If you ask Bulgarians living in Las Vegas whether there are latter-day enlighteners among them, you are certain to hear one name – Rumen Stefanov. Every Bulgarian there knows or has heard of Rumen and his restaurant, which is at the heart of the Bulgarian community in Nevada. On the walls of his restaurant hang the portraits of prominent figures, revolutionaries like Hristo Botev, Georgi Rakovski, Vassil Levski. Over the past few years, the polling station for Bulgarians in Las Vegas has also been there, in the restaurant. “You can compare the place with a “revolutionary committee” – with Bulgarian expats meeting here to discuss politics and important issues connected with their country,” says Maria Samichkova, our correspondent in Las Vegas.

On the occasion of Enlighteners’ Day she paid a visit to Rumen Stefanov – and not just because he is a symbol of all things Bulgarian in Las Vegas, but also because he had had another, very special visit – by the students from the first Bulgarian school Vassil Levski.

The teachers at these Bulgarian schools abroad are the people who awaken the minds of the children for knowledge of Bulgaria’s history, language and literature. The children from the Bulgarian Sunday school Vassil Levski paid Rumen Stefanov a visit at his home high up in the mountain.

9-year old Ruslan Nyagolov has been going to the Sunday school in Las Vegas for two years, and he says he is happy to be able to speak Bulgarian there with people outside of his family circle. He has been to Bulgaria and has memories of the Black Sea, the city garden in Varna, Dobrich, Karlovo, Sofia. Today he is finding it difficult to name his favourite enlightener, and can’t make up his mind whom to choose – Vassil Levski or Hristo Botev because “they both fought for freedom but Botev took care of the spirit as well.”

Thousands of kilometres from Bulgaria, Rumen Stefanov is recreating Bulgaria, and his home in the mountain is a symbol of all things Bulgarian. Rumen loves to talk about the historical figures of Bulgaria, and says that even though times are now different, the bond between people now and back then is their shared love of Bulgaria, the Bulgarian language, literature and culture.

“My love of Bulgaria has been there since I was born, it is very strong and is not going to change as long as I live. My mother, my grandmother, my other relations all taught me to be who I am, and to choose the right path to follow. They are my councilors, my advisers, but also my enlighteners.”

Rumen says he is a happy man who has made his biggest dream come true – to recreate his Bulgaria thousands of kilometers from home, in Las Vegas. For Rumen, to be an enlightener is to want to help Bulgarian expats in Las Vegas who have fallen on hard times and who need help and support.

“I like to help people make their dreams come true. I am sure that the help and love you give returns to you,” Rumen Stefanov says. “We all carry the faith and hope inside us, and that is what keeps us going. Faith and the way I was brought up by my parents – to not lie or steal – have helped me make my own dreams come true.”

Although he has been living in the US for 26, he still loves Bulgaria very much and tries to travel back to his country almost every year, together with his family.

“I created my own Bulgaria right here, but I still love to travel back to the country together with my wonderful wife and children,” he says.

Photos: personal library