Snow and its affects on a country

Having lived in the UK all my life and seen the ravaging effects that one centimetre of snow has on the country as it grinds every day life to a halt, but why is this the case when countries that are not classed among the richest and most powerful in the world see colder weather with greater amounts of snow and they keep on trucking (pardon the pun).

I have just spent the last two weeks in Bulgaria, a wonderful little country in south eastern Europe...its a country that has just joined Europe after escaping communism only 18 years ago and has an average salary of £100 a month...less than every full time UK resident earns in two days.

While spending my time in Bulgaria (which was wonderful by the way) I experienced snow that was up to 60 centimetres in depth and temperatures that went down to minus 31 degrees Celsius and I was shocked to see that this did not stop anyone carrying on their daily business.

Even with temperatures so low and snow past their knees the Bulgarians carried on as normal, driving and walking everywhere...how you may ask?

Well there is a wonderful thing called a tractor that has a snow plough put on the front, these wonderful vehicles drive round all the roads clearing it of snow so drivers can carry on their journeys as needed.

The pedestrians of Bulgaria also make their own little snow footpaths by following each others tracks. This is quite a funny vision to behold as you only see everyone from their knees upwards walking through thinks snow.

My point to all this is how can a country that is wonderful yet not powerful like Bulgaria manage to achieve so much when mother natures plays her hand while the UK cannot when they never even see such quantities of snow during such cold temperatures?