Blue skies in Montana (Bulgaria)

Our Office of Defense Cooperation team left rainy and gloomy Sofia for a trip that had us traveling 2000 km in 5 days.  We were scheduled to travel throughout northern Bulgaria to inspect 15 potential Humanitarian Assistance projects. We were a little worried because we will also had a ribbon cutting to one of our larger HA projects: a kindergarten renovation in the town of Montana.

All worries disappeared, though, when we reached our destination a couple of hours later and I saw the children dressed in white, red, and green (the colors of the national flag) traditional folk outfits.  The environment was spectacular -- children holding balloons, the happy faces of their parents, the smiles of the teacher.

This June day turned sunny in Montana as the townspeople celebrated its annual city holiday.  The city center was abuzz with bustling crowds enjoying traditional singing, dancing and games with a carnival-like atmosphere.  It was impressive to see the amount of people flooding Montana’s expansive, tree-lined pedestrian zone.  Montana’s Mayor Zlatko Zhivkov said that 9 other foreign delegations had also come to partake in the festivities.

We were warmly greeted by a very large turnout of young children ages 3 to 6 along with their proud parents and teachers and supportive local citizens and municipal government officials. Many of the children, and even some adults, were dressed in vibrant traditional Bulgarian attire.  Several age groups performed time-honored Bulgarian dances and songs, and one group even recited a rhyme in English.  Those of us presiding over the ceremony were overcome by the children’s wholesome energy and joyousness.

Mayor Zhivkov gave a speech as part of the festivities and mentioned was no better time for the US Government to present this gift to the children of Montana and actively contribute to the excitement of the day.

The ribbon cutting was for the kindergarten “Zdravets”.  The word “zdravets” (здравец) in Bulgarian means geranium and is derived from the root word “zdrave” (здраве) for health.  The kindergarten’s name suggests prosperity, longevity and well-being.

CDR Imblum, the ODC Sofia Chief, and Mayor Zhivkov cut the ribbon and then performed a good luck ritual with a vessel decorated with crane’s bill.

There were more symbolic (and fun) Bulgarian customs after the ceremony, too.  First, representing Bulgaria’s rich tradition of hospitality, we were welcomed as special guests with bites from a freshly baked loaf of bread that we each dipped in salt.  Then a young girl handed Mayor Zhivkov a small copper pot filled with zdravets plants and water.  The Mayor kindly handed the plants to the girl, and then he and I took the pot together and poured it away from the school door entrance leading to the outer gate.  This is a common tradition that Bulgarian parents do for their children when they leave home for an important event, such as an exam or the first day of school.  As you walk over the flowing water, you will be blessed with smooth sailing and good fortune. The children performed songs, poems, and dances, then white, red and green balloons flew up in the sky followed by three white pigeons, symbols of the peace, purity and hope for us and our children.

The US Embassy team and other guests visited the renovations which will provide safer and more joyful environment to 120 children and 30 staff. A Bulgarian firm did an excellent job installing new windows, framing and paneling throughout the kindergarten; and the colorfully painted facades tellingly reflect the bright future of these very talented children.

Witten by: CDR Imblum, Sofia ODC Chief, and Ms. Vesela Terzieva, Sofia HA Program Manager