This expat interview comes straight from Bulgaria. This one is great, you have to read the story he tells about trying to get chickens for his farm. It really made me laugh out loud :) These are the kinds of stories that only the people who have actually lived them have to tell, and why these interviews are so great. I truly enjoy them and I hope you all do too. Don’t forget to let us know what you think in a comment below!

Thank you to Martin for doing this interview and giving us a look at what it would be like to live in Bulgaria! Martin has several websites, my favorite (of course) is Bulgarian Slivatree where he shares very frankly about what life is like in Bulgaria. He has also written a book on the topic too, Simple Treasures in Bulgaria. Definitely check it out!

1.Where are you from originally, where are you now and what brought you there?

I am originally from England and now live and work in Bulgaria. My reasons for coming here are numerous and diverse, but I think the main reason was from the point of getting away from an England that didn’t make me feel welcome anymore.

2.What do you like/dislike about your new home overseas?

I like my home here, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. It could be described as a typical Bulgarian village home with very basic facilities here. We do have an inside toilet though, most homes here don’t. To me the appeal of having what you need rather than what you want is something that I love about my home here.

Dislikes? I thought long and hard about that one and can’t come up with anything that I don’t like about it.

3.Do you have any advice for someone who w” ants to get a job in a foreign country? Do you have any advice for someone who wants to get a job in the country you are now living in? What was your experience with getting a visa/job? Was it difficult?

Setting up a business here is quite difficult, lots of paper work, administration and red tape to contend with. Most expatriates that set up work here are into real estate or building work. This type of work seems to have dried up recently and many British companies have gone under. The biggest hurdle is the language. Using translators, apart from being expensive, still aren’t as effective as they make speak English, but don’t think English.

Working for an employer is easier, but again the language problem is always going to be there, added to this the poor pay, which is considered one of the lowest in Europe. Most expatriates would find it hard if not impossible to live off a Bulgarian wage. I did it for a year and could not have survived without my partner working as well.

4.What was the most challenging part of living in a foreign country when you first started out as an expat? Do you have any advice for those facing similar challenges?

It is challenging coming to terms with how Bulgarians think. Nothing is rushed, even after quite a few years here, slowing down to Bulgarian speed is difficult. And the of course the Bulgarian language - I get by now, but the first few years, not being able to communicate was frustrating and actually ends up being quite ‘expensive’ from mistakes made.

Bulgaria is more than just a bit rough at the edges or difficult, it is impossible sometimes, but within that are adventures with big rewards that you just can’t buy.
~Martin

5.If you were to do it all again (moving to and living in another country), what would you do different?

There are many things that I wished I knew then as opposed to what I know now. At the time all these things seemed the best options. Buying my home blind perhaps was the most foolhardy thing I did, but luckily I got away with it. Not recommended. Shipping my possessions from the UK to Bulgaria was my biggest and probably most expensive mistake. If I did it again, I’d would probably drive my stuff here by road rather than rely on shipping agents.

6.Do you want to move back to where you came from? If not, what is it about the expat life that makes it all worth it to you?

Moving back to the UK is something that will never happen, I have no inclination at all to go back to a place, which has got worse since leaving it in 2005. The other side of the coin of course is simply loving life here with my Bulgarian partner and her family. Having said all that, it is hard here and there many stresses, but not on the scale they were in the UK. The fact that nothing here is on a mortgage or credit is the biggest relief. All you have to worry about is on a day-to-day basis on where the money is going to come from the pay for the utility bills and food. You can live on a little income, but not on nothing, so they say.

7.What are some of the good, the bad, the ugly…and the funny things you have experienced living overseas? Please share any funny or fun stories you have about the place you are living.

The food here is very good and mainly all home grown, so it is always fresh and chemically free. The bad side is the increasing commercialism that is coming into Bulgaria from the west; Bulgarian anti- materialistic ideals are gradually being completely lost. The ugly side is the rubbish that you see all over the country. Bulgarians throw rubbish anywhere, out of car windows, in the street, lots of fly-tipping that goes on which is normal here. The worse are supermarket plastic bags as they fly all over the countryside with a little wind. The state of repairs that are needed and not made to many buildings and roads are quite a common sight.

Misunderstandings the language always throws up funny stories, like the time I travelled to a neighbouring village to buy some chickens to stock on my farm. All evening there was no talk of chickens at all with my glass being constantly being filled with wine. At the end of the evening we were all very merry, but not a chicken for sale in sight - The reason word for chicken and drink are very similar.

…there is another move along the Bulgarian learning curve. Whatever your disposition, food is the answer.
~Martin

8. Did you experience culture shock when you moved? What was that like? How did you overcome it?

I had done quite a bit of research before I move here, but that wasn’t really a substitute for actually living here. The culture shock was the vast difference lifestyle between country and towns. Village folk, generally the older generation, are the kindest and generous folk you will ever meet, town folk are somewhat different, much more business minded and street wise with a flair for fashion, this may however just be a recent trend.

9. Any practical tips for the new expats out there?

Research the culture of the country and learn as much of the language as you can. Bulgaria isn’t for everyone, it is cheap (for now) and I’d say that’s definitely why most people consider it, even if they say it isn’t. Bulgaria somewhat lacks a stable infrastructure and that includes the politics and doesn’t really compare favourably to the more popular expat destinations, in fact it is quite ‘rough’ in many places. There are also big gypsy communities all around the country with population approaching 1 million right now.

Black Sea Coastal Resorts and Skiing in the mountain regions are the major pulls of summer and winter tourism here respectively. But also there are thousands of villages that offer the tranquil ‘good-life’ alternative. Make sure you know what you want before you come here, many expatriates opted for the ‘good life,’ locations but got bored or couldn’t adapt to the slow pace of life and now are seeking a more ‘exciting’ location.

10.Where do you think you’ll go next?

Martin’s other sites:
365 Bulgarian Adventures
The Rakia Site
Dosh For U
Site4truelove

I have no ambition to go anywhere else right now; I think I have found my niche.

11. Anything else you want to add or share about expat life or culture shock? Please share anything you think would be helpful to expatriates in general or expats living where you are now.

You need to see your destination in real life, as many accounts of the country aren’t quite what they seem. Much written about foreign lands in both hard copy publications and online articles are from Estate Agents or businesses trying to promote the country as an attractive place to buy property or services. You need to read up on the country you are considering moving to, but don’t believe everything you read. If you can, get the views of expatriate bloggers who are expatriates, they will normally have no business interest and would give an unbiased opinion of what it is really like there.

Thank you Martin!