When you live in another country, you must respect their culture

Introduce yourself in a few sentences..

My name is Violeta, I am 34 years old. I have been living in the Netherlands for 16 years, married with 2 children. In my free time, I love to walk and have barbecue dinners with friends.

Which country and city do you currently live in and how did you end up there?

B I currently live in Rotterdam, the Netherlands and I came to study for higher education 16 years ago.

What were the biggest challenges you faced at the beginning of your stay?

The biggest challenges were finding accommodation and an organization that could help you with all the documents you need - like address registration and how the health insurance issue stands.

How did you overcome the language barrier (if there was one)?

In the Netherlands, a very large percentage of people speak English, and I had no problem with communication.

What resources or networks (local communities, colleagues, organizations) helped you adapt?

In every neighborhood, there are community centers, where there are people who can give you advice on where to go or who to call if needed. There you learn everything you need to know to adapt. In the library, there are also various types of adaptation courses. They are all organized by the municipality.

What are the main differences between the work culture in your current country and that in Bulgaria?

Unfortunately, I have never worked in Bulgaria to make a comparison, but from what I hear from friends and acquaintances and what it is like here – everything is better organized in terms of rights and treatment of staff and clients. Respect in the workplace, safety, and collegiality are very important here.

What values and workplace practices impressed you the most?

People appreciate you when they see good results and they encourage you to keep doing it (most of the time bonuses or vouchers for theater or some kind of short vacation). Every year your salary increases by 3%, compensations for working overtime or additionally. In 99% of companies, there is a borel time on Friday for all colleagues, and this way, in large companies, they strengthen the team spirit. Fresh fruits every week for employees, company lunches from time to time - without occasion.

Have there been situations where cultural differences have troubled you?

There were no cultural differences, it's even interesting for them to learn new things about a country like Bulgaria, because they don't know much about it, not even where it is located. They find the martenitsi and customs with traditional costumes very interesting.

When you live in another country, you must respect their culture.

How does finding a job differ in your current country compared to your homeland?

It's hard to compare, as I haven't applied for jobs in Bulgaria. Here, job search websites are most commonly used, which are established, and only registered companies or employment agencies can post ads. Fast and easy.

Did you have to go through any additional qualification courses?

Generally no, but there are many additional courses here that help you develop in your field or supplement your diploma. For some types of jobs, a certificate in Dutch is required. Many companies offer courses if you don't have the necessary qualification, but they see potential in you.

Have you faced prejudices or obstacles because of your foreign origin?

I have never had problems because I am a foreigner. Neither at the workplace nor in other institutions, my friends and colleagues are also not very interested in where I am from, but in how I treat them and what kind of person I am.

What would you advise people who want to take a similar step?

Let them try. To see if it works, if they like it, otherwise they will regret their whole life for not having tried. You can always return to Bulgaria, the important thing is to like where they are and what they do. To be satisfied with the life they have.

If you could go back, would you choose the same path?

I wouldn't change almost anything, I would come here to the Netherlands again and study Business again, and stay to work here, I would only change the fact that I started learning the language late. I like the life I have and have created.

What do you miss the most from your homeland in professional and personal terms?

In personal terms, I miss my family the most. Fortunately, we can see each other often. My friends mostly stayed behind, but I have some here too. In professional terms – nothing.

Have you considered returning and under what conditions would you do it?

At the moment, I would not return, our country is in insane anarchy. I would return if there were no corruption, if the deputies thought more about the population than their own interests. I have no intention of working for someone’s expensive vacation or villa. I want my tax money to go to education and culture, for adequate pensions, and normal healthcare.

What do you think about money? What is their influence on your life? What is your advice to people who often ask themselves questions related to money and how sufficient they are?

Money is an important element of a person's life. They significantly influence a person's way of life - if you have money – you have no problems, if you don't have money – you have problems. You have enough money when you can comfortably meet your needs. You shouldn't be greedy either. The problem for a large part of the population is that they are financially illiterate. They don't know how to manage their finances and that’s where the problem with money comes from. My advice is to get educated and see that sometimes a little money is enough.