Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/310131
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 11 MAY 2014 X Europe 2014 Angelina Buchvarova swapped the Balkans' stews and snow for Medi- terranean culture and beach days. She will be voting in the upcoming European elections here in Malta, having moved to Malta last year after a period of time spent in the UK where she completed her Masters degree and was working as an intern. She is a freelance copywriter and also teaches English privately. Buchvarova is in the process of looking for a full-time job in Malta within the marketing and advertising domain. Buchvarova confesses that she is till searching for that elusive first break to get her dream job. "I feel it's a matter of time before I find the right job here, as I've got the qualifications needed." Although Angelina has suffered more insect bites than she previously thought possible, she is beginning to paint a picture of island life and she is philosophical when it comes to mobility and work, having spent a lot of time on the road. "I enjoy the concept of a big EU village in terms of travel and employment, where boundaries are less pronounced. I have been living in Malta for a relatively short time, but you can immediately notice there are lots of ongoing projects. Whether used to rehabilitate heritage sights or to provide flood relief, EU money seems to be used thoughtfully in Malta." With youth unemployment across Europe spiralling out of control, it was as good a time as any to try expat life in Malta. With three suitcases, some savings and a bit of help from her parents, she jumped head first into life on the sunnier side of Europe. "Youth is the currency of the future, youth is interested in so many things and able to absorb vast quantities of information. Youth is flexible, able to adjust, which is quite essential in today's agile context. There are many capable young people, who are still unemployed for various reasons, particularly in that gap between studies and work." With the start of her expat adventure to Malta, she started a blog in which she occasionally chronicles life in Malta, on a small Mediterranean island from big ideas, to authenticity, to work, to travel days, culture and trips to nearby islands as well as personal passions for soulfulness and advertising and discussions of the daily emotions of an expat! "You have to believe in the homegrown talent and preserve it. The brain drain is there, it exists. It is only natural for young people to project their efforts in a direction that makes sense for them. However, there are people who would stay to work in their countries and invest their time, patience and knowledge in what they believe in." Angelina compares her expectations in Malta to the concrete reality back home in Bulgaria. "Cross-border vocational training is certainly a way forward for young unemployed people. First and foremost, every change of environment is a personal challenge." Buchvarova recently took part in an EU-funded project along with her Bulgarian badminton team and a guest badminton team from Romania. "The Youth in Action eco-project entailed the construction of tents and all kinds of shelters in the seaside of the Bulgarian wilderness. We also had morning and afternoon discussions on the impact of global warming, possible solutions and eco-friendly strategies. It was an enriching experience, which of course included badminton as a shared interest." "I'm not sure how the European Parliament elections will affect me. From the EU I expect a decision that bans unpaid internships/ apprenticeships anywhere in Europe - that would be enough. In fact, I recently read somewhere that this is indeed the intention." She will go to the polls on May 24 looking to make an impact. "The European dream that my parents had seemed far-fetched in the beginning. I would want the next EU Parliament to serve youth's well-being and to engage in more transparent practices when it comes to the shift of young people from education to the job market. I hope that my vote will help to achieve that." 'Malta is a good place to start a family' Angelina Buchvarova swapped the Balkans' stews and snow for the Mediterranean culture and lifestyle. She will be voting in the upcoming European elections here in Malta Download the MaltaToday App now