A move, new adventures and christmas parties

So what have I been doing for the past two and a half months???

It has actually been a crazy few months.

I moved into a new apartment about a month ago. I am so happy with the change. The apartment is much smaller - which is actually really good. It a studio with a small balcony and a really nice bathroom. It is in a much nicer area of Varna and now I am a 15 minute walk from school rather than a half hour bus ride.

- Across the street from my apartment is a MyMarket - there is a Billa down the block. I found a nice gym to join and a bakery - and obviously I have already made friends with the woman who works there.

What was really amazing was when I was moving I had so many people offer to help me move. In the end, Margo, her husband and my friend Konstantin all helped me. It was pretty absurd how much I had acquired in two months.

My place!!!! 

One of our long weekends I went to Macadonia with Sam, Jake, Victoria and Sam's friend Danny (who was awesome). We stayed at a really cool hostel and were treated so nicely. The guy who worked at the front liked us, so he bought us wine. We walked around skopie and then the best part - took a bus to Medka - this cape outside the city that leads to a gorgeous cave. It was wonderful!

Jake and me in front of one of the many statues/monument in Skopie 

The whole crew! 

Medka!

I have also been traveling around Bulgaria a bunch.

Tania, the teacher I mentioned previously, and her husband took me to Kavarna, Cape Kaliakra and Bolata.

Tanya's sweet husband - outside Kavarna

I went to Buzludzah, an old abandoned communist monument. You need to crawl through a small hole to get inside. It was really cool and different and something you could not see anywhere else. Getting there was a bitch though :)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buzludzha

For thanksgiving a bunch of fulbrighters gathered together in Plovdiv, the ancient capital of Bulgaria. It is a beautiful city, it is one of the oldest cities in Europe and has so much history. We walked around the old city and saw lots of beautiful buildings - true architecture - no communist blocks. We also all cooked food - Alex got a turkey (unfortunately not kosher - so still no meat for this guy) and it was really lovely though.

Thanksgiving with my Bulgarian family! 

Three weekends ago was the "fulbright 100 days in Bulgaria" gathering and christmas party. Everyone presented on their work and what they have been doing here. They also took us to the Rila monestary. The biggest and most famous monastery in Bulgaria. It was gorgeous!!!!

Me in front of Rila Monastery 

This week we had two teachers christmas parties. One was at a karaoke bar in Varna. The teachers really know how to party and it was really nice and fun. I also felt like it was a turning point for me and the other teachers. They were all happy that I was participating and dancing and they were particularly impressed when I did the hora - traditional bulgarian dance.

We also went away for a party - to this Russian owned complex outside Varna. We got a tour of the complex, went swimming in an indoor pool and had another crazy dancing party.

In regards to teaching - it has been a roller coaster. But some highlights. The club "coffee and conversation" I started has been really good. I have had students reach out to me more outside of class. And finally, I had my students evaluate my teaching and overall I can say it was very positive!!


a nice evaluation!

Me and some of my students 

Tomorrow I go to Bucharest to meet up with my parents and Michelle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited!!!!!!