Bonjour from Bulgaria!
Hey everyone,
It’s Damien here, checking in from sunny (well, most of the time) Bulgaria! I arrived in early April, a little nervous but mostly excited to dive headfirst into this EYE exchange program. Let me tell you, the past fifteen days have been a whirlwind of emotions, new experiences, and gallons of delicious Bulgarian wine (but more on that later).
Before I get carried away, let me paint a picture of who I am. I’m a bit of a tech whiz with a knack for finding the best tools and resources. My background is in sourcing, but I’ve always been fascinated by the world of sales. Honestly, the idea of building something from the ground up, like an online platform, gets me fired up. That’s why when I heard about the EYE program, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to learn from the best and expand my skill set.
Speaking of learning from the best, that brings me to Pascal, my host here at La Cave du Maire. It’s a cozy wine import company specializing in bringing the finest French wines to Bulgaria. Can you imagine the atmosphere? Rows of hundreds of bottles, the rich aroma of grapes, and the promise of fascinating stories behind each vintage. Talk about a dream come true!
But the real reason I decided to come here goes beyond the delicious wine. Pascal embodies the kind of mentor I’ve been searching for. He has decades of experience in sales, and the chance to learn from him directly is priceless. He’s like a Yoda to my Luke Skywalker, ready to guide me on the path to becoming a sales Jedi Knight (okay, maybe not Jedi Knight, but a stellar salesperson will do!).
Now, picturing my arrival here… honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would Pascal be welcoming? Would the city live up to the photos online? Walking off the plane, though, it felt like stepping into a movie. Cobblestone streets, charming cafes, and the sound of a language I couldn’t understand yet – it was exhilarating!
It’s about wanting to travel, to experience new cultures, and that’s exactly what I’m doing. This whole experience feels like the beginning of a beautiful adventure, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me.
The next six months are going to be jam-packed. I’ll be learning the ins and outs of everything from wine sales and customer relations to the legal aspects of the import business. One day I’ll be picking orders in the warehouse, the next I’ll be researching lean management practices. And of course, there’s the website launch for La Cave du Maire! I’ll be involved in market research, crafting content, and making sure the online experience is smooth. It’s a daunting list, but with Pascal’s guidance and my thirst for knowledge, I’m ready to tackle it all.
The best part? I will get all the tools and skill set to build up my own online merchant shop. I feel pumped at the idea of learning from the best, learning by doing and having a great mentor to rely on. Nothing can stop me, I am all the way up!
This is just the first chapter of my Bulgarian adventure. Stay tuned for more stories, mishaps (hopefully not too many!), and maybe even a few insider tips on the best local wines. Until then,
Довиждане (Goodbye)!
