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I come from a large Bulgarian family which I miss very much. But I love America! I always wanted to be a part of the Free World and now that I am I appreciate it greatly. Unlike most foreigners who come from Third World countries, poverty wasn't what drove me away. My father had worked hard to make sure his children would grow without limitations, although he also made sure I got acquainted with hard work from a very early age. A machine engineer and a teacher for 17 years, my father took up farming shortly after I was born and worked literally without a weekend off for the next 20 years to make sure his son and daughter wouldn't have to struggle the way he did in his youth. My sister had graduated college at that point, learned a few spare languages and became a certified diplomat (White House, 1992). My mother was a professional ballet dancer, recognized by most of the artists in town, although I was too young when she retired (5 to be exact) and I don't have personal recollection. Knowing I couldn't compare to my sister's ambition and desire to learn, and I could only try to match my father's success, I decided to seek my fortune in the Land of Opportunity! I first had to place in the top 5 in a math & English contest, held in Sofia. Actually, I have to thank my sister for talking me into giving it a shot. Next thing I knew, I was an exchange student in Virginia, where I stayed a year with a hospitable Chesapeake family. |
