15 years later

On June 25, 2007 my dad came back to Bulgaria from RSA where he had lived for the passed 15 years. All he knows for Bulgaria for that time is from friends and rarely from pictures. Yes, he expected that most things might have changed, but as his plane touched down, he said all changes started to emerge. Here are his early impressions: Dad said he can hardly believe that he has lived in that country, because it is almost impossible to recognize even the most familiar places… even his birthplace – the town of Gorna Oriahovitsa. Dad summarized that the bad things has gone worse but the good things are now better. What was rotting is now gone… bumpy roads, ugly buildings and slogans from the communism era, etc. What was planned to be beautiful and useful is now realized (some at early stage). Dad also said that Bulgaria is obviously going for the better.

Still the biggest change is neither the infrastructure nor the buildings. Dad said people are different. They are unlike anything he remembers. Some of course are just older; some have gone else where abroad seeking new life and some have managed to change life here in Bulgaria. Dad said that the biggest challenge is ahead… to change the mentality of the Bulgarians, because some of them are too used to the old habits and way of living.

Expect pictures of me and my dad.

NEno