I have been asked so many time why I shake my head and say "Yes!", why I nod when meaning "No!"?!  People told me that they didn`t understand my response. Others just accused me of not knowing how to use gestures?! Hmm?

A gesture is a form of non-verbal communication in which visible bodily actions communicate particular messages, either in place of speech or together and in parallel with words. Using gesture in communication can be confusing sometimes, especially when we travel to other countries.

However, most of the times we use body language inattentive, unconsciously, without even noticing that. We weren`t taught by our parents how to use gesture. Actually, we just developed this ability by growing up and observing the world around us.

It is coming naturally to nod heads up and down when we agree with a statement, isn`t it? Or when we want to say "no" we usually shake heads side to side.

Well, as a original Bulgarian this doesn`t sound correct to me. Because in Bulgaria we tend to nod heads up and down when we disagree and we shake heads side to side  for "yes". Sounds really confusing, right? What can be even more absurd is that in Bulgaria we usually nod slightly up and down when we want to indicate that we listen to what our communication partner is saying but this doesn`t mean that we disagree with her/him.

Charles Darwin was the first to notice this expressions and started observing them in the different parts of the world. He wrote up his findings in a book called "The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals" in 1872.

What is very interesting is the origin of the gesture. There are many theories about it but the one, which sounds the most appealing to me is the babies. When babies are hungry they would move heads vertically in search for milk (their mothers`breasts) and when they don`t want more milk they would move heads side to side trying to "escape" from the mommy`s breast.

The "yes" and "no" gesture is universe but only Bulgaria and Sri Lanka are using it in the exactly opposite way. Of course, every nation has customs of the gesture. Despite of the cultural differences we would nod for "yes" and we would shake head for "no".

It was my best friend @Ionni Markova who introduced me to this very special, sweet, yammy cake. She came to visit me in Malta and we had a day for sightseeing in Mdina.
We were Ionni, Antoniya and me at Fontalla Tea Garden. We were all so hungry for some sweet after walking around the whole day. So, we all ordered different cakes. Ionni got the Banoffee pie and ended up to be the best choice from the menu card. Antoniya got a rikotta cheese cake and me, I got a chocolate one of course :D

[caption id="attachment_302" align="alignnone" width="298"] Antoniya`s cake[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_303" align="alignnone" width="300"] My chocolate cake[/caption]

I bit from Ionni`s banoffee pie and I really felt in love in this cake.

After some time I discovered that they also have Banoffee in Busy Bee.

[caption id="attachment_301" align="alignnone" width="300"] Banoffee pie from Busy Bee[/caption]

I really love this cake so I tried to do it myself. I followed this recipy and can say that it is working and it is actually pretty easy to make because it requires no baking ;)
NB! Remember that you need Carnation Condensed Milk, not any other kind of Condensed Milk (it won`t work)

I hope I inspired you with this cake and you put it in your do-list :) Have fun making it!

[caption id="attachment_304" align="alignnone" width="300"] My home made Banoffee pie[/caption]

Yesterday I was bored staying home so I decided to take a nice bike trip over Brabrand lake. It was a typical danish weather ~ 5 min. rain, 5 min. sunshine, 5 min. clouds and so on... But, it was really enjoyable experience not that much because there were many other people doing sports but mostly because of the nature and the animals. :)

There is this beautiful place with a bay and many ducks going around. Clever people put some benches and build an observatory.
I remember my first time going to the lake was not long after I arrived to Denmark for the first time. I used to run there before I moved to live in the dorm. Have so many lovely memories but there is very special one.
It was Friday the 14th in the evening. We drove to 7/11 to get some <<very important>> Doughnuts <<very important>> and then down to the lake. It was cold so we hugged each other and he told me this very crazy experience of his. Which is a secret I can`t say. We laughed, we talked some more, we ate the Doughnuts, we walked a bit and we drove back.

Anyways, back to my trip. I was so happy and energetic that I decided to make two laps and take other way home.

There is a map of the lake.

If you like biking or running, or just walking this is the best place to do it, especially if you are lucky with the weather.

If you are interested you can follow me also on endomondo. It is a great app and I give them 5 stars for it.

And, if you don`t have a buggy for biking, drop me a line, we can bike together :)

P.S I need to mention the rest of the evening. After I went home, I met up with my lovely dorm mates and made these mega delicious tortillas. Initially, we wanted to make some pancakes but I guess we were just too lazy. However, after the dinner @Kirill Sulemenkov took the initiative and we made pancakes :)

What is home and where do we feel at home?

Studying abroad was the most dramatic change in my life that made me see the world from different angle.
Living away from my birth place gave me some extra thoughts about what home is and where it is for me. What make me feel at home and how can I carry the cosy feeling together with me wherever I am? Are my childhood room, my parents, my brother, my friends? Are the people who love me and I love? What is so special that makes me feel at HOME? Still trying to figure out the right answer...

I had some unpleasant experience today at the train station. Me, Bulgarian, student abroad, and apparently, not a normal student  who can use discount for the train in her own country. W0w, well done!

Next...

What do you think is this nice animal doing. Of course, eating the well grown grass. But do you know where? Well, next to the main hospital* in the town.... how impressive!
*the hospital is in the city centre not in the countryside ;)

Don`t misinterpret my words. I <3 Bulgarian nature, indeed!

Let me stop here cause I already got enough negative emotions for today!

And back to home...
I am sure that one day I will be able to define exactly HOME but right now home is here and now....and no one knows what home will be tomorrow.

I remember cycling home late in the night coming from downtown after work last December. It was very snowy and my bike was uncontrollable.  I used to hate the hill up on Palidan-Mullers Vej. But I was in a hurry to go home and say "HI" to my brother.

Now, five months later I am desperately missing my bike and biking all around Aarhus.

What should I do?

I will definitely grab my brothers bike and bike in the city centre of Sliven to see friends!

But, what about you? Do you like biking for fun or prefer extreme biking on the snowy roads. Mountain biking? :D

Happy Easter to all who celebrate it now! Христос Воскресе!

As mentioned before mommy and me prepared Easter bread very traditional for Bulgaria.
It is a bit tough to make it actually because it requires a lot of time, preparations, and patience.

I tried to do some Easter cupcakes...but my Easter Bunny ended up looking very evil.

Hihi, it was eaten anyways :D

Going to see my cousins later today, haven`t seen them for an ages. I guess another night out is coming :)

Have a great day full with joy!