Dimitriya (De Maro)

Hardworking, a go-getter, always positive, energetic, but with character. That's what Dimitriya's job coach says about her work ethic. 'I love working in the Netherlands. Everything is very clear and structured. That gives me peace in the workplace,' Dimitriya says. Five years ago, she decided to leave her home country of Bulgaria and look for work in the Netherlands. Her goal is to make her daughter's dreams come true. Her daughter now lives with her mother in Bulgaria and Dimitriya travels back when she can. 'I am extremely proud of her. She recently came first in a regional math competition. She is a very smart girl and I only want the best for her,' Dimitriya says proudly.  'She is just a teenager, but she already knows what she wants to be: a neurologist.'

She will study medicine for that later'. That dream is a huge motivation for Dimitriya and it makes staying in the Netherlands less difficult.  'I miss the Bulgarian food. My favorite dish is Sarmi. Those are leaves filled with rice and minced meat and spices. It takes three hours to prepare that and in Holland I don't have as much time to prepare it.'

She also likes to visit places in the Netherlands. For example, she regularly goes on a city trip. 'Venlo, Maastricht, Breda and Amsterdam are very nice places to do some shopping and to explore. Only Den Bosch is not my favourite city. I almost lost my car once and it took several hours to find the parking spot again,' Dimitriya said.

She has been working at De Maro bakery for three years now. Here they make brownies and other local treats. 'The advice I want to give to new employees is: make sure you speak the language a little bit. Some basic phrases in Dutch or English will make your job a lot easier, Dimitriya says. She herself is now taking English language lessons and has reached level A1. In addition, she wants to share that motivation and perseverance are very important. 'I can't' and 'I don't want to' are not phrases in my vocabulary. There is always a way to get to your goal'.