We have been working now in Bansko for three months during which time we have each had two days off in total. Both of us have lost weight so the regime of at least six hours skiing and snowboarding a day, in addition to an average 15,000 steps, thankfully seems to offset our daily treats of beer and chocolate.
We have been working hard but also playing hard with our gang of red coated instructors (Sankiy Ski and InterBansko).
Sometimes we also get chance to socialise in the evenings with students which can be a great laugh.
In the week of the February school holidays, we taught for eight hours each day and tried to squeeze in socialising with holidaying friends from the Isle of Man and also a brother of our friends in Canada.
By the end of the week we were shattered and suddenly a six hour day felt like a short day – heavenly!
We have had some crazy weather ranging from seriously hot temperatures followed by rain which made lakes in the snow….
And now, late on in the season, we are having some of the best snow we have seen all season.
What we have loved about being in Bansko is that it is a cultural melting pot and we have taught people from Isreal, Macedonia, Serbia, Greece, Spain, Kosovo, Qatar, Russia, South Korea, Monaco, Romania, Australia and the UK. We have learned some great stuff from these people and tried to learn odd bits of languages along the way.
We have also had the opportunity to learn more about the Bulgarian culture and join in some of their celebrations. The first holiday was Baba Marta where you ask forgiveness of the older generation and receive red and white bracelets which shouldn’t be removed until you see cherry blossom or a stork.
Then the resort celebrated the Bulgarian day of Independence with people wearing traditional dress and much flying of the the Bulgarian flag.
We have also had some great celebrations with our colleagues to mark their birthdays
And also to celebrate 10 years of Sankiy Ski School. We had the most amazing lamb feast followed by a gorgeous banoffee cake.
We have been made very welcome by all, even the Bulgarian instructors from other ski schools who have been surprised that British people would come to work here. The little deals that happen, the phone calls that are made to smooth the way and the people who know the important people all helps to make this place run. It may be a bit different to practices in other countries, but it works. The rules, or lack of, are sometimes what makes this place special. And health and safety ….. what’s that?
