“Yes” is actually “No” and other peculiarities in Bulgaria
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The joy of diversity and positive experiences when traveling is an absolute value for the overall health and happiness of a person. It is important for people to include at least one trip a year to avoid falling into a routine.
In New Year's resolutions, travelers add to their to-do list "Travel to..." and then put the name of the desired destination. At some point, the time to pack our bags and head to the planned destination arrives. We are already done with preliminary research, checked the biggest sights in the city where we go, and organized our stay (whether short or long-term). The only thing left is to wait for the moment when we will feel the atmosphere of the unknown place for the first time.
However, when preparing to travel, we should not forget to check the peculiarities of the country we are visiting, in order to be prepared for surprises and to accept the local culture and diversity with a smile. This moment is common for people traveling for tourism purposes, but it is even more important for those who will stay in the country for the purpose of education, volunteering, or cultural exchange.
With this article, I hope I will make planning easier for every traveler who has chosen Bulgaria as their destination. Here's what you need to keep in mind when you first arrive.
When “Yes” is actually “No”
A very funny situation is the confusion that occurs in a dialogue between a local and a foreign tourist or a student. Not 100% universally valid, but here you can nod for “No” and shake your head for “Yes”. Strange, but it is a fact that is good to take into account. If someone is shaking their head to express their answer to a question – you better ask "You mean yes or a no?".
Pay in cash
It is common to pay in cash. Of course, almost everywhere you can pay via bank card as well, but in some small stores, the only way you can pay is in cash. I simply recommend having some cash with you so that you don’t get surprised.
Signs in Bulgarian
Most of the signs and the names of stores are written in the Bulgarian language. This might make it hard for you to navigate in the city. You should pick up some basic Bulgarian language skills before visiting Bulgaria (Start with OLS Language Learning class). Of course, more and more people speak English nowadays so you can always ask someone on the street for directions.
The Internet is fast and everywhere
Bulgaria has a well-developed telecommunications infrastructure, and access to the internet is widespread throughout the country. In terms of internet speed, the average download speed in Bulgaria is 103.3 Mbps, which is considered fast compared to many other countries around the world.
Colorful buildings
A lot of people experiment with different colors on the facade of their buildings and public institutions look like they have nothing against this. Most of the old buildings used to be grey, and now if there are 10 apartments inside one building, you might see 10 balconies with 10 different colors. For some people, it might look like art, but sometimes it is more than ugly. You decide how to accept it.
Stray dogs
If you like dogs, you can meet them walking around your neighborhood. Stray dogs are a part of our everyday life. A lot of people who feel sorry feed them regularly. Most of them are friendly and others not so much. So, be careful not to annoy them and get hurt.
24/7
In all the big cities in Bulgaria, there are shops and pharmacies that are always open, even on weekends and on national holidays. In the biggest cities, restaurants are also included in the list. So, in case it’s Sunday, and you have decided to prepare some cookies, but you lack chocolate sticks, don’t worry – just around the corner there is an open store.
A glass of water for success
When a family member leaves home for a special event, such as the first day of school, graduation, an important exam, or on their wedding day, the rest of the family pours water on the doorstep as he or she leaves and says, "good luck". This tradition is taken as a wish for luck in the upcoming new adventure.