Today Florian Zejewski, who is doing his internship at Euraxess in Sofia to learn about Bulgaria and the Balkan peninsula, and he will share with Foreigner.bg his experience so far…
Name and nationality:
Florian Zejewski, German
Tell us a bit about you?
I am Florian Zejewski from Germany and visiting Euraxess Bulgaria as a part of an internship program of the HdBA – University of Applied Labor Studies. I graduated with a Master of Arts in Political Communication at the University of Bielefeld, Germany and was trained in general rhetoric, counselling and guidance as well as sociology and political science, specializing in labor market economics, startup and taxation policy recently. Having a variety of intercultural interest, I also like to learn more about Europe and foster new relations around the world.
Why you decide to move in Bulgaria?
I would like to start deepening European solidarity with getting to know the neighboring countries, getting inspired and getting an understanding of current issues from another perspective. Learning about Bulgaria and the Balkan countries is very interesting and a recent of focus of the European Union, so I also like to get a better understanding, meet new people and explore the culture, customs and traditions. So my internship at EURAXESS can combine my interest in the Balkans and my professional work in a very good way.
Bulgaria is also very attractive as an outsourcing hub and in terms of foreign direct investment and in terms of taxation, so learning about Bulgaria can also improve my understanding of business and economic developments.
When did you come to Bulgaria?
I came to Bulgaria in April 2018 starting with an international conference in Sofia.
What do you like about your country?
Germany is a very organized European country, that is very multicultural, open and liberal in many aspects. There is a lot to explore and to learn and it is a good starting point to discover the world starting from the neighborhoods.
What differences do you see in your country and Bulgaria?
Punctuality is a difference for sure. So Germans are usually ahead of the time in appointments, while Bulgarians are more relaxed and are not fixed by looking very seriously at the clock. So coming a bit late may be more common in Bulgaria in the workplace or for private appointments. Also, the concept of time is different, so Bulgarians like to enjoy meeting with friends and forget about the time, while Germans may look at the time even in private settings.
Bulgaria is very green and has a rich and wild nature, while Germany tries to bring order to nature by making alleys and cutting trees, especially in the City.
What do you like about Bulgaria?
Bulgaria is very green, has the best Yogurt in the world and wonderfully nice people. I am impressed. I think most surprising were the many trees and nearly forests inside the city. Where other countries try to promote projects like “Greening the University” or “Urban Gardening”, it is a very natural thing for Bulgaria to have a green and blooming neighborhood.
Generally, it is a good and quite affordable place to stay and to live, if you are coming from abroad for a shorter visit. If you are starting to live and work here, you have the opportunity to learn a lot about Bulgaria and the Balkan peninsula, with good comparative advantages, if you can secure external funding additional to your salary.
Mention one important experience you’ve had in Bulgaria
I think the experience for tourists and international visitors with business or studying interests can be really different. So it is a great feeling to be invited and toured around by locals, who would like to support your stay for professional reasons and I feel very thankful for it and it is an honor. On the other hand, there may be certain bars or taxi drivers, who might charge higher prices for foreigners. You can have ultimately great experiences in terms of niceness and care, especially if you are introduced by fellow Bulgarians, but it is also helpful to be reasonable and curious about prices and services offered at the typical tourist destinations.
Do you speak other languages?
Besides German and English, I am a little bit familiar with Chinese, Korean, Japanese and now Bulgarian. I would like to learn new languages like Russian, French, Arabic or Spanish and enhance my skills in the mentioned languages. Learning languages feels great and it is often a prerequisite for an awesome business travel experience and in widening the horizon.
have you visited other countries?
I visited France, Switzerland, Austria, United Kingdom, Poland, Italy, China, Korea and Japan, before coming to Bulgaria.
What advice would you give to other people who would like to come to live in Bulgaria?
My advice would be to make a trip to Bulgaria, before deciding on a longer stay. There are a lot of different cities, with different features. Hiking is a very good activity and learning Bulgarian is a plus.
