The German guy really nailed it! The lady from Mexico shocked me since, the majority of the expats coming are from more northern geographies, but maybe for people from countries that are situated even more south than Bulgaria we appear to be cold and even grumpy and yes compered to Latin America we touch and hug each other less, that's how it is. It was nice to check out how expats feel in Bulgaria and how the country is perceived through their eyes.
Hi, I spent 23 years in America, the expats have it easier than the Bulgaruans that been abroad. Bulgarians are more open to accept foreigners than to accept Bulgarians that came back from wherever.
Gotta love the title... HOW TO SURVIVE IN BULGARIA. Like my country is some savage place where if you walk on the streets you gonna get stabbed... oh wait thats London and Paris.
In Bulgaria we have a saying - "With asking you can reach Rome.". So ASK and you will find things, learn things, find friends and people with similar interests, events, amazing places, etc. :) Ask.
Huh, interesting, Selena from Mexico said a lot of stuff about Bulgarians that Bulgarians say about the British, the Germans, the Dutch, any of the Nordic peoples, like that the people are cold and keep to themselves or that the weather is cold. Kind of makes you think.
That is so true, we are straight forward people it's either yes or no, we are polite but not in that way you have in the western world, people in general are super polite and you don't know if they are genuine or not, like a bit ''fake'', till in Bulgaria ( the Balkans in general ) people will be painfully honest with you. and foreigner people are not used to that and they think we are just rude and not polite which is not true is just part of our Balkan mentality, people are just straight forward, here if someone don't like you or don't want something you'll find out, you won't get that ''fake'' smile, here you'll get offended most likely if you are foreigner 😁
Bulgarian here who lives in Netherlands. I give hundreds of fake smiles every day here which I wish I can replace for one real from somebody who actually want to smile at me.
18:16 - this is mainly due to our history. Both Communism period and before that the 500 year slavery period. So the family unit and religion were the core that helped us survive some really, really horrifying period. Also, during Communism people were encouraged to snitch and there were entire parts of the government who were watching, listening, looking for everyone who even remotely is against the Communist Party or even things like telling a joke could send you to jail(and quite a few people went to jail exactly for telling a joke to someone, and they snitched them to the respective government department). Of course this is changing with the new generations so the younger the people you meet, the less relevant this will be to them. Also big cities make people a bit more distant, so in smaller cities, especially villages, this is a bit different - people more fast to smile and open up, and often are already positive.
It's an interesting statement but I can't understand your point . Bulgarian are so warm and welcome people, very smart as well , ...and many of them defenitly proud people. Your words sound like ...unneeded apology
I really hate the term "expats", as it serves no real purpose apart from removing the negative connotations their society has attributed to the word "immigrant"! They are immigrants and that is not a shameful word, so let's start useing it! In regards to the negatives expressed by the Brits - don't be so polite and afraid to express your expiriences ! You're not going to offend the Bulgarian people! We are facing the same issues as you, but unlike the foreigners who plan to possibly move to Bulgaria, we are prepared for them! So just be earnest and let them know of the issues! On a different note - village life is very different from city life, not only due to the way of life, but also because of the age difference! In the villages most ppl are very old and set in their ways, but young ppl have very different perspective and values ( or sometimes lack there of)! So be aware of that!
The word Expat refers to people whom retire in a different country, or go to study for a short time. Immigrants are those who transfer their work and life to a different country.
Awesome, been living in Varna since 2020 September. Also British and it has its ups and downs, thinking of relocating to the countryside/villages but I can't drive so transport and commute, the barrier language can in those regions holds me back lol. People speak English here in Varna if I communicate in English, cannot imagine it will be this smooth in the villages though lol.
@ATasteofBulgaria Yeah I hear people in the country are warmer and helpful but I also have side worries on that too. Whether the warmth will still be warm if you don't look like them. Also something I have to think about because of my race and unconscious bias. I have fears on that, this is something the city I think has advantage, the younger generation are probably more open to other races and cultures than the older and old fashioned gens.
@danisverse not so sure, the villages are very multicultural, even if you leave out the westerns that are in the villages. There are a big mix of Bulgarians, Turks and Roma and they don’t care if you are Black, White, yellow or Green your’ll all from that village. That’s if you try to integrate I mean
One tip to foreigners in BG - take a closer look of the nodding response. If chin goes up first, it is a no, yet forehead goes down first is a definetly yes. The sideways movement is a no for sure and sometimes a sign of misunderstanding in its finest. There are some slightly acceptet ways to take it as confirmation, yet you still have to pay attention to the face expression.
La Mexicana Selene Rodríguez me cayó muy bien una chica con carisma y muy sincera le mando mucha buena vibra a ella y a ustedes me gustaría volver a escucharla en su programa Gracias
I'm from Bulgaria And I'm proud Because I'm Bulgarian Woman I'm leaving in America But I don't want to listen somebody complain About my country My country is the best
Thank you but is just stunning me - how is possible someone to have an intension to go to live in another country, and to expect that the people will speak your language, will use the alfabet you use to with, ...????! Guys , do you really think that somone from the UK or USA or Canada will care at all, what lenguage or alphabet the person who is visiting their country is using and they will try to speak the foriners lenguage ???. That is an unacceptable arogancy , sorry
I've been looking for a place in Bulgaria for a while. The struggle I'm having is getting a response to my inquiries on properties, I've seen a few and tried contacting but have had no reply!
Where are you based at the moment, are you in BG. I’m Also doing a live online premier of my new video today 16:00 Bulgarian Time (EET) that I’d like to invite you to, It’s about my First experience in Sofia and a sleeper train from Varna ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xmUd2-FnKE4.html
I'm finding I'm having the same issues. Of all the properties I've enquired about only 2 have responded. Getting answers to my questions was like getting blood from a stone from one of those 😂
Absolutely true ! I'm not sure if they feel inferior when replying to something they are trying to sell themselves 😂but once I've questioned a seller and reasons and incredibly his response seemed to qualify for the idea 😂 yep good luck with that!
Приятелката ми беше от Южна Корея и за година научи български по-добре от някои българи. Просто има хора, които не обичат да учат чужди езици, като мен :) Не мога да ги разбера защо на всички толкова им е проблем движението на главата, а не цялостната емоция?! Аз не мисля, че на нас българите дори ни пука за това.Кой както намери 😀 Да не сме в детската градина, че да ползваме такива смешни жестове?
The Mexican lady have a wrong impression from the Bulgarians, yes we look ''angry'', we are little bit more reserved people even towards each other, it's a rough life out there in Bulgaria ( in the Balkans in general ) and the mentality is so so different from western Europe or the western world, we just don't express our emotions much but we are super friendly and helpful people especially to a foreigners. You won't see people smiling much but that's just how it is in the Balkans, people are just tough and rough but friendly for sure, the cover is just the reflection of our rough life.
I don’t think she did… this cut of the video only shares a small potion of her true opinion about Bulgarians in general. She actually respects this fact and the fact of the falseness of her countrymen in a future video
Yes the Mexican lady is right, I lived in Spain and Gibraltar for a time and they are very insincere people, always talking and yapping..... in Bulgaria are much more honest and genuine people and help with no score kept. I have friends here for 20 years and never let me down, but I also never let them down.
I disagree with the mexican woman, Bulgarians tend to be really talkative , maybe its just people living in the cities and people living in the villages
Hi. Could you please give me a good immigration lawyer for EU citizens? I'm an EU citizen. I want to settle down in Bulgaria. I want to get a temporary permit for 5 years. I don't know if I need a lawyer for that. I read, and I can understand a lot o f Bulgarian language. Is it easy to get a bank account for EU citizens? If I want to move my furniture from my house in the EU to Bulgaria, do I need any special documents regarding that as Bulgaria is not part of the Shengen agreement? Thanks
I'd really like to contact the English couple from Devon. As they've already been through the process, they could be really helpful to me. If they read this comment, could they please get in touch. Cheers.😊
Come on, let's help hungry, sick, or homeless people in Britain, or Bulgaria, or elsewhere, before we take care of all the stray animals. At least, this shouldn't be the first thing you mention - there are many more important issues. It's a country where word of mouth still works well, even in the age of AI. On the issue of smiling - it does not mean anything, you know in Bulgaria that if anyone smiles, it is genuine, not a learned, Pavlovian reaction (as in Canada, or the U. S.). To the lady from Mexico, I wonder when the last time was when she walked around Mexico City, or Cabo San Lucas - as a Gringo there, I feel like a walking dollar bill, not a human, so I don't know about the warmth. She's absolutely right about friendships in Bulgaria, though. Great video overall!
3:20 - google/youtube plants that repel the various types of bugs and plant some in pots or in your garden. They help reduce that problem. Also, put the pots near doors or windows too to defend those points. :)
