QUENTIN Derzelle likes to draw parallels between Bulgaria and his native land, Belgium.

The monarchs of both nations are from the Saxe-Coburg family line (though, of course, Belgium's king is still the official head of state). Both countries have traditionally been influenced by larger neighbours: Russia and Turkey in the case of Bulgaria; France and Germany in the case of Belgium. Both countries are located on European crossroads  - Brussels, of course, is the capital of the EU and Bulgaria, of course, is a stone's throw from Asia.

This type of cultural analysis brings us to the reason why Derzelle is here.

A French teacher employed by Walloonia, the regional government of the French-speaking citizens of Belgium, Derzelle is teaching Bulgarian students at Sofia University and New Bulgarian University that not everyone who speaks French is French, and that not all French comes from France. It might be more apt to call him a cultural ambassador rather than a teacher.

"I'm here to give them an introduction to [Belgian] literature and at the same time to give them a first taste of French-speaking culture with Belgian specificities, the cultural specificities of the southern part of Belgium," he said.

So his students read Simeon, the Belgian who wrote detective novels, and learn about how Belgians often use the term "praline" for chocolate. He's not the sort to say that Belgium doesn't owe France anything, though. Instead, he's fascinated, and proud, of how Belgium has managed to develop its own culture despite its proximity to the civilisation that produced Diderot, Napoleon and Sartre.

"At certain moments we try to develop our own cultural identity," he said. "At other moments we are more along the French lines."

Derzelle, (25), has two master's degrees, one in translation - specialising in English and German - and the other in international politics. That background has taken him around the world, most recently to Australia before coming here two months ago.

"I really like travelling," he said. "[Teaching abroad] is a good combination of work and traveling."

He's smitten with Bulgaria and hopes to stay for more than a year so he might continue the pastimes he enjoys here now, from playing ping-pong with guys in Borisova Garden to taking trips to the coast.

"I found the Black Sea very pretty," he said. "I really like the mountains. Belgium is very flat. I'm very happy to go and walk on Vitosha. I love Plovdiv. In one city you can see the different cultures and civilisations that have been across the continent."

Like most expats, however, he tempers his fascination with some critical observations.  On his trips to the countryside, he's found rural Bulgarian life charming. Yet he also knows those charms often stem from a lack of development. He's not sure how the unprecedented growth Bulgaria is sure to experience after joining the EU in a year or two will affect the country.

"It's funny because you feel different in small towns as opposed to Sofia," he said. "But it's a good feeling because you feel closer to nature and traditional life, not industrialism and liberalism, the two terms that characterise the economic process of the EU."

He sees uneven progress among people on the street when it comes to adopting the efficiencies and professionalism that are supposed to be the hallmarks of EU members.

"It's a two-sided society," he said. "I have the impression that some people make efforts to be Europeanised and on the other side you have the impression that a lot of things have to be done."

None of those observations have dulled his interest, however.

"I have so many plans, because I really want to see the country," he said. "Every region keeps its specificities, a little bit like Belgium. Even if you are very small, you keep your specificities."