Moving to the UK, and overcome failures and rejections

Daniel 0:03
Hi, everyone, and welcome to the second episode of Emigrant's Life. I'm Daniel De Biasi. And in this podcast, I share stories of people who left their country to chase a better life. Today's guest is originally from Bulgaria and now lives in the UK. Her journey as an immigrant started with the idea of working just a few months in Greece over the summer. In this episode, we are diving into the struggles of starting a new life in a new country, and how to overcome failure. I find this episode very uplifting, inspiring and motivational. We connected over Facebook. She reached out to me after seeing my post where I was looking for immigrants who are willing to share their story on the show. I'm very glad she did. Please enjoy this episode with my new friend, Teodora Hi, Teodora. Thanks for being on the show today.

Teodora 0:52
Hi, Daniel. Thanks very much for having me.

Daniel 0:55
No worries. How are you?

Teodora 0:57
I'm really good. Thank you. I heard about your podcast and I think this is really, really exciting what you're doing. And thanks again for having me as a guest. That's my privilege.

Daniel 1:11
Oh, thank you. That was nice. It was nice from you. Where are you now? Are you in UK? London? Is that right?

Teodora 1:19
Yes, that's right. So I'm originally from Bulgaria. But I live in UK since 2010. I even remember I did 10 years this month. Actually, I arrived on the 23rd of April 2000.

Daniel 1:36
Oh, congratulation on your I dont know how to call it country birth? I don't know. So from Bulgaria, and well, what age did you leave Bulgaria?

Teodora 1:48
The story is a bit more complicated because so what happened to me is, I finished my secondary school. We did college, this is how we call it so I was 19 at that point, when I finished school. And then I applied for university. I didn't go to university. I spend two years in university, but then I didn't have intention of going abroad or something like that. It just happened to me, because my country's economy 15, 20 years ago was was really bad then. And I remember a big part that made me take that decision is while I was in university. I was I was studying journalism. I was a reporter. It was really good. I had a job where I had a job in a local TV, very small TV. How is this called TV station or TV channel? Sorry, yes TV channel. And then I was so excited I can't imagine and I was I was, this is what I was studying and I could go through everything but, after three months of doing this thing and the salary that I was getting was very, very little so so I can barely support myself because I was very independent girl since then I wanted to do everything myself. So I just put the numbers together and I said, No, you can't do it really, it's it's very difficult. So you need to find different way unless, you know I had another option that I was thinking of. So I took the decision to go just for the summer to Greece, because I'm half Greek, half Bulgarian so I took the decision to go to Greece and just spend the summer over there work little bit, and things like that. But yeah, things happened that I went to Greece and I stayed there. I stayed there for five years. At the beginning was was very hard, very, very hard. Really life of a lonely so and it didn't get, it didn't get easier even towards the end, to be honest. That's that was the big decision of mine that I left that country because I was feeling very lonely.

Daniel 4:07
Why? Because because of the language barrier because the different culture?

Teodora 4:12
No, I was was very good. I was like my, my Greek was really really good. I was speaking, I was able to communicate and understand everyone, you know, I pick up very quickly even pronunciation, but I do know it's - I never found my, my belonging. Where do I belong in this? I never found a soulmate. Even. So I had the good friend, she was Greek then. But then she marriage and I was I was alone again and procreate that loneliness. I just, I just found out I don't fit really. I don't know how. I just felt it all the way. So I took the decision to come here. There was another opportunity. So I was finishing from Greece. And this was was taking the decision to go back to Bulgaria. When the big love of my life, he invited me to come and live with him. So we were having some kind of communication during the years. We had our big love as we were teenagers, but he invited me to come live with me in London. And I did it.

Daniel 5:25
So he was already in London? So he was living in London?

Teodora 5:28
He was yes, he was here already. He was - he made it a little bit easier set up the things easier for me. So I didn't I didn't have to go through everything that I went through in Greece as a start. So for me was slightly easier, but I tell you what, it was a big struggle because when I arrived in 2010 so Bulgaria my country, I'm a Bulgarian citizen so my country was in the European Union, but see what kind of things was weren't very clear then. So they weren't giving to everyone the National Insurance number so easily. This is what you need to actually just start working and paying for your contribution and everything around. So I needed to go for interview. Eight times and I was rejected seven times.

Daniel 6:26
Okay.

Teodora 6:27
Yeah. So I remember, I had a job, I had a job, I had a normal job, you know, I was earning money. I was giving references for the job that I'm working. And even I was, they were telling me, you know, we had a call yesterday, they called us from the home office, you know, some to confirm that you, you, you work for us and we set out you're great that you work well and everything's fine. And they rejected me again. And I was like, really? Yeah, that was that was the hard part at the end of it I remember that eight interview, I went there. And at the end of it I just said, because they said to me, You haven't change anything about your circumstances. So the answer is most definitely going to be the same. And I broke into tears. And I said, Guys, what do you want me to do really? What do you want me to have? Sure. I have everything needed around all the documents around and I can't get a national insurance number to be to be a member of this community.

Daniel 7:35
Yeah.

Teodora 7:36
Then they told me a little trick that I needed to do. So my partner then helped me he did some we did apply together for that purple cards. So that was giving you, allowing you to work and stay in the country.

Daniel 7:53
What's a purple card?

Teodora 7:56
Years ago that was a yellow card, a blue card and a purple card. So with the yellow card, you just got the permission to, to stay until some time. With the blue cards, you just got the permission. I'm not sure what is it, but the purple card was the most of it. So it was the package of all these things. So I had the permission to stay, I had the permission to work. Yes, the blue card was the permission to work as a self employment and self employed only. And the purple card was the permission to work as a self employed and employee as well. So I had it all. And that was, that was great, but after the eight attempt.

Daniel 8:37
Okay. A couple of questions here.

Teodora 8:42
Ask me.

Daniel 8:43
When you were applying for jobs, what kind of jobs are you applying for? Jobs that you had experience on? So like you say was that you were a journalist? Is that what you were doing in Greece? So what kind of jobs you were applying on?

Teodora 8:57
No, the thing is when I come in the country I wasn't confident. Now looking back, I can see actually a big potential in me then. But the big lock was confidence and believe in my own abilities. So I was applying for jobs that anyone can get. I started as a nanny, and a big thing that helped me in the job was my Greek. Because the family, the family that I work for was Greek, was half Greek, half English, and they really wanted to teach their children to speak Greek. So that was a thing for me. Yeah, that helped me. That helped me a lot. And-

Daniel 9:47
So that was that the first job? You got?

Teodora 9:50
Yeah

Daniel 9:50
Okay.

Teodora 9:51
That was my first job. That was my first job. And then from then, as I was actually working with children, I started liking this. Children was kind of my passion. And I said, I wanna I want to progress over this. I want to make myself more professional as I'm working with children. So I educate myself, I took level two and level three on early ECE educator. And my next job was working as a nursery nurse in a in a nursery. I was a teacher in a nursery.

Daniel 10:25
So you said that you had a job or you had your all your paper works, but they didn't give you the number to be able to work in the UK. In that moment, did you feel like you're rejected? You know what I mean? Like an unwanted guest?

Teodora 10:40
Yes.

Daniel 10:41
Do you feel that way? Or just like oh, whatever. That's just bureaucracy.

Teodora 10:44
Yes. Yeah, I was feeling the same way I felt unwanted and rejected. And I, I could clearly tell that if I if I was alone, here or by myself, without the support of my partner, then I'll be out of the country no way to support myself. How could I? Because without papers actually, you know, you know gaining as much and you know earning as much as you can't support yourself. And I had actually, people who I had the opportunity to meet here they came for the same thing to find a better life, but because on that time, they weren't giving as much National Insurance number oh, very easily. They spent three, three months of waiting and going through the rejections and they needed to go back. You can't go swim by yourself without support.

Daniel 11:40
It's, yeah I know, it's hard. I had this similar situation when I came to Canada, same situation. I met my girlfriend at the time and you see it on where I was leaving and we pretty much move at the same time here in Canada where she was from. So she was okay she had passport. She was she was from from from Vancouver. She was actually from from Canada so she was okay. My situation was a little bit different. I had a visa before I met her so was already planning to come to Canada. But even then I came here with they gave already give me like a six months visa, which I thought was all it was a year because I applied for a working holiday visa. Last time when I applied for the same visa in New Zealand was for a year. And when I applied to Canada, they only gave me like a six months visa. So finding a job with six months visa was no easy. I was trying to find a job in a career was different than mine. I was trying to find a job as a software developer. I went through the nominee. I mean, I applied so I don't know many jobs. I went through a few a couple of interviews, probably more than a couple interviews. And I felt terrible afterwards. I felt like I was nobody like not good enough. I felt terrible.

Teodora 12:54
Yeah.

Daniel 12:55
So then I start applying for other jobs where it was more like a my field I was most successful. But even then the application to get a permit here in Canada was just atrocious was like so hard to stay. Even then I was just like even I was in the same situation if it wasn't for my girlfriend at the time I would have left just like why the hell I'm gonna stay here? If you guys don't want me you know what I'm leaving I just go where some somewhere where they want me because I know I'm good. I know I can bring value to this country so if you guys don't it's like it's naive to do to say there because they don't know you're just another another immigrant. For me like I'm not a mega it's it's been it's my life you know what I mean? And just I'm you feel like you're I don't know different or special in certain way but of all you guys you know what if you don't want me just, I'm going or going somewhere else. I don't have to stay here if you guys don't want me this kind of situation. You don't want to be somewhere where they don't, they don't want you. Why would you?

Teodora 13:58
You know, this is exactly what I felt. And because I believe in myself that I'm honest person. I've always been honest and try always to be very fair. And you know, I wouldn't take I wouldn't take anything for granted or anything that is not my or should it be mine you know asking or treat cheating you know all these little things that you can go and sometimes people I know that sometimes people try to cheat a little bit especially with benefits and things like that. If you think of that as you coming, the lower stages, but I don't like this kind of stuff. And I always been proud of myself in a way that, I'm here to bring value. And I just want you in return to give me a chance. This is that goal. And so after 10 years in this country, I like it. I like it here to be honest. I love my life in here. I like the people. I like the way it is. You know that it's always been like that you can find some not so nice thing but most of the things are really really nice and I like and even I booked my life in UK test this is something that you need to go through if you want to apply for a passport here.

Daniel 15:14
Sorry can you repeat that? I didn't I didn't get.

Teodora 15:16
I did apply I just applied for a test in UK they see something something that you need to do before you apply for your citizenship.

Daniel 15:29
What kind of test is that? Is it about the country you know the history?

Teodora 15:33
it's about the history. All their kings, and all their big battles and a little bit of arts and a little bit of history. Yeah. From the beginning rounds there and we're going through the modern world and all around yeah. For their prime it's it's really interesting yeah.

Daniel 15:54
Yeah, history I've never been like a good student. I hate history. I just hate wars is I hate, I hate everything about it. But hopefully for staying in Canada, the history is a bit easier. In Canada, the series is much shorter. But if you have to apply it or the same citizenship in Italy, good luck. But England, it's not much different. There's, there's so much yeah, there's still a lot of history to learn. And so when, when you're when you're getting the test?

Teodora 16:27
So I booked it on eighth of July. During the COVID, they actually they've rescheduled everything. So the earliest that I can book was the end of June, beginning of July. So I chose July.

Daniel 16:43
Okay

Teodora 16:44
Yeah.

Daniel 16:44
Do you feel ready?

Teodora 16:45
Wish me luck. I'm getting ready. I'm reading and writing really most of it and writing some little notes about it. It's quite difficult to find it, you know, because there's so many days and you're getting confused, but I'll give there.

Daniel 17:01
Okay, I'm not gonna give you any question to test because I'm terrible. I'm not going through that. Okay, so you say that you're decided to stay there just because you love the country love England, right?

Teodora 17:16
So I told you that I came because of love because yes, because of my partner. And since then I've created a family, which I found is really, really important part for me to keep me going and to feel home. Yes, I don't feel alone anymore. That's, that's big.

Daniel 17:39
That's the main thing. Yeah, that's the main thing

Teodora 17:41
And a good thing that this country is giving me opportunities. Yes, it's giving me a lot of opportunities. And this is what I this is what I always wanted. You know, it's up to me to build this up. I wanted to study for the teacher. I went and did that. Then you know all these opportunities sometimes they're not giving us easy

Daniel 18:06
Yeah

Teodora 18:07
But if know what you want, you get them. I was working as a as a nursery teacher, and towards the end of my the month that I was finishing that I could feel that something big is missing. I could feel that I'm not able to this long. Something is missing. I need to find that missing piece. And I was doing some I was doing sewing classes with my with my little boy. We got company when I received an email saying that saying that they're looking, they're looking for new teacher. They're recruiting so if you're interested in or send an email or details, they contact you and ask you to come for interview. And I did it was I read that email in my mind was yes, I've got this you know, that's my thing. That's the missing piece. He was so linked to what I'm doing. It was still working. I was still working with children. But then it was something absolutely new, exciting. You know you're working not only with children with adults as well, and this, that was my thing. And it was big fun. So when I went for that interview, I think you know, always when you do something that elevates, you've got this feeling. How did she go? How did I do over that, over that thing? And I had this feeling that it went well. I did well. But unfortunately, I was. I was rejected. For me. I didn't feel bad. No show. Yeah, I just felt you know what, probably not the right time. But I'll keep pushing, because I could feel this is my thing. It doesn't matter what you do. It doesn't matter what you say. I'll get there because this is my missing piece. And I went to a second interview, the second interview was even in greater depth. There two two ladies that own a franchise. So there were two of them over there asking different questions this time and was a little bit more interacting. I did good, at least, this is what I felt. But I was rejected again. I was rejected again. So yes, but I kept pushing and pushing in a way that this didn't put me down. I said, Alright, doesn't matter. It's just not the right time, but I'll get there. In the third time, Daniel, was my lucky time. So yeah, I got the job. I got the job. And I want to say it again, I'm saying it's, it doesn't matter how long to take you. The most important thing is to know where you're going. You know, don't give up. If you know what you want, where you're going. Just keep pushing. Just keep going, you'll find a way. The most important thing is to believe in yourself.

Daniel 21:05
I absolutely agree with you. And for some people it's even hard to know what you want to do in life. But even then, like, if you are lucky to know what you want to do in life, yeah, I think rejection is just like a it's part of the journey. And if you get over it if you like, okay, you could be maybe I'm not good enough yet. So, okay, that's what I want to do. They are rejecting me for many reasons. One could be I'm not good enough yet. Or maybe it could be I can't sell myself as good as other people. Okay, let's work on it. Let's improve that. That's what I want to do anyway, so why don't get better than why I'm trying to get a job. So just go back and just get better and better and better until until the end you get the job.

Teodora 21:51
Yeah.

Daniel 21:52
Right?

Teodora 21:53
When I before I get this job, the swimming teacher. I was really, really passionate about it. To very passionate, I love my job. But I went on an interview three times. And I was rejected because I was I think a foreigner.

Daniel 22:10
Okay?

Teodora 22:12
I think because my pronunciation wasn't because I'm still the only one in a company that is not English speaker speaking. That's not my and I'm the only one, nobody else is on my boat.

Daniel 22:28
I have to say your English is really good. I love your accent side. I think your English is great to be honest. And yes, I do. I had the situation before as well, I think depends from country to country. Maybe England is not as open as any other country to foreign people. But yeah, that's just that's our struggle, isn't it?

Teodora 22:50
Yes, yes. You know, I believe England it's quite open. They are quite open, but they'll never tell you something straightforward. So I love my job. What I do with that, and the guys are really, really cool. I liked them so much. And I believe that once they got me that opportunity, they haven't regretted it at all. But until I got that was a big struggle, because it was a big struggle. But afterwards, I was feeling so, so proud. Because then so the training was extremely hard. I remember we were seven people in a group away from our far homes for eight days. So I was sleeping there in different town and what we were doing, we were having a so that was a very tough training because they really want to just put us in a position to push you to the your limits. So how could you respond? How could you react in a way for example, if you're up to two for long hours, and then get really exhausted really tired. How, what your reaction could be. So what we were doing, we were spending from eight hours in the water, just with little group just with a break for lunch. And then after that, eight hours, then you have a shower. Then you have little rest half an hour and then we start with paperwork. And all this with the theory. I was the only one speaking, not speaking English.

Daniel 24:38
I mean, you mean the only way we're a non native English speaker?

Teodora 24:41
Yes. Yeah, not not sorry. No. Yes, you're right. Not my mother language.

Daniel 24:46
Okay. Yes.

Teodora 24:49
Yeah, that's true. And after that training, I felt really inspired and I could feel that I can do anything. I want, want to because it's up to me what I want to do. I did it. I did it. Yeah, yeah, I was very very proud.

Daniel 25:07
Yeah that's interesting. Yeah, that's interesting. Do you have any regrets about leaving your country?

Teodora 25:13
No, I don't have regrets leaving my country. I believe that, especially nowadays, we do have our roots. This is certain we do have our roots. But we do belong whenever we feel home and whenever we feel welcome and good. That's the most important thing. You can you can make yourself home if you if you feel that you belong there. And after 10 years here, I feel home. Yeah.

Daniel 25:50
And I mean, I guess your family still in Bulgaria? Your parents are-

Teodora 25:55
So my, my father is in he lives in Spain.

Daniel 26:00
Okay

Teodora 26:01
Yeah, my mother, she lives here. She came in 2014. My brother in 2017.

Daniel 26:10
Okay

Teodora 26:11
So most of our family most of my family's here already, you know, I don't think too long.

Daniel 26:16
Okay. Okay. That's probably that helps to not feel like and don't have any regrets about leaving your country because you should leave your country share your family is still there. Atleast that's for what I heard from other people that still may regret it. They don't spend enough time with their family, family. I mean,

Teodora 26:36
I think that's a big part of it, especially when your family's away, not being able to see them or visit them, spend time with them as much as you can. But in my case, they're here and I feel fulfillment of everything around. I've you know, Dani, there is one part that I feel sorry. I feel sorry that my country couldn't keep me and give me didn't provide enough for me. Because you know I feel that all the people in the world that are trying to go somewhere else they're trying they're going somewhere else because of that search for better life and if they find that better life where they belong will be beneficial for the country as well.

Daniel 27:26
Yeah, I know, absolutely. There's a lot of people even for me though they leave they do experience overseas and they go back and they learn a language send it bring this value and the skill they learn overseas back to the country, their region country and they do something good for the country so which is which is great. I can definitely relate with you just said that Italy couldn't keep me there was no enough opportunity for me. I want to have bigger dreams than what the county can actually provide for me. Even even for like a going back to the family situation. I can I feel more connected with my family now than when I was living with my mom because I was living with my mom until I was 27. Yeah, that's what that's what we do in Italy. There's just no judgement here. I'm a momma's boy yes I am. So I left Italy when I was 27. I was living with my mom until then. And I feel more more connected with my mom now than before.

Teodora 28:23
Quality, yes is the quality.

Daniel 28:26
Quality over quantity. Absolutely. And there's something about being far that connects connects with people somehow.

Teodora 28:34
Because you start appreciating?

Daniel 28:37
Yes, absoulutely. Yes. And one thing I want to share with you that I don't know if you hadthe same situation when you left Bulgaria, but when I decided to leave the country was like for me was like a I'd like I'll quit my job in July and I left the country in September so I had the whole month of August to just enjoy, do nothing just just pretty much was like a party after party after party just because people I was moving from Italy to New Zealand the other side of the world. I didn't know when I will be able to go back to visit them. So everybody was just like a throwing party after party just to say goodbye or

Teodora 29:23
You mean?

Daniel 29:24
In Italy, yes. And I felt like I was on it's it's a weird try to follow me here. It's weird was like I was feeling like I was on my own funeral when everybody gives you like a tells you that they love you prove they love and you're not even there. You know, they usually the people say good things were after you after you die at your funeral. And I was still alive. There was a dance the feeling I had was like just like I had so much love. The month was probably the best, the best month in my life. I was you can't you can't get this I couldn't have that without leaving the country leaving the people I love because all my family and friends still in Italy all the people most of the people I love still there and out there every time I go back and every time I go back its special . So it's it's it's amazing but yeah being at your own funeral is great

Teodora 30:23
Yeah probably because you had big preparations of the event you know?

Daniel 30:28
Yes I mean it didn't happen overnight. So I made my decision I think was in February, I believe. I think I might have got the visa around April for to move to New Zealand so I had quite a few months of preparation to quit my job and tell everybody I was leaving. So there was like a few months of preparation. But It was an amazing feeling. amazing feeling. And it was downsize from there because you were like a you were up there have feelings like people connection. Feel like you're surrounded by people they love. And the next day you're on a plane by yourself on the other side of the country that's like, this big low.

Teodora 31:09
For me, I remember when I was going to Greece because that was my first time leaving the country. I felt scared, very scared. I was taking my box in the bus. I remember all by myself, and then I was going to live where I didn't know what what is there for me. really scared, scared thing. I never rent a property before.

I was never living in a big town like Thessaloniki, then the second biggest town in Greece. And I was never away from my family and friends for longer than a week or two. And then that event for me was like, are you going to you know what are you doing, it was so so scary.

Daniel 32:07
Oh yeah

Teodora 32:09
I think every journey, every every journey the beginning and the unknown that's that's the main thing the unknown when you don't know what's going to happen what what do you don't know what's in front of you you're fearful.

Daniel 32:24
Yeah that's what stops most of us when we don't know what where to go we usually stand still we don't go anywhere. We stay on the same situation, the same spot. But when you overcome their fear like it when you get into the unknown and you walk to the other side and all good and actually in a better in a better situation, it's give you the power to like oh well I can absolutely. You can you feel like could, you can do almost anything because you have to reinvent yourself right? You have to adopt you have to learn a language. In most cases, you need to learn language. You need to create your own life because you, you probably were in the same situation where everything you had was all your possession were in a luggage, in a suitcase, right? You're all your life is there and from living in a house with everything you add, like everything you collected over the years, it's there and then you move to a different country on your own with all your belongings in a suitcase, and you have to start your life from scratch from that suitcase.

Teodora 33:34
And then do you know what? Because I did have two suitcases the same way that you explain and talk about it. You learn that actually, that suitcase is not important. Because the stuff that you left the first time that you pack that suitcase, and you regret it because you left them because you've collected them for so many years. They don't really matter.

Daniel 34:01
Yeah exactly even because most of most cases all you got your clothes they're not gonna bring with you things from I don't know your childhood or your favorite toy or whatever it is there's no room for that. All you got is a bunch of bunch of clothes that can be replaced anytime anyway. Even myself I was I don't want to feel like to say I'm special again but I think my brain works a little bit different than most of us most of the most of the people just because that's not a good thing. I think I'm like, in some way a more like a stupid under the other people just because my brain doesn't realize, for example, until I was in the airport by myself. I don't think my brain or myself I realized what I was doing. I had no idea. I was like in this like a bubble like everything is great. Yes, I gotta move to another country.

Teodora 34:57
But it does take bit more time to realize things happening around.

Daniel 35:01
Yeah, I was I was living in a completely in a bubble. I was until I was at the airport and that's where everything felt real. I panicked. I never had a panic attack in my life until that point. I was panicking. I didn't know what to do. I was in the middle of the airport I don't know what to do. Like, I'm really doing it. I didn't I wasn't realizing until that but at that point. It just it and that was like scared the crap out of me. As I say until today I had never had a panic attack that was the first time I had a panic attack like a panic attack in my life. I never felt the same way ever. Even moving to Canada was was much easier like emotionally. It was harder to get through the all the process immigration.

Teodora 35:51
I think the first time is always harder.

Daniel 35:54
Yeah. Because the unknown right?

Teodora 35:56
You dont know it's coming.

Daniel 35:57
I don't know what

Teodora 35:57
The second you know the process, you know?

Daniel 36:01
Yeah. It's kind of the feeling when you're a child, you go on this whirlpool, you know, like a big big slides. The big water slides is like, Oh, I'm so scared. I don't want to do it. I want to do it then you do it. You can't stop it. You can't stop.

Teodora 36:16
Nowadays as well.

Daniel 36:19
But yeah, that no one other beginner like, when you don't know what's on the other side, you just, it's natural. You're scared, but then you do it and you realize you yet yeah, how great the situation is on the other side. Most of the time, at least, that's what it was for me. And that was for you. Right? What's the biggest upside about being an immigrant?

Teodora 36:42
Yeah, for me, the biggest upside coming here to this country. I've got many, many, many things to share and to be grateful really. So one of the easiest language I learned. Speak good English. And then then I think I learned to appreciate. And even I changed the way of my how I think, in the way I see it sometimes. Because English, English people, they're very popular with a good manners. So I believe that I always like this big part of how they behaving in front of people and in their houses and all these things. You know, I like this type of English manners they're giving here. They gave me confidence to believe myself, yes, because when you let's, let's face it, I don't have the same start of, for example, my colleagues in the world in my job, we didn't have the same start. Well, we're here. We're here at the same level and I'm wishing, I'm willing to go further. So this is the confident this is something that drives me forward and keeps me keeps me going and pushing me. Because I'm saying to myself, you know I came 10 years ago, and I did what I did, and I'm willing to do even more. So I'm, I'm capable, I can do this. Yeah, I think that's the most important thing this country gave me. And I'm really, really grateful for this.

Daniel 38:25
Okay, I think that's bring bring us to the next question, which I think you already answered that but do you feel lucky to be an immigrant?

Teodora 38:33
Yes and no.

Daniel 38:36
Okay.

Teodora 38:38
As you're lucky of the position I am, I feel lucky for everything I have. I feel grateful. Grateful is the right word for me. But I wish how I see the things in the future is when I retire for example, I want to go back. Yes, I want to go back. We people have our roots, as I said earlier. And I also know where we belong. So I want to be back one day.

Daniel 39:14
That's interesting.

Teodora 39:17
That's one day.

Daniel 39:19
Okay, that's interesting. Okay, last question that's a little bit tricky. And if you go back in time, when you left your country, Bulgaria, what would you say to your younger self? Like, if you have a time machine, you can go back and talk to yourself back then what would you say?

Teodora 39:36
I say to myself, hold on tight. You're going to learn so much things. You're going to amuse yourself for what's ahead of you. And you're going to be proud of you.

Daniel 39:49
That's the best answer you could give me.

Teodora 39:52
Thank you. Thank you.

Daniel 39:54
Awesome. Okay, thank you so much for for being on the show with me today Teodora.

Teodora 39:59
It was a big pleasure, Danny, thank you very much. Thanks again for having me.

Daniel 40:03
No worries. Thank you very much. Okay. Bye.

Teodora 40:08
Bye.

Daniel 40:09
I hope you enjoy listening to this episode. If you want to spend a minute to give us a review, whenever you're listening to this, it will help others to find the show. And if you want to share your story, you can visit our website emigrantslife.com or send an email directly to stories@emigrantslife.com. Also on the same website, you will find the show notes with all the information we discussed in this episode. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Thanks for listening. Bye!

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