What is it like to be a foreigner in Bulgaria? What are the challenges permanent residents from other countries face, what is it that they miss from their own cultures and how do they adapt to reality in Bulgaria?

During the outgoing, so unpredictable year, 2020, Radio Bulgaria’s reporters met with different people from all parts of the world who have chosen to live, work or study in this country.

In the year when the world was rocked by the Covid-19 pandemic Bulgaria turned out to be an attractive destination for young people wishing to study at universities in this country. And they all say they love it here.

But the main barrier they encounter, at least at the beginning is the language barrier. A problem Sergio Oliveira from Angola also came face to face with.

He has been studying engineering at the Higher Naval School in Varna for three years. During his first year he studied Bulgarian. Sergio says he likes it in Bulgaria but the climate here is… cold for people coming from Africa.  Otherwise he is happy with his university. He lives at a student residence with other young people from his country but during lockdown he studied remotely. He says the only thing he misses in Bulgaria is his family. Find out more HERE.

The first time she saw snow – that is the most vivid experience Rita Sanchez has had in this country. She is from the Philippines and came to this country two years ago with her husband. She lives in Kozloduy and has taken a new name – Philippina Yordanova – because she is the only woman from the Philippines in the town. She created her own vlog where she talks about her culture clash in this country. She constantly compares her Asian culture with the Bulgarian ways and comes to the conclusion that we are freer and more independent than her fellow countrymen. What she doesn’t like is that Bulgarians are so negative and complain all the time. But she loves our cuisine. She has mastered the art of making typically Bulgarian things - like banitsa, chutney, meatballs – to perfection. Read the interview with Rita Sanchez here.

During the outgoing year Radio Bulgaria met with an unconventional young man from the Netherlands. 28-year old Leon de Leeuw is in love with this country.

Having come here six years ago, he now works in Sofia and speaks fluent Bulgarian. And he takes every opportunity to travel around Bulgaria. His YouTube channel, which is all about his life here, is highly successful. He says he adores the abandoned places in Bulgaria’s mountains – the old hamlets, the run-down buildings, the deserted villages. In them Leon finds a beautiful melancholy. And adds that his feelings in Bulgaria are unearthly. Find out more about Leon, the vlogger from the Netherlands HERE.

Is it easy to leave everything you have known behind to follow your dreams in Bulgaria? As it turns out no, it isn’t! But it is worth it, says Daniel Montiglio from Chile.

He has been living in Varna for 15 years with his family, he has learnt to speak Bulgarian and has created a platform to help other people in the same position. He says the biggest setbacks for any foreigners in this country are red tape and double standards. But Daniel says what he doesn’t understand is why Bulgarians are constantly displeased with their country. For him Bulgaria is a place for a tranquil family life, for doing the job you want to do, for being in harmony with oneself and the people around.

Compiled by Veneta Nikolova