I can’t believe I’ve been in Bulgaria a week already! My rural location has definitely helped me acclimatise slowly. I definitely need to do a run to Sofia to feel that I can survive on my own in this country, but being a week in while content and well fed, I’d say I’m doing okay.

The pet sitting part of my gig is proving to be a dream. Mechka and Sausage are such wonderful dogs! They are impossibly well behaved and responsive, very loving, and great companions. My twice daily walks with them have yet to feel like a chore. Pen-ghu the cat is a brat who can’t be trusted around food, but as soon as he snuggles against me on my lap, all is forgiven. I was really concerned about this part of the assignment, but we’ve already fallen into a routine. They all seem starved for attention and affection, especially Mechka. She keeps trying to sneak into the house, so I’ve agreed to meet her partway and let her sleep on the rug in the entrance where she can keep an eye on me. Sausage likes to lie on the flagstones just outside the door. I make sure they get lots of attention and cuddles throughout the day, not just when we go walking.

The house, bed and lack of proper workstation not withstanding, is working out great. Today, I gave the kitchen a really thorough deep clean and rearranged it to suit my needs, then baptised it with a really good meal. The kitchen here is better equipped than the one I had on Isla (I have scissors! Sharp knives! Glass plates!), but I need a few things and will ask Max where I can buy basic kitchen equipment (a colander would be nice…).

My diet here has been surprisingly close to what I would make in Mexico — lots of salsa mexicana with avocado, toast with jam, ham sandwiches, pasta with red sauce, and tonight I made my sour cream/potato/carrot/onion/garlic/squash stir fry that was a staple in Mexico. I added chicken since I had some, as well as a side of beets tossed with sirene (Bulgarian “feta”), the perfect companion. Mmm! And, of course, I’ve had heaps of beer, which is cheaper than in Mexico!

My language progress has been minimal, but I’m working at it and being patient. At this point, I’m satisfied with remembering words if not whole phrases, as well as getting an ear for the language.

The setting here is idyllic and suits my personality. I know many of my readers would be starved for human companionship and exterior stimulation, but I’m doing fine. I’m sure that once I break the ice on the café, I’ll want to go down there a few times a week, but for now, I’m content with just the dogs and cat for company.

Work is slowly picking up. I’m not worried about that end of things at this time.

London already feels like it happened in a dream and Haven feels so far away it might as well be on another planet. C&C have checked in and all is well there.

I feel content. I find the agony is in making decisions and implementing them. Once they are made and done, all that’s left is satisfaction. If this week is any indication of the weeks again, I’m going to be just fine here.