AS he coddles the homemade banitchka, Mister September chuckles as he shows his guests the proper way to make the famous national pastry. Mister February twiddles with the cigarette in his hand as he leans against a tree in a local park, gazing off into the distance. Chugging his pint of Zagorka beer, Mister July merrily grins in response to a joke told by his buddy at a mechana (tavern) downtown.

A few weeks back, while speaking with a friend from home, I was asked about my love life. Goading me for information about Bulgarian men, I struggled to answer his questions, despite their simple context. What do they look like? How do they differ from American men? Which do I prefer? Had I met anyone special? No, I am not, nor have I begun dating any Bulgarian men. I still am unable to simply respond to these questions, but have since begun an investigation to better understand the "Bulgarian man."

The next day, along with a good friend, we began to snap photos of the "everyday Bulgarian man." It was important I compile an unbiased montage of men to display a "fair" cross-section of the population in Sofia. My "models" ranged from age 18 to 78 and were representative of a diverse array of professions. I have since collected over 25 photos.

I next began to ask friends, both expats and Bulgarian, about their feelings towards Bulgarian men. I first had to clarify that my interests were more about the stereotypes which represented men in Bulgaria, versus the infamous "Balkan man." To clarify, Balkan men are portrayed as having authoritative personalities and misogynistic behaviour. They are supposedly demanding, aggressive, not especially good looking, and macho. These men exist in Serbia and Macedonia as well as Bulgaria.

Conversely, I have found the Bulgarian male stereotype to greatly differ from this description. General characteristics that have been described to me include a strong dedication to family, quick to panic, possessive, jealous, loyal, and sensitive. These are all very broad, general traits and there are always exceptions. However, I have found the last attribute to be the most interesting, especially when I compare Bulgarian men to American men.

Personally, I find American men to be some of the most insensitive bastards you will ever meet. They will say nice things, depending on what a girl wants to hear, but often never mean what they say. If this is a trait common in Bulgarian men, I have not yet encountered such devious behaviour. In addition, American men are less likely to pay for your meal, open a door, or call you back when they say they will, than Bulgarian men. All and all, I have found Bulgarians to be far more respectful, passive and good-natured then the hardened, detached men I know from home. However, there are two sides to this matter.

It is like a breath of fresh air to encounter such compassion and sensitivity among men, especially when they are able to balance such emotion and still exude a sense of "manliness." It is like an American woman's dream come true: Big, tough, strong, smart, and sensitive! So why have I not embraced Bulgarian men with as much enthusiasm as one would assume I should? And why are there more American men married to Bulgarian women, than Bulgarian men to American women?

I prefer to not overanalyse my love life, as I believe the answer is composed of a mix of reasons for why I have not yet jumped into the Bulgarian dating scene. Perhaps it is because habitually, I have only dated men who are unable to express themselves. Men who lack so much emotion, that it is hard to be serious with despite how dire a situation may be. Or, perhaps it is because I may similarly lack the emotion many would assume by nature, a woman should possess. Whether that is because I am only 22, live abroad, and fear commitment, or because I have desensitised myself to engage in a relationship that would typically involve more emotion then I would like to express right now; I will never know, nor do I really care...

This brings me back to my friend, and how to properly respond to his question about Bulgarian men. Based on my photos, I have decided to create a calendar of my 12 favourite models. On top of it being a great craft project to pass the time away, I think it will serve as one of many memories I will forever cherish when I leave Bulgaria. In addition, perhaps it will inspire and soften me, so I will someday, soon, learn to appreciate the Bulgarian man. Not the stereotypical Balkan man of which I have always heard such foul rumours, but of the Bulgarian men I meet everyday and have come to adore.