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...