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The old and new Bulgaria
By Camilla Kaas Stock and Nils E. Bjørnæs
The young
Diana Genova and Lilliya Velickova, both 25, grew up in the old capital Veliko Turnovo. They have just finished their education: Diana has a Masters degree in Corporate Finance from the University in Varna, while Lilliya has a Bachelors degree in Travel and Tourism from the University in Plovdiv. Both have spent several summers in America during their studies, and are now in the process of starting up their careers in their hometown.
Did you enjoy going to America?
"I lived in Martha's Vineyard and Boston, and I absolutely loved it, especially Martha's Vineyard," says Diana. "It was incredibly peaceful and there was virtually no crime. I lived in a house with other Bulgarians and worked in a bakery. It meant I had to start work at 5 o'clock in the morning, but it was a fantastic place."
"I was in Atlantic City and worked in Planet Hollywood," says Lilliya. "It wasn't at all peaceful like Martha's Vineyard. The days where very long and tiring, but it was still an exciting experience. We worked for four months and then we had a month of travelling around to see more of America. I wouldn't have missed it for anything."
How hard is it to succeed in Bulgaria?
"As a young person in Bulgaria it is very hard to get a job that you are qualified to do. Everyone expects you to have two years of practical training, but this is pretty impossible when you have just finished your education," explains Lilliya.
"I think both Diana and I found that working abroad inspired us to start our own businesses."
Is it difficult to be self-employed?
"Yes, it is," Lilliya says. "The crisis in America and Western Europe means that the banks are not very willing to give you a loan. You can still get one, but you have to pay very high interest. I was lucky and got the opportunity to start my own tourist agency, and I will do everything in my power to make it work. But I am working on my own, so it means very long days, even if the work isn't as physically hard as serving in Planet Hollywood."
"I am also going it alone," says Diana. She has opened an office for financial advice in the centre of the old town in Veliko Turnovo. "It is really a franchise of an American firm in Sofia, but I am running it by myself and it is up to me if it will work or not," she says.
Are the businesses going well?
"As with anything, it takes time, and this concept is pretty new to people here, so they are a bit skeptical," explains Diana. "But when they finally understand that this isn't trickery and realise what I can do for them, then I think it will work well."
But Diana and Lilliya are an exception, rather than the rule when it comes to young people in Bulgaria today, especially among women.
" Many get an education, but mostly young people just want to have fun. The girls dream of finding a man with money and doll themselves up, while the guys go abroad to work. They get jobs they would never dream of doing here, then come back and spend all the money they earned on partying", the girls tell us.
So what do you do when you're not working?
They look at each other and laugh. "I guess it happens that we let our hair down, too. We go to coffee bars, and sometimes you can find us on the dance floor until the early hours, but we are back at work by 8 or 9 o'clock in the morning."
How is the housing situation for the young?
"While at university, I shared a flat with several others. To manage the expenses all by yourself is almost impossible, so it is very common to live with your parents even if you are working," says Lilliya.
How are the wages here?
"It's only around 200 euro a month, so now you understand why so many of us live with our parents," Lilliya explains.
Are the young in Bulgaria interested in politics?
"Most of the youth just want to have fun. Besides, with all the corruption and scandals there is little faith in the politicians. And the politicians, on the other hand, don't seem to have much faith in the young," Diana and Lilliya agree.
How do you see the future?
"The mentality here needs to change," says Diana. "The politicians seem to think that democracy is just for them, and feel they can do whatever they like. However, many of the young are lazy and lacking in ambitions, so it is obvious that if Bulgaria is going to prosper, there needs to be a change in the mindset. But this will probably take a long time."
The old
With the fall of communism in 1989, after 44 years of being a satellite state of the Soviet Union, Bulgaria was thrown into economic and social turmoil. We talk to Raiko Raikov, a 61-year-old construction engineer, who works in Veliko Turnevo during the week and spends his weekends in his house in Vuglevtsi, the village in which he was born.
How do you see the ‘new' Bulgaria?
"I feel very honoured that Bulgaria was chosen to join the EU and I think it is very good for the country's economy. The huge growth in tourism and all the investment coming in from the West is helping to improve the infrastructure here and, little by little, people's lives will become easier."
How was life for ordinary people during the communism years?
"For me, life under socialism was ok. Everybody had the same chance for education and work. It was far from a life of luxury, but we all had the basics. People in the villages would work together as a team and everybody helped each other. Then after the fall of communism in 1989, life got very hard for a while. The people who were lucky enough to have some money could start up businesses, but the rest really struggled to make ends meet.
"With the end of farming cooperatives, the land was divided up and life for people in the villages got especially hard for a while. Now they survive by leasing out their farm land, so they get some money from this and also a small percentage of the farm profits. People still have to work very hard to survive, but they are very motivated and live on what they can grow and produce themselves."
How did people feel about all these changes?
"Some Bulgarians were very happy and saw new opportunities, while others didn't like it and wanted things to stay the way they were."
Have people's lives improved since joining the EU?
"My life has definitely gotten better. Now everything has to work to EU standards. However, prices of food and fuel have gone up a lot, which isn't reflected in the wages. The average wage here is only 400 leva (about £160) a month and that doesn't stretch very far. So I would say 20 per cent of people have a very good life, but 80 per cent still find it very hard. That is why a lot of young people go abroad to earn money, then later they come back and start up businesses, build houses etc. My two children went to work in Chicago and, eight years later, they are still there."
If people earn so little, how can they afford all these expensive cars I see driving around?
"It is the new attitude here. If someone wants an expensive car they buy it on credit, even if they will have trouble keeping up the repayments. I am not sure where that will lead."
What plans do you have for your future?
"I am due to retire soon and I am looking forward to enjoying my life and doing some travelling. Finally, I will get a chance to visit my children in America." says Raiko with a smile.
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Bulgaria 2008