This Is For One

I watched Two Weeks Notice yesterday. You know, the romantic comedy with Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock where they try and out-do one another with witty humor and quorky antics. They both win. Well, throughout the movie she continues to order chinese food (mmmmmm, chinese food) for herself, just tons and tons of it cuz she's a stress eater (I'm a bored eater) and at the end of the phone call she always says, "this is for one." It got me thinking about my eating habits here in Bulgaria.

Cooking here is a bit tricky. There are many reasons for this including:

-small refrigerators
-questionable ovens/stoves
-the season and, accordingly, what foods are available
-countertop and table space for the preparation and consumption of meals
-what to do with leftovers (availability of a microwave)

Despite the fact that Peace Corps Bulgaria has it's own cookbook and Bulgarian traditions seem to revolve around the culinary feats of баби, майки, лели and the like, most of us don't put too much effort into our cooking. When a volunteer does go above and beyond and makes something that could actually fall into the category of a meal, it's a big deal. Pictures of it get posted all over the internet. It's "liked" on facebook, commented on in blogs, and even youtubed as the cooking process becomes genuinely fascinating to all who have been deprived of what used to be a pretty mundane event.

The reason for this, I think, is simple: "this is for one."

When I went to visit my friend and fellow PCV, Evan, in her village and the nice Bulgarian woman, Betty, who takes care of her teased Evan about her lack of cooking, I thought it seemed unfair. If Betty didn't have a husband and a daughter, I doubt she'd put nearly as much effort into every meal. Maybe she would, I don't really know, but she has to know that we volunteers have no real reason to make anything more praiseworthy than a grilled cheese sandwhich and a shopska salad. Top that off with a cold beer and that's a Monday night (and for me, Monday came twice this week). Who are we trying to impress? No one. Well, I mean maybe the cute guy on the television screen but that's only because we've all started to go a little crazy and pretend he's real sometimes but that's beside the point. (Plus, he likes grilled cheese and thinks it's cute when we spill beer on ourselves)

I've had friends, both American and Bulgarian, over for dinner and I've made nice, fancy meals with multiple ingredients and courses. I've woken up early to make people breakfasts that have included pancakes with a sweet, fruit toppings, scrambled eggs, and toast. I've even tried my hand at making banitsa. But, for the most part, scouring my fridge and cupboards for whatever seems edible while trying, with best intentions, to include all the food groups so I don't become diagnosed with anemia or scurvy and whipping up something completely mediocre is simply how this whole Peace-Corps-volunteer-living-alone thing is gonna go. I leave the fancy cooking up to the Bulgarians and always appreciate a good на гости but това е.

We also have a really nice restaurant in town. I'm really good at ordering, eating, and paying for food. Like, really good.

-Age