Expat partner Matej Oset from Slovenia is thoroughly enjoying his time discovering a part of Eastern Europe that he knew little about.
New horizons
“I had an international career with two beverage companies. I travelled and worked frequently in neighbouring countries, such as Croatia, where I met my wife Valentina. But I didn’t know much about living or working in Bulgaria,” says Matej, now a self-employed consultant. “After Valentina returned to Zagreb from an assignment in Amsterdam, the next opportunity for her was in Stara Zagora – a small city in Central Bulgaria. So I decided to join her and see what happened next!”
The local lingo
“In Stara Zagora, older generations don’t usually speak English, although younger people often do. I can read the Cyrillic script thanks to spending time in Serbia. However the pronunciation is completely different in Bulgaria! When we moved in, I had to get the boiler fixed and two technicians came over. We managed to communicate and luckily nothing exploded! But I intend to learn the language. For me that’s always a priority, wherever I live or work.”
Local F&B
“Outside the city, there are beautiful woodlands. Downtown much of the architecture was built in the socialist style. The locals are also very proud of their links to the ancient Thracian culture,” says Matej, who has sampled plenty of the local F&B. “There is great coffee everywhere. I have also been enjoying the food and high-quality Bulgarian wine. The beer is also excellent – and just €2 for 500ml!”
Diverse landscapes
“We’ve also visited other parts of the country and look forward to exploring more. The landscapes are very diverse from the mountains to the Black Sea. As a Slovenian, obviously I’m passionate about skiing so I’m eager to visit the slopes of Bansko or Borovets next winter. We have been to the capital Sofia and the seaside town of Burgas. It’s very easy to get around with excellent roads and public transport.”
Inspirational setting
“Moving to another country, but not for my career, has been a new situation for me. I can still easily travel back to Zagreb or Ljubljana for work when needed. But I’m also open to new opportunities here. With more time and space, I’m thinking in different ways. Who knows, perhaps I will set up a business! Moving to Bulgaria has been a transformation, one that I welcome.”
Photo: Matej and his wife Valentina
