During the summer, it's not unusual to hear someone comment and complain about the "dog days of summer". Though I understood the meaning of the saying, I still find it a little odd. Not the words used (although why dogs?), but I really haven't felt the effects. In America, I had a car, I had friends, and I had a life (although some can argue about that). If I wanted to do something, go somewhere, or be in an air conditioned room, I usually could. The days certainly did not feel like a drag. But here in Bulgaria, I am quickly become conscious of the saying.
It has been in the high 90's and possibly more every single day at my site. The surrounding mountains and hills provide little protection or deterrence from the sun's almighty rays. The one fan that I bought myself (and assembled using poorly written Bulgarian instructions) has continued working nonstop, ever-since I bought it. Even though, the fan right now is my most important friend, I'm beginning to have dreams of a romantic rendezvous with my central air-conditioning unit I once had in the previous life. I also find myself often contemplating of starting a "rain dance" outside.
It is because of these hot and long days, that Bulgarians unofficially converted the month of August into the "Otpusk (vacation) or Pochivka (break time) " month. The month described by most of the Bulgarian population spending their year-long-earned vacation days by the Black Sea or in the Balkans. Many are gone for more than two weeks. While I completely understand this custom, I am, in a way, negatively affected by it. My site has become a ghost city of sorts. It is hard for me to meet new people, when most of them are missing in action (probably enjoying the cold and relaxing waves). Also my English tutoring class has quickly mutated to something else. It decreased in size from around ten people a day, to just two. The hours have also decreased, from four hours every weekday to just two every Monday and Wednesday. The topic itself, English has slowly evolved into English culture, because of the advanced English skills of my two high school students.
The increase in free time (from tutoring) has certainly allowed me to pursue a few hobbies. My most important hobby is shopping in Kaufland. The megastore that has most of the products I need and want (not to mention the chance to be in the presence of air conditioning). The second hobby is the logistics of shopping. Once in Kaufland, I ask myself every time, how much things am I willing to carry in two huge plastic bags for 20 minutes in the scorching weather to my home. Surprisingly the answer is a lot. And thus, my need to go to the gym has transformed to carrying 20 pounds of food and other stuff for 15 minutes, through the streets of my site.
My third hobby (if one can call it that and not necessity) is the Bulgarian Language tutoring. I have been fortunate enough to have Tanya, a Peace Corps language trainer, willing to tutor me through September. Allowing me to actually spend this time wisely and get better in Bulgarian.
The final hobby I have taken up is the Horo, the traditional dances of Bulgaria. Thanks to Tanya, who has become more of my counterpart (while my actual one is vacationing), I joined a professional Horo club. It consists of 30-40 Bulgarians ranging anywhere between 15 and 65, who have decided to pursue the art to perfection and have fun at the same time. And although my Horo skills are not up to par (yet), I have memorized all the steps to the Kyustendilsko Horo performed in one of the videos above (the most important Horo of the region). I have been "horoing" for about two weeks now (two times a week for two hours), and there hasn't been a time where my shirt was not completely wet from sweat at the end. This fact might not go down to well with my parents and grandparents who are miraculously hoping that I gain some weight in Bulgaria. I have also had an amazing luck to meet Nancy, a past Peace Corps volunteer who has been with the Horo dance club for more than three years. She is the one who is willing to teach me the step of Horo every time, give advice and secrets about the city, introduce me to her friends, as well as, a few secret celebrations like the Bread Festival (mentioned above).
So now as I walk through the streets of my site and see the many homeless dogs sleeping in the shade with their tongues out, I now get a deeper understanding of that saying I mentioned before. But now it's definitely the Bulgarian Dog Days of Summer.
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