Moving to another country means, among other things, dealing with new people, a new culture, new traditions. So here’s my sharing about my experience with Bulgarians. This is just my story of course, you can’t paint everyone with the same brush.
- Help and hospitality
The language barrier didn’t help the communication with locals. Nevertheless, I received help in several occasions when in need in Sofia and in Kazanlak, for example when I was hitchhiking or I asked information about the train I had to take. Some operators at the stations were more cooperative, others less (I think this is an international issue). Of course, people in the bigger towns and cities are in general more open-minded than those in the villages.
I also received hospitality by some locals, who shared their food, some pictures and their love for Italy with me (this is really spread in Bulgaria! They appreciate especially Italian food and music).
- Time flexibility
What I noticed about Bulgarians is their flexibility. The positive aspect of this is that there’s less pressure on timing and schedules and more freedom to be in the flow and not rushing. The negative aspect is that a frame is also needed and a defined structure provides organization and accountability. This was indeed a big challenge for me, as I’ve always needed a good planning. So, I learned to improvise and change the plans even at the last minute.
- Public safety
Another aspect I found astonishing in Bulgaria is that lots of people, both in the town and in the village, leave their house unlocked during the night and even when they leave. Some of them also leave their car daily open in the parking or when they go to the closest shop. This was unthinkable for me, as I’ve been leaving for lots of years in a metropolis like Rome, where people could steal your car even if it’s safely closed.
The same applies for leaving your wallet on the table at the restaurant: obviously, I couldn’t do it in Rome, but here the risk of it to be stolen is much lower. Indeed, Sofia looks much safer than Rome, also because its buses and metros are almost empty compared to those in Rome, where sometimes you cannot even move. Still, I prefer prudence and not to lose the good habit of keeping my wallet in my bag.
These are the main characteristics I noticed in Bulgarians. If you like them, Bulgaria is waiting for you to make new friends!