Downtown Sofia

Here are some pictures of downtown Sofia. The first three are of the National Theater-Ivan Vazov. The next one is of apartment buildings located downtown. Unlike the U.S. most people live in apartment buildings, due to the lack of space and large population. The last picture (sorry it is upside down) is the St. Aleksandar Nevsky Cathedral. The Cathedral is also one of the largest of the Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world.

Banica

Earlier in the blog I described Banica, but I will provide additional information about it here. Banica is a dish that has lasted for many years, and is still a part of the Bulgarian tradition. Banica is made with filo dough, Bulgarian cheese, eggs, yogurt, and oil. Banica's ingredients may differ depending on the region in Bulgaria and/or tradition of the cooks. It can be eaten as a side dish, a simple snack, or even a main meal. It is quick and easy to make, and is definitely something you must try!

Food. Food. And More Food.

Food in Bulgaria is flavorful, fulfilling, and definitely delicious. The image shows what we bought the first day. (I consider these foods my necessities.) To begin, I will describe each food item. Fanta, as you can see comes in varieties of flavors. We specifically like Fanta Lemon and Fanta Orange. The Fanta here is better than America's in my opinion. It has flavor, and less food coloring. The bottle in the middle is beer. Ariana is a popular brand in Bulgaria and it is consumed rather often during the summer. My parents enjoy a cool beer on a hot summer day. The small container on the right is yogurt. Yogurt is an everyday food staple. It is eaten with breakfast, lunch, and even sometimes dinner. (all depending on the menu) To the left, in the white wrapping you see Bulgarian Cheese. Bulgarian cheese is like feta cheese. It is also used in different meals, like Banica for example. Next to the cheese, is kashkaval. Kashaval is close to Mozerella cheese, and is definitely something most/all people have in their fridge. Last, but not least, is Syshenica. It is hard to explain but it is like dry/hard salami. It is delicious, and is especially consumed during the winter and winter holidays. I encourage you to visit Bulgaria and try the delicious food it has to offer!

Vitosha is the place to go

Vitosha (Витоша)

Vitosha is the first park in Bulgaria and on the Balkan Peninsula. It was declared a national park in 1934. Vitosha is visited daily. People can hike, ski, or simply relax. Vitosha is located in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Just last Saturday we were able to hike with the family. You can spend a whole day there, just enjoying the fresh air and beautiful views. I would recommend it! 

The Days Seem Longer Here

I am not exactly sure why, but the days seem longer here. I get so many things done! Just today I was able to get our apartment all cleaned up, get our luggage ready, and hang out with friends and relatives. That's the benefit here, always something to do and see. In Bulgaria you can walk everywhere. People walk from place to place each and every day. Since places are close by, people can walk to stores, shop for groceries, and of course go out for coffee. Coffee here is considered a time to relax. A time to enjoy a small, but yet strong coffee. A time to chat with friends, not just for 10 minutes but maybe for an hour or more. Time is precious. And to be able to spend your day wisely is truly a great benefit.

Time to try something new

We often get stuck in our busy, everyday schedules. Eat, Work, Sleep and Repeat. Often times we are afraid to go beyond our schedules, we are scared to try something different. Well, today I tried something way beyond my comfort limit. Shooting at a range. The sound of the gun is so loud, and so scary. But, thank God I am alright! I was scared to try something new and obviously totally out of my comfort zone, but I did it. And the feeling is like no other. Accomplishment. Joy. Happiness. I even shot 2 10's, right in the center of the target. Praise God! So, next time you are presented with an opportunity to try something new, try it! But before that, make sure that is something that will benefit you or/and others around you:)

Supermarkets

Supermarkets are everywhere.Whether it's Billa, Lidl, or Fantastiko. Just like Walmart, Target, Cub Foods, and Aldi in America. They are filled with groceries along with other items such as hair products, laundry detergents, and even flip flops. They are definitely an enormous competitor to smaller businesses. However, you can find pretty much anything you might be searching for.

Going down memory lane

Every year I come home, I make sure to open all the albums of the past. Looking at old photos makes me remember the past. Remembering just how blessed I was every single day. I love looking at my baby pictures with my parents, and seeing how much I have changed, and seeing how much I was cared for and loved.

Breakfast in Bulgaria

The first morning in Bulgaria we ate banica, kifla, and boza (morning breakfast drink). Banica (pronounced ba-ni-tsa) is the most popular breakfast item people have for breakfast. Banica is a traditional urban pastry in Bulgaria and the Balkans as well. Depending on the region you visit, banica contains small variations.It is prepared with filo, Bulgarian feta cheese, eggs and yogurt. It is often eaten with yogurt on the side.Boza is a fermented drink made of maze and wheat. (it is a sweet drink) And finally kifla, is a crescent type breakfast item that can be filled with marmalad, chocolate or jelly. Bulgarian food is the best in my opinion:)

A New Day

Every day is a brand new day. A day to start over, start fresh. Today I was able to visit a youth group at the church Prayer Home in Lulin (suburbs in Sofia). There, I joined their youth group, met new people, and most importantly learned about God's Word. I was able to share my project with them, and they were very interested in learning about America's culture and lifestyle. Along the way I have learned a couple of things about Bulgarians. First, that they are very interested in learning about everything in America. And second that they are very educated about America. I like to test their knowledge by giving them simple questions about America, and I guarantee you that they are probably 99.9% right. It makes me happy when people care about other countries in the world. I look forward to tomorrow! I will post some pictures soon.

Living a Life with Joy

We face challenges and difficulties each day. But, how do we dial with them? Do we apprach situations with anger and frustruations or with wisdom and joy? Often times it is so easy to lose your cool, and approach a situation with anger and frustruations. I am writing this post because this happens to me and everyone around me frequently. Today while taking the taxi to my grandma's apartment, the taxi man dropped us somewhere else, and my mom got really frustrated. But hey, I was reminded that we have to rejoyce in every situation. Positive attitude is the key. I mean, of course it's easier said than done, but we have got to give it a try. God has blessed my life in so many ways, that all I could do is rejoyce and be thankful each day. Why get frustrated when you can thank God for the life He has given you? It goes back to how we take things in our lives for granted. Take a look around you. Look at the beautiful skies, sun, and stars. Look at the birds, trees, and plants. Look at yourself, healthy and breathing. There is so much we have to be thankful for, but we treat it like it's something we always had and always will. This is where we are wrong. You won't live forever on Earth, and neither will I. Life goes so fast, and we need to rejoyce even for the small things in life. Live a life with joy and be thankful each day! :)

Home Sweet Home

Have you ever traveled somewhere and enjoyed visiting, but when you came home you felt the best? Home is where your heart will always be, no matter where you go.Today was a long day. My family and I  went to downtown Sofia and visited almost everything. Well maybe not, but my feet are so sore. Today was the most beautiful day I could have asked for, sunny with a few clouds and gorgeous blue skies.Walking in Sofia is always an adventure, whether you notice something different or just meet new people, it's always a blast. People in Bulgaria always dress very nicely when going out. (even to the grocery store) It's a European thing, and I really find it fascinating. I am into fashion and style so it is always nice to get inspiration from other people. Today I was able to see some tourists as well, from Germany and Jamaica. It's awesome to see how other countries value Bulgaria and even want to come and check it out. I encourage you to visit Bulgaria as well. I was able to also hang out with one of my really close friends here in Bulgaria and remember all the good times. Our childhood memories are always so special to share and look back at. Some memories never fade. Overall today was a blessed day and I could not have asked for a better day! Every day is a blessing, every day is a gift!

(I forgot to mention but the amount of ice cream I have consumed in the last days, will be kept a secret. It is just too good, best ice cream ever!)

The Cousins

Here's my sister and our first cousin Silvia. (Sisi) They always have a great time together, whether it's playing with cats, or it's just drawing fashion models. Family is so important. However, I think often we take it forgranted. Always remember that your family will be with you, through whatever you go through. They will always be someone you can lean on.

May The Project Begin

I have begun sharing the American culture and life with Bulgarians. Today we visited my father's past workplace to share about our life in America. It always fascinates me just how much Bulgarians know about America. (always makes me smile)

A Kid at Heart

While waiting for our next flight to Sofia, I decided to play on the airport playground with my sister! What can I say, I will always be a little kid at heart. Will you?

Finally Home

After about 14 hours of traveling, we are finally home. I have missed Bulgaria so much, and coming here made me realize just how blessed I am to have such a loving family. A family that cares, a family that brings joy and laughter. Often we can forget about the people around us, and just how blessed we are to have them. Coming back to our small apartment in Sofia, every memory has flashed and is still flashing before my eyes. From the time my little sister was born, to my 7th birthday spent with my family. The first thing I did when I got home was lay on my top bunk bed. You may wonder why, but the bed is like my best friend. It has always been with me thorough the tears and pain, and of course the joys and laughter. In other words, I am so thankful to be home!

The Project: Explained

Hello everyone, and welcome to my Girl Scout Gold Award Project!

Here's a little bit about myself and my project.
My name is Kristina Myankova and I have been a Girl Scout since 7th grade. (troop 11800)
I am working on my final and most significant project: Cultural Exchange. Since I'm from Bulgaria and have lived in the U.S. for about 7 years, I came up with a project that I believe will benefit both the people in Bulgaria and the United States. I will be traveling to Bulgaria this July to complete my project. For my project I have created varieties of presentations, games, and crafts that I will share with Bulgarians.
(ages 13-20) I look forward to hearing their questions, comments, and concerns with the American culture and lifestyle. Check out this blog to see my journey through Bulgaria. I will share pictures, stories, and possibly videos of Bulgaria.

It's often easy to forget about the rest of the world, some issues are presented by the media, but others are not seen. Stereotypes often arise from doubt, ignorance, or just lack of knowledge.
Having the opportunity to share America's culture with Bulgaria, and Bulgaria's culture with America is a true blessing from God. I look forward to sharing my 3-4 week trip in Bulgaria with all of you.

Thank you! I hope you enjoy this blog!:)

~ С Обич, (with love)
Кристина (Kristina)