Today in Expats Stories, we have the pleasure to share with you the story of Rayne Hall an interesting lady from Germany, lived in Britain for almost 30 years and not long ago move to Hisarya, planning ahead of possible problems related to Brexit
Name and nationality
Rayne Hall – German
Tell us a bit about you, and what do you do?
As an author, I write horror fiction – creepy, atmospheric ghost stories – as well as non-fiction books, including the bestselling Writer’s Craft series for aspiring authors. I also work freelance as a publishing consultant, helping good writers become great and guiding clients through the publishing process.
Why and when did you come to Bulgaria?
After I had lived in Britain for almost thirty years, the advent of Brexit made the future for foreigners like me uncertain. Since I didn’t want to risk having to leave at short notice with nowhere to go, I decided to have a Plan B in place, just in case. I investigated my options and fell in love with Bulgaria. So my Plan B became my Plan A.
Although Brexit had been the trigger, my ultimate reason was that Bulgaria was perfect for me. I’ve lived here for nine months now, and feel certain – both in my head and in my heart – that I’ve made the right choice.
What do you like about your country?
Which country – Germany or Britain? About Germany, I like how dependable almost everything is – people, products, services – as well as the frank directness and honesty. In Britain, I like the courtesy, the rich accessible history, and the easy networking with other creatives.
What differences do you see in your country and Bulgaria?
Let’s take Britain since that’s where I lived until recently. Bulgaria has more unspoilt nature, lower population density, better weather (much more sunshine in any season), better food (lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, free-range eggs and meat), better Internet and much lower costs of living (especially for rents). On the other hand, there’s a lot more bureaucracy, and even the simplest process requires mounds of paper and lots of signatures, stamps and fees.
What do you like about Bulgaria?
I love the beautiful nature with mountains, hills and forests. I live in Hisarya, a small spa town at the foot of the Sredna Gora foothills, and often go for walks in the wildflower meadows and pine forests and up the hills from where I enjoy stunning views of the surrounding mountains and the Plovdiv plain.
The weather is great. Although the winters are cold, they are much sunnier than in Britain. I cherish the blue sky instead of the constant grey, and the picture postcard white snow instead of the wet slush.
I love eating fresh fruit, and Bulgaria is a paradise for this. I can simply walk around, picking fresh fruit from the roadside trees. In June I enjoyed cherries and mulberries and in July yellow plums. In late summer, there are apricots, peaches, blackberries and of course big succulent grapes, and in the autumn, pears, apples and figs.
The linden trees lining the urban roads fill the air with the delicate sweet scent of their blossoms, and their leavy branches provide ample shade on hot summer days.
What have been the document/procedure most difficult for you in Bulgaria?
The biggest challenge has been finding a competent dependable accountant who speaks English.
Mention one important experience you’ve had in Bulgaria :
Once I was settled in my new home, I wanted to adopt a feline companion for my cat Sulu. Ideally, the new cat should be young, female, healthy, intelligent and gentle, get on well with Sulu, and be trainable. (I train cats to perform tricks. Yes, you can train a cat… if the cat wants to be trained.) I wondered how to find such a cat, and thought it would be wonderful if a cat would somehow find and choose me.
A few days later on my way home from shopping, a kitten followed me… all the way home along the streets, through the garden gate, up the steps, through the front door… and simply took up residence.
This cat turned out to be female, young, healthy, gentle and intelligent, instantly made friends with Sulu… and loves getting trained. Little Uhura is a star performer who shakes hands, turns, lies down and gives kisses when asked, and she purrs happily when I teach her new tricks.
I couldn’t believe how exactly my wish had come true. This little miracle made me so happy!
Three weeks later, Uhura’s litter-mate arrived, hungry and freezing cold. The two sisters were happy to be reunited, so I adopted them both.
Word must have spread among the stray cat community of Hisarya. More and more kittens arrive, begging for adoption. Right now, three cuties are sitting on my doorstep, miaowing to be let in. They’re so persistent and so sweet…
Do you speak other languages?
I’m bilingual in German (my native language) and English (the language in which I work and write my books). I also have rusty French and rudiments of Italian, Arabic and Chinese.
Now that I live in Bulgaria, I’m learning Bulgarian, of course!
Have you visited other countries?
Besides living in Germany and Britain, I have travelled widely, and worked (mostly on short-term assignments lasting a few months) in China, Mongolia and Nepal.
How do is your writing and consulting business going?
Writing books and online consulting is a very portable career. All I need is Internet access, and I can work from anywhere in the world. I was able to simply continue in Bulgaria what I had started in Britain.
My publishing consultancy clients are from the USA, Russia, Germany, Singapore and other countries. To them, it doesn’t matter where I’m based, because we’re connected online.
I publish my books – ebooks, paperbacks, audiobooks – through online platforms, and this also continues as before. Apart from taking a couple of weeks off for the physical move, there has been no disruption in my business at all.
Are you writing about Bulgaria?
Bulgaria is an inspiring place for a ghost story writer. All those abandoned, dilapidated houses, overgrown gardens, Roman ruins and ancient tombs feed my imagination. I’ve already penned several creepy, atmospheric, suspenseful tales.
What advice would you give to other people who would like to come to live in Bulgaria?
Here are three important tips:
1. Make contact with people who live in the country already – other expats and native Bulgarians – especially those who are based in the region where you want to go, or working in the same field. With the Internet, this is easy. You can hire Bulgarian freelance virtual assistants to answer your questions and find the information you need. In expat forums, you can ask what you want to know and learn from other people’s experiences.
If you’re thinking of coming to the Plovdiv Province, you’re welcome to join my Facebook group, Living In & Around Plovdiv It’s for expatriates and native Bulgarians who enjoy networking with foreigners. We socialise and help one another with advice.
2. If possible, visit Bulgaria before you decide to move here. Spend a holiday here and experience the country.
3. Start learning the basics of language. Although in the big cities and expat enclaves it’s possible to get by with just English, life will be easier and your experience more authentic if you speak the language. When I arrived here, I only knew a few words – and I was grateful for every single one.
The locals really appreciate when a foreigner makes an effort to learn their language. When they see you’re trying to communicate in Bulgarian, even the surliest clerks become friendly and helpful.
