Name: John Papakonstantinou
From: Athens, Greece
Age: 31

John's been in Bulgaria for about 12 months, working as InterAmerican's chief expert of their sales network, helping the company expand its insurance network. The 31-year-old enjoys the country and plans to be here for at least a few more years.

John Papakonstantinou is one of Bulgaria's luckier expatriates. Hailing from Athens, Greece, he's never more than an hour from home by plane.

Working as a sales and marketing manager for InterAmerican Bulgaria still provides its fair share of challenges, however. The largest of these is that the country has not yet obtained the European standards seen elsewhere on the continent.

"It is a difficult job we do here," said John. "There's no insurance confidence in Bulgaria."

The majority of InterAmerican Bulgaria's business comes from providing insurance to Greek employers and employees working in the country. "We have a very little part of the market - less than one per cent," he said. The majority of the country's locals are serviced by several large, respected Bulgarian insurance companies.

That said, business has continually improved for the company, which has over 300 agents presently working throughout Bulgaria, 80 per cent of which are Bulgarian. They came to the country in June 1999 and began performing instantly. Sales for the year 2000 increased by 500 per cent and are projected to increase again this year.

"Our strategy is not to take a big part of the market," explained John. "But to provide quality and service to Greek companies and European companies - this is more important."

John's enjoyed his time in Bulgaria and managed to pick up a great deal of the language by studying for a few hours a week for six months - although he admits he still has a lot to learn. "I can communicate well," he said. "Philosophy and policy are still problematic."

He still finds his heart, and his stomach, missing his home in Greece, however. Although he enjoys living in Sofia, he says the city is in dire need of a Greek restaurant - something he knows would quickly become a popular spot for, if no one else, his company's customers.

John isn't married yet but he would like to start a family within the next four or five years. "I'm not looking for a wife, it seems to be luck that lets you find a person that you can live with," he said, adding that he's noticed that Bulgarian women are very attractive, intelligent and determined - especially within his company.

"Our women are more hard working and creative than the men."

He'll likely take a little time off in the coming months to return to his homeland, and as he says "recharge the batteries." This break is long overdue, considering he hasn't vacationed in years and he even spends his weekends travelling to the company's agencies throughout Bulgaria - for work and pleasure. In two or three hours, it's possible to be almost anywhere in Bulgaria. "I'm always open to meeting new people - it's part of the job," he said.

John most enjoys the Black Sea region, around Bourgas and Varna. "I grew up near the sea, I love to see it and smell it."

Although he's not sure how long he'll be in Bulgaria, John figures it'll be at least another two to three years, depending on where the company most requires his services. After that, he plans on making his way back to Greece, although he already knows he'll miss his time here.

"I feel good here. I feel very welcome and accepted - it's been a great environment."