Culturally Sensitive Corner

So part of our training as Peace Corps Volunteers teaches us to appreciate the differences in a culture and not rate it as good or bad but rather just different. However, I think it would be REALLY fun to compare experiences, objects, etc. that I'm accustomed to from America and how they stack up in Bulgaria 

This week's topic: Running

After a 2 month hiatus I got back in the saddle following the sage like wisdom of a young man. The prophet thus spoke "This is Bulgaria, nothing's going to happen to you" I took his words to heart and have been running ever since...but how does it compare?

Location, Location, Location

New York: A bike path along the East River, with views such as the Manhattan Bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge, and ending at South Street Seaport. +10 points For the serene view and picturesque pathways that wind along the waterfront.  -5 points for the never ending construction and the fact if you turn your head to the left all you have is a view of is the FDR.

Bulgaria: Quiet tree lined street that leads to a back road that meets up with the main road to the highway.  +5 points for the fact that it's a 5 minute walk from my apartment. -4 point for the fact that it's a 20 min (tops) loop that I usually do more than once, and the fact that it's kind of spooky (Yesterday I thought I saw a scarecrow but it was a PERSON).

Who else is on Kanye's Workout Plan?

New York: + 7 points It's not a big deal when you run, people don't look at you like you're a goose that just magically laid a golden egg. -5 points however sometimes people are creepy, i.e, you look up and someone is there with a video camera filming you jog. 

Bulgaria: -5 points no one here runs so I'm deprived of the eye candy on the lower east side. Um not that I'm looking or like imagining a future together or anything. + 5 points no one here runs so grandpa with a ponytail can't lap me. + 5 points No exorexic girls to make me feel bad about the fact that egads GASP my thighs touch. + 5 points NO chance that I'll run into/make eye contact with anyone I went to high school/college with on a run. There was always that, do we stop and make conversation, even though I really didn't know you that well, and I'm panting heavily right now? Or in some cases just a solid high five to acknowledge the other's presence (True story) 

Perks and Amenities 

New York: + 10 points for the 3 accessible bathrooms, tennis courts, track, multiple fields, and water fountains. -0 points. Seriously what do I have to complain about? It's a running path, not somewhere I'm looking to put a down payment on. 

Bulgaria: +5 points for getting me back to my running roots where the only things I need are my shoes and the pavement. -10 points for the DOGS.  I never know when they're going to be friendly or when they're going to Cujo on my hiney. I'm pretty sure I could outrun any of the men here if they tried to attack me, but dogs are a completely different story. 

So which one take the proverbial cake? New York 17 Bulgaria 6.