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Interview 12

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Interviewee talks about his childhood and early education in Karlovo, and specializing in machine engineering in Sofia. He remembers participating in work brigades as a student. He talks about his decision to specialize in a technical field, being a VMZ scholarship student, and starting work at VMZ post-graduation. He talks about his promotion, his work responsibilities, and the organized social life within VMZ. Interviewee discusses the housing projects built by VMZ in Karlovo and Sopot, and compares the economic impact of the democratic transition period on wages and cost of living. He discusses the problem of unemployment, financial insecurity, and deciding to switch jobs. Interviewee comments on VMZ’s future as a defense plant, and its decreased diversified production after 1990. He reflects on what ‘democracy’ means and the changes in daily life that have resulted from the democratic transition.