Returning to Bulgaria after 29 years abroad - reflections 2.5 years later.

Today – 3rd March 2023 - is Bulgaria’s National Holiday. We are celebrating 145 years since the liberation from the ruling of the Ottoman Empire. ?

Even though it is raining, I feel festive and happy. I also miss dad. I associate our holidays with him a lot. But his smiling, gentle and loving presence is around me.

In June 2020 I returned to live in Sofia. This was my way to pivot during the pandemic, when I lost all my coaching and training work overnight.

It was, and still is, a strange experience. Occasionally. I left Bulgaria in 1991 to live and subsequently work in Ghana (my dad was an Ambassador there). After that came 9 years in London, then 12 years in Singapore, and then back to London.

As a #TCK (third culture kid, meaning I grew up and schooled outside of my native Bulgaria), I fell in love with the discovery of new lands and cultures, speaking with people from all backgrounds, nationalities and status. Learning to embrace difference that make us unique. Yet realizing that all of us, human beings, crave the same things: love, connection, respect, purpose, safety.

Living in Bulgaria has been a mixed experience. I now understand that I was meant to return after living 29 years abroad. I was meant to reconnect with the Bulgarian nature, cultural scene, learn about Bulgarian spiritual teachers and traditions, connect with friends and meet new ones. I have even facilitated a few programmes in Bulgarian– a stretch outside of the comfort zone.

Living in Bulgaria, I gained more empathy for the moaning and constant criticism of the government, politicians, corruption, the poverty of many people, especially the elderly. This trait – complaining and pointing the finger at everybody except ourselves – really annoyed me. It still does. It was one of the reasons I was happy to live elsewhere. Now I have more compassion and comprehension.

On 1st March I flew back from London with BA. The plane was full to the brink, mostly with English people. I sat next to an Indian lady, who had left India 20 years ago, and had also lived in Singapore, working for a big consultancy firm. She now lives in London with her family. A group of them were travelling to Bansko to ski.

She said she was very excited. It was her 1st visit to Bulgaria, and she loved the photos she’d seen. She also found the people she’d spoken with – her ski coach, the hotel owners – very friendly and warm. She had that contagious happy sparkle in her eyes. The sparkle we have when we are about to explore a new place.

I felt very proud to hear her comments, to feel her excitement.

I have seen so many more tourists everywhere in Bulgaria. There is a big expat community of foreigners too – in big cities and small towns.

And so….if you read this far, you might wonder what was the point of this sharing.

The point is that sometimes we make choices which may not be our first option. Yet with hindsight we understand they were part of the journey.

The point is to accept that I yearn to work and spend more time in a cultural melting pot bursting with opportunities and growth. Like Dubai and the UAE.

The point is that I am Bulgarian, and I am also international. Both at the same time. I feel happy everywhere I go. I feel at home in every hotel room or guest house, irrespective of the country.

Whilst I am fascinated with the cultural differences and teach them in some of my courses. That is why I value the power of #empathy so much.

I also know that we all belong to one nation. The nation of Humanity. We can focus on the differences. Or on the similarities. On what binds us as human brothers and sisters.

What are your thoughts? If you read this far, I would love to see your perspective.

PS. If you or your team are grappling with misunderstandings based on cultural differences, I’d love to help. DM, or email on [email protected]

#crossculturalcompetence #empathyinaction #bulgariannomad #embracingdifferences