Week 12 - The heat is not our only concern

 This week began just like any other week. 

There were some indoor activities and some things to do outdoors too. We did not expect any kind of abnormal twists in our recently stabilized routine. We started taking care of our garden and our other tasks as usual. The only different thing was the upcoming course hosted by our coordinator. In that ten-day course, there were going to be around thirty people participating, so they needed some space for the course. This is where we came into play. The house where was mayor's office was supposed to be the place for the course, but it was very dirty and unorganized. We arrived there and it felt like it will be enough work for a whole week. At this moment there was only me and Fanny, we started working on that while others were at pensioners hub, cleaning that stinking place. That is where all the participants were supposed to eat, so it had to be clean too. 

So we worked in both places couple of hours and in the end, everybody ended up where I and Fanny were because they finished their place before us and came and helped us. We finished cleaning rooms for the seminar in one and half days with the help of the mayor herself :) 

View from the attic of the mayor's office

Hekim cleaning the window

Girls moving the furniture

Hekim and his lowrider

As wednesday approached, we returned to our casual water related activities - weeding and watering home garden, centre of Shipka, gardens on the east side and opening water channel on the west side. It hasn't been raining for a long time, so everything around us is extremely dry and flammable. All plants require extra amount of water to remain sustainable and that is one of the most important responsibilities for us since the beginning of this heat wave. In other words, from the beginning of july we have to help plants to survive by watering them more often. 

Between Shipka and Kazanlak there are many fields, and because it is so dry, one of them was on fire. Luckily there was enough fireman and other people to put the fire down in time so it did not reach villages. It is crazy how dangerous and fatal can nature be to humans and to itself.

The heat has been crazy not only for plants but also for the people. I am not used to this kind of temperature. And where I come from, Estonia, there is usually more humidity in the air so it means that even though I have experienced 30+ degrees more than 2 weeks in a row then it feels different here. I had a conversation with Archie, who is Sophies second son and now a friend of mine, and he said that usually there is not that long time without rain, this year has been extremely hot and dry, more than usual. Whole july was a challenge to me. I tried to get used to the heat, but it was just too hot. Sophie and Philip even bought fans to me and Hekim, so we can cool down our bedrooms. By the beginning of august I kind of did not think any more of the heat, I guess I can say that I got used to that. 

In this temperature, I had my brithday on thursday. Only thing that I wanted to do on that day, was to cook to everybody in the house. Ruxandra was behind the wheel and she drove us to Kaz to get the groceries and the fruits and vebetables from the пазар. I started drinking in the middle of the day and kept going until sunset. Was fun. I made lasagna and cookie cake. Last one is my favourite cake and its famous in Estonia among many families. 

пазар

lasagna

cookie cake

Me and Fanny chilling on the kitchen window

Naturally on that day there was no work related activities for all of us, and that was pleasant. We just enjoyed trip to Kaz and after that only chilled. But like always in life - if there is high time, eventually there will be low time. So on the next day, news came that affected all of us dramatically: Archies covid test was positive. And he visited me and Hekim with his brother Dylan on wednesday, so all three of us were in close contact. 

Things changed for a bit then. 

Me and Hekim packed our bags and we moved to Dylan's house to be in isolation until monday. The girls were little bit anxious about the whole covid situation, because there was a lot of plans depending on it, so the boys had to go. We spent weekend in Dylan's house doing little bit of work in his garden but otherwise nothing. We were going to take tests on monday and these results had a huge role in our next week and the week after not only because we had to help local grannys and interact with other people as well but also some of us were supposed to go to Beglika festival. And there was even more -  as I mentioned in the beginning, our coordinator was hosting a course in Shipka, so we, as volunteers, in a solidarity project, were expected to provide an extra hand to organize this apart from just cleaning the space for it. But due to this virus situation, me and Hekim did not have to do anything since everybody in the course and people related to this would have been in danger of being positive. Things got a little bit tense between the girls and Misha when she asked them to help just because the communication was not clear enough. I guess it is a good learning point for everybody. Me and Hekim got lucky in terms of just not being able to help so we just observed this whole situation by reading the group chat and listening the phone calls mainly between Sophie and the girls. 

Hekim in isolation

On sunday, Sophie cooked dinner for us, because we were hungry and isolated. That was really tasty. And I truly have to say that Sophie had a lot of cooking to do on this day anyways but nevertheless she managed to cook chicken and some vegetables for us, so respect and big thanks!

Thats what Sophie made for us

Boys in heaven

In the end of the week things calmed down a bit but there was still some unresolved tensions. Me and Hekim wanted to go back home already but we still had to wait one more night. Next morning we had to take the tests, which had really big role for the next week or two. In the case of our tests being positive, all of our plans would have had to be cancelled and we would have had to isolate for another week...

Another moment when I looked back on the way home

Brought to you by Markus