for the dogs!

This blog is going to be about dogs.  More specifically the homeless dogs running on the streets.  Bulgaria has it's share and then some...and some and some and then some.  Since they don't belong to anyone in particular they depend on the kindness of people to feed them and more than a couple are VERY thin.  I have some that "live" around my apartment and my neighbors' apartments.  I feed them whenever I can and the couple who lives close feeds them too.  I just had visitors from the states and they had been to the Ukraine and they said there were never dogs running around there and they were never seen.  We have LOTS!  There is one in particular that caught my eye when I first arrived.  Her name is Sara and she, and every other dog here, loves to chase cars, donkey carts, and any other vehicle that moves!  Because of that she has been hit countless times.  She is the definition of persistance and perseverance!  She walks everywhere the other dogs do by using her front 2 legs and her hind legs just kind of dangle.   It's very sad but it's also very cute at the same time.  The fact that she only has 2 legs doesn't stop her from doing anything!  If the other dogs see a strange dog and go to investigate, she's right there...only a tad bit behind them!  I've even see her start a fight with another dog!  You would think she would stop chasing cars after getting hit but NO!  Now the cute part.  She's not mine but she's mine.  She follows me EVERYWHERE: the store, the post office, school, and even the Kindergarten!  I have to prop the door shut when I go to the Kindergarten because she will follow me inside, she's done that before.  She would let me pet her for hours and is such a pretty dog.  THe other day I was in front of my apartment and had stopped petting her and was ready to go upstairs BUT Sara had other ideas!  She pulled on the corner of my heavy jacket with her mouth as if to say "where do you think you're going?"  I have to say that's a first.   My neighbors have told me she will sit at the bottom of my apartment building and she knows, somehow, when I'm going somewhere.  She was doing so much better and could even put pressure on one of her back legs but must've gotten hit again because now she can't even put the smallest bit of pressure on them.  There are about 5 dogs that regularly hang around at the base of our apartments and they are all such pretty dogs!  I'm learning all sorts of things about the eating habits of dogs, how they can "sense" food in the wind and how bread is a favorite.  There seems to be an order of who gets to eat too that I haven't figured out yet.  Sometimes I'll buy some bread and start feeding them and one of the dogs, Gina, sniffs it and walks away.  One of my neighbors told me she only wants fresh bread and if it's the least bit old she won't eat it.  Talk about picky!!!  I've enclosed a picture and you can see for yourself!  One more thing.  They love to "sing" along with the call to prayer!  Love and hugs from me!!

just lovely!

The past 2 days have been beautiful!  Just when I pulled out the heavy winter coat that my sister let me bring (thank you SOOOOOO much) I've been able to wear my light jacket and maybe no coat this afternoon!  I have to share a funny story.  The dogs have become my friends and, at least Sara, follows me most places, including to the Kindergarten when I have classes!   Well, sometimes when I go to Nargis' house, my counterpart, she follows me and she knows where Nargis lives.  Today is a non English school day for me but I had to talk to her and she, Nargis, was on her way to the Mayor's office which just happens to be past her house.  I met up with  N in front of my apartment.  Sara and another dog, her brother belchu, followed me but we were walking too fast for Sara to keep up; she only has 2 good legs and walks with her front legs only.  She must've assumed we were headed to Nargis's house because on the way back from the Mayor's office, lying in N's front yard were Sara and Belchu!  How funny is that!!!  I feed them, since they really don't have homes, whenever I can and because of that they are with me wherever I go.  My neighbors have even told me Sara will wait for me at the door to my building.  She's just so cute and I was immediately drawn to her because she walks with only her 2 front legs!  It really is quite a sight to watch her!  Well I'm finding out that my English classes are too easy and I have to try something else.  The Halloween plans are coming along and I think we might be able to do something in the afternoon, so all the teachers can come, and something at night too, which is better for spooky stories.  We were talking in the teachers room today and one of the teachers started coming up with ideas.  HOW AWESOME IS THAT!!  I have to say, sometimes I don't think they need me here (which does not hurt my feelings in the least- I'm more than happy to take a backseat); they come up with great ideas on their own!  Besides being a georgeous day everything is like usual!  Not sure who all reads these but Wally and Kathy, Catherine, and Daniel and Connie, my letters to you came back for some reason.  I'll wait awhile longer and then resend them.  Love and hugs from me!  

and it starts....

Ok, I'm a little more settled now.  Since I am busier I am going to do my blogs on Tuesday and Thursdays.  I'll try to do more but at least those days.  As of right now those are the days I have more time.  I have had 1 week of English classes and I think they have gone pretty well.  My classes in the Kindergarten started last week also but I have a year under my belt (have experience) working there so it shouldn't be that different.  Halloween is the focus of the students' energies now and we are working on putting something together.  The students brought it up and I met with one student and she gave me some ideas, how AWESOME is that!  Something I don't think I have mentioned in a blog yet has to do with houses in winter.  Since there is no central heat it's not that easy to heat your house.  I told you people here use wood burning stoves and I have a radiator.  Some people have little space heaters as well.  What I haven't shared is that during winter the rest of the house is pretty much shut off and the living area is the 1 room with the stove.  For example, when I went upstairs to see my new apartment I noticed it was basically divided into 3rds.  My new balcony has been closed off to the outside and is now part of the living area.  The wall seperating inside from outside has been taken out and replaced by another wall with a sliding door a few feet in front of the original wall.  The kitchen/bathroom  area is seperated by another wall with a door that is kept closed.  That way all the heat stays in the small center room and everyone is warmer!  My apartment here is probably the size of my bedroom in the states and I'd never thought of dividing it into 3rds!  I will say though it stays much warmer that way!  "Necessity is the mother of invention" (not mine and not sure at this moment who said it) and creativity (that's mine)!  I hope this blog is understandable; I was having a little trouble explaining myself.  Love and hugs from me!

things are happening!

So I'm blogging to ask you all to give me the rest of this week and maybe a little next week until I resume blogging.  this week I started my English classes and at the Kindergarten too and it will take time to get my new schedule down.  Found out when I got back from vacation I have to move apartments, only upstairs if the plan works, so that is also happening now!  I will try to resume telling you guys about this wonderful country at the latest Wed of next week.  I am fine and it is cooling down, almost like we just skipped fall!  Love and hugs from me!

I'm home!

Oh my gosh!!  The last couple weeks have been fun but went very fast and now is when the busy stuff starts!  Thanks to 2 of my friends from the states who came over for a visit and asked me to show them around, I traveled to some of B I probably wouldn't have if I were on my own.  We had so much fun and it was so exciting to see this country, which I have grown to love and is and has been my home, through their eyes.  They got to ask questions I can't, and frankly don't want to, about politics and such and, because I just don't have the time to delve into everything I want to here, were able to learn things about this history that is so very interesting!  I had a great time and have to thank them for everything and ESPECIALLY wanting to come and see the beauty that is Bulgaria!!  This country has so very much to offer from mountains to fields to the Danube to woods and nature!  Bulgaria needs other people to realize that and come visit and make it prosperous!  I have to get some preparations done for my class so have to call it quits for today.  I also think I changed the days of my blogs but right now I can't remember which days!  Love and hugs from me!