Hello! I am Violetta from Novi Sad, located in Serbia.
Over the past 10 years, I changed 3 countries, 5 cities, 7 districts.
This way of living sits me well, but there is one problem that all expats face. This is the need to create the whole life infrastructure around you from scratch every time you move to a new place.
Have you ever cried at the hairdresser’s? Had a tooth out after wrong treatment? Skipped work after eating out last night, but not because it was fun and you were hungover, but because the food was bad and you were sick to your stomach all night long?
I came from Eastern Europe and I currently live and work in Eastern Europe. I used to live and I now live in fascinating countries with wonderful people, but frankly speaking, in developing economies there cannot be an even quality of products and services. Since business does not exist in vacuum, it experiences the same difficulties and fluctuations as economies do.
Besides, it should be noted that over the past two decades many professionals left Eastern Europe after the wars and economic crises. There are also those who stayed, but it’s really a quest to find them.
I used to think that the best way is personal recommendations. I asked my friends and acquaintances hoping that they would recommend a good specialist to me. Unfortunately, it turns out that personal recommendations are often biased or self-serving. I no longer ask for recommendations.
I search and read reviews left by users on Google Maps. I start with reviews with the fewest stars. I read users’ reviews and get to know their concerns trying to understand what criteria are vital for me personally. Am I ready to accept a higher price or a longer wait in exchange for a higher quality?
On the other hand, I put a premium on how companies respond to the reviews. We are all prone to errors, but the point is how we deal with the consequences – whether we are ready to take responsibility or just blame others.
I provide feedback based on my own experience, knowing that this will help people who have faced the same problems as I have. I don’t know if it is true for your location, but I’d have you know that our local guides are not just an entertainment community, but they provide information that may change your quality of life. I appreciate being a part of this.
