Mine is an Australian-Bulgarian migration story that began in Melbourne, born into the generation of the 1950s and ’60s. At home, we spoke Bulgarian, soft and familiar. Meanwhile, at school, I learned English, word by careful word.
Belonging to Neither World
My parents escaped to Australia carrying the sorrow and regret of two world wars. They built a new life on old land, far from everything they knew.
So, I grew up between two worlds, belonging fully to neither. I was Bulgarian enough to feel apart from Australia, yet Australian enough to feel apart from the old country. This is the heart of my Australian-Bulgarian migration story.
A Child Between Languages
I remember standing in the primary school office, small and serious, translating for newly arrived migrants from Eastern Europe. I was the child interpreter, a bridge between frightened parents and puzzled teachers.
That memory still sits warmly in my chest. It taught me that language is both a wall and a doorway.
Two Worlds, One Screen
In my videos, you’ll see Bulgarian text appear beside the English. It’s a quiet sign that my two languages—my two identities—still live side by side.
Share Your Story
If this makes you remember a memory of your own two worlds, I’d love you to reach out to Inside the Sky and share it with the world.