tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90120712011-09-13T00:30:04.873-04:00DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.comBlogger2651100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-66974834323620106922011-09-10T20:01:00.000-04:002011-09-10T20:01:03.752-04:00

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Arial; panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073711037 9 0 511 0;} @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-46441406175537930792010-12-10T21:49:00.000-05:002010-12-10T21:49:21.199-05:00

Just now I re-read a post I wrote three years ago about a trip I took with classmates to Puerto Rico. It was wonderful to revisit the details but also disturbing to realize how many of those details I had actually forgotten in the meantime. So, I made a pledge to myself to write up in more detail as many of the Bolivia/South America trips we took as possible. Yes, the experience is not as fresh

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-59751032485906634322010-11-04T18:35:00.002-04:002010-11-04T18:38:14.186-04:00

Chopped. Is apparently the right answer. Or at least, so I learned today when ordering a salad at a deli and being faced with the question, "Would you like it chopped?" Now, let me explain that the salad and all of its ingredients were already chopped to (what I think of as) the regular bite size. You can imagine my confusion when the man behind the counter asked me whether I would like my

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-11361661131790964342010-10-25T23:28:00.000-04:002010-10-25T23:28:15.524-04:00

Slowly,  I am getting used to the sirens at all hours of the day and the go-with-the-rush-or-you-will-be-run-over attitude. Do as the natives or... One thing I am definitely never going to understand (and probably my number one NY pet peeve as of now) is the door-hogger. This is just a random term I have started using to refer to people who enter the subway by taking one step inside and then just

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-50150535918206411412010-10-08T19:14:00.001-04:002010-10-25T23:44:28.945-04:00

I had the good intention to write this before I left Bolivia (which was actually 2 months ago at this point). But moving across three continents, planning a wedding celebration and then ultimately trying to settle in my new city (New York) somehow got in the way. (Excuses, excuses.) I miss Bolivia. I miss the crazy landscapes of La Paz and actually writing this post now is helping me feel closer

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-59120572597115385592010-07-04T23:29:00.001-04:002010-07-04T23:41:06.065-04:00

My first memories of life abroad (i.e. outside of Bulgaria) involve feeding squirrels and birds in the park and watching the daily outings of two rabbits on the lawn outside our apartment building. I was 3 or 4 years old. Later, I also remember getting lost a few times and crying while searching desperately for my parents. I remember getting bitten (or should I say pecked) by a swan. I remember

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-44034779905465027672010-05-29T16:56:00.001-04:002010-05-29T16:56:43.530-04:00

I had always thought that the ubiquitous Economics-class phrase perfect markets was just that: a phrase that did not reflect reality. After all, for perfect markets to exist we need perfect information, in real time, immediate; no participant with the power to set prices; no barriers to entry or exit. Well, I think I found the closest thing to a perfect market that I will probably ever find:

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-28112271782332506262010-05-20T23:02:00.001-04:002010-05-20T23:04:31.381-04:00

Some things the Bolivian president says linger long after he has stopped speaking. You may have read in the news last month about Morales's comment about chicken and gay men. It basically went something like this, "the chicken that we eat is full of female hormones. Because of this, when men eat chicken, they experience deviations from being men." (El pollo que comemos está cargado de hormonas

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-30744495808110045672010-04-28T09:50:00.000-04:002010-04-28T09:50:36.606-04:00

The climb to the summit of Huayna Potosi (6088m, 19974 ft), 24-26 April 2010 Warning: This is a long post, but I wanted to capture my impressions while they are still fresh in my mind. I hope you enjoy it. Since the very first time that Milos read about the “easiest 6000+ m climb”, he had it in his mind that we should do it. I was a little less excited. I hate the cold and was picturing myself

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-82803796883239495012010-04-17T16:58:00.004-04:002010-04-17T17:09:07.568-04:00

*resident of La Paz. When I was told that I would be going to Santa Cruz for work, I couldn't wait. Santa Cruz is Bolivia's biggest city (bigger than La Paz or El Alto) and is the capital of a department in the Eastern Lowlands that is as different from the Altiplano as can be. The best part: I hadn't been there yet. I was looking forward to experiencing the warmer weather, more relaxed

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-31650558085149170172010-04-11T21:05:00.000-04:002010-04-11T21:05:02.080-04:00

The other day, I realized that I have only four more months left in Bolivia. Time has flown by. It got me thinking about what I have gained from being here - a place that was unknown to me seven months ago. Some things were obvious: it has helped me improve my Spanish; it has helped me learn more about the inner functionings of an organization that provides both microfinance products and health

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-41830928073277925072010-03-24T22:10:00.003-04:002010-03-24T22:13:55.984-04:00

When you hear the word "Carnaval" you probably think of Rio de Janeiro or Mardi Gras. Well, the Carnaval in Bolivia has something in common with those celebrations: the origins in celebrating before the beginning of Lent, dances in colorful costumes, lots of drinking and partying. But it is pretty unique in at least one respect: the water and foam battle that wages between carnaval-goers, not

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-86715966567344251672010-01-28T20:42:00.000-05:002010-01-28T20:42:45.473-05:00

"As as a rule of thumb, the more fucked-up a country, the more said country insists on crisp bills." - Eric Weiner, The Geography of Bliss The moment I read this statement, I had to write it down. Because at least in my experience, it holds true. In Bolivia, people demand the crispest of dollar bills. The tiniest of tears or even holes from a staple will be the cause for your bill to be rejected

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-5150605417630285282010-01-25T21:30:00.001-05:002010-01-25T21:31:38.003-05:00

From a unique bowling alley to a festival and an invitation to a Bolivian wedding, these have been some of the highlights for me in the last few weeks. Highlight #1: Bowling in a place where you have to set up the pins yourself. At first I didn't believe it when a former Peace Corps volunteer in Bolivia told me such a place existed in La Paz. So, we had to check it out. It was exactly as he

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-3574892908612705832009-12-20T10:53:00.006-05:002009-12-21T20:29:51.980-05:00

In the last few weeks, people at work have been talking a lot about "canastones". From what I could tell, these were baskets of goodies traditionally handed out before Christmas. I had imagined they would contain some chocolates and perhaps a bottle of wine or champagne. Well, I was in for a surprise. On Friday, we each received our canaston. Instead of a basket, we received a custom-ordered

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-3212967793356511152009-12-14T11:21:00.001-05:002009-12-14T11:24:09.966-05:00

It took a while for me to notice that Bolivians in general don't raise their voice. You hardly ever hear quarrels on the street, public transportation, between customers and vendors. I guess they just don't like to argue. If you are not happy about something or want to complain you employ the "whine" I have mentioned previously. Being used to almost constant grumpiness and complaints back home (

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-38124946600458187382009-12-06T01:22:00.000-05:002009-12-06T01:22:40.416-05:00

This post comes somewhat late. After all, Bolivia's presidential and parliamentary elections are later today. I am not going to delve into a lengthy analysis here, but I do want to mention a few things, just from personal observation and conversations with various people. From what I can tell, there has been very little coverage of Bolivia's elections outside of Bolivia. Even, The Economist (a

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-53022256467171150732009-11-19T14:24:00.000-05:002009-11-19T14:24:35.436-05:00

I realized that you may have questions about this place. So, here is your chance to ask them, and I will do my best to answer them. Whether it concerns politics, the economy, its people, or every-day life, it doesn't matter. Ask. I think the resulting discussion and opportunity for me to do some research can turn out to be quite interesting. So, what's on your mind? (And, please, don't leave me

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-28392441978940340112009-11-19T14:03:00.004-05:002009-11-19T14:15:50.762-05:00

Bolivia is a land-locked country, but that hasn't always been the case. There was a time (which ended in 1883-84) when Bolivia enjoyed access to the Pacific Ocean. A time that most Bolivians would like to see return. Many of them think about this quite a bit, as I have come to discover. How did they lose their access to the sea? Like most countries that lose territory, it happened in a war,

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-67886188725185869642009-11-13T11:50:00.001-05:002009-11-13T11:50:33.870-05:00

I've been playing around on alexa.com these past few days looking up traffic ranks and other stats for a number of websites. So, I decided to check how my blog ranks. I got a laugh out of the keywords that drive traffic here. Apparently they are (in order of frequency): Hmmm, not sure how the last one leads people to my blog (for non-Bulgarians, the translation is "problems with becoming

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-67853698184441602802009-11-08T23:06:00.001-05:002009-11-08T23:07:41.405-05:00

Date of trip: 30 October – 2 November 2009 The southwest part of Bolivia is one of the most remote corners of the country, almost exclusively popularized through tours of the Salar de Uyuni (Uyuni Salt Flats). Without these tours, I doubt that the majority of tourists passing through Bolivia would ever make it down there. We took the opportunity to visit one of Bolivia’s top attractions over the

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-72821595771251217302009-11-05T23:07:00.002-05:002009-11-08T20:43:04.583-05:00

Date of trip: 17-18 October 2009 The Inca Trail that most people have heard of is the one leading to Machu Picchu in Peru. And because of this very popularity, it is also quite crowded (or so I have heard). Well, Bolivia also has quite a few Inca trails of its own. Few people know this. I only realized this once I arrived in Bolivia. But the beauty of these Inca trails is that they are largely

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-86758857280260961882009-10-26T12:20:00.005-04:002009-11-05T21:43:36.646-05:00

Ah, where to begin? I’ve been putting off this post in the hope of gaining more clarity into why certain things work the way they do here. But, on the other hand, if I wait too long, I may get used to the status quo and be unable to capture the details as I see them now, two months into our stay in La Paz. I guess the biggest frustrations I run into on an almost daily basis are 1) la hora

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-19824944389094322472009-10-25T11:06:00.001-04:002009-11-05T21:32:14.584-05:00

Date of trip: Saturday, 3 October 2009It is impossible to come to Bolivia (especially to La Paz) and not hear of the World’s Most Dangerous Road or Death Road (El Camino de la Muerte) as Bolivians refer to it. It used to be the case that you would not only hear of it, but also have to travel on it if you were going to the Amazon region of the country. That is, until 2007 when a new road was

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-6551110539040503052009-10-16T11:36:00.006-04:002009-11-05T21:20:43.674-05:00

I have fallen behind on reporting back on our weekend trips, so here come a few posts for trips that took place over the past month. Date of trip: 19-20 September 2009 We were told that Lake Titicaca is a magical place. A place where the energy is simply different. We set out, curious to see what we would find. But first things first: the trip there. There are many buses and minibuses that

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-30598870710475317472009-10-01T21:34:00.001-04:002009-10-16T12:22:44.533-04:00

You never know what's going to make you laugh in your kitchen. Example. via Milos

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-50228658556029316562009-09-28T22:51:00.001-04:002009-10-16T12:24:35.342-04:00

If Zona Sur is the wealthier, more posh, and warm part of La Paz where most white (i.e., non-indigenous) Bolivians and foreign diplomats live, El Alto is a totally different world altogether. Well, first I guess I should clarify that it is a separate city. Once a part of La Paz, El Alto has grown into the second-largest city in Bolivia (second after Santa Cruz, in the east of the country), mainly

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-13199455536180067222009-09-25T14:30:00.002-04:002009-10-16T12:25:05.044-04:00

I am sure both of these lists will keep growing, but for now here are a few things I really love about La Paz: 1. Catching a glimpse of snow-peaked Mt. Illimani on an almost daily basis. Reminds me that I am actually in the Andes, and at a much higher altitude than I have ever been before. 2. Never having to wait longer than 5 minutes for public (or rather, what counts as public) transportation.

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-7815398859804611332009-09-22T14:15:00.001-04:002009-10-16T12:25:39.311-04:00

Two things that Bolivians really seem to love (thankfully, not mixed together). Today, six out of 10 people at our office lunch table had jello for dessert. Not sure what the obsession with it is. Flavored milk is sold in small plastic packets, which people bring to work, drink on the bus or while walking on the street. Kids especially love that stuff. While attending community association

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-74133159896291171622009-09-18T16:49:00.001-04:002009-10-16T12:26:05.721-04:00

Residence permit update. Our tramitador calls me to tell me that we have to sign some more forms for the police (this time not Interpol). We agree to meet at my office. He shows up and tells me that we need to find some witnesses. I'm confused at first. Turns out, that we need two people to verify that each of us (and no-one else) signed the forms. My colleagues think I am crazy when I tell them

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-50120014068872319992009-09-16T15:26:00.002-04:002009-10-16T12:26:31.404-04:00

This morning we visited Interpol. When I hear the word "Interpol", my mind conjures up the image of a powerful, all-knowing, all-penetrating organization with state-of-the-art technology (maybe that comes from watching too much CSI). Well, our experience today, at least at this La Paz branch of Interpol, couldn't be further from that image. We met our tramitador (the guy helping us with our

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-28732746945859672732009-09-16T00:02:00.006-04:002009-10-16T12:27:08.304-04:00

Planning on staying in Bolivia for a period longer than three months? Welcome to the mega-process that is the Bolivian temporary residence application (residencia temporal). Unfortunately, the days when you could stay in the country for 90 days, then cross the border to Peru or Chile and re-enter 24-48 hours later to start a new 90-day stay are over (especially for U.S. citizens; for others, it

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-70011221405102129492009-09-14T12:28:00.014-04:002009-10-16T12:27:34.896-04:00

Names are important. They represent your identity. Often, they even determine how people take to you or, apparently, also your success in life (remember Freakonomics?). Well, some Bolivians have taken this apparent relationship very close to heart, purposefully naming their kids with Western (i.e., English) names: William, Walter, Milton, Vivianne are some of the names I have come across so far.

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-38949689420507241402009-09-09T12:30:00.007-04:002009-10-16T12:28:41.811-04:00

Although at first glance the traffic appears overwhelming and the transportation options confusing, navigating them once you have a sense for how things work is quite easy. Getting around the city actually couldn’t be easier. Not counting private cars, there are four main transportation options: 1. Micros – These are buses that are about half or three-quarters the size of a regular bus (hence the

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-82100230393067197422009-09-06T13:39:00.007-04:002009-10-16T12:31:06.274-04:00

First-week learnings continued: There is no such thing as too many cables. One of the first things you notice is how many cables hang above the sidewalks. The city is literally wired with bundles and bundles of cables. It almost makes you feel like each household and office has its own individual electricity cable. And they just keep stringing them up. I guess, I never thought how many cables

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-5256198087914517262009-08-30T16:43:00.007-04:002009-10-16T12:30:23.971-04:00

It’s been a week since we arrived in La Paz – probably the most interesting and unique city I have been to, yet. The city is situated on the hills below the Altiplano and varies in altitude between approximately 3100 m and 4000 m above sea level. From the minute we landed at El Alto International Airport (4000 m), we knew we had landed in a completely different place. It was harder to breathe –

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-6071232086937211022009-07-12T19:25:00.001-04:002009-07-12T19:27:34.218-04:00

For some reason I can’t sleep. I decide to open the window and look outside. I have always liked Sofia (or any other city, for that matter) better at night. The world is silent, except for the occasional engine of a passing car or a dog bark. The air seems cleaner (of course, this is just my mind playing tricks on me, but nevertheless), as does the surrounding area. You don’t notice the dust, mud

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-6134944076523081682009-07-10T18:20:00.003-04:002009-07-10T18:31:22.147-04:00

I was back in a marshrutka today. And I was most amused by the signs posted inside:Моля не говорете по телефона, пречите на водача. (Translation: Please don't talk on the phone; you're disturbing the driver.) In the meantime, the driver would proceed to talk on his phone all he wants.How about "The driver's constant complaining on the phone to his colleagues about traffic jams (not to mention his

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-76917361288001389592009-07-10T17:35:00.002-04:002009-07-10T18:12:46.303-04:00

... visit Bulgaria.I've written about this before but tonight I got yet another kick out of the age misinterpretation. I got carded. What this means in Bulgarian terms is that the guy thought I was under 18 - wow. I guess I should take it as a compliment though.

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-46183704783179734172009-06-09T19:56:00.003-04:002009-06-09T20:08:53.958-04:00

I can't believe it has been more than two months since my last post. I guess I haven't been very inspired lately (mostly my own fault). But since I do post important milestones, I thought I should at least make note of this one. I finished my Master's! The graduation ceremony was last Monday, June 1. Two school years have certainly flown by. From them, of course, I take many memories - both happy

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-26906966762630486102009-03-27T09:34:00.003-04:002009-03-27T10:35:15.328-04:00

On 28 February, I received the phone call that all of us - especially those who live far away from their families - dread receiving. We hope that the day we receive such a phone call will never come, but deep down inside, we know all too well that it ultimately will. It was my father on the phone. I could tell right away from the tone in his voice that this was not the usual "wanted to see how

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-88842053757285470382009-02-15T23:26:00.001-05:002009-02-15T23:28:32.335-05:00

... a man on a unicycle cycles down the street amidst traffic while talking on his cell phone. Seeing that truly felt like an Amelie Poulain moment.

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-25708350525332260712009-02-15T23:09:00.003-05:002009-02-15T23:24:29.468-05:00

On Friday, I went to one of the Social Security Administration offices in New York. I was told to take a number from the machine and sit down to wait my turn. I expected that, similarly to most other places where you are asked to take a number (e.g., DMV), my number would eventually appear on some digital screen and a computer voice would direct me to the correct counter a la "Now serving number

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-71079717128566923802009-02-10T20:58:00.005-05:002009-02-10T21:07:02.258-05:00

... includes the country, "Chili", on a powerpoint presentation (presented live) to potential job applicants to describe the various countries in which the organization implements projects. Yeah, not even in this economy.

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-76724743731522570022009-02-10T20:48:00.004-05:002009-02-10T21:08:11.331-05:00

Several months ago, I noticed the aluminum water bottle's first entry into the classroom. A few of my classmates had one. Then it started conquering space. I would see more and more people drink from one. And the trend continued to spread. Right before Christmas, having gotten tired of feeling guilty about always using and throwing away so much plastic, I decided to finally get one myself. I

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-20486963402091169302008-12-31T20:23:00.003-05:002008-12-31T20:28:43.529-05:00

May 2009 be your year!- from cold and foggy Sofia, where it's -13 degrees C (9 F)

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-12134619383347945372008-12-31T07:00:00.003-05:002008-12-31T07:29:37.174-05:00

Sofia can be pretty depressing during winter. I have always wondered why it appears more depressing to me than other cities. After all, many cities are gray, rainy/snowy, and dark during winter. Perhaps it's because it's "my city" (the one in which I was born) or perhaps it is because I know it much better than other cities and am able to make comparisons to what it looks and feels like during

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-59528423187115959742008-12-29T12:15:00.004-05:002008-12-29T12:26:55.820-05:00

.... the first Starbucks opened up in Bulgaria (last month). I just noticed it today: Sofia, the corner of Gurko and Vassil Levski, where the Pizza Hut used to be. Somehow it seems almost symbolic that one American chain should make way for another. Also, does having our very own Starbucks mean we have passed some higher bar of development?

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-4100841839674062112008-12-29T11:38:00.000-05:002008-12-29T11:49:59.357-05:00

The things that I'll remember 2008 by:1. Sitting in a Princeton dining hall until being kicked out at closing, realizing that sometimes the most seemingly mundane places turn out to be special2. Obama's victory3. Hiking volcanoes in Nicaragua4. Seeing the Taj Mahal for the first time5. Learning to love NYC6. First babies among my friends7. General silliness

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-84896244051324026872008-12-23T14:50:00.006-05:002008-12-23T15:24:10.301-05:00

About a week ago I received a phone call from a friend of my father's. He has been living in the US with his family for 7 years or so but has not been able to find a job matching his qualifications from Bulgaria. The longer I spoke to him, the more I contemplated the absurdity of the situation. A graduate degree and years of experience from another (I guess, non-Western) country apparently count

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-5244366509001002382008-11-05T00:51:00.004-05:002008-11-05T01:12:59.832-05:00

It is reality. Barack Obama is the next President of the United States. It will take a little bit for that reality to sink in completely, especially as we return to the usual suspects at the White House over the next couple of months. The results feel special not only because of the historical moment that they represent in so many aspects, but also because I was able to participate in them

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-16039947602119827652008-11-01T12:34:00.009-04:002008-11-01T13:16:39.790-04:00

A visual representation of my posts.Delhi sights:Lodhi GardensThe Red FortJain templeMarketsAt Jamma Masjid - largest mosque in DelhiAt the biggest Sikh temple in DelhiDelhi trafficLuggage porters at train stationShimla sights:Murals at a fort in the town of Arki"Hmmm, where should I go on my next trip?"The Mall - city center and main pedestrian area in ShimlaAgra sights:Finally, the Taj

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-58554988660967031042008-11-01T12:31:00.001-04:002008-11-01T12:32:32.923-04:00

In retrospect, what struck me the most during the two weeks in India?1. The colors - India is a very colorful country, and the color lends even the poorest, most run-down places a striking and happy air. Nowhere are the colors more diverse and better displayed than on women's garments. I felt like taking pictures everywhere I looked.2. The friendliness - Indians, and especially the women, are

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-9671181720738643932008-10-30T14:26:00.003-04:002008-10-30T14:52:22.335-04:00

It took me three days to confirm that I am registered to vote in New Jersey. For some reason, I harbored the thought that surely local US bureaucracy must be better than its Bulgarian counterpart. Well, those thoughts have been dashed. For the past three days I have been trying to contact the Mercer County Clerk's Office in order to determine whether they received my voter registration. (I had

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-27864671150628243362008-10-27T01:33:00.000-04:002008-10-27T01:38:35.591-04:00

I apologize for the long lapse in writing. Somehow, it has been hard to get both the mood and timing right to collect and put all of my impressions in writing. And I certainly don't want to do the job perfunctorily. That's not the point. So, thank you for your patience and please keep returning. The posts are coming. There will probably be one more on India followed by a few on Nicaragua.Ever

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-89990919814913917582008-09-11T18:20:00.002-04:002008-09-11T21:16:03.037-04:00

This is Post #1 of the remaining ones from India. Bear with me as I try to write up the rest of the trip (where do I start?) while also trying to keep up with my to-do list at the beginning of the new semester. I also promise to return to the last weeks in Nicaragua after finishing the India posts.The trip to Shimla, the capital of the northern state of Himachal Pradesh and the primary

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-45013217421410328792008-08-30T14:36:00.008-04:002008-09-11T21:16:49.795-04:00

Day two in Delhi concluded. I think I have had an overload of impressions but perhaps not as many as I would have had had I not spent 2.5 months in Nicaragua. The level of poverty is very similar. But I noticed one big difference. The flies. In Nicaragua, no matter where you find yourself (in a city or the most remote area), people will keep flies away from their food. They cover plates, utensils

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-77579107438541056412008-08-28T23:53:00.006-04:002008-09-11T21:17:27.818-04:00

So, I have officially landed in Asia for the first time. As our Australian ex-pat host put it, "At the deep end." I had heard much about what India would be like but decided to try to come as impressionless and expectationless as possible in order to formulate my own opinion and not merely mirror what others have told me. But let me start at the beginning. The flight from Newark.For a 13-hour

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-69130742559232567482008-08-27T15:59:00.002-04:002008-08-27T16:04:45.258-04:00

Yes, I am back from Nicaragua. I apologize for not having written in the last couple of weeks but travel made that hard. There are just too many impressions to share and I won't do them full justice if I don't devote enough time to them. Unfortunately, time is currently an issue, since I leave for India (on a school-related trip) today. I feel like I still need time to mull over everything I saw

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-46658218672323109192008-08-11T10:46:00.003-04:002008-08-11T11:17:18.815-04:00

I was super excited to find out that the one night I would be in Managua (Saturday), there was a performance of their Ballet Folklorico Nicaragüense at the National Theatre. I was also very pleasantly surprised to see that the theatre was packed, people wore formal clothing, and the seats were super comfortable with enough leg room (extremely important for me with my height and something I didn't

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-49001410804767152032008-08-11T10:39:00.003-04:002008-08-11T10:45:10.532-04:00

Nicas are very careful when it comes to protecting themselves from the sun. Most men wear baseball caps, women frequently carry sun umbrellas, and people try to stay out of the sun during the hottest midday hours. So, I guess given this meticulousness regarding sun protection, I shouldn't have been at all surprised when the driver of the mini-bus I was in on Saturday whipped out a sweater sleeve

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-63129707299384584872008-07-31T12:20:00.000-04:002008-07-31T12:19:14.940-04:00

Location: Northern Nicaragua: Matagalpa – Selva NegraSince a few weeks back when I read more about Nicaragua’s northern region (or the Highlands, as it is also known), it occupied a principal spot on my destination list. This past weekend, I finally had the opportunity to visit. A Chilean I had met a few weeks back in Managua e-mailed me with the plan to go to Selva Negra (a coffee farm/eco-lodge

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-70182584082641964452008-07-25T11:50:00.000-04:002008-07-25T11:51:14.121-04:00

I went to the local cinema last night (a new and pretty modern cinema, mind you). As the movie ran its course, I couldn't help but notice all the noise and movement around me. Women had brought their infants or young kids (less than 5 yrs old) with them. Of course, they couldn't help crying or talking loudly through most of it. People kept receiving (and answering) phone calls (the silent option

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-44771931159203553962008-07-23T10:19:00.003-04:002008-07-23T10:38:31.149-04:00

The pyrotechnic explosions started early last night and continued ... all night (except for maybe 3 hours between 2 and 5 am). They wouldn't be as annoying if it didn't sound like bombs were falling right outside my room and if the whole bed wasn't shaking as a result. At midnight we even had the morning siren, except it sounded for much longer than usual. All this is to celebrate July 23 - a day

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-31956238465562506982008-07-22T10:05:00.006-04:002008-07-22T10:41:11.298-04:00

Locations: El Viejo – Padre Ramos Wetlands Reserve – Jiquilillo – CorintoA weekend at the house of one my supervisors turned into an exploration of a number of remote corners of northwestern Nicaragua. Favorite moments:1. Sitting on the beach at Jiquilillo with only a few cows as company.Jiquilillo used to be a fishermen’s town until a 1992 tsunami wiped out most of it. Right now it appears more

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-55152734254917232342008-07-18T15:05:00.003-04:002008-07-18T16:20:30.829-04:00

Almost daily I arrange and rearrange different mental lists compiled over my 5 weeks here.Like:1. Being able to buy mangos and avocados for under $1 and delicious tacos for 50 cents each.2. Being able to see the stars every night from the courtyard of my house.3. Lack of throngs of tourists.4. Nica hand gesture when they get excited about something - wrist flicking that produces a loud sound. (

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-23907974098288158732008-07-13T18:41:00.005-04:002008-07-14T12:45:56.905-04:00

So, I have just made it back from my first ever full-fledged volcano hike, in one piece, nevertheless, despite feeling aches and pains all over my body at the moment. But let me start at the beginning. On Friday, I finally decided to make use of my new hiking shoes and make a nature outing, so I signed up for a two-day hike to Volcán Telica - one of several volcanoes in the Maribio Range near

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-64678685285797246892008-07-11T17:24:00.002-04:002008-07-11T17:28:32.145-04:00

Back in 2003, one of my colleagues in Washington, DC happened to be Nicaraguan. Well, five years later and following a completely random turn of events, I am working with his father at the MCC’s counterpart office in Nicaragua. Both of them have the same first and last name, so it’s almost like I’m working with the same person. I guess things like this shouldn’t surprise me anymore. Isn’t the

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-72770243940049516802008-07-09T13:37:00.001-04:002008-07-09T13:37:36.238-04:00

This morning, as we drove to work with my supervisor and a few of my colleagues, the conversation all of a sudden turned (I don’t know how) to cemeteries, burials, and death. I definitely did not feel like discussing whether more people are buried or cremated back home at 8 in the morning. But my supervisor and another colleague (both women) continued the discussion – how much it costs to secure

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-12896392799077838762008-07-03T00:33:00.004-04:002008-07-03T00:53:55.390-04:00

So if there is one thing I have learned about relationships here is that I would never be able to carry on a Nicaraguan one. Over the past week, I got an in-depth glimpse into how relationships work here, mostly because of all the gossip and constant discussions at work. Several key learnings:1. Both women and men get extremely jealous (sometimes for no reason at all). And rather than being a

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-78995562372482648842008-06-27T16:32:00.007-04:002008-06-27T17:53:08.137-04:00

This morning, our office had a field outing. Our mission: to plant trees around rural schools. Our group was helped by the school's environmental group (enthusiastic teenagers, mostly girls), plus several local kids (from the surrounding houses) who were curious and eager enough to lend a hand.Mural painted on the side of the school One of the school buildings A classroom Planting trees Helping

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-33711451933988363602008-06-26T11:35:00.004-04:002008-06-26T11:47:20.020-04:00

One thing I have noticed about Leon and Nicaragua in general is all the noise. I didn´t really mind it in the beginning, but now it is starting to bother me somewhat. Horn blowing in the streets – done for different reasons: 1) to signal to other cars, bicycles, pedestrians to get out of your way, 2) to signal that your taxi is unoccupied. They don´t use the horns so much when stuck in traffic

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-14110625449860508882008-06-24T11:31:00.002-04:002008-06-24T11:34:11.469-04:00

This past weekend I was introduced to several things in Leon:1. My first local concert—On Friday, after much internal debate, I decided I should venture out of my comfort zone and go meet some people. Leon could be a very lonely place otherwise. Just going up to someone and starting a conversation is not an easy thing for me (especially when most foreigners here are in groups of 2-3 or more

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-29129451554909457282008-06-21T12:49:00.005-04:002008-06-21T13:14:26.686-04:00

(Before I launch into this post, just want to say that I feel a lot better today :) )Nicaragua is a land of pristine beaches, and it’s amazing that, despite this, very few people go to the beach except during Semana Santa (the week of Easter). [When I commented on how beautiful the beaches are and how much I love the sea, people gave me somewhat strange looks.] On Tuesday evening, I joined the

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-13111298335076427622008-06-20T18:35:00.000-04:002008-06-20T18:36:22.427-04:00

Inevitably, when I go somewhere for a longer period of time, the initial excitement wears off and I experience the slump of being in a foreign place and no-one to discuss and share my excitement or impressions with. Yes, I have the blog. Yes, I can always call and write someone. But it´s not the same. It´s not the same as being able to just call someone up and go out for a beer or coffee or a

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-51846756327444579082008-06-16T11:13:00.002-04:002008-06-16T11:19:10.149-04:00

First weekend in Leon. No stories yet, just impressions. I sit writing this in one of the hostels in town, Big Foot, which is bound to become my second home for three reasons: 1) It has wireless internet, 2) It offers super cold beer (not always the case here and something to be valued; as an aside, 1 liter costs less than $2, as I found out when ordering a “large” beer last night, thinking it

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-59542954689017243642008-06-12T18:43:00.004-04:002008-06-12T19:33:25.298-04:00

Last night, I arrived in Managua, Nicaragua - the beginning of my 11-week stay here. I will be doing my summer internship with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in Nicaragua, helping their Monitoring & Evaluation team. That will mostly include trying to make sense of lots of data, visiting agricultural producers in the field, and doing some data analysis - hopefully all to prove that

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-53570507061415948632008-06-11T16:44:00.004-04:002008-06-11T17:11:34.023-04:00

As I skip across three continents and several countries (Slovakia, Austria, Belgium, U.S., and Nicaragua) in the span of four days, I realized that I have become very jaded when it comes to travel. Gone is the excitement I used to experience as a child when we would set out on a trip with my parents and sister. The time when I couldn't wait to get to the airport and board the plane. I was

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-28337142079341863842008-05-30T17:42:00.003-04:002008-05-30T17:49:51.189-04:00

As if things at Starbucks weren't confusing enough already with the millions of options for what used to be a simple coffee, I recently noticed another evolution in their menu: calorie counts next to every drink on their menu. So, if you found yourself staring in confusion and at length at the menu before, now you can be doubly confused... for finding the correct price amidst all the calorie

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-54649832097308438312008-05-23T11:44:00.005-04:002008-05-23T11:57:20.436-04:00

A morning of shopping this week brought me to the following conclusion: Clothes bring out the best and the worst in women. The best, because they can accentuate a woman's beauty and make the difference between your looking ordinary and your looking dazzling. The worst? Because when women shop they literally can turn into vultures. My first (and potentially last) visit to Forever 21 this week

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-28709222307603848522008-05-13T17:51:00.003-04:002008-05-13T18:12:24.498-04:00

Four days and three exams separate me from the summer (and what I termed as freedom, while counting down the days). And happy as I am that the school work will finally be over for a few months, on the one hand, I also find myself somewhat sad and pensive. I am left with thoughts about a few things:1) How quickly the year flew by - it seems like yesterday that I first arrived, cliche or not. Did I

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-71168884566444988682008-05-04T02:31:00.002-04:002008-05-04T02:39:14.231-04:00

One of my biggest fears for a big part of my life has been of being alone for any prolonged period of time. Alone does not necessarily have to equal lonely. After all, you can be by yourself and not feel lonely at all. Or you might find yourself surrounded by people but still feel pretty lonely. But in my mind, at least connected to this fear, they are the same thing. Not having anyone to talk to

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-11589898595493691082008-05-03T00:07:00.003-04:002008-05-03T00:57:43.111-04:00

I had seen Frida Kahlo's work in very small doses several times before, but tonight was the first time that I viewed a more substantial amount in one sitting. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is hosting several of Frida Kahlo's paintings plus a number of personal photographs as one of its special exhibitions until May 18. As I entered the first crowded gallery room and donned the headphones for the

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-4724950214767272882008-04-29T00:39:00.002-04:002008-04-29T01:02:46.244-04:00

Yes, it has been a while since I wrote here, I agree. And I apologize for my infrequent posting. I hope to change that once this semester is over. I will actually have something new and exciting to write about come June because I will be in Nicaragua for 11 weeks this summer! Very exciting, but I can't fully immerse myself in thoughts about the summer given that quite a bit of work still

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-33803327976501851242008-04-07T13:34:00.003-04:002008-04-07T14:08:15.527-04:00

Don't you feel that these days farce and ridicule is a proxy for quality of entertainment? I do. We are bombarded on a daily basis by reality shows that bet on controversy, drama between participants, participants' lack of intelligence, and other things that I don't find synonymous with quality, for their success. At best, it is funny. At worst, it is insulting. Granted, I don't have to watch

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-86213607534509164942008-03-22T21:41:00.004-04:002008-03-22T22:06:54.229-04:00

I was going to write about something serious but my trip from NYC to Princeton this afternoon provided too funny of a story to leave unshared. I got on the train all ready to get some school reading done (reading I had blissfully been ignoring the past few days), but my plan was thwarted by a young woman sitting behind me. She called (what I assume to be) her boyfriend and proceeded to talk to

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-14429178318181474872008-03-07T02:03:00.004-05:002008-03-07T02:22:52.294-05:00

Tonight, for the first time in a very long time, I felt nostalgic about not being in college. I never thought I would actually say this since I have been so enamored with grad school so far, but it's true.I went to a Indian dance performance on campus tonight. It was (as a classmate of mine put it) "punjabitastic". As the lights dimmed and the dancers took up their positions on stage for the

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-3781446328145144492008-03-03T15:45:00.002-05:002008-03-03T15:47:50.863-05:00

(на патерици)Да сте живи, здрави, румени и засмяни!И честит национален празник, също така.

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-5970649390089481242008-03-03T15:32:00.003-05:002008-03-03T15:44:56.300-05:00

I have seen my fair share of absurd pet accessories and "services" in the U.S. From strollers to ensure those toy dogs with tiny legs don't get tired from walking around to pet grooming salons to help your pet keep up with the latest fashion. For those who may have been bored on a domestic flight in the U.S. and taken to perusing the magazines in the seat pocket in front of you, you may have been

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-42752705929620160582008-02-19T19:48:00.003-05:002008-02-19T20:14:19.952-05:00

I stumbled upon this intriguing piece on NY Times' Dealbook blogs today, entirely by accident (it is a little over 10 days old). Apparently, Goldman Sachs has added sex-change surgery to its list of employee perks. Yes, you read that right. Sex-change surgery. I know I will probably be offending someone out there when I say this (for which I apologize), but aren't there other more important

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-32504212743602585022008-02-18T01:11:00.003-05:002008-02-18T01:33:07.028-05:00

1. I have successfully battled my cold/flu.(You really don't realize how important it is to be healthy until you get sick.)2. Have finally achieved some order in the chaos that was the start of the second semester.3. Going skiing in Utah in 4 weeks! (It will be my first skiing experience out West.)4. Still don't know where I will be doing an internship this summer, but the realm of possibilities

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-62662084524914319802008-02-13T00:21:00.006-05:002008-02-13T00:48:02.638-05:00

I have always aimed pretty high in whatever I was doing - whether it be school, work, every-day life. Set high standards and abide by them. This "aiming high" has become so ingrained in me, that I have recently actually had to remind myself that perhaps (just perhaps) it may not always be necessary... or healthy, for that matter.It is not that I want to slack off or not care or be less motivated.

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-48953162046225118082008-02-06T00:28:00.000-05:002008-02-06T01:09:58.523-05:00

The last time I took the train from New York's Penn Station to Princeton, I asked myself a question I had asked myself many times: Why are passengers not allowed to stand on the train platforms and wait for their train there like in almost all other countries, instead of waiting upstairs and staring incessantly at a monitor until their train platform is announced? This has always really puzzled

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-24702879406209324342008-01-25T12:27:00.000-05:002008-01-25T13:11:14.880-05:00

Yesterday, I finished a Knowledge@Wharton article on one of my favorite topics: where is home once you have spent a significant portion of your life outside the country you were born in? Is there such a thing or are you sentenced to the life of a global nomad? And is the longing to go "home" (meaning the country you were born in) completely irrational? Should you stay or should you go back?

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-4212934361546652352008-01-18T18:15:00.000-05:002008-01-18T18:20:00.769-05:00

Apologies for my lack of posts the past 10 days. Unfortunately, the academic calendar at Princeton is such that we have finals after our Christmas break. So that's what I was subjecting myself to the past 1.5 weeks. And the library became my second home, as some classmates pointed out. So, instead of subjecting you to talk about micro and statistics, I opted for silence. And as soon as I get an

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-77796887369596299122008-01-08T17:24:00.001-05:002008-01-08T17:50:25.906-05:00

Here are examples of a few signs and notices that made me laugh lately. Apologies to the non-Bulgarian speakers for most of what is written on them is in Bulgarian and wouldn't be nearly as funny if I tried to translate it. Click on the image to view an enlarged version.#1: The promised copy of the Bansko ski lift card. Pay close attention to the English translation. If you'd never heard of "fall

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-16015870026752647632008-01-08T12:45:00.000-05:002008-01-08T13:27:33.588-05:00

A woman in her 30s was sitting next to me on my flight back to the U.S. I took a liking to her because she immediately smiled and said "hi" as she sat down. (Lately, most flight companions I have had have simply ignored my presence. Not that I necessarily want to spend the duration of the flight talking to the person next to me, but a simple acknowledgment would be nice.) We exchanged a few

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-86162734370933227032008-01-05T16:19:00.000-05:002008-01-05T16:29:11.199-05:00

My stay in Bulgaria this time around felt incredibly short. Granted, it was only 10 days, but it felt much much shorter. Perhaps, as someone close to me surmised, it is because I spent 11 months there not too long ago. Could be. During these 10 days, I managed to finally experience the “new” Bansko (currently, the biggest ski resort in Bulgaria located in the Pirin mountains in the south) – where

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-78799133706190756142008-01-03T18:11:00.000-05:002008-01-08T12:45:09.702-05:00

Before hitting the Sofia streets these days make sure you pack your watertight boots and a big dose of patience. I was really excited to see so much snow, especially after last year’s snowless winter. I still am, but there is no doubt that the snow makes getting around Sofia (whether by car or on foot) all that more difficult. Given that I walk almost everywhere in the city center these days, I

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012071.post-80606805071694785032008-01-02T19:39:00.000-05:002008-01-02T19:42:01.173-05:00

1. My grandfather taking his medicine with a sip of wine (behind my grandmother’s back, of course).2. The snow-covered trees in Борисовата Градина (one of Sofia’s biggest parks).3. Reminiscing with one of my best friends that if it had not been for a certain Orbital concert we may never have met.4. Finally having parts of my U.S. and BG worlds intersect (i.e., Bulgarian friends from the U.S.

DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027524990283751584noreply@blogger.com0