Today in our Expats Stories our new friend Jose, will share with us his experience in Bulgaria and why he thinks than Mallorca and Varna have a lot in common.
Name and nationality:
Jose Servera from Palma de Mallorca – Spain.
Tell us a bit about you and what you do
Currently, I am learning Social Media Management and other online marketing procedures. The purpose is to be able to manage many clients at the same time and create campaigns for them.
Why and when did you come to Bulgaria?
Well, I have bee coming and going on holidays during the last 5 years.
My girlfriend is Bulgarian and she came to work at Mallorca a couple of times. This year she started an agency with a colleague of hers and I came here to help her out and support her. That’s why I am learning all I can of Social Media.
What do you like about your country of origin?
Spain is an amazing country, and what makes it more special is that depending on the region you are, it looks like you are in a different country.
I come from Majorca and it is a very special place though a bit small we have all we need, mountains, amazing see, caves, cliffs.
What are some differences between your country and Bulgaria?
Well, maybe strange to say that but I don’t think there are so many. The people are a bit colder at the beginning but as soon as you meet them they become super close and warm and what I like about here is Bulgarians like to make life outside and be part of their community.
What do you like about Bulgaria?
I think aside from the food that it’s amazing, the thing I like the most is this community feeling people have here and their pride towards their identity and history as a nation
What was the most difficult bureaucratic procedure you have undergone so far in Bulgaria?
Well luckily for me, as I mentioned before my girlfriend is Bulgarian so she has helped me out with all the permits and paperwork needed and I am so thankful because I know other foreigners that have been struggling to get all the required papers.
The bureaucracy here is very improbable I would say, but this is something that it’s super complicated in 99% of the countries
Mention one important experience you’ve had in Bulgaria :
Well, I don’t know if it the most important experience but it is one of my top moments here. It was the first time I came, I was 19 and was my first time in Eastern Europe so everything was kind of a bit new.
I was with my current girlfriend and one other very good friend of ours that is from here and we went to something like a road trip, starting in Sofia going to Varna passing through Nessebar and Sozopol. It was very special.
If you have the chance to change something in Bulgaria, what it will be?
Well, I don’t think I am the not most indicated person to say that yet. I have been living here for 3-4 months and I see things that are different from where I come from. For sure there are things that can be improved but I don’t know what is the major change.
What languages do you speak other than your mother tongue?
So I am bilingual: In Mallorca we speak Spanish and Catalan. Other than that I would say my English is okay. And I have basic notions of German, Italian and French but they are getting rusty. Bulgarian it’s something I am trying to work on but it’s difficult.
What countries have you been to?
Luckily for me, I was given the opportunity to work at an early age during my holidays. That has given me the chance to move around Europe quite much. I lived in Switzerland for a year while studying and last year I could get out of Europe for the first time.
How is your business going?
Well, I am not working at the moment. But I improving considerably my know-how and skills helping my girlfriend on her Social Media Marketing startup Hashtag Tourism
What advice would you give to other people who would like to come to live in Bulgaria?
Bulgaria is a place at least in Spain people do not have in mind when they have a look at destinations to go. It is a must in Europe for holidays, so much heritage tradition, beautiful landscape, and good people.
If you think to come to live, you have many options too, big cities like Sofia that offer almost anything that other European cities like Madrid, Milan and so on you have other cities like Varna or Plovdiv also big cities but with another vibe more like Barcelona. and then smaller cities or villages were to have a break
We want to thanks to Jose for taking the time to share his experience in Bulgaria with the expat community and we wish him the best of luck in his new life in Bulgaria!
