Job Discussion Forums

Eloise · Joined: 29 Oct 2005 Posts: 35 Location: UK

I've just applied for a job with the British Council in Sofia and am really excited! For some reason Sofia appeals much more to me than Czech Republic or Poland. This is mainly because I imagine it to be much less touristy. Is this true or do I have a romantic image in my head?

Also there have been a few negative postings here, but most of them seem to be to do with money. The BC pay a good salary so with that consideration aside would anyone recommend Sofia? I want to live somewhere nice where I can go away at weekends to visit other nice places, learn the language and make good friends! Too much to ask?!!

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

Hi Eloise...

I haven't lived or worked in Sofia but this summer I spent some time there on holidays. I loved the place and really want to return. It has a great atmosphere, friendly people, lots of great restaurants and bars, food is cheap and travel to other parts of the country is very cheap. It's well located so you can easily make trips to Turkey, Romania, Croatia etc. I highly recommend it.

Having said that though, it certainly isn't one of Europe's majestic capitals ... There are a lot of beautiful churches in Sofia but otherwise it's a bit of a smear on the urban landscape. But if you're looking for somewhere less touristy, then you will find it in Sofia.

I have a whole lot of pictures that I took in Bulgaria this summer... If you're interested I will post the link.

Best wishes.
A.S.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Every reader of the tabloid press in the UK is now intent on buying property in Bulgaria. But Sofia has over a million people so you may be able to dodge the readers of the 'Sun' and 'Daily Mail' !

At least working for the British Council you will earn enough to put food on your table. Working for other employers in BG could mean learning first-hand about poverty.

My advice : LEARN BULGARIAN. It is the easiest of the Slavonic languages, having lost most of its inflections. Without it you will be handicapped in a society where speaking a foreign language is still an unusual accomplishment.

How do I know about Bulgaria ? Resident since 1991 !

Antaraaaa · Joined: 04 May 2004 Posts: 120 Location: Dublin, Ireland

Yes.....this buying frenzy is wild. I have met 3 diff sets of people here in the last month who are all obsessed with buying houses in Bulgaria......

Ireland has such a "money money money-more more more" vibe going on.

Eloise · Joined: 29 Oct 2005 Posts: 35 Location: UK

Well, i don't really want to buy a house there! Are the English people buying "real" houses or specially built ones in ski resorts and the like?

Anyway, I'm sure I can avoid them if they're annoying! I managed it well enough in Spain which must be much worse than Bulgaria.

What I really want to know is if Sofia is a nice town, what there is to do there and in the surounding area.

Thanks a lot for all your comments ( and just realised that there is a separate forum for The Balkans / Macedonia! Whoops!)

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

What do you consider to be a "nice town"?

poro · Joined: 04 Oct 2004 Posts: 274

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

The cheap flights have not quite happened, but are coming. In their wake will come those loathsome gangs of twentysomething Brits with minimal IQ's and a propensity to drink and throw up over people.

The property boom is not restricted to apartments on te Black Sea or in the ski resorts. Many people are buying village houses. Some are buying apartments in Sofia.

How long before we see the Welsh Holiday Cottage Syndrome or a Bulgarian equivalent of 'Settler Watch' ?

Sofia is a busy city with lots to do. Mount Vitosha is nearby. Theatre. Opera. Music. Films. I would not fancy working for the BC but we all have a cross to bear !

grahamb · Joined: 30 Apr 2003 Posts: 1945

Ah, happy days!

Eloise · Joined: 29 Oct 2005 Posts: 35 Location: UK

I didn't really fancy it at first either but I think it's the only way you can get a real wage. They pay you partly in stirling and from what i've read on the forum it's about 5 times what other language schools pay. I've been in Spain for the last couple of years and had a lovely life but as soon as I come back to the UK I'm completely broke. I'm 24 and my parents just had to pay for the radiator on my brother's car (which i've been borrowing for the last 4 months) to be fixed. I hate it!
What does everyone else think about this? I went straight into TEFL from uni so I was already in debt when I started. Although I don't plan to live in the UK in the near future, sometimes I have to come back (i've just done my diploma) and I have to stay with my parents and can't afford to do anything! Even if I don't have to come back to the UK in the future it would be sensible to be saving something every month. How does everyone else deal with this?

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

In this game the only places where you can save money are the Far East (Japan, Korea) or the Gulf.

I live in Bulgaria but work in the Gulf. Why should I teach in BG where I would earn around 100 Euro a month ?

poro · Joined: 04 Oct 2004 Posts: 274

Chasgul · Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 168 Location: BG

Don't know about scot47 but I'm currently earning closer to 400 euro a month without trying too hard. And not in the BC.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

But Chasgul is working in Sofia. Yuk !

Eloise · Joined: 29 Oct 2005 Posts: 35 Location: UK

The BC pay �800 a month in local currency plus �325 stirling. I'm presuming i'd never have to touch the stirling. What's wrong with Sofia Scot?