[pi-squared]

Sort-of-a-unique thing in Bulgaria (compared to rest of EU) is not only close ties with Russia in economics but actual nostalgia of the "old-times". While Polish or Hungarian people would never want to return to comunistic times, we sometimes do. I'm not sure I can exactly pin it down why, maybe it's the close language, culture and shared alphabet or it could be that we are particularly nostalgic nation. In any case it creates a constant feeling of being the "Trojan horse" of Russia, being used by their economical and political interests with a nation that swigns back and forth electing the old-comunist party (that not changed at all other than their name s/comunist/socialist/) and the "Right/central-right" pro-EU (on paper at least).

For many in my generation (90s), the dream of leaving the country has been propagandized by parents who were never able to leave themselves due to the Iron Curtain. Many would attest getting the Serbian radio close to the border in a desperate attempt to hear something "western". As much as the nation longs for the old-times, it longs for the West. And the split is maybe about 50/50. However few would leave for the East and many, many would flood the gates once we entered EU 12 years ago.

12 years ago is when late 80s and 90s children were graduating. We didn't have much idea exactly what is bad with the country, as no teenager knows too much. But we all saw the opportunity and we've all heard the stories of the successful uncle who managed to "fix their life" abroad. So we flocked. Cheap flights accelerated the process, free education in some countries like Scotland and the Netherlands. So the "brain-drain" was accelerated. If people could leave before with hard-obtained visas or illegaly, now it was easy and free for all.

Yet, 12 years later we are still the poorest country in EU with the poorest overall north-western region which was once one of the most prosperous regions back when aggriculture was the main sector. Turism and services instead is now the main sector and sure, there are some companies that are succesful, the low salaries compared to what you can make abroad is worth a bit of home-sickness endurance. It's hard to get out of it with the open borders - it's a feedback loop as more "brain drain" happens, less innovation and money can come towards the country and corruption proliferates.