Today we are pleased to share with all of you the story of our good friend Betsy, who with her joy has known how to win the appreciation of those who know her.
Name and nationality:
Bethzabé Avila Medina, Peruvian.
Tell us a little about yourself?
I’m from Peru and I live in Varna, Bulgaria. My husband is Bulgarian and we have a 5 year old boy. I am a person who likes to socialize, make friends, enjoy good food and sit down with a beer in front of the sea.
Why and when did you come to Bulgaria?
I arrived in Bulgaria on July 26, 2012, and since then I have lived in Varna. I came here because with my husband because we realized that it was the best option for the birth of our son since at that time we Peruvians required a Visa to enter Europe, and therefore we thought it would be an odyssey to have to register the documents of our son in the Bulgarian Embassy.
What do you like about your country?
For me, Peru will always be my heart, when you live outside of your country, you start to miss the land where you grew up, your culture, your food, your family, your neighborhood friends, the local market sellers, etc. When I came to Bulgaria the nostalgia overwhelmed me so much that I can say that I suffered from the Ulysses syndrome, but right now I am still in the process of adapting to the Bulgarian culture, it is not easy, but I move on.
What differences do you see in your country and Bulgaria?
I can list many good and bad differences, in Bulgaria not everything is rosy, but I am in a stage of my life in which I learned not to complain or make comparisons, we must focus on living today.
What do you like about Bulgaria?
Bulgaria has something special, Varna is my home, everything is close, I can meet a friend for a coffee and I do not have to travel by bus for an hour to do it, and the summer is great, full of life with parties on the beach , a walk through the garden of the sea, a dinner overlooking the sea, etc., but I still need to discover more places in this beautiful country.
What is your job?
I work in a Customer Service Call Center for the Spanish and Latin Market. I know it is not an easy job but personally I like to help people and for me it is rewarding.
What would you say to foreigners who plan to work in a Call Center?
To make the decision and do it! The good thing about the Company where I work, it gives you options to work 8, 6 and 4 hours. I started on the 8-hour schedule and now I switched to the 6-hour day, and I feel better.
What document/procedure was the most difficult when you arrived in Bulgaria?
The truth is that I came to Bulgaria pregnant and they did not put obstacles in the way, I just got married and continued the procedure.
The problem was to come to Bulgaria since there is no Bulgarian Embassy in Peru, so I had to travel to Brazil to process it, thank God we do not need a visa to visit European countries.
Mention an important experience you’ve had in Bulgaria
First of all, I am grateful to this country for opening the doors to me in the labor field and I can say that it has been a rewarding experience for my personal and social development, now my colleagues speak to me in Bulgarian because they want me to learn the Bulgarian Language
Do you speak other languages?
Besides Spanish, I speak Italian, English, Portuguese and Bulgarian
Have you visited other countries?
My experience in working on cruises has given me the opportunity to meet countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Italy, Spain, Israel, Turkey, Greece, etc., of which I have fond memories.
What advice would you give to other people who would like to come to Bulgaria?
Do It! Bulgaria is not an expensive country, so you can treat yourself from time to time , the most important thing is that if you have a roof to live, food and water, you already cover your basic needs since, in life that is the most important, the rest are simply wishes, that if they do not come true anything happens, material stuff isn’t the most important.
