«Летище София» this inscription was the first photo I took in Bulgaria. I knew that Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine weren’t the only countries that used the Cyrillic alphabet, but seeing it with my own eyes was still unusual.
You don’t feel like a foreigner when you can easily understand signs, read any information you need, and even partially understand what people are saying. However, when they’re waiting for you to answer and you don’t speak Bulgarian, you remember you’re in another country.

The day after arriving, I and the other volunteers went to Kazanlak. It’s an incredibly blooming town, and I especially fell in love with the magnolia flowers, with their soft pink color and sweet fragrance. I’d never seen them in tree form before.

The project began shortly before Orthodox Easter, and it was pleasant to see familiar traditions from a new perspective. For example, drawing a cross on the forehead with a painted egg, wishing good health for the coming year. It was also interesting to try kozunak, which feels close yet different from the baked goods we make for Easter at home.

I began discovering Bulgaria after visiting Stara Zagora and walking around the village of Srednogorovo, where I live with other short-term volunteers. Bulgaria, blooming and springtime, is simply made for exploring. I hope to get to know more about the culture, language, attitudes of the city’s residents and, of course, help nature. during my ESC journey here in Bulgaria!

Мария Быханова

Russia