Mulitfa and what not

So, I had a busy little weekend here in beautiful Grohotno. I considered this my first “real” weekend, as it was the first time I wasn’t completely dazed and confused. This past week I worked a lot at the museum. Working here is a lot different than in the states, obviously. I get to the museum at about 8:30. I talk with my boss for half an hour or so about what I did the night before, or I get filled in on the latest gossip. After that we head down to the café where we meet 3 or 4 other ladies and we have coffee for an hour or so. THEN, it’s time to get to work. Usually, if we work for an hour straight we have to take a “pucheefka” or break. This means more coffee and maybe visiting the school or someone’s house. It’s really hard to get used to as I was kind of a work horse in the states. I find myself doing research and translating museum stuff after hours at home. I have to get used to leaving thins undone at times I suppose.
ANYWAY! This weekend. Saturday I went to something called a “Mulitfa.” This happens when a new baby is born in town. All of the women (no men allowed) go to the house of the new mother bearing gifts. Some people bring clothes and toys for the baby, money and sweets for the mother, and something to cook (pasta, veggies, beans, whatever) for the Baba’s. After we gave the gifts we sat and visited with the mother and baby for a bit, and then we were whisked away to a room with a long table and many chairs. There were 3 other rooms in the house set up just this way. Then, we were served tons of food that the Baba’s had been preparing all morning. Later, I attended a birthday party of Dulek who turned 1 this week. Everyone came bearing gifts again (I bought her a stuffed elephant, which I’m pretty sure was her favorite gift) and then we all sat around long tables and ate sweets, and random goodies. Just as I thought the party might be coming to an end, as I was stuffed and pretty tired, here comes the main course! What more food? You better believe it, we were there for hours, but it was a lot of fun. I really enjoying sitting and talking with the older women of the town, but it’s tough sometimes, as most of them know only Turkish or limited Bulgarian.
Sunday our clocks were rolled back and I had a knock on my door at 8am. It was Mustafa, my 17yr.old friend/tutor who said to get dressed, “You’re coming with my mother and I to the mountain.” Ok, I quickly got ready and was met outside by Isabelle with gloves and a bucket. We hiked about an hour up the mountain and picked rose hips for hours. It was so much fun and I saw some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve ever seen in my life. I took pictures, but they don’t nearly do it justice.
So, that was my weekend. Till next time!



Guelshin helping me cook!



While picking rosehips we saw this lizard, apparently if it crawls across your hand it means good luck!

YEAY!

Babie's presents for Mulitfa

Baba's cookin' up a storm!

Everyone coming to see the Baby!

First bit in Grohotno!

just a view


don't be jealous...it isn't attractive ;)



The Mosque




Love the leaves here in the fall!





View of the main...ok, the only street






My house is the tall one at the end

Ok, so after trying to recruit everyone I know to the wonderful world of facebook I, too, have succumb to the evil that is blogspot. I feel like this is going to be like the many journals I have in my parents basement all empty except for the first pages dated, “January 1st, whatever year” and reading, “Dear Diary, I’m going to write in you EVERYDAY this year.” Anyway, maybe I’ll surprise myself.
So, I’m here in BEAUTIFUL Grohotno, a small village in the Rhodope mountains of Bulgaria. I arrived last Thursday, and am loving it with all of my heart. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking, and the colors of the leaves right now are SO vivid. Since being here I’ve been overwhelmed with the hospitality of the locals. I haven’t had the chance to cook one meal in my new kitchen yet, because the families here have sort of taken me in and cook for me constantly. Just the other day I decided that I wanted to make some yummies for everyone as a surprise…a sort of thank you. I snuck into my house and started making apple crumb cake…I must have forgot to shut the window because before I knew it my little kitchen was FULL of people helping me, and awing at the beauty that is the sugar cookie. We ate a myriad of desserts that night for dinner and I was able to get rid of a few of my leftovers at least J
During the day I’m working with the local chitalishte, which is like a sort of cultural center. My office is in the museum, which is a loft above the chitalishte full of historic Turkish/Bulgarian artifacts. The ladies over the center already have a few project ideas for me to be working on, which is great. Besides translating the information cards in the museum, and teaching a couple of English classes, I’ll also be creating brochures and a website for Grohotno. The bigger projects include working in conjunction with the municipality for plans and possible funding sources for an eco path. There is also talk of coordinating a few cultural exchanges with groups in both Turkey and Greece, which I am super stoked about. It’s a bit overwhelming at the moment, but I’m really excited to get to work.
Besides that I’m just kind of wandering around finding people to hang out with. I have a wonderful group of 4 teenage girls who must think I’m at least a little cool, because they come over every night and teach me kurchek (Turkish belly dancing) and drink juice. I didn’t realize how much I depended on my former American site mates during PST and the anticipation of seeing the others in the group every two weeks at HUB. I was honestly blessed with the best site mates in the world, who I now consider family, and some other really amazing volunteers who have become really special to me. So, yeah, now my downtime is spent a little differently, but it’ all good :)
Till next time, or next year,
Rajun :)

ps above are a few random pics