“I wasn’t one of those people who always wanted to be a diplomat. In fact, I didn’t even know about the foreign service when I was in high school or college,” says Anthony Miranda, an American diplomat involved with public affairs. A slightly winding path, and the realisation that he wanted to be more public sector focused, landed Anthony in the diplomatic corps, and ultimately in Bulgaria.
Originally from Miami, Florida, Miranda moved to Seattle, Washington, where he attended high school and college. “I bounced between different majors and ultimately followed the advice of a professor who told me to study something I liked and was good at,” he says. Miranda settled on English literature.
After college, Miranda spent three years in law school at Boston University before accepting a job at Hogan & Hartson in Washington, DC. While he found legal work interesting and his pro-bono work rewarding, something was missing.
“I started looking at the department of justice, and then came across the foreign service. The more I learned, the more deliberate my decision became to join the state department,” says Miranda. Public diplomacy was a great fit. According to the department, he serves as “the voice of the US (and is responsible for) educating foreign cultures about (the United States)”.
“My family was definitely nervous when I first told them what I wanted to do,” Miranda says. “Then I told them about the opportunities: learning languages, sharing our culture, learning about other cultures and serving my country. Once they understood my motivation, they were on board 100 per cent. Now they are taking advantage of the situation. My mom and step dad are coming to Bulgaria in April.”
With his mom from Argentina and his dad from Spain, Miranda grew up speaking some Spanish. It was a logical fit that Madrid would be his first overseas post. After completing his consular tour and eligible for a full language course, Miranda listed Bulgaria as a top choice for his second post. A friend at the embassy in Madrid had encouraged this, saying that Bulgaria was an undiscovered gem as far as quality of life. So, Anthony was thrilled when he learned he was coming to Sofia.
When asked if Bulgaria has lived up to his expectations, Miranda responds that “there is so much to like about the country. For one, the travel opportunities are great. You have skiing in Bansko and Borovets, hiking in the mountains, and Bulgaria is centrally located in the Balkans”.
Miranda continues with praise. “The food is also great – healthy and yummy. And, I have to mention the people. It is encouraging to see their cautious optimism about the opportunities that come with European Union membership.”
On the flip side, he has little to say. Pushing him to see what is challenging about Bulgaria, Miranda responds: “I guess I could complain about the potholes. But, DC has a problem of its own in that area. I accept Bulgaria for what it is and I hope that as the country progresses, improvements will follow.”
A big smile on his face, it is hard to imagine Miranda not happy wherever he goes. He laughs and says: “My experience as a foreigner has been a positive one. The language has been the biggest challenge. While I can hold a conversation in Bulgarian, I don’t have the confidence I would in English or Spanish.”
Then he talks about his life outside of work. “At first I spent a lot of time with Americans. That is who I knew. Now, I am starting to spend more time with Bulgarians. It is really nice to get more immersed in the culture.”
Now it’s my turn to laugh. I point out that his life is basically a two-year cultural immersion.
Like many living overseas, Miranda finds the lengthy absences from his family the most difficult. With a young niece and nephew in Seattle, he makes a concerted effort to call home more than once a week. “Since I do not yet have a family of my own, my sister’s kids are my family. This is such an important time in their lives; I do not want to miss out. The 18-month old can’t talk on the phone yet. But, the three-year old always has something to say.
“It’s definitely not easy, but it is doable. I made it back to the States for Christmas this year and I am looking forward to my next trip in September.”
So what keeps Miranda motivated on a daily basis? Beyond his optimism and cheerful spirit, it is clear that he really likes his work.
“My work has been a great reward. I have the chance to reach people on a personal level. Working with the Fulbright Commission, I get to help high school students who want to apply to college in the US. In fact, this morning, I returned three essays with recommendations.”
Then, he goes on to talk about his work with the Democracy Commission. “Even though USAID is pulling out of Bulgaria, we definitely want people to know that we are still a part of this community.”
“I really do love my job. I get to work with the arts community: artists, museums, curators, theatre and ballet. I also get to work with many different NGOs. This job is the culmination of all those majors I tried in college.”
Not going back to a legal career? “I may not be practicing law but I will always be a lawyer,” says Miranda. “Law school taught me how to analyse problems, how to think about things. I learned a lot. But, I am happy where I am for now.”
Miranda says: “Whatever the future may hold, I am fortunate to be living here now. It is a very exciting time with the recent EU accession and I am thankful to be a part of it and to see the changes that will come in the next year and a half.”
