Searching for the lost son

The last weeks have been time consuming (tests, homework assignments) Nevertheless I was looking forward to the short visit of my parents this weekend. Although they just spent 2 nights in Blago, we were able to visit Rila + Monastery, Bankso, Sofia as well as Blagoevgrad. Thus it was my first time outside of Blagoevgrad after the trip to Rila Monastary during the Introduction Week. Although I decided after our initial cab-ride from Sofia Airport to Blago that I’m not willing to drive in Bulgaria, I rented a car to accomplish all these trips, and guess what I wasn’t as scary to drive as I thought it would be.

The fact that I have to drive in a foreign country with barely knowledge of the national language did not make me more confident when we fetched the car. (We means that Preslav, one of my room mates, helped me to overcome the language barriers at the rent-a-car-office….) Before I left Blago to pick up my parents at Sofia Airport on Friday 8:30 p.m., we went to the supermarket and I was happy to convince Prosper to be my co-driver and navigator. Therefore I felt much more confident to get to the airport in Sofia. Even though it was not so easy to find the way from the centre of Sofia to the airport because you barely find street signs. But we finally made it. I wonder if I would have found the airport without the incredible assistance of Prosper.

A resume of the driving experience: After 700 km in 2.5 days I perceive that Bulgarians overall are defensive and careful drivers, as well as I have to make an exception for a few of them which seem to be “a bit” risk taking, not to say that they are weary of live. I mean overtaking in unclear curves, in two-ways traffic-tunnels, both with double solid lines. As it becomes in Austria more common to neglect to use turn signal, I could keep track of the same approach here.

What are you most scared of?

Probably speaking in front of numerous strangers? Crossing a street in Bulgaria? Or it could be to forget to lock the toilet door. The latter could be critical in Bulgaria as it is not always possible to lock these doors….

As usually some impressions from the last day (click to enlarge)....

I might have become addicted to panos, I hope that does not bother you

Austrian bread in BG


Care package with some of the best "Austrian" product


Bansko:










Blagoevgrad:









Rila Monastery:










Sofia:

Tell me why? I don’t like Monday.

According to Murphy’s law if anything bad can happen, it probably will and at the worst point in time.

In my case it was last Monday. While studying nearly the whole weekend in order to be prepared for my first two exams - Accounting and Corporate Finance. Monday is normally my busiest day of the week with four courses and a tutorial. This Monday there should have been a sixth appointment, my accounting exam, as mentioned. In our lecture on the same day our teacher was very happy and told us that we postpone the exam because he forgot to book the auditorium….very nice (I could have had a relaxed time that weekend and focusing on the CF exam) In the afternoon I received an e-mails. I was notified that I have to write an academical paper for a course in Austria, which I’m not able to attend because they have preponed it from the 6^th to the 5^th semester. In my humbled opinion really fair because my colleges just have to attend classes and sleep, there won’t be an exam, presentation or anything else. As well as some other stuff which I received that day...

The right frequency for Blagoevgrad.... http://bit.ly/8empW

The rest of the week turned out to be much better…

I have my hair cut today, 7.5 Lev (< € 4) and since then I'm looking like a young, 15 years old scallywag......(no pictures, oh)

And a picture from the kitchen on the fourth floor

(click)