In four days, I will be boarding a plane at Sofia airport for my last trip… This time, I will not be returning to Blagoevgrad. In four days, I will be landing at JFK in New York, excited as ever to walk out of that gate and see the faces of the three people whom I’ve missed more than anything. I’m just hoping I won’t be too jetlagged to stay awake the rest of the day to tell them everything. I think I’ll be running on adrenaline by that time.
For the past 20 years, America has been my home, so naturally leaving the only culture I’ve ever known for four months by myself, there are of course things I’ve missed and cannot wait to get home to. I can’t wait to get up in the morning and stuff my face, for lack of a better way to say it, with bagels, pancakes, fresh fruit, waffles, French toast, eggs… I could go on forever naming the foods I’ve missed. I can’t wait to drink my favorite Tropicana orange juice every day. I can’t wait to sleep in my big double bed on a mattress that I can’t feel the springs digging into my back. I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel of my car and drive wherever I want, not worrying about bus times, taxi fees, and figuring out metro systems. I can’t wait for those Connecticut summers and family cookouts. I can’t wait to see my best friends and stay up long nights talking with them. I can’t wait to get back to my old and familiar IGA job. I can’t wait to not be stared at everywhere I go, because well, a tall, blonde girl in Eastern Europe is not something you see every day. I can’t wait for my mom’s home-cooked dinners. I can’t wait to watch my Yankees play baseball. I can’t wait to spend my Christmas gift cards that I didn’t get a chance to destroy before I shipped off. I can’t wait to eat at my favorite restaurants and to not have cigarette smoke immediately meet me at the door. I can’t wait for the familiar feel and scent of my house. But most of all, it’s the people I miss and can’t wait to be reunited with. Although I’ve had this once in a lifetime opportunity and I’ve seen some places and sights I’d only ever dreamed of seeing, in the end it’s all about the people, not the place.
What am I going to miss about my life in Bulgaria? Well, Blagoevgrad. I love this city. It’s been home for the past four months, and I love everything about it. I love the way you can look up at anytime and see snow-covered mountains surrounding you 360 degrees, even when it’s sunny and hot in the valley of the city. I love how at any moment, a dog will come up to you and guide you all the way back to the door of Skapto 2. I love that anytime you feel lost, all you have to do is look for the Bistrica River. I love seeing horses, cows, and goats grazing free in the fields and along the side of the roads, merely emphasizing the simplistic back-to-basics lifestyle. I love hearing the sound of Bulgarian being spoken and the feeling of achievement when I can understand some. I love the early spring weather and talking to people back home, feeling so happy to be avoiding the March mud season and April showers. I love the feeling of walking through town on a beautiful day and seeing families out, little kids running everywhere and realizing all over again that Bulgarians are just like everyone else in the world. I love how it feels to return to Blagoevgrad after a weekend away, like it’s good to be home. Though I’m ecstatic to be coming back to my own bed and the people I love and have missed, the truth is, I’m leaving one home for another. I’m leaving opportunities I never thought I would have. I’m leaving memories and experiences that have changed me as a person. Most of all, I’m leaving a family. I’m leaving people I love and will miss.
So that is all for me from Bulgaria. To anyone who has followed me on my journey (most likely my parents plus a few...), I sincerely hope you've enjoyed what you have read. When I originally made the decision to blog about my travels back in the fall of last year, I thought it might be somewhat of a daunting task, but I wanted people back home to be able to have the opportunity to share in some of the amazing experiences I would encounter. At some point along the way though, blogging became less of a task and more of a reward. I began to not worry about getting behind on sending people back home an update of my life, and I started to record my travels for me. I know as time goes on, I will forget the little details of my Bulgarian life. I know I will be thankful to have a place where I can go for reminders. So whether my readers are two (Mom and Dad) or twenty does not matter, but I thank you all the same.
Много благодарности.
You are home safe and sound. You have told us stories of your travels, adventures, and new friends. You are different... older, wiser, and more mature. We are glad you had this opportunity to "see the world", but more importantly we are glad you have returned to our world. You were missed and you are loved.
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