Name: Harry Cartner
From: Toronto, Canada
Age: 54

Harry's been in the international consulting business since 1995, after leaving his job as vice-president and chief operating officer of Canadian Derivatives Clearing Corporation. His 16 months in Bulgaria have allowed him to focus on his work and photography, as well as climb the hierarchal ladder of the expatriate community.

The most challenging part of life in Bulgaria for Harry Cartner is co-ordinating his work life with his busy social schedule.

Appointed to the position of Minister of Culture, Travel and Recreation by the expatriate community, Harry always has his hands full. His portfolio includes maintaining a weekly movie night, arranging dinners and parties, as well as coordinating a trip to Florence - something for which he appointed a deputy minister to aid him.

Harry, a financial consultant, arrived in Bulgaria in March 2000 after doing similar work in Mexico and Nigeria. "After Africa, Bulgaria is truly Europe," he said, adding he was still a bit shocked upon his arrival in the country.

"For the first couple of days, I was a little surprised by the decrepitness of it. Coming from Toronto, I expected it not to be as run down - but I've seen beyond all that. You get past it after a little while."

Since then, Harry, who is an avid photographer, has come to love Bulgaria. He especially enjoys Veliko Turnovo, Etura, and Sozopol. "Sozopol is an outstanding village, I loved it. I love the country's natural beauty, even though I come from one of the most beautiful countries in the world."

He admits, however, that he has been less than successful in learning Bulgarian. "I don't have an ear for languages," he said. "I took lessons and struggled terribly. Then I found I didn't need the language in Sofia - most of the people I meet speak English, or want to try."

He's noticed that the same holds true for the areas around the Black Sea, but for anywhere in between the two areas, he makes sure to have a translator with him. Still, he's had some difficulties in Sofia - particularly taking taxis. He once travelled from his apartment to a dinner party by taxi for just over two leva, and was shocked when he discovered the return trip cost him nine leva. "I got very angry and called the driver a thief," recalled Harry. "He spoke to me in perfect English, and said `That's what the meter says.'"

"I learned my lesson about watching the meter."

In terms of Bulgarian cuisine, Harry has a hard time picking one favourite restaurant. "So many are great," he said. "There's probably 100 great ones, but two are really good - Beyond the Alley, Behind the Cupboard, and La Province."

The only problems he has with food, is when he orders he doesn't always get what he expects - or it comes with olives. "I hate olives," he said. "This is one of the olive capitals of the world. I have to pick them out of everything."

Harry's looking forward to next month when his wife, who is working in Canada, will be visiting. They plan to spend a week in Sofia, and then head to Tuscany, Italy for a week, before meeting up with the entourage of expats who will be in Florence on the trip he arranged.

As it stands now, the contract Harry is working under will keep him in the country until the end of the year, but he's not sure what the future holds for him after that. "If the contract was extended, it would not take me anything to say yes to it," he said.

If he were to leave Bulgaria, he knows he would miss the people who he said are great, once you get past the Balkan attitude. He explained this attitude seems to stem from a lack of self-confidence - something he's noticed in particular when Bulgarians speak the English language.

"They always put themselves down," said Harry, explaining a lot of Bulgarians don't realize how well they speak the language. "I tell them `Hold your head high, your English is excellent.'"

The biggest problems the city needs to address, said Harry, are the number of street dogs and the fact that cars park anywhere and everywhere they want to - something which is destroying Sofia's sidewalks. "If the government did something about the cars and the dogs, there would be more money brought in for tourism than the donor community could ever do," he said.

"This is a beautiful city, people need to take pride in it."