We want to share with the expat community in Bulgaria the story of our new friend Yuliani, who left behind exotic Indonesia to follow her heart and marry her Bulgarian boyfriend, from this already more than 7 years have past and this is her experience in Bulgaria.
Name and nationality:
My name is Yuliani, I’m from Indonesia, the town of Manado, North Sulawesi. Indonesia has 5 big islands and 17.504 small ones. I’m sure you’ve heard about Bali. Bali is a part of Indonesia. The population of my country is about 270 million people. We have 700 different languages and 300 ethnic groups. Every island has its own language. It doesn’t matter we have so many different languages, but our official language is Indonesian.
Tell us a bit about you and what you do.
Now I live in the town of Varna, Bulgaria. I have lived here for approximately 7 years. I am a housewife. I like cooking, but I prefer to bake cakes. My hobby is traveling and photography. Because I am a typical person who doesn’t like at home. I like to do outdoor activities.
Why and when did you come to Bulgaria?
I moved to Bulgaria because I married. So I moved to Bulgaria to join my husband. I moved to Bulgaria in December 2012.
What do you like about your country of origin?
I like Indonesian food that is too spicy. Spices make our food delicious, with a variety of flavors and there are many variations of food. Each region has its own typical food.
In the town where I live Manado, people like spicy food rather than other regions. Our food is the spiciest. In Indonesia, there is very beautiful natural sightseeing: beaches, seas, forests, waterfalls, many variations of animals and plants. In addition, Indonesians are friendly and smiling.
We don’t care if people are foreigners or not. Family, neighbors, and friends are still close. They help each other. If big holidays are like Christmas, Idul Fitri, people like friends, family, neighbors visit each other at home, usually they are an open house for anyone
What are some differences between your country and Bulgaria?
Indonesia has clean and beautiful beaches, there are also many types of fish that we can see. Indonesia is rich in natural beauty.
In Bulgaria we can recognize ancient buildings, architectural buildings, people know their history, there isn’t traffic jam in Bulgaria and there are places for pedestrians.
What do you like about Bulgaria?
I like that here are 4 seasons. I like most winter, where I can see the beautiful snow. Also, I like it in spring, there are many flowers blooming like tulips, besides that the leaves fall when autumn. I like here are many places for going for a walk, criminal cases are very rare, here is much safer than in Indonesia. Roads here are not so busy like in my country.
What was the most difficult bureaucratic procedure you have undergone so far in Bulgaria?
Nothing difficult.
Mention one important experience you’ve had in Bulgaria.
Learn a new culture and new people. It’s not easy because of the different culture.
If you have the chance to change something in Bulgaria, what it will be?
The economy in Bulgaria is not good. Many Bulgarians leave their country to seek better income. Also, here buildings should be renovated because they look old and dull, besides that there are still cigarette ends on the roads, people are throwing away.
What languages do you speak other than your mother tongue?
I speak only English language.
What countries have you been to?
Just Bulgaria.
How is your business going?
I don’t have any business here. What I’m working on is making my YouTube channel NiniNanyo to be more developed. On my youtube channel, I tell about my life in Bulgaria starting from traveling, baking, all aspects of life.
What advice would you give to other people who would like to come to live in Bulgaria?
Before coming here, you must find any document information to move here or want to travel, read something about Bulgaria before the move, because here it’s not easy to find job and salaries are not big. But for traveling its ok, here are many places you can go like the beach, see architecture buildings, etc.
Thank you Yuliani for taking the time to share with us and we wish you good luck with your Youtube Channel.
