Village life offers more than peace and quiet

After 22 years spent living in France, the United States and the United Kingdom, Petar Gitsoayka and his family decided it was time to return to Bulgaria. Rather than settling in Sofia, where they are both from, they chose a quieter life in the village of Negushevo, in Gorna Malina municipality, just outside the capital.

Having worked in the financial markets and built up sufficient savings, the family were able to rent a house in the village while also buying a plot of land where they plan to build their own home.

"When we decided to return to Bulgaria, the first thing we had to think about was our children's education," Petar says. "We knew we didn't want to live in Sofia. Although we were both born there, after more than 20 years away we realised that the quality of life in the capital had changed considerably. We wanted to be closer to nature."

"Quite by chance we heard about the school in the nearby village of Osoitsa. We arranged an online meeting with the headteacher and were immediately impressed. We came back to Bulgaria for two weeks to look around the area and, through word of mouth, eventually found Negushevo."

"In May 2024, our children took part in what the school calls a trial week, spending time with the classes they would eventually join so they could decide whether they liked it. While they were at school, my wife and I were house-hunting. The moment we arrived in Negushevo, we fell in love with the place. There is something inexplicably charming about the houses, the people and the whole atmosphere."

That is how the Gitsoayka family returned to Bulgaria and made their home in the picturesque Revival-era village, nestled on the eastern edge of the Sofia Valley.

Asked about his unusual surname, which stands out in Bulgaria, Petar has an interesting family story to tell:

"My grandfather is Romanian, from the village of Petrești in southern Romania. He met my Bulgarian grandmother while they were both studying chemistry in Bucharest. They fell in love, and he moved to Bulgaria with her. He is now 92 years old and still in excellent physical and mental health. He lives in Sofia, but spends his summers at his house in a village near Samokov."

Petar speaks with great admiration for his grandfather, who taught him many valuable life lessons, including how to identify wild mushrooms and medicinal herbs. As he has discovered, however, village life offers much more than a close connection with nature.

"One of the questions we had was: what does one actually do in a village? Is there enough to do there? We were genuinely surprised by all the initiatives – cultural events, folk dancing, judo for the children every Saturday or Sunday. In nearby Dolno Kamartsi, there is Vihroni Popnedelev's art gallery, where children paint and work with clay. In Negushevo, we have an open-air cinema almost every week, showing contemporary Bulgarian films, often followed by discussions with the filmmakers themselves."

"Rural areas are coming back to life, and we are becoming less dependent on the big city," Petar says.

He and his family are actively involved in various initiatives in Negushevo. One cause especially important to the village is the restoration of the old school building and its transformation into a community centre. The first goal is to raise €20,000 to repair the roof.

"The building was constructed in 1894. It is beautiful, with a huge yard and high ceilings. We are developing the idea of turning it into a centre for culture and education. The schoolyard is being used as a vegetable garden, which will eventually cover nearly three decares. Together with other enthusiasts, we are also cultivating several other plots and growing einkorn wheat."

"We use the building and the yard as a place to demonstrate sustainable farming practices. But its other function will be cultural – through exhibitions, concerts and film screenings, we hope to bring even more people into our community."

Several times a year, Petar and his family organise concerts on a stage in the schoolyard, as music is both a hobby and a passion for them.

"The children are very musical. Our son Marti is 10 and our daughter Maya is nine. Marti plays the ukulele and drums and also sings. Maya sings very well too, and she dances. Both of them have tried piano, violin and even saxophone, because we believe people should do what they enjoy."

"When the children show interest in something, we support them. I think that is why they are doing well."

More and more examples have convinced Petar and his family that they made the right decision by choosing life away from the city:

"The transition from a busy life to one that is more pleasant and closer to nature was actually quite easy. We have always looked for that connection with nature. What we did not expect, and what helped us enormously, were the people. We had not lived in Bulgaria for 22 years, and that was the great unknown."

"In the first few weeks, almost every day someone came by to give us something – lyutenitsa, tomatoes... The way people help one another warmed our hearts. It is a wonderful example of how society should work."

Editor: Elena Karkalanova