Canning Baba's

(Originally sent out as a mass mail)

I am finding out that Bulgarians drink a lot of espresso and Beer. I have had more Beer and espresso in the last two weeks than I have in my entire life and I don't drink Beer or Espresso. He he.

Right now the neighborhoods are stacking up on fire wood to prepare for winter. And the Baba's (grandma's) can be seen canning produce in front of their homes. They do it by building a fire outside and placing a huge calderen over the flames to boil the jars. All this is making me
worried. I don't even know where I will be living for the winter, but I do know the town will be covered in snow. Produce for January, February, and March are not reliable if existent. I guess I will have to learn how to can when I get to my site. Where's mom when I need her? lol.

I have had the oppurtinity to shadow a current PCV (Peace Corps Volunteer)and see how he lives and what work he does. Next Friday I find out where I will live and what work I will do.

I attached a couple more pics. Both from my first week in Strelcha. The first pic I took on the first evening when we went on a hike. We considered it a symbol of good luck. Later on in the hike we found a horse shoe. Looks like we're getting off to a good start. TTYS.