What is Bulgaria like as seen by the Chinese and how has knowledge of the Bulgarian language changed the life of an average Chinese girl? Find out all about this in an interview with Chan Ian who has been working for the Bulgarian language section of Radio China International since 2006. For more than three months Ian has been in Bulgaria to strengthen her language skills and to learn more about the country and its culture. In Bulgaria she has presented herself with a poetic Bulgarian name, Lora. It was suggested to her by the professors in Bulgarian language at Beijing University where Chan Ian has graduated in Bulgarian Studies. She started learning Bulgarian all by chance but she has never regretted it.

For the Chinese, Bulgaria is a remote country, very different and unknown as a way of life and mentality, she explains. The Chinese and Bulgarians are too different, and so, in the beginning it was very hard to come to terms with the Cyrillic alphabet, and with the Bulgarian traditions, food and art. At first we tended to think that Bulgarians are lazier than the Chinese but we later began to understand the Bulgarian outlook on life better. Thanks to the Bulgarian language I have met people I would have never meet in my life. My thinking has begun to change and has come closer to the Bulgarian mentality. For example, we can see that today that China has been moving very fast and young people have very tight schedules. There is no big hurry in Bulgaria, and here I feel very relaxed and happy.

At Radio China Lora hosts programs with Chinese traditional and pop music, or focused on economy. Once she is through with her specialization at the

Bulgarian National Radio, she will be in charge of listeners’ feedback. Therefore, during her stay, Lora has come in touch with the friends of Radio China united in a few clubs across the country. Recently, a new club has been founded in the town of Pliska, Bulgaria’s first capital in the Balkans. The most active are Radio China’s friends from the Northeastern town of Kaspichan. For its diverse activities the club in Kaspichan has landed in the world’s top ten of best Radio China fan clubs. The Bulgarian language section of the radio has had a tradition longer than 30 years. Why does Radio China International maintain Bulgarian language programs beamed to a nation of fewer than 8 million? More, from Lora:

As you know there has been traditional friendship between China and Bulgaria for many years. The Chinese people are very hospitable and they are eager to get in touch with other nations. No wonder than that Radio China International airs programs in sixty languages.

Chan Ian in the Revival town Koprivshtitsa where she joined a reenactment of the 1876 April Uprising events

For Chan Ian Bulgaria is fascinating with the feasts and holidays celebrated locally. It was here that Lora saw fir the first time a church ceremony for the Resurrection of Christ. She is has been mesmerized by the Revival spirit of the town of Koprivshtitsa and by the holidays of roses and cherries celebrated in early summer.

There are many things in Bulgaria I like so much. My favorite food is the Bulgarian cheese pie, banitsa. I love Bulgarians for their hospitality and for their compassion and kindness. The Bulgarian nature too, is absolutely beautiful, concludes 29-year-old Chinese broadcaster Chan Ian.

Translated by Daniela Konstantinova
Photos: personal archive