Moving to Poland after ten years in Bulgaria

It's been a long but on the other hand short ten years. The days went slow but the months went fast. And just like that, I spent nearly my whole twenties in Bulgaria. It was a solid choice - very likely one of the best ones I've made in my life. But by now it's time for a refreshing change. How come, one would ask? Well, a build up of many things at the same time. None of them particularly interesting or funny to highlight, but I might as well make an attempt. The job I currently work is happy with my performance and management is well aware I'm internationally oriented. Perhaps they caught the impression that after ten years here, perhaps I'm looking for a fresh start. After all, I'm single, won't have a family or kids, and I might as well reap the benefits of the flexibility of this lifestyle.

I was surprised by their intuition and them feeling this was actually on my mind since years. Because I always do research and look for good places to live for a few years. Part of that is that it should be a better place to live in Bulgaria - all being relative because my personal demands and lifestyle do change as I get into my thirties. As my managers were sensing I had this itch, they mentioned I could live anywhere else they had an office (despite me working homebased - just an administrative thing). And provided it's the EU, it's quite easy to jump around a bit. I immediately mentioned Poland, the country my current manager is from. They were surprised at my quick jump at the opportunity, and we actually made it work. An administrative hassle nonetheless, but we made it work. In six weeks from writing this blog post, I'll be checking in my five sports bags that now contain my entire life, and I'll be wheels off to Poland.

Why, you may ask? And it's a good question. Because my life in Bulgaria has little left to wish for. But as is often said, one really goes get used to everything. And that's good, because it means one also keeps striving for new horizons. And it's mostly that. I am quite easy at making difficult decisions. Perhaps because I'm an overthinker, I already pondered the thought many times. And then when an opportunity presents itself, I jump. Later I obviously got second thoughts (keep in mind this conversation took place about a year ago already) but I decided to keep the energy flowing. I was presented with a ball in my court. I kicked it. And instead of anxiously trying to catch it and drag it back into my court, I decided just to wait and see where it lands. And my company arranged their part, and I did mine.

In the meantime, already six months ago, I found an apartment in Warsaw. Right on the metro, in the best area of town, for just slightly more than I pay in Sofia. But this place is on an inner courtyard and not next to a gourmet restaurant of which the respirator of their industrial oven is tied to the one blowing into my kitchen, as I am currently suffering through in Bulgaria. Long story, but the current apartment I live in is less than ideal, despite it being a top building and location (at least theoretically it should be, the reality is often different). The last reason for the move slightly north, is family. I've become a proud uncle and my brother and their family live in Finland. It's a long trip from Bulgaria and there's no direct flights (there were seasonal ones) but I prefer year-round. My parents being semi-retired, they may want to see both my brother and me in one trip, and the Netherlands to Finland through Poland on one or both legs of the journey is just way easier.

Lastly, Poland is a new horizon for me. I've been there a lot of times but there's more for me to see. The country is about as big as Italy. Bulgaria is three times bigger than the Netherlands. Then Poland is three times bigger than Bulgaria, which is significant. I'll just be having a ton to do and explore and getting around is easier and quicker than in Bulgaria. With their public transport, if I have a week or so, I could go all through the south and the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus once feasible, and what not. Hiking, drinking beers, enjoying simple pleasures. There's not even any reason to fly anymore. These countries are solid for a decade of exploring, provided I stay that long. I have no idea honestly.

Poland has a strong and growing economy. It is safe, in the middle of Europe, it is large, has a lot to do and see, and the food is spectacular. Warsaw is clean, modern, has a great airport and good transport. It is not too hot and not too cold, not too crowded but certainly not boring. The people are warm hearted and fun. All in all I see no downsides, keeping in mind I have my international job and it is feasible for me to live anywhere. Important for me is that I can keep practising Krav Maga, the martial art (self defense) that I've been training for five years. My trainer has ignited a spark in me and I do not want to stop training. In fact his trainings and the group of friends I have from there, are the only reason why I find it really hard to leave right now. In Poland, I can keep training with the same federation. They are well developed there.

In my life - a small lesson - I try to make a synergy of factors I'm given. They may be simple factors. But I add them up and make a solid combo. Me being on the lookout for something new, my manager being from Poland, me already eyeing Poland since years, my family's location, the economy there, my job stability, are all factors I can add up and easily make a jump with. And that's what I will do. I thought it would be terribly sad to leave and it likely still will be. But once I arranged my living quarters in Warsaw, I started envisioning it, and then the excitement started. And it is growing. So all in all a good choice I hope. Different problems will present themselves, but life is good. And it has been for the past ten years. Never have I looked with regret on my move to Bulgaria. The country has offered me a lot.

My reflection on the Bulgarian tourism industry

Once at a restaurant in Greece I left my empty sports bottle at the restaurant table to go wash my hands. When I came back, it was filled with ice cold water. Then after each meal, there is a little dessert or coffee. And service with a smile, a thank you and a goodbye. All these things are small gestures and cost pennies.

For those unable to read the screenshots in Bulgarian, this is from an online newspaper. There's discussion about the glass of water offered with coffee. Pretty much a gold standard in Greece and many other countries. Or even without the coffee, in Greece you can be sure a cold liter of water will be on your table right when you're seated. In either case. This is not really offered in Bulgaria. There's no water unless ordered and paid for. And the Bulgarian representative of the restaurant branch wants to keep it that way. Because everything costs money. And money is everything. I indulge further below the screenshot.

My assessment after 10 years of travel in Bulgaria is that in the commercial hospitality sector the Bulgarians are tripping over their Stotinkis to reach their Levas. Most waiting staff lack the most basic skills or are just plain rude. When visiting restaurants here, you feel as if you're there to give your money.

In Greece, Turkey, Italy or even Austria, you feel like you're there to experience hospitality. It's in their blood. I've been a waiter for years before coming here and always did the small gestures. It is in your nature or it is not. It got me huge tips in the end.

And it's the reason I visited the Bulgarian seaside just once and went abroad for all other summer trips. Bulgarians will rather bankrupt their restaurant than realise this. It's what happens when 'businessmen' run hospitality rather than those who actually understand what it's about. No Bulgarian seaside for me. Yes, I really do boycot it because the glass of water represents the greater lack of hospitality. You either feel welcome or you don't.

The guest will maybe come back twice on his holiday, leave a good review or leave a huge tip, just because you gave them a silly glass of water without asking. And the fact that the national representative of the restaurant branch makes such dumbfounded statement is because once more it is the wrong person in the wrong position. A European fund slurper, who knew a friend of a friend and now gets to keep Bulgaria on its last position in Europe. Only visited by vodka drinkers by the pool, and those who visit Sofia once and never return.

It is a slap in the face of all the spa, wine and sustainable tourism the country has to offer. The last in Europe, but we get to have our glass of water.

Update from Bulgaria

Time flies and that's a good thing. Depends how you look at it at least. I'm in Bulgaria for nearly nine years, except for the many trips abroad and the periods of working for the Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam. This was an interim assignment and after that contract ended, I found a permanent job in Bulgaria. Once more in clinical research. I enjoy my life and work. Often, people ask me how long I want to stay in Bulgaria. As long as I have a good time, I often reply. Because stability is an illusion. And in my three decades on this earth, I learned that the only constant in life is change. Change happens everywhere and in everyone's life. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse.

But holding on to a branch is senseless, eventually you'll be blown off or sucked into the wild river called life. Change could mean giving up a permanent job to take a temporary assignment, like I did when I went to Amsterdam. Some people thought it was risky, but I did it. I had a good time and learned a lot. And the skills I learned, I now use for my new permanent position. A job I would not have managed to do had I not learned the appropriate skills in the hospital in Amsterdam. It was a side step, one step to the left and one forward. Often, people are afraid of the side step in life. But it is the one step slightly diverting you off-track that can still move you forward eventually.

Another change is relationships and the people you surround yourself with. Unfortunately, I am not in touch with many people from the Netherlands anymore. Just my family of course. But even my brother moved to Finland and is even married now. He'll start a family there. And my parents are still in the Netherlands. Obviously changes none of us could have predicted a decade ago, but just what happens in life. And provided you are healthy and relatively satisfied, the downside of seeing each other less, is just an unfortunate reality. But I do not have friends in the Netherlands anymore, as every but the strongest contacts water down over time. My friends moved on and so did I. And at some point there is no sense to meet up anymore, because there are no shared experiences anymore to cherish or to reflect on. It would once again be like meeting a stranger. But there's always those friends that you can meet after a decade and it would be the same. Perhaps it's just me, but I have an easier time moving on from people. Just because I've had to do it over and over after living in five countries.

The change is in missing people. Whether a friend or a relative. Your brother or sister. Once you live abroad, even once you spend a small amount of time in another country, you are bound to make new connections. And you will then move on, and so will they. This can only mean you'll end up missing someone. All the time. You will however find peace and solace in it, as well as learning to accept that sometimes, out of sight really means out of mind. Think of that old friend at work who left or your buddy in that sports club. They left and did you ever think of them again? Perhaps once or twice, but really? That's the constant change in life. And in fact it can be liberating, because it also means you can let go of other people's opinion of you. As perhaps they are not thinking about you nearly as much as you think.

The one thing is again change. It will come whether you want it or not. And it is often those who resist change who eventually are blown apart when their rigid lives are shaken up by a forced change coming from this universe. Being too resistant to change, whether positive or negative, will eventually break a person apart if they are too tense to embrace it. I attempt to sometimes approach life from the angle that change is inevitable and sometimes I jump into the deep end to change myself before I am forced to change. To find a new place to live, a new job, a new sport I am nervous to try. But even then, I am in Bulgaria for nearly a decade, and at some point it might be time to change that as well. But that is what comfort does, once you get life good and easy, you stop posting frequent blog posts as I have. Or stay put and just relax for a bit. And perhaps that is just where I am supposed to be right now, as that is a change from my hasty self I was just a few years ago. I hope life is treating you well.