Gypsies

While we had no luck finding jobs in Paris, we figured that our chances are better here to teach English since unlike Paris, Varna is not saturated with native English speakers. So last week we headed to some local English schools with our resumes.

We met an American at one of the schools, a teacher who has been here almost a year so gave us the scoop on things. He told us all about the local traditional foods & beverages we should try, including Rakia, a fermented fruit liquor that every Bulgarian man prides himself on making. We've seen homemade versions being sold in old coke bottles on the streets surrounding the markets. I'm not yet brave enough to try such a concoction in an unsanitized state, but maybe eventually.

He told us about some peculiarities we will notice, for example, when being served meals in a restaurant, there is virtually no effort made at bringing out a group's meals at the same time. One might be done eating before the other's appetizer is ready. We witnessed this immediately at our next lunch.

He also warned us about the local mafia, skinheads, and gypsies, the latter being particularly crafty thieves in this city. He told us know about an annual gypsy tradition where fathers parade their daughters for sale as brides. I gotta see this. This gypsy culture peaked my interest. I found out that they came from India long ago and live in very poor, run-down communities all over Europe, having no real country of their own. We were told that children can be those most worth avoiding; they move in groups and will follow someone and continually torment them until they get some money (scenes from Hostel come to mind; maybe I should carry some gum in my purse). We were at a restaurant the other night when a young gypsy girl came in selling some sort of dried flowers in plastic bags. She kept just saying "please" in a very whiny voice, like a small cute version of Murray from Flight of the Conchords pleading for a record deal. There's a gypsy open-air market where, as long as one holds on tight to any purses, bags, and wallets, it's supposed to be an interesting experience.

I'm pretty used to getting warnings about being careful when using cash machines, not being too trusting of people, or sticking to bottled water, but it's funny to me that I'm now being warned about mafia, skinheads, and gypsies. Where am I?