Similarly, in Bulgaria people enjoy growing their own food. They view home-grown vegetables to be the best. When speaking about food, my students often say, “you have to try it from my baba (ba-ba),” which is the Bulgarian word for grandmother. In Bulgaria, grandmothers are known for making the best food and passing those recipes to their children. I always enjoyed cooking in the kitchen with my grandmother, and, like Bulgarian students, I thought her cooking was the best!
But there are differences between the United States and Bulgaria in terms of the pace of life and hospitality. The pace of life in Bulgaria is very relaxed and no one feels in a rush. The thought is that it will happen when it happens. This allows people to enjoy their time with friends and not worry about how long they have been out. One time, I went to get a coffee with a fellow teacher after school, and I did not get home until 8 p.m. We had a great time, but I have never experienced this in the United States. In the United States, everyone is busy and keeps a tight schedule that is crammed with activities. No one could spare five hours to sit and talk about life. I really enjoy that aspect of Bulgarian life. All of these similarities and differences make for interesting conversations with my friends from both sides of the world as we discover new things about each other’s cultures!
Even though I had not traveled much in the past, my experiences interacting with different people have allowed me to feel comfortable living in a completely new place. I have never been out of America for so long before, but I am really glad that I am here!
I am looking forward to sharing my journey with your classroom!
