Good. Very interesting. Write more about that "generation gap"...

after the Velvet Revolution which was on November 17, 1989, the democracy has come very slowly and the terror of the communistic regime was still felt in here also in the up and coming years. Since December 29, 1989 we have had a "democtratic" government, but everything was still under the influence of communism because people in here thought that the democracy won't survive, and the communism will come back; therefore, it isn't astonishing that at the beginning of this new Democratic regime, my mum was kicked out of the job in 1990 because she was Catholic, and she was seen in a church which was unacceptable by the Communistic Doctrine. She feared that she will be without a job, but fortunately later was communism was driven off, and my mum got back her job.

Undoubtedly, a new generation can thank God for having no experience of living under communist regime. I have it like you. The world is open for them and do not have to worry about many simple things like buying food, clothes etc. They can write and read what they want and the majority of these countries are the members of UE. For me, born in 1971, it was unbelievable 20 years ago. However, we must remember that the transformation caused many problems like unemployment and many young people feel it. Paradoxically, your and my situation (people about 40) was a bit better, we could find our place in business, journalism and now our generation starts playing a key role in society. Younger people may have problems, despite their education, knowledge of foreign languages etc. All in all, every generation must meet its challenge. We succeeded but had a bit easier. They will have to work harder. Regards from Poland

"From this place, and from this day forth begins a new era in the history of the world, and you can all say that you were present at its birth."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1792

In 1980 my father was allowed under contract to work in Mexico and so in October of the same year I received a permit to leave Bulgaria and along with my mom join him there. I was supposed to study in the university, which I did, but when finished my studies and was supposed to return I got involved in work and businesses, started making money and without the long arm of communist secret services supervising my life, all of sudden I felt free to do with my life as I pleased. The first thing was to create a pretext, an excuse and by 1987 that was done without much objection from my parents. So, in November 1989 I was working on a project when I got a call from my mom telling about the fall of the communist regime in Bulgaria. It was strange, I felt nothing, as if it was something I expected to happen and since there were no specific news on the situation in Bulgaria, being such a small Balkan country, I wasn't thrilled or excited. The truth was that for the past 2-3 years I was already free and in control of my life. It wasn't 'til 1998, when I went on a vacation trip (for the first time since 1980) that I felt that things were really different. Not enough space here to describe everything. It was just different ... it was like any other capitalist country only that people spoke Bulgarian and thing were, and still are, quite hard for most people. Stone walls are built by men only to be torn down by men or fall down with time. The walls built in the minds of our generation can crumble down but will never be forgotten. Now we face new problems. One of them is to teach our children not to build again what took us so long to tear down.
I lived for 12 years in Cuba, now almost 30 in Mexico, spent some time in USA, and now is when I most feel the urge to return to Bulgaria. It's only a question of time and ... of course, some money.
Thank you Ralitsa for sharing your memory. Drazh se zdravo!

After reading the blog it struck me that it is not just the fall of the Berlin wall and or the end of communism, but rather that was just the start. It's not about the amount of money or things you own. It is more about what is in the persons head not in their pocket.

It would make little difference if somone moved from Bulgaria to Brooklyn the same thing would aply if you move from your country of birth the thing to do is learn the new rules. The thing is that as a result of changes in the east. the people did not have to move continents to experience the changed tt happened arround them.

Well.. I'll try again to comment on one of your blogs. Just maybe..

On the night that the wall came down, I was in my hometown S.F. celebrating it's fall over braten & beer. I didn't realize that the food was half as good & beer far less potent as what you get in Bavaria till I arrived shortly after the fall of the wall (hereafter to be known as f.o.t.w.).

Funny and most uncomfortable subject for many Germans, in that, I haven't been able to find anyone in the East or West of Germany who doesn't want the wall to be put back up A.S.A.P. In all honesty, I've searched far and wide in my 20 yr stay. I even feel the Irony in the voices and through the eyes of the politicians that speak so fondly of the f.o.t.w..

I wasn't able to guess that I would be kicked out of store or a bar for ordering a 'preusichen' bier. Not finishing a Mass bier can get you the never invite ever, ever again card. So much for the welcoming committee. Sitting at a cafe during the day in the west can get you screamed at throughout the coffee by retired housewives that make sure you hear the reason why they still believe that Adolf Hitler is the best thing ever for Germany over and over again, brick by brick, bomb by bomb. Not eating the swine braten will get your teeth knocked out faster than the crusty pig's skin could knock them out. Turning your nose up at the sour lung soup or blood sausage can have you sitting at the plastic surgeon the following day.

Sit down for a coffee in the east and get surrounded by dozens of drunk men who don't know the difference if they are horny or Hitler hooligans. Enough to make you so mad that planes fall out of the sky and train engines sizzle off their blocks.

Visiting the top variety of stores and restaurants can get you drawn into the underworld faster than a formula one car.

Either way, not much digging of each other either deep down. Just keeping up the appearance of superiority and feeling it is done. Not much has changed. The easties still look hungry and the westies overfed.

I can go on for years about the experience thus far. For the most part, I stll get shivers down my spine thinking about, reading or being told the tales of the old iron curtain. I had read or watched many as a very young dreamy child.

What is fascinating is your last sentence... and even more, the rest of your story some day..,

Thanks for sharing, Ralitsa.

I was in the US Army going through my training as a Field Artillery Surveyor. I was a soldier for a few months and was trained to fight the Russians. When the Wall came down, I was both happy and sad. Happy, knowing that the Russians were getting weaker, but sad because being a 18 year old soldier at the time, I was wondering who I be fighting because as soldiers, that is what we are trained to do. As I look back on 20 years since the Wall came down, I look back and see how much the world has changed. Some for the good some for the bad, but I realize that change happens.

It’s ironic that world leaders are speaking in turns to mark twenty years on the fall of Berlin Wall, but no mention of the Wall constructed in the West Bank with land grab by Israel – who are engaged in manning and killing innocent Palestine. Ash Makani

It is really bizzarre how we are celebrating the fall of the Berlin wall but here in America we keep building the wall on the Mexican border!!!

With the celebrations for the anniversary of the fall of the berlin wall, has anyone remembered the last remaining divided capital in the world???? Nicosia , Cyprus is still divided!!! its been 35 years for us , when will the world take notice ? i have been watching cnn's coverage of the berlin wall story and this hasnt even been mentioned. Its disgusting that its taking so long to find a solution to the Cyprus problem. As a child from Greek Cypriot refugee parents , I will not forget...we are still waiting ....

Ralitsa, thank you for posting this fascinating reflection of the fall of communism in Bulgaria. Just like you, I witnessed the event first-hand. A the time I was 10 years old but I remember it so vividly as if it was yesterday. The battle of the Bulgarian people to establish a democratic state has inspired and left deep impression on my outlook on politics today.

Btw, I'm so happy you made it to CNN. I remember when my parents and I used to watch you on CNN in Bulgaria a few years after 1989. We were so proud of you. :-)

Uspeh na vsi4ko ti pojelavam! :-)

I was watching "World Report" just a few moments ago when Ralitsa was interviewed and told her story about her country and communism. Quite interesting. I was born and have lived in Curitiba, Brazil – twenty years ago I was a young man just fourty years and something old – and even though I read and listened to the news, it was something that was happening quite away. Communism, as far as I and my family are concerned, is just something awful and despiseful we kept far away in our minds. Very interesting to hear her now discussing her unsecurity at the time. Just a little thing was missing: how was her life under the opressive regime in a day-to-day basis? Ralitsa is a very attractive young lady I enjoy listening and watching on CNN. Congratulations and go on with the good work.

Dear Ralitsa,

great comments, in fact I am a Portuguese and I have to move to Brazil after the 1974 april revolution, on a diferent conditions, but i do know the felling and being an european I also know how important was at that time the change of political regime and freedom to all Bulgarians.

I always watch you at CNN, I whis you my best.

Sincerely,
JPFC