Stavrula Eleftheriadou: A decade of change
Stavrula Eleftheriadou has lived in Sofia for 10 years. She is married with two sons and works for an American company specialising in online market research.
Her opinion of Sofia has changed for the better during her time here. When she arrived, in 1998, it was a period of acute economic hardship. “My first impressions of Sofia and Bulgaria coming here from Prague, where I used to live, were very unfavourable. Everything seemed to be very grey, dirty, miserable and sad. There were very few nice restaurants, cinemas, supermarkets and shops. Everyone seemed very depressed and pessimistic about the future.”
She felt that Bulgarians were treated as “second class citizens” by the rest of Western Europe. “For example, the whole experience of obtaining a visa to travel abroad to Western Europe was very humiliating as the attitude of the various embassies’ officers made them feel as if they were personae non gratae in the rest of the world.”
While Sofia’s still far from perfect, Stavrula does feel that the city has enjoyed a remarkable resurrection. “Things have improved dramatically. Sofia is a beautiful old city with historical buildings and a rich heritage. Everyone seem more cheerful and optimistic about the future, sales people exhibit far better customer service attitudes, living standards are much higher and people have more disposable income.”
Stavrula finds Bulgarians very erudite and well turned out. “I like the fact that Bulgarians read quite a lot, Slaveikov Square seems to be always packed with people looking for new editions, and they celebrate culture. I particularly admire the elegance and beauty of the Bulgarian women who manage to look good, seemingly without spending a great deal.”
In terms of socio-economic conditions, however, she sees her home country as much more advanced. “Greece has been a member of the EU and Nato for much longer than Bulgaria. So it’s no wonder that Greece has progressed further in many aspects of its infrastructure, public administration, services and culture. However, I see that Bulgaria is moving ahead fast, people are learning fast and have many resources in place. Of course, it takes time to accommodate changes and shift people’s mentality but I believe that the new generation is very open-minded and talented.” Both countries are blessed with fantastic nature, Stavrula says. “Both have great seaside and mountains, but unfortunately they do not protect it as they should. I’m thinking particularly of summer fires in Peloponnesus (Greece) and the chaotic and anarchic construction on the Black Sea and in Bansko. And, of course, both countries have a rich historical heritage, Orthodox religion, oriental/Balkan cuisine and a similar mentality.”
Stavrula believes her compatriots tend to be more political. “Greeks love and care more about their country and their interests; they love politics, always protest and defend their rights. Bulgarians, on the other hand, are more passive. They tend to criticise things in private but not so much in public. Perhaps that’s because they’ve lost faith in politics due to failed promises and corrupt politicians.”
Positive perceptions, not withstanding, Stavrula likes to go home (to Thessaloniki) fairly often. “I like Sofia and I believe that it is a good and humane place to live but I could not say that I consider it home,” she says.
