Today is day two of my project. The memory brought back a few words that floated silently and boldly on the surface of my conscious thinking.
Literature: Pavel Vezzinov – Barier. I read it in Russian before my first visit to Bulgaria.
Golden Threads is a compilation of poems by Nikola Rakitin published in 1922.
Ivan Vazov, Under the Yoke
Pavlo Arhypovych Zahrebelnyi, Roksolana
Food: festive biscuits, banitsa, sweets called ‘Chernomorets’, lukanka, rakia, peaches, pears, watermelon, melon, peppers, pink tomatoes, Easter bread, black sea fish, pancakes, strange butter, yoghurt, ‘tipoff’ bread, and lentils. Waffle “Moreni”.
Words: shisharka, goliamo, zivot, vlak, perdeta, kosa, roklia, swetlo sinio, cherveno, leglo. dete, lepilo, obich, razhodka, gora, planina, momiche, momche, devoika, ‘az ne pusha’. I am a fluent speaker of the Bulgarian language, but these words were the first I learned.
I am trying to recall my first impression of Bulgarian culture and literature. It is an exciting memory stroll to understand how my present thinking has been formed throughout the years. Why did I need to move away from the country? Why could I not eat peppers and tomatoes for so many years afterwards? Why did I refuse any ironing with the stay-of-the-art iron? Why, on receiving certain news, did I want to go out and beg on the streets?
In 1990th, I was mesmerised by colourful traditional costumes, intricate embroidery, carved wooden gifts, magnificent tablecloths, and hands by so many crafty women selling homemade lace items on the streets.
Bulgarians love talking to children outside and talking to strangers, can smile and say ‘hello’ on the streets. These were my first impressions of Bulgarian life in the last century.
