We will be there soon!

Member since 15 April 2025

Julio ManuNew member16 April 2025 03:51:01

Hi, my name is Julio. I鈥檓 Cuban but currently living in Costa Rica. My wife (Manuela) is Bulgarian鈥揅osta Rican, and we are planning to move to Bulgaria next year. Right now, we are dealing with a lot of paperwork to obtain my visa and work permit as soon as I arrive in Bulgaria.

I want to thank you all for the warm welcome to this space. I believe each of us has a unique motivation for choosing Bulgaria as our new home. For me, beyond the excitement of discovering a new culture, language, and way of life, there鈥檚 something much more personal.

My wife was brought to Costa Rica when she was 8 years old. Her parents told her they were going on vacation, but they never returned鈥攗ntil 8 years later. Sadly, her grandfather had passed away four years before they returned, and her grandmother died two years after that. It almost felt as if her grandmother held on just long enough to see her again. It was incredibly difficult for her to leave behind her country, the grandparents who raised her, her friends, and the small town where she had grown up and felt deeply connected to everyone.

She came to a new country where she didn鈥檛 know the language, the culture, or anything familiar. When I met her, I couldn鈥檛 fully understand how difficult that experience had been. But I began to see it more clearly when I visited Bulgaria with her two years ago. That trip helped me understand why she gets emotional every time she listens to traditional Bulgarian music and why she works so hard to stay connected to her roots.

This move is deeply meaningful to her, and I truly believe it鈥檚 worth leaving our jobs and starting a new life in Bulgaria. Every advice is more than welcome.

Greetings to everyone.

janemulberry ViP

Member since 23 January 2021

janemulberryViP16 April 2025 06:22:08

1649

It's a big move. Even returning to her childhood country, your wife needs to expect some culture shock. It's not the same Bulgaria it was. I found this when I went back to my birth country after a long time away. It was the same, and yet it wasn't. She may experience an uncomfortable sense of being a stranger in her own country for a while. It will pass, but it's hard at first especially when it's unexpected. And the joy at being here will be mixed with some grief for leaving her current home.

I hope the move is easy and happy for you both.

Are you learning Bulgarian?

VillageLife Active member

Member since 20 July 2024

VillageLifeActive member16 April 2025 15:29:40

Hola Julio,

Going to be an awesome adventure man.

Hope everything works out for you both.

Julio Manu New member

Member since 15 April 2025

Julio ManuNew member18 April 2025 20:06:32

@janemulberry

Hi Jane,

Yes, it鈥檚 definitely a big move, but we feel that now is the right time to do it. You鈥檙e absolutely right about the cultural shock 鈥� it鈥檚 one thing to spend 15 days every couple of years on vacation visiting relatives, and another to live there full-time, needing to interact with locals and truly fit in.

You mentioned the discomfort of feeling like a stranger in your own country 鈥� for my wife, it鈥檚 twice as hard, because she feels the same way here in Costa Rica.

As for me, I honestly couldn鈥檛 care less, haha. Since I can鈥檛 return to my home country due to a dictatorship, I consider myself a citizen of the world.

I鈥檓 trying to learn the basics of Bulgarian on my own. My wife helps with words and phrases, but she doesn鈥檛 really know the grammar or structure well enough to teach it. So my first goal is to learn the language properly 鈥� ideally with a local teacher and by interacting with people day to day.

Thanks again for your thoughts!

P.S. I鈥檝e picked up a few words just by listening to some chalga music 鈥� haha!

Julio Manu New member

Member since 15 April 2025

Julio ManuNew member18 April 2025 20:08:10

@VillageLife

Thanks so much for the kind wishes, it makes me really happy to see how welcoming everyone is here!

JimJ ViP

Member since 07 December 2015

JimJViP19 April 2025 07:22:42

1008

I鈥檝e picked up a few words just by listening to some chalga music 鈥� haha! - @Julio Manu

I'd be a bit careful when using "chalga words" in normal/polite conversation..and definitely don't use it for grammar and structure! 馃榿

Julio Manu New member

Member since 15 April 2025

Julio ManuNew member20 April 2025 04:06:38

@Julio Manu

You're totally right, but hey, it's more fun that way! 馃槀 Just kidding!

JimJ ViP

Member since 07 December 2015

JimJViP20 April 2025 09:43:16

1008

@Julio Manu

Yeah, I assumed that was the case - but, like herpes, "the internet is forever" and some unfortunate might stumble across these posts in the future when looking for an el-cheapo way to learn Bulgarian....can't have them sounding like a wannabe "No neck"! 馃槑