The truth is out there. Hidden of course, but it's begging to be found. Powerful people in powerful places may prefer that some questions go unanswered, and some opinions remain unheard - but that doesn't mean they'll have their way.

The Bulgarian people - who are they, and what, exactly, are they up to? Take a walk outside and you'll see them - they're everywhere. Everywhere. Some say they're just living their lives, like any other people, but could it really be that simple?

Time to crack open the X-pat Files once again and hear what our operatives (codename: expats of the week) had to say:

"On the whole, most Bulgarians are great once they get to know you. They can't do enough for you. Most seem flattered that you're here - I think that respect is completely unwarranted,"
Tim Buisseret,
Cambridge, England.

"Considering they're in a transition period which is very difficult - they have to find their way; learn how to swim with out being taught how - they still keep their spirits up. They're eager to live this life. In Greece, they sit around with a whisky. No communication, no fun. Here they dance, they laugh, they live,"
Vassilis Xypolias,
Athens, Greece.

"At least in the beginning, people seemed to want something. I didn't expect that. I found that it is harder to meet friends I know sincerely want to spend time with me and not have something from me. It can be discouraging and upsetting,"
Stephen Kooshak,
New York, US.

"Bulgarians are laid back, easy-going and have a good sense of humour. Nothing gets them down,"
Stephen Cooper,
County Down, Northern Ireland.

"The airport was this old cement structure; it was quite depressing. But when I met the people, my attitude changed. The people are fantastic. Once you become friends, they treat you like family,"
David Krushe,
Bismarck, North Dakota, US.

"I feel conscious of sounding corny and cliched, but they're great and hospitable. People accept you as a close friend after a few weeks. It takes more time in Britain,"
Johnny Adam,
Glenrothes, Scotland.

"I shouldn't finish without mentioning the most beautiful thing in Bulgaria - the women. They seem to think of me as their father; I get teased. There's an openness and honesty about them (Bulgarians). This was one of the things that compensated for the poor conditions in Lom. The social hospitality,"
Henry Muchamore,
Edinburgh, Scotland.

"There's some irritations, like anywhere else in the world, but it's easy to live here. The general public is great. They're very nice and do their best to help you,"
Willie Botha,
Pretoria, South Africa.

"In eight years, I have developed my people. They are the heroes, I am not the hero. You have to help them grow and use their brains to participate in the company. That's 90 per cent of the success,"
Corrado Maraviglia,
Asmar, Eritea.

"Bulgarians have a pretty good outlook on living life. They're not getting too caught up in work, and can sit around a table together for a long time, which is nice,"
Kenneth Lefkowitz,
Lennox, Massachusetts, US.

"I'll miss the staff. I think they are doing a very good job and are very devoted to the work. It's easy to be a general manager to a staff like this. That's been my experience - you miss people. I don't think you miss anything else, you can always get substitutes,"
John Grieg,
Bergen, Norway.

"We're partners - we are the same. I believe that 90 per cent of people are the same all around the world. The same things make them happy and the same things make them worry,"
Aristoteles Fotilas,
Patras, Greece.

"Needless to say, the women are beautiful,"
Carlos DaSilva,
Johannesburg, South Africa.

"The students are wonderfully inquisitive. It's sad they don't have the resources they will have in 10 years time. The best thing about them is they ask questions. They have to reach their own conclusions. I open up possibilities, they have to discuss them. You're being examined just as much as they are. It's very exciting for professors,"
Jeremy Cripps,
Leicester, England.

"I'm very fond of the smart friendliness of the Bulgarian people. I invite them to my house; we sit and discuss things. All of them are very intelligent, charming people. I didn't expect the people to be so nice,"
Johann Maximilian Nabl,
Koelach, Austria.

"I've made friends who I think will stay my friends afterwards, I hope. Thanks to them, I've been so happy. I've made good friends very easily. So easily it surprised me. Statistically, about 10 per cent speak French. And it's a very rich French. They know the culture, the cinema, the history. It's amazing sometimes,"
Gilles LaBorde,
Paris, France.

"Although I would have preferred to be invisible and just work in the forests, many people were friendly, and I made more human friends and acquaintances than I thought possible. I even learned to drink, in moderation, and eat very slowly into the night. I also learned a new set of dances,"
Alan Wittbecker,
Idaho, US.

If you are, or know, someone who would make an interesting expat of the week, please email their name(s) and contact information to editor@sofiaecho.com.