nomad9

bulgarians - welcome to the EC, a chance within the world of globalization to discover more on culture.

not only did i already have the chance to be part of the sofian community during my media and intercultural communication studies at the university of st kliment ohridski, but i also had the chance to discover a bit of the fascinating sofian lifestyle and a glimpse of the bulgarian culture. as i will be part of a congress of SIETAR europe i would like to share a bit of the excitment with my community. of course, if you need further upgrade or info on what is going to happen during the SIETAR conference, please let me know. furthermore, i will send you updated info by the time i get to sofia.

in the meantime, i invite you to discover some info on bulgaria and sofia, written from a decent guy from sofia.

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East awaits West

In this article, Vladimir Galabov offers an inviting view of his own national culture, and its capital city.

Bulgaria is a country with ancient history and rich cultural heritage. Set at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, this land has attracted waves of settlers with its high protective mountains, fertile lands, flowing rivers, serene lakes and warm sea. Today Bulgaria is safe and peaceful, and stands as proof that a polyglot multiethnic society can exist in the Balkans.

Much of country is an open-air museum of Balkan culture, with fine archeological discoveries, wonderfully preserved churches, mosques and villages, and a great deal of enduring folklore, all set in a beautiful and diverse natural environment.

Thracian tombs, Roman towns, Byzantine castles and Ottoman cities found all over the country speak of the glory of civilizations that once inhabited these lands.

Bulgaria is joining EC with potential for economic growth and attractive investment environment. There is an incredible potential in the booming service sector: tourism, IT, transport, communications and financial services. A huge potential in diversifying services still lies ahead. Many big companies made strategic decisions to participate in the Bulgarian modernization process. Year 2007 and EU acceptance will bring a new wave of interest and investment.

Bulgarians are known throughout the world for their divergent toggling of the head when they say “yes” and their sharp forward nod when saying “no”, but this does not mean that it is difficult to get along with them! On the contrary, Bulgaria is a hospitable country and Bulgarians are consummate hosts.

Most of Bulgarians have little financially, yet they are rich. You can't help but be touched by their appreciation of the little things in life; things that many western people lost somewhere in the frenzy of trying to manage their hyper-paced lives. Things like the pleasure of picking wild berries, mushrooms and herbs in a pristine wilderness; or the delight of preparing your own food and making your own wine; and the even greater joy of sharing it with guests. And that's just a small taste of what makes Bulgaria so special…

Bulgaria is a strong and spiritual place that tells stories and invites you to tell stories of your own. Come over and experience for yourself the hospitality of this country. Bulgarians have a deep love for their land and its beautiful natural resources, and they will gladly share it and themselves with you - and you will never forget.

Sofia
the cultural and administrative capital of Bulgaria is an ancient city becoming more and more international. This city of more than one million people has become a delightful gateway to an undeservedly little-known country.

The jumble of cultures and religions as well as the ethnic tolerance of the society is reflected by the capital city of Sofia. A short walk in the centre from the marketplace is the Byzantine Church of St. George, which itself sits atop the ruins of the Roman settlement here. Nearby is the Banya Bashi Mosque, the largest in Bulgaria. Around the corner is the Sofia Synagogue, the largest Sephardic Synagogue in Europe.

Near all of this are scattered dozens of cultural institutions – theaters, museums, universities, opera and concert halls that would welcome the SIETAR-ians and gladly give a home to their next congress.

edited by jose pascal da rocha