The first few weeks they spoke English with each other, unaware that they could simply have spoken Bulgarian. Only during an official introduction round did they find out. “Tsvetomira is a typically Bulgarian name. When I heard that, I knew at once where she came from”, Danail tells us.
Twice they played a game of table tennis. They soon exchanged the bats for mats in the dojo. During the capoeira lessons they got closer and closer. Tsvetomira: “It was not love at first sight, but it felt quite good between us, as if we had known each other for years.” The friendship soon deepened. “It is still undecided who made the first move. I suppose we both did”, Danail smiles.
Although they may be found at the Student Sports Center some four times a week, they had never really gone in for sports that much. Danail: “Given the extensive possibilities at the Student Sports Center, it is a waste not to go there.” Nowadays they devote their leisure time to the Brazilian martial art, but also to salsa lessons and climbing. Tsvetomira: “My relatives are fairly sportive types. In Bulgaria I used to cycle quite a lot. Cycling is a sport over there, but here it is an everyday means of transport.”

Capoeira they practice very fanatically; at least twice a week. There is more to it than just the practice, though. “We do a lot of activities together with other people from the training. Such as a barbecue or visiting capoeira festivals. It is a very agreeable sport. The first time you have a lot of sore muscles, but that soon becomes less”, Tsvetomira explains.
The two share their sportive activities, but spend a lot of time together anyway. “After five months we had already started living together. We were together all the time anyhow, so it was just a waste to pay two rents, when there was always one house empty.” Living together agrees with them well. Tsvetomira: “I have laughed a lot more since I have been with him!” Danail reacts to the point: “She likes my jokes!”.

Photos: Rien Meulman