EVERYONE CONSTANTLY WHINES
Behrokh Sabounchi, 30, and Mahdi Mosadegpur, 33, are from Iran. She is an English language translator, he is an architect. She emigrated three years ago, and he came 10 years ago, because both are Christian converts. They met and married in Bulgaria and work as beautician and a hairdresser in Sofia.
Have you experienced special treatment because you are foreigners?
Mahdi: I often meet people, who help. But some have bad opinion about foreigners.
Behrokh: Most of them help, when they realise that I want to work and that I don't want state benefits. But I have seen some of my customers getting cold feet they learn that I am a refugee.
Have you experienced sexism?
Behrokh: No.
Is there a typically Bulgarian character trait?
Behrokh: They often get angry, but are kind people.
Mahdi: All the time everyone complains.
Has Bulgaria surprised you?
Behrokh: The language was very strange. It is very melodic, it is beautiful.
Mahdi: I expected to see Europe, but saw instead all those Communist-era buildings. Old, abandoned factories, and the roads weren't like they should be in an European country. This really got me. I expected much more.
Do you have Bulgarian friends?
Mahdi: Yes, many. We speak Bulgarian with them.
Behrokh: We meet them at work and in church.
Do you celebrate Bulgarian holidays?
Мahdi: We celebrate Christmas with them.
Behrokh: We wear Martenitsa.
Describe Bulgaria in three words?
Mahdi: The Black Sea. The Bulgarian songs – both the folklore and the Chalga. The Banitsa. Iranian cuisine is rich, but we don't cook with cheese.
Behrokh: Beautiful. History. Not very cold.
Do you plan to stay in Bulgaria?
Behrokh: We don't know yet. If the things don't improve, we will leave.
Mahdi: Sadly. We are thinking about having kids, and although we love Bulgaria and its people, we want to give them the best.
