The Prom

For the past few weeks the seniors have been preparing for their prom (or Ball). They can be heard all around town blowing their whistles and saying "Who has a Ball?" . . . "(Insert name) has a Ball." This past week the excitement intensified since the proms were actually taking place. Last Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening the center was full of people (the graduates, family, friends and onlookers) yelling and taking pictures - It's been crazy.

On Friday I went to one students pre-party with her family and then to our school's prom. I actually had not intended to go (I don't even teach the 12th class) but when I got there (to the hotel to take some pictures) the other teachers sucked me in. It was very interesting. Their prom is like a dinner and dance combined. It was especially fun seeing what was fashionable for the students to wear.

Hear are some photos:

This sign says "Chestit Bal" or "Happy Ball." This photo is from the gathering I went to with the family of one of our students who will be going to America for College in the fall.

This is her and her grandmother who entertained the guests with some poems she wrote for the occasion.

Outside the Hotel

Some of the seniors all dressed up and ready to go

At the Prom

The Teacher's Table

Spring Again

This past April I got to go on a tour of the Rousse area with one of the Americans who works at the Peace Corps Sofia office and his wife. Here are some highlights from the tour:

Our visit to the Sveshtari Tomb - These are Thracian Tombs. You can see them all over Bulgaria. Each of the large mounds below is a tomb.

A Turkish Lunch

Stork Sighting

Demir Baba Teke - An Alevi (Bulgarian Shias) Holy Place

A piece of your clothes has to be hung on a tree or a bush around the Holy
Demir Baba Teke site for health and good fortune. I found some underwear on one tree - I guess those people already found their good fortune??

Here your partner should be able to guide you (blindfolded) so that your fingers lineup with the 2 holes. It's supposed to be a sign of fidelity.

Here you are supposed to pull a piece of cloth through the holes three times in order to relieve minor ailments (like a headache)

This is called the Moon Rock. If you lay back on it and sit up three times it is supposed to make you fertile. If you do the same thing in the other direction it's for fortune. It was a lot harder than it looks. The top of the rock was very slippery so when I tried to sit up I started sliding off.

Our Visit to a Wood Carved House

The Orthodox Midnight Service - The Easter Midnight service takes place outside of the church. When Midnight comes, the priest gives the blessing and everybody has to walk around the church 3 times with their candles. I was afraid my long hair would prove to be a fire hazard but I made it through unscathed. I just got a lot of wax all over my coat.

Easter Lunch in the Village of Ivanovo

The Ivanovo Rocky Monastery - Located near Rousse, it has
paintings listed in the World Heritage List. They are said to be some of the most
remarkable works of Bulgarian Medieval artists of the 14th century.

The Ruins of the Medieval Fortress of Cherven

A Celebrations in Pirgovo Village Square (the town where we ate Easter dinner)

Romania

A few weekends ago I went to Bucharest with one of my Bulgarian Friends. It was a quick day trip (possible now since I'm living on the border) but it was a lot of fun. The tour guides seemed impressed with my Bulgarian skills, little do they know . . .

Here are some photos from my visit: