Hopefully this doesn't come true

Yesterday, during school, the administration decided we would operate this week on a compressed schedule, meaning that we would star and hour later each morning, and end classes at about the same time.  It has been so cold in the mornings, that the classrooms have not had a chance to warm up before people get here.  (I think yesterday it was -14 C in the morning)  The radiators were on, but they just were not projecting any heat.  On top of trying to heat up the buildings after they had been cold since Wednesday, it was cold enough all day to the point of when you walked outside, you lost your breath and the hairs in your nostrils would freeze.  It was borderline to being too cold... 

I was just highly amused this morning when I awoke this morning and while I attempted to piece together the various dreams of the evening, I remembered one (which I never do, so I thought it was amusing).  I had a dream that Russia refused to turn the heat back on in Bulgaria until people moved from their houses and into these row houses. The row houses are everywhere, a lot of them built in communism, and still existing in a dilapidated state.  Russia wanted to be able to control exactly who could receive heat and who couldn't and apparently they could do that if we all lived in these apartment buildings.  The school made us move too, out of our nice, toasty warm apartments and houses.... so, I am hoping that plan doesn't actually come to fruition... 

Utilities Update

After a few days without water, the water returned, hot and steamy.  However, as most of you probably know (and if you don't, I recommend checking out some cnn.com or bbc.com for the full story) Wednesday morning at work, I was greeted by a cold wall of air upon unlocking the door to the classroom.  My classroom was ice cold.  The radiators were not pumping any heat out, as they usually do at full force.  

Soon, I realize and find out through some news reading, that due to Russia's beef with the Ukraine and their lack of payment for their fuel supply (allegedly) Russia retaliated by closing off the supply of natural gas to the Ukraine, which ultimately closes off fuel supply to Bulgaria, since we are dependent almost completely upon that life line.  

I proceeded through my day, teaching with my jacket on, as my students also remained bundled in their jackets and scarves.  Near the end of the day, we all received an email from the director, saying that they had cancelled school for the following two days, Thursday and Friday, because they did not expect the heat to return by then.  I have heard that Bulgaria is attempting to switch over the fuel supply from natural gas to diesel, which we must have some reserve supplies in.  

Lucky for me, our house, my bosses house, and another house on campus, are probably three of a hundred houses that actually have heat!  I don't know why we do, but I think we have our own source of fuel here on campus, which we run on.

Things actually have not closed down as much as I had expected them too with this fuel crisis.  We went bowling and out to dinner last night, and tomorrow I am planning on going hiking with Meg and Cooper.  It should certainly be a nice hike in the snow. :-)

So, in case you were wondering, we are currently doing okay with everything... Nothing like a little utilities crisis to remind me I still am living a little East of civilization... 

 

Happy 2009!!

In a moment of New Year celebration reflection, all I have to say is Wow.  What a year.  What a pivotal, life changing year this has been...  I made the decision to accept a job in a foreign country; I finished my final semester of university; I graduated from said university and moved the life I had established over the past 5 years back home; moved to said foreign country and have settled down to my new life here.  New country, new culture, new language, new job, new friends, new decisions for myself... Now, I am pretty close to halfway done with my first year of teaching, and I have met amazing people, have made amazing friends, and have seen some breath-taking places in the world... What a wild and crazy journey this has been!

It is insane how much one decision- my decision to teach abroad- can change the life I have... And I love it.  It is exciting and intimidating at the same time, and sometimes scary, to think about how one decision can totally affect your life... I love it :-)

I had a great Christmas and New Year's with my family in Austria and Sofia... more on that to come.  Now it have been snowing this beautiful, light, dry, fluffy snow (gorgeous!) and we have not had any water in my house since yesterday morning... Maintenance said we would probably not have water for 2 days...Now there are two large plastic water drums in out basement and three boxes of bottled water by the front door representing our water supply...

Who said I loved Bulgaria? Haha... No I love it here.  Just what a grand adventure this all is!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  May 2009 bring you wonderful things! 

I am hoping for water right now... Especially considering that I teach tomorrow, and thus need a shower.