LAID-BACK and open-minded, Alexander Markov, (23), better known as "Sasho", has a light in his eyes and a genuine goodness that shines through. His fluency in English is impressive, and he loves to practice with foreigners. Presently he's a student at the School of Architecture and has worked as a bartender and helping hand at Lotki Bar in Boris's Garden for some time. With a lizard tattoo on his neck and a joker on his forearm, he's not your typical Sofia student. He originally majored in Chemical Engineering but has since moved on to his second degree, architecture. "It feels good to be a student," he said. Creative by nature and a lover of art and the artistic process, he is involved in projects that test his skills in both art and time management.

This past week Sasho travelled to Vienna by train with a group of Bulgarians to hold an art exhibition for Project 27, the brainchild of a group of Austrian photographers who will soon have a website as well. It was started nine months ago, and as he said, "the baby has just been born." One day a friend called to invite him to join the project, and, "it was an offer I couldn't refuse." He helped to set up the photos for the exhibit and displayed some of his own work. "I'm not experienced, but I like to do it," said Sasho. "I don't like all my pieces, but I do think they deserved to be shown." Sasho said he was really surprised at how successful the exhibition turned out to be, because he didn't expect it. About 300 photos were displayed, and the experience has left him inspired. He spent most of his time talking with people in English, doing one of his favourite things: communicating with people from other countries and cultures.

This was not Sasho's first trip out of Bulgaria. Last summer he worked in Cape Cod on a fishing boat and experienced America firsthand. "It was really an amazing and great experience. The people were so nice; I can't wait to go back."  He feels like he made such good friends and met so many diverse people that he owes it to them and himself to return. Because he also worked in a restaurant in Hyannis, a large town on the Cape, Sasho said he was able to get used to the accent, the structures, and the common phrases and words that Americans use. "Maybe I'm an actor, but I'm talented and I feel good about that. I've been studying English for 12 years. I feel everyone should try to speak at least one foreign language." He says he's considering taking up German next, because he loved Vienna so much and may study architecture there. Smart and insightful, Sasho is destined to travel and meet new people, because he feels he's not Bulgarian, "I'm international."

Another of his ongoing projects is the restoration of a 1984 Mini Cooper. He's been working on this car for a long time, but still has a long way to go. "It takes so much time and energy, and I need to do so many other things. But I am inspired and want to see it through." He loves to be creative and go after projects that allow him to express his love of life, friends, and the beautiful things around him. "I love the details," he exclaimed, and he hopes that his time spent outside of school is used to move things forward and meet new and interesting people.

At the end of this month, Sasho is travelling to Milan for an international table football tournament. He is currently designing the logo for his team and is really excited, not only about playing some football, but also about meeting the international players. Once he returns from his travels, he will focus on yet another project: holding a photo exhibition in December at the Red House here in Sofia through Project 27. His role will be to design the interior of the exhibition space, and he is really thrilled about this. Not many people can handle so many projects at one time, but Sasho is energized and maintaining a positive attitude.  His inspiration and desire to accomplish his goals will see him through to the end.