I was born under the name Gergina Ivanova Hristova  on June 18, 1980 in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria’s sixth largest city in the centre of the country. I grew up in the city of Kazanlak, located in central Bulgaria, at the foot of the Balkan mountains and at the eastern end of the Rose Valley. Kazanlak has approximately 80’000 inhabitants and is considered the center of rose oil extraction in Bulgaria. The oil-producing rose of Kazanlak is one of the most widely recognizable national symbols.

At the age of 11, I moved with my parents to Switzerland, where my father had been offered a job as an engineer. My seven years older brother stayed behind but finally ended up in Switzerland, too, with his family, thanks to his job. In Switzerland, I had just a year to learn German and Swiss German before my school path was to be decided. Fortunately, languages turned out to be my passion and big love which is the reason why I learned any languages I wanted in no time. Over the years, my love for foreign countries and cultures, my Bulgarian roots as well as Swiss upbringing and education, allowed me to feel as a citizen of the world. This is still who I am today and as such, I would like to give back what this world has given me. Therefore this blog. Enjoy!