A Guide for Us Fulbright Students to Bulgaria
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Shipment of Books and Educational Materials by Fulbright Grantees 15 07. Language 16 08. Travel Arrangements 17 09. Packing 18 10. Arrival in the Country 19 B. YOUR STAY IN BULGARIA 01. General Tips 22 02. Communication 22 03. Safety and Security 25 04. Health 35 05. Money 38 06. Cost of Living 41 07. Mail and Shipping 42 08. Transportation and Travel in Bulgaria 43 09. Shopping 44 10. Eating 47 11. Living in a Different Culture 50 ___________________________________________________________________________ 2 A GUIDE FOR US FULBRIGHTERS AY 2019/2020 INTRODUCTION Dear Fulbright grantee, Congratulations! You have been awarded a very prestigious grant aimed at promoting the educational exchange between the people of the United States of America and other nations in the world. The Bulgarian nation, with its thousand-year- old history and culture, is relatively less known to Americans. In the last decade, however, and especially since 2007, when Bulgaria became a member of the European Union, we have reappeared on the world map as part of the process of democratization and integration of Eastern Europe. An increasing number of Bulgarians, most of them young people, have gained access to the American culture and education. The vast majority of Bulgarian recipients of Fulbright grants have made a most favorable impression with their intellect, versatile talents, and flexibility. The experience that awaits the American Fulbright grantees coming to Bulgaria for the first time will most certainly involve a dose of frustration, especially in the beginning, perhaps even fear of the unknown and the unfamiliar. At the same time, it will be a challenge and test of their ability to accept others, to overcome inhibiting stereotypes and form a balanced view of the globalized world as a unified whole. The Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission is fully committed to helping the American Fulbright grantees make the best use of their stay in Bulgaria, adjust more easily to the new environment, and establish fruitful contacts with their Bulgarian colleagues and host institutions. We look forward to meeting you and working together. Angela Rodel Executive Director ___________________________________________________________________________ 3 A GUIDE FOR US FULBRIGHTERS AY 2019/2020 A. GOING TO BULGARIA 01. Sources of Preliminary Information Most foreigners enjoy their stay in Bulgaria, although the first days of adjustment might require flexibility and open-mindedness. Bear in mind, however, that the Fulbright experience of each grantee is as universal as it is unique, especially in a situation, which is constantly changing, hopefully for the better. Of course, it is helpful to read the final reports of previous grantees. They will give you some idea about what to expect and how to prepare for your stay in Bulgaria. It would be good to find out through your hosts, and local contacts what texts and resource materials related to your research are available in the country, and where. Another indispensable source of information is the Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission, which provides pre-departure materials for each U.S. grantee and conducts orientation in Sofia prior to the beginning of the academic year. The Bulgarian-American Commission for Educational Exchange was established in February 1993 under a bi-national agreement between the United States of America and the Republic of Bulgaria. It consists of ten members. Five of them are citizens of the United States and five are citizens of the Republic of Bulgaria. The Chief of the Diplomatic Mission of the United States of America to the Republic of Bulgaria and the Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria serve as Honorary Co-Chairmen of the Commission. The Commission has a staff of ten: Angela Rodel, Executive Director E-mail: [email protected] Anastasia Miteva, Financial Officer E-mail: [email protected] Tania Petrova, Cashier E-mail: [email protected] Maria Kostova, Program Officer, Bulgarian Grantees E-mail: [email protected] Rada Kaneva, Program Officer, U.S. Grantees E-mail: [email protected] Iliana Dimitrova, Program Officer, ETA Program E-mail: [email protected] Snejana Teneva, Educational Adviser E-mail: [email protected] Adrian Zlatanov, Fulbright Testing Center (TOEFL, SAT, GRE) E-mail: [email protected] Lira Konstantinova, Fulbright Testing Center (TOEFL, SAT, GRE) E-mail: [email protected] Ivan Penchev, Fulbright Language Training Center E-mail: [email protected] ___________________________________________________________________________ 4 A GUIDE FOR US FULBRIGHTERS AY 2019/2020 As of June 2016, the Commission's head office has moved to 12, Vitosha Blvd., occupying the 5th floor of the building. Office hours - 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Monday - Friday Visiting hours – 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday Tel.: (359 2) 981 8567, (359 2) 980 8212; Fax: (359 2) 988 4517 e-mail: [email protected]; web: www.fulbright.bg www.facebook.com/fulbright.bulgaria @FulbrightBG www.youtube.com/user/BulgariaFulbright bg.linkedin.com/in/fulbrightbulgaria www.instagram.com/fulbrightbulgaria Source of information in the U.S. is our contact agency – the Institute of International Education (IIE). Our contact persons there are: Kristina A. Hestvik Angelo Piro Assistant Director, Europe and Eurasia Program Officer, Europe and Eurasia Fulbright Student and Scholar Fulbright Student and Scholar Programs Programs Institute of International Education Institute of International Education 809 United Nations Plaza 809 United Nations Plaza New York, NY 10017 New York, NY 10017-3580 [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] In the Cultural and Historical Tips about Bulgaria guide you will find a list of books about Bulgaria. Most of them are available on Amazon.com, and are a great way to gain some background knowledge about the country and its people. Also, the U.S. Department of State provides comprehensive country Background Notes online. The ones for Bulgaria are posted at http://www.state.gov/p/eur/ci/bu/ 02. Preparation for working in Bulgaria Before you leave the U.S., get as much of a head start as you can. The more basic groundwork that you can complete, such as reading as much of your work's secondary bibliography as possible, will put you that much further ahead. Outline your topic with your adviser(s), ask them to point out areas where you need more background and try to find out early on as much as you can about the state of the holdings of the institutions where you plan to work. Your research program will go through changes. Much time will have passed between the original formulation of your project and your arrival in Bulgaria. There is ___________________________________________________________________________ 5 A GUIDE FOR US FULBRIGHTERS AY 2019/2020 considerable difference between American and Bulgarian scholarly approaches to most studies, and it may be difficult to find people to collaborate with on the kinds of questions you have formulated. You will have to remain very flexible, at both a practical and a conceptual level, as things will never go exactly as you expect them to. It may help to define your project goals in wider terms, for example: - locate and process sources dealing with your subject - establish personal contacts with peers and experts - verify and advance with knowledge on the subject - become more conversant on the subject in Bulgarian It is important to stay in touch with your professors in the U.S. and people in similar situations living abroad. You may choose to go independently throughout much of your research, but in general, if you are able to participate in the life of an NGO, research institute, or other center of intellectual activity in Bulgaria, you will be more satisfied professionally and personally. Communicating with other academics in the country can facilitate research and lead to other contacts with similar interests, scholarly and non-scholarly. Accepting invitations even if you are not particularly interested in attending an event is a good idea - most students admit that an active engagement with life in their host town has made their stay not just more pleasant in general, but far more fulfilling and rewarding. Be persistent, and don't be offended if your e-mails go unanswered - many Bulgarians prefer to communicate by phone or social media rather than by e-mail. If you remain flexible, patient, tolerant, and open- minded, your work will be successful and rewarding. At most work places, social attire is informal, but it