Qurban, Lakatnik river and flour making

Week 2 – this week was an exciting one! As soon as I got used to the routine, we had many events to participate in – every day looked different! I think the best part about living in a community like this is doing things together.

Kurban

This week we had the honor to participate in a local Bulgarian tradition, “kurban”. Local people were very friendly, they explained about the significance of this event and offered some lamb soup, “agneshka tsorba”. The main languages to communicate were Bulgarian and Russian, but as there was no common language, a phone and a translator worked from time to time.

Lakatnik natural pools

Another day we visited a river with natural swimming pools in Lakatnik. We travelled by car, taking care of recycling and other important things on the way. Visiting the pools was amazing, being surrounded by nature and enjoying warm weather in great company.

Flour making and daily chores

Other days we did our daily chores: cooking, cleaning, weeding and mulching. We also had grain to make flour from, so one evening we unpacked the soviet flour-making machine and made three big bags of flour with other volunteers.

This week was all about learning about the place, adjusting to the changing schedules, and enjoying the Bulgarian summer. The berries (cherries, blackcurrants, raspberries and plums) are in their peak season and we sure have enjoyed it.

-Inka