Geoffrey's been in Bulgaria for about a year and a half working as the deputy director of Catholic Relief Services. He's joined by his wife Jennifer who is the director of CARE, another non-governmental organization. The two will be here for another year and a half before moving on to continue their work elsewhere.

Bulgaria holds two main appeals for Geoffrey Pekovitch - reliable electricity and running water.

Considering his previous employment was in Haiti, these things matter. "This is one of the most comfortable posts I've ever had," he said. "It's so pleasant - you don't have to always have a generator running." The country has so many resources and opportunities, said Geoffrey. "It's great to see and work in an environment with so much synergy - and a light at the end of the tunnel."

Geoffrey's work with Catholic Relief Services has kept him busy since he left North America five years ago. His first posting was in Ghana, South Africa, then Haiti, and now here. A big part of his job is helping with community mobilization - getting citizens involved in effecting change.

Geoffrey explained they work with the Boards of Trustees of schools to help parents take an active part in working with administration to enact changes for their children. "We hope this trickles out to a higher level," he said, explaining that if parents realize they can bring about change in schools, maybe they'll try it at the municipal level too.

Another program they're involved in deals with lending credits to small business operators such as street vendors or vegetable stall operators. "There's a huge need for this in Bulgaria," said Geoffrey. "Many small businesses would like to expand, but can't.

"We're stimulating the economy at a very low level." Thinking back to his arrival at the beginning of last year, Geoffrey remembers being a little shocked. "When we got here, there was snow. It reminded me that I was back in a country with seasons."

After spending so many years in tropical countries, he was impressed by the diversity of Bulgaria's landscape, and by it's capital city. "It's a fledgling, up and coming European city - it has a lot of potential," he said. "In the time I've been here, I've seen so many changes in Sofia, on a daily basis. And all for the good."

Now that he's been away for five years, Geoffrey finds himself missing very little about home. "The more you live overseas, the more you get used to what you have," he said. "I really feel the expat lifestyle defines who you are." In terms of the food in this overseas locale, he has no complaints. "You're always safe with shopska, and Sofia has so many great restaurants." Because his father immigrated to Canada from Croatia, he grew up eating a lot of Balkan cuisine. "It's almost comfort food at times," he said.

He likes Beyond the Alley, Behind the Cupboard in particular, and enjoys Chervilo as a place to unwind with a drink. And his limited knowledge of Bulgarian helps him get by. "I have basic restaurant skills," he said. "I can get my beer and food, but I depend mostly on a translator for all my official duties."

He's torn when it comes to choosing a favourite location in Bulgaria, but said that Veliko Turnovo and Rousse top the list. "It's a difficult call," he said. "I enjoy Plovdiv as well - the old city is great."

Geoffrey hasn't had too many problems in the country, although the police seem to really like him. "I've been pulled over about 25 times," he said. "I'm a moving target - and not for doing anything wrong most of the time." It's actually proven to be the one time not knowing Bulgarian has come in handy, as the officers let him go because they can't understand him.

Geoffrey will be working in Bulgaria for another year and a half, and though he's not sure where he'll end up after that, he's hoping for Southeast Asia. "Maybe Cambodia or Vietnam," he said. "I'm fascinated with Asian culture, I'd like to give it a try.

"The great thing with our profession is you could spin the globe and wherever it stops, why not give it a try?"

He'd like to keep living this lifestyle for at least another 15 years. "The challenges help you realize how fortunate we are as people," he said, explaining that the obstacles he faces prove rewarding. "It brings you closer to the friends you make - they're all you have."

But the hardest part of this line of work is when the time comes to say goodbye. "People in our profession have to be able to deal with change," he said. "It's sad, but you have to suck it up, and go on."