Shaina's Travel Blog

Okay, let's see where shall i begin. I arrived in strumiani after waiting an hour and half at the bus stop in Blagoevgrad. Having burst into tears because i didnt know what bus to take to strumiani...curseing my counterpart for not meeting me in blagoevgrad...and having 200lbs of luggage strapped to my back. It was not a pleasent journey to say the least. So i finally get to this tiny trucks stop town and am carted off to my apt. Eager to settle in and make my self at home...i am greeted by a completely empty apt...no kitchen...no hot water...but at least a bed i guess. I am a little optimistic still. I put my stuff down and am dragged off to a big folk dance and music festival in a nearby village. I ate some kuftae, drank a beer, watched some dancing, and then my elbow was grabbed again and i was off to the mexana for schmoozing. i shook my mayors hand and then sat at the table with the secretaries. I was not in a pleasent mood to say the least. I asked my counter part if i could go home...and i jetted out of there and ran to my apartment and burst into tears. I laid on my couch and had my first nervous breakdown in bulgaria. I called my friend Kate and she made me feel a little better and i was able to catch my breath and fall asleep. the next day deserves a blog all its own so let me get my bitching out here.
My apartment fucking sucks. there are no blinds or curtains on the windows and ive complained extensively about this and the bulgarians dont seem to really care. I have absolutely nothing and everyone keeps telling me how nice my apartment is and im really sick of it. I finally have refigerator...and yesterday we went shopping for plates, bowls, forks, spoons, and all that crap. And as we're checking out my counterpart says "this is so expensive". well excuse me, i just said shuzalavem and threw some towel racks down. I know that while we were checking out the bulgarians i was with were talking crap about me too. I swear that if i dont have a stove, washing machine, and kitchen sink by tomorrow i am et'ing and coming home. Nobody in this town speaks english...i never know what the hell is going on, i dont have my own desk or computer or office, im seriously starting to freak out. dammit bulgarians keep coming into this office (im at a collegeagues desk using her compute) and interrogating me in bulgarian about where she is! argh. that's all for now...ill keep you updated on my crappy apt. love shaina