Meredith here! Bringing a four month old baby along on a choir tour to Bulgaria was a bit of a gamble, to say the least. Friends and family expressed surprise, concern, tut-tuts and shakes of the head. However, I am happy to report that bringing Eleanor along has enriched our experience of Bulgaria in ways I don't think any of us could have predicted. A baby is a natural ice breaker. We are humanized and made approachable just by having her around, and she provides fodder for conversation in our somewhat shaky Bulgarian. Some useful words and phrases I have learned:
Chetiri mesetsa – four months (old)
Spi (spinka) – sleeping (sleepy, diminutive)
Momiche – girl
Sladko e – how sweet
I also discovered that superstition is very much alive and part of the culture here. The idea that many eyes are on baby Eleanor is cause for concern, because of the chance that this may attract the attention of evil spirits. In order to protect her, our new friends have offered many charms: a piece of red string tied round her wrist, a lengthy blessing, and countless "ptu, ptu, ptus."
With the help of Ivan, Tzvetanka, Tedy's sister Didi, and several others, there has always been a ready pair of arms to hold Eleanor so I am able to participate in the concerts and workshops. That's not to say that I haven't done some singing while wearing her in the carrier, but everyone has been so helpful taking turns with her.
Changing dirty diapers has sometimes been challenging. Some of the interesting places this has occurred include on the lap of a friend on a moving bus, under a public staircase, and on the floor in the middle of a workshop. All successful!
Our bus driver is one of Eleanor's biggest fans. "Dedo" (Grandpa) Neno sings her a special little song, we will try to record it to share with you. She always has smiles for him. In fact, Eleanor has been all smiles with everyone she meets. She has already received several gifts. Though she won't remember this amazing adventure, she has certainly helped make it memorable for all of us.
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