By Choice, Not by Chance – Natalie's story  

My name is Natalie, and when I look back at my life before coming to Wales, it still amazes me how a series of small choices and coincidences led me to the place I now call home. 

I grew up in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, with my parents and my two younger brothers. My childhood was warm, stable, and full of love. Sofia is not a particularly diverse city, but it is as varied as Bulgaria gets, and even that small exposure to difference sparked something in me early on. I was always curious about the world beyond my own borders. I wanted to understand how other people lived and why the world worked the way it did. I taught myself languages simply because they felt like a bridge to somewhere else. By the time I finished school, I spoke English, German, Spanish, and Italian, and I knew I wanted to study abroad. 

I applied to five universities in the UK through UCAS, thinking I would be lucky to get into even one. When I received five offers, I was completely shocked. I had never visited the UK and had no real sense of what the different cities were like. I did not know Cardiff from Manchester or Sheffield from Southampton. I started messaging students online, hoping to get a feel for each place. Students from Cardiff were the most responsive and friendly, and that mattered to me. I was also drawn to the idea of living by the sea. Although I grew up far from Bulgaria’s coastline, I spent most summers working or holidaying near the water. The idea of Cardiff being by the sea captured my imagination, even if my expectations were a little unrealistic... 

At nineteen, I packed my life into a suitcase and moved to Wales on my own. Because Bulgaria was part of the EU at the time, the move was financially possible and relatively straightforward. Wales felt like the practical choice, but also the instinctively right one. 

My early challenges were small and often amusing. I was genuinely confused by separate hot and cold taps and could not understand how anyone managed to wash their hands comfortably. I eventually created my own solution using a bottle. Culturally, the adjustments were more subtle. Bulgarians tend to be very direct, and I sometimes struggled to understand what people were actually asking of me because they were so polite about it. None of these things were serious obstacles. They were small misunderstandings that faded as I settled in. 

Brexit worried my family far more than it worried me. They followed alarming news stories and were convinced I must be hiding negative experiences. In truth, I have never faced discrimination in Wales. I know that is not everyone’s experience, and I am deeply grateful that it has been mine. 

One memory stands out clearly. A year after I graduated, my mother and grandparents came to visit. My grandparents do not speak English, but my colleagues insisted I bring them to the office. They made coffee, sat with them during their breaks, and shared compliments that I translated into Bulgarian. I watched my grandparents visibly relax. After that visit, my family stopped worrying. They had seen for themselves that Wales was not the hostile place they had imagined, but a community where I belonged. 

I originally planned to stay in Wales for three years, get my degree, and then move on to work internationally, ideally with the United Nations. I organised Model UN events, became president of the society, and networked constantly. Over time, after speaking to people working in that field, I realised how slow and frustrating those systems could be. At the same time, one of my university modules focused on acting locally while thinking globally. That idea stayed with me. I began to understand that I did not need to travel the world to make a difference. 

So, I stayed. Three years became ten. I built a career in the voluntary sector, where values like kindness, inclusion, and social justice are central. I learned Welsh, not perfectly, but with enthusiasm. I went to the Eisteddfod almost every year and fell in love with the culture and language of this small nation with a strong voice. I also fell in love with a Welsh partner. We are getting married next year and preparing to buy our first home. My life is now deeply rooted here. 

People often ask what I miss about home, which feels like a complicated question. My adult life has unfolded entirely in Wales, so in many ways this is home. Of course I miss Bulgaria too, especially my family, the warmth of the sun, and real winter snow. What surprises me is how much Wales sometimes reminds me of Bulgaria. Both are small nations shaped by living next to larger neighbours. Both have a strong sense of identity and a determination to be heard. Welsh friendliness often reminds me of the community spirit I grew up with. 

My hopes for the future are simple but meaningful. I want to keep growing and use my skills to make Wales a better place than it was when I arrived. I want to protect the openness and progressiveness that welcomed me. I am part of a generation of EU students who came when borders were open and education was accessible. Many of us stayed, built careers, and now contribute to Welsh society. We did not come because we had to. We came because we chose to. 

I hope my story shows the richness that people from elsewhere can bring to this small, warm, and welcoming nation.