My feelings for Bulgaria

After 3,5 years in Bulgaria, I'm over the phase of deciding whether I like it here or not. I do, otherwise I would have left a long time ago. The first year and a half or so were mostly getting used to the new life although that went faster than I expected. As a single man, it was easy to come here and get into a routine. Work, home, gym, home. Then traveling in my free time. I never regretted my choice to come here. In fact, I always felt confident and never had any negative experience at all. No negative experience out of malice towards me. Yes, life has its ups and downs but my life here has been very positive and rewarding so far. Yet each traveler who settles down wonders if this is the place, or if he'd move on to the next. And it isn't to say I won't, but I'm not tempted to leave any time soon.

Bulgaria is where I grew into the person I am today. Bulgaria is where I became a man. Where I learned to stand on both my feet. One foot back home in The Netherlands, one here in Bulgaria. I got an infinite amount of experience from both my jobs. Working with other cultures, in different languages. Carving out a place for myself, standing up for myself when needed. Building a network of acquaintances, from scratch. I can proudly say my home is here. My whole life takes place here. I made a new person of myself, after being dissatisfied with the way things were back in The Netherlands. Don't get me wrong, it's one of the best places in all statistics. Yet it was the lack of being able to go out, walk into the mountains. I longed for the sunny afternoons and hot evenings. The four seasons. Adventure was calling. New experiences, a new language, new people and new customs. All very tempting. I went and didn't look back.

I felt good the moment I arrived in Bulgaria. It felt as if I stepped into a warm bath. A feeling of comfort, of relaxation I so much needed. A pace of life that's a bit slower, certainly outside the capital. A work culture that is comparably more relaxed and easy-going, even though that doesn't mean we work less hard or fewer hours. Just a more pleasant vibe which I still enjoy to this day. The perfect work-life balance. The pleasant colleagues. I was always treated well, by everyone I met. Bulgaria embraced me, and I embraced her.

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The call of adventure

Living abroad, you partly or completely have to reinvent yourself. Mostly if you go alone. The advice 'just be who you are' doesn't fly when you're in a new place on your own. Partly it could, but nobody knows who you are. So you're a new person to them. And while you're abroad, you'll undoubtedly change. You'll never be the same once you take the leap. There's lots of joy awaiting you. But lots of persistence and patience is needed. You'll be a new person to the new people you meet. Especially where nobody knows you. So you might as well make some small modifications on your character, perhaps you've been told you're kind of a bore and need to be more open. Just the fact of you being abroad, alone, in a new place, can give you the extra courage to from now on just be that person. You'll get used to it as you start. Courage is needed but better jump right in it than stare against the challenge. Go out, make new friends, chat up someone you fancy. Even if you'd never do it back home. Especially if you'd never do it back home. You're a new person now, an adventurer, who went at it alone. A person learning, developing, and growing by taking up each challenge you're faced with.

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I deleted Facebook

Had some doubts recently about what it adds to my life and the answer is - very little. I do have friends on there from other countries but not many I really stay in touch with. However, the time spent browsing and posting got a bit much. There was not much keeping me interested otherwise, I got little information out of it. The information I did absorb was negative, as news stories and complaining posts made up a significant part of the 'wall'. The positive posts, I'd learn about otherwise if I really had a connection with the person. Yes, I could have 'deactivated' the account or just stopped spending time browsing, but I thought it be better to quit altogether. Instead of hanging on my couch to see what other people are up to, I'd like to catch up with them face-to-face or over the phone more often. For people following my adventures from abroad, I'll keep this website updated regularly! For friends having followed me on Facebook for years, thank you for keeping an interest in my stories and we'll definitely stay in touch! Friends remain friends after all.