Today we share with you the story of Matthias Zeitler a German citizen that fall in love with the beauty of Bulgarian mountains, decide to move to Bansko and start a coworking space.
Name and nationality:
Matthias Zeitler, German
Tell us a bit about you, and what do you do?
After working for many years in enterprise software I started my own online business. I discovered that I can work from anywhere, so I travel about half of my time and spend the other half in Bansko where I started a coworking space together with my co-founder Uwe Allgäuer.
I am also involved in an interesting real estate project close to Varna to build a small community of German pensioners that cannot afford to retire in German cities, but rather prefer to have a more affordable living standard in Bulgaria.
Why and when did you come to Bulgaria?
I first came to Bulgaria about 2 years ago to scout a location for a coworking space in the mountains after friend of mine told me about the amazing climate, the affordable cost of living and the 10% income tax.
What do you like about your country?
Germany is a very developed country with lots of rules and regulations to keep everything neatly organized. Due to the strong economy there is a high living standard and Germans can be very generous. Plus of course I love the German bread.
What differences do you see in your country and Bulgaria?
What attracts me to Bulgaria is the raw beauty of the country. Life here, especially in the village where I live, is much simpler than in a stressful city environment. Yes, some things are less organized than in Germany, but on the other hand this lack of regulation also means that there is more freedom to enjoy life.
What do you like about Bulgaria?
There are many things like the food, the people, the climate, the traditions, but what I like most of all is that Bulgaria is different. So there are many new experiences that keep me excited every day.
What have been the document/procedure most difficult for you in Bulgaria?
Sometimes I met people that believe “This is Bulgaria, so you should speak Bulgarian”; especially when it comes to dealing with the administration but also in business and social settings. This attitude is not very welcoming to foreigners and I think it is a mistake comparing it to my experience living and working in 15 countries and traveling to more than I can remember.
It seems that only the traffic police and the national revenue agency is prepared to deal in English with foreigners to collect fines and taxes 😊
But overall once you know what to expect it is easy to use a local intermediary to deal with this.
Mention one important experience you’ve had in Bulgaria:
When I first arrived in Bansko I didn’t know anyone, but within a very short time I made many new friends and connections. I think this openness to welcome new people is an amazing aspect of the rural lifestyle in Bulgaria.
Do you speak other languages?
Even though I learned Latin at school, I only speak German and English.
have you visited other countries?
Yes, many. I love to travel and being only about 2 hours away from the airport in Sofia is great. There are so many cheap flights as well as great connection to Asia that I often go on shorter or longer trips.
What advice would you give to other people who would like to come to live in Bulgaria?
Be open to the experience and do not expect everything to be like home then you will have a great time. Explore the different regions of Bulgaria, its nature and its history. And visit me in Bansko.
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