www.expatinbulgaria.com - the first virtual portal for foreigners in Bulgaria
I don’t understand
“Ne govorya bulgarski” (I don’t speak Bulgarian) was one of the first things my foreigner friends told me they learned when they came to Bulgaria (apart from “edna bira” and “smetkata”). These three phrases – I don’t speak Bulgarian, a beer, and the bill – automatically marked them as outsiders, especially when they decided to stay in smaller Bulgarian towns and tried to make a living there.
The communication problem is real when it comes to meetings of various cultures. Sure, it is interesting to see what people on the other side believe and think, but the gap can sometimes get too wide.
A retired British couple living in Bulgaria’s village Trustikovo said that “locals are friendly, but our grasp of the language is limited, although we are still trying. It would be pleasant to meet up with English-speaking people living here permanently to swap experiences, help, books, etc.”.
“I really felt the need to communicate with others of an English origin but living ... in Dolna Banya has left me little choice in the matter. I still feel the need to this day, but I’m getting along fairly well in my own opinion,” said another British expat living in Bulgaria.
So how does a British family in the village of Trustikovo or a man in Dolna Banya get to know other British living in Bulgaria’s distant and small populated areas?
The answer is virtual
When communication is hindered because of distance and isolation, computers always come in handy. All you need is internet connection and voila, you have made it to the world of virtual friendship and information exchange.
A number of online communities serve the needs of different user groups. The web provides for division in special interests, age, location, profession and many others to make communication easier. It enables the meeting of similar-minded people and information exchange on specific topics that interest all.
According to a 2003 Berkeley survey on the type of activities in which people engage while online, most users were interested in communicating via e-mail, getting news, searching for information or surfing the web for fun.
Virtual communities offer these options in one place. According to a report on virtual communities and why these attract people, users feel the need to belong to a group and be part of a society, regardless of whether actual or virtual. The two most common reasons people gave for joining a community were access to information and social exchange and interaction.
Type “expat community” into Google and 3 660 000 results appear for websites from various countries serving the needs of their expat communities. Starting August 1 2006 the counter would show 3 660 001, as a new virtual space serving the needs of the expat community in Bulgaria was made public.
www.expatinbulgaria.com
This latest product of Sofia Echo Media aims to provide expats in Bulgaria with the chance to meet each other online.
www.expatinbulgaria.com is a virtual community and information portal giving foreigners all the information they need about Bulgaria. It also aims at helping them get the best from their stay in the country by listing the best entertainment spots, restaurants, shops, theme parks, pubs and clubs.
Apart from information, the website offers foreigners the chance to find friends and search for activity partners, compatriots and foreigners living around the same location. The idea is to overcome distances and help people get in touch with each other using their mouse and keyboard.
Increasing number of foreigners choose Bulgaria as the place to spend their vacations, to build their second home or to retire. With the country’s upcoming EU entry, the number of people travelling to Bulgaria is expected to increase.
Another noticeable tendency is that foreigners look for residence in some of Bulgaria’s smaller towns and villages. As a number of people have said, this enables them to experience traditional Bulgarian. But it also makes life for foreigners somewhat difficult. The language barrier comes first. This leads to lack of information and confusion.
Statistics show that 4.36 million foreigners visit Bulgaria for tourism purposes only each year. Data of the National Statistical Institute (NSI) for 2005 shows that a total of 7.28 million foreigners visit the country annually. The majority enter the country as tourists, followed by people visiting friends and those on business.
These numbers spurred the idea for www.expatinbulgaria.com. The information the website provides is of use to foreigners residing permanently in Bulgaria, to tourists, to foreign students in the country and to everyone else with interest in Bulgaria.
So what’s the fuss all about?
www.expatinbulgaria.com is divided in three parts, each with its purpose to inform, entertain and help users communicate.
The information aids foreigners with their arrival in Bulgaria, to overcome visa requirements, settle in the country, start their business activities, have fun and, above all, meet other people.
Users of www.expatinbulgaria.com have the option to rate the information, write messages, join the discussion forum and post there. In these ways, the website provides users with the chance to add a personal dimension to the dry official responses to all issues of concern. The basic principle on which the site functions is expats aiding expats... and having fun together.
Starting from the beginning, www.expatinbulgaria.com helps you learn more about visa and insurance requirements, entering Bulgaria, all necessary formalities to make your stay legal, how to use the driving licence from your country of origin, in which schools to enrol your children and what banks and exchange bureaux offer reliable services.
Moving on to the more fun bits, www.expatinbulgaria.com helps you enjoy the best entertainment spots in different Bulgarian cities. You can also learn about shopping, religious services, sports halls and instructors, as well as theme parks and entertainment.
Tourism and property are two areas of high interest for the foreign community in Bulgaria, and as a result, the website gives them special attention. It explains all procedures related to the purchase of property, gives advise on prices, lists the best hotels in the country and provides a basic overview of hotels and destinations.
I want to meet...
Activity partners. Compatriots. The love of my life. Friends. Pen pals. All of these? www.expatinbulgaria.com gives this chance through its member centre. Once users register, they can start searching for other users, posting in the forums and enjoying all interactive features of the site.
This interactivity keeps the website far from static as its content changes with each new user that joins the community. The forum of the website is the place where expats aid expats, warn them of suspicious practices, suggest good hotels and restaurants or just chat and share opinions on various topics.
www.expatinbulgaria.com aims to be the one place on the net that gives a complete package for its users. Just go to the address, register for free and take your place in this virtual community.
Ne govorya bulgarski... but I understand
So now you can easily type whatever concerns you in the www.expatinbulgaria.com search tool and get the answers you need about Bulgaria. Our team hopes that communication will become easier, though “Ne govorya bulgarski” would probably still be the phrase you use very often before you become acquainted with the Bulgarian way.
So, meet you there! Come, become a member and start exploring Bulgaria in a new way. Just don’t forget your laptop when you pack your bags and leave for your stay in Bulgaria.
