track really makes the video-clip the basic words are: no one can resist the desire to escape to paradise.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://vimeo.com/23412531\">Ring Road</a> from <a href=\"http://vimeo.com/rado\">radoslav sharapanov</a> on <a href=\"http://vimeo.com\">Vimeo</a>.\r\n\r\nThing I have to say is that there are very few my memory were I\'ve been able to drive steadily and uninterrupted on the Ring Road.\r\n\r\nHere\'s to the creator: <a href=\"http://vimeo.com/23412531\">radoslav sharapanov</a>.','Video: Ring Road','','inherit','open','open','','4894-revision-6','','','2011-05-09 19:36:09','2011-05-09 17:36:09','',4894,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/09/4894-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(4901,1,'2011-05-09 20:00:39','2011-05-09 18:00:39','I saw this very clever and very funny video this weekend. Since then I\'ve watched it a couple of times in an open tab in my browser because I think it\'s so funny and upbeat. And I didn\'t want to forget to write about it. \r\n\r\nThat happens sometimes.\r\n\r\nAfter watching the clip three (<em>or more</em>) times I am afraid it might only be funny because it\'s related to life in Sofia. Making it Sofia humor. Maybe I\'m wrong. \r\n\r\nI think the sound track, the fact that it\'s being shot from a moving car and pacing of the whole thing really makes the video-clip. The song starts like it might be Ace of Base (which is probably another reason I secretly like it) but no. It\'s not. I don\'t know who it is but basic words are: no one can resist the desire to escape to paradise. That part makes me giggle.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<iframe src=\"http://player.vimeo.com/video/23412531?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe><p><a href=\"http://vimeo.com/23412531\">Ring Road</a> from <a href=\"http://vimeo.com/rado\">radoslav sharapanov</a> on <a href=\"http://vimeo.com\">Vimeo</a>.</p>\r\n\r\nNow that you\'ve watched the video (you have haven\'t you!?), you\'ve seen the view from the Ring Road in Sofia--hopefully you payed attention to the building-scape in the background. It\'s bloc-building Sofia in a nutshell. \r\n\r\nSo if the name doesn\'t say it all the Ring Road is supposed to encircle the city to ease up on traffic in the city. In practice, I am not sure that it really makes much of a difference. Traffic in the city and on the Ring Road is pretty stop-and-go. In fact, in my memory there are very few times were I\'ve been able to drive (well, ride) steadily and uninterrupted on the Ring Road. Paradise it is not.\r\n\r\nIt makes me wonder what time of day this clip was filmed.\r\n\r\nAnyhow, here\'s to the creator: <a href=\"http://vimeo.com/23412531\">radoslav sharapanov</a>. Great job!','Video: Ring Road','','inherit','open','open','','4894-revision-7','','','2011-05-09 20:00:39','2011-05-09 18:00:39','',4894,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/09/4894-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(4902,1,'2011-05-09 20:00:41','2011-05-09 18:00:41','I saw this very clever and very funny video this weekend. Since then I\'ve watched it a couple of times in an open tab in my browser because I think it\'s so funny and upbeat. And I didn\'t want to forget to write about it. \r\n\r\nThat happens sometimes.\r\n\r\nAfter watching the clip three (<em>or more</em>) times I am afraid it might only be funny because it\'s related to life in Sofia. Making it Sofia humor. Maybe I\'m wrong. \r\n\r\nI think the sound track, the fact that it\'s being shot from a moving car and pacing of the whole thing really makes the video-clip. The song starts like it might be Ace of Base (which is probably another reason I secretly like it) but no. It\'s not. I don\'t know who it is but basic words are: no one can resist the desire to escape to paradise. That part makes me giggle.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<iframe src=\"http://player.vimeo.com/video/23412531?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe><p><a href=\"http://vimeo.com/23412531\">Ring Road</a> from <a href=\"http://vimeo.com/rado\">radoslav sharapanov</a> on <a href=\"http://vimeo.com\">Vimeo</a>.</p>\r\n\r\nNow that you\'ve watched the video (you have haven\'t you!?), you\'ve seen the view from the Ring Road in Sofia--hopefully you payed attention to the building-scape in the background. It\'s bloc-building Sofia in a nutshell. \r\n\r\nSo if the name doesn\'t say it all the Ring Road is supposed to encircle the city to ease up on traffic in the city. In practice, I am not sure that it really makes much of a difference. Traffic in the city and on the Ring Road is pretty stop-and-go. In fact, in my memory there are very few times were I\'ve been able to drive (well, ride) steadily and uninterrupted on the Ring Road. Paradise it is not.\r\n\r\nIt makes me wonder what time of day this clip was filmed.\r\n\r\nAnyhow, here\'s to the creator: <a href=\"http://vimeo.com/23412531\">radoslav sharapanov</a>. Great job!','Video: Ring Road','','inherit','open','open','','4894-revision-8','','','2011-05-09 20:00:41','2011-05-09 18:00:41','',4894,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/09/4894-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(4903,1,'2011-05-09 20:09:17','2011-05-09 18:09:17','I saw this very clever and very funny video this weekend. Since then I\'ve watched it a couple of times in an open tab in my browser because I think it\'s so funny and upbeat. And I didn\'t want to forget to write about it. \r\n\r\nThat happens sometimes.\r\n\r\nAfter watching the clip three (<em>or more</em>) times I am afraid it might only be funny because it\'s related to life in Sofia. Making it Sofia humor. Maybe I\'m wrong. \r\n\r\nI think the sound track, the fact that it\'s being shot from a moving car and pacing of the whole thing really makes the video-clip. The song starts like it might be Ace of Base (which is probably another reason I secretly like it) but no. It\'s not. I don\'t know who it is but basic words are: no one can resist the desire to escape to paradise. That part makes me giggle.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<iframe src=\"http://player.vimeo.com/video/23412531?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe><p><a href=\"http://vimeo.com/23412531\">Ring Road</a> from <a href=\"http://vimeo.com/rado\">radoslav sharapanov</a> on <a href=\"http://vimeo.com\">Vimeo</a>.</p>\r\n\r\nNow that you\'ve watched the video (you have haven\'t you!?), you\'ve seen the view from the Ring Road in Sofia--hopefully you payed attention to the building-scape in the background. It\'s bloc-building Sofia in a nutshell. \r\n\r\nSo if the name doesn\'t say it all the Ring Road is supposed to encircle the city to ease up on traffic in the city. In practice, I am not sure that it really makes much of a difference. Traffic in the city and on the Ring Road is pretty stop-and-go. In fact, in my memory there are very few times were I\'ve been able to drive (well, ride) steadily and uninterrupted on the Ring Road. Paradise it is not.\r\n\r\nIt makes me wonder what time of day this clip was filmed.\r\n\r\nAnyhow, here\'s to the creator: <a href=\"http://vimeo.com/23412531\">radoslav sharapanov</a>. Great job! Oh and he\'s got a great blog too: <a href=\"http://rado.bg/\">rado.bg</a>','Video: Ring Road','','inherit','open','open','','4894-autosave','','','2011-05-09 20:09:17','2011-05-09 18:09:17','',4894,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/09/4894-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(4904,1,'2011-05-09 20:03:32','2011-05-09 18:03:32','I saw this very clever and very funny video this weekend. Since then I\'ve watched it a couple of times in an open tab in my browser because I think it\'s so funny and upbeat. And I didn\'t want to forget to write about it. \r\n\r\nThat happens sometimes.\r\n\r\nAfter watching the clip three (<em>or more</em>) times I am afraid it might only be funny because it\'s related to life in Sofia. Making it Sofia humor. Maybe I\'m wrong. \r\n\r\nI think the sound track, the fact that it\'s being shot from a moving car and pacing of the whole thing really makes the video-clip. The song starts like it might be Ace of Base (which is probably another reason I secretly like it) but no. It\'s not. I don\'t know who it is but basic words are: no one can resist the desire to escape to paradise. That part makes me giggle.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<iframe src=\"http://player.vimeo.com/video/23412531?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe><p><a href=\"http://vimeo.com/23412531\">Ring Road</a> from <a href=\"http://vimeo.com/rado\">radoslav sharapanov</a> on <a href=\"http://vimeo.com\">Vimeo</a>.</p>\r\n\r\nNow that you\'ve watched the video (you have haven\'t you!?), you\'ve seen the view from the Ring Road in Sofia--hopefully you payed attention to the building-scape in the background. It\'s bloc-building Sofia in a nutshell. \r\n\r\nSo if the name doesn\'t say it all the Ring Road is supposed to encircle the city to ease up on traffic in the city. In practice, I am not sure that it really makes much of a difference. Traffic in the city and on the Ring Road is pretty stop-and-go. In fact, in my memory there are very few times were I\'ve been able to drive (well, ride) steadily and uninterrupted on the Ring Road. Paradise it is not.\r\n\r\nIt makes me wonder what time of day this clip was filmed.\r\n\r\nAnyhow, here\'s to the creator: <a href=\"http://vimeo.com/23412531\">radoslav sharapanov</a>. Great job!','Video: Ring Road','','inherit','open','open','','4894-revision-9','','','2011-05-09 20:03:32','2011-05-09 18:03:32','',4894,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/09/4894-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(4906,1,'2011-05-10 05:57:52','2011-05-10 03:57:52','','H','','inherit','open','open','','4905-revision','','','2011-05-10 05:57:52','2011-05-10 03:57:52','',4905,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/10/4905-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4907,1,'2011-05-12 17:34:37','2011-05-12 15:34:37','I stumbled across an article about <a href=\"http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=128072&amp;utm_source\" target=\"_blank\">Bulgarians studying and earning university degrees abroad</a>.  This is of course a topic that interests me. I teach in a high school in Bulgaria and I worked in higher education in the States.\n\nIt\'s been clear to me since I moved to Bulgaria three years ago that as a Bulgarian student if you can, you study abroad. At my high school for example, I would guess that 95% (or more) of our students study in the US, the UK or Europe. Our students just simply don\'t stay in Bulgaria for university.\n\nIn my mind this happens for two major reasons. The perception is that you can get a better education abroad <em>and</em> there is a sense that are more opportunities in the long term for students who are educated in Western Europe and America.\n\nApparently, more than half of Bulgarian students are interested in studying outside of Bulgaria and apply to foreign schools.  That\'s a huge number. The article doesn\'t make it clear how many percentage wise actually end up abroad and how many of these students actually earn degrees but the numbers are big enough to give you pause.\n\nIf 50% of Bulgarian students are applying abroad, what does this say about the state of higher education in Bulgaria? And what does this suggest about student\'s faith in the system?\n\nHowever instead of addressing this questions, the article took an interesting albeit surprising turn.\n\n&nbsp;','Higher Eduction in Bulgaria ','','inherit','open','open','','4905-revision-2','','','2011-05-12 17:34:37','2011-05-12 15:34:37','',4905,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/12/4905-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4908,1,'2011-05-12 17:37:37','2011-05-12 15:37:37','I stumbled across an article about <a href=\"http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=128072&amp;utm_source\" target=\"_blank\">Bulgarians studying and earning university degrees abroad</a>.  This is of course a topic that interests me. I teach in a high school in Bulgaria and I worked in higher education in the States.\n\nIt\'s been clear to me since I moved to Bulgaria three years ago that as a Bulgarian student if you can, you study abroad. At my high school for example, I would guess that 95% (or more) of our students study in the US, the UK or Europe. Our students just simply don\'t stay in Bulgaria for university.\n\nIn my mind this happens for two major reasons. The perception is that you can get a better education abroad <em>and</em> there is a sense that are more opportunities in the long term for students who are educated in Western Europe and America.\n\nApparently, more than half of Bulgarian students are interested in studying outside of Bulgaria and apply to foreign schools.  That\'s a huge number. The article doesn\'t make it clear how many percentage wise actually end up abroad and how many of these students actually earn degrees but the numbers are big enough to give you pause.\n\nIf 50% of Bulgarian students are applying abroad, what does this say about the state of higher education in Bulgaria? And what does this suggest about student\'s faith in the system?\n\nHowever instead of addressing this questions, the article took an interesting albeit surprising turn.\n<blockquote>Bulgaria\'s Education Minister Sergey Ignatov, a former President of the New Bulgarian University in Sofia, the largest private Bulgarian university, stated that Bulgarian universities should be able to start opening branches abroad in order to attract more foreign students.\n\n\"Bulgaria can contribute a lot in terms of intellectual and educational product, and it is about time that we start thinking about the Bulgarian lobby abroad. Higher education is also a business; we cannot expect that it will bring us a rain of gold in the future years but we shouldn\'t neglect it,\" Ignatov stated.</blockquote>\nHow is this supposed to help solve the problem?\n\n&nbsp;','Higher Eduction in Bulgaria ','','inherit','open','open','','4905-revision-3','','','2011-05-12 17:37:37','2011-05-12 15:37:37','',4905,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/12/4905-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(4909,1,'2011-05-12 17:48:45','2011-05-12 15:48:45','I stumbled across an article about <a href=\"http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=128072&amp;utm_source\" target=\"_blank\">Bulgarians studying and earning university degrees abroad</a>.  This is of course a topic that interests me. I teach in a high school in Bulgaria and I worked in higher education in the States.\r\n\r\nIt\'s been clear to me since I moved to Bulgaria three years ago that as a Bulgarian student if you can, you study abroad. At my high school for example, I would guess that 95% (or more) of our students study in the US, the UK or Europe. Our students just simply don\'t stay in Bulgaria for university.\r\n\r\nIn my mind this happens for two major reasons. The perception is that you can get a better education abroad <em>and</em> there is a sense that are more opportunities in the long term for students who are educated in Western Europe and America.\r\n\r\nApparently, more than half of Bulgarian students are interested in studying outside of Bulgaria and apply to foreign schools.  That\'s a huge number. The article doesn\'t make it clear how many percentage wise actually end up abroad and how many of these students actually earn degrees but the numbers are big enough to give you pause.\r\n\r\nIf 50% of Bulgarian students are applying abroad, what does this say about the state of higher education in Bulgaria? And what does this suggest about student\'s faith in the system?\r\n\r\nHowever instead of addressing this questions, the article took an interesting albeit surprising turn:\r\n<blockquote>Bulgaria\'s Education Minister Sergey Ignatov, a former President of the New Bulgarian University in Sofia, the largest private Bulgarian university, stated that Bulgarian universities should be able to start opening branches abroad in order to attract more foreign students.\r\n\r\n\"Bulgaria can contribute a lot in terms of intellectual and educational product, and it is about time that we start thinking about the Bulgarian lobby abroad. Higher education is also a business; we cannot expect that it will bring us a rain of gold in the future years but we shouldn\'t neglect it,\" Ignatov stated.</blockquote>\r\n<em>What?!</em> How is this supposed to help solve the problem?\r\n\r\nYes, education is a business but if your own countrymen and women don\'t like what you\'re offering and are seeking educations abroad how is opening branches of un-popular school going to change things?\r\n\r\nSo as I see it here\'s the problem in a nutshell: Bulgarian students don\'t like Bulgarian schools and are applying elsewhere but the Education Ministry likes the schools and is suggesting that the solution is open branches abroad.\r\n\r\nGiven this problem, I would have been looking inward at the education system rather than outward but that\'s just me.\r\n\r\nThoughts? Am I missing something?','Higher Eduction in Bulgaria ','','inherit','open','open','','4905-revision-4','','','2011-05-12 17:48:45','2011-05-12 15:48:45','',4905,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/12/4905-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(4910,1,'2011-05-12 17:49:54','2011-05-12 15:49:54','I stumbled across an article about <a href=\"http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=128072&amp;utm_source\" target=\"_blank\">Bulgarians studying and earning university degrees abroad</a>.  This is of course a topic that interests me. I teach in a high school in Bulgaria and I worked in higher education in the States.\n\nIt\'s been clear to me since I moved to Bulgaria three years ago that as a Bulgarian student if you can, you study abroad. At my high school for example, I would guess that 95% (or more) of our students study in the US, the UK or Europe. Our students just simply don\'t stay in Bulgaria for university.\n\nIn my mind this happens for two major reasons. The perception is that you can get a better education abroad <em>and</em> there is a sense that are more opportunities in the long term for students who are educated in Western Europe and America.\n\nApparently, more than half of Bulgarian students are interested in studying outside of Bulgaria and apply to foreign schools.  That\'s a huge number. The article doesn\'t make it clear how many percentage wise actually end up abroad and how many of these students actually earn degrees but the numbers are big enough to give you pause.\n\nIf 50% of Bulgarian students are applying abroad, what does this say about the state of higher education in Bulgaria? And what does this suggest about student\'s faith in the system?\n\nHowever instead of addressing this questions, the article took an interesting albeit surprising turn:\n<blockquote>Bulgaria\'s Education Minister Sergey Ignatov, a former President of the New Bulgarian University in Sofia, the largest private Bulgarian university, stated that Bulgarian universities should be able to start opening branches abroad in order to attract more foreign students.\n\n\"Bulgaria can contribute a lot in terms of intellectual and educational product, and it is about time that we start thinking about the Bulgarian lobby abroad. Higher education is also a business; we cannot expect that it will bring us a rain of gold in the future years but we shouldn\'t neglect it,\" Ignatov stated.</blockquote>\n<em>What?!</em> How is this supposed to help solve the problem?\n\nYes, education is a business but if your own countrymen and women don\'t like what you\'re offering and are seeking educations abroad how is opening branches of un-popular school going to change things?\n\nSo as I see it here\'s the problem in a nutshell: Bulgarian students don\'t like Bulgarian schools and are applying elsewhere but the Education Ministry likes the schools and is suggesting that the solution is open branches abroad.\n\nGiven this problem, I would have been looking inward at the education system rather than outward but that\'s just me.\n\nThoughts? Am I missing something?','Higher Eduction in Bulgaria ','','inherit','open','open','','4905-revision-5','','','2011-05-12 17:49:54','2011-05-12 15:49:54','',4905,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/12/4905-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(4911,1,'2011-05-13 07:15:37','2011-05-13 05:15:37','I stumbled across an article about <a href=\"http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=128072&amp;utm_source\" target=\"_blank\">Bulgarians studying and earning university degrees abroad</a>.  This is of course a topic that interests me. I teach in a high school in Bulgaria and I worked in higher education in the States.\n\nIt\'s been clear to me since I moved to Bulgaria three years ago that as a Bulgarian student if you can, you study abroad. At my high school for example, I would guess that 95% (or more) of our students study in the US, the UK or Europe. Our students just simply don\'t stay in Bulgaria for university.\n\nIn my mind this happens for two major reasons. The perception is that you can get a better education abroad <em>and</em> there is a sense that are more opportunities in the long term for students who are educated in Western Europe and America.\n\nApparently, more than half of Bulgarian students are interested in studying outside of Bulgaria and apply to foreign schools.  That\'s a huge number. The article doesn\'t make it clear how many percentage wise actually end up abroad and how many of these students actually earn degrees but the numbers are big enough to give you pause.\n\nIf 50% of Bulgarian students are applying abroad, what does this say about the state of higher education in Bulgaria? What does this suggest about student\'s faith in the system? And what can be done?<!--more-->\n\nHowever instead of addressing this questions, the article took an interesting albeit surprising turn:\n<blockquote>Bulgaria\'s Education Minister Sergey Ignatov, a former President of the New Bulgarian University in Sofia, the largest private Bulgarian university, stated that Bulgarian universities should be able to start opening branches abroad in order to attract more foreign students.\n\n\"Bulgaria can contribute a lot in terms of intellectual and educational product, and it is about time that we start thinking about the Bulgarian lobby abroad. Higher education is also a business; we cannot expect that it will bring us a rain of gold in the future years but we shouldn\'t neglect it,\" Ignatov stated.</blockquote>\n<em>What?!</em> How is this supposed to help solve the problem?\n\nYes, education is a business but if your own countrymen and women don\'t like what you\'re offering and are seeking educations abroad how is opening branches of un-popular school going to change things?\n\nSo as I see it here\'s the problem in a nutshell: Bulgarian students don\'t like Bulgarian schools and are applying elsewhere but the Education Ministry likes the schools and is suggesting that the solution is open branches abroad.\n\nGiven this problem, I would have been looking inward at the education system rather than outward but that\'s just me.\n\nThoughts? Am I missing something?','Higher Eduction in Bulgaria ','','inherit','open','open','','4905-autosave','','','2011-05-13 07:15:37','2011-05-13 05:15:37','',4905,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/12/4905-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(4913,1,'2011-05-13 11:08:50','2011-05-13 09:08:50','Wow. Sometimes all of the great things happen at once.\n\nThe sun is out today and I am not sitting in my classroom freezing and cursing the rain. I have two sets of quizzes left to grade and a quick set of homework to check and then I\'ll actually be caught up on all of my grading. Meaning, I wont have to grade anything this weekend (nor will I have to feel guilty about not grading anything).\n\nMoreover, tomorrow I am buying myself a smart phone. (Happy early birthday to me!) And on Saturday evening, I am going to round up some friends to go and check out the night of museums in Sofia. Museums all over the city are going to be open after hours <em>and</em> free for the night.\n\nThe Sofia Echo ran <a title=\"Sofia Echo\" href=\"http://sofiaecho.com/2011/05/13/1088590_a-night-at-the-museum\" target=\"_blank\">an article about the event this morning</a>.\n<blockquote>Museum and gallery hours rarely co-operate with the hectic schedule of one\'s life, but once a year, the busy schedule cannot serve as an excuse to stay away. As in previous years, Bulgaria will join the European Night of the Museums and Galleries on May 14 2011, with 60 venues throughout the country hosting impressive, creative and lively performances and exhibitions. Entrance to all events is free.</blockquote>\nSounds great to me. I love museums and I love free.\n\nOne spot on my list to check out is the Sofia City Gallery.  I\'ve just really like nearly every exhibit that I\'ve seen there and right now there is an exhibit which is part of the <a title=\"Paper Arts Fest\" href=\"http://www.amateras.eu/foudation/home3.html\" target=\"_blank\">Sofia Paper Art Fest 2011</a> called<a title=\"In Harmony with Nature\" href=\"http://www.sghg.bg/newsite/index.php?module=exhibitions&amp;lg=en\" target=\"_blank\"> In Harmony with Nature</a>.\n\nThoughts? Where are you headed? Which museums and galleries will you check out?','A Night of Museums in Sofia ','','inherit','open','open','','4912-revision','','','2011-05-13 11:08:50','2011-05-13 09:08:50','',4912,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/13/4912-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4914,1,'2011-05-13 11:11:00','2011-05-13 09:11:00','Wow. Sometimes all of the great things happen at once.\n\nThe sun is out today and I am not sitting in my classroom freezing and cursing the rain. I have two sets of quizzes left to grade and a quick set of homework to check and then I\'ll actually be caught up on all of my grading. Meaning, I wont have to grade anything this weekend (nor will I have to feel guilty about not grading anything).\n\nMoreover, tomorrow I am buying myself a smart phone. (Happy early birthday to me!) And on Saturday evening, I am going to round up some friends to go and check out the night of museums in Sofia. Museums all over the city are going to be open after hours <em>and</em> free for the night.\n\nThe Sofia Echo ran <a title=\"Sofia Echo\" href=\"http://sofiaecho.com/2011/05/13/1088590_a-night-at-the-museum\" target=\"_blank\">an article about the event this morning</a>.\n<blockquote>Museum and gallery hours rarely co-operate with the hectic schedule of one\'s life, but once a year, the busy schedule cannot serve as an excuse to stay away. As in previous years, Bulgaria will join the European Night of the Museums and Galleries on May 14 2011, with 60 venues throughout the country hosting impressive, creative and lively performances and exhibitions. Entrance to all events is free.</blockquote>\nSounds great to me. I love museums and I love free.\n\nOne spot on my list to check out is the Sofia City Gallery.  I\'ve just really like nearly every exhibit that I\'ve seen there and right now there is an exhibit which is part of the <a title=\"Paper Arts Fest\" href=\"http://www.amateras.eu/foudation/home3.html\" target=\"_blank\">Sofia Paper Art Fest 2011</a> called<a title=\"In Harmony with Nature\" href=\"http://www.sghg.bg/newsite/index.php?module=exhibitions&amp;lg=en\" target=\"_blank\"> In Harmony with Nature</a>.\n\nThoughts? Where are you headed? Which museums and galleries will you check out?','A Night of Museums in Sofia ','','inherit','open','open','','4912-autosave','','','2011-05-13 11:11:00','2011-05-13 09:11:00','',4912,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/13/4912-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(4988,1,'2011-05-26 21:16:30','2011-05-26 19:16:30','Thassos is a beautiful island.\r\n\r\nA <em>really</em> beautiful island.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4991\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"The Ocean\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4991\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/26/its-official-im-in-love-with-thassos/dsc02545/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4991 \" title=\"The Ocean\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02545-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI went this past week with friends. As teachers we had two days off to celebrate the creators of the Cyrillic alphabet. Technically these days were Tuesday and Wednesday but then the Bulgarian government gave the country Monday off as well so all of a sudden we had a five day weekend.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4989\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Beach Chairs\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4989\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/26/its-official-im-in-love-with-thassos/dsc02540/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4989 \" title=\"Beach Chairs\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02540-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNot bad. Not bad at all. We had great weather and great food.\r\n\r\n<em>Even better? </em>Much of the country will be making the Monday holiday up this Saturday as the Bulgarian government made Saturday a work day but I don\'t have to work on Saturday either!! Sometimes I can\'t believe how lucky I am.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4990\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"The Beach\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4990\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/26/its-official-im-in-love-with-thassos/dsc02541/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4990 \" title=\"The Beach\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02541-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnyhow, my Thassos holiday was fantastic. Everything I hoped for and more and that\'s saying a lot.\r\n\r\nThe only thing is that now I am tired after the five-day long holiday. Work was busy today. I had a lot to catch up on. So this is a short, short post today as I am off to bed.','It\'s official: I\'m in love with Thassos','','publish','open','open','','its-official-im-in-love-with-thassos','','','2011-05-26 21:16:30','2011-05-26 19:16:30','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=4988',0,'post','',1),(4916,1,'2011-05-14 09:37:59','0000-00-00 00:00:00','I have to say, writing a blog is great fun. It gives me a place and a space to record and to track my thoughts/ideas/concerns/insights while living abroad. I\'ve learned a ton from my readers through their comments--both positive and negative. I\'ve explored the city, shamelessly taken a ton of photos and otherwise chronicled my life on this blog.\n\nI didn\'t expect that it would be so much fun.\n\nThe part that I think is especially fun it meeting up with my readers. And May is apparently the month for this--between this week and next week I\'ll have met up with','Blog Friends ','','draft','open','open','','','','','2011-05-14 09:37:59','2011-05-14 07:37:59','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=4916',0,'post','',0),(4917,1,'2011-05-14 18:09:55','2011-05-14 16:09:55','Dear <a title=\"Mtel\" href=\"http://www.mtel.bg/index.php?\" target=\"_blank\">MTel</a>,\r\n\r\nToday, I had three things on my to-do list. First, have coffee with a friend. Second, buy a smartphone. The iphone 4 if we\'re going to be specific. Third, make a reservation for my birthday dinner. It turns out I was unable to complete my to-do list today. I made a reservation for my birthday dinner in person at the vegetarian restaurant Sun and Moon in under 10 minutes and that includes picking out the kinds of salads my friends will be greeted with on the table. I also had a lovely coffee in the park with my friend P.\r\n\r\nBut I was not able to buy a smartphone today and so my life carries on with my simple phone. The phone that I have kindly and fittingly named after <a href=\"http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2011/04/wild-animal-simple-dog-goes-for-joy.html\" target=\"_blank\">Simple Dog</a> one of the stars of the blog Hyperbole and a Half. A phone that cannot take a picture and can just barely text message.\r\n\r\nIt\'s not for a lack of trying that I didn\'t buy a smartphone today.\r\n\r\nA month and a half ago, I started doing some research on the matter of <a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/21/thoughts-buying-a-smartphone-in-bulgaria/\" target=\"_blank\">buying a smartphone in Bulgaria and iphone vs android platform</a>. Two weeks ago, I finally decided to buy the iphone 4 and after taking 400 leva a day every other day out of my US bank account so that my bank wouldn\'t freeze my account/debit card (which they like to do based on activity they find suspect), I finally had enough money to make my purchase.\r\n\r\nI marched in Mtel today (the one at Graf Ignativ and Rakovski) ready to buy my new phone. The first thing I proceeded to do was to set off an alarm on less-than-smartphones on display by trying to pick one up and look at it. For the record, it\'s an awfully loud alarm for such uninteresting telephones and why are the phones out for display if you can\'t actually hold them and look at them.  Everyone in the store looked at me with disdain from their vantage point in a lengthy line, while the sales clerk ambled over to glare at me and turn off the alarm.\r\n\r\nThe second thing I got to do was stand in line for 25 minutes before I was finally able to inquire about buying the iphone. Mind you there were only two people in front of me. That was pretty boring. Especially when it\'s clear that it\'s not encouraged for you to look at (or touch) the other phones on display while waiting.\r\n\r\nWhen I finally got to the front of the line, I was really happy. I communicated everything that I needed to the sales clerk in Bulgarian. What I wanted. My current phone number. Which color phone I wanted (black). That I was happy to buy a plan. And then I handed over my Bulgarian ID card. The clerk took it and left for a long time.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nThen he came back and told me that I cannot buy the iphone because my identification card expires in three months.  Um. Okay. I told him that I will be working at the American College of Sofia next year too and that I really want the iphone. He told me that I had to have the right documents. Awesome. Needless to say, my Bulgarian is not good enough to sweet talk anyone into bending the rules for me. So I left the store crestfallen, without my new smartphone (which I\'ve been looking forward to for a whole month) and with 1200+ leva in my wallet.\r\n\r\nOn my walk to the metro, I started thinking about how absurd this whole thing is. Sure I understand why as a company you don\'t want to sell a phone that requires a monthly plan to someone who is traveling but I actually live in Sofia. I have an ID card and a bank account to prove it. But as a foreigner this is what happens: you live one year at a time in the country given the process for work permits and visas.\r\n\r\nYes, this means that I have an expiration date attached to me but it doesn\'t mean that I shouldn\'t be able to buy, use and enjoy having a smartphone.\r\n\r\nThe funny thing is this afternoon I walked into the store with enough cash to be able to buy the phone (at 949 leva) and as it turns out enough cash to also be able to pay for the monthly plan for the entire year (at 25.90 a month for 12 months)--not that I was expecting to do that it just happens when you withdraw leva in increments of 400.  I walked out with exactly the same amount of money I walked in with and you missed out on a big sale today.\r\n\r\nI assume your policy has something to do with the idea that you think you\'re securing yourself against someone who might skip out on their contract. This said, it seems like you could do the same thing with say, my credit card number. Heck you can probably protect yourself better with my credit card number than with the expiration date on my identification card.\r\n\r\nI might also remind you that in paying up front 949 leva I am paying twice as much for the actual phone as I would pay in the States. Sure the difference comes out in wash given the fact that a monthly contract in the States is three times as much as it is in Bulgaria. But really, if I was leaving in three months never to return to Bulgaria, I would never be buying a smartphone in Bulgaria. The numbers just don\'t make sense.\r\n\r\nSo here we are. You sell smartphones and I want to buy a smartphone. Match made in heaven, <em>right</em>?! Only neither one of us got what we wanted today. We\'re at an impasse.\r\n\r\nAt this point, I guess I\'ll continue to rock my simple phone and my pre-pay plan. And maybe in August when I\'ve got my new identification card and I am back from a month in the States I\'ll think about buying a smartphone and a plan from you. Or maybe not. Maybe I\'ll pick up a phone in the States in July, have it unlocked and just go for the data plan instead. And maybe I won\'t feel the need to stick with Mtel when this happens.\r\n\r\nThanks for nothing.\r\n\r\nCarolyn\r\n\r\nOh and while I am on the subject, it\'s totally lame that your website redesign eliminated English as a language option. Your competitors all have BG/EG options on their websites.','Still rocking my simple phone, smartphone be damned','','publish','open','open','','still-rocking-my-simple-phone-smartphone-be-damned','','','2011-05-14 18:09:55','2011-05-14 16:09:55','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=4917',0,'post','',10),(4918,1,'2011-05-14 18:03:42','2011-05-14 16:03:42','Dear MTel,\n\nToday, I had three things on my to-do list. First, have coffee with a friend. Second, buy a smartphone. The iphone 4 if we\'re going to be specific. Third, make a reservation for my birthday dinner. It turns out I was unable to complete my to-do list today. I made a reservation for my birthday dinner in person at the vegetarian restaurant Sun and Moon in under 10 minutes and that includes picking out the kinds of salads my friends will be greeted with on the table. I also had a lovely coffee in the park with my friend P.\n\nBut I was not able to buy a smartphone today and so my life carries on with my simple phone. The phone that I have kindly and fittingly named after <a href=\"http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2011/04/wild-animal-simple-dog-goes-for-joy.html\" target=\"_blank\">Simple Dog</a> one of the stars of the blog Hyperbole and a Half. A phone that cannot take a picture and can just barely text message.\n\nIt\'s not for a lack of trying that I didn\'t buy a smartphone today.\n\nA month and a half ago, I started doing some research on the matter of <a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/21/thoughts-buying-a-smartphone-in-bulgaria/\" target=\"_blank\">buying a smartphone in Bulgaria and iphone vs android platform</a>. Two weeks ago, I finally decided to buy the iphone 4 and after taking 400 leva a day every other day out of my US bank account so that my bank wouldn\'t freeze my account/debit card (which they like to do based on activity they find suspect), I finally had enough money to make my purchase.\n\nI marched in Mtel today (the one at Graf Ignativ and Rakovski) ready to buy my new phone. The first thing I proceeded to do was to set off an alarm on less-than-smartphones on display by trying to pick one up and look at it. For the record, it\'s an awfully loud alarm for such uninteresting telephones and why are the phones out for display if you can\'t actually hold them and look at them.  Everyone in the store looked at me with disdain from their vantage point in a lengthy line, while the sales clerk ambled over to glare at me and turn off the alarm.\n\nThe second thing I got to do was stand in line for 25 minutes before I was finally able to inquire about buying the iphone. Mind you there were only two people in front of me. That was pretty boring. Especially when it\'s clear that it\'s not encouraged for you to look at (or touch) the other phones on display while waiting.\n\nWhen I finally got to the front of the line, I was really happy. I communicated everything that I needed to the sales clerk in Bulgarian. What I wanted. My current phone number. Which color phone I wanted (black). That I was happy to buy a plan. And then I handed over my Bulgarian ID card. The clerk took it and left for a long time.\n\nThen he came back and told me that I cannot buy the iphone because my identification card expires in three months.  Um. Okay. I told him that I will be working at the American College of Sofia next year too and that I really want the iphone. He told me that I had to have the right documents. Awesome. Needless to say, my Bulgarian is not good enough to sweet talk anyone into bending the rules for me. So I left the store crestfallen, without my new smartphone (which I\'ve been looking forward to for a whole month) and with 1200+ leva in my wallet.\n\nOn my walk to the metro, I started thinking about how absurd this whole thing is. Sure I understand why as a company you don\'t want to sell a phone that requires a monthly plan to someone who is traveling but I actually live in Sofia. I have an ID card and a bank account to prove it. But as a foreigner this is what happens: you live one year at a time in the country given the process for work permits and visas.\n\nYes, this means that I have an expiration date attached to me but it doesn\'t mean that I shouldn\'t be able to buy, use and enjoy having a smartphone.\n\nThe funny thing is this afternoon I walked into the store with enough cash to be able to buy the phone (at 949 leva) and as it turns out enough cash to also be able to pay for the monthly plan for the entire year (at 25.90 a month for 12 months)--not that I was expecting to do that it just happens when you withdraw leva in increments of 400.  I walked out with exactly the same amount of money I walked in with and you missed out on a big sale today.\n\nI assume your policy has something to do with the idea that you think you\'re securing yourself against someone who might skip out on their contract. This said, it seems like you could do the same thing with say, my credit card number. Heck you can probably protect yourself better with my credit card number than with the expiration date on my identification card.\n\nI might also remind you that in paying up front 949 leva I am paying twice as much for the actual phone as I would pay in the States. Sure the difference comes out in wash given the fact that a monthly contract in the States is three times as much as it is in Bulgaria. But really, if I was leaving in three months never to return to Bulgaria, I would never be buying a smartphone in Bulgaria. The numbers just don\'t make sense.\n\nSo here we are. You sell smartphones and I want to buy a smartphone. Match made in heaven, <em>right</em>?! Only neither one of us got what we wanted today. We\'re at an impasse.\n\nAt this point, I guess I\'ll continue to rock my simple phone and my pre-pay plan. And maybe in August when I\'ve got my new identification card and I am back from a month in the States I\'ll think about buying a smartphone and a plan from you. Or maybe not. Maybe I\'ll pick up a phone in the States in July, have it unlocked and just go for the data plan instead. And maybe I won\'t feel the need to stick with Mtel when this happens.\n\nThanks for nothing.\n\nCarolyn\n\nOh and while I am on the subject, it\'s totally lame that your website redesign eliminated English as a language option. Your competitors all have BG/EG options on their websites.','Still rocking my simple phone, smartphone be damned','','inherit','open','open','','4917-revision','','','2011-05-14 18:03:42','2011-05-14 16:03:42','',4917,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/14/4917-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4919,1,'2011-05-14 18:03:56','2011-05-14 16:03:56','Dear MTel,\r\n\r\nToday, I had three things on my to-do list. First, have coffee with a friend. Second, buy a smartphone. The iphone 4 if we\'re going to be specific. Third, make a reservation for my birthday dinner. It turns out I was unable to complete my to-do list today. I made a reservation for my birthday dinner in person at the vegetarian restaurant Sun and Moon in under 10 minutes and that includes picking out the kinds of salads my friends will be greeted with on the table. I also had a lovely coffee in the park with my friend P.\r\n\r\nBut I was not able to buy a smartphone today and so my life carries on with my simple phone. The phone that I have kindly and fittingly named after <a href=\"http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2011/04/wild-animal-simple-dog-goes-for-joy.html\" target=\"_blank\">Simple Dog</a> one of the stars of the blog Hyperbole and a Half. A phone that cannot take a picture and can just barely text message.\r\n\r\nIt\'s not for a lack of trying that I didn\'t buy a smartphone today.\r\n\r\nA month and a half ago, I started doing some research on the matter of <a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/21/thoughts-buying-a-smartphone-in-bulgaria/\" target=\"_blank\">buying a smartphone in Bulgaria and iphone vs android platform</a>. Two weeks ago, I finally decided to buy the iphone 4 and after taking 400 leva a day every other day out of my US bank account so that my bank wouldn\'t freeze my account/debit card (which they like to do based on activity they find suspect), I finally had enough money to make my purchase.\r\n\r\nI marched in Mtel today (the one at Graf Ignativ and Rakovski) ready to buy my new phone. The first thing I proceeded to do was to set off an alarm on less-than-smartphones on display by trying to pick one up and look at it. For the record, it\'s an awfully loud alarm for such uninteresting telephones and why are the phones out for display if you can\'t actually hold them and look at them.  Everyone in the store looked at me with disdain from their vantage point in a lengthy line, while the sales clerk ambled over to glare at me and turn off the alarm.\r\n\r\nThe second thing I got to do was stand in line for 25 minutes before I was finally able to inquire about buying the iphone. Mind you there were only two people in front of me. That was pretty boring. Especially when it\'s clear that it\'s not encouraged for you to look at (or touch) the other phones on display while waiting.\r\n\r\nWhen I finally got to the front of the line, I was really happy. I communicated everything that I needed to the sales clerk in Bulgarian. What I wanted. My current phone number. Which color phone I wanted (black). That I was happy to buy a plan. And then I handed over my Bulgarian ID card. The clerk took it and left for a long time.\r\n\r\nThen he came back and told me that I cannot buy the iphone because my identification card expires in three months.  Um. Okay. I told him that I will be working at the American College of Sofia next year too and that I really want the iphone. He told me that I had to have the right documents. Awesome. Needless to say, my Bulgarian is not good enough to sweet talk anyone into bending the rules for me. So I left the store crestfallen, without my new smartphone (which I\'ve been looking forward to for a whole month) and with 1200+ leva in my wallet.\r\n\r\nOn my walk to the metro, I started thinking about how absurd this whole thing is. Sure I understand why as a company you don\'t want to sell a phone that requires a monthly plan to someone who is traveling but I actually live in Sofia. I have an ID card and a bank account to prove it. But as a foreigner this is what happens: you live one year at a time in the country given the process for work permits and visas.\r\n\r\nYes, this means that I have an expiration date attached to me but it doesn\'t mean that I shouldn\'t be able to buy, use and enjoy having a smartphone.\r\n\r\nThe funny thing is this afternoon I walked into the store with enough cash to be able to buy the phone (at 949 leva) and as it turns out enough cash to also be able to pay for the monthly plan for the entire year (at 25.90 a month for 12 months)--not that I was expecting to do that it just happens when you withdraw leva in increments of 400.  I walked out with exactly the same amount of money I walked in with and you missed out on a big sale today.\r\n\r\nI assume your policy has something to do with the idea that you think you\'re securing yourself against someone who might skip out on their contract. This said, it seems like you could do the same thing with say, my credit card number. Heck you can probably protect yourself better with my credit card number than with the expiration date on my identification card.\r\n\r\nI might also remind you that in paying up front 949 leva I am paying twice as much for the actual phone as I would pay in the States. Sure the difference comes out in wash given the fact that a monthly contract in the States is three times as much as it is in Bulgaria. But really, if I was leaving in three months never to return to Bulgaria, I would never be buying a smartphone in Bulgaria. The numbers just don\'t make sense.\r\n\r\nSo here we are. You sell smartphones and I want to buy a smartphone. Match made in heaven, <em>right</em>?! Only neither one of us got what we wanted today. We\'re at an impasse.\r\n\r\nAt this point, I guess I\'ll continue to rock my simple phone and my pre-pay plan. And maybe in August when I\'ve got my new identification card and I am back from a month in the States I\'ll think about buying a smartphone and a plan from you. Or maybe not. Maybe I\'ll pick up a phone in the States in July, have it unlocked and just go for the data plan instead. And maybe I won\'t feel the need to stick with Mtel when this happens.\r\n\r\nThanks for nothing.\r\n\r\nCarolyn\r\n\r\nOh and while I am on the subject, it\'s totally lame that your website redesign eliminated English as a language option. Your competitors all have BG/EG options on their websites.','Still rocking my simple phone, smartphone be damned','','inherit','open','open','','4917-revision-2','','','2011-05-14 18:03:56','2011-05-14 16:03:56','',4917,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/14/4917-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4920,1,'2011-05-14 18:06:04','2011-05-14 16:06:04','Dear MTel,\n\nToday, I had three things on my to-do list. First, have coffee with a friend. Second, buy a smartphone. The iphone 4 if we\'re going to be specific. Third, make a reservation for my birthday dinner. It turns out I was unable to complete my to-do list today. I made a reservation for my birthday dinner in person at the vegetarian restaurant Sun and Moon in under 10 minutes and that includes picking out the kinds of salads my friends will be greeted with on the table. I also had a lovely coffee in the park with my friend P.\n\nBut I was not able to buy a smartphone today and so my life carries on with my simple phone. The phone that I have kindly and fittingly named after <a href=\"http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2011/04/wild-animal-simple-dog-goes-for-joy.html\" target=\"_blank\">Simple Dog</a> one of the stars of the blog Hyperbole and a Half. A phone that cannot take a picture and can just barely text message.\n\nIt\'s not for a lack of trying that I didn\'t buy a smartphone today.\n\nA month and a half ago, I started doing some research on the matter of <a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/21/thoughts-buying-a-smartphone-in-bulgaria/\" target=\"_blank\">buying a smartphone in Bulgaria and iphone vs android platform</a>. Two weeks ago, I finally decided to buy the iphone 4 and after taking 400 leva a day every other day out of my US bank account so that my bank wouldn\'t freeze my account/debit card (which they like to do based on activity they find suspect), I finally had enough money to make my purchase.\n\nI marched in Mtel today (the one at Graf Ignativ and Rakovski) ready to buy my new phone. The first thing I proceeded to do was to set off an alarm on less-than-smartphones on display by trying to pick one up and look at it. For the record, it\'s an awfully loud alarm for such uninteresting telephones and why are the phones out for display if you can\'t actually hold them and look at them.  Everyone in the store looked at me with disdain from their vantage point in a lengthy line, while the sales clerk ambled over to glare at me and turn off the alarm.\n\nThe second thing I got to do was stand in line for 25 minutes before I was finally able to inquire about buying the iphone. Mind you there were only two people in front of me. That was pretty boring. Especially when it\'s clear that it\'s not encouraged for you to look at (or touch) the other phones on display while waiting.\n\nWhen I finally got to the front of the line, I was really happy. I communicated everything that I needed to the sales clerk in Bulgarian. What I wanted. My current phone number. Which color phone I wanted (black). That I was happy to buy a plan. And then I handed over my Bulgarian ID card. The clerk took it and left for a long time.<!--more-->\n\nThen he came back and told me that I cannot buy the iphone because my identification card expires in three months.  Um. Okay. I told him that I will be working at the American College of Sofia next year too and that I really want the iphone. He told me that I had to have the right documents. Awesome. Needless to say, my Bulgarian is not good enough to sweet talk anyone into bending the rules for me. So I left the store crestfallen, without my new smartphone (which I\'ve been looking forward to for a whole month) and with 1200+ leva in my wallet.\n\nOn my walk to the metro, I started thinking about how absurd this whole thing is. Sure I understand why as a company you don\'t want to sell a phone that requires a monthly plan to someone who is traveling but I actually live in Sofia. I have an ID card and a bank account to prove it. But as a foreigner this is what happens: you live one year at a time in the country given the process for work permits and visas.\n\nYes, this means that I have an expiration date attached to me but it doesn\'t mean that I shouldn\'t be able to buy, use and enjoy having a smartphone.\n\nThe funny thing is this afternoon I walked into the store with enough cash to be able to buy the phone (at 949 leva) and as it turns out enough cash to also be able to pay for the monthly plan for the entire year (at 25.90 a month for 12 months)--not that I was expecting to do that it just happens when you withdraw leva in increments of 400.  I walked out with exactly the same amount of money I walked in with and you missed out on a big sale today.\n\nI assume your policy has something to do with the idea that you think you\'re securing yourself against someone who might skip out on their contract. This said, it seems like you could do the same thing with say, my credit card number. Heck you can probably protect yourself better with my credit card number than with the expiration date on my identification card.\n\nI might also remind you that in paying up front 949 leva I am paying twice as much for the actual phone as I would pay in the States. Sure the difference comes out in wash given the fact that a monthly contract in the States is three times as much as it is in Bulgaria. But really, if I was leaving in three months never to return to Bulgaria, I would never be buying a smartphone in Bulgaria. The numbers just don\'t make sense.\n\nSo here we are. You sell smartphones and I want to buy a smartphone. Match made in heaven, <em>right</em>?! Only neither one of us got what we wanted today. We\'re at an impasse.\n\nAt this point, I guess I\'ll continue to rock my simple phone and my pre-pay plan. And maybe in August when I\'ve got my new identification card and I am back from a month in the States I\'ll think about buying a smartphone and a plan from you. Or maybe not. Maybe I\'ll pick up a phone in the States in July, have it unlocked and just go for the data plan instead. And maybe I won\'t feel the need to stick with Mtel when this happens.\n\nThanks for nothing.\n\nCarolyn\n\nOh and while I am on the subject, it\'s totally lame that your website redesign eliminated English as a language option. Your competitors all have BG/EG options on their websites.','Still rocking my simple phone, smartphone be damned','','inherit','open','open','','4917-revision-3','','','2011-05-14 18:06:04','2011-05-14 16:06:04','',4917,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/14/4917-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(4921,1,'2011-05-14 18:11:01','2011-05-14 16:11:01','Dear <a title=\"Mtel\" href=\"http://www.mtel.bg/index.php?\" target=\"_blank\">MTel</a>,\n\nToday, I had three things on my to-do list. First, have coffee with a friend. Second, buy a smartphone. The iphone 4 if we\'re going to be specific. Third, make a reservation for my birthday dinner. It turns out I was unable to complete my to-do list today. I made a reservation for my birthday dinner in person at the vegetarian restaurant Sun and Moon in under 10 minutes and that includes picking out the kinds of salads my friends will be greeted with on the table. I also had a lovely coffee in the park with my friend P.\n\nBut I was not able to buy a smartphone today and so my life carries on with my simple phone. The phone that I have kindly and fittingly named after <a href=\"http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2011/04/wild-animal-simple-dog-goes-for-joy.html\" target=\"_blank\">Simple Dog</a> one of the stars of the blog Hyperbole and a Half. A phone that cannot take a picture and can just barely text message.\n\nIt\'s not for a lack of trying that I didn\'t buy a smartphone today.\n\nA month and a half ago, I started doing some research on the matter of <a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/04/21/thoughts-buying-a-smartphone-in-bulgaria/\" target=\"_blank\">buying a smartphone in Bulgaria and iphone vs android platform</a>. Two weeks ago, I finally decided to buy the iphone 4 and after taking 400 leva a day every other day out of my US bank account so that my bank wouldn\'t freeze my account/debit card (which they like to do based on activity they find suspect), I finally had enough money to make my purchase.\n\nI marched in Mtel today (the one at Graf Ignativ and Rakovski) ready to buy my new phone. The first thing I proceeded to do was to set off an alarm on less-than-smartphones on display by trying to pick one up and look at it. For the record, it\'s an awfully loud alarm for such uninteresting telephones and why are the phones out for display if you can\'t actually hold them and look at them.  Everyone in the store looked at me with disdain from their vantage point in a lengthy line, while the sales clerk ambled over to glare at me and turn off the alarm.\n\nThe second thing I got to do was stand in line for 25 minutes before I was finally able to inquire about buying the iphone. Mind you there were only two people in front of me. That was pretty boring. Especially when it\'s clear that it\'s not encouraged for you to look at (or touch) the other phones on display while waiting.\n\nWhen I finally got to the front of the line, I was really happy. I communicated everything that I needed to the sales clerk in Bulgarian. What I wanted. My current phone number. Which color phone I wanted (black). That I was happy to buy a plan. And then I handed over my Bulgarian ID card. The clerk took it and left for a long time.<!--more-->\n\nThen he came back and told me that I cannot buy the iphone because my identification card expires in three months.  Um. Okay. I told him that I will be working at the American College of Sofia next year too and that I really want the iphone. He told me that I had to have the right documents. Awesome. Needless to say, my Bulgarian is not good enough to sweet talk anyone into bending the rules for me. So I left the store crestfallen, without my new smartphone (which I\'ve been looking forward to for a whole month) and with 1200+ leva in my wallet.\n\nOn my walk to the metro, I started thinking about how absurd this whole thing is. Sure I understand why as a company you don\'t want to sell a phone that requires a monthly plan to someone who is traveling but I actually live in Sofia. I have an ID card and a bank account to prove it. But as a foreigner this is what happens: you live one year at a time in the country given the process for work permits and visas.\n\nYes, this means that I have an expiration date attached to me but it doesn\'t mean that I shouldn\'t be able to buy, use and enjoy having a smartphone.\n\nThe funny thing is this afternoon I walked into the store with enough cash to be able to buy the phone (at 949 leva) and as it turns out enough cash to also be able to pay for the monthly plan for the entire year (at 25.90 a month for 12 months)--not that I was expecting to do that it just happens when you withdraw leva in increments of 400.  I walked out with exactly the same amount of money I walked in with and you missed out on a big sale today.\n\nI assume your policy has something to do with the idea that you think you\'re securing yourself against someone who might skip out on their contract. This said, it seems like you could do the same thing with say, my credit card number. Heck you can probably protect yourself better with my credit card number than with the expiration date on my identification card.\n\nI might also remind you that in paying up front 949 leva I am paying twice as much for the actual phone as I would pay in the States. Sure the difference comes out in wash given the fact that a monthly contract in the States is three times as much as it is in Bulgaria. But really, if I was leaving in three months never to return to Bulgaria, I would never be buying a smartphone in Bulgaria. The numbers just don\'t make sense.\n\nSo here we are. You sell smartphones and I want to buy a smartphone. Match made in heaven, <em>right</em>?! Only neither one of us got what we wanted today. We\'re at an impasse.\n\nAt this point, I guess I\'ll continue to rock my simple phone and my pre-pay plan. And maybe in August when I\'ve got my new identification card and I am back from a month in the States I\'ll think about buying a smartphone and a plan from you. Or maybe not. Maybe I\'ll pick up a phone in the States in July, have it unlocked and just go for the data plan instead. And maybe I won\'t feel the need to stick with Mtel when this happens.\n\nThanks for nothing.\n\nCarolyn\n\nOh and while I am on the subject, it\'s totally lame that your website redesign eliminated English as a language option. Your competitors all have BG/EG options on their websites.','Still rocking my simple phone, smartphone be damned','','inherit','open','open','','4917-autosave','','','2011-05-14 18:11:01','2011-05-14 16:11:01','',4917,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/14/4917-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(4922,1,'2011-05-15 10:55:50','2011-05-15 08:55:50','I had a great time last night at three different museums in Sofia celebrating, <a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/13/a-night-of-museums-in-sofia/\" target=\"_blank\">A Night at the Museum</a>.Over the course of one evening I went to the National Art Gallery, the Ethnographic Museum and the National History Museum in Boyana.\r\n\r\nAdmittedly, going to both the National Art Gallery and the Ethnographic Museums isn\'t so hard seeing as they are both housed in the same building. But getting to Boyana took a little more effort. Luckily we had a car for that part of the adventure.\r\n\r\nNow I\'ve been to all of these museums a few times which was probably good because when I go to a gallery or a museum for the first time I really like to look at things. I like to read descriptions. I like to think about things. Basically, I like to take my time. Last night was not necessarily a take your time kind of night.\r\n\r\nThere were so many people in the museums, in front of the museums and walking around. It was really incredible. Young people, parents, twenty and thirty-somethings as well as the grandmother-baba set--basically every demographic was covered. People were really enjoying themselves too. There was lots of talking, plenty of photos being taken and a fair amount of pausing to peer at paintings or to gawk at gold artifacts.\r\n\r\nThe atmosphere and energy in the Palace was party-like but it made the sad state of the actual building that much more apparent. <!--more-->The parquet flooring is in horrible disrepair and every step was squeaky and creaky and this noise was amplified by all of the visitors making the building louder than I ever remember it being. It\'s really a shame because the building is beautiful and it seems to be falling down around the art collection.\r\n\r\nI was reminded that I love the collection in the National Gallery but that the collection in the Ethnographic Museum isn\'t really worth checking out. The collection in the Ethnographic museum is haphazard.  It doesn\'t tell a single unifying story, it doesn\'t have any wow pieces nor is the layout-curation of the museum innovative or engaging. It\'s too bad really because I think that the museum has an opportunity to do something interesting with Bulgaria as a crossroads--the influence of the West and the East on clothing, food, farming and what not and the way Bulgarians took and adapted both cultures and traditions to fit their needs.\r\n\r\nFrom the city center we ventured out to the National History Museum and it was equally packed. We got there about 10 or 10:30 and it felt less like a party and more like a crowded museum in Western Europe like the Louvre in Paris or the Prado in Madrid. It was exciting.\r\n\r\nI was little surprised by how many people were there and how much people were enjoying the artifacts. I\'ve been to the National History Museum two other times and both times the museum was basically empty. The time I took my mom and aunt we basically had the museum to ourselves.  It\'s really lovely to have a museum to yourself but it\'s also a little creepy and vaguely sad that no one else is there experiencing and appreciating these things.\r\n\r\nBut last night there was no trace of this.  It was really wonderful to watch Bulgarians tramp through Todor Zhivkov\'s old residence (which now houses the National History Museum) and to observe these Bulgarians looking at, talking about and pointing out difference pieces of the collection to each other. It\'s not so often I see Bulgarians excited about their country and history in such an authentic way.\r\n\r\nStanding in front of a collection of seven pieces of Thracian Gold artifacts found in 1949 by a pair of Bulgarian brothers, I was struck by a sense of history and possibility. The gold pieces are finely wrought and the craftsmanship is impeccable.  They are thousands of years old. Found in the dirt. The seven piece weigh something like 6 kilograms.\r\n\r\nThey are indeed a treasure. A treasure in the truest sense of the word. These things were found in the Bulgarian country side--buried gold. Only their value does not just in rest in the fact that they are gold but their worth is multiplied given the fact that they are rare and precious purveyors of a previous time, an earlier culture, a people with whom we have lost contact but with whom we still share this physical space.\r\n\r\nSo I watched while Bulgarians wait for their turn to snap a picture of their treasure--this Thracian treasure--with their cellphones, I couldn\'t help but wonder what if anything is the American equivalent. Maybe the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution and the Bill of Rights but to think of these as an equivalent requires a suspension of a traditional sense of what art is and maybe even what treasure is. And maybe we don\'t have an equivalent.\r\n\r\nAnyhow, I had a great time and ended up getting kicked out the museum when it closed at 1am.','In Reveiw: A Night at the Museums ','','publish','open','open','','in-reveiw-a-night-at-the-museums','','','2011-05-15 10:55:50','2011-05-15 08:55:50','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=4922',0,'post','',2),(4923,1,'2011-05-19 05:08:49','2011-05-19 03:08:49','I think it\'s important to do what\'s hard.\r\n\r\nI moved to Bulgaria when it would have been easier to stay in Washington DC especially seeing as I didn\'t know anyone, the language or even the alphabet. I stayed for year two and then year three when it probably would have been easier to go back to the States. I\'ve traveled through most of Eastern Europe by myself and I\'ve crossed a couple of these boarders on foot.\r\n\r\nEach of these things has been difficult for me. Difficult for different reasons but difficult nonetheless.\r\n\r\nThe last big thing remains learning Bulgarian.\r\n\r\nRecently a friend told me that I am just too comfortable--that I am not going to learn Bulgarian the rate that I am going. This isn\'t necessarily what you want to hear from your friends.  Especially over a coffee on a beautiful May afternoon after a long day of work--but really who else is going to tell you these things?! And because the comment came from a pretty reliable source, I decided to listen up.\r\n\r\nThe thing is, he\'s right. I\'ve got put myself in an uncomfortable position. I\'ve got to live my life in such a way that not speaking Bulgarian is not an option. <!--more-->And given my job as an English teacher at an English language school, it\'s not that easy. Sure I take regular Bulgarian lessons and communicate as necessary in Bulgarian but I guess that in a given day I speak Bulgarian no more 5% of my average day. And it\'s true at this rate, I am never going to learn Bulgarian.\r\n\r\nEnter this summer.\r\n\r\nI am going to the States for three weeks. Then at the end of July I\'ll be back in Bulgaria. Rather than traveling in, around or through greater Europe like I have the past two summers, this summer I\'ll be here in Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nI\'ll be here to learn Bulgarian. The thing is--it\'s not going to be easy.It\'s not easy on a couple of different levels. First because I actually have to find something to do. Second because then I am going to actually have to speak Bulgarian. And third, because I am determined to have as much fun as I can doing all of this which may or may not be difficult. I guess this will depend on how uncomfortable I am and the level of frustration this produces in me and/or the number of tears this ultimately produces in me.\r\n\r\nSo first things first.\r\n\r\nI am looking for something interesting to do this summer.  I really need to find myself doing something where I am speaking Bulgarian at 75% of my day. Don\'t ask me where 75% came from. I just made it up but it seems like about the right thing to shoot for.\r\n\r\nSo here\'s the deal, I\'ve thought about moving to a village. It seems like fewer people will speak English there but then what would I do with myself in a village for four weeks? And how will I speak more Bulgarian than I currently do in Sofia at the grocery store, in restaurants, cafes and taxi cabs?\r\n\r\nThen I thought about about volunteering. Our school has a number of connections with different orphanages but I am not really sure what kind of Bulgarian I\'ll learn there. I probably shouldn\'t worry about that.\r\n\r\nI\'ve considered volunteering on a farm but I don\'t really have any connections nor do I have a lot of skills. Well aside from one summer when I was in college and I looked after all of the flower beds at our local fair-grounds planting, growing, watering and weeding the flowers. This said the flowers looked great. I am at watering things.\r\n\r\nHere\'s the good news is for the first time in my life I don\'t need to work for money so that\'s not a limiting factor. Basically, I\'m looking for something interesting and engaging to do where I get to speak a lot more Bulgarian than I currently do.  I would probably also help to be working/volunteering/living/doing something with Bulgarians who are more patient than less patient and willing to correct me when I make mistakes.\r\n\r\nYep. It\'s going to be quite a summer. But this is where I need some help.\r\n\r\nI would love to hear any thoughts or suggestions that you have on ways to make this summer happen. Is anyone out there working for a non-profit that might need help? Or does someone have connections in a village or on a farm that might prove interesting? If you can think of anything leave me a comment on the blog okay--if you enter a valid email I can follow up with you this way.\r\n\r\nThanks in advance for anything you can send my way.','Doing What\'s Hard','','publish','open','open','','doing-whats-hard','','','2011-05-18 21:09:11','2011-05-18 19:09:11','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=4923',0,'post','',14),(4924,1,'2011-05-15 09:30:00','2011-05-15 07:30:00','','Auto Draft','','inherit','open','open','','4923-revision','','','2011-05-15 09:30:00','2011-05-15 07:30:00','',4923,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/15/4923-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4925,1,'2011-05-15 10:19:40','2011-05-15 08:19:40','I had a great time last night at three different museums in Sofia celebrating, <a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/13/a-night-of-museums-in-sofia/\" target=\"_blank\">A Night at the Museum</a>.Over the course of one evening I went to the National Art Gallery, the Ethnographic Museum and the National History Museum in Boyana.\n\nAdmittedly, going to both the National Art Gallery and the Ethnographic Museums isn\'t so hard seeing as they are both housed in the same building. But getting to Boyana took a little more effort. Luckily we had a car for that part of the adventure.\n\nNow I\'ve been to all of these museums a few times which was probably good because when I go to a gallery or a museum for the first time I really like to look at things. I like to read descriptions. I like to think about things. Basically, I like to take my time. Last night was not necessarily a take your time kind of night.\n\nThere were so many people in the museums, in front of the museums and walking around. It was really incredible. Young people, parents, twenty and thirty-somethings as well as the grandmother-baba set--basically every demographic was covered. People were really enjoying themselves too. There was lots of talking, plenty of photos being taken and a fair amount of pausing to peer at paintings or to gawk at gold artifacts.\n\nThe atmosphere and energy in the Palace was party-like but it made the sad state of the actual building that much more apparent. The parquet flooring is in horrible disrepair and every step was squeaky and creaky and this noise was amplified by all of the visitors making the building louder than I ever remember it being. It\'s really a shame because the building is beautiful and it seems to be falling down around the art collection.\n\nI was reminded that I love the collection in the National Gallery but that the collection in the Ethnographic Museum isn\'t really worth checking out. The collection in the Ethnographic museum is haphazard.  It doesn\'t tell a single unifying story, it doesn\'t have any wow pieces nor is the layout-curation of the museum innovative or engaging. It\'s too bad really because I think that the museum has an opportunity to do something interesting with Bulgaria as a crossroads--the influence of the West and the East on clothing, food, farming and what not and the way Bulgarians took and adapted both cultures and traditions to fit their needs.\n\nFrom the city center we ventured out to the National History Museum and it was equally packed. We got there about 10 or 10:30 and it felt less like a party and more like a crowded museum in Western Europe like the Louvre in Paris or the Prado in Madrid. It was exciting.\n\nI was struck by how many people were there and how much people were enjoying the artifacts. I\'ve been to the National History Museum two other times and both times the museum was basically empty. The time I took my mom and aunt we basically had the museum to ourselves.  It\'s really lovely to have a museum to yourself but it\'s also a little creepy and vaguely sad that no one else is there experiencing and appreciating these things.\n\nBut last night there was no trace of this.  It was really wonderful to watch Bulgarians tramp through Todor Zhivkov\'s old residence (which now houses the National History Museum) and to observe these Bulgarians looking at, talking about and pointing out difference pieces of the collection to each other. It\'s not so often I see Bulgarians excited about their country and history in such an authentic way.','In Reveiw: A Night at the Museums ','','inherit','open','open','','4922-revision','','','2011-05-15 10:19:40','2011-05-15 08:19:40','',4922,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/15/4922-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4926,1,'2011-05-15 10:55:47','2011-05-15 08:55:47','I had a great time last night at three different museums in Sofia celebrating, <a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/13/a-night-of-museums-in-sofia/\" target=\"_blank\">A Night at the Museum</a>.Over the course of one evening I went to the National Art Gallery, the Ethnographic Museum and the National History Museum in Boyana.\n\nAdmittedly, going to both the National Art Gallery and the Ethnographic Museums isn\'t so hard seeing as they are both housed in the same building. But getting to Boyana took a little more effort. Luckily we had a car for that part of the adventure.\n\nNow I\'ve been to all of these museums a few times which was probably good because when I go to a gallery or a museum for the first time I really like to look at things. I like to read descriptions. I like to think about things. Basically, I like to take my time. Last night was not necessarily a take your time kind of night.\n\nThere were so many people in the museums, in front of the museums and walking around. It was really incredible. Young people, parents, twenty and thirty-somethings as well as the grandmother-baba set--basically every demographic was covered. People were really enjoying themselves too. There was lots of talking, plenty of photos being taken and a fair amount of pausing to peer at paintings or to gawk at gold artifacts.\n\nThe atmosphere and energy in the Palace was party-like but it made the sad state of the actual building that much more apparent. <!--more-->The parquet flooring is in horrible disrepair and every step was squeaky and creaky and this noise was amplified by all of the visitors making the building louder than I ever remember it being. It\'s really a shame because the building is beautiful and it seems to be falling down around the art collection.\n\nI was reminded that I love the collection in the National Gallery but that the collection in the Ethnographic Museum isn\'t really worth checking out. The collection in the Ethnographic museum is haphazard.  It doesn\'t tell a single unifying story, it doesn\'t have any wow pieces nor is the layout-curation of the museum innovative or engaging. It\'s too bad really because I think that the museum has an opportunity to do something interesting with Bulgaria as a crossroads--the influence of the West and the East on clothing, food, farming and what not and the way Bulgarians took and adapted both cultures and traditions to fit their needs.\n\nFrom the city center we ventured out to the National History Museum and it was equally packed. We got there about 10 or 10:30 and it felt less like a party and more like a crowded museum in Western Europe like the Louvre in Paris or the Prado in Madrid. It was exciting.\n\nI was little surprised by how many people were there and how much people were enjoying the artifacts. I\'ve been to the National History Museum two other times and both times the museum was basically empty. The time I took my mom and aunt we basically had the museum to ourselves.  It\'s really lovely to have a museum to yourself but it\'s also a little creepy and vaguely sad that no one else is there experiencing and appreciating these things.\n\nBut last night there was no trace of this.  It was really wonderful to watch Bulgarians tramp through Todor Zhivkov\'s old residence (which now houses the National History Museum) and to observe these Bulgarians looking at, talking about and pointing out difference pieces of the collection to each other. It\'s not so often I see Bulgarians excited about their country and history in such an authentic way.\n\nStanding in front of a collection of seven pieces of Thracian Gold artifacts found in 1949 by a pair of Bulgarian brothers, I was struck by a sense of history and possibility. The gold pieces are finely wrought and the craftsmanship is impeccable.  They are thousands of years old. Found in the dirt. The seven piece weigh something like 6 kilograms.\n\nThey are indeed a treasure. A treasure in the truest sense of the word. These things were found in the Bulgarian country side--buried gold. Only their value does not just in rest in the fact that they are gold but their worth is multiplied given the fact that they are rare and precious purveyors of a previous time, an earlier culture, a people with whom we have lost contact but with whom we still share this physical space.\n\nSo I watched while Bulgarians wait for their turn to snap a picture of their treasure--this Thracian treasure--with their cellphones, I couldn\'t help but wonder what if anything is the American equivalent. Maybe the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution and the Bill of Rights but to think of these as an equivalent requires a suspension of a traditional sense of what art is and maybe even what treasure is. And maybe we don\'t have an equivalent.\n\nAnyhow, I had a great time and ended up getting kicked out the museum when it closed at 1am.','In Reveiw: A Night at the Museums ','','inherit','open','open','','4922-revision-2','','','2011-05-15 10:55:47','2011-05-15 08:55:47','',4922,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/15/4922-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4927,1,'2011-05-15 10:57:01','2011-05-15 08:57:01','I had a great time last night at three different museums in Sofia celebrating, <a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/13/a-night-of-museums-in-sofia/\" target=\"_blank\">A Night at the Museum</a>.Over the course of one evening I went to the National Art Gallery, the Ethnographic Museum and the National History Museum in Boyana.\n\nAdmittedly, going to both the National Art Gallery and the Ethnographic Museums isn\'t so hard seeing as they are both housed in the same building. But getting to Boyana took a little more effort. Luckily we had a car for that part of the adventure.\n\nNow I\'ve been to all of these museums a few times which was probably good because when I go to a gallery or a museum for the first time I really like to look at things. I like to read descriptions. I like to think about things. Basically, I like to take my time. Last night was not necessarily a take your time kind of night.\n\nThere were so many people in the museums, in front of the museums and walking around. It was really incredible. Young people, parents, twenty and thirty-somethings as well as the grandmother-baba set--basically every demographic was covered. People were really enjoying themselves too. There was lots of talking, plenty of photos being taken and a fair amount of pausing to peer at paintings or to gawk at gold artifacts.\n\nThe atmosphere and energy in the Palace was party-like but it made the sad state of the actual building that much more apparent. <!--more-->The parquet flooring is in horrible disrepair and every step was squeaky and creaky and this noise was amplified by all of the visitors making the building louder than I ever remember it being. It\'s really a shame because the building is beautiful and it seems to be falling down around the art collection.\n\nI was reminded that I love the collection in the National Gallery but that the collection in the Ethnographic Museum isn\'t really worth checking out. The collection in the Ethnographic museum is haphazard.  It doesn\'t tell a single unifying story, it doesn\'t have any wow pieces nor is the layout-curation of the museum innovative or engaging. It\'s too bad really because I think that the museum has an opportunity to do something interesting with Bulgaria as a crossroads--the influence of the West and the East on clothing, food, farming and what not and the way Bulgarians took and adapted both cultures and traditions to fit their needs.\n\nFrom the city center we ventured out to the National History Museum and it was equally packed. We got there about 10 or 10:30 and it felt less like a party and more like a crowded museum in Western Europe like the Louvre in Paris or the Prado in Madrid. It was exciting.\n\nI was little surprised by how many people were there and how much people were enjoying the artifacts. I\'ve been to the National History Museum two other times and both times the museum was basically empty. The time I took my mom and aunt we basically had the museum to ourselves.  It\'s really lovely to have a museum to yourself but it\'s also a little creepy and vaguely sad that no one else is there experiencing and appreciating these things.\n\nBut last night there was no trace of this.  It was really wonderful to watch Bulgarians tramp through Todor Zhivkov\'s old residence (which now houses the National History Museum) and to observe these Bulgarians looking at, talking about and pointing out difference pieces of the collection to each other. It\'s not so often I see Bulgarians excited about their country and history in such an authentic way.\n\nStanding in front of a collection of seven pieces of Thracian Gold artifacts found in 1949 by a pair of Bulgarian brothers, I was struck by a sense of history and possibility. The gold pieces are finely wrought and the craftsmanship is impeccable.  They are thousands of years old. Found in the dirt. The seven piece weigh something like 6 kilograms.\n\nThey are indeed a treasure. A treasure in the truest sense of the word. These things were found in the Bulgarian country side--buried gold. Only their value does not just in rest in the fact that they are gold but their worth is multiplied given the fact that they are rare and precious purveyors of a previous time, an earlier culture, a people with whom we have lost contact but with whom we still share this physical space.\n\nSo I watched while Bulgarians wait for their turn to snap a picture of their treasure--this Thracian treasure--with their cellphones, I couldn\'t help but wonder what if anything is the American equivalent. Maybe the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution and the Bill of Rights but to think of these as an equivalent requires a suspension of a traditional sense of what art is and maybe even what treasure is. And maybe we don\'t have an equivalent.\n\nAnyhow, I had a great time and ended up getting kicked out the museum when it closed at 1am.','In Reveiw: A Night at the Museums ','','inherit','open','open','','4922-autosave','','','2011-05-15 10:57:01','2011-05-15 08:57:01','',4922,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/15/4922-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(4928,1,'2011-05-15 09:31:18','2011-05-15 07:31:18','My night started off with a rather nutty taxi ride from Mladost to  the city center. Normally I\'d take the metro but I was running really  late--like I was supposed to be meeting a friend downtown and I was  still in my apartment. This never happens to me but it did last night. I  look in my wallet and realize that I only 20 leva notes and that a taxi  driver is going to be less than thrilled to break a 20 for me on a 5  leva ride. I buy a bottled water and make a woman in a gas station break  the 20 for me. She wasn\'t very happy with me and I just played the  blond oblivious foreigner role as she grumbled at me.\n\nI hopped in  a taxi and we were off. The driver and I hit is off when he started  laughing at my confusion of a couple words in the taxi. I told him that I  wanted to go to the National Theater Ivan Vasov. Only for whatever  reason I turned national into \"nationalen\" and gave it a funny Bulgarian  accent. These things happen sometimes. But as you know, or may not  know, the word I was looking for was \"naroden\" or народен.  My taxi  driver had a good laugh and then started asking me questions. The ten  minute ride ended with him telling me that he loves Bill Clinton and  that George W. Bush is okay too but that Barack Obama is responsible for  the economic crisis. Hum, that\'s not exactly how I see it (ahem, George  W. Bush) but I wasn\'t really in the position to delve into this topic  in Bulgarian with a taxi driver given my extremely limited political  vocabulary.\n\n&nbsp;','Doing what\'s hard','','inherit','open','open','','4923-revision-2','','','2011-05-15 09:31:18','2011-05-15 07:31:18','',4923,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/15/4923-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4929,1,'2011-05-17 09:22:03','2011-05-17 07:22:03','Earlier this year while teaching the novel <em>the Great Gatsby</em> I was struck by a line I didn\'t remember ever having read or paid much attention to, in the middle of the novel Nick Carroway the narrator states: 30 is five years too old to lie to myself and call it honor. (For the record, I just glossed that quote from memory as I don\'t have a copy of the book in front of me. <em>Students</em>: I can do these things on a blog. Not in a paper.)\r\n\r\nI guess you notice these things when you need to, when they are relevant. This is the year that I too turn 30. In fact, I am turning 30 this week. I feel pretty great about it. There have been no nightmares. No aches or pains. No panic attacks. No obsessive thoughts. No acid reflux. All in all not bad for another birthday.\r\n\r\nNick says that 30 is five years too old to lie to yourself and I can\'t really help but to agree. In my life it\'s been clear that the more I realize how little I know about life and how much more confident I feel about that. This week, I\'ve been thinking about the fact that I moved to Bulgaria at 27, that I picked up my life and moved 10-timezones from home even though I had no idea what to expect.\r\n\r\nNeedless to say, living in Bulgaria in my late 20\'s has taught me a lot. Here\'s a run down:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Don\'t take yourself too seriously.</li>\r\n	<li>Slow down. <em>Why are you in a hurry? </em></li>\r\n	<li>Turn off your ipod. Put your book down.</li>\r\n	<li>Say, Yes. Even when it\'s easier to say no.</li>\r\n	<li>Work at learning the language.</li>\r\n	<li>Take the train or the bus. It\'s an experience every time.</li>\r\n	<li>Don\'t worry about not fitting in. You will  probably never be a local and that\'s okay.</li>\r\n	<li>Buy yourself flowers.  No one else is going to buy them for you--at least in the beginning.</li>\r\n	<li>Ask questions. Lots of them.</li>\r\n	<li>When you need it, ask for help. But try to do it yourself first.<!--more--></li>\r\n	<li>Walk around your neighborhood.  Get to know where you are living. Look for treasures.</li>\r\n	<li>Look both ways before you cross the street. Then you might want to check again.</li>\r\n	<li>Open yourself up to possibility.</li>\r\n	<li>Wear what you love and make sure that you have a great pair of shoes.</li>\r\n	<li>Buy what you love. You\'ll never regret having a rug, wood carving, pottery or painting.</li>\r\n	<li>Kisses regularly win out over handshakes.</li>\r\n	<li>Everything is changing. All of the time.</li>\r\n	<li>If homemade is an option, snap it up.</li>\r\n	<li>Be open to new things.</li>\r\n	<li>Use clothespins to dry your clothes on a drying rack on your balcony. If even if you think you don\'t need to. You need to.</li>\r\n	<li>Personal space is different outside of the States.</li>\r\n	<li>Eat banitsa, shopska salad and anything from the grill. Drink rakiya. Do as the locals do. Just don\'t fool yourself. You\'ll never be able to drink as much rakiya as they can.</li>\r\n	<li>If you forget about the previous advice and think you can in fact keep up, make sure that you take an aspirin or three the next day.</li>\r\n	<li>Take your camera along. Take photos.</li>\r\n	<li>Put on a smile. Just know the stereotype is that Americans smile too much and are fake. Embrace it. Smile like you mean it.</li>\r\n	<li>Talk to anyone and everyone.</li>\r\n	<li>Have a coffee <em>and</em> take your time doing it.</li>\r\n	<li>Call your mom. Regularly.</li>\r\n	<li>Don\'t worry so much. Things have a way of working out.</li>\r\n	<li>Look for adventures in unexpected places.</li>\r\n</ol>','30 Things Life in Bulgaria has Taught me','','publish','open','open','','30-things-life-in-bulgaria-has-taught-me','','','2011-05-17 09:24:43','2011-05-17 07:24:43','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=4929',0,'post','',15),(4930,1,'2011-05-15 20:48:39','2011-05-15 18:48:39','I am turning 30 this week. I feel pretty great about it. There have been no nightmares. No aches or pains. No panic attacks. No obsessive thoughts. No acid reflux. All in all not bad for another birthday.\n\nI\'ve been thinking about the fact that I moved to Bulgaria at 27 and what I\'ve learned over the last three years in Bulgaria.\n<ol>\n	<li>Talk to anyone and everyone.</li>\n	<li>Have a coffee and take your time.</li>\n	<li></li>\n</ol>','30 Things Life in Bulgaria has Taught me','','inherit','open','open','','4929-revision','','','2011-05-15 20:48:39','2011-05-15 18:48:39','',4929,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/15/4929-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4931,1,'2011-05-16 05:56:25','2011-05-16 03:56:25','I am turning 30 this week. I feel pretty great about it. There have been no nightmares. No aches or pains. No panic attacks. No obsessive thoughts. No acid reflux. All in all not bad for another birthday.\n\nI\'ve been thinking about the fact that I moved to Bulgaria at 27 and what I\'ve learned over the last three years in Bulgaria.\n<ol>\n	<li>Don\'t take yourself too seriously.</li>\n	<li>Say yes.</li>\n	<li>Eat banitsa.</li>\n	<li>Talk to anyone and everyone.</li>\n	<li>Have a coffee <em>and</em> take your time.</li>\n	<li></li>\n</ol>','30 Things Life in Bulgaria has Taught me','','inherit','open','open','','4929-revision-2','','','2011-05-16 05:56:25','2011-05-16 03:56:25','',4929,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/16/4929-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4932,1,'2011-05-17 09:21:48','2011-05-17 07:21:48','Earlier this year while teaching the novel <em>the Great Gatsby</em> I was struck by a line I didn\'t remember ever having read or paid much attention to, in the middle of the novel Nick Carroway the narrator states: 30 is five years too old to lie to myself and call it honor. (For the record, I just glossed that quote from memory as I don\'t have a copy of the book in front of me. <em>Students</em>: I can do these things on a blog. Not in a paper.)\n\nI guess you notice these things when you need to, when they are relevant. This is the year that I too turn 30. In fact, I am turning 30 this week. I feel pretty great about it. There have been no nightmares. No aches or pains. No panic attacks. No obsessive thoughts. No acid reflux. All in all not bad for another birthday.\n\nNick says that 30 is five years too old to lie to yourself and I can\'t really help but to agree. In my life it\'s been clear that the more I realize how little I know about life and how much more confident I feel about that. This week, I\'ve been thinking about the fact that I moved to Bulgaria at 27. Picked up my life and moved 10-timezones from home.\n\nNeedless to say, living in Bulgaria in my late 20\'s has taught me a lot. Here\'s a run down:\n<ol>\n	<li>Don\'t take yourself too seriously.</li>\n	<li>Slow down. <em>Why are you in a hurry? </em></li>\n	<li>Turn off your ipod. Put your book down.</li>\n	<li>Say, Yes. Even when it\'s easier to say no.</li>\n	<li>Work at learning the language.</li>\n	<li>Take the train or the bus. It\'s an experience every time.</li>\n	<li>Don\'t worry about not fitting in. You will  probably never be a local and that\'s okay.</li>\n	<li>Buy yourself flowers.  No one else is going to buy them for you--at least in the beginning.</li>\n	<li>Ask questions. Lots of them.</li>\n	<li>When you need it, ask for help. But try to do it yourself first.<!--more--></li>\n	<li>Walk around your neighborhood.  Get to know where you are living. Look for treasures.</li>\n	<li>Look both ways before you cross the street. Then you might want to check again.</li>\n	<li>Open yourself up to possibility.</li>\n	<li>Wear what you love and make sure that you have a great pair of shoes.</li>\n	<li>Buy what you love. You\'ll never regret having a rug, wood carving, pottery or painting.</li>\n	<li>Kisses regularly win out over handshakes.</li>\n	<li>Everything is changing. All of the time.</li>\n	<li>If homemade is an option, snap it up.</li>\n	<li>Be open to new things.</li>\n	<li>Use clothespins to dry your clothes on a drying rack on your balcony. If even if you think you don\'t need to. You need to.</li>\n	<li>Personal space is different outside of the States.</li>\n	<li>Eat banitsa, shopska salad and anything from the grill. Drink rakiya. Do as the locals do. Just don\'t fool yourself. You\'ll never be able to drink as much rakiya as they can.</li>\n	<li>If you forget about the previous advice and think you can in fact keep up, make sure that you take an aspirin or three the next day.</li>\n	<li>Take your camera along. Take photos.</li>\n	<li>Put on a smile. Just know the stereotype is that Americans smile too much and are fake. Embrace it. Smile like you mean it.</li>\n	<li>Talk to anyone and everyone.</li>\n	<li>Have a coffee <em>and</em> take your time doing it.</li>\n	<li>Call your mom. Regularly.</li>\n	<li>Don\'t worry so much. Things have a way of working out.</li>\n	<li>Look for adventures in unexpected places.</li>\n</ol>','30 Things Life in Bulgaria has Taught me','','inherit','open','open','','4929-revision-3','','','2011-05-17 09:21:48','2011-05-17 07:21:48','',4929,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/17/4929-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(4933,1,'2011-05-17 09:22:03','2011-05-17 07:22:03','Earlier this year while teaching the novel <em>the Great Gatsby</em> I was struck by a line I didn\'t remember ever having read or paid much attention to, in the middle of the novel Nick Carroway the narrator states: 30 is five years too old to lie to myself and call it honor. (For the record, I just glossed that quote from memory as I don\'t have a copy of the book in front of me. <em>Students</em>: I can do these things on a blog. Not in a paper.)\r\n\r\nI guess you notice these things when you need to, when they are relevant. This is the year that I too turn 30. In fact, I am turning 30 this week. I feel pretty great about it. There have been no nightmares. No aches or pains. No panic attacks. No obsessive thoughts. No acid reflux. All in all not bad for another birthday.\r\n\r\nNick says that 30 is five years too old to lie to yourself and I can\'t really help but to agree. In my life it\'s been clear that the more I realize how little I know about life and how much more confident I feel about that. This week, I\'ve been thinking about the fact that I moved to Bulgaria at 27. Picked up my life and moved 10-timezones from home.\r\n\r\nNeedless to say, living in Bulgaria in my late 20\'s has taught me a lot. Here\'s a run down:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Don\'t take yourself too seriously.</li>\r\n	<li>Slow down. <em>Why are you in a hurry? </em></li>\r\n	<li>Turn off your ipod. Put your book down.</li>\r\n	<li>Say, Yes. Even when it\'s easier to say no.</li>\r\n	<li>Work at learning the language.</li>\r\n	<li>Take the train or the bus. It\'s an experience every time.</li>\r\n	<li>Don\'t worry about not fitting in. You will  probably never be a local and that\'s okay.</li>\r\n	<li>Buy yourself flowers.  No one else is going to buy them for you--at least in the beginning.</li>\r\n	<li>Ask questions. Lots of them.</li>\r\n	<li>When you need it, ask for help. But try to do it yourself first.<!--more--></li>\r\n	<li>Walk around your neighborhood.  Get to know where you are living. Look for treasures.</li>\r\n	<li>Look both ways before you cross the street. Then you might want to check again.</li>\r\n	<li>Open yourself up to possibility.</li>\r\n	<li>Wear what you love and make sure that you have a great pair of shoes.</li>\r\n	<li>Buy what you love. You\'ll never regret having a rug, wood carving, pottery or painting.</li>\r\n	<li>Kisses regularly win out over handshakes.</li>\r\n	<li>Everything is changing. All of the time.</li>\r\n	<li>If homemade is an option, snap it up.</li>\r\n	<li>Be open to new things.</li>\r\n	<li>Use clothespins to dry your clothes on a drying rack on your balcony. If even if you think you don\'t need to. You need to.</li>\r\n	<li>Personal space is different outside of the States.</li>\r\n	<li>Eat banitsa, shopska salad and anything from the grill. Drink rakiya. Do as the locals do. Just don\'t fool yourself. You\'ll never be able to drink as much rakiya as they can.</li>\r\n	<li>If you forget about the previous advice and think you can in fact keep up, make sure that you take an aspirin or three the next day.</li>\r\n	<li>Take your camera along. Take photos.</li>\r\n	<li>Put on a smile. Just know the stereotype is that Americans smile too much and are fake. Embrace it. Smile like you mean it.</li>\r\n	<li>Talk to anyone and everyone.</li>\r\n	<li>Have a coffee <em>and</em> take your time doing it.</li>\r\n	<li>Call your mom. Regularly.</li>\r\n	<li>Don\'t worry so much. Things have a way of working out.</li>\r\n	<li>Look for adventures in unexpected places.</li>\r\n</ol>','30 Things Life in Bulgaria has Taught me','','inherit','open','open','','4929-revision-4','','','2011-05-17 09:22:03','2011-05-17 07:22:03','',4929,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/17/4929-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(4934,1,'2011-05-17 09:25:47','2011-05-17 07:25:47','Earlier this year while teaching the novel <em>the Great Gatsby</em> I was struck by a line I didn\'t remember ever having read or paid much attention to, in the middle of the novel Nick Carroway the narrator states: 30 is five years too old to lie to myself and call it honor. (For the record, I just glossed that quote from memory as I don\'t have a copy of the book in front of me. <em>Students</em>: I can do these things on a blog. Not in a paper.)\n\nI guess you notice these things when you need to, when they are relevant. This is the year that I too turn 30. In fact, I am turning 30 this week. I feel pretty great about it. There have been no nightmares. No aches or pains. No panic attacks. No obsessive thoughts. No acid reflux. All in all not bad for another birthday.\n\nNick says that 30 is five years too old to lie to yourself and I can\'t really help but to agree. In my life it\'s been clear that the more I realize how little I know about life and how much more confident I feel about that. This week, I\'ve been thinking about the fact that I moved to Bulgaria at 27, that I picked up my life and moved 10-timezones from home even though I had no idea what to expect.\n\nNeedless to say, living in Bulgaria in my late 20\'s has taught me a lot. Here\'s a run down:\n<ol>\n	<li>Don\'t take yourself too seriously.</li>\n	<li>Slow down. <em>Why are you in a hurry? </em></li>\n	<li>Turn off your ipod. Put your book down.</li>\n	<li>Say, Yes. Even when it\'s easier to say no.</li>\n	<li>Work at learning the language.</li>\n	<li>Take the train or the bus. It\'s an experience every time.</li>\n	<li>Don\'t worry about not fitting in. You will  probably never be a local and that\'s okay.</li>\n	<li>Buy yourself flowers.  No one else is going to buy them for you--at least in the beginning.</li>\n	<li>Ask questions. Lots of them.</li>\n	<li>When you need it, ask for help. But try to do it yourself first.<!--more--></li>\n	<li>Walk around your neighborhood.  Get to know where you are living. Look for treasures.</li>\n	<li>Look both ways before you cross the street. Then you might want to check again.</li>\n	<li>Open yourself up to possibility.</li>\n	<li>Wear what you love and make sure that you have a great pair of shoes.</li>\n	<li>Buy what you love. You\'ll never regret having a rug, wood carving, pottery or painting.</li>\n	<li>Kisses regularly win out over handshakes.</li>\n	<li>Everything is changing. All of the time.</li>\n	<li>If homemade is an option, snap it up.</li>\n	<li>Be open to new things.</li>\n	<li>Use clothespins to dry your clothes on a drying rack on your balcony. If even if you think you don\'t need to. You need to.</li>\n	<li>Personal space is different outside of the States.</li>\n	<li>Eat banitsa, shopska salad and anything from the grill. Drink rakiya. Do as the locals do. Just don\'t fool yourself. You\'ll never be able to drink as much rakiya as they can.</li>\n	<li>If you forget about the previous advice and think you can in fact keep up, make sure that you take an aspirin or three the next day.</li>\n	<li>Take your camera along. Take photos.</li>\n	<li>Put on a smile. Just know the stereotype is that Americans smile too much and are fake. Embrace it. Smile like you mean it.</li>\n	<li>Talk to anyone and everyone.</li>\n	<li>Have a coffee <em>and</em> take your time doing it.</li>\n	<li>Call your mom. Regularly.</li>\n	<li>Don\'t worry so much. Things have a way of working out.</li>\n	<li>Look for adventures in unexpected places.</li>\n</ol>','30 Things Life in Bulgaria has Taught me','','inherit','open','open','','4929-autosave','','','2011-05-17 09:25:47','2011-05-17 07:25:47','',4929,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/17/4929-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(4935,1,'2011-05-18 05:06:14','2011-05-18 03:06:14','[caption id=\"attachment_4943\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday Cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4943\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/18/30-and-counting/img_8278/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4943 \" title=\"Birthday Cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8278-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nToday is my 30th birthday.\r\n\r\nThe thing is I cheated a little bit and on Monday night I celebrated early with friends and colleagues. It was really too perfect not to. We didn\'t have school on Tuesday because our 12th graders were taking the matura exam (some fairly serious Bulgarian state exam--I think they are in some way comprehensive but I am not really sure what the deal is) so I lined my friends up for dinner on Monday night after school.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4937\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday CD!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4937\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/18/30-and-counting/img_8279/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4937 \" title=\"Birthday CD!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8279-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe hit up the restaurant <a title=\"Sun and Moon\" href=\"http://www.sunmoon.bg/\" target=\"_blank\">Sun and Moon</a> in downtown Sofia. It was great. <!--more-->The food was wonderful--as usual I might add. The restaurant is also a bakery and they serve vegetarian fare and hearty homemade bread. Last night the hits were the hummas, an olive spread and the baked goat cheese as well as the Thai tofu and an Indian lentil dish. I had a dish with broccoli and rice with was well spiced and cooked with coconut milk. It was good. Really good but the Indian dish and Thai dish were better.\r\n\r\nMost of my friends had never been to the restaurant before. I think they liked it. There was a little good-natured grumbling about not having meat on the menu. But that\'s to be expected.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4938\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Potted Flowers!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4938\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/18/30-and-counting/img_8266/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4938 \" title=\"Potted Flowers!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8266-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI was reminded of all the great friends I have in Sofia. A room full of them (and then some) to be precise. I never cease to be amazed by my wonderful friends. Smart and funny, open and inquisitive. Passionate and caring, thoughtful and considerate. I am not really sure how I got so lucky.\r\n\r\nI was showered with gifts and well-wishes for my birthday. The homemade earrings are wonderful. Matching set of red earrings and a ring have kept me smiling all day. The mood ring was a huge hit on Monday night and it continues to be. A scarf from the Berlin flea market screams European cool and spring. And the flowers I received are really brightening up my apartment.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4939\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"More Flowers!!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4939\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/18/30-and-counting/img_8268/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4939 \" title=\"More Flowers!!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8268-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nTwo of the flowers are potted plants. These will require a new level of responsibility and dedication from me.  Before Monday night my responsibilities were pretty minimal--take showers, don\'t drink spoiled milk and try to keep up with my laundry--now I\'ve got to water plants. I\'ve also got to try not to kill them. Man, I guess at 30 my carefree days are over...\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4940\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Three good cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4940\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/18/30-and-counting/img_8271/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4940 \" title=\"Three good cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8271-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI thought I\'d make some cupcakes to celebrate my birthday. When I was growing up my MoM would make me whatever cake I wanted for my birthday. Only my MoM isn\'t here to make me a cake. So now I have to look out for myself. My favorite cakes are either yellow cake with chocolate frosting or white cake with vanilla frosting. I am not a huge chocolate cake fan. Oh and I also love strawberry short cake but that\'s not really a birthday cake.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4941\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"24 broken cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4941\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/18/30-and-counting/img_8272/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4941 \" title=\"24 broken cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8272-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnyhow, I spent part of the day on Tuesday making cupcakes. They turned out so-so. The cake was good as was frosting but I had a really hard time getting the cupcakes out of the muffin tins. I guess I really needed the paper liners that go in muffin tins because the cupcakes ended coming out in two pieces. Top and bottom. And I did a fair amount of swearing. That\'s okay though because now I am 30.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4942\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Cupcakes with frosting glue\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4942\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/18/30-and-counting/img_8274/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4942 \" title=\"Cupcake halves\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8274-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe good thing about turning 30 is that it\'s really not any different than being 29. You\'re just a little smarter.\r\n\r\nLike me? After I got done swearing, I \"glued\" the cupcake tops and bottoms together with frosting. See how clever I am?!\r\n\r\nIt\'s because I am 30. I think. But it\'s a little hard to know. Today is just my first day of 30.','30 and Counting ','','publish','open','open','','30-and-counting','','','2011-05-17 18:12:05','2011-05-17 16:12:05','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=4935',0,'post','',10),(4936,1,'2011-05-17 17:22:10','2011-05-17 15:22:10','Today is my 30th birthday. The thing is I cheated a little bit and on Monday night I celebrated with friends and colleagues. It was really too perfect not to. We didn\'t have school on Tuesday because our 12th graders were taking the matura exam (some fairly serious Bulgarian state exam--I think they are in some way comprehensive but I am not really sure what the deal is) so I lined my friends up for dinner on Monday night after school.\n\nWe hit up the restaurant Sun and Moon in downtown Sofia. It was great. The food was wonderful--as usual I might add. The restaurant is also a bakery and they serve vegetarian fare and hearty homemade bread. Last night the hits were the hummas, an olive spread and the baked goat cheese as well as the Thai tofu and an Indian lentil dish. I had a dish with broccoli and rice with was well spiced and cooked with coconut milk. It was good. Really good but the Indian dish and Thai dish were better.\n\nMost of my friends had never been to the restaurant before. I think they liked it. There was a little good natured grumbling about not having meat on the menu. But that\'s to be expected.\n\nI was reminded of all the great friends I have in Sofia. A room full of them (and then some) to be precise. I never cease to be amazed by my wonderful friends. Smart and funny, open and inquisitive. Passionate and caring, thoughtful and considerate. I am not really sure how I got so lucky.\n\nI was showered with gifts and well-wishes for my birthday. The homemade earrings are wonderful. Matching set of red earrings and a ring have kept me smiling all day. The mood ring was a huge hit on Monday night and it continues to be. A scarf from the Berlin flea market screams European cool and spring. And the flowers I received are really brightening up my apartment.\n\nTwo of the flowers are potted plants. These will require a new level of responsibility and dedication from me.  Before Monday night my responsibilities were pretty minimal--take showers, don\'t drink spoiled milk and try to keep up with my laundry--now I\'ve got to water plants. I\'ve also got to try not to kill them. Man, I guess at 30 my carefree days are over...\n\nI thought I\'d make some cupcakes to celebrate my birthday. When I was growing up my MoM would make me whatever cake I wanted for my birthday. Only my MoM isn\'t here to make me a cake. So now I have to look out for myself. My favorite cakes are either yellow cake with chocolate frosting or white cake with vanilla frosting. I am not a huge chocolate cake fan. Oh and I also love strawberry short cake but that\'s not really a birthday cake.\n\nAnyhow, I spent part of the day on Tuesday making cupcakes. They turned out so-so. The cake was good as was frosting but I had a really hard time getting the cupcakes out of the muffin tins. I guess I really needed the paper liners that go in muffin tins because the cupcakes ended coming out in two pieces. Top and bottom. And I did a fair amount of swearing. That\'s okay though because now I am 30.\n\nThe good thing about turning 30 is that it\'s really not any different than being 29. Only now I can command a little more respect','30 and Counting ','','inherit','open','open','','4935-revision','','','2011-05-17 17:22:10','2011-05-17 15:22:10','',4935,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/17/4935-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4937,1,'2011-05-17 17:35:39','2011-05-17 15:35:39','','Birthday CD!','Birthday CD!','inherit','open','open','','img_8279','','','2011-05-17 17:35:39','2011-05-17 15:35:39','',4935,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8279.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4938,1,'2011-05-17 17:37:08','2011-05-17 15:37:08','','Potted Flowers!','Potted Flowers!','inherit','open','open','','img_8266','','','2011-05-17 17:37:08','2011-05-17 15:37:08','',4935,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8266.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4939,1,'2011-05-17 17:38:31','2011-05-17 15:38:31','','More Flowers!!','More Flowers!!','inherit','open','open','','img_8268','','','2011-05-17 17:38:31','2011-05-17 15:38:31','',4935,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8268.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4940,1,'2011-05-17 17:40:03','2011-05-17 15:40:03','','Three good cupcakes','Three good cupcakes','inherit','open','open','','img_8271','','','2011-05-17 17:40:03','2011-05-17 15:40:03','',4935,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8271.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4941,1,'2011-05-17 17:41:12','2011-05-17 15:41:12','','24 broken cupcakes','24 broken cupcakes','inherit','open','open','','img_8272','','','2011-05-17 17:41:12','2011-05-17 15:41:12','',4935,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8272.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4942,1,'2011-05-17 17:43:34','2011-05-17 15:43:34','','Cupcake halves','Cupcake halves','inherit','open','open','','img_8274','','','2011-05-17 17:43:34','2011-05-17 15:43:34','',4935,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8274.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4943,1,'2011-05-17 17:46:12','2011-05-17 15:46:12','','Birthday Cupcakes','Birthday Cupcakes','inherit','open','open','','img_8278','','','2011-05-17 17:46:12','2011-05-17 15:46:12','',4935,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8278.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4944,1,'2011-05-17 17:50:59','2011-05-17 15:50:59','Today is my 30th birthday. The thing is I cheated a little bit and on Monday night I celebrated with friends and colleagues. It was really too perfect not to. We didn\'t have school on Tuesday because our 12th graders were taking the matura exam (some fairly serious Bulgarian state exam--I think they are in some way comprehensive but I am not really sure what the deal is) so I lined my friends up for dinner on Monday night after school.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4937\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday CD!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4937\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4937\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4937 \" title=\"Birthday CD!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8279-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWe hit up the restaurant Sun and Moon in downtown Sofia. It was great. The food was wonderful--as usual I might add. The restaurant is also a bakery and they serve vegetarian fare and hearty homemade bread. Last night the hits were the hummas, an olive spread and the baked goat cheese as well as the Thai tofu and an Indian lentil dish. I had a dish with broccoli and rice with was well spiced and cooked with coconut milk. It was good. Really good but the Indian dish and Thai dish were better.\n\nMost of my friends had never been to the restaurant before. I think they liked it. There was a little good natured grumbling about not having meat on the menu. But that\'s to be expected.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4938\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Potted Flowers!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4938\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4938\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4938 \" title=\"Potted Flowers!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8266-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI was reminded of all the great friends I have in Sofia. A room full of them (and then some) to be precise. I never cease to be amazed by my wonderful friends. Smart and funny, open and inquisitive. Passionate and caring, thoughtful and considerate. I am not really sure how I got so lucky.\n\nI was showered with gifts and well-wishes for my birthday. The homemade earrings are wonderful. Matching set of red earrings and a ring have kept me smiling all day. The mood ring was a huge hit on Monday night and it continues to be. A scarf from the Berlin flea market screams European cool and spring. And the flowers I received are really brightening up my apartment.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4939\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"More Flowers!!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4939\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4939\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4939 \" title=\"More Flowers!!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8268-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nTwo of the flowers are potted plants. These will require a new level of responsibility and dedication from me.  Before Monday night my responsibilities were pretty minimal--take showers, don\'t drink spoiled milk and try to keep up with my laundry--now I\'ve got to water plants. I\'ve also got to try not to kill them. Man, I guess at 30 my carefree days are over...\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4940\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Three good cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4940\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4940\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4940 \" title=\"Three good cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8271-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI thought I\'d make some cupcakes to celebrate my birthday. When I was growing up my MoM would make me whatever cake I wanted for my birthday. Only my MoM isn\'t here to make me a cake. So now I have to look out for myself. My favorite cakes are either yellow cake with chocolate frosting or white cake with vanilla frosting. I am not a huge chocolate cake fan. Oh and I also love strawberry short cake but that\'s not really a birthday cake.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4941\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"24 broken cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4941\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4941\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4941 \" title=\"24 broken cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8272-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnyhow, I spent part of the day on Tuesday making cupcakes. They turned out so-so. The cake was good as was frosting but I had a really hard time getting the cupcakes out of the muffin tins. I guess I really needed the paper liners that go in muffin tins because the cupcakes ended coming out in two pieces. Top and bottom. And I did a fair amount of swearing. That\'s okay though because now I am 30.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4942\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Cupcake halves\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4942\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4942\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4942 \" title=\"Cupcake halves\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8274-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe good thing about turning 30 is that it\'s really not any different than being 29. You\'re just a little smarter. Like me? I \"glued\" the cupcake tops and bottoms together with frosting. Only now that I am 30 I can command a little more respect. Or not. Hard to know. Today is my first day of 30.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4943\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday Cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4943\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4943\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4943 \" title=\"Birthday Cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8278-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]','30 and Counting ','','inherit','open','open','','4935-revision-2','','','2011-05-17 17:50:59','2011-05-17 15:50:59','',4935,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/17/4935-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4945,1,'2011-05-17 17:51:17','2011-05-17 15:51:17','Today is my 30th birthday. The thing is I cheated a little bit and on Monday night I celebrated with friends and colleagues. It was really too perfect not to. We didn\'t have school on Tuesday because our 12th graders were taking the matura exam (some fairly serious Bulgarian state exam--I think they are in some way comprehensive but I am not really sure what the deal is) so I lined my friends up for dinner on Monday night after school.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4937\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday CD!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4937\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4937\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4937 \" title=\"Birthday CD!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8279-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe hit up the restaurant Sun and Moon in downtown Sofia. It was great. The food was wonderful--as usual I might add. The restaurant is also a bakery and they serve vegetarian fare and hearty homemade bread. Last night the hits were the hummas, an olive spread and the baked goat cheese as well as the Thai tofu and an Indian lentil dish. I had a dish with broccoli and rice with was well spiced and cooked with coconut milk. It was good. Really good but the Indian dish and Thai dish were better.\r\n\r\nMost of my friends had never been to the restaurant before. I think they liked it. There was a little good natured grumbling about not having meat on the menu. But that\'s to be expected.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4938\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Potted Flowers!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4938\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4938\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4938 \" title=\"Potted Flowers!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8266-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI was reminded of all the great friends I have in Sofia. A room full of them (and then some) to be precise. I never cease to be amazed by my wonderful friends. Smart and funny, open and inquisitive. Passionate and caring, thoughtful and considerate. I am not really sure how I got so lucky.\r\n\r\nI was showered with gifts and well-wishes for my birthday. The homemade earrings are wonderful. Matching set of red earrings and a ring have kept me smiling all day. The mood ring was a huge hit on Monday night and it continues to be. A scarf from the Berlin flea market screams European cool and spring. And the flowers I received are really brightening up my apartment.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4939\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"More Flowers!!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4939\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4939\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4939 \" title=\"More Flowers!!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8268-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nTwo of the flowers are potted plants. These will require a new level of responsibility and dedication from me.  Before Monday night my responsibilities were pretty minimal--take showers, don\'t drink spoiled milk and try to keep up with my laundry--now I\'ve got to water plants. I\'ve also got to try not to kill them. Man, I guess at 30 my carefree days are over...\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4940\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Three good cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4940\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4940\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4940 \" title=\"Three good cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8271-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI thought I\'d make some cupcakes to celebrate my birthday. When I was growing up my MoM would make me whatever cake I wanted for my birthday. Only my MoM isn\'t here to make me a cake. So now I have to look out for myself. My favorite cakes are either yellow cake with chocolate frosting or white cake with vanilla frosting. I am not a huge chocolate cake fan. Oh and I also love strawberry short cake but that\'s not really a birthday cake.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4941\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"24 broken cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4941\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4941\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4941 \" title=\"24 broken cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8272-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnyhow, I spent part of the day on Tuesday making cupcakes. They turned out so-so. The cake was good as was frosting but I had a really hard time getting the cupcakes out of the muffin tins. I guess I really needed the paper liners that go in muffin tins because the cupcakes ended coming out in two pieces. Top and bottom. And I did a fair amount of swearing. That\'s okay though because now I am 30.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4942\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Cupcake halves\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4942\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4942\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4942 \" title=\"Cupcake halves\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8274-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe good thing about turning 30 is that it\'s really not any different than being 29. You\'re just a little smarter. Like me? I \"glued\" the cupcake tops and bottoms together with frosting. Only now that I am 30 I can command a little more respect. Or not. Hard to know. Today is my first day of 30.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4943\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday Cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4943\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4943\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4943 \" title=\"Birthday Cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8278-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]','30 and Counting ','','inherit','open','open','','4935-revision-3','','','2011-05-17 17:51:17','2011-05-17 15:51:17','',4935,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/17/4935-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(4946,1,'2011-05-17 17:51:17','2011-05-17 15:51:17','Today is my 30th birthday. The thing is I cheated a little bit and on Monday night I celebrated with friends and colleagues. It was really too perfect not to. We didn\'t have school on Tuesday because our 12th graders were taking the matura exam (some fairly serious Bulgarian state exam--I think they are in some way comprehensive but I am not really sure what the deal is) so I lined my friends up for dinner on Monday night after school.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4937\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday CD!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4937\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4937\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4937 \" title=\"Birthday CD!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8279-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe hit up the restaurant Sun and Moon in downtown Sofia. It was great. The food was wonderful--as usual I might add. The restaurant is also a bakery and they serve vegetarian fare and hearty homemade bread. Last night the hits were the hummas, an olive spread and the baked goat cheese as well as the Thai tofu and an Indian lentil dish. I had a dish with broccoli and rice with was well spiced and cooked with coconut milk. It was good. Really good but the Indian dish and Thai dish were better.\r\n\r\nMost of my friends had never been to the restaurant before. I think they liked it. There was a little good natured grumbling about not having meat on the menu. But that\'s to be expected.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4938\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Potted Flowers!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4938\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4938\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4938 \" title=\"Potted Flowers!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8266-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI was reminded of all the great friends I have in Sofia. A room full of them (and then some) to be precise. I never cease to be amazed by my wonderful friends. Smart and funny, open and inquisitive. Passionate and caring, thoughtful and considerate. I am not really sure how I got so lucky.\r\n\r\nI was showered with gifts and well-wishes for my birthday. The homemade earrings are wonderful. Matching set of red earrings and a ring have kept me smiling all day. The mood ring was a huge hit on Monday night and it continues to be. A scarf from the Berlin flea market screams European cool and spring. And the flowers I received are really brightening up my apartment.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4939\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"More Flowers!!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4939\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4939\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4939 \" title=\"More Flowers!!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8268-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nTwo of the flowers are potted plants. These will require a new level of responsibility and dedication from me.  Before Monday night my responsibilities were pretty minimal--take showers, don\'t drink spoiled milk and try to keep up with my laundry--now I\'ve got to water plants. I\'ve also got to try not to kill them. Man, I guess at 30 my carefree days are over...\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4940\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Three good cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4940\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4940\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4940 \" title=\"Three good cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8271-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI thought I\'d make some cupcakes to celebrate my birthday. When I was growing up my MoM would make me whatever cake I wanted for my birthday. Only my MoM isn\'t here to make me a cake. So now I have to look out for myself. My favorite cakes are either yellow cake with chocolate frosting or white cake with vanilla frosting. I am not a huge chocolate cake fan. Oh and I also love strawberry short cake but that\'s not really a birthday cake.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4941\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"24 broken cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4941\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4941\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4941 \" title=\"24 broken cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8272-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnyhow, I spent part of the day on Tuesday making cupcakes. They turned out so-so. The cake was good as was frosting but I had a really hard time getting the cupcakes out of the muffin tins. I guess I really needed the paper liners that go in muffin tins because the cupcakes ended coming out in two pieces. Top and bottom. And I did a fair amount of swearing. That\'s okay though because now I am 30.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4942\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Cupcake halves\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4942\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4942\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4942 \" title=\"Cupcake halves\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8274-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe good thing about turning 30 is that it\'s really not any different than being 29. You\'re just a little smarter. Like me? I \"glued\" the cupcake tops and bottoms together with frosting. Only now that I am 30 I can command a little more respect. Or not. Hard to know. Today is my first day of 30.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4943\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday Cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4943\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4943\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4943 \" title=\"Birthday Cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8278-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]','30 and Counting ','','inherit','open','open','','4935-revision-4','','','2011-05-17 17:51:17','2011-05-17 15:51:17','',4935,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/17/4935-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(4947,1,'2011-05-17 17:51:19','2011-05-17 15:51:19','Today is my 30th birthday. The thing is I cheated a little bit and on Monday night I celebrated with friends and colleagues. It was really too perfect not to. We didn\'t have school on Tuesday because our 12th graders were taking the matura exam (some fairly serious Bulgarian state exam--I think they are in some way comprehensive but I am not really sure what the deal is) so I lined my friends up for dinner on Monday night after school.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4937\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday CD!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4937\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4937\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4937 \" title=\"Birthday CD!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8279-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe hit up the restaurant Sun and Moon in downtown Sofia. It was great. The food was wonderful--as usual I might add. The restaurant is also a bakery and they serve vegetarian fare and hearty homemade bread. Last night the hits were the hummas, an olive spread and the baked goat cheese as well as the Thai tofu and an Indian lentil dish. I had a dish with broccoli and rice with was well spiced and cooked with coconut milk. It was good. Really good but the Indian dish and Thai dish were better.\r\n\r\nMost of my friends had never been to the restaurant before. I think they liked it. There was a little good natured grumbling about not having meat on the menu. But that\'s to be expected.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4938\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Potted Flowers!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4938\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4938\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4938 \" title=\"Potted Flowers!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8266-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI was reminded of all the great friends I have in Sofia. A room full of them (and then some) to be precise. I never cease to be amazed by my wonderful friends. Smart and funny, open and inquisitive. Passionate and caring, thoughtful and considerate. I am not really sure how I got so lucky.\r\n\r\nI was showered with gifts and well-wishes for my birthday. The homemade earrings are wonderful. Matching set of red earrings and a ring have kept me smiling all day. The mood ring was a huge hit on Monday night and it continues to be. A scarf from the Berlin flea market screams European cool and spring. And the flowers I received are really brightening up my apartment.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4939\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"More Flowers!!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4939\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4939\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4939 \" title=\"More Flowers!!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8268-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nTwo of the flowers are potted plants. These will require a new level of responsibility and dedication from me.  Before Monday night my responsibilities were pretty minimal--take showers, don\'t drink spoiled milk and try to keep up with my laundry--now I\'ve got to water plants. I\'ve also got to try not to kill them. Man, I guess at 30 my carefree days are over...\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4940\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Three good cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4940\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4940\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4940 \" title=\"Three good cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8271-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI thought I\'d make some cupcakes to celebrate my birthday. When I was growing up my MoM would make me whatever cake I wanted for my birthday. Only my MoM isn\'t here to make me a cake. So now I have to look out for myself. My favorite cakes are either yellow cake with chocolate frosting or white cake with vanilla frosting. I am not a huge chocolate cake fan. Oh and I also love strawberry short cake but that\'s not really a birthday cake.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4941\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"24 broken cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4941\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4941\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4941 \" title=\"24 broken cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8272-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnyhow, I spent part of the day on Tuesday making cupcakes. They turned out so-so. The cake was good as was frosting but I had a really hard time getting the cupcakes out of the muffin tins. I guess I really needed the paper liners that go in muffin tins because the cupcakes ended coming out in two pieces. Top and bottom. And I did a fair amount of swearing. That\'s okay though because now I am 30.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4942\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Cupcake halves\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4942\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4942\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4942 \" title=\"Cupcake halves\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8274-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe good thing about turning 30 is that it\'s really not any different than being 29. You\'re just a little smarter. Like me? I \"glued\" the cupcake tops and bottoms together with frosting. Only now that I am 30 I can command a little more respect. Or not. Hard to know. Today is my first day of 30.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4943\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday Cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4943\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4943\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4943 \" title=\"Birthday Cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8278-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]','30 and Counting ','','inherit','open','open','','4935-revision-5','','','2011-05-17 17:51:19','2011-05-17 15:51:19','',4935,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/17/4935-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(4948,1,'2011-05-17 17:54:21','2011-05-17 15:54:21','[caption id=\"attachment_4943\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday Cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4943\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4943\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4943 \" title=\"Birthday Cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8278-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nToday is my 30th birthday.\n\nThe thing is I cheated a little bit and on Monday night I celebrated early with friends and colleagues. It was really too perfect not to. We didn\'t have school on Tuesday because our 12th graders were taking the matura exam (some fairly serious Bulgarian state exam--I think they are in some way comprehensive but I am not really sure what the deal is) so I lined my friends up for dinner on Monday night after school.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4937\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday CD!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4937\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4937\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4937 \" title=\"Birthday CD!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8279-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWe hit up the restaurant Sun and Moon in downtown Sofia. It was great. The food was wonderful--as usual I might add. The restaurant is also a bakery and they serve vegetarian fare and hearty homemade bread. Last night the hits were the hummas, an olive spread and the baked goat cheese as well as the Thai tofu and an Indian lentil dish. I had a dish with broccoli and rice with was well spiced and cooked with coconut milk. It was good. Really good but the Indian dish and Thai dish were better.\n\nMost of my friends had never been to the restaurant before. I think they liked it. There was a little good natured grumbling about not having meat on the menu. But that\'s to be expected.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4938\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Potted Flowers!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4938\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4938\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4938 \" title=\"Potted Flowers!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8266-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI was reminded of all the great friends I have in Sofia. A room full of them (and then some) to be precise. I never cease to be amazed by my wonderful friends. Smart and funny, open and inquisitive. Passionate and caring, thoughtful and considerate. I am not really sure how I got so lucky.\n\nI was showered with gifts and well-wishes for my birthday. The homemade earrings are wonderful. Matching set of red earrings and a ring have kept me smiling all day. The mood ring was a huge hit on Monday night and it continues to be. A scarf from the Berlin flea market screams European cool and spring. And the flowers I received are really brightening up my apartment.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4939\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"More Flowers!!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4939\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4939\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4939 \" title=\"More Flowers!!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8268-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nTwo of the flowers are potted plants. These will require a new level of responsibility and dedication from me.  Before Monday night my responsibilities were pretty minimal--take showers, don\'t drink spoiled milk and try to keep up with my laundry--now I\'ve got to water plants. I\'ve also got to try not to kill them. Man, I guess at 30 my carefree days are over...\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4940\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Three good cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4940\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4940\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4940 \" title=\"Three good cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8271-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI thought I\'d make some cupcakes to celebrate my birthday. When I was growing up my MoM would make me whatever cake I wanted for my birthday. Only my MoM isn\'t here to make me a cake. So now I have to look out for myself. My favorite cakes are either yellow cake with chocolate frosting or white cake with vanilla frosting. I am not a huge chocolate cake fan. Oh and I also love strawberry short cake but that\'s not really a birthday cake.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4941\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"24 broken cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4941\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4941\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4941 \" title=\"24 broken cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8272-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnyhow, I spent part of the day on Tuesday making cupcakes. They turned out so-so. The cake was good as was frosting but I had a really hard time getting the cupcakes out of the muffin tins. I guess I really needed the paper liners that go in muffin tins because the cupcakes ended coming out in two pieces. Top and bottom. And I did a fair amount of swearing. That\'s okay though because now I am 30.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4942\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Cupcake halves\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4942\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4942\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4942 \" title=\"Cupcake halves\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8274-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe good thing about turning 30 is that it\'s really not any different than being 29. You\'re just a little smarter. Like me? I \"glued\" the cupcake tops and bottoms together with frosting. Only now that I am 30 I can command a little more respect. Or not. Hard to know. Today is my first day of 30.','30 and Counting ','','inherit','open','open','','4935-revision-6','','','2011-05-17 17:54:21','2011-05-17 15:54:21','',4935,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/17/4935-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(4949,1,'2011-05-17 17:54:57','2011-05-17 15:54:57','[caption id=\"attachment_4943\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday Cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4943\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4943\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4943 \" title=\"Birthday Cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8278-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nToday is my 30th birthday.\r\n\r\nThe thing is I cheated a little bit and on Monday night I celebrated early with friends and colleagues. It was really too perfect not to. We didn\'t have school on Tuesday because our 12th graders were taking the matura exam (some fairly serious Bulgarian state exam--I think they are in some way comprehensive but I am not really sure what the deal is) so I lined my friends up for dinner on Monday night after school.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4937\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday CD!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4937\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4937\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4937 \" title=\"Birthday CD!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8279-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe hit up the restaurant Sun and Moon in downtown Sofia. It was great. The food was wonderful--as usual I might add. The restaurant is also a bakery and they serve vegetarian fare and hearty homemade bread. Last night the hits were the hummas, an olive spread and the baked goat cheese as well as the Thai tofu and an Indian lentil dish. I had a dish with broccoli and rice with was well spiced and cooked with coconut milk. It was good. Really good but the Indian dish and Thai dish were better.\r\n\r\nMost of my friends had never been to the restaurant before. I think they liked it. There was a little good natured grumbling about not having meat on the menu. But that\'s to be expected.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4938\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Potted Flowers!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4938\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4938\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4938 \" title=\"Potted Flowers!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8266-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI was reminded of all the great friends I have in Sofia. A room full of them (and then some) to be precise. I never cease to be amazed by my wonderful friends. Smart and funny, open and inquisitive. Passionate and caring, thoughtful and considerate. I am not really sure how I got so lucky.\r\n\r\nI was showered with gifts and well-wishes for my birthday. The homemade earrings are wonderful. Matching set of red earrings and a ring have kept me smiling all day. The mood ring was a huge hit on Monday night and it continues to be. A scarf from the Berlin flea market screams European cool and spring. And the flowers I received are really brightening up my apartment.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4939\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"More Flowers!!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4939\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4939\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4939 \" title=\"More Flowers!!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8268-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nTwo of the flowers are potted plants. These will require a new level of responsibility and dedication from me.  Before Monday night my responsibilities were pretty minimal--take showers, don\'t drink spoiled milk and try to keep up with my laundry--now I\'ve got to water plants. I\'ve also got to try not to kill them. Man, I guess at 30 my carefree days are over...\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4940\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Three good cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4940\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4940\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4940 \" title=\"Three good cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8271-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI thought I\'d make some cupcakes to celebrate my birthday. When I was growing up my MoM would make me whatever cake I wanted for my birthday. Only my MoM isn\'t here to make me a cake. So now I have to look out for myself. My favorite cakes are either yellow cake with chocolate frosting or white cake with vanilla frosting. I am not a huge chocolate cake fan. Oh and I also love strawberry short cake but that\'s not really a birthday cake.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4941\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"24 broken cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4941\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4941\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4941 \" title=\"24 broken cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8272-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnyhow, I spent part of the day on Tuesday making cupcakes. They turned out so-so. The cake was good as was frosting but I had a really hard time getting the cupcakes out of the muffin tins. I guess I really needed the paper liners that go in muffin tins because the cupcakes ended coming out in two pieces. Top and bottom. And I did a fair amount of swearing. That\'s okay though because now I am 30.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4942\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Cupcakes with frosting glue\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4942\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4942\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4942 \" title=\"Cupcake halves\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8274-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe good thing about turning 30 is that it\'s really not any different than being 29. You\'re just a little smarter. Like me? I \"glued\" the cupcake tops and bottoms together with frosting. Only now that I am 30 I can command a little more respect. Or not. Hard to know. Today is my first day of 30.','30 and Counting ','','inherit','open','open','','4935-revision-7','','','2011-05-17 17:54:57','2011-05-17 15:54:57','',4935,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/17/4935-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(4950,1,'2011-05-17 17:54:57','2011-05-17 15:54:57','[caption id=\"attachment_4943\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday Cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4943\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4943\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4943 \" title=\"Birthday Cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8278-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nToday is my 30th birthday.\r\n\r\nThe thing is I cheated a little bit and on Monday night I celebrated early with friends and colleagues. It was really too perfect not to. We didn\'t have school on Tuesday because our 12th graders were taking the matura exam (some fairly serious Bulgarian state exam--I think they are in some way comprehensive but I am not really sure what the deal is) so I lined my friends up for dinner on Monday night after school.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4937\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday CD!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4937\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4937\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4937 \" title=\"Birthday CD!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8279-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe hit up the restaurant Sun and Moon in downtown Sofia. It was great. The food was wonderful--as usual I might add. The restaurant is also a bakery and they serve vegetarian fare and hearty homemade bread. Last night the hits were the hummas, an olive spread and the baked goat cheese as well as the Thai tofu and an Indian lentil dish. I had a dish with broccoli and rice with was well spiced and cooked with coconut milk. It was good. Really good but the Indian dish and Thai dish were better.\r\n\r\nMost of my friends had never been to the restaurant before. I think they liked it. There was a little good natured grumbling about not having meat on the menu. But that\'s to be expected.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4938\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Potted Flowers!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4938\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4938\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4938 \" title=\"Potted Flowers!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8266-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI was reminded of all the great friends I have in Sofia. A room full of them (and then some) to be precise. I never cease to be amazed by my wonderful friends. Smart and funny, open and inquisitive. Passionate and caring, thoughtful and considerate. I am not really sure how I got so lucky.\r\n\r\nI was showered with gifts and well-wishes for my birthday. The homemade earrings are wonderful. Matching set of red earrings and a ring have kept me smiling all day. The mood ring was a huge hit on Monday night and it continues to be. A scarf from the Berlin flea market screams European cool and spring. And the flowers I received are really brightening up my apartment.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4939\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"More Flowers!!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4939\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4939\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4939 \" title=\"More Flowers!!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8268-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nTwo of the flowers are potted plants. These will require a new level of responsibility and dedication from me.  Before Monday night my responsibilities were pretty minimal--take showers, don\'t drink spoiled milk and try to keep up with my laundry--now I\'ve got to water plants. I\'ve also got to try not to kill them. Man, I guess at 30 my carefree days are over...\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4940\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Three good cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4940\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4940\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4940 \" title=\"Three good cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8271-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI thought I\'d make some cupcakes to celebrate my birthday. When I was growing up my MoM would make me whatever cake I wanted for my birthday. Only my MoM isn\'t here to make me a cake. So now I have to look out for myself. My favorite cakes are either yellow cake with chocolate frosting or white cake with vanilla frosting. I am not a huge chocolate cake fan. Oh and I also love strawberry short cake but that\'s not really a birthday cake.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4941\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"24 broken cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4941\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4941\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4941 \" title=\"24 broken cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8272-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnyhow, I spent part of the day on Tuesday making cupcakes. They turned out so-so. The cake was good as was frosting but I had a really hard time getting the cupcakes out of the muffin tins. I guess I really needed the paper liners that go in muffin tins because the cupcakes ended coming out in two pieces. Top and bottom. And I did a fair amount of swearing. That\'s okay though because now I am 30.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4942\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Cupcakes with frosting glue\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4942\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4942\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4942 \" title=\"Cupcake halves\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8274-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe good thing about turning 30 is that it\'s really not any different than being 29. You\'re just a little smarter. Like me? I \"glued\" the cupcake tops and bottoms together with frosting. Only now that I am 30 I can command a little more respect. Or not. Hard to know. Today is my first day of 30.','30 and Counting ','','inherit','open','open','','4935-revision-8','','','2011-05-17 17:54:57','2011-05-17 15:54:57','',4935,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/17/4935-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(4951,1,'2011-05-17 17:54:59','2011-05-17 15:54:59','[caption id=\"attachment_4943\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday Cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4943\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4943\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4943 \" title=\"Birthday Cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8278-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nToday is my 30th birthday.\r\n\r\nThe thing is I cheated a little bit and on Monday night I celebrated early with friends and colleagues. It was really too perfect not to. We didn\'t have school on Tuesday because our 12th graders were taking the matura exam (some fairly serious Bulgarian state exam--I think they are in some way comprehensive but I am not really sure what the deal is) so I lined my friends up for dinner on Monday night after school.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4937\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday CD!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4937\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4937\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4937 \" title=\"Birthday CD!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8279-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe hit up the restaurant Sun and Moon in downtown Sofia. It was great. The food was wonderful--as usual I might add. The restaurant is also a bakery and they serve vegetarian fare and hearty homemade bread. Last night the hits were the hummas, an olive spread and the baked goat cheese as well as the Thai tofu and an Indian lentil dish. I had a dish with broccoli and rice with was well spiced and cooked with coconut milk. It was good. Really good but the Indian dish and Thai dish were better.\r\n\r\nMost of my friends had never been to the restaurant before. I think they liked it. There was a little good natured grumbling about not having meat on the menu. But that\'s to be expected.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4938\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Potted Flowers!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4938\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4938\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4938 \" title=\"Potted Flowers!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8266-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI was reminded of all the great friends I have in Sofia. A room full of them (and then some) to be precise. I never cease to be amazed by my wonderful friends. Smart and funny, open and inquisitive. Passionate and caring, thoughtful and considerate. I am not really sure how I got so lucky.\r\n\r\nI was showered with gifts and well-wishes for my birthday. The homemade earrings are wonderful. Matching set of red earrings and a ring have kept me smiling all day. The mood ring was a huge hit on Monday night and it continues to be. A scarf from the Berlin flea market screams European cool and spring. And the flowers I received are really brightening up my apartment.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4939\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"More Flowers!!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4939\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4939\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4939 \" title=\"More Flowers!!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8268-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nTwo of the flowers are potted plants. These will require a new level of responsibility and dedication from me.  Before Monday night my responsibilities were pretty minimal--take showers, don\'t drink spoiled milk and try to keep up with my laundry--now I\'ve got to water plants. I\'ve also got to try not to kill them. Man, I guess at 30 my carefree days are over...\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4940\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Three good cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4940\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4940\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4940 \" title=\"Three good cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8271-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI thought I\'d make some cupcakes to celebrate my birthday. When I was growing up my MoM would make me whatever cake I wanted for my birthday. Only my MoM isn\'t here to make me a cake. So now I have to look out for myself. My favorite cakes are either yellow cake with chocolate frosting or white cake with vanilla frosting. I am not a huge chocolate cake fan. Oh and I also love strawberry short cake but that\'s not really a birthday cake.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4941\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"24 broken cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4941\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4941\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4941 \" title=\"24 broken cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8272-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnyhow, I spent part of the day on Tuesday making cupcakes. They turned out so-so. The cake was good as was frosting but I had a really hard time getting the cupcakes out of the muffin tins. I guess I really needed the paper liners that go in muffin tins because the cupcakes ended coming out in two pieces. Top and bottom. And I did a fair amount of swearing. That\'s okay though because now I am 30.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4942\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Cupcakes with frosting glue\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4942\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4942\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4942 \" title=\"Cupcake halves\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8274-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe good thing about turning 30 is that it\'s really not any different than being 29. You\'re just a little smarter. Like me? I \"glued\" the cupcake tops and bottoms together with frosting. Only now that I am 30 I can command a little more respect. Or not. Hard to know. Today is my first day of 30.','30 and Counting ','','inherit','open','open','','4935-revision-9','','','2011-05-17 17:54:59','2011-05-17 15:54:59','',4935,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/17/4935-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(4952,1,'2011-05-17 18:06:06','2011-05-17 16:06:06','[caption id=\"attachment_4943\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday Cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4943\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4943\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4943 \" title=\"Birthday Cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8278-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nToday is my 30th birthday.\n\nThe thing is I cheated a little bit and on Monday night I celebrated early with friends and colleagues. It was really too perfect not to. We didn\'t have school on Tuesday because our 12th graders were taking the matura exam (some fairly serious Bulgarian state exam--I think they are in some way comprehensive but I am not really sure what the deal is) so I lined my friends up for dinner on Monday night after school.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4937\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday CD!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4937\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4937\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4937 \" title=\"Birthday CD!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8279-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWe hit up the restaurant Sun and Moon in downtown Sofia. It was great. The food was wonderful--as usual I might add. The restaurant is also a bakery and they serve vegetarian fare and hearty homemade bread. Last night the hits were the hummas, an olive spread and the baked goat cheese as well as the Thai tofu and an Indian lentil dish. I had a dish with broccoli and rice with was well spiced and cooked with coconut milk. It was good. Really good but the Indian dish and Thai dish were better.\n\nMost of my friends had never been to the restaurant before. I think they liked it. There was a little good natured grumbling about not having meat on the menu. But that\'s to be expected.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4938\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Potted Flowers!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4938\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4938\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4938 \" title=\"Potted Flowers!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8266-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI was reminded of all the great friends I have in Sofia. A room full of them (and then some) to be precise. I never cease to be amazed by my wonderful friends. Smart and funny, open and inquisitive. Passionate and caring, thoughtful and considerate. I am not really sure how I got so lucky.\n\nI was showered with gifts and well-wishes for my birthday. The homemade earrings are wonderful. Matching set of red earrings and a ring have kept me smiling all day. The mood ring was a huge hit on Monday night and it continues to be. A scarf from the Berlin flea market screams European cool and spring. And the flowers I received are really brightening up my apartment.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4939\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"More Flowers!!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4939\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4939\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4939 \" title=\"More Flowers!!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8268-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nTwo of the flowers are potted plants. These will require a new level of responsibility and dedication from me.  Before Monday night my responsibilities were pretty minimal--take showers, don\'t drink spoiled milk and try to keep up with my laundry--now I\'ve got to water plants. I\'ve also got to try not to kill them. Man, I guess at 30 my carefree days are over...\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4940\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Three good cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4940\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4940\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4940 \" title=\"Three good cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8271-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI thought I\'d make some cupcakes to celebrate my birthday. When I was growing up my MoM would make me whatever cake I wanted for my birthday. Only my MoM isn\'t here to make me a cake. So now I have to look out for myself. My favorite cakes are either yellow cake with chocolate frosting or white cake with vanilla frosting. I am not a huge chocolate cake fan. Oh and I also love strawberry short cake but that\'s not really a birthday cake.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4941\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"24 broken cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4941\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4941\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4941 \" title=\"24 broken cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8272-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnyhow, I spent part of the day on Tuesday making cupcakes. They turned out so-so. The cake was good as was frosting but I had a really hard time getting the cupcakes out of the muffin tins. I guess I really needed the paper liners that go in muffin tins because the cupcakes ended coming out in two pieces. Top and bottom. And I did a fair amount of swearing. That\'s okay though because now I am 30.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4942\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Cupcakes with frosting glue\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4942\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4942\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4942 \" title=\"Cupcake halves\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8274-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe good thing about turning 30 is that it\'s really not any different than being 29. You\'re just a little smarter.\n\nLike me? After I got done swearing, I \"glued\" the cupcake tops and bottoms together with frosting. See how clever I am?!\n\nIt\'s because I am 30. I think. But it\'s a little hard to know. Today is just my first day of 30.','30 and Counting ','','inherit','open','open','','4935-revision-10','','','2011-05-17 18:06:06','2011-05-17 16:06:06','',4935,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/17/4935-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(4953,1,'2011-05-17 18:06:13','2011-05-17 16:06:13','[caption id=\"attachment_4943\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday Cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4943\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4943\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4943 \" title=\"Birthday Cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8278-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nToday is my 30th birthday.\r\n\r\nThe thing is I cheated a little bit and on Monday night I celebrated early with friends and colleagues. It was really too perfect not to. We didn\'t have school on Tuesday because our 12th graders were taking the matura exam (some fairly serious Bulgarian state exam--I think they are in some way comprehensive but I am not really sure what the deal is) so I lined my friends up for dinner on Monday night after school.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4937\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday CD!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4937\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4937\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4937 \" title=\"Birthday CD!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8279-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe hit up the restaurant Sun and Moon in downtown Sofia. It was great. The food was wonderful--as usual I might add. The restaurant is also a bakery and they serve vegetarian fare and hearty homemade bread. Last night the hits were the hummas, an olive spread and the baked goat cheese as well as the Thai tofu and an Indian lentil dish. I had a dish with broccoli and rice with was well spiced and cooked with coconut milk. It was good. Really good but the Indian dish and Thai dish were better.\r\n\r\nMost of my friends had never been to the restaurant before. I think they liked it. There was a little good natured grumbling about not having meat on the menu. But that\'s to be expected.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4938\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Potted Flowers!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4938\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4938\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4938 \" title=\"Potted Flowers!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8266-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI was reminded of all the great friends I have in Sofia. A room full of them (and then some) to be precise. I never cease to be amazed by my wonderful friends. Smart and funny, open and inquisitive. Passionate and caring, thoughtful and considerate. I am not really sure how I got so lucky.\r\n\r\nI was showered with gifts and well-wishes for my birthday. The homemade earrings are wonderful. Matching set of red earrings and a ring have kept me smiling all day. The mood ring was a huge hit on Monday night and it continues to be. A scarf from the Berlin flea market screams European cool and spring. And the flowers I received are really brightening up my apartment.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4939\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"More Flowers!!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4939\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4939\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4939 \" title=\"More Flowers!!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8268-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nTwo of the flowers are potted plants. These will require a new level of responsibility and dedication from me.  Before Monday night my responsibilities were pretty minimal--take showers, don\'t drink spoiled milk and try to keep up with my laundry--now I\'ve got to water plants. I\'ve also got to try not to kill them. Man, I guess at 30 my carefree days are over...\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4940\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Three good cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4940\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4940\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4940 \" title=\"Three good cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8271-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI thought I\'d make some cupcakes to celebrate my birthday. When I was growing up my MoM would make me whatever cake I wanted for my birthday. Only my MoM isn\'t here to make me a cake. So now I have to look out for myself. My favorite cakes are either yellow cake with chocolate frosting or white cake with vanilla frosting. I am not a huge chocolate cake fan. Oh and I also love strawberry short cake but that\'s not really a birthday cake.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4941\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"24 broken cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4941\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4941\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4941 \" title=\"24 broken cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8272-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnyhow, I spent part of the day on Tuesday making cupcakes. They turned out so-so. The cake was good as was frosting but I had a really hard time getting the cupcakes out of the muffin tins. I guess I really needed the paper liners that go in muffin tins because the cupcakes ended coming out in two pieces. Top and bottom. And I did a fair amount of swearing. That\'s okay though because now I am 30.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4942\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Cupcakes with frosting glue\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4942\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4942\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4942 \" title=\"Cupcake halves\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8274-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe good thing about turning 30 is that it\'s really not any different than being 29. You\'re just a little smarter.\r\n\r\nLike me? After I got done swearing, I \"glued\" the cupcake tops and bottoms together with frosting. See how clever I am?!\r\n\r\nIt\'s because I am 30. I think. But it\'s a little hard to know. Today is just my first day of 30.','30 and Counting ','','inherit','open','open','','4935-revision-11','','','2011-05-17 18:06:13','2011-05-17 16:06:13','',4935,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/17/4935-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(4954,1,'2011-05-17 18:06:13','2011-05-17 16:06:13','[caption id=\"attachment_4943\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday Cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4943\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4943\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4943 \" title=\"Birthday Cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8278-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nToday is my 30th birthday.\r\n\r\nThe thing is I cheated a little bit and on Monday night I celebrated early with friends and colleagues. It was really too perfect not to. We didn\'t have school on Tuesday because our 12th graders were taking the matura exam (some fairly serious Bulgarian state exam--I think they are in some way comprehensive but I am not really sure what the deal is) so I lined my friends up for dinner on Monday night after school.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4937\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday CD!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4937\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4937\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4937 \" title=\"Birthday CD!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8279-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe hit up the restaurant Sun and Moon in downtown Sofia. It was great. The food was wonderful--as usual I might add. The restaurant is also a bakery and they serve vegetarian fare and hearty homemade bread. Last night the hits were the hummas, an olive spread and the baked goat cheese as well as the Thai tofu and an Indian lentil dish. I had a dish with broccoli and rice with was well spiced and cooked with coconut milk. It was good. Really good but the Indian dish and Thai dish were better.\r\n\r\nMost of my friends had never been to the restaurant before. I think they liked it. There was a little good natured grumbling about not having meat on the menu. But that\'s to be expected.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4938\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Potted Flowers!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4938\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4938\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4938 \" title=\"Potted Flowers!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8266-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI was reminded of all the great friends I have in Sofia. A room full of them (and then some) to be precise. I never cease to be amazed by my wonderful friends. Smart and funny, open and inquisitive. Passionate and caring, thoughtful and considerate. I am not really sure how I got so lucky.\r\n\r\nI was showered with gifts and well-wishes for my birthday. The homemade earrings are wonderful. Matching set of red earrings and a ring have kept me smiling all day. The mood ring was a huge hit on Monday night and it continues to be. A scarf from the Berlin flea market screams European cool and spring. And the flowers I received are really brightening up my apartment.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4939\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"More Flowers!!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4939\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4939\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4939 \" title=\"More Flowers!!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8268-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nTwo of the flowers are potted plants. These will require a new level of responsibility and dedication from me.  Before Monday night my responsibilities were pretty minimal--take showers, don\'t drink spoiled milk and try to keep up with my laundry--now I\'ve got to water plants. I\'ve also got to try not to kill them. Man, I guess at 30 my carefree days are over...\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4940\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Three good cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4940\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4940\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4940 \" title=\"Three good cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8271-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI thought I\'d make some cupcakes to celebrate my birthday. When I was growing up my MoM would make me whatever cake I wanted for my birthday. Only my MoM isn\'t here to make me a cake. So now I have to look out for myself. My favorite cakes are either yellow cake with chocolate frosting or white cake with vanilla frosting. I am not a huge chocolate cake fan. Oh and I also love strawberry short cake but that\'s not really a birthday cake.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4941\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"24 broken cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4941\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4941\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4941 \" title=\"24 broken cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8272-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnyhow, I spent part of the day on Tuesday making cupcakes. They turned out so-so. The cake was good as was frosting but I had a really hard time getting the cupcakes out of the muffin tins. I guess I really needed the paper liners that go in muffin tins because the cupcakes ended coming out in two pieces. Top and bottom. And I did a fair amount of swearing. That\'s okay though because now I am 30.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4942\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Cupcakes with frosting glue\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4942\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4942\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4942 \" title=\"Cupcake halves\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8274-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe good thing about turning 30 is that it\'s really not any different than being 29. You\'re just a little smarter.\r\n\r\nLike me? After I got done swearing, I \"glued\" the cupcake tops and bottoms together with frosting. See how clever I am?!\r\n\r\nIt\'s because I am 30. I think. But it\'s a little hard to know. Today is just my first day of 30.','30 and Counting ','','inherit','open','open','','4935-revision-12','','','2011-05-17 18:06:13','2011-05-17 16:06:13','',4935,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/17/4935-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(4955,1,'2011-05-17 18:06:14','2011-05-17 16:06:14','[caption id=\"attachment_4943\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday Cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4943\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4943\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4943 \" title=\"Birthday Cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8278-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nToday is my 30th birthday.\r\n\r\nThe thing is I cheated a little bit and on Monday night I celebrated early with friends and colleagues. It was really too perfect not to. We didn\'t have school on Tuesday because our 12th graders were taking the matura exam (some fairly serious Bulgarian state exam--I think they are in some way comprehensive but I am not really sure what the deal is) so I lined my friends up for dinner on Monday night after school.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4937\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday CD!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4937\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4937\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4937 \" title=\"Birthday CD!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8279-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe hit up the restaurant Sun and Moon in downtown Sofia. It was great. The food was wonderful--as usual I might add. The restaurant is also a bakery and they serve vegetarian fare and hearty homemade bread. Last night the hits were the hummas, an olive spread and the baked goat cheese as well as the Thai tofu and an Indian lentil dish. I had a dish with broccoli and rice with was well spiced and cooked with coconut milk. It was good. Really good but the Indian dish and Thai dish were better.\r\n\r\nMost of my friends had never been to the restaurant before. I think they liked it. There was a little good natured grumbling about not having meat on the menu. But that\'s to be expected.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4938\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Potted Flowers!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4938\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4938\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4938 \" title=\"Potted Flowers!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8266-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI was reminded of all the great friends I have in Sofia. A room full of them (and then some) to be precise. I never cease to be amazed by my wonderful friends. Smart and funny, open and inquisitive. Passionate and caring, thoughtful and considerate. I am not really sure how I got so lucky.\r\n\r\nI was showered with gifts and well-wishes for my birthday. The homemade earrings are wonderful. Matching set of red earrings and a ring have kept me smiling all day. The mood ring was a huge hit on Monday night and it continues to be. A scarf from the Berlin flea market screams European cool and spring. And the flowers I received are really brightening up my apartment.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4939\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"More Flowers!!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4939\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4939\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4939 \" title=\"More Flowers!!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8268-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nTwo of the flowers are potted plants. These will require a new level of responsibility and dedication from me.  Before Monday night my responsibilities were pretty minimal--take showers, don\'t drink spoiled milk and try to keep up with my laundry--now I\'ve got to water plants. I\'ve also got to try not to kill them. Man, I guess at 30 my carefree days are over...\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4940\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Three good cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4940\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4940\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4940 \" title=\"Three good cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8271-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI thought I\'d make some cupcakes to celebrate my birthday. When I was growing up my MoM would make me whatever cake I wanted for my birthday. Only my MoM isn\'t here to make me a cake. So now I have to look out for myself. My favorite cakes are either yellow cake with chocolate frosting or white cake with vanilla frosting. I am not a huge chocolate cake fan. Oh and I also love strawberry short cake but that\'s not really a birthday cake.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4941\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"24 broken cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4941\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4941\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4941 \" title=\"24 broken cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8272-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnyhow, I spent part of the day on Tuesday making cupcakes. They turned out so-so. The cake was good as was frosting but I had a really hard time getting the cupcakes out of the muffin tins. I guess I really needed the paper liners that go in muffin tins because the cupcakes ended coming out in two pieces. Top and bottom. And I did a fair amount of swearing. That\'s okay though because now I am 30.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4942\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Cupcakes with frosting glue\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4942\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4942\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4942 \" title=\"Cupcake halves\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8274-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe good thing about turning 30 is that it\'s really not any different than being 29. You\'re just a little smarter.\r\n\r\nLike me? After I got done swearing, I \"glued\" the cupcake tops and bottoms together with frosting. See how clever I am?!\r\n\r\nIt\'s because I am 30. I think. But it\'s a little hard to know. Today is just my first day of 30.','30 and Counting ','','inherit','open','open','','4935-revision-13','','','2011-05-17 18:06:14','2011-05-17 16:06:14','',4935,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/17/4935-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(4956,1,'2011-05-17 18:11:19','2011-05-17 16:11:19','[caption id=\"attachment_4943\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday Cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4943\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4943\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4943 \" title=\"Birthday Cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8278-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nToday is my 30th birthday.\n\nThe thing is I cheated a little bit and on Monday night I celebrated early with friends and colleagues. It was really too perfect not to. We didn\'t have school on Tuesday because our 12th graders were taking the matura exam (some fairly serious Bulgarian state exam--I think they are in some way comprehensive but I am not really sure what the deal is) so I lined my friends up for dinner on Monday night after school.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4937\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday CD!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4937\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4937\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4937 \" title=\"Birthday CD!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8279-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWe hit up the restaurant <a title=\"Sun and Moon\" href=\"http://www.sunmoon.bg/\" target=\"_blank\">Sun and Moon</a> in downtown Sofia. It was great. The food was wonderful--as usual I might add. The restaurant is also a bakery and they serve vegetarian fare and hearty homemade bread. Last night the hits were the hummas, an olive spread and the baked goat cheese as well as the Thai tofu and an Indian lentil dish. I had a dish with broccoli and rice with was well spiced and cooked with coconut milk. It was good. Really good but the Indian dish and Thai dish were better.\n\nMost of my friends had never been to the restaurant before. I think they liked it. There was a little good-natured grumbling about not having meat on the menu. But that\'s to be expected.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4938\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Potted Flowers!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4938\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4938\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4938 \" title=\"Potted Flowers!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8266-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI was reminded of all the great friends I have in Sofia. A room full of them (and then some) to be precise. I never cease to be amazed by my wonderful friends. Smart and funny, open and inquisitive. Passionate and caring, thoughtful and considerate. I am not really sure how I got so lucky.\n\nI was showered with gifts and well-wishes for my birthday. The homemade earrings are wonderful. Matching set of red earrings and a ring have kept me smiling all day. The mood ring was a huge hit on Monday night and it continues to be. A scarf from the Berlin flea market screams European cool and spring. And the flowers I received are really brightening up my apartment.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4939\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"More Flowers!!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4939\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4939\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4939 \" title=\"More Flowers!!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8268-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nTwo of the flowers are potted plants. These will require a new level of responsibility and dedication from me.  Before Monday night my responsibilities were pretty minimal--take showers, don\'t drink spoiled milk and try to keep up with my laundry--now I\'ve got to water plants. I\'ve also got to try not to kill them. Man, I guess at 30 my carefree days are over...\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4940\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Three good cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4940\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4940\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4940 \" title=\"Three good cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8271-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI thought I\'d make some cupcakes to celebrate my birthday. When I was growing up my MoM would make me whatever cake I wanted for my birthday. Only my MoM isn\'t here to make me a cake. So now I have to look out for myself. My favorite cakes are either yellow cake with chocolate frosting or white cake with vanilla frosting. I am not a huge chocolate cake fan. Oh and I also love strawberry short cake but that\'s not really a birthday cake.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4941\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"24 broken cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4941\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4941\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4941 \" title=\"24 broken cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8272-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnyhow, I spent part of the day on Tuesday making cupcakes. They turned out so-so. The cake was good as was frosting but I had a really hard time getting the cupcakes out of the muffin tins. I guess I really needed the paper liners that go in muffin tins because the cupcakes ended coming out in two pieces. Top and bottom. And I did a fair amount of swearing. That\'s okay though because now I am 30.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4942\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Cupcakes with frosting glue\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4942\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4942\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4942 \" title=\"Cupcake halves\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8274-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe good thing about turning 30 is that it\'s really not any different than being 29. You\'re just a little smarter.\n\nLike me? After I got done swearing, I \"glued\" the cupcake tops and bottoms together with frosting. See how clever I am?!\n\nIt\'s because I am 30. I think. But it\'s a little hard to know. Today is just my first day of 30.','30 and Counting ','','inherit','open','open','','4935-revision-14','','','2011-05-17 18:11:19','2011-05-17 16:11:19','',4935,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/17/4935-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(4957,1,'2011-05-17 18:12:05','2011-05-17 16:12:05','[caption id=\"attachment_4943\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday Cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4943\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4943\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4943 \" title=\"Birthday Cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8278-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nToday is my 30th birthday.\r\n\r\nThe thing is I cheated a little bit and on Monday night I celebrated early with friends and colleagues. It was really too perfect not to. We didn\'t have school on Tuesday because our 12th graders were taking the matura exam (some fairly serious Bulgarian state exam--I think they are in some way comprehensive but I am not really sure what the deal is) so I lined my friends up for dinner on Monday night after school.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4937\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday CD!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4937\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4937\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4937 \" title=\"Birthday CD!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8279-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe hit up the restaurant <a title=\"Sun and Moon\" href=\"http://www.sunmoon.bg/\" target=\"_blank\">Sun and Moon</a> in downtown Sofia. It was great. <!--more-->The food was wonderful--as usual I might add. The restaurant is also a bakery and they serve vegetarian fare and hearty homemade bread. Last night the hits were the hummas, an olive spread and the baked goat cheese as well as the Thai tofu and an Indian lentil dish. I had a dish with broccoli and rice with was well spiced and cooked with coconut milk. It was good. Really good but the Indian dish and Thai dish were better.\r\n\r\nMost of my friends had never been to the restaurant before. I think they liked it. There was a little good-natured grumbling about not having meat on the menu. But that\'s to be expected.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4938\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Potted Flowers!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4938\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4938\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4938 \" title=\"Potted Flowers!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8266-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI was reminded of all the great friends I have in Sofia. A room full of them (and then some) to be precise. I never cease to be amazed by my wonderful friends. Smart and funny, open and inquisitive. Passionate and caring, thoughtful and considerate. I am not really sure how I got so lucky.\r\n\r\nI was showered with gifts and well-wishes for my birthday. The homemade earrings are wonderful. Matching set of red earrings and a ring have kept me smiling all day. The mood ring was a huge hit on Monday night and it continues to be. A scarf from the Berlin flea market screams European cool and spring. And the flowers I received are really brightening up my apartment.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4939\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"More Flowers!!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4939\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4939\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4939 \" title=\"More Flowers!!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8268-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nTwo of the flowers are potted plants. These will require a new level of responsibility and dedication from me.  Before Monday night my responsibilities were pretty minimal--take showers, don\'t drink spoiled milk and try to keep up with my laundry--now I\'ve got to water plants. I\'ve also got to try not to kill them. Man, I guess at 30 my carefree days are over...\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4940\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Three good cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4940\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4940\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4940 \" title=\"Three good cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8271-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI thought I\'d make some cupcakes to celebrate my birthday. When I was growing up my MoM would make me whatever cake I wanted for my birthday. Only my MoM isn\'t here to make me a cake. So now I have to look out for myself. My favorite cakes are either yellow cake with chocolate frosting or white cake with vanilla frosting. I am not a huge chocolate cake fan. Oh and I also love strawberry short cake but that\'s not really a birthday cake.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4941\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"24 broken cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4941\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4941\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4941 \" title=\"24 broken cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8272-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnyhow, I spent part of the day on Tuesday making cupcakes. They turned out so-so. The cake was good as was frosting but I had a really hard time getting the cupcakes out of the muffin tins. I guess I really needed the paper liners that go in muffin tins because the cupcakes ended coming out in two pieces. Top and bottom. And I did a fair amount of swearing. That\'s okay though because now I am 30.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4942\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Cupcakes with frosting glue\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4942\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4942\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4942 \" title=\"Cupcake halves\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8274-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe good thing about turning 30 is that it\'s really not any different than being 29. You\'re just a little smarter.\r\n\r\nLike me? After I got done swearing, I \"glued\" the cupcake tops and bottoms together with frosting. See how clever I am?!\r\n\r\nIt\'s because I am 30. I think. But it\'s a little hard to know. Today is just my first day of 30.','30 and Counting ','','inherit','open','open','','4935-revision-15','','','2011-05-17 18:12:05','2011-05-17 16:12:05','',4935,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/17/4935-revision-15/',0,'revision','',0),(4958,1,'2011-05-17 18:13:10','2011-05-17 16:13:10','[caption id=\"attachment_4943\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday Cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4943\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/18/30-and-counting/img_8278/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4943 \" title=\"Birthday Cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8278-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nToday is my 30th birthday.\n\nThe thing is I cheated a little bit and on Monday night I celebrated early with friends and colleagues. It was really too perfect not to. We didn\'t have school on Tuesday because our 12th graders were taking the matura exam (some fairly serious Bulgarian state exam--I think they are in some way comprehensive but I am not really sure what the deal is) so I lined my friends up for dinner on Monday night after school.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4937\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Birthday CD!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4937\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/18/30-and-counting/img_8279/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4937 \" title=\"Birthday CD!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8279-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWe hit up the restaurant <a title=\"Sun and Moon\" href=\"http://www.sunmoon.bg/\" target=\"_blank\">Sun and Moon</a> in downtown Sofia. It was great. <!--more-->The food was wonderful--as usual I might add. The restaurant is also a bakery and they serve vegetarian fare and hearty homemade bread. Last night the hits were the hummas, an olive spread and the baked goat cheese as well as the Thai tofu and an Indian lentil dish. I had a dish with broccoli and rice with was well spiced and cooked with coconut milk. It was good. Really good but the Indian dish and Thai dish were better.\n\nMost of my friends had never been to the restaurant before. I think they liked it. There was a little good-natured grumbling about not having meat on the menu. But that\'s to be expected.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4938\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Potted Flowers!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4938\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/18/30-and-counting/img_8266/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4938 \" title=\"Potted Flowers!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8266-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI was reminded of all the great friends I have in Sofia. A room full of them (and then some) to be precise. I never cease to be amazed by my wonderful friends. Smart and funny, open and inquisitive. Passionate and caring, thoughtful and considerate. I am not really sure how I got so lucky.\n\nI was showered with gifts and well-wishes for my birthday. The homemade earrings are wonderful. Matching set of red earrings and a ring have kept me smiling all day. The mood ring was a huge hit on Monday night and it continues to be. A scarf from the Berlin flea market screams European cool and spring. And the flowers I received are really brightening up my apartment.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4939\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"More Flowers!!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4939\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/18/30-and-counting/img_8268/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4939 \" title=\"More Flowers!!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8268-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nTwo of the flowers are potted plants. These will require a new level of responsibility and dedication from me.  Before Monday night my responsibilities were pretty minimal--take showers, don\'t drink spoiled milk and try to keep up with my laundry--now I\'ve got to water plants. I\'ve also got to try not to kill them. Man, I guess at 30 my carefree days are over...\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4940\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Three good cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4940\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/18/30-and-counting/img_8271/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4940 \" title=\"Three good cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8271-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI thought I\'d make some cupcakes to celebrate my birthday. When I was growing up my MoM would make me whatever cake I wanted for my birthday. Only my MoM isn\'t here to make me a cake. So now I have to look out for myself. My favorite cakes are either yellow cake with chocolate frosting or white cake with vanilla frosting. I am not a huge chocolate cake fan. Oh and I also love strawberry short cake but that\'s not really a birthday cake.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4941\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"24 broken cupcakes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4941\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/18/30-and-counting/img_8272/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4941 \" title=\"24 broken cupcakes\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8272-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnyhow, I spent part of the day on Tuesday making cupcakes. They turned out so-so. The cake was good as was frosting but I had a really hard time getting the cupcakes out of the muffin tins. I guess I really needed the paper liners that go in muffin tins because the cupcakes ended coming out in two pieces. Top and bottom. And I did a fair amount of swearing. That\'s okay though because now I am 30.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4942\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Cupcakes with frosting glue\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4942\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/18/30-and-counting/img_8274/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4942 \" title=\"Cupcake halves\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_8274-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe good thing about turning 30 is that it\'s really not any different than being 29. You\'re just a little smarter.\n\nLike me? After I got done swearing, I \"glued\" the cupcake tops and bottoms together with frosting. See how clever I am?!\n\nIt\'s because I am 30. I think. But it\'s a little hard to know. Today is just my first day of 30.','30 and Counting ','','inherit','open','open','','4935-autosave','','','2011-05-17 18:13:10','2011-05-17 16:13:10','',4935,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/17/4935-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(4959,1,'2011-05-17 21:06:58','2011-05-17 19:06:58','I think it\'s important to do what\'s hard.\n\nI moved to Bulgaria when it would have been easier to stay in Washington DC. I stay for year two and year three when it probably would have been easier to go back to the States. I\'ve traveled through most of Eastern Europe by myself and I\'ve crossed a couple of these boarders on foot.\n\nEach of these things has been difficult for me. Difficult for different reasons but difficult nonetheless.\n\nBut the last big thing is learning Bulgarian.\n\nRecently a friend told me that I am just too comfortable. That I am not going to learn Bulgarian the rate that I am going. This isn\'t necessarily what you want to hear from your friends but really who else is going to tell you these things?! And it came from a pretty reliable source.\n\nThe thing is, he\'s right. I\'ve got put myself in an uncomfortable position. I\'ve got to live my life in such a way that not speaking Bulgarian is not an option. And given my job as an English teacher at an English language school, it\'s not that easy. Sure I take regular Bulgarian lessons and communicate as necessary in Bulgarian but I guess that in a given day I speak Bulgarian no more 5% of my average day. And it\'s true at this rate, I am never going to learn Bulgarian.\n\nEnter this summer.\n\nI am going to the States for three weeks. Then at the end of July I\'ll be back in Bulgaria. Rather than traveling in, around or through greater Europe, this summer I\'ll be here in Bulgaria.\n\nMy night started off with a rather nutty taxi ride from Mladost to  the city center. Normally I\'d take the metro but I was running really  late--like I was supposed to be meeting a friend downtown and I was  still in my apartment. This never happens to me but it did last night. I  look in my wallet and realize that I only 20 leva notes and that a taxi  driver is going to be less than thrilled to break a 20 for me on a 5  leva ride. I buy a bottled water and make a woman in a gas station break  the 20 for me. She wasn\'t very happy with me and I just played the  blond oblivious foreigner role as she grumbled at me.\n\nI hopped in  a taxi and we were off. The driver and I hit is off when he started  laughing at my confusion of a couple words in the taxi. I told him that I  wanted to go to the National Theater Ivan Vasov. Only for whatever  reason I turned national into \"nationalen\" and gave it a funny Bulgarian  accent. These things happen sometimes. But as you know, or may not  know, the word I was looking for was \"naroden\" or народен.  My taxi  driver had a good laugh and then started asking me questions. The ten  minute ride ended with him telling me that he loves Bill Clinton and  that George W. Bush is okay too but that Barack Obama is responsible for  the economic crisis. Hum, that\'s not exactly how I see it (ahem, George  W. Bush) but I wasn\'t really in the position to delve into this topic  in Bulgarian with a taxi driver given my extremely limited political  vocabulary.\n\n&nbsp;','Doing What\'s Hard','','inherit','open','open','','4923-revision-3','','','2011-05-17 21:06:58','2011-05-17 19:06:58','',4923,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/17/4923-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(4960,1,'2011-05-17 21:41:51','2011-05-17 19:41:51','I think it\'s important to do what\'s hard.\n\nI moved to Bulgaria when it would have been easier to stay in Washington DC. I stay for year two and year three when it probably would have been easier to go back to the States. I\'ve traveled through most of Eastern Europe by myself and I\'ve crossed a couple of these boarders on foot.\n\nEach of these things has been difficult for me. Difficult for different reasons but difficult nonetheless.\n\nBut the last big thing is learning Bulgarian.\n\nRecently a friend told me that I am just too comfortable. That I am not going to learn Bulgarian the rate that I am going. This isn\'t necessarily what you want to hear from your friends but really who else is going to tell you these things?! And it came from a pretty reliable source.\n\nThe thing is, he\'s right. I\'ve got put myself in an uncomfortable position. I\'ve got to live my life in such a way that not speaking Bulgarian is not an option. And given my job as an English teacher at an English language school, it\'s not that easy. Sure I take regular Bulgarian lessons and communicate as necessary in Bulgarian but I guess that in a given day I speak Bulgarian no more 5% of my average day. And it\'s true at this rate, I am never going to learn Bulgarian.\n\nEnter this summer.\n\nI am going to the States for three weeks. Then at the end of July I\'ll be back in Bulgaria. Rather than traveling in, around or through greater Europe, this summer I\'ll be here in Bulgaria.\n\nI\'ll be here to learn Bulgarian. The thing is--it\'s not going to be easy. I am looking for something interesting to do this summer.  I really need to find myself doing something where I am speaking Bulgarian at 75% of my day. Don\'t ask me where 75% came from. I just made it up but it seems like about the right thing to shoot for.\n\nSo here\'s the deal, I\'ve thought about moving to a village. It seems like fewer people will speak English there but what would I do with myself in a village for four weeks? And how will I speak more Bulgarian than I currently do in Sofia at the grocery store, in restaurants, cafes and taxi cabs?\n\nThen I thought about about volunteering. Our school has a number of connections with different orphanages. But I am not really sure what kind of Bulgarian I\'ll learn there.\n\nI\'ve considered volunteering on a farm but I don\'t really have any connections nor do I have a lot of skills. Well aside from the summer I looked after all of the flower beds at our local fair-grounds planting, growing, watering and weeding the flowers. This said I\'m a good worker.\n\nI mean the good news is for the first time in my life I don\'t need to work for money so that\'s not a limiting factor. Basically, I\'m looking for something interesting and engaging to do where I get to speak a lot more Bulgarian than I currently do.  I would probably also help to be working/volunteering/living/doing something with Bulgarians who are more patient than less patient and willing to correct me when I make mistakes.\n\nYep. It\'s going to be quite a summer. But this is where I need some help.','Doing What\'s Hard','','inherit','open','open','','4923-revision-4','','','2011-05-17 21:41:51','2011-05-17 19:41:51','',4923,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/17/4923-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(4961,1,'2011-05-18 21:05:57','2011-05-18 19:05:57','I think it\'s important to do what\'s hard.\n\nI moved to Bulgaria when it would have been easier to stay in Washington DC especially seeing as I didn\'t know anyone, the language or even the alphabet. I stayed for year two and then year three when it probably would have been easier to go back to the States. I\'ve traveled through most of Eastern Europe by myself and I\'ve crossed a couple of these boarders on foot.\n\nEach of these things has been difficult for me. Difficult for different reasons but difficult nonetheless.\n\nThe last big thing remains learning Bulgarian.\n\nRecently a friend told me that I am just too comfortable--that I am not going to learn Bulgarian the rate that I am going. This isn\'t necessarily what you want to hear from your friends.  Especially over a coffee on a beautiful May afternoon after a long day of work--but really who else is going to tell you these things?! And because the comment came from a pretty reliable source, I decided to listen up.\n\nThe thing is, he\'s right. I\'ve got put myself in an uncomfortable position. I\'ve got to live my life in such a way that not speaking Bulgarian is not an option. And given my job as an English teacher at an English language school, it\'s not that easy. Sure I take regular Bulgarian lessons and communicate as necessary in Bulgarian but I guess that in a given day I speak Bulgarian no more 5% of my average day. And it\'s true at this rate, I am never going to learn Bulgarian.\n\nEnter this summer.\n\nI am going to the States for three weeks. Then at the end of July I\'ll be back in Bulgaria. Rather than traveling in, around or through greater Europe like I have the past two summers, this summer I\'ll be here in Bulgaria.\n\nI\'ll be here to learn Bulgarian. The thing is--it\'s not going to be easy.It\'s not easy on a couple of different levels. First because I actually have to find something to do. Second because then I am going to actually have to speak Bulgarian. And third, because I am determined to have as much fun as I can doing all of this which may or may not be difficult. I guess this will depend on how uncomfortable I am and the level of frustration this produces in me and/or the number of tears this ultimately produces in me.\n\nSo first things first.\n\nI am looking for something interesting to do this summer.  I really need to find myself doing something where I am speaking Bulgarian at 75% of my day. Don\'t ask me where 75% came from. I just made it up but it seems like about the right thing to shoot for.\n\nSo here\'s the deal, I\'ve thought about moving to a village. It seems like fewer people will speak English there but then what would I do with myself in a village for four weeks? And how will I speak more Bulgarian than I currently do in Sofia at the grocery store, in restaurants, cafes and taxi cabs?\n\nThen I thought about about volunteering. Our school has a number of connections with different orphanages but I am not really sure what kind of Bulgarian I\'ll learn there. I probably shouldn\'t worry about that.\n\nI\'ve considered volunteering on a farm but I don\'t really have any connections nor do I have a lot of skills. Well aside from one summer when I was in college and I looked after all of the flower beds at our local fair-grounds planting, growing, watering and weeding the flowers. This said the flowers looked great. I am at watering things.\n\nHere\'s the good news is for the first time in my life I don\'t need to work for money so that\'s not a limiting factor. Basically, I\'m looking for something interesting and engaging to do where I get to speak a lot more Bulgarian than I currently do.  I would probably also help to be working/volunteering/living/doing something with Bulgarians who are more patient than less patient and willing to correct me when I make mistakes.\n\nYep. It\'s going to be quite a summer. But this is where I need some help.\n\nI would love to hear any thoughts or suggestions that you have on ways to make this summer happen. Is anyone out there working for a non-profit that might need help? Or does someone have connections in a village or on a farm that might prove interesting? If you can think of anything leave me a comment on the blog okay--if you enter a valid email I can follow up with you this way','Doing What\'s Hard','','inherit','open','open','','4923-revision-5','','','2011-05-18 21:05:57','2011-05-18 19:05:57','',4923,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/18/4923-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(4962,1,'2011-05-18 21:06:21','2011-05-18 19:06:21','I think it\'s important to do what\'s hard.\r\n\r\nI moved to Bulgaria when it would have been easier to stay in Washington DC especially seeing as I didn\'t know anyone, the language or even the alphabet. I stayed for year two and then year three when it probably would have been easier to go back to the States. I\'ve traveled through most of Eastern Europe by myself and I\'ve crossed a couple of these boarders on foot.\r\n\r\nEach of these things has been difficult for me. Difficult for different reasons but difficult nonetheless.\r\n\r\nThe last big thing remains learning Bulgarian.\r\n\r\nRecently a friend told me that I am just too comfortable--that I am not going to learn Bulgarian the rate that I am going. This isn\'t necessarily what you want to hear from your friends.  Especially over a coffee on a beautiful May afternoon after a long day of work--but really who else is going to tell you these things?! And because the comment came from a pretty reliable source, I decided to listen up.\r\n\r\nThe thing is, he\'s right. I\'ve got put myself in an uncomfortable position. I\'ve got to live my life in such a way that not speaking Bulgarian is not an option. And given my job as an English teacher at an English language school, it\'s not that easy. Sure I take regular Bulgarian lessons and communicate as necessary in Bulgarian but I guess that in a given day I speak Bulgarian no more 5% of my average day. And it\'s true at this rate, I am never going to learn Bulgarian.\r\n\r\nEnter this summer.\r\n\r\nI am going to the States for three weeks. Then at the end of July I\'ll be back in Bulgaria. Rather than traveling in, around or through greater Europe like I have the past two summers, this summer I\'ll be here in Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nI\'ll be here to learn Bulgarian. The thing is--it\'s not going to be easy.It\'s not easy on a couple of different levels. First because I actually have to find something to do. Second because then I am going to actually have to speak Bulgarian. And third, because I am determined to have as much fun as I can doing all of this which may or may not be difficult. I guess this will depend on how uncomfortable I am and the level of frustration this produces in me and/or the number of tears this ultimately produces in me.\r\n\r\nSo first things first.\r\n\r\nI am looking for something interesting to do this summer.  I really need to find myself doing something where I am speaking Bulgarian at 75% of my day. Don\'t ask me where 75% came from. I just made it up but it seems like about the right thing to shoot for.\r\n\r\nSo here\'s the deal, I\'ve thought about moving to a village. It seems like fewer people will speak English there but then what would I do with myself in a village for four weeks? And how will I speak more Bulgarian than I currently do in Sofia at the grocery store, in restaurants, cafes and taxi cabs?\r\n\r\nThen I thought about about volunteering. Our school has a number of connections with different orphanages but I am not really sure what kind of Bulgarian I\'ll learn there. I probably shouldn\'t worry about that.\r\n\r\nI\'ve considered volunteering on a farm but I don\'t really have any connections nor do I have a lot of skills. Well aside from one summer when I was in college and I looked after all of the flower beds at our local fair-grounds planting, growing, watering and weeding the flowers. This said the flowers looked great. I am at watering things.\r\n\r\nHere\'s the good news is for the first time in my life I don\'t need to work for money so that\'s not a limiting factor. Basically, I\'m looking for something interesting and engaging to do where I get to speak a lot more Bulgarian than I currently do.  I would probably also help to be working/volunteering/living/doing something with Bulgarians who are more patient than less patient and willing to correct me when I make mistakes.\r\n\r\nYep. It\'s going to be quite a summer. But this is where I need some help.\r\n\r\nI would love to hear any thoughts or suggestions that you have on ways to make this summer happen. Is anyone out there working for a non-profit that might need help? Or does someone have connections in a village or on a farm that might prove interesting? If you can think of anything leave me a comment on the blog okay--if you enter a valid email I can follow up with you this way.\r\n\r\nThanks in advance for anything you can send my way.','Doing What\'s Hard','','inherit','open','open','','4923-revision-6','','','2011-05-18 21:06:21','2011-05-18 19:06:21','',4923,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/18/4923-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(4963,1,'2011-05-18 21:07:21','2011-05-18 19:07:21','I think it\'s important to do what\'s hard.\r\n\r\nI moved to Bulgaria when it would have been easier to stay in Washington DC especially seeing as I didn\'t know anyone, the language or even the alphabet. I stayed for year two and then year three when it probably would have been easier to go back to the States. I\'ve traveled through most of Eastern Europe by myself and I\'ve crossed a couple of these boarders on foot.\r\n\r\nEach of these things has been difficult for me. Difficult for different reasons but difficult nonetheless.\r\n\r\nThe last big thing remains learning Bulgarian.\r\n\r\nRecently a friend told me that I am just too comfortable--that I am not going to learn Bulgarian the rate that I am going. This isn\'t necessarily what you want to hear from your friends.  Especially over a coffee on a beautiful May afternoon after a long day of work--but really who else is going to tell you these things?! And because the comment came from a pretty reliable source, I decided to listen up.\r\n\r\nThe thing is, he\'s right. I\'ve got put myself in an uncomfortable position. I\'ve got to live my life in such a way that not speaking Bulgarian is not an option. And given my job as an English teacher at an English language school, it\'s not that easy. Sure I take regular Bulgarian lessons and communicate as necessary in Bulgarian but I guess that in a given day I speak Bulgarian no more 5% of my average day. And it\'s true at this rate, I am never going to learn Bulgarian.\r\n\r\nEnter this summer.\r\n\r\nI am going to the States for three weeks. Then at the end of July I\'ll be back in Bulgaria. Rather than traveling in, around or through greater Europe like I have the past two summers, this summer I\'ll be here in Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nI\'ll be here to learn Bulgarian. The thing is--it\'s not going to be easy.It\'s not easy on a couple of different levels. First because I actually have to find something to do. Second because then I am going to actually have to speak Bulgarian. And third, because I am determined to have as much fun as I can doing all of this which may or may not be difficult. I guess this will depend on how uncomfortable I am and the level of frustration this produces in me and/or the number of tears this ultimately produces in me.\r\n\r\nSo first things first.\r\n\r\nI am looking for something interesting to do this summer.  I really need to find myself doing something where I am speaking Bulgarian at 75% of my day. Don\'t ask me where 75% came from. I just made it up but it seems like about the right thing to shoot for.\r\n\r\nSo here\'s the deal, I\'ve thought about moving to a village. It seems like fewer people will speak English there but then what would I do with myself in a village for four weeks? And how will I speak more Bulgarian than I currently do in Sofia at the grocery store, in restaurants, cafes and taxi cabs?\r\n\r\nThen I thought about about volunteering. Our school has a number of connections with different orphanages but I am not really sure what kind of Bulgarian I\'ll learn there. I probably shouldn\'t worry about that.\r\n\r\nI\'ve considered volunteering on a farm but I don\'t really have any connections nor do I have a lot of skills. Well aside from one summer when I was in college and I looked after all of the flower beds at our local fair-grounds planting, growing, watering and weeding the flowers. This said the flowers looked great. I am at watering things.\r\n\r\nHere\'s the good news is for the first time in my life I don\'t need to work for money so that\'s not a limiting factor. Basically, I\'m looking for something interesting and engaging to do where I get to speak a lot more Bulgarian than I currently do.  I would probably also help to be working/volunteering/living/doing something with Bulgarians who are more patient than less patient and willing to correct me when I make mistakes.\r\n\r\nYep. It\'s going to be quite a summer. But this is where I need some help.\r\n\r\nI would love to hear any thoughts or suggestions that you have on ways to make this summer happen. Is anyone out there working for a non-profit that might need help? Or does someone have connections in a village or on a farm that might prove interesting? If you can think of anything leave me a comment on the blog okay--if you enter a valid email I can follow up with you this way.\r\n\r\nThanks in advance for anything you can send my way.','Doing What\'s Hard','','inherit','open','open','','4923-revision-7','','','2011-05-18 21:07:21','2011-05-18 19:07:21','',4923,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/18/4923-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(4964,1,'2011-05-18 21:08:48','2011-05-18 19:08:48','I think it\'s important to do what\'s hard.\r\n\r\nI moved to Bulgaria when it would have been easier to stay in Washington DC especially seeing as I didn\'t know anyone, the language or even the alphabet. I stayed for year two and then year three when it probably would have been easier to go back to the States. I\'ve traveled through most of Eastern Europe by myself and I\'ve crossed a couple of these boarders on foot.\r\n\r\nEach of these things has been difficult for me. Difficult for different reasons but difficult nonetheless.\r\n\r\nThe last big thing remains learning Bulgarian.\r\n\r\nRecently a friend told me that I am just too comfortable--that I am not going to learn Bulgarian the rate that I am going. This isn\'t necessarily what you want to hear from your friends.  Especially over a coffee on a beautiful May afternoon after a long day of work--but really who else is going to tell you these things?! And because the comment came from a pretty reliable source, I decided to listen up.\r\n\r\nThe thing is, he\'s right. I\'ve got put myself in an uncomfortable position. I\'ve got to live my life in such a way that not speaking Bulgarian is not an option. <!--more-->And given my job as an English teacher at an English language school, it\'s not that easy. Sure I take regular Bulgarian lessons and communicate as necessary in Bulgarian but I guess that in a given day I speak Bulgarian no more 5% of my average day. And it\'s true at this rate, I am never going to learn Bulgarian.\r\n\r\nEnter this summer.\r\n\r\nI am going to the States for three weeks. Then at the end of July I\'ll be back in Bulgaria. Rather than traveling in, around or through greater Europe like I have the past two summers, this summer I\'ll be here in Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nI\'ll be here to learn Bulgarian. The thing is--it\'s not going to be easy.It\'s not easy on a couple of different levels. First because I actually have to find something to do. Second because then I am going to actually have to speak Bulgarian. And third, because I am determined to have as much fun as I can doing all of this which may or may not be difficult. I guess this will depend on how uncomfortable I am and the level of frustration this produces in me and/or the number of tears this ultimately produces in me.\r\n\r\nSo first things first.\r\n\r\nI am looking for something interesting to do this summer.  I really need to find myself doing something where I am speaking Bulgarian at 75% of my day. Don\'t ask me where 75% came from. I just made it up but it seems like about the right thing to shoot for.\r\n\r\nSo here\'s the deal, I\'ve thought about moving to a village. It seems like fewer people will speak English there but then what would I do with myself in a village for four weeks? And how will I speak more Bulgarian than I currently do in Sofia at the grocery store, in restaurants, cafes and taxi cabs?\r\n\r\nThen I thought about about volunteering. Our school has a number of connections with different orphanages but I am not really sure what kind of Bulgarian I\'ll learn there. I probably shouldn\'t worry about that.\r\n\r\nI\'ve considered volunteering on a farm but I don\'t really have any connections nor do I have a lot of skills. Well aside from one summer when I was in college and I looked after all of the flower beds at our local fair-grounds planting, growing, watering and weeding the flowers. This said the flowers looked great. I am at watering things.\r\n\r\nHere\'s the good news is for the first time in my life I don\'t need to work for money so that\'s not a limiting factor. Basically, I\'m looking for something interesting and engaging to do where I get to speak a lot more Bulgarian than I currently do.  I would probably also help to be working/volunteering/living/doing something with Bulgarians who are more patient than less patient and willing to correct me when I make mistakes.\r\n\r\nYep. It\'s going to be quite a summer. But this is where I need some help.\r\n\r\nI would love to hear any thoughts or suggestions that you have on ways to make this summer happen. Is anyone out there working for a non-profit that might need help? Or does someone have connections in a village or on a farm that might prove interesting? If you can think of anything leave me a comment on the blog okay--if you enter a valid email I can follow up with you this way.\r\n\r\nThanks in advance for anything you can send my way.','Doing What\'s Hard','','inherit','open','open','','4923-revision-8','','','2011-05-18 21:08:48','2011-05-18 19:08:48','',4923,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/18/4923-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(4965,1,'2011-05-19 18:53:14','2011-05-19 16:53:14','Thank-you for all of the birthday greetings, messages and well wishes yesterday!!\r\n\r\nWhat a great way to start of the first day of my thirties.\r\n\r\nI really couldn\'t have nicer friends, colleagues, students and loyal blog readers. I was overwhelmed by the number of facebook messages, phone calls, emails and messages I got. Thank-you so very much.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4966\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"630\" caption=\"Merci Chocolate\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4966\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/19/merci-mnogo/dsc02529/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4966   \" title=\"Merci Chocolate\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02529-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"630\" height=\"473\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIf you\'d bumped into me yesterday, I\'d have given you a chocolate to celebrate my birthday. One of these Merci chocolates actually. They are delicious. My favorite is chocolate marzipan--that\'s the one I always look for when students offer me chocolates for their birthdays or name days.\r\n\r\nIt\'s a tradition in Bulgaria to give chocolates to your friends on your birthday. Then the receiver of the chocolate wishes you happiness, health, love and money. And if you\'re a middle-aged woman wishing me a happy birthday you may also a boyfriend to the list and pinch my cheeks.\r\n\r\nThe thing is you have to buy a lot of chocolate when you teach more than 50 students in one day and you have just as many colleagues and friends at school as I do.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4971\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Row after row of chocolate\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4971\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/19/merci-mnogo/dsc02530/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4971 \" title=\"Row after row of chocolate\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02530-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI love the tradition of giving away chocolates on your birthday. It\'s just so nice. I think it\'s because everyone loves chocolate and birthdays. I will definitely be continuing this in the future no matter where I live.\r\n\r\nThe only thing is in English it doesn\'t sounds as nice when offering another a chocolate to say \"here\'s a chocolate\" or \"have a chocolate\" or \"you\'re welcome to a chocolate.\" It sounds a lot nicer in Bulgarian: заповядйте.','Merci Mnogo! ','','publish','open','open','','merci-mnogo','','','2011-05-19 18:53:14','2011-05-19 16:53:14','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=4965',0,'post','',2),(4966,1,'2011-05-18 21:53:44','2011-05-18 19:53:44','','Merci Chocolate','Merci Chocolate','inherit','open','open','','dsc02529','','','2011-05-18 21:53:44','2011-05-18 19:53:44','',4965,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02529.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4967,1,'2011-05-18 21:47:15','2011-05-18 19:47:15','Thank-you for all of the birthday greetings, messages and well wishes yesterday!!\n\nIf you\'d pumped into me yesterday, I\'d have given you chocolate to celebrate my birthday. One of these chocolates actually.\n\nYou have to buy a lot of chocolate when you teach more than 50 students in one day and you have just as many colleagues and friends at school.\n\nI love the tradition of giving away chocolates on your birthday. I will definitely be doing this in the future no matter where I live. Only in English it doesn\'t sounds as nice to say \"here\'s a chocolate\" or \"have a chocolate\" or \"you\'re welcome to a chocolate.\" It sounds a lot nicer in Bulgarian.','Merci! ','','inherit','open','open','','4965-revision','','','2011-05-18 21:47:15','2011-05-18 19:47:15','',4965,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/18/4965-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4968,1,'2011-05-18 21:54:39','2011-05-18 19:54:39','Thank-you for all of the birthday greetings, messages and well wishes yesterday!!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4966\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"819\" caption=\"Merci Chocolate\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4966\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4966\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4966 \" title=\"Merci Chocolate\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02529-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"819\" height=\"614\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIf you\'d pumped into me yesterday, I\'d have given you chocolate to celebrate my birthday. One of these chocolates actually.\r\n\r\nYou have to buy a lot of chocolate when you teach more than 50 students in one day and you have just as many colleagues and friends at school.\r\n\r\nI love the tradition of giving away chocolates on your birthday. I will definitely be doing this in the future no matter where I live. Only in English it doesn\'t sounds as nice to say \"here\'s a chocolate\" or \"have a chocolate\" or \"you\'re welcome to a chocolate.\" It sounds a lot nicer in Bulgarian: заповядйте.','Merci! ','','inherit','open','open','','4965-revision-2','','','2011-05-18 21:54:39','2011-05-18 19:54:39','',4965,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/18/4965-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4969,1,'2011-05-18 21:54:39','2011-05-18 19:54:39','Thank-you for all of the birthday greetings, messages and well wishes yesterday!!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4966\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"819\" caption=\"Merci Chocolate\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4966\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4966\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4966 \" title=\"Merci Chocolate\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02529-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"819\" height=\"614\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIf you\'d pumped into me yesterday, I\'d have given you chocolate to celebrate my birthday. One of these chocolates actually.\r\n\r\nYou have to buy a lot of chocolate when you teach more than 50 students in one day and you have just as many colleagues and friends at school.\r\n\r\nI love the tradition of giving away chocolates on your birthday. I will definitely be doing this in the future no matter where I live. Only in English it doesn\'t sounds as nice to say \"here\'s a chocolate\" or \"have a chocolate\" or \"you\'re welcome to a chocolate.\" It sounds a lot nicer in Bulgarian: заповядйте.','Merci! ','','inherit','open','open','','4965-revision-3','','','2011-05-18 21:54:39','2011-05-18 19:54:39','',4965,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/18/4965-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(4970,1,'2011-05-18 21:55:05','2011-05-18 19:55:05','Thank-you for all of the birthday greetings, messages and well wishes yesterday!!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4966\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"573\" caption=\"Merci Chocolate\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4966\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4966\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4966  \" title=\"Merci Chocolate\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02529-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"573\" height=\"430\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIf you\'d pumped into me yesterday, I\'d have given you chocolate to celebrate my birthday. One of these chocolates actually.\r\n\r\nYou have to buy a lot of chocolate when you teach more than 50 students in one day and you have just as many colleagues and friends at school.\r\n\r\nI love the tradition of giving away chocolates on your birthday. I will definitely be doing this in the future no matter where I live. Only in English it doesn\'t sounds as nice to say \"here\'s a chocolate\" or \"have a chocolate\" or \"you\'re welcome to a chocolate.\" It sounds a lot nicer in Bulgarian: заповядйте.','Merci! ','','inherit','open','open','','4965-revision-4','','','2011-05-18 21:55:05','2011-05-18 19:55:05','',4965,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/18/4965-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(4971,1,'2011-05-18 21:58:07','2011-05-18 19:58:07','','Row after row of chocolate','Row after row of chocolate','inherit','open','open','','dsc02530','','','2011-05-18 21:58:07','2011-05-18 19:58:07','',4965,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02530.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4972,1,'2011-05-18 21:55:15','2011-05-18 19:55:15','Thank-you for all of the birthday greetings, messages and well wishes yesterday!!\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4966\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"573\" caption=\"Merci Chocolate\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4966\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4966\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-4966  \" title=\"Merci Chocolate\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC02529-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"573\" height=\"430\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nIf you\'d pumped into me yesterday, I\'d have given you chocolate to celebrate my birthday. One of these chocolates actually.\n\nYou have to buy a lot of chocolate when you teach more than 50 students in one day and you have just as many colleagues and friends at school.\n\nI love the tradition of giving away chocolates on your birthday. I will definitely be doing this in the future no matter where I live. Only in English it doesn\'t sounds as nice to say \"here\'s a chocolate\" or \"have a chocolate\" or \"you\'re welcome to a chocolate.\" It sounds a lot nicer in Bulgarian: заповядйте.','Merci! ','','inherit','open','open','','4965-revision-5','','','2011-05-18 21:55:15','2011-05-18 19:55:15','',4965,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2011/05/18/4965-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),