“I am from Kyustendil”: Casey from New York who chose Bulgaria as her home

We introduce you to an American woman who smilingly calls herself a “Kyustendilka” (woman from the Bulgarian town of Kyustendil). Casey Angelova was born in Brooklyn, New York, but more than 15 years ago she chose Bulgaria as her home. Together with her family, she settled in the Kyustendil region in southwestern Bulgaria, where she discovered a new direction in life: sustainable agriculture, clean food and a deeper connection with nature.

On their family farm in the village of Shipochano, Casey and her husband develop various projects inspired by local traditions and the natural resources of the region known as the “cherry garden of Bulgaria.” These include a truffle cultivation garden, craft cherry rakia production, and her newest passion: making castile soap from entirely natural ingredients.

From the moment she arrived in Bulgaria, Casey discovered something she had deeply missed in New York life: direct contact with nature.

“In New York everything is concrete and it is hard to feel connected to nature. When I came to Kyustendil, I was deeply impressed by the cherry trees along the streets. After school, children would pass by them and pick cherries. In New York that would be unthinkable. This closeness to nature made me feel good here. In New York I worked from morning to evening and there was almost no time left for my family. In Bulgaria I found a balance between work and personal life. People here have time to be together, to sit down for a calm lunch. At first this was a culture shock for me, but today I believe life is better with this rhythm.”

The path to her new life also runs through culinary arts. It was in Bulgaria that Casey discovered her love for food, gardening and rural living. In 2008 she started her culinary blog “Eating, Gardening and Living” where she shares her experiments and discoveries. Her interest in cooking later led her to the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, which she graduated from in 2011.

Her first lessons in Bulgarian cuisine, however, came from her mother-in-law.

“When my first daughter was born, my mother-in-law came to New York and brought from Bulgaria savory herbs like chubritsa and basil. She did not speak English, and I did not know Bulgarian, but she taught me how to make meatballs and moussaka. I stood next to her with a notebook and drew everything, such as how big the onion should be, how big the meatballs should be… and I still keep those recipes today. I do not cook many Bulgarian dishes because I prefer international cuisine, but I love tarator and shopska salad. In summer my diet is tomatoes and cucumbers from the garden, good cheese and tarator.”

Her culinary explorations did not stop there. During a culinary trip in New York she became inspired by the world of truffles and craft distilleries, ideas she later realized in Bulgaria.

Today Casey defines herself as a writer, farmer, cook, sustainable gardening consultant, composting specialist and wine enthusiast. She is actively involved in initiatives related to clean food and sustainable living, as well as in creating the youth network of Slow Food in Bulgaria.

For Casey, Bulgaria is no longer just a place to live, but a home where she has found her calling and a way of life in which the calm of the countryside and work in nature are a source of inspiration.

“There are people who go to therapy. My therapy is the garden. And this simple way of life is good for the heart. When I have free time, I am among the plants, watching the tomatoes, listening to the birds, frogs and bees. I really enjoy this life because in the city the noise never stops, while here you can hear nature. It brings true peace.”

After nearly two decades in Bulgaria, Casey no longer feels like a guest. On the contrary, she smiles and says she has become a true “Kyustendilka” (woman from Kyustendil).

“When people tell me I am from New York, I answer: no, I am from Kyustendil. I am not an American in America, and I am not a Bulgarian in Bulgaria, but I feel like a Kyustendilka in Kyustendil. After so many years here, Bulgaria is my home, and I dream of creating something here that will remain after us.”

Home is not always the place where you were born, and Casey Angelova’s story proves exactly that. Sometimes home is where you discover your purpose, the people you consider family, and a way of life that makes you truly happy. From the noise of New York to the calm of Bulgaria's Kyustendil region, Casey has found her path close to nature and simple human values, showing that Bulgaria can become a home for anyone willing to love this country.

Read more inspiring stories:

Julia Neuhoff in Bulgaria – between cultures, technologies and inspiration

Louisa Wanbal: The German civil servant who fell in love with Bulgarian

Sara Alfayez from Jordan: Bulgaria gave me wings for science

Vassilis Xypolias: Bulgaria surprised me with how green and peaceful it is

Alex Martinez from Paraguay who found happiness in Bulgaria

Edited by E. Karkalanova

English: R. Petkova