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Thinking
of Relocating to
Bulgaria?
What Should You Consider?
Moving
to another country is a big decision and not something to be taken
lightly. I am often contacted by people who are thinking of relocating
to Bulgaria and yet they have never even visited the country and know
nothing of the different regions, the culture, the attitudes and the
way of life there. I am asked to recommend an area, a type of property,
how to go about finding a job in Bulgaria and other such
things.
Below
are a number of important considerations for anyone considering a move
to Bulgaria:
- Income &
Employment - Whilst
it may seem
obvious, many appear to think that just because property in Bulgaria is
relatively cheap, they can live off 'thin-air'. You WILL need an income
of some sort - be it a UK pension, maybe one family member going back
to the UK every now and then for work, savings or investments that pay
a monthly sum.......If you are intending to get a job in Bulgaria then
consider what type of job you could get. Most expats speak no or very
little Bulgarian so working in a 'normal, everyday' job will be out of
the question. Most expats work for other expats - be it building,
renovating, gardening, property management or the odd shop or cafe
aimed at the Brits.
- Children &
Education - If you have very
young children, then it is not so much of a problem as they will be
easily able to pick up the language if they socialise with Bulgarian
children at kindergarten (make sure your village has a kindergarten
close by), however, if you are moving across with slightly older
children then consider how difficult they will find it to fit in, to
make friends. In Bulgaria children start primary school at around 7
years old, having attended kindergarten for 3 or 4 years before that.
Many people intend to home school but again consider how your children
will socialise with people their own age if they are homeschooled and
in a rural village setting.
- Health
&
Medication - If
you have any pre-existing medical conditions you will need to make
enquiries as to whether you can get your specific medication in
Bulgaria. The state health care in Bulgaria is fairly basic in many
places, although the private health care is excellent and
cheap.
- Town or
Country - Do
you wish to live a rural, quiet life in a village, where most of the
other inhabitants are elderly but it is wonderful and peaceful with
goats and sheep wandering the streets and donkeys plodding along
pulling carts? Or do you want to be in a town or city where you can pop
out to a local bar, mix with expats of different nationalities, go to
the cinema.........
- Pets &
Animal
Welfare - Bulgaria
has a very poor attitude to animal welfare. You will see stray dogs and
cats everywhere and dead dogs lying on the side of the road is a common
sight. In general they believe castration is cruel so there are a huge
number of unwanted puppies and kittens. It can be very distressing,
although many expats are trying to do what they can and have set up
charities and rescue centres. It is not unheard of for expats dogs to
be poisoned and you will need to keep a careful eye on your
pets.
- Boredom
- It
may seem like the dream life to move to a country where the sun shines
for much of the year, to grow your own veggies and pick your own fruit,
but with a restricted circle of friends and often meaning you socialise
with people you would avoid back in your home country, living in
Bulgaria can become very isolating and lonely at times. Winters can be
very cold and mean long periods couped up inside. There are many
instances where expats have ended up with drink problems, and
relationships are put to the test, many ending up breaking down. The
internet becomes VERY important when living in a foreign country.
Consider what type of mental stimulation you will require and how you
will keep yourself and your family entertained.
- Culture
&
Attitudes - In
general Bulgarians are not particularly westernised in their attitudes.
For example as a couple, they will always defer to the man and ignore
the woman. Customer service barely exists, beuocracy is a nightmare,
the legal system is slow and corrupt, the local mayor still wields a
fair amount of influence.........that said most villagers are
incredibly friendly and will give you vegetables from their garden,
home-made wine, be very curious about their new neighbours....
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