Alaskan Bulgarian

Bulgaria's Nature

Well, honestly, I can't say I've heard the question in the last few months. But last year, from April until August, hardly a day went by without a Bulgarian testing their English with "What do you think for our nature?" The preposition mix-up is understandable. Both "for" and "about" are usually covered by "za" here. But, despite group discussion sections with other volunteers, nobody could figure out what the curiosity was in regards to Bulgaria's nature or, in Bulgarian "priroda."

Over time, the Bulgarian definition of nature developed even as fewer Bulgarians were asking the question. Stray dogs and cats, for example, are often considered part of nature here, and any attempt to control them by neutering or impoundment is a strict violation of the nation's natural resources. City parks can be nature, trees along streets can be nature, a traffic island grown over with weeds is nearly the definition of nature here. Often, the more overgrown something is, the more natural it is. Fine, no real problems there.

But as far as my definition goes, I'm getting back to nature for really the first time in over a year. Sure I've taken walks through farmland and through a forest or two. But there hasn't been any immersion. This weekend I'll be hiking up to Seven Lakes with a group of volunteers for the big 4th. It's this group of, well, seven lakes south of Sofia. Should be a good time, pictures to come sometime next week. Until then, Happy 4th of July, people.