One of the greatest joys of teaching Bulgarian is seeing how our students build meaningful connections with the language, the culture, and the people around them. Today, we would like to introduce you to Evgeny, one of our students whose journey with Bulgarian began long before he joined our school.
From his first visits to Bulgaria through running his own software company and studying and making business meetings and presentations in Bulgarian with dedication and enthusiasm, Evgeny’s story is a wonderful example of how language learning can open new horizons and create lasting bonds. In this interview, he shares his experiences, challenges, favorite Bulgarian expressions, and the moments that have inspired him along the way.
Hello, Evgeny! How are you doing?
Hello! I’m doing well. I continue to work, study Bulgarian, and immerse myself in this beautiful, boundless world.
We are very happy that you are with us! Tell us a little about yourself — where are you from, how long have you been in Bulgaria, or what is your connection to the country? What do you do?
That’s quite a broad question. I’ll try to answer it point by point and in order.
I was born in Russia — or, to be more precise, in the USSR, in the city of Khabarovsk. It’s a large city and regional center located almost on the border with China. We left Khabarovsk when I was six years old.
The train journey from Khabarovsk to Moscow took six or seven days. That fact usually amazes people. But for Russia, it’s quite normal.
To be honest, before coming to Bulgaria, I only knew a few scattered and very general facts about the country. For example, during my school years people would say, “Did you know that in Bulgaria the highest grade is not 5 but 6?” Or, “In Bulgaria students attend 12 grades instead of 11 like we do.”
Of course, I also knew some things from history — about the assistance of the Russian Empire in Bulgaria’s liberation. In the very center of Moscow there are monuments of the Heroes of Pleven and of Cyril and Methodius. I had heard about the Alyosha Monument in Plovdiv and about Shipka.
And, naturally, I knew that Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria.
So these key landmarks and facts had always been somewhere in the back of my mind.
I remember that in 2005 I attended a football match between CSKA Moscow and Levski Sofia. If I remember correctly, it was in November in Moscow. We were sitting in a section right next to the Bulgarian supporters. We even threw a few snowballs at each other 
But the police kept a close eye on things and maintained order
Before Bulgaria, I had already visited several countries as a tourist. I always felt an inner curiosity to explore new things and expand my horizons.
And then, in the summer of 2010, my family and I came to Bulgaria. That happened thanks to my mother (she gave the initial push), who had visited Bulgaria back in 1980 and always remembered that trip with great warmth. So when I look at everything that led to this moment, I think none of it was accidental
I graduated from university with a degree in Applied Mathematics, and while studying there I became fascinated by computers and programming in particular.
Today I run my own company that develops and maintains software solutions for businesses. Most of our work focuses on automation for trade and manufacturing. In practice, I am a programmer, a team leader, and a CEO all at once, with all the responsibilities that come with those roles.
At what point did you realize that you wanted – or needed – to learn Bulgarian?
Starting in 2010, we came to Bulgaria every year, every summer, mostly to the Black Sea coast around Nessebar. Later, Bansko also became part of our travel routes.
As for the desire to learn the language, around my third year of vacationing in Bulgaria I wanted to be able to say more than just “Hello,” “Thank you,” and “Goodbye.” There were probably three reasons for this.
The first was a desire to show respect to the people who spoke Russian with me and were always so kind and welcoming.
The second was a somewhat inexplicable desire to learn a new language in general. Besides, I was almost guaranteed yearly language practice 😊
And the third factor, which was equally important, was that I felt I wanted to connect my life with Bulgaria in some way. Naturally, I viewed this through the lens of my profession. Everything I created for work made me think, “How could this be applied in Bulgaria?” So there was probably a little bit of obsession and madness in my motivation 😊
At first, I bought a Bulgarian language textbook in Moscow. I thought that since our languages share the Cyrillic alphabet and some similar words (later I realized just how mistaken I was 😊), I would be able to learn on my own.
But I could never get past the first page. I tried several times, but my mind clearly wasn’t ready yet.
Around 2018, I discovered an app for learning Bulgarian. Little by little, I began to learn words and get used to the pronunciation.
I started trying to read and listen to things.
The next serious and conscious step came only in 2022, when I found my first Bulgarian teacher in Moscow. I wanted to add proper theory, foundations, and an understanding of the language’s structures and rules to the small amount of knowledge I already had.
Why did you choose our school specifically?
There is quite an interesting story connected with your school as well. But I think it’s more interesting to tell it from the end—or rather, from the beginning of a new journey.
In 2025, I enrolled in the BASE program in Bulgaria. It is a regular three-month course for entrepreneurs. At the end of the program, we had to present our business ideas. I based my presentation on a software product that I had developed for the Russian market and which I believe could also be interesting for Bulgaria. Before the final defense, we did a trial presentation in front of the course mentor, Alexander. Naturally, I was very nervous 😊 Alex listened carefully and reviewed everything. He gave me feedback and suggestions regarding the presentation itself. And, of course, he also suggested improving my Bulgarian. I completely agreed. He then mentioned that he could recommend a Bulgarian language school specifically for foreigners. I gladly accepted his recommendation. When I opened the Facebook link he sent me, I thought, “I think I’ve seen this organization before.” I checked my messages. And indeed—exactly six months earlier I had already contacted the school to inquire about studying there. I decided that it must be fate, a sign. After that, I no longer had any reason to choose anyone else 😊
Your participation in the BASE program is quite an interesting fact. Could you tell us a bit more about it?
Yes, it is indeed an interesting and, in a way, a magical story for me.
The fact is that for a long time I have been thinking, planning, and dreaming (which is equally important) about using my experience and ideas to work in Bulgaria, naturally within the IT sector.
However, to do this successfully, I believe it is necessary not only to understand the country’s economy but also to gain a deeper understanding of its culture and everyday life.
Moreover, immersing myself in Bulgarian life is something that interests me even beyond any business considerations.
So when I saw the announcement about the next intake for the BASE program, I immediately became excited about the opportunity.
I submitted my application, went through a short interview, and was accepted into the BASE Sofia group.
What exactly would you like to bring to the Bulgarian IT market?
For the past 18 years, I have been working with the 1C:Enterprise platform. It is a very powerful tool for application development and business process automation of various scales and across many different industries.
In recent years, the 1C:Enterprise platform has been actively expanding into international markets and has deservedly achieved leading positions in several countries.
Today, it is much more than just a programming language or a development environment. 1C:Enterprise is a complete ecosystem where professionals from different fields – developers, analysts, engineers, and many others – can find their place.
For my part, I would like to introduce and promote the 1C:Enterprise platform in the Bulgarian market. As part of this initiative, I conducted an online seminar in Bulgarian specifically for professionals in Bulgaria, where I presented the fundamentals of the 1C:Enterprise platform (https://softuni.bg/trainings/5260/building-business-applications-with-the-low-code-platform-1c-enterprise#event-details-body-resources-items )
At the same time, I should note that 1C:Enterprise already has a limited presence in Bulgaria.
However, there is still a lot of work ahead. I am confident that this platform will resonate with Bulgarian professionals and find practical applications among them. I have already had the opportunity to see the high level of expertise of specialists in Bulgaria.
If any readers are interested in learning more about the 1C:Enterprise platform, I would be happy to connect with them on LinkedIn:
Thank you for telling us that!
But let’s go back to studying Bulgarian. What format of study did you choose: groups, mini-groups, or individual lessons—and why?
I chose individual lessons. Most likely because I was aware of my limited level, which brought with it certain fears and doubts. I also wanted the teacher’s attention to be focused entirely on me. But now I think I would actually like to study in a group, because it would provide more communication and a greater variety of speaking practice. Besides, I enjoy meeting new people.
In fact, almost every activity I find for myself in Bulgaria is also an opportunity to meet new people.
Was there a moment when Bulgarian seemed difficult and you doubted that you would be able to learn it? How did you overcome that situation? What helped you?
Apart from my early attempts at self-study, when I could not get beyond the first page, the most difficult moment came when I decided to translate my first article from Bulgarian into Russian. It was an article from the magazine website Bulgarian Entrepreneur. I think it took me a week to translate it.
The hardest and most confusing thing was that I understood all the individual words, but somehow I could not put them together into a logical sentence.
Or I could translate them only in very general terms and grasp the overall meaning. But I wanted to understand the exact meaning, including all grammatical nuances.
Eventually, sentence by sentence, I managed to do it.
What helped me? Desire. Interest. A matter of principle. There is also a good saying: “It’s not the gods who make the pots.” So little by little, every day, I got through it.
What comes relatively easily to you in Bulgarian, and what do you find difficult?
The rules for definite articles are still difficult for me, as are perfective verbs and all the different forms of the past tense. For me personally, the similarity between Russian and Bulgarian is often more of a complication than an advantage. Sometimes I stop and wonder, “Am I actually using a Bulgarian word right now, or a Russian one?” 😊But all of these challenges are simply a matter of practice.
When did you clearly notice progress in your language learning?
This process usually happens in stages. There is a cumulative effect. Sometimes it feels like nothing is changing, and then suddenly something clicks.
One of those moments was when I watched my first Bulgarian film—not a foreign film dubbed into Bulgarian, but an actual Bulgarian production. I didn’t just watch it. I tried to translate it by ear, took notes, and paused it frequently. The English subtitles helped. Later, I read my first book in Bulgarian. It was a Bulgarian translation of Gabriel García Márquez’s No One Writes to the Colonel. I bought the book in Bulgaria. I visited several bookstores, spent a long time choosing, evaluating what interested me, whether I would be able to continue translating it, and whether I had enough patience. In the end, I chose that book and never regretted it.
Another major positive breakthrough came when I started attending the BASE program every week. That was actually my main goal—to immerse myself in a real language environment. It was an incredible experience.
Then, while studying with you, I discovered new ideas, tables, and approaches. These are all bricks used to build a house. Some floors go up quickly, while others require much more effort.
Have you had any funny or awkward situations caused by not knowing or misunderstanding Bulgarian?
The first funny situations that come to mind are not really about the language itself, but about not knowing the names of dishes and certain traditions related to food. Most of these situations were connected to my own inner uncertainty. Sometimes you expect an answer expressed in a certain way, but the person responds with essentially the same meaning using different wording—and I freeze for a moment. Or I ask something and the other person asks me to repeat it. I immediately think I must have said something wrong, start rephrasing, and get worried. Meanwhile, the person may simply not have heard me and only needed me to repeat exactly the same thing.
Name your three favorite Bulgarian words or expressions. Why do you like them?
“Още малко” (“a little more”)—the sound of it is like music to me. And “много малко” (“very little”), mainly because the word много resembles the Russian word but carries a different meaning.
I also really love how people say “така” during pauses in conversation—sometimes briefly and sharply, sometimes more slowly and thoughtfully. It seems to create space to slow down, think, inhale, and exhale. For example, when you are telling a story and need a moment to think of the next word or sentence. I think I have even started saying it mentally when speaking my native language.
Does knowing Bulgarian make your life easier in Bulgaria? In what way?
Knowing the language does more than simply make life easier. I feel that it fills my life with new meanings and experiences. There have already been situations where people assumed I was Bulgarian. Only when the conversation became long and more complicated phrases appeared would I admit that I was a foreigner. Then people would compliment my Bulgarian. This happened most often with taxi drivers in Sofia and Varna 😊 Of course, that feels very nice. Sometimes people ask me something on the street, and if I know the answer, I respond. The most important thing is that I almost no longer feel nervous in those situations. I even had an experience where I translated from English (which I do not speak very well) into Bulgarian during a conversation. In the end, everyone understood each other. That is a wonderful feeling. It is incredibly enriching and inspiring.
What advice would you give to someone who has just started learning Bulgarian?
As the saying goes, “The road is mastered by the one who walks it.” There will be different situations along the way. Some things will come easily; others will be difficult. Choose an area that interests you—whether professionally or as a hobby—and read and listen to content in Bulgarian about it. For example, my work is connected with programming and entrepreneurship. That is why I subscribe to Bulgarian podcasts on these topics. I read and translate articles and social media posts. As I mentioned earlier, translating my first article was extremely difficult. The next one was a little easier. But I managed to overcome it because I was genuinely interested in the subject.
If you feel overwhelmed or stuck, take a break and let it go for a while. Approach it from a different angle. And then continue moving forward step by step. I believe that with language learning, there is never a final endpoint.
We can always discover something new.
Would you recommend studying at our school?
Definitely yes.
I was impressed by some of the new tables and visual schemes that helped many things finally fall into place in my mind. Studying directly with a native speaker is a huge advantage. Sometimes our conversations revolve around everyday situations that are not invented textbook examples but real-life experiences. We exchange jokes, sayings, and videos, and we can briefly discuss them outside of class. All of this helps me feel close to Bulgaria, even when I am far away.
We study online, which allows us to plan our schedules flexibly.
I can attend lessons from anywhere in the world.
We are grateful to Evgeny for sharing his story with us. His experience demonstrates that learning a language is not a race but a journey built on curiosity, consistency, and genuine interest in the people and culture behind the words.
At our school, it is always inspiring to witness our students’ progress and to be part of their Bulgarian language journey. We are proud to have Evgeny in our community and look forward to supporting him as he continues to explore the richness of the Bulgarian language and culture.
Thank you, Evgeny, and we wish you continued success in all your future endeavors!