Being fortunate enough to study at a respected university and work in a supportive and fairly well-paid part-time job has allowed me to create opportunities to travel and learn more about the world in which I live, broadening my horizons and knowledge, reducing prejudice and bias I know I have oftentimes willingly accepted based on the propaganda my media sources exploit as a result of a lack open minded and opposing views.
Eastern Europe is regularly demonised in conservative and capitalist circles as being backwards, lacking modernisation, old-fashioned and living a life of instant gratification through cigarettes and alcohol because their economies are weaker than those of Western Europe. Bulgaria, in particular, is reputed to have negatively influenced Brits due to large quantities of alcohol consumption due to the cost being cheaper than in Britain. Media reports are often filmed in or around Sunny Beach, a popular resort destination, known for its parties and "outrageous" behaviour. For this reason, Bulgaria is chastised and, naturally, all Bulgarians must surely behave in a similar manner.
However, when we watch and truly pay attention to the reports from this location, individuals whom are spoken to by journalists are never Bulgarian. They are, usually, British or German. Of course this makes it acceptable to blame foreigners' behaviours on the people of the country they are temporarily staying in. Of course it is correct and just to blame Bulgarians for the behaviour and alcohol consumption of autonomous and free holiday-makers.
But it isn't. Bulgaria is unfairly portrayed in the media and its citizens are reproached for the actions of individuals they cannot control. The media rarely explores the rich culture and history of Bulgaria, instead focusing on traditional stereotypical tropes of Eastern-European, ex-Communist states.
Yes, many, but not all, Bulgarians drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes. But who can judge them when poverty is rife (it is the poorest country in the EU) in a country which has a long-standing history of oppression? Sometimes a moment of gratification can take the edge off the difficulties of living in a country seeking to renew and strengthen itself, with little help from the European Union. It is an attempt to silence the continual negative portrayal and the unrelenting Western propaganda that has presented Eastern Europe as the enemy.
The Western World's approach to Eastern Europe is deeply interesting. Capitalistic societies, naturally, reject communist, socialist and egalitarian principles in practice, observing them to be twisted and unattainable. Yet when, for example, the Ottoman Empire, the Russian Revolution and the Soviet Union collapsed into dismay, the countries which had had oppression, death and blood shed sought to rebuild themselves. They attempted to reconnect with a rapidly modernising world, based on international links in trade, reinforcing globalisation and the worldwide domination of capitalism. It makes sense that these countries would not be able to attain a state of capitalistic dominance as western countries had, for Eastern Europe was unique in its experiences, consequently skipping stages of social advancement.
History influences the rate at which a country can develop and modernise. Bulgaria, Russia, and other Soviet Bloc countries are still, to this day, attempting to rebuild their country, their media perception, and international relations. However, the western world continues to criticise these countries, unwilling to offer support, networks or advice. The EU is preoccupied with maintaining a stable currency and a unified force against threats to capitalism that it appears to have forgotten the needs of many other European countries, not dependent on the Euro or capitalism / globalisation.
It is important to remember that there is no such thing as a foreign country; only a foreigner in another's native land. This, for me, was the key thing to remember. Bulgarians have a distinct way of life, compared to the multicultural lifestyles of many Brits, but this should not undermine its value nor significance. Bulgarian culture, values and norms are rooted in their history as a nation, influenced less by external western forces of dominance. Perhaps it is the night in their veins or the music in their souls, but here there is a vast sense of openness and honesty. They're not trying to hide who they are or the difficulties they, their families and their country face. Yes, they may make light of their political institutions and the prevalence of gypsy immigrants, but they know better the problems these issues present than any outsider could ever begin to comprehend. It's not a country of lighthearted, happy-go-lucky individuals (although there certainly are some who live like this). The majority of the population struggle on a daily basis, and so we foreigners should not be so quick to judge and assume that Bulgarians drink and smoke "just because". They have their reasons and they have their escapes. We all do. We shouldn't emphasise differences between nations when we do not know their true reality. We should begin to search for the similarities and work together to find a solution for the common good.
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