June 12, 2001

Since we posted our website, we’ve received e-mails from people who have found it. We enjoy hearing what people think about our observations here in Bulgaria. It seems the most passionate e-mails come from Bulgarians. We received this e-mail a few days ago from Stanislav, who lives in Sofia, and we thought it was very honest and open.

Dear Josh and Kate

I'm afraid I don't have the right to enter your "shelter" in such a manner but accidentally I came across your Internet site and it deeply impressed me.

Well the reason for writing this e-mail is that I would like to express my appreciation to what you've shared on the Net. It is a very precise dissection of our society. In only 1 year you have captured most of the Goods' and Bads' about us and also what makes the life here in Bulgaria easier or on the other hand what doesn't let us advance.

I don't even know whether one is supposed to read the postings but ever since I started reading yesterday I couldn't resist until the last posting was turned. It was like a book which grabs you and the impatience to get what happens on the next page is overwhelming.

I am one of those Bulgarians who desperately try to stick to a good reason to hold them here and not to immigrate. Well your postings were something that made me think who am I, what are my priorities and goals and how to get there. It also made me ponder over the worthy bits that I posses and what I would like to get. The feeling was really bizarre. I mean I felt if someone had suddenly taken me out of my surrounding and put me in a place where I can sit, watch and realize what is going on down there and the reasons why the people are such and such. It just gave me the opportunity to look with different eyes upon my life. I mean I found more things to keep me here. Not that I don't like America but I belong here.

I am 28, I have my girlfriend and my good friends, I have my books, I have my seaside my mountains and the landscapes, I have the people, I have my fairly good job and my fairly happy occasions. I have my Ups' and Downs' which make life interesting. And finally I got hope - as you say hope doesn't necessarily give an answer but it lets you go on. I really appreciated your thoughts about hope.

That's it - if you let the material prevail over the mental, you'll never feel satisfied even if you live in a rich country. Unfortunately I see many people here dreaming of immigration and when they finally get there they feel disappointed. It is just because their primary goal is a bit corrupted.

Fortunately there is hope among people and you made me think about it. I think I will not give it up. Thank you.

Take care and have a nice stay in Bulgaria. There are many good things here I believe.

Stan

P.S. I guess my mail confirms another Bulgarian character - to share opinion where it is or it isn't appropriate

:-))))))))