I bumped into a couple of expatriates the other day and just couldn’t avoid it. Normally this doesn’t happen as if a see an expat or expat couple I just keep my mouth shut and like ships in the night that pass by unnoticed. This normally happens in supermarkets where expatriates normally shop, I know an expat straight away by the contents their shopping trolley therefore I am forewarned. I will give you an example of an expat shopping trolley contents that I saw only yesterday and yes I do have a photographic memory, but I forgot the cuddly toy!
- 10 kg Pedigree Chum
- 3 x Tins of tomatoes
- 3 x Tins baked beans
- Countless Amounts of crisps and crisp type snacks
- A variety of English Tea
- Frozen chicken
- Frozen mince
- Tomato sauce (Heinz)
- 2 Boxes of tinned beers (Becks)
- A couple of bottles of wine (Bulgarian)
- Three loaves of bread (two for the freezer)
- 10 sachets of instant soup (Maggie/Nestle)
This was the I have no grievance or hatchet to bury with most expatriates over here, but when I see things like this in their shopping trolley I wonder why the hell they are here. Cheap comes to mind straight away, they certainly have no desire to eat Bulgarian food other than the wine (which is cheap as well.) The thought was that apart from the wine, everything was what you could buy in Sainsburys or Tesco in the UK and even here it is roughly the same price and not a comparative equivalent! So the food is the same price as the UK in that respect.
The people I met had seen me a few times working in a Yambol office as a website administrator and they approached me and I just couldn’t avoid them even though I knew they were British. Like I said, I don’t have anything against expatriates here, some I know are very nice people, but I am here for Bulgaria not expat communities. As long as they respect where they are and don’t try and force their own culture on Bulgarians here that's fine. I was approached without any introductory politnesses being passed. The first introduction comment was “I know you, you’re English aren’t you? Why haven’t they got PG Tips here?"
Well two questions put to me and not being one for being rude I answered both calmly with “Yes” and “Because this is Bulgaria,” respectively. They took offence with this ssecond answer and began their attack on everthing here not adapted to the English culture, food, services etc.
I wanted to get away as I knew what was coming and I was right. Next, all I got was complaints and moaning about how Bulgaria is way behind the times and it was not good enough for Brits coming over here. It was as if they were blaming me for the lack of progress here as they commented on the work I did promoting the country to potential expatriates in my work, then letting them down when they take the bait as it wasn’t as perfect as is was made out to be. Far from wanted to argue with this aggressive couple, I was with Galia and out of a kind of respect for this couple didn’t talk Bulgarian but gave a signal that I “wanted out” here. She took the signal straight away and pushed our shopping trolley forward and on beckoned me to move. I made my excuses and followed her willingly. “Blagodahriya Gal,” were my next words as I thanked her for getting me out of the situation. Oh how I hate people like that was the instant thought in my mind and no matter how hard I tried to block it it was there fermenting all evening.
I just wish we didn’t have to shop in supermarkets, but we have to in our financial position, as certain things that are on promotion are far cheaper than elsewhere. That is the only attraction for us both here and of course it is directly en route to the way home from work.
Another very short moment in Bulgaria spoilt by non-Bulgarians. I will carry on my policy of non-communication with the expatriates I see here.
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There are plenty of expats here some British who do just the same! God help us. I like you avoid them like the plague.
ReplyDeletehey Martin, thanks for coming by on my page and for leaving a comment. My hubby said exactly the same about Christmas has been taken apart by commercialism.
ReplyDeleteWell, from where I came from (Philippines) we set up Xmas tree early of October or last weekend of September....that's just part of our custom...usually people use indigenous materials over there.
have a good one and God Bless!
Same thing happens regularly in Thailand - I avoid expats I don't know. It's a shame but it has come to that!
ReplyDeleteI agree that if you go to another country you should assimilate but I also like to sample some of my old favourites after a while. So in UK, our SA goodies are a treat for us. Where I do fall short is that in my mind, holidays = full English breakfasts with tea. So in New York, I suffered (silently) without tea and in Turkey, I really started to crave bacon after a while!!!
ReplyDeleteMartin the contents of the shopping trolley appear very familiar to mine at Tesco's in Thailand although they are always buried amongst Thai goodies. Crisp type snacks...great with beer. Like you I tend to avoid fellow Brits unless I'm in a tourist type area. I much prefer to be amongst the Thai's and the wonders of Thailand but in our own four walls I do like a little of what I enjoy back home.
ReplyDeleteI agree it's shame.
ReplyDeleteIt is not a black and white scenario I paint here, I still drink english tea but encompass most things Bulgarian. I refer to those who refuse to make any effort to even sample the tqast of the country they move to and furthenore expect their host country to cater for all their ecpateaite foreign needs.
ReplyDeleteHi Martyn,
ReplyDeleteJust like I said to Emm, I am referring to thoses who refuse to budge 100% on anythihg 'foreign'. I will quote from an expatriate to give and example on how blinkered some people can be.
"I have never tried a Bulgarian sausage and never will as they are rubbish compared to the British banger!"
I needn't say any more.
Your article doesn't make it clear that you are talking about the small percentage of expats who want to move to BG and turn it into little Britain, the inference is that all "expats" who buy any familiar-to-them-from-home products are to be scorned and avoided.
ReplyDeleteThe fact is that some people adapt better to life in a new country than others, and a few will search out old favourites food-wise because they are nervous of trying too many new things, especially when they are in a country with a different language, culture, bureaucracy etc. This is quite normal - you only have to look at the many delicatessens operating in UK cities and supplying Polish, Thai, Indian and Chinese products to name but a few - to recognise the truth of this.
Personally I love Indian, Chinese, Turkish etc food and until I left the UK and travelled would not have had a chance to experience it if not for Chinese/Indian expats opening little shops catering to that niche....I am always happy to try anything new, but do not scorn those who are nervous.
Are you saying that expats here should not be ABLE to buy some of their old faves just because this is Bulgaria? Did you never have a kebab in the UK (Turkish) or a Chinese takeaway? My neighbours love Yorkshire pudding having tried it from my kitchen. Would they have tried it if not for me being here fancying Yorkshire pud and cooking it - no! The Bulgarians in our village were also delighted to try curry, onion bhajis and all the other accompaniments at a curry night we arranged a few months ago, and are eagerly looking forward to whatever other foodie events we organise, and why not? Just as you enjoy Bulgarian food because you think it's new/special/different some Bulgarians too like to try something different, and having something of a British food culture emerging even in the tiny way it has is something new for BG.
Like it or not, shops like Kaufland are here to stay and spreading. They will always be able to buy in bulk and offer cheaper products than small stores. Likewise many of the expats are here to stay, and though you may not like them all or their attitudes, do bear in mind that you TOO are an expat Martin....and maybe other expats are not too keen on what YOU have to say sometimes either! People are individuals and should be treated as such, and to make a sweeping statement like " I will continue to avoid expats" with a sneer in your tone as you did is extremely arrogant.
Hi Karen,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your time for your comment. I take your point and of course respect your point of view.
In a nutshell I am against supermarkets for too many reasons, and against Expatriates who refuse to respect Bulgaria. This is not a generalisation, but just focussing on those those falling into this category.
I choose to avoid and not socialise with Expatriates generally because that is my choice. There are also many other Expatriates I know who also choose to do the same.
It is a case of writing about what I see, hear and experience here whether people like it or not. Besides which I wouldn’t get half the readers here if I just wrote about the nice things I see hear and experience here.
Thanks for replying Martin. I understand what you are saying, and I agree that it is very frustrating when you encounter expats who don't want to learn anything at all about the country they have re-settled in. This is the same everywhere that i have ever been and not restricted to Bulgaria alone.
ReplyDeleteWhile on my travels I have often encountered fellow expats with whom i have nothing in common,and those people I thereafter avoid, just as I would have done if I met them in the UK.
I don't shut myself off from contact with expats though as many of them have proved to be entertaining company and some have become very good friends. There are good people out here too...and unless you are fluent in Bulgarian (even if you are fluent) there are times when it is a joy to hear your mother tongue and to be able to speak freely.And I always try to bear in mind that I may be extremely irritating to others just as much as some of them might wind me up! So, i will continue to travel hopefully looking forward to making new friends of all nationalities.
Hi again Karen,
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you in many ways about. My own feelings are that I came to Bulgaria to immerse myself completely in Bulgarian culture working and living over here and I feel that I have achieved that. I know that there are many here who have come here for very different reasons, they don’t work and socialising with other expatriates is a big need, not least, like you mention the need to speak unrestricted English. The good the bad and the ugly come to mind of course in all walks of life. From a writer’s point of view the bad and the ugly are far more interesting that the good, need I say more on that score Karen?
You seem a well-travelled lady and I admire that quality of adventure and open mindedness. I wish you well on your continued journey whenever that may be. Do I take it that Bulgaria can’t hold you here forever then?
Warm Regards
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ReplyDelete