Stupid hamster

One of the things that happens when it rains for me is that the internet cuts out, it did this weekend. And when it does come back it is very slow, so slow it is maddening. I'm not sure why this happens but it might have something to do with the hamster that powers the internet drowning in its Cisco wheel or something. I can't believe that I'm in the Peace Corps and I have to put up with a slow internet connection. This is not what I signed up for! I mean do PCVs in Africa have to put up with this? I think not! Now if you'll excuse me I am going to go watch football on my cable tv, microwave some popcorn, and then get into my rocket car. ZOOM!!! (I might need to get out more I think)

Two rainy days

Well last weekend the weather was very nice, this weekend it rained. I thought it was supposed to snow in January? Oh well.

Two beautiful days

The past two days have been positively beautiful here. They have been more like two days in mid March then January. In order to take advantage of these days I went on two short hikes. It was very nice to spend so much time outside in the sun and get some exercise.

The Hoff

My students are giving presentations on their favorite song/music. Today among their choices were Bon Jovi, Britney Spears, Right Said Fred, Ricky Martin, and David Hasselhoff. These weren't jokes they were playing, they really like these people. I couldn't laugh out loud at them obviously and now I think I have a hernia from keeping the laughing to myself.

New Years Day

This New Years I was in the town of Razlog. On New years day they have a parade and celebration called Kookery. In this parade people dress up in hairy costumes with bells and dance around, I believe the origin of this is that the costumes and bells would scare away the evil and winter spirits and bring the arrival spring. In addition to the dancers, neighborhoods within the town create a float that they bring to the center of town. It was allot of fun to see all of the people dancing and also the interesting floats they made. All except for one.
One float contained the most disturbing thing I have seen since I have been here. The title of this float was something along the lines of "Killing pigs the EU way" (Bulgaria entered the EU on January 1st). On this float there were men in butchers aprons, several tables and a stove. As the float moved into the center of town I saw that there was also a live pig on the float. When the float arrived in the center of town the men placed the pig on the table and slit its throat. They did this in front of everyone. Many people crowded around the float to watch the pig thrash about as it died and take pictures. While the pig was moving some men on the float held it down while others waved their bloody knives in the air and danced around.
I have been living in this country for eighteen months now and I would have thought by this point that I would be more or less used to seeing just about everything that goes on in this country. Seeing something like this and being shocked by it makes me feel good however, because I know that this place hasn't changed me for the worse and turned me into someone I don't want to be.