In the last dozen years, it has become a common practice for foreign citizens, mainly from Western Europe, to come to Bulgaria and stay here permanently. They are rarely employed, most of them are pensioners. They come here to visit friends, they don't know the language, but at some point they decide to stay...temporarily or permanently. Why? – is the main question. What makes them leave family and friends, everything familiar and familiar and embark on this adventure? Aren't they afraid they won't make it mostly because of the language barrier?
You will see different points of view, a different way in which foreigners of the same nationality perceive Bulgaria and Bulgarians - different both from our perceptions of ourselves and among themselves. Some of them I know personally and have communicated enough to get to know them. I will also tell you my point of view.
VITTORIO ALFIERI
Our next hero will be narrated by his lady, Daniela, and he will probably be smiling down on us from heaven.
Vittorio Alfieri, a purebred Neapolitan. Calm, polite and smiling. He came to Bulgaria at the end of 2014. The reason – the high standard of living in Italy. After retirement, many Italians find it difficult to make ends meet and are increasingly moving to the Balkans - most often Bulgaria, because it is in the EU, or Albania, because there the language and mentality are closer and it is cheaper.
Vittorio met Daniela in March 2015. I asked her why he chose Varna, considering that at that time, in 2014, most Italians were heading to Sofia or Plovdiv. She said it was because of nostalgia. His hometown was Lisval, and Varna reminded him of Naples. He felt very good here, thought that the people were good and often repeated that he found a family in Varna (Vittorio has no family in Italy). He only lacked his native Neapolitan cuisine. When asked if there are significant differences between the two countries and the two peoples, Daniela says that it is noticeable in the cuisine and lifestyle (rather sharing his opinion). Life has become very expensive,'' says Daniela, not only in Italy, but also here. From 2015 to 2022, prices have increased several times, but Vittorio's pension has not. Already in Bulgaria, life is becoming difficult for an Italian pensioner, but what about the Bulgarians...? Daniela says that with an average Italian pension, if you have your own home, you can live in Italy. Unfortunately, however, fewer and fewer people own their own property because the property is expensive to maintain. And rent costs sometimes swallow a third of the pension. I asked her what Vittorio's daily life was like. “He liked to get together with Italians, but his circle of people was very limited. He never thought of returning to Italy, this was his second home." Vittorio died on February 12, 2022 of a heart attack.
From the author's point of view: I met Vittorio shortly after he arrived in Varna. I had joined several groups for Italians in Bulgaria in order to find clients. He found me. Then I worked in a bookshop in Piccadilly, Vladislav Varnenchik quarter (the object is no longer there). He wrote to me on FB, very worried. He said he didn't know anyone, didn't speak the language, and had lost the keys to the car that was parked in front of Kaufland. I called him, he sounded really desperate. I told him cheerfully that I would try to help, although I myself was not sure what to do in such a case. I called my husband and he directed me to a locksmith nearby. I asked the manager to extend my break and ran to the market. I remember it was a bitter winter, a biting cold wind was blowing, there was also snow !! I connected the two, the locksmith went to the location, then I assisted several more times on the phone with on-air translation and we fixed the problem. So Vittorio became the first of my many clients. I didn't charge him then, I just helped a person in need.
Shortly after that, I accompanied him to the traffic police to transfer a car, to the repair shop, to the bank... and he started to "bring" me more Italians who needed, in addition to a translation, a person who knew the laws and institutions. I built a name and a reputation, people were happy, and I was earning extra and maintaining my language level. Vittorio said sometimes with a smile that he didn't believe that angels existed, but at that moment I was his angel. I remember that he longed to find a companion in life because he felt lonely. He soon met Daniela, a Bulgarian from Varna. They lived together until his death. I think that in the last years of his life here, Vittorio was happy mostly because he found the person with whom he could share joys and worries.
Rest in peace, Vito!
© 2023 Iliana Dechkova