Alaskan Bulgarian

Progress?

I've noticed in these two years in Silistra the city going in a direction. Now, I'm one who calls a country like Bulgaria becoming more globalized "progress." I can understand, if not condone, those who get freaked out at the sight of a McDonalds in foreign lands, but I'm not one of those people. Silistra isn't very globalized in that sense anyway. The ubiqitous Coca-Cola signs may be everywhere, like they are in any Bulgarian town or village, but the Supermarket here is Bulgarian owned and operated, with a Bulgarian name; There are no McDonaldses within a 150 mile radius; And Silistra won't be the first place Starbucks settles in if it ever spreads to Bulgaria.

Silistra is still very much Bulgarian as far as commercial attempts go, but western tradition has tersely stepped in and pushed things aside. Today's traditional Bulgarian holiday, Trifon Zarezan, was celebrated by many on the first of the month, and several others and I celebrated it last Friday. What's taken precedence instead is, of course, Valentine's Day. And the celebration this year exceeds last year's (as I remember it) just as much as this last Christmas went past the Christmas before in, well, Westerness. Florists are out in force today, and there are booths lining the street selling small stuffed animals and hearts and all the other things a person associates with Valentine's Day. The supermarket has even opened a big flower section in the holiday's honor.

Tonight, the local cover band is putting on a concert at the usual club. Everybody's saying "Happy Valentine's Day!" to each other, and last year it all seemed like a mystery to everyone when I brought it up. This year I'm getting SMS valentines from some of my more assertive students, last year well, not much.

Celebrating Valentine's Day may not be the greatest sign of a nation moving forwrd into the new millenium, but it certainly makes me feel more at home. And it's just a small part of the trends that I see pushing Bulgaria closer and closer toward the West.