I Will Miss THIS About Canada... (moving to Bulgaria)

[@oliverkostoff625]

This one comes from a local, 100% Bulgarian: To your questions: 1. The "common" holidays between America and Bulgaria are Christmas, Easter and New Years Eve. We do honor some "imported" holidays like Halloween and St. Valentine and you can experience some festivity around them. The rest of the holidays are "local" and I am sure you will love them :) No more spoilers. 2. Medical insurance - a regular check up in private clinic by general practitioner costs between 50 and 80 USD. If you don`t end up being hospitalized ( fingers crossed ) , probably you will be good paying for health care only as you need it. To be on the safe side, you can get a medical insurance package which would cost you about 250-300 USD per year. 3. When it comes to shopping, I don`t think there are too many items of interest which cannot be found in local stores and would require trip to another country 4. Cuisine is as rich as it can get, especially in Sofia. There are good restaurants founded by immigrants from all over the world, probably not at Canadian scale though. You can find good Asian, Indian, Mideastern, Tex-Mex and of course local stuff. Besides the local stuff, the other big highlight is Mediterranean food. Literaly every neighborhood restaurant offers good Med food. 5. Pop culture - our culture is so blended with American at this point that I don`t think you will find any big gaps. People watch and talk about the same movies and TV shows on Netflix as everywhere else. The exception here is sports. We don`t follow american football, baseball or hockey, so if you are into this you might not find your right flock. Happy travelling ! You will love it in here :)

[@irynav7458]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts about Canada, Alina! I immigrated to Canada with my family from Ukraine in 2005 and we found our new home here. It is a blessing to find your happy place in the world and I wish you all the best in finding it! As for me, no matter where I travel, I always return HOME to Canada with gratitude for the life Canada has given me, the life I would never have had if I had stayed in Ukraine. My husband and I thank God every day for being Canadian citizens now. We know that Canada is not perfect but it is perfect for us.

[@AlinaMcleod]

I'm so glad you've had a positive experience! :)

[@pinkandspice1691]

I totally agree. As Alina said its getting expensive but everywhere in the World its all expensive. Canada is not perfect but theres a handful defect unlike other countries theres more issue.

[@asadb1990]

Yeah im kind of the same way. I would totally move out of canada if a similar level of life with decent pay is available outside canada. Currently im in usa but my main issue is the challenge of getting my greencard. If that happens im gonna move permanently to usa. Housing and other cost of living is cheaper and lots of job opportunities but more so for locals.

[@richardrichard9496]

Good luck in Bulgaria!

[@nikolayhristov467]

Welcome to Bulgaria Alina,We are waiting for you already, I am sure that you are going to find many friends and good vibes here❤🎉😊

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you!

[@Ивайло-Мелков]

@@AlinaMcleod Съгласен съм. Ако търсите приятели - това е мястото. Има нещо, което ще забележите веднага - всички ви се усмихват и всички ви харесват. Прекрасни хора,прекрасен народ,които живеят на най-красивото кътче на земята!

[@нямаиме-к]

Happy to see you are moving here in Bulgaria! I remember your videos in Bulgaria few years ago.

[@sblagoeva]

She is anxious lol. She has no idea how much she will actually love it!

[@vladigeorgiev9751]

Welcome to Bulgaria and all the very best in your new country! I am Bulgarian and live in Varna,my wife is Romanian and moved here almost 10 years ago. We communicate in English and increasingly Bulgarian as she has learnt the language. My Romanian is certainly not so good but useful when we visit her relatives or when they visit us. Our kids are growing up here and spesk Bulgarian but Romanian and English are also used in the family. Varna,in particular, is a cosmopolitan place with many foreigners that have settled for shorter or longer periods. English is the most widely spoken foreign language but lots of Russian can be heard too mostly due to the many Ukrainians who have co.e since the war started in 2022. Sofia,in particular, being the geographical center of the Balkans,is equally distanced from 3 seas that you can visit - the Adriatic to the west,through the former Yugoslavia and Albania,the Aegean to the south,through Greece,and our very own Black Sea coast to the east. And then,of course,there is Turkey to the southeast,and Romania and Central Europe to the north. Weexpect two other positive developments in the near future-the opening of the Schengen land borders,meaning no border checks between Bulgaria,Greece and Romania,as well as the adoption of the Euro currency, liky expected in the next 1-2 years if things go as planned. Good luck with your move and do visit Varna and the sea coast,particularly in summer.

[@danielakazakova989]

I am Bulgarian and i am living in Bulgaria. I myself have traveled a lot, mainly in Europe and the Middle East. But I have many relatives and friends who lived for 10-20 years outside the country (Chicago, San Francisco, in Germany, Denmark, England) and in the last 2-3 years they have returned to Bulgaria again, even though they had a good standard of living. A small part still are living outside - in Chicago, New York, Frankfurt), but I guess because their children have not yet completed their education. It is my opinion that in Bulgaria it is much more relaxed and safe for both us and our children. The fact that I have not been owned to leave my children since the age of 10 to go to school themselves is an indicative fact (I'm talking about about 13-14 years ago; now they are big). I am living in Plovdiv, the second major city in Bulgaria. Like Sofia, and Varna, there is also a variety of everything - cultural events, architecture, almost any kitchen; Last but not least, Plovdiv is a much cheaper place to live than the other two major cities in Bulgaria-Sofia and Varna. And one of the other nice things about Bulgaria - only for 1.30-2.30 h by car at sea or in the mountains, skiing.

[@violinistblank]

What do you reckon about Sofia and Vidin? Do you like them?

[@gizemlikisi6213]

@@violinistblank vidin is the poorest city in bulgaria and sofia is too crowded. will you work remotely?

[@WilliamHutchinson-vz4ip]

Bulgaria is brilliant, sure you made the correct choice .

[@desssval]

Do Bulgarians celebrate Valentine’s Day- yes. Halloween - not really but there are parties for children. Thanks giving - no for obvious reasons. Black Friday - yes but discounts are not on the same level. As a compensation we have a rather nice sequence of celebrations in May - labour day, St George’s day (6 May) and St Cyril and Methodius day (24 May) especially. And two more in September. Overall we have a busy holiday schedule :) 🇨🇦❤🇧🇬

[@yordanpopov]

Easter is also huge. Much bigger than US or Canada.

[@TheDredface]

Also lets not forget about Easter and Christmas holidays :). Although Easter here might be quite different than what she might be used to.

[@samfisher5]

We have many holidays so that we dont work

[@ЕвгенийЛапшин-д2ъ]

​@@TheDredfaceАлина по матери русская и знакома с украинской жизнью, поэтому Пасха и Православное Рождество ей знакомы. Да и майские праздники ей понравятся.

[@TheDredface]

@@PORSCHE_COUNTRY. about 600km south west from Ukraine. I don't know if it is cheaper but for sure is way safer that Ukraine

[@just4ivaylo92]

As a Bulgarian that's lived abroad for 25 years, I can certainly tell you that Sofia has just about every type of cuisine these days. A lot has changed...

[@AlinaMcleod]

Wonderful to hear!

[@yury2509]

This is a well prepared and thoughtful presentation. Thank you, Alina.

[@AlessandroS-v8g]

Hi Alina, fellow Torontonian here that moved to Europe - all the best and looking forward to following along!

[@MisterTee]

Bulgaria is a great country

[@joseenoel8093]

You're full of crap!

[@2GringosOnTheGulf]

We were excited and nervous to start a new life in Mexico. We sold it all back in Canada, our home our cars and all our belonging to start over in a new country. Its not been easy but its has been well worth it. 3 years later we are still leaning and growing as we explore Mexico. We are living a minimalist lifestyle as everything we own fits in our care in order for us to explore this big country. We look forward to possibly moving to South East Asia in a few years. ✌🏽

[@AlinaMcleod]

That's wonderful!

[@sallimonezz6041]

Another difference to major holidays is Easter, which in the Orthodox tradition (which Bulgaria primarily follows) falls on a different date (usually one week after) and is celebrated slightly differently.

[@svetoslavtodorov2427]

This year was one month later and I think it will be the same next year as well.

[@kenserviss9705]

Good luck in your move. I always enjoy your videos.

[@AlinaMcleod]

@@kenserviss9705 thank you very much, Ken!

[@ferneyleiva8578]

I´m learning english, and I love listen to you, becouse its interesting and easy enjoy your differents experiencies. Thank you for share those videos!

[@AlinaMcleod]

I'm very glad :)

[@ericstefko4852]

A Torontonian here hoping you enjoy your new home and stay safe

[@MrHriskoch]

Hey, Alina! I am teaching Bulgarian as a Foreign language, and I'm from Sofia. There are pretty cool meetings on a weekly basis ,,Bla bla exchange language'', where foreigners gather for cultural and language exchange. I am so happy to see people coming to Bulgaria, whilst Bulgarians dream of leaving! And also I am following your vlogs from years! Добре дошла!!! 😊

[@VladislavAndreevBG]

When you arrive in Bulgaria, if you want to try different restaurants and look at the sea, you can visit Varna

[@anindyamunshi7715]

Bulgaria will be really kind of your country as you would adjust with the Bulgarian culture and cuisine which would be an eyeopener for you. As it is said there is always a first time in your life. Best of luck Alina for your future endeavors.

[@wt8151]

Wow! You are a brave person making this move for me. Making this pivotal change is not so easy, especially if you have family members here. Thanks for sharing your process, though.

[@CarolA-xe5oq]

WELCOME TO BULGARIA, WELCOME TO THE BALKANS!!! ❤🇧🇬😅

[@sblagoeva]

6te i pusnem pesenta na Galena, Welcome to Bulgaria, no niama da razbere smisyla haha. Ne e lesno bilo da vzeme6 viza za BG, az niamam tyrpenie da se premesti ve4e!

[@chedabu]

I like Bulgaria. Enjoy!

[@vyaranedyalkova911]

We do have Black Friday in November. It became popular in the last few years so for shopping you are safe :)

[@Heatherengelsman]

Thanks again for sharing. Looking forward to more about your visa process 😀. Wishing you all good things! I am sure you will be able to make friends in Bulgaria. It was our experience that because there's not not many native English speakers in the country they are eager to practice their english. We had an airbnb host that helped us read Bulgarian and we were so grateful 🙏.

[@darellnewsome4459]

Great top ten list Alina! Well thought out and it makes a lot of sense.

[@informationcollectionpost3257]

Good luck Alina. Will enjoy hearing on how your move changes your life. For the next video you will definitely tell us how you will not miss the high taxes.

[@J10044]

Regarding languages, I currently live in Finland and I do not understand a word of their lingo, nor can I speak any, except thank you. The good news is: I think they're all very friendly. They certainly may be insulting me non-stop as the stupid foreigner, but I don't notice it.

[@AlinaMcleod]

lol well that's good

[@costasworldofmusicmemories5792]

It is so fustrating when your life pauses and your'e waiting for things to happen (no fault of your own). I thing when we made our move from Boston to Richmond. Trying to predict what would happen , was always an unknown. I think the biggest takeway from what we miss from moving is family and friends . Hope your documents come soon.🙏🙏 Sending you much love ❤❤ from richmond, Va. Harriet, Jim and Yuki

[@AlinaMcleod]

Making a big change like that is certainly taking a step into the unknown!

[@ventsislavpendjurov5563]

Welcome back to your Slavic home.

[@annoyedlife]

nice new places to visit Bulgaria is on my vacation list. now that I know they speak English great video. I see other travel KZbinrs saying how nice it is.

[@gauravsahu1738]

can`t wait for ur vlogs from Bulgaria

[@chuckh4077]

I already watch the homies channel. Bulgarian girls reacting to movies.

[@vamshimohan1980]

We miss you. All the best for your future endeavours and stay safe.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you very much!

[@Foboz]

I helped out a friend of mine who is a UK citizen and went through applying for citizenship here in Bulgaria. My advice is to get a Bulgarian national to help you out as many of the government bodies are not good English speakers. As far as holidays go - people are celebrating most of the North American holidays like Halloween, Valentine's day, Christmas, Black Friday, but not 4th of July and Thanksgiving. We have deliveries from Amazon and other bigger online shops, so that's not as bad as you might think.

[@bellyhungry]

Hi Alina, Canada will always welcome you with open arms as your safety net should you decide you want to return for whatever reasons. It will always be there for you. Good luck in your next chapter in life. Bon voyage!

[@ScoobyDoo-xu6oi]

Canada isn't a person and isn't you. Of course she can return whenever she wants provided she can buy a flight ticket. The real question is can she find a job in Canada, can her job pay for her accommodation and food, and ensure a decent life for her?

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you so much :)

[@joyyyy777]

Bulgaria is a charming country. I believe you can make great opportunities and meet nice people in Bulgaria. Good luck to you.

[@lesleyatcofo]

Im surprised you didnt think of this. Canada is probably a more smoothly running country than many... Bulgaria never seemed to me to be a country where things in the country might run supper smoothly.

[@kalinxristov1654]

We only have Black Friday as an advertisement. Nothing like what you're used to. And the drivers have not improved at all. Saint Valentine coincides with the Bulgarian Trifon Zarezan, a holiday of winemakers, so many people celebrate it by drinking wine :) As for Halloween, there will always be kids hungry for candy.

[@pablodelsegundo9502]

A winemaker's holiday sounds SO much better than lame Valentine's! I'm genuinely jealous.

[@danielakazakova989]

@@pablodelsegundo9502 And there really is something for - Trifon Zarezan is celebrated very solemnly throughout the country, and the Bulgarian wines are really nice and it's worth a try. The younger people (and lovers of another age) in Bulgaria celebrate Valentine's Day. There is a choice and Bulgarians like to celebrate

[@svetoslavtodorov2427]

​​@@pablodelsegundo9502in old Bulgarian traditions, at 14th of Feb, the winemakers trim the vines and get drunk afterwards. In the same tradition everyone was getting pissed even if they didn't own a vineyard. And I find it personally far better time spent than getting the missus out and pissing around with chocolate hearts and stuff.

[@lucymartyn8205]

Learning lots from you thank you❤️👍🇨🇦

[@LeoJaramaz]

Congratulations Alina, you'll learn Bulgarian fairly quickly since you speak Russian. And as someone below mentioned, you'll be able to visit Serbia next door: I'm pretty sure that you'll like it ;)

[@AlinaMcleod]

Would love to visit!

[@FreedomPlaya]

I’m surprised you chose Bulgaria and not Romania. Romania, my home land, is doing well these days ❤ This said, I’m a Romanian-Canadian living in Playa del Carmen Mexico these days. It’s been a positive choice for me and my son 🙏💗

[@francoislafrance5261]

I was thinking the exact same thing as you.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Romania had a higher and more complicated set up (just recently implemented sadly) when it comes to business and taxes.

[@FreedomPlaya]

@@AlinaMcleod Thanks for sharing that Alina. I watched your other video and understood that. Plus I also understood that due to your Slavic background, Bulgaria would be an easier fit from you from a language perspective. I’d have to look into it myself but as a Romanian citizen, hopefully I’d have less barriers to entry from a business/investment set-up perspective in Romania :)

[@sadaeaafrinishonline]

Thank you for creating such a beautiful vlog and openly sharing your thoughts and experiences. I watched your video where you hinted at relocating from Canada, and today I saw that you've chosen Bulgaria. I deeply appreciate your decision to move to Europe, and I warmly welcome you. I live in Stockholm, Sweden, and would love to invite you here. It would be wonderful to meet you, learn from your experiences, and gain insight from your knowledge. I was born in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, and have lived abroad since 2003 in Libya, Malta, Italy, and now Sweden. For me, there is no single destination-life is a journey, and one should keep exploring. Fixating on one place can halt our growth. I still feel the pull to explore new lands, and my mind often wanders to countries like Brazil, Peru, and Argentina. It's interesting how some friends here in Italy and Sweden are moving to North America, while others in North America are relocating to Europe or Asia. This movement allows us to view life from different perspectives and keeps our learning alive. Thank you again for creating such a wonderful vlog, for sharing your insights so candidly. Wishing you happiness, success, and blessings for you and your loved ones. send you Positive energy and good vibes ⚡ 👌 🎄

[@dedeeaf]

I am sure everything will work out fine on your move. In Bulgaria, there are many positive sides that have grown stronger in the course of the country opening up to the world after the end of communism 35 years ago. Now people have much more information and are also able to travel, to settle in other places, try different things, it's certainly a great development and it's very exciting. Also, in terms of climate it's perfect as well as location, due to proximity to other interesting places in Europe (and not only). People are generally friendly, especially if they consider you a friend, so it is important to build a social circle of sorts once you settle. English is the most widely spoken foreign language for sure, especially in big and tourist places like Sofia, Varna, the resorts, etc. Other less popular but used foreign languages are Russian, German, French, other European languages. Recently, many people have settled in Bulgaria from other places in Europe and the world, therefore English became almost obligatory and now kids are starting to learn it at school in the 2nd grade. Bulgarian is somewhat similar to Russian, so with your background it will be probably fairly easy to learn and integrate. There are hurdles when it comes to bureaucracy but things are gradually improving over the years. As for holidays, there are great local holidays that usually go with just as great food, drinks and/or dances, but recent years have seen a popular rise in interest in foreign holidays such as Valentine's Day and Halloween, for example, especially among the younger generation. Best wishes from Varna on the Black Sea. Bulgaria is awaiting your arrival!

[@AlinaMcleod]

That's wonderful to hear :) Thank you for sharing!

[@vdawg2224]

Good luck with the move, Alina! We're planning a family trip to Bulgaria in August. Haven't been back in 11 years and my hometown is Stara Zagora, which I believe you visited.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you! Yes, I did make a quick stop in Stara Zagora :)

[@viratchauhan1561]

Have a great start to your new life in Bulgaria.. I'm sure it's a beautiful country and you will have a great life there. All the very best.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you! 😊

[@jordanw8382]

We escaped Canada in early 2022 and been away ever since. Totally with you on point 1 and 2, it hasn't been easy for me not knowing the local language, but luckily I've found a good English-speaking tribe that are deeper and more meaningful friendships than most that I had in Canada. Can't agree with you more on point 2. I miss a good pho, and good Chinese and Indian and Persian food. My pop culture is out of the 80s and 90s and it's all available online so I'm good there. For holidays, I've had more meaningful Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter in this non-Christian country I'm in now than ever in Canada. Canada has done a pretty bang up job erasing Christian holidays.

[@danielakazakova989]

In Bulgaria, besides Christmas and Easter, they are also celebrated by all the so-called. Noun days - St. George's Day, Ivan's den, Nicholas Day, Jordan's Day, Dimitar's day, Peter's Day, Holy Virgin Day - and these are only the largest of them.

[@jordanw8382]

@danielakazakova989 That's wonderful. Please don't ever let anyone take these holy days away from you. Canada has erased Christmas. Easter this year become a day for transvestites. In fact, the Canadian government has instituted an entire season to cherish sexual fetishes, and has been indoctrinating all school children into it.

[@jordanw8382]

@danielakazakova989 That's wonderful. Please don't ever let anyone take these holy days away from you. Canada has erased Christmas. Easter this year become a day for transvestites. In fact, the Canadian government has instituted an entire season to cherish sexual fetishes, and has been indoctrinating all school children into it.

[@trevmacc]

Hi Alina, good luck on your new adventure. May your journey be filled with amazing experiences and new friendships. Take care.

[@LiquidDemonsVIDS]

Good luck in Sofia, Alina! I'm certain it will be an exciting life adventure for you and we all get to watch!

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you :)

[@fabobg]

On the topic of the Healthcare in Bulgaria, did you look into the "Additional medical insurance" (sometimes called Premium medical insurance) providers in Bulgaria and what the options are ? You may be getting that from what I can tell. It is very prevalent in high profile jobs to have these as benefits. To be honest, most people that have at least some financial capacity prefer to have this or pay out of pocket just because the service is way better in private owned medical institutions. On holidays: Valentine's day = yes, even though there is another holiday on that date (Wine's day), I can say Valentine's day is adopted fully nowadays. Halloween = Yes, unofficially. Mostly popular among youth. It's not that widespread. Thanksgiving = No, Women's day/Mother's day = 8th of March (also my birthday xD) Black Friday = may be called something else and be the week before or after, but there are definitely a lot of deals around it (how 'good' they are is another topic) Driving safety is a valid concern, but the public transport is fine in Sofia, tbh. It improved a lot in the last 5-10 years. And yes, the bureaucracy is awful. I mean, it's also slowly improving, but nothing on the level of a well functioning western examples. There are more options lately to do things digitally and I always go for them, but sometimes you have no choice but to be patient. But yeah, go in with lower expectations on that.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you very much for sharing!

[@danielakazakova989]

You have described things very comprehensively. Just to supplement (because I'm working as a GP with elderly people) - in the last 3-4 years I have many patients from both Europe, UK, the USA, Ukraine - they themselves are very pleased with both the level of service and the accessibility to medical care. Within 1-2 days they can visit their GP, a specialist doctor, do blood and imaging tests and receive adequate treatment. This is the positive feedback they give me. Hopefully you were helpful, Alina. The possibility of additional health insurance is not to be underestimated. About the Bulgarian language - will be easy for you - my patients from Ukraine, after 1 year here in Bulgaria, speak it very well. And all of us who are over 45 years old are talking and we understand well Russian

[@evem1756]

Thank you very much Alina for all your videos! They are very inspiring! We immigrated to Canada 22 years ago and no I’m widow and my late parents left me a small apartment in Bulgaria; not far from Varna. I’m really thinking to move to Bulgaria from Canada and have many questions and doing my research. I still have more than a decade before my retirement but your videos are super helpful!

[@AlinaMcleod]

My pleasure! Bulgaria would honestly be a great place to retire in my opinion, especially close to Varna. Hope things work out!

[@nicktankard1244]

Pop culture is a funny one. I grew up in Eastern Europe, but as a millennial, I grew up on American pop culture as well. There are some local things I feel nostalgic about, but mostly, it’s just American stuff. I wasn’t too interested in the local pop culture, so when I finally moved to Canada in my 30s, it felt more like home than my home country did. I think being Canadian/American is a huge advantage because your pop culture is the dominant one around the world. So you can continue enjoying it abroad and talking to people about it.

[@AlinaMcleod]

That is very true, good to hear it was popular for you growing up as well!

[@kimofinance]

People celebrate Valentine's day for sure. It coincides with Trifon Zarezan, which is a holiday to celebrate winemaking. And wine and love go hand in hand :). With respect to Black Friday - sure there are discounts within the country (incl. online stores), but you could also purchase from say Amazon Germany, which has steeper discounts and still delivers to Bulgaria.

[@sblagoeva]

Hahaha, You will LOVE the Bulgarian Music hahaha. We will introduce you to Gloria, Galena, Preslava, Azis, OMG! You will LOVE everything about it! I can see why you are anxious about moving, but as a Bulgarian, Bulgaria has ALWAYS been very welcoming to International students and people and expats. I still remember being 6, all my mom's friends were from all over the world. Bulgaria has always been the top country for international Medical Students, the food is cheap and great, the old restaurants, I believe we as people are very friendly and hospitable and helpful. You should ALL move to Bulgaria :))))) All my friends know, we are all retiring there with our chickens, praseta and gardens and rakia!

[@johnmourey3091]

Love always to listen to you ,I visited Bulgaria last summer very impressed with the beach cities and going again next summer ,wish you the best time there.John G

[@AlinaMcleod]

Glad you liked it as well!

[@mariamolleken6458]

I grew up abroad but am Canadian and I'll always miss Spain the most. Good luck with your move!

[@kurtfuchs4500]

Another Great Video! Your right Canadian has a great food selection so many choices! A lot of communities across this country have a cultural week or few days. Regina has mosaic and there you try different foods at each pavilion. You also learn culture from each group of people. Your right we have good governance here. When I brought my wife to Canada from the Philippines it was a smooth process but it takes time! Our drivers aren’t too bad here your right about that! A lot of drivers are bad in the Philippines, especially Manila!

[@jimross7648]

I haven't been an actual expat, but I have been lucky enough to travel for extended periods of time. I have found that I missed having a steak in certain parts of the world and it did weigh on me. Beef that as a rural Albertan is a major dietary staple, is not readily available in many parts of the world. I know in Asia I loved the food, but was I glad to get Japan where beef was readily available. I worked a job that involved moving to various parts of Canada that were similar but still very different. For six months I would really miss the place I lived and worked previously, but then by a year my new location was home. The major advantage was we all operated in same language. When I lived and traveled in areas of the world where English was not a primary language I struggled, but learning their language was something I choose to do. It was always nice to find someone who could converse in English, because I could more fully convey subtle points easier. Luckily English has become a default world language to some extent, and if you make the effort you can learn to function in the local language. You are already multi lingual, and willing to learn other languages. You are open to experience things that other parts of the world consider normal, so you'll do as you've already done, adapt. Luckily technology such as language and mapping apps make life much easier.

[@AlinaMcleod]

lol I dearly missed a good steak in many countries as well! And yes, I agree that we are fortunate that English is overall the international language, makes things a lot easier.

[@klimo92]

Regarding the restaurants, there is a wide variety of places in Sofia that serve foreign cuisine. However, most do not come close to what it should be. If you are looking for Italian, Lebanese, Turkish, or actually most of the European cuisines, you will have pretty good options that will closely resemble the real thing. Asian cuisine is gaining popularity and it is getting better by the day. A couple of years ago, we had only some asian-inspired/style dishes, now we have some places that serve pretty decent Ramen, Sushi, Bao Buns, Pad Thai and etc, but still not the variety and the quallity that you will find in London for example. Unfortunately, there still isn't a good Korean BBQ. The Mexican cuisine is almost non-present. You will mostly find only burritos and tacos, which are ok, but nothing special. Also, you can find Indian restaurants and some places that serve more niche cuisines such as Nepalese, Sri Lankan and etc, but I cannot comment on them. As for the shopping, the selection of physical shops in Sofia is not the best, but you can shop online, anything from within the EU hassle-free if you are not for the shopping experience itself. As it goes for bureaucracy, most of Europe is pretty bureaucratic and most things should be done in person and in paper. However, there has been a slight improvement in Bulgaria recently.

[@tenaresivanov2451]

Bulgaria is a unique country, currently it is one of the most desired destinations for people from Western Europe and the Scandinavian countries. България ви очаква!🙂

[@Root_066]

You are a great orator. Your videos are definitely a choice for learning English for non-English speakers.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you very much!

[@OverflowCafe]

There are plenty of Canadians living in Bulgaria now! You'll be able to recognize them easily.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Oh really? How? lol

[@chuckh4077]

Bulgaria has a hockey team so I'm not surprised 😅

[@Resmith18SR]

​@@AlinaMcleodDo they all have a Maple Leaf on their foreheads? 😂😂😂

[@kriskris998]

If you have a good income, Bulgaria is just a great place to be

[@r.t.7925]

If I go back to Bulgaria the first think that comes to my mind I'll miss is Costco 😇

[@seahawks1912]

Metro in Bulgaria is very similar to Costco

[@svetoslavtodorov2427]

​@@seahawks1912and nowadays you don't need to be a business owner to get a card to shop there.

[@lukaspetranov5340]

Great video I’m excited for you to come and experience life in our country Bulgaria! Btw there is Black Friday in the bigger cities of Bulgaria!

[@julienandonov]

Wohooo, welcome to Bulgaria ))

[@BlueRoad_Vietnguyen]

Great video Thanks for sharing Mam 👌🌷👍❤

[@justdustino1371]

Once you are in Sofia, you can make cheeseburgers and poutine at home! Considering the location, Bulgaria probably has alot of Mediterranean style dishes that are delicious, as well as Slavic classics. ❤🙂

[@AlinaMcleod]

But I can't find the proper cheese curds!

[@justdustino1371]

@AlinaMcleod Google "making cheese curds at home" ...I just found half a dozen recipes! 😆

[@DarthFurball]

@@AlinaMcleod Agreed! It's all about the SQUEAKY cheese 😁

[@ЕлицаЕнева-ж3о]

Bulgarian cuisine is more of a mixture of Greek and especially Turkish food, no Slavic dishes here.

[@justdustino1371]

@@ЕлицаЕнева-ж3о That sounds interesting! I may have to do some reading about Bulgarian dishes.

[@daiatanasova]

In Bulgaria, celebrations like Halloween and Valentine’s Day are present. I remember having a Valentine’s post box at school or going trick-or-treating with friends as a kid. Valentine’s Day also happens to fall on the same day as our Wine Holiday, Trifon Zarezan, so people often have to choose which one to celebrate. 😂 Many malls and e-retailers also hold Black Friday sales. While these holidays aren’t as big as in North America, they’re still noticeable in Bulgaria, so hopefully you won’t feel home sick during the festive periods. ☺️

[@TruthSayer-g2m]

Tell her about horse Easter and the tradition of eating horse in Bulgaria, she likes different cuisines. 😂

[@ianakiinkiow4303]

Alina please be careful with the renting of the apartment. Foreigners pay much higher prices for apartment rentals in Sofia. That is the reality. Also if I were you I would very carefully check the location of where the apartment is located. Please make sure there is no construction site across the street and one in very close proximity. There are construction sites all over the city and if your apartment is in close proximity you will be hearing a lot of noise also on the weekends as well! Make sure your apartment is not located close to a major road because the traffic noise is a problem. There are airplanes flying right over the center of the city and you can hear them in the evenings and in the mornings. If I can help in any way send me a pm. Good luck with your move!!!

[@george35057]

Regarding the holidays: Valentine's is very popular - you have to book restaurant reservations in advance or "risk" having the romantic dinner at home. Black friday has become a huge shopping event and all the stores have big sales.

[@GhostlyBG]

Well we certainly don't celebrate Thanksgiving but at least some people do celebrate St. Valentine and Halloween. Halloween is specifically celebrated by at least a portion of the families with kids cause it's fun for them (the kids, not so much for the parents.. :D). We do get Black Friday sales but they are mostly "Bulgarian style" meaning the retailers jack up the prices right before their Black Friday sale and then boast about their 60-70% discounts.. :D So you need to pay attention to that for sure. As for the driving... yeah, just don't expect safe driving anywhere on the Balkans... :D Always be very aware of what's going on around you while driving and be prepared to react. :P The healthcare - yes, we do have universal healthcare but... you need to go to your GP every time you want to go have some sort of tests for "free" and, for instance, say, you need an MRI. Your GP sends you to the particular specialist, they then give you a document which waives the MRI fee, however, you usually need to wait months for that free MRI. Most people just choose to pay so they don't have to wait. You also have to pay for all sorts of additional stuff if you are hospitalized, for instance, under "free healthcare". Also a lot of the best specialists in their given field don't work with the healthcare system and you still have to pay anyway if you want to hear their opinion on your particular health issue. Thankfully we have a bunch of expensive private hospitals (at least in Sofia) so you just need money... 🤣

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you for sharing!

[@danielakazakova989]

In most of the healthcare written you are right. There are a lot of changes in the last 5 months, for good. MRI is already released directly by the specialist without waiting for months. But even if it has to be paid, I do not think that the sum of 300-400 BGN (150-200 euros) is something unbearable for a good figurative study in Bulgaria (and the world); Computer tomography is also affordable-at least here, in Plovdiv the prices are about 150-200 BGN (70-80 euros). So only a person lived outside Bulgaria or a foreigner can most correctly appreciate the healthcare system in our country. There are always bad things, as in other spheres of life, but it is the competence and desire of the government in the country.

[@Cv3T0m1R]

This year's Black Friday in Bulgaria is on November 15. Other popular holidays are also celebrated. Halloween, Valentine's Day, etc. We love the same artists you do. Ed Sheeran had a concert recently in Sofia.

[@yogiaol]

In Bulgaria you have Christmas the same time, as in Canada and west Europe 24-25-26.12, not 7 January like other orthodox countries like Ukraine, Russia and Serbia. Older Bulgarians grew up with Russian culture and movies. But even then, Bulgarian television sometimes showed American films such as Rich man Poor man, and even the Canadian film Danger Bay in the 1980s. The series Dallas, Twin Peaks and many others are shown. Even during socialism, Western pop stars such as Suzy Quattro and Amy Stewart, and many others, were invited. But the Bulgarians categorically do not accept Halloween, it is not our culture. March 8 in Bulgaria is a women's day, as it was in the USSR and also now in Russia. March 3 is the national holiday, the liberation from the Ottoman Empire. May 24 is a very nice Bulgarian holiday of Slavic culture and alphabet.

[@SophiarLG-e4j]

Your videos are the epitome of quality and style. I look forward to each new release!🐘🔞🚢

[@Mortada002]

No elephant under 18 yo is allowed on the ship

[@radostinabodurova4941]

I went back home in Bulgaria in 2021 after 11 years in Canada and i can say i found food was actually more diverse than in Canada Here in canada the grocery we get huge shelves but with all the same products. The food in Bg is wayyy more delicious Healthcare don’t worry its not as expensive in private as here and you can see any specialist from today to tomorrow From all the things u said i and think you will end up only missing good roads and early driving 🙂 Good Luck 🤞

[@vikinggeorge7007]

2:40 - if you want food diversity, Sofia is an amazing city. There's also Burgas. And if you decide to live in Burgas, which you will really like imo, much more than Sofia, it's calmer and you are near the sea, the climate is softer. Besides, you mentioned Poutine... just go to Happy (it's on the menu!) - you can see these restaurants literally everywhere in Bulgaria, lol. Want more food variety which you cannot get in Bulgaria (for any reason)? Cross the border into Turkey, go to Edirne, their food is amazing (and cheap too, super portion sizes too!) Junk food? I am a junkie myself, we have way too much junk food, to the point I feel we need to be stricter on that. We even have stuff like American-style junk food like Takis (I guess they are Mexican, but they are sold in the US). If you come here, you won't regret the food availability, I promise!

[@abrahamlevi3556]

The Central Theorem of Bureaucracy (CTB) goes as follows: Submit the papers that they demand of you, and in return they might issue you with the papers that you have been begging for. Don't let that discourage you at all. Just go with the flow.

[@homey4523]

There's no place like home. Wherever it is, that's where your heart is. A place where you're comfortable and happy. Who knows, you could find a "real" friend in Bulgaria. Life goes on .Eventually, you could adapt to trends and culture there. Every country has its own negatives. So just live on and be optimistic. For me, I love Canada despite some issues. I just look at the brighter side. Anyway, Wish you luck.

[@GeorgeandAlexa]

I married a Bulgarian, I am Mexican. I think Bulgarian people are very genuine and the food is great :) I like tarator

[@mirka]

The problem with the young generation is they think they should be able to make a living just living a life of pleasure. Why should anybody be compensated for travelling + presenting their daily vlog ??? What good does it contribute to the society ???

[@robertnicholson83]

What I missed while I was traveling were the wider roads. Also, the driving seems a lot more organized here in America. I appreciated that some of the places I traveled to were more pedestrian friendly, though. I'm with you on the shopping part. I don't enjoy shopping, but I did miss having a variety of choices. That helped make life more convenient.

[@pablodelsegundo9502]

One language plus is the number of Russian speakers in Bulgaria, especially in the capital. Between them and English speakers, I think you're fairly safe in that department.

[@stephenbreslin6859]

Superb frank realistic diagnosis.

[@TheMzx124]

Nice summary. Good luck in EEU...

[@nikor1775]

Привет Алина😊 in Bulgaria you will enjoy great food and wine! Indeed prices of many products will cheap compared to Canada but you could expect lower quality too (especially for clothes and shoes).

[@andreymarinov4410]

May the force be with you. I am sure you will find Bulgaria as a good match for you

[@DedoMaco85]

The roads you used in Bulgaria are one of the hardest. I hate them as a local, that narrow road from the video is one of the most stressful we have in the country. So if you managed that one, you can easily drive anywhere else in Bulgaria. And it's worth it, you can explore the North of Greece as well, Romania as well.

[@teadimitrova5728]

We don't have Halloween and Valentine's Day here, but many people celebrate them. We also do have black fridays. Sure it won't be the same as Canada, but i hope you enjoy them as you did in Canada :)

[@kayleung5722]

No Valentines and No Halloween! Yay. I’m coming to Bulgaria

[@jaimeogas]

I remember September 6 was a national holiday. When you were there, you did a livestream in Sofia on that day.

[@svetoslavtodorov2427]

We celebrate the unification of Bulgaria on that day. After the Russian - Turkish war which concluded in 1878, in the peace treaty Bulgaria is huge. But the western powers do not want a huge and powerful russian proxy in the balkans so they tear it apart and create the principality of Bulgaria ( under russian influence) and the province of eastern rumalia( under ottoman influence). The unification itself is bloodless and not a single shot is fired(happen in 1885th from what I remember). However, the serbs didn't like that and kingdom of Serbia declares a war. And because Russia is against it as well they pull all their military training personnel. The young Bulgarian army with highest ranks of captains manage to push back the Serbian army ( supported by the civilian population who did everything they can to slow down the Serbs) and eventually entered Serbia on a march to Belgrade. However, the Serbian ally at the time Austro - Hungarian empire, threaten to do declare a war to Bulgaria unless they sign a peace treaty. That's how the war ended.

[@helleyequeue]

Married with children, Alf, Raimond family, Malklmn (spelling probably wrong) and many other US shows is what I grown up in Bulgaria with. Shopping is not the best is Bulgaria.Driving in BG is crazy. Knowing the life in Bulgaria is easy, just bring cash, most things are straight forward. Specially the country is not densely populated so most of the things are happening much faster (at least in the private sector).

[@LuiS-xo7qw]

Hi Alina, what are your thoughts about Switzerland?

[@AlinaMcleod]

Amazing country and where I'd consider living if I had an unlimited budget lol

[@KellySomers-jg1le]

I moved from Canada in 1977 to Florida

[@Mortada002]

How did you do that ? Can I move there without having a green card

[@j3ojos]

Definitely fly to the UK for the best Boxing Day deals, only two hours from Sofia.

[@ChoboMog-pw]

+1million points for universal healthcare! ... No system is perfect, but it's amazing to just show up at the doctor/hospital with no concern about cost. My humerus reconstruction surgery cost $0.00 CAD in Canada while a partner had something less invasive for $35k USD south of the border. I would be bankrupt with that kind of bill.

[@8randomprettysecret8]

Hoping all is well these days. Sent you an email earlier this week. Have a safe flight ✈️

[@AlinaMcleod]

Would love to!

[@mab00991]

Bulgaria is a great choice

[@AlinaMcleod]

I think so too!

[@nvmmshow]

Hello from Germany, we just did a reaction video in Bulgarian to your video. People are betting how long you are going to last in Bulgaria. Anyways the whole chat wishes you all the best and reccomends you to visit a Chalgoteka as soon as possible because is a lot of fun and pop (folk) culture is awesome!

[@stan3110]

This is really bad advice!

[@ivanaylov303]

Why are you giving such bad advice. Pop-folk places are noting but the fun, it is all about moral degradation. If you want to meet people with low morals, that’s the place to go.

[@neychev]

pop folk culture is the culture of fake boobs and brainless muscle guys. so yeah, not fun, more like dumb

[@ronaldmcmaster9148]

Ha ha ha Chalgoteka! Of all places that's what you're recommending?! 😅😅

[@nazaninkhoei2749]

Hi, basically what you said generally it is true for every immigrant who miss their home country and comfort zone. The immigration services and health care system deteriorated in Canada drastically and what you said it is true for Canada of 5-10 years ago . Now they are handling both poorly and there is long waiting list to take a doctor appointment or getting immigration application processed

[@nikolaynikolov8047]

Don’t worry, you will be fine! Just remember that you will be annoyed a lot(like the locals 😅) when it comes to bureaucracy, bad roads, just build as cheaply as possible so the rest of money disappear in someone’s pocket. I completely agree with you, Bg drivers can’t drive and on top of that they drive really fast. Always be extra careful as both pedestrian and driver! Regarding the holidays, only Christmas and Easter are celebrated in Bulgaria, however newer generations started celebrating st valentine and halloween, but older generations are still against them. Also a tip, if you have to go to Varna, always get the plane, it is 40 mins flight and it is the best way to travel domestically to Varna.