A German student experience in Bulgaria... Suzi Jaeckel

Last year, in the middle of August, Suzi landed in Sofia, Bulgaria, to begin her one-year exchange experience. She was 15 when she took that plane. And now, several months later, we asked her to look back and tell us a bit about her experience. This is what she has to share with us!:

"Exchange is changing. Changing in every way that is possible. From the outside, from the inside. Your way of thinking, the way you see people, your habits. You are changing your life and after that, it will never be like before again.

For me, this happens in Bulgaria. A small country in Europe, even in the European Union, but so different. 16 years of my life I spent in Germany, which is not so far from Bulgaria if you see it from a geographical point of view. As in for the culture, the people, the mentality and almost everything else, it's just so different. Sometimes, even the opposite.

So, to start from the beginning: It is the August 14th, 2015. In the middle of the night, my family and I are on the way to the airport, to say "Goodbye!", for almost one year. I decided to go, to change, to gain experiences – good ones and bad ones – to have fun, to learn a new culture and a new language.

The plane flies over Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania and lands in Bulgaria. The whole time I couldn't realise what I was doing there. Why would I leave Germany for one year? My friends, my family, my whole life? Just to start a new one in another place. It seemed crazy, but also so unbelievable and interesting.

- Now I am at the point where I know why I did all that; what exchange really means. I know about its benefits, the sides that are difficult and, of course, I learnt about Bulgaria and now I would like to share these things. -

Ádám (our Hungarian exchange student) 
and Suzi during their Bulgarian course!

We are 7 exchange students this year in Bulgaria and our exchange started with a 1-month language course in Sofia before we started the school in different places all around Bulgaria. This first month gave us so many different impressions, we started learning a language, that is completely different from our own and we could share our impressions, feelings, experiences and so on directly with the others, because we saw each other almost every day in the course or after that in the city centre, where we enjoyed the summer evenings and afternoons.

But the real exchange started in the middle of September. A new family, for most of us a new city in Bulgaria, school, and that meant again a new environment. We already learnt, how the life in a host family is and how we should behave because we started to get to know the differences between the Bulgarian culture and the culture where we have been living our entire life before.

My year was supposed to take place in Blagoevgrad, a smaller city in south-western Bulgaria, but as everybody will tell you, sometimes there are unexpected things happening. Things that are not really cool, but you learn from them. And so it was for me. After one month I returned back to Sofia, leaving my new friends, my hobbies and my school because I just had bad luck with my host family views on some things in the world that made it impossible for me to live there. So I had to leave Blagoevgrad and I returned to Sofia. There were 1 or two days, where I was really sad, but my friends from Sofia helped me over this time.

The view from Suzi's house in Sofia!

However, there was a new host family waiting for me in Sofia. It was obviously the best thing that could ever have happened to me. I came into a family with two parents and two lovely sisters, that are now a real family for me! We are doing things together, eating dinner together and I just get along with them so well. We have even been in Austria on vacation, where we were snowboarding and skiing and it was really great!

And another one, during sunset

In the time I spent here I learnt to adapt to different situations, the Bulgarian culture and I learnt to speak the language of the country, that I can now call my home. But what's so different in Bulgaria and Germany? I am going to try to explain that, but it could be really hard since you have to experience all these things within a long time. To start with the mentality, I would say that the biggest difference is the fact that Bulgarians are so opened. You get to know a person and they start talking about anything from their life or just what they are thinking about, which makes it a lot easier to get to know many different people and to make friends. In Germany, I was used to getting to know other people a lot slower.

When you come to Bulgaria, you will always here the sentence "Има време!", which means "there is time!" Being some minutes late for meetings is no problem. Doing things only in the last moment is completely normal and no one will be mad at you for that. Also, if anything that you have done is not perfect, people are pleased with what you have done, which is a really great feeling. I once did the dishes and broke a glass. In Germany it would be a problem and most people would just see that you broke something, but not that you helped. Here my host dad just told me that it happens when you are doing something like that and that it is absolutely no problem. I really like that part of the mentality.

Suzi's martenitsas ♥

The school takes a big part of my life and all of the exchange students that come to Bulgaria. The school system is really different from the one in Germany. There are good parts and others that I don't like very much. Of course, every school system has its benefits and negative points. Here the students don't discuss with the teacher: she or he is always correct. Most of the lessons are writing exactly the things that the teacher says. Such thing as "creative thinking" is really none existing, but the younger teachers are starting to try it. My Ethics teacher, who is really young for example, asks for our opinion and we do a lot of presentations there. In the next years, there will also be a lot of changes in the system and it is going to be more modern than now. On the other side the school is a lot shorter than in Germany, here we start at 7:30 finish at 1:15 or even 12:30 two times a week and in Germany I often had school from 8:00 to around 4 o' clock. So after doing the homework, there is still a lot of free time left, which is actually really great.

Suzi and Eva (our Danish exchange student)

The food – It is so different. Bulgarians are so proud of their food (and also of their county. The Bulgarian flag is everywhere!). There are at least 15 things that you have to try if you come to Bulgaria. The most famous one is Banitsa, which is basically kind of phyllo dough with Sirene (its cheese, that you can only get here) and then it's baked in the oven. Eating Banitsa always makes me happy. With my host family I also learnt how to make the Banitsa, that was funny and it is not so hard. The yoghurt is also a thing that is really Bulgarian because the bacteria for it can only be found here in Bulgaria and it has a special taste. If you see a drink called "boza" on the street, try it. I don't want to say anything about the taste, but it is ... surprising. ;)

Exchange also gave me some other moments that will never ever be possible if I would have stayed in Germany. Or would you ever get an accent in your mother tongue without living abroad? Could you ever call two places far away from each other your "home" or two families YOUR families? How could it be possible to learn a language that you couldn't talk at all before within a year, without going to live somewhere else?

This year gave me the opportunity to get to know who I am. To question things that I always did the same way. To think about stereotypes, to tolerate all kind of people's characters, to adapt to a country that I had only known from my geography book in school. This year is like the ultimate opportunity in life!

Until my return to Germany, there is only a relatively small time left and I really want to enjoy being together with my family and friends here, because the time went by so fast and it will never come again!"

Suzi, thank you so much for sharing this with us. We know you'll have an amazing rest of the year!

Опитът на един ученик на обмен в Дания... Яна Иванова (A student experience in Denmark... Iana Ivanova)

Our dear student Iana took the time to answer some questions, so let's jump right into it! 

(You can find the English version below)

Как се чувствам в Дания сега?

В Дания съм от 7 месеца и ми остават още само 4. И като си помисля, че времето ми тук свършва не мога да повярвам колко бързо отлетя! Все още не мога да осъзная, че ще напусна дома, приятелите и семейството си тук. Как се чувствам ли? Чувствам се щастлива, че съучениците ми, другите ученици на обмен и най-вече приемното ми семейство отвориха сърцата и домовете си и споделихме толкова невероятни моменти заедно! Знам, че винаги когато се върна ще има при кого да дойда и ще ме приемат отново с отворени обятия. Беше ми тъжно когато напусках дома си за 11 месеца, но знаех че ще се върна. А когато трябва да напусна и втория си дом и никога вече няма да имам този живот- тук и сега… сърцето ми се свива само при мисълта за това. Сега Дания е моят дом и аз го обичам, както и всички с които направихме тези месеци незабравими!

Какво най-много ме изненада от страната?

Когато заминавах за Дания не знаех много за страната и хората тук. Четох много и бях чувала доста стереотипи, за това си признавам, че първото което ме изненада е, че не всички са високи, руси и стройни . Тук има хора от всякаква раса, религия и сексуална ориентация, хора с различни възможности и социален статус и всички са равни! Очаквах хората да са по-консервативни и традиционно мислещи, но те ме изненадаха с безграничното си приемане на различни култури и начини на мислене и техните „странности“ 

Нещо за семейството ми…

Ах! Семейството ми е страхотно! Много сме различни един от друг и въпреки това станахме семейство. Спомням си първия ден, когато дойдох при тях, колко бях развълнувана и леко стресната от голямата промяна, но те бяха до мен. Направиха всичко, за да се почувствам като у дома си. И от тогава не спират да се интересуват от мен, а аз знам че мога да споделя с тях, ако нещо ме тревожи или ми липсва България. Показаха ми неща за които дори не съм се и замисляла (пр: карамелизирани картофи:D ) Заедно ходихме на невероятни места, и са винаги готови да се погрижат за мен, когато имам нужда от тях. Те са веселяци и през цялото време се смеем и забавляваме, за по-добре прекарано време с тях не мога и да мечтая!

Какво научих до сега?

Не знаех, че за толкова кратко време е възможно да науча толкова много неща, както за себе си, така и за света и хората около мен. В датския езика има една дума- „hygge“. Тя не може да се преведе, но описва чувството когато си заедно с близки за теб хора, вътре, на топло и играете „Не се сърди човече“ ;). Предполагам, че на български думата би била „уют“ + „любов“. Пълният смисъл на думата разбрах на Коледа, когато цялото семейство пяхме песни около елхата, ядохме сладкиши и си разменяхме подаръци! Освен езика и всички нови емоции мисля, че едно от най-важните неща които научих на обмена си до сега е как всичко си има по няколко пласта. Когато се намираш в страна където всичко е различно и хората възприемат света по различен начин е неизбежно и ти самия да погледнеш на нещата от друг ъгъл. Винаги съм смятала това за изключително качество. Това е най-ценния урок който научих още в първите си месеци тук и мисля че живота в друга държава е най-бързия начин да го науча!

Какво бих казала на всеки който иска да стане ученик на обмен с YFU?

Знам, че изглежда плашещо просто да „зарежеш“ живота си у дома, семейството и приятелите си. Страшно е и да се озовеш сам на място където никой не те разбира (поне в началото) и е трудно да се справиш с чувствата бушуващи вътре в теб, знам. Но истината е, че не си сам! YFU е като едно огромно семейство, което се грижи за теб, но отдалече, за да ти даде достатъчно пространство да изявиш целия си потенциал. Всички в организацията разбират през какво минаваш и са до теб, за да ти помогнат. Също така има още толкова много стреснати ученици, които изживяват абсолютно същото като теб. А най-якото е, че откъдето и да идват, колкото и да сте различни те стават най-добрите ти приятели! Това и е уникалното на тази година- запознаваш се с изключително много хора с които още след третия ден от лагера имаш чувството че сте били заедно от малки. От напълно непознати, за една година, станахме семейство! Родителите ми обичат да казват, че да отидеш на обмен е като съвременна казарма, защото калява характера ;). Аз обаче бих казала, че това е възможно най-забавната версия на предстоящия ни живот като възрастни. Вместо да се хвърлиш направо в дълбокото, първо се гмуркаме плавно и неусетно за да видим красотата която ни очаква. Никой не обещава, че е лесно, но бих го направила отново и отново защото определено си заслужава!

How do I feel in Denmark?

It has been 7 months that I am in Denmark and I have only 4 more. And when I think that my time is coming to an end, I cannot believe how fast it flies away. I still cannot believe that I will have to leave my new home, friends, and family in Denmark. How do I feel? I feel so happy that my classmates, the other exchange students, and most importantly my host family have opened their hearts and homes and we have spend so many incredible moments together. I know that every time I come back in Denmark, I will have a place where I will be welcomed. I was sad when I had to leave my home for 11 months, but I knew I will come back again. And now when I think that I will have to leave my second home, and I will never “live this life ever again” my heart is aching. Now Denmark is my home – I love my new home, as well as all the people who made these months unforgettable!

What surprised me the most in Denmark? When I left Bulgaria to come in Denmark, I did not know anything about the country and the people. I had read a lot and I had heard many different stereotypes. This is the reason I was very surprised that not everyone is tall, blond and in good shape. In Denmark you can see people from different race, religion, and sexual orientation, as well as people having different social status, and they are all equal! I was expecting the people to be more conservative, but I was surprised by their acceptance of other cultures and mindsets and by their cure little weird habits.

Something about my family…

I have a great family! We are very different, but we have became a real family! I remember the first day when I met them – I was so excited and somewhat scared of the big change, but they were there for me. They made everything, so that I feel at home. Since that moment, they have always been taking care of me, and I know that I can tell them when I am worried or homesick. They have shown me new things—caramelized potatoes, for example. Together we have been to wonderful places, and they are always there for me when I need them. They are happy people, we laugh and we have fun all the time – I could not imagine a better way to spend may time with them.

What have I learned so far?

I did not know that for so little time I could learn so many new things about myself, as well as the world and the people around me. In Danish we say „hygge“. It has no translation, but describes this feeling when you are surrounded by your loved ones at a warm place where you play together board games (Ludo, for example). I guess the closest translation of that word would be “cosy” + “love”. The full sense of this word I learned on Christmas when we were singing songs around the Christmas tree, we were eating sweets, and exchanging gifts. During my exchange I have discovered not only the language and many new emotions, but also that everything in this world has several layers. When you live in a country where everything is different and the people see the world in a different way, it is only a matter of time that you too start looking from their perspective. I have always considered this to be a great feature! This is the most important lesson I have learned during my first months here, and I believe living in another country was the fastest way to learn it.

What would I say to a student who wants to go on exchange with YFU?

I know that it may look scary to “leave” you live, family, and friends. It is also scary to find yourself at a place where people do not understand you (at least in the beginning). It is also difficult to deal with all those feelings, I know that. But the true is that you are not alone in this! YFU is one big family that will take care of you while giving you enough space to show your full potential. Everyone in the organization know what are you dealing with you right now and will help you in that. There are also many other scared students who are going through exactly the same as you do. And the best part is that you may come from different places and be so different from each other, but you always become best friends! This is what makes this year so special – you meet so many new people and you have the feeling that you have always been friends. We were complete strangers, now we are family! My parents used to say that going on exchange in like going in the army, because it makes you stronger! I would say that this is the best version of what is waiting for us in our adult life. Instead of going in the deep right away, we take little steps in order to see the beauty that is waiting us. No one says it will be easy, but I would do it again and again, because it is definitely worth it!

A student experience in Austria... Antonia Kamenowa

This week our sweet student Antonia, a 10th grader from Botevgrad, told us a little bit about how's her experience going in Austria. She's been living in Salzburg, Austria, for about 6 months now, and she has some interesting insights to share! 

Here we go:

"So, as you know I'm an exchange student in Austria. I came here after 15 long hours with a bus. Then, I was on a train for 3 hours having no idea where I was going. I was just sitting in the there, smiling at everyone, because I was scared. After those 3 hours went by I was in Salzburg, my second home for one year.

When the train door opened, I saw him, my second father. He was happy to see me. I hug him and I felt safe. After that, I turned and I saw four girls and my host-mother running towards me. I told myself that I'm lucky to have people like them around me. 

At the train station... My first day here in Austria!

As my host-mother said, my first day was "my free day from speaking German", but then I learned the language so fast! It's a little bit funny because now my German is better than my English.

About cultural differences in between Bulgaria and Austria, Antonia says:


"That's a large theme but, for example, in Austria everything is planned. You know where you are you on holidays 6 months ahead, or when is your next school test. In Bulgaria you aren't so organised. You can make so many things spontaneously."

My first prom!

A pic from my Art class trip to Venezia, and the second
picture is my host sis and I celebrating in Austria's traditional dresses. 
It was so fun!

We also asked her about her Christmas time abroad:

Christmas day was so funny haha... 
Our first photo with a selfie stick!

"What about my first Christmas far away from my family? 
It was really strange, but it was wonderful. I was with so many friends and I was really happy, knowing people like them."

And also my first meeting with a donkey!

New Year's was awesome with our friends from Stuttgart. We miss them so much now...

"I'm proud to be part of Gehmacher's family. It's really funny because we are like kids sometimes, just laughing, singing, playing different kinds of games and so many other things together. I also have the sister I've always wanted. She is an amazing person and I also appreciate everything that she's done for me."

Thank you, Antonia, for sharing all of this with us! What's left of your exchange year will only get better and better!

Becoming a YFU Volunteer - A Little Cog in a Big Machine

This post was written by Yana, a former exchange student in Germany and one of our YFU Bulgaria volunteers. 

Hello! My name is Yana and I am a volunteer at Youth For Understanding Bulgaria. I was on exchange in Germany during 2012/2013, and it completely changed my life. While in Germany, I met so many people who worked and volunteered for YFU. Without their efforts YFU would not exist, as even the smallest contributions are always part of something big and important.

Upon my return to Bulgaria, I wanted to help and contribute to the YFU community, since they had given so much to me, and I became a volunteer in the YFU Bulgaria office. At first I only did small tasks, like translating documents and giving a presentation about my exchange year. As my experience grew, they also asked me to be a mentor to an inbound student from Estonia.

Little by little, I realised how much the staff of YFU Bulgaria appreciated my efforts, even for the smallest things. I started to take on more and more responsibility, hoping to make their work easier. My efforts are always rewarded with smiles, warmth and further confidence in my abilities. This has taught me that all help is important and everything I do is significant, because no machine can move without the help of the small cogs.

I am one of the many cogs in our organisation - I am small, but I am important!

I know there are many young people like me: bubbly, full of ideas and with a desire to conquer the world. But conquering the world, as great as it sounds, must start with something small, and the small things will slowly but surely bring you to your goal.

To me, volunteering for YFU is like a calling, and it was impossible not to get involved. You can’t help but admire the work they do, and this is especially true if you know how much effort goes into sending students abroad! There are a lot of people behind the scenes at YFU. While they rarely stand up to reap the fruits of their labor, these are the people who make everything happen.

However, even they can't do it all themselves. At the end of the day, YFU will always need help from volunteers; people who appreciate what they do and who are willing to work alongside them to change students' lives. I am extremely proud to say that I am a part of this organisation. I know I am working for something bigger than me, something global--something that will have a positive impact on even the most disinterested people in the world!

Most YFU organisations need volunteers year-round, so if you're interested in having a lot of fun and adding some great experience to your CV, then contact your local organisation to see how you can help them. Go to yfu.org to see a list of our organisations and their contact details. 

Baba Marta

Martenitsi in a blossoming tree (source)

In Bulgaria, the coming of Spring is a very important event. Every year on March 1st, the country celebrates Баба Марта (Baba Marta, or Grandma March in English). In Bulgarian folklore, Baba Marta is a grumpy old woman whose mood can change rapidly, and this is the cause of the changeable March weather.

On March 1st and throughout the month, Bulgarians give each other martenitsi, which are red and white threads woven together usually in the form of a wristband. The martenitsi are exchanged in order to wish great health, good luck, and happiness to your family and friends.

The most traditional martenitsi have two small dolls made from wool, called Pizho and Penda. However, there are many different types you can make and buy, and it is common to see street sellers everywhere in the lead up to March 1st!

Martenitsi are usually worn around your wrist or pinned to your clothes. When you see the a stork, or a tree in blossom for the first time that season, you take off your martenitsa and tie it onto a tree for good luck in the coming Spring!

One of our exchange students from Thailand wrote about experiencing her first Baba Marta:

It’s me again, Thanatcha!

On the 1st of March at breakfast time, I received two martenitsi from my host mom and my host sister. I was very excited about it. Unfortunately it was a Saturday, so I didn’t have a chance to see my friends. We went to visit our relatives and I got some more martenitsi!

Later when I went to school, there were several friends who gave me martenitsi and it really pleased me. I consider it an action that shows our feelings for the ones we love. Some of them asked me to make a wish while they were putting martenitsi on my wrist. May Baba Marta bless us all!

Making your own martenitsa is fairly easy, and all you need is some red and white wool! Here is a great tutorial if you want to try it at home.

Don't forget to wish the recipients health, luck and happiness when you give them away!

Christmas in Bulgaria

Bulgarians love to celebrate Christmas, and the festive season here involves many rich traditions. These include a vegetarian fast on Christmas Eve, Christmas carolers in the villages, and good luck charms baked into breads and pastries. Everything is bedecked in Christmas lights, and if you are in a larger city such as Sofia or Plovdiv you can visit the German-style Christmas Markets to enjoy the festive atmosphere!

Despite being a prominently Christian Orthodox country, Bulgarians follow the Gregorian calendar and celebrate Christmas on December 25 instead of January 7 like many other Christian Orthodox countries.

Two of our current inbound exchange students wrote about how they spent Christmas with their host families and the Bulgarian traditions they enjoyed over the holidays.

Christmas lights in Varna

Thanatcha's Christmas

Thanatcha is 16 years old and comes from Nonthaburi, Thailand. She is living with a host family in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. As Thailand is largely a Buddhist country, this was her first time ever celebrating Christmas.

There are not many Christians in Thailand, so Christmas is not celebrated as a big deal. Many Bulgarians are Christian Orthodox. Most Orthodox Christians have a later Christmas than most (on January 7), but my host parents told me that Bulgarians celebrate the holiday on the same day as the international one (December 25).

Thanatcha's first Christmas tree

At my host school the day before the Christmas break, they organized a charity market selling food. The money from the sale went to a charity organization, and every class prepared some food to sell. My classmates prepared some muffins and cookies, and we sold them to other students. I even played my ukulele to attract customers!

My host family and I started to decorate our house two weeks before the Christmas holiday. We decorated our house with colorful lights, dolls, stickers and a bell. Then a week before Christmas, we put up a real Christmas tree in our living room. I made a wreath of mistletoe on Christmas Eve, and I am so proud of it. During the Christmas holidays, my host family and I went to visit their relatives’ household and had a big meal with them.

A very special food we had was ‘banitsa’. It is pastry with white cheese, Bulgarian style. Inside the banitsa are good luck notes, and also a leaf for good health. Another highlight of the Christmas meal here is ‘pitka’. It is bread which contains a Bulgarian coin (stotinka) inside.

We stayed awake all night long and opened our presents on the 24th of December. I got a sketch book and a bar of chocolate from my host family. Christmas was full of impressive traditions. It was fun and warm. I loved this Christmas and it was my first Christmas ever.

Valeska's Christmas

Valeska is 16 years old and comes from Wennigsen, Germany. She is living with a host family in Botevgrad, Bulgaria. 

Before Christmas I had no idea what to expect because I literally knew nothing about what would happen and what we would do. I remembered having read about some old traditions that are still followed in Bulgaria, so I was really looking forward to it.

Traditional Bulgarian banitsa with a lucky fortune baked inside

On Christmas Eve the first traditions came up as my host family and I were about to have dinner. We had no animal products to eat and there had to be either 7, 9 or 12 dishes on the table. One of those dishes was homemade bread called pitka, which had a coin hidden in it. The one who finds the coin in their piece of bread would have luck in the following year.

On the next day, Christmas Day, we opened the presents in the morning. It made me really happy, because I was honestly not expecting any presents since it was already so nice of the family to let me stay with them. I was really thankful for the things I got.

For lunch on Christmas day we then drove to my host family’s relatives in Sofia. We had a turkey and a lot of other food. Again, presents were exchanged and we drove back home. All in all, it was a really nice Christmas for me. It was really interesting to experience all the traditions of a different culture, and see how different it was compared to a German Christmas and all the things that I am used to.