Issue 81 Spring 2016 NEWSLETTER Bulgarian-American Commission for Educational Exchange
Turning the Wheels of Time Social Entrepreneurship in Bulgaria Fulbright Bulgaria’s 2015-2016 Grantees Bulgaria: The Balkan Surprise Fulbright Fiction Bulgarian-American Commission for Educational Exchange
The Fulbright Bulgaria Newsletter is a biannual magazine published by the Bulgarian-American Commission for Educational Exchange (Fulbright) in print and electronically. Opinions expressed by the authors are their own and do not necessarily represent those of the Bulgarian-American Commission for Educational Exchange. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the material in this publication, the Bulgarian-American Commission for Educational Exchange does not accept liability for any errors or omissions.
BULGARIAN-AMERICAN COMMISSION FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Meglena Kuneva Minister of Education and Science Honorary Co-Chairperson
Eric Rubin US Ambassador to Bulgaria Honorary Co-Chairperson
BULGARIAN MEMBERS: AMERICAN MEMBERS:
Victoria Melamed Thomas Higgins Minister Plenipotentiary, CEO, Yatoto Ministry of Foreign Affairs Co-Chairperson Tammy Paltchikov Educational and Cultural Attaché Maria Metodieva at the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria Family Economic Success Officer Trust for Social Achievement Brian Stimmler Counselor for Public Affairs Dr. Julia Stefanova at the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria Former Executive Director of the Bulgarian Fulbright Commission Stratsimir Kulinski Co-Chairperson President American University in Bulgaria
Jeffery Warner Teacher Support Manager Teach for Bulgaria
Fulbright Bulgaria thanks its sponsors for their support: FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CONTENTS
It’s hard to believe that a year has passed COMMISSION NEWS since I stepped into former ED Julia 02 Stefanova’s shoes and took over leadership of the Bulgarian Fulbright Commission. While her shoes may be hard to fill, during her twenty-three years in the position, she left a solid foundation for me to step onto: a fantastic staff, a vibrant alumni community, and a commission with a spotless reputation for excellence and transparency. However, I would like to think SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP that we have not merely rested on Julia’s laurels, but have tried 04 IN BULGARIA to build on her achievements. Over the past year, the commission staff and I have redesigned the Fulbright Bulgaria media presence, BULGARIAN GRANTEE MARIYA SHARKOVA giving our website a complete makeover (check out our new 07 look at fulbright.bg), launching a bi-monthly e-newsletter, and reformatting our paper newsletter as a bi-annual missive. We also BULGARIAN FULBRIGHT expanded our social media portfolio to include Instagram and 09 GRANTEES LinkedIn, in addition to our already extant Facebook, YouTube and Twitter profiles. Our changes have not been solely virtual, however, U.S. FULBRIGHT but have extended to our real-world contacts with the Fulbright 10 GRANTEES community. In order to provide our returning Bulgarian grantees with a forum in which to share their experiences, in October 2015 we launched the first annual “Fulbright Open Lectures” to great enthusiasm: in TED-style talks, a dozen recent and not-so- recent Fulbrighters shared their expertise on everything from nanotechnology and soil science to refugees and Chicago blues.
However, the biggest change facing the Bulgarian Fulbright FULBRIGHT ALUMNUS Commission at the present is our impending move to new 12 BRIAN C. MURPHY premises. After twenty-three years at Alexander Stamboliyski 17 in the Ministry of Culture, we will be moving to a new location at 12 Vitosha Boulevard – in the heart of Sofia’s pedestrian zone! Thanks to the support of former Minister of Education Todor Tanev and his team, who helped locate this fantastic new space, the Fulbright Commission will occupy the entire fifth floor of an elegant administrative building from 1951. Renovations are now underway – stay tuned for an invitation to our house-warming party in summer! And of course, our alumni and friends from abroad are FULBRIGHT ALUMNUS always welcome to stop by Vitosha 12 and pay us a visit whenever 14 BOYAN DOBREV they are in Sofia. EXARCH JOSEPH I hope you enjoy this first issue of our redesigned newsletter – you 16 FOREIGN LANGUAGE SCHOOL will have the chance to find out what fellow alumni Brian C. Murphy and Boyan Dobrev have been up to, as well as to become acquainted FULBRIGHT FICTION with current grantees. Please don’t hesitate to send us your own 18 ANGEL AGOV news at [email protected] to include in future issues! 2016 FULBRIGHT Angela Rodel 20 BERLIN SEMINAR SPRING 2016 COMMISSION NEWS Outreach Campaign for the AY 2017-18 Fulbright Grants Competition by Maria Kostova
Presentation at NBU
The meetings with academics, For the AY 2017-18 grants competition campaign, the students, lecturers, researchers, civil Fulbright Commission planned 21 meetings, presentations, society activists and professionals participations in career and academic fairs at Bulgarian emphasized the importance of higher education institutions, research centers, and non- communication and interaction as part of promoting not only strictly governmental organizations throughout the country. academic opportunities in the US, but also the value of educational and cultural exchange. The aim was to promote the Fulbright Southwestern University, Blagoevgrad; award opportunities to as many American University in Bulgaria, During the visits this year the interest Bulgarian citizens interested in Blagoevgrad; Trakia University, Stara on the part of scholars and doctoral academic or professional qualification Zagora; Veliko Turnovo University and researchers was more marked, but in the US as possible. University of Rousse. graduate students also demonstrated focus and determination to make Executive Director Angela Rodel and The Commission took part in the the most of these educational Program Officer for Bulgarian Grantees Job Fair National Career Days in opportunities. Maria Kostova met with the academic Sofia, Rousse and Veliko Turnovo. leadership teams and presented the Presentations were offered for It was a pleasure and an honor to visit awards for graduate studies, research professional and non-governmental the best Bulgarian higher education and lecturing in the US to students organizations such as “Teach for institutions, meet their dedicated and faculties at numerous universities Bulgaria” and the Association of faculty, bright students, and discuss and academic institutions. Bulgarian Leaders and Entrepreneurs, with their leadership plans for co- as well as at the “Careers in Bulgaria operation with the Fulbright program, Stops on the Fulbright promotional Forum,” which is an annual initiative not only in terms of sending Bulgarian tour included the National Defense under the auspices of the Bulgarian representatives to US universities, but Academy, Sofia; University of President. also by hosting American lecturers and Economics, Varna; Naval Academy, specialists at Bulgarian institutions. Varna; University of National and Two more events are scheduled by the World Economy, Sofia; Sofia University end of the campaign: a presentation We are looking forward to the results (all disciplines); Sofia University at the Forum for Doctoral Students of these encouraging visits and wish - Business School; New Bulgarian at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences the best of luck to all who participate University; Bulgarian Academy of and participation at the Career Days in the AY 2017-18 Fulbright grants Sciences; Technical University, Sofia; of Technical University in Sofia. competition!
2 COMMISSION NEWS SPRING 2016
The Opportunity Funds Activities in Bulgaria by Snejana Teneva
of the program, which covers the cost Fulbright Commission and EducationUSA Launch of test preparation, testing fees, and translation of application documents, Opportunity Funds Program in Bulgaria and also provides support for creating CVs and writing admissions essays, and guidance in selecting universities to which to apply. If successfully The EducationUSA Opportunity Funds program is also available in Asia, admitted to US universities with full program assists highly qualified yet the Middle East, Africa and Latin financial aid, these students will go economically challenged students America. Bulgaria, being the poorest on to the next phase of Opportunity who are likely to be awarded full member of the European Union, Funds during the 2016-2017 school financial aid from U.S. colleges and has many highly talented students year, which covers visa fees as well as universities. Opportunity Funds who are deterred from applying travel and relocation to the US. provides financial resources to to US universities due to cost. To cover the up-front costs of applying encourage these bright youngsters to The first module on Redesigned to US universities, such as testing, consider the US as their educational SAT prep took place at the National application fees, or airfare. In destination, the Bulgarian Fulbright Training and Logistics Center of the addition to their impressive academic Commission’s EducationUSA Advisor, Bulgarian Red Cross in the village achievements, Opportunity Funds Snejana Teneva, in close cooperation of Lozen near Sofia on April 3-9. It students also bring cultural and socio- with Regional Educational Advising gathered eleven Opportunity Funds economic diversity to U.S. campuses. Coordinator Cheryl Francisconi, students and three lecturers. Official has launched an Opportunity Fund guests to the first Opportunity Funds Bulgaria is one of the few European program in Bulgaria beginning in training were Angela Rodel, Executive countries involved in the Opportunity February 2016. From numerous Director, Bulgarian-American Fulbright Funds program, joining Belarus, applicants, twelve eleventh-graders Commission and Tammy Paltchikov, Bosnia, Russia, Serbia, and Ukraine. from all across the country were Cultural Attaché, U.S. Embassy. This US State Department-funded selected to take part in the first phase The three courses included in the event’s curriculum - Redesigned SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, Redesigned SAT Math and Researching Universities were led by Asst. Prof. Boyka Bozoukova, University of National and World Economy, Ivan Dinkov, math teacher, American College of Sofia, and Snezhana Teneva. The lectures and training addressed various exam tasks, strategies and challenges and explored ways to further strengthen students’ preparation for applying to accredited colleges and universities in the U.S.
We strongly believe that the Opportunity Funds students will make the best use of the knowledge and know-how acquired during this unique opportunity and wish them The Opportunity Funds students with their English teacher all a very successful and rewarding application process.
3 Dialogue in the Dark SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN BULGARIA: FROM THE TOP DOWN AND BOTTOM UP by Zachary Wenner, current US student researcher
Two years into the Great Recession, the European Commission called for a “new beginning”: “The crisis is a wake-up call, the moment where we recognize that ‘business as usual’ would consign us to a gradual decline, to the second rank of the new global order. This is Europe’s moment of truth. It is the time to be bold and ambitious.”
This “wake up call” included both the This principle, with its conceptual mandate of renewed economic growth antecedent in the “Horizontal Social and increasing consideration of the Clause” of the Lisbon Treaty, was nature and drivers of such growth. codified into the strategy of “smart, Given this deceleration, the next sustainable and inclusive” growth. decade’s economic (re)expansion would According to this mandate, these have to promote a more equitable priorities would be mutually reinforcing and environmentally-friendly Europe. and “at the heart” of EU programming.
4 SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP SPRING 2016
They include: stewards of the public welfare — was to accelerate this hybridization rather attenuating; greater demand for than to affix traditional boundaries. Smart growth social services came at a time during – developing an economy which governments, bridled with Social entrepreneurship rests based on knowledge and crisis, saw expenditures and revenues at the confluence of these innovation. continue to diverge. The notion trends. According to the that business would drive economic EU, social entrepreneurship Sustainable growth growth while the government and combines “entrepreneurial activity – promoting a more resource civil society would address social with a social purpose. Its main efficient, greener and more problems — tenuous to begin with aim is to have a social impact, competitive economy. — was proving even less tenable. If rather than maximize profit for the EU was to recover, and if it was to owners or shareholders.” They Inclusive growth recover in a way that embodied the combine philanthropic values with – fostering a high-employment ideals of socioeconomic equity and market-based principles, leveraging economy delivering economic, environmental sustainability, it would consumer purchasing power or social and territorial cohesion. have to find a way for the private, market gaps to advance pre-defined civil and public sectors to collaborate. social and environment goals. They This three-pronged vision of growth navigate between the public, private became the guiding principle and, in the This notion has been a driving force and civil sectors. And they advance case of the EU’s financial infrastructure, that has blurred the traditional the precepts of smart, sustainable investment thesis for EU 2020. These boundaries between industries, and inclusive growth through both principles would not only constitute a sectors and market actors. For- the products they create and the subset of EU programming, they would profit business and investors have people they employ. serve as the North Star for all of them. increasingly embraced the notion that Would GDP expansion accelerate or they can generate both a financial Based on the latest figures available, mitigate environmental degradation? profit and social and environmental for example, the “social economy” Would it create pathways to integrate value; non-profit organizations in the EU provides over 11 million those at the bottom of the economic increasingly pioneer revenue- jobs (accounting for 6% of total spectrum? Would it be resilient to generating ventures to increase the employment), many of them for global destabilization as economic or scale and scope of their impact; and the vulnerable segments of the environmental shocks resonated among the public sector continues to work population. In Bulgaria, approximately the most vulnerable segments of society? And finally, would this growth strategy lift Europe from recession? At the time when the EU institutionalized this strategy, millions across Europe were still jobless, while the financial crisis continued to destabilize the macroeconomic environment. In Central Eastern Europe, for example, exports had fallen by 23%, while the region’s imports contracted by as much as 28%; in Bulgaria, a country which had only recently joined the EU, growing risk aversion among foreign investors continued to decelerate capital inflows.
Just as these problems were becoming more acute, the capacity The Ideas Factory Empatheast Conference of government, civil society and for social entrepreneurship in Bulgaria philanthropy – the traditional
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5,000 enterprises self- identify as content and examples.” social enterprises. According to the Ministry of Economy and Energy, These types of organizations navigate they employ over 500,000 Bulgarians many of the challenges faced by in areas spanning social services both nonprofit and private sector delivery, employment of disability businesses. As revenue-generating populations, employment services, businesses with a primary social educational access and health care. mission, they rest at the nexus of traditional and social business. Due In Bulgaria, as in the broader EU, to their novel form and function, social entrepreneurship has evolved practitioners still navigate issues from both the “top down” and such as the right terminology “bottom up.” At the policy level, and developing the appropriate “Many of the Bulgaria’s Working Group on the mindset. “When it comes to social organizations and Social Economy, a quasi-governmental entrepreneurship in Bulgaria, I’d body, is working to provide legal, say that we’re overflowing with individuals I’ve spoken fiscal and conceptual definition fancy buzzwords,” writes Evgeni to did not describe for these types of organizations. Mitev, an entrepreneur and part of themselves as “social Eighty percent of Bulgarian social the 2015/2016 Ashoka Leadership entrepreneurs.” Rather, enterprises indicated the absence of Program in Social Entrepreneurship they were “educators, enabling policy as an impediment, “Social entrepreneurship, start-ups, techies, investors, according to an Innovative Social social change and innovations are and innovators” Enterprise Development Network some of them (trying to sell hot who leveraged report. Through policy papers and air). Actually Bulgaria is just at the their businesses or convenings, the Working Group seeks beginning of a long path that includes organizations to drive to lower this barrier --addressing not only the outer world, but also the social change.” key questions related to the form, mindset of the people involved.” structure and support mechanisms for these organizations. From a Mr. Evgeni leads the activities of regulatory perspective, should they Dialogue in the Dark in Bulgaria be treated more like for-profits – an organization which provides Dialogue in the Dark variations in or non-profits? How should their opportunities for blind guides to lead Bulgaria, including Dinner in the Dark, impact be evaluated? How can the groups through specially-designed Wine tasting in the Dark, Concert the public sector create an enabling darkened rooms. In this capacity, “a in the Dark, Poetry in the Dark and environment for their growth? reversal of roles is created: people Team-building in the Dark. who can usually see are confronted At the grassroots level, social with the sudden withdrawal of their Many of the organizations and entrepreneurs continue to pioneer key-sense sight and are taken out individuals I’ve spoken to did not ventures that address both local and of their familiar environment. Blind describe themselves as “social regional social issues. Ideas Factory, people are the experts out of their entrepreneurs.” Rather, they were an organization that works to advance living circumstances, and provide “educators, techies, investors, and social entrepreneurship in Bulgaria, the public with security and a sense innovators” who leveraged their has helped to develop this nascent of orientation by transmitting to businesses or organizations to ecosystem. Yanina Taneva, co-founder them a world without pictures.” drive social change. When social of the organization, notes that the The organization employs visually- organizations and companies take “field has been developing slowly and impaired individuals not in spite this approach—when they see following the diverse notion of ‘social’ of their disability, but because of themselves first and foremost in the management of organizations the unique perspective and skills as problem solvers— “social active in the field. Consolidation is they offer – a value proposition entrepreneurship” is no longer a rather hard. However, there is a new that attracts companies in their niche concept in Bulgaria. Rather, it generation needing multilevel support teambuilding efforts, along with becomes a universal tool and its best in their efforts to shift the traditional a wide range of individuals and characteristics continue to provide narrative of social entrepreneurship organizations. Mr. Evgeni and his opportunities for sustainable and left over from socialist times with new colleagues have led a variety of scalable change in the region.
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“I cannot emphasize how important this academic education is for my future professional development.”
Mediation in healthcare settings, Legal Epidemiology, Comparative Healthcare Systems, Public Health Law and even MARIYA more. Emory University attracts many teachers with public health experience and students interested in that field of study, due to the close SHARKOVA affiliation with the CDC, the research opportunities at the Medical University and the cozy and friendly campus’ I am among the 160 luckiest professionals from all over the great atmosphere. I cannot emphasize how important this academic world to be selected as a Hubert Humphrey Principal for the education is for my future professional academic yesr 2015-2016. Moreover, I have the privilege of development. being assigned to one of the best universities in USA: Emory University. The School of Public Health is ranked seventh Additionally, Emory offers meetings among public health schools in the country. and lectures (learn and lunch and brown bags) on a weekly basis with different professionals form the Being a Hubert Humphrey Fellow in work or visit Atlanta regularly. Whether country and abroad, as well as free the public health/health policy field in you need to learn more about legal transportation to and from campus, Atlanta provides many opportunities, lessons after Ebola or the latest different social events (concerts, as the other name of the city is “the news about Zika; the newest cancer farm markets, exhibits), support for capital of public health”. The main treatment; the last public health international students, job fairs, and reason is the fact that the Centers achievements or healthcare disparities, networking. for Disease Control and Prevention this is the best place for doing that. (CDC) headquarters are based here This program gives me unique The Hubert Humphrey Fellowship and therefore many of the legendary knowledge in subjects such as program is very well organized by professionals in public health either Alternative Dispute Resolution and IIE and the coordinators, based
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Mariya (second from left) enjoying a hike with family and friends
in the Humphrey Department Atlanta is situated at the foot of the “Among the most of Global Health. They provide Appalachian Mountains, and it is a important help we assistance to the fellows in finding great place for hikers. Here are the receive is personal accommodation, obtaining Social headquarters of CNN, Coca Cola and academic advice Security Numbers, and opening bank Delta, it is the place where Martin and assistance in accounts. L. King rests, as well as the home of finding organizations Margaret Mitchell and Gone with the for the Professional Among the most important help we Wind. Affiliation required for receive is personal academic advice each fellow. “ and assistance in finding organizations The Hubert Humphrey Program is for the Professional Affiliation unique, because the group of fellows required for each fellow. In terms of is so diverse, you can never be bored. this component of the program, I am My colleagues come from different proud to be part of the CDC Public countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, Health Law Program, working on Laos, Egypt, Pakistan, and Brazil. We the Healthcare Associated Infections all supported each other during the project in a great team of experienced coup in Burkina Faso late last year, the As my program comes to an end, I healthcare attorneys. Usually, it is very hostage crisis in Mali, the earthquake can already feel its influence on my difficult to be accepted as an intern in Pakistan. We also have fun with career. The network I created could there, but the Hubert Humphrey barbeques at the swimming pool, be a great starting point for future Fellowship/Fulbright speaks for itself. It potluck dinners, picnics and field trips. cooperation and mutual projects. is a great reference. One of the most exciting times I can’t wait to come back and start during the year was our meeting with implementing the good practices I Despite the commitment to the President Jimmy Carter, the “father” witnessed here during my fellowship academic and professional part of of the program. Only the Hubert and I hope more people will be the program, it can be fun, too. All Humphrey Fellows from Emory are given the opportunity to have this the fellows have “host families,” granted the privilege of meeting experience. I would like to thank helping them to really immerse him during the special Humphrey the Bulgarian-American Fulbright themselves in the American life style workshop on Global Development and Commission for this prestigious award with Thanksgiving dinners, barbeques, Social Justice that took place at Rollins and I hope to be an “ambassador” for Halloween, and different festivals. School of Public Health last week. this great program when I return.
8 Bulgarian Fulbright Grantees Academic Year 2015-2016
Senior Scholars Dr. Dimitar Valchev Lena Borislavova
Dr. Kiril Avramov Field of specialization: Computer Science Field of study: Law Home institution: University Home institution: Sofia University Field of specialization: Political of Food Technologies – Plovdiv, “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Sofia Science Computer Systems and Technologies Pursued degree: LL.M. Home institution: New Bulgarian Department Host institution in the U.S.: Harvard University, Department of Political Host institution in the U.S.: University University – Law School, Cambridge, MA Science, Center for Social Practices of Rochester, Rochester NEW YORK Host institution in the U.S.: University Spring 2016 Nelly Gospodinova of Texas at Austin, Austin TEXAS Fall 2015 Dr. Paskal Zhelev Field of study: Education Home institution: University of Assoc. Prof. Iliya Denev Field of specialization: Economics Rousse “Angel Kantchev” Home institution: University of Pursued degree: MA Field of specialization: Plant National and World Economy, Intl. Host institution in the U.S.: Lehigh Physiology Economic Relations and Business University – College of Education, Home institution: University of Department Bethlehem, PA Plovdiv “Paisii Hilendarski”, Plant Host institution in the U.S.: University Physiology and Molecular Biology of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Boris Kanchev Department Urbana ILLINOIS Host institutions in the U.S.: Virginia Fall 2015 Field of study: Law, Thanks to Polytechnic Institute and State Scandinavia award University, Blacksburg VIRGINIA; Home institution: Sofia University Pennsylvania State University, Research Scholarship for “St.Kliment Ohridski”, Sofia University Park PENNSYLVANIA the Study of Civil Society Pursued degree: LL.M. Spring 2016 Host institution in the U.S.: University Dimitar Ruev of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Dr. Stanislav Panev Law, Gainesville, FL Field of specialization: Regional Field of specialization: Computer Development Peter Penev Science Home institution: Municipality of Home institution: Technical Dryanovo, Directorate Urban Planning, Field of study: Molecular Biology University of Sofia, Faculty of Investment and Economic Policy Home institution: Sofia University Telecommunications Host institution in the U.S.: City of “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Sofia Host institution in the U.S.: Carnegie Arcadia, Arcadia CALIFORNIA Pursued degree: MS in Bioinformatics Mellon University, Pittsburgh Fall 2015 Host institution in the U.S.: The PENNSYLVANIA Georgia Institute of Technology – Fall 2015 Graduate School, Atlanta, GA Graduate Students Assoc. Prof. Gergana Tekath Teodor Stanilov Milena Berbenkova Field of specialization: Field of study: Technology Ethnomusicology Field of study: Art Management Management Home institution: Bulgarian Academy Home institution: Sofia University Home institution: Technical University of Sciences, Institute for Art Studies “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Sofia of Sofia Host institution in the U.S.: University Pursued degree: MA Pursued degree: MBA of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Host institution in the U.S.: Host institution in the U.S.: Emory CALIFORNIA Columbia College – Chicago – University – Goizueta Business School, Spring 2016 Graduate School, Chicago, IL Atlanta, GA
9 BG Grantees U.S. Fulbright Grantees Academic Year 2015-2016 Academic Year 2015-2016
Non-Degree Research Lecturers Graduate Students Grants for Doctoral Students Dr. Ronald Harvey Michelle Asbill
Medea Yankova Field of Specialization: Psychology Field of Specialization: Social Work Home Institution: DePaul University, Project Title: Prostitute Typology Field of study: Textile Design Chicago, IL and Decision-Making Among At-Risk Home institution: National Academy Host Institution in Bulgaria: National Bulgarian Institutionalized Girls of Art, Sofia Center for Addictions, Sofia Host Institution in Bulgaria: University Host institutions in the Spring 2016 of National and World Economy, Sofia U.S.: University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, HI Dr. Carol MacCurdy Julia Irons Fall 2015 Field of Specialization: American Field of Specialization: History Literature Project Title: Sociocultural Identity in Hubert Humphrey Home Institution: California Ancient Thrace Fellows Polytechnic State University, San Luis Host Institution in Bulgaria: New Obispo, CA Bulgarian University, Sofia Maria Sharkova Host Institution in Bulgaria: Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski”, Plovdiv Rachel Susser Field of specialization: Public Health Spring 2016 Home institution: University Hospital Field of Specialization: Music for Active Treatment St.George, Plovdiv Mira Niagolova Project Title: Flutes of Bulgaria and Host institution in the U.S.: Emory Romania University, Atlanta, GA Field of Specialization: TV Production Host Institution in Bulgaria: Academy Home Institution: Champlain College, of Music, Dance, and Fine Arts, Plovdiv Burlington, VT Host Institution in Bulgaria: National Zachary Wenner Academy of Theater and Film Arts, Sofia Spring 2016 Field of Specialization: Political Science Dr. Boyka Stefanova Project Title: Social Enterprise: A Bulgarian Model for Inclusive Economic Field of Specialization: Political Science Growth Home Institution: University of Texas Host Institution in Bulgaria: Institute San Antonio, San Antonio, TX for the Study of Societies and Host Institution in Bulgaria: University Knowledge, Bulgarian Academy of of National and World Economy, Sofia Sciences, Spring 2016
Dr. Isabelle White
Field of Specialization: American Literature Home Institution: Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY Host Institution in Bulgaria: University of Veliko Tarnovo “St. Cyril and St Methodius”, Veliko Tarnovo Spring 2016
10 U.S. Fulbright Grantees U.S. Fulbright Grantees Academic Year 2015-2016 Academic Year 2015-2016
English Teaching Emily Herlinger Christine Pardue Assistants Field of Specialization: Education Field of Specialization: English, TESOL Project Title: Teaching English as a Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language in Bulgaria Foreign Language in Bulgaria McKinley Alden Field of Specialization: Linguistics Allegra Hyde Nicole Pilar Project Title: Teaching English as a Field of Specialization: Creative Writing Field of Specialization: International Foreign Language in Bulgaria Project Title: Teaching English as a Political Economy Foreign Language in Bulgaria Project Title: Teaching English as a Kaitlyn Alkass Foreign Language in Bulgaria Field of Specialization: English Moriah Kent Literature Field of Specialization: TEFL Montana Rogers Project Title: Teaching English as a Project Title: Teaching English as a Field of Specialization: English, Foreign Language in Bulgaria Foreign Language in Bulgaria Creative Writing, Music Project Title: Teaching English as a Alex Bransford Angela Koch Foreign Language in Bulgaria Field of Specialization: Education Field of Specialization: Art Education Project Title: Teaching English as a Project Title: Teaching English as a Brianna Shawhan Foreign Language in Bulgaria Foreign Language in Bulgaria Field of Specialization: Journalism Project Title: Teaching English as a Amy Bruckbauer Connor Leach Foreign Language in Bulgaria Field of Specialization: Biology, Field of Specialization: Slavic Languages Neuroscience Project Title: Teaching English as a Erin Speltz Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language in Bulgaria Field of Specialization: Peace Studies, Foreign Language in Bulgaria Economics Katelyn Lee Project Title: Teaching English as a Colby Fleming Field of Specialization: Linguistics Foreign Language in Bulgaria Field of Specialization: Philosophy, Project Title: Teaching English as a Sociology, Russian Foreign Language in Bulgaria Jason Syphrett Project Title: Teaching English as a Field of Specialization: International Andrew Malin Foreign Language in Bulgaria Studies Field of Specialization: History, Project Title: Teaching English as a Reid Furubayashi International Studies Foreign Language in Bulgaria Field of Specialization: Philosophy, Project Title: Teaching English as a Politics, Economics Foreign Language in Bulgaria Wilhelmina van den Berg Project Title: Teaching English as a Field of Specialization: History, Claire Manning Foreign Language in Bulgaria Education Field of Specialization: Comparative Project Title: Teaching English as a Anna Fuselier Human Development Foreign Language in Bulgaria Field of Specialization: International Project Title: Teaching English as a Affairs Foreign Language in Bulgaria Natalie Vieira Project Title: Teaching English as a Field of Specialization: Resource Christopher Mayers Foreign Language in Bulgaria Economics, Political Science Field of Specialization: East European Project Title: Teaching English as a Lauren Gieseke Studies, Russian Foreign Language in Bulgaria Field of Specialization: History, Project Title: Teaching English as a Political Science Foreign Language in Bulgaria Sirena Wurth Project Title: Teaching English as a Field of Specialization: Political Molly O’Keefe Foreign Language in Bulgaria Science, Communications Field of Specialization: Theatre Project Title: Teaching English as a Ryan Hedrick Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language in Bulgaria Field of Specialization: Linguistics, Foreign Language in Bulgaria Political Science
Project Title: Teaching English as a Sophia Padelford Biology Foreign Language in Bulgaria Field of Specialization: Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language in Bulgaria
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Bulgaria: “Murphy decisively won the respect and admiration of law students and colleagues by his revival The Balkan of Bulgaria’s participation in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Surprise Court Competition, which Spotlight on Fulbright Alumnus had petered out several years earlier. “ Brian C. Murphy by Angela Rodel also in private law practice. During the course of his work with the FBA, it became clear that the Republic of Bulgaria was among the former Eastern European countries most interested in and receptive to democratization and the rule of law – then-Bulgarian Prime Minister Philip Dimitrov, at the time the youngest Prime Minister in Europe, and also a lawyer, was exceptionally receptive to Western legal reforms. Indeed, then-Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger termed Bulgaria, the “Balkan Surprise,” because of its receptivity to post-socialist reforms. This inspired Murphy to apply for a Fulbright law lectureship in the Republic of Bulgaria. For a three- semester period, between 1992 and 1994, Murphy taught at the Professor Yankov with Jessup Team Faculty of Law, as well as at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Sofia University. U.S. attorney Brian C. Murphy’s Fulbright experience in Bulgaria launched a more than 20-year-long international Initially, not all of Murphy’s career supporting the rule of law, good governance and colleagues or even his students were so open to Western legal practice market reforms that has taken him from Sofia to Afghanistan, as was Prime Minister Dimitrov Iraq, Eritrea, Armenia and many places in between. – his lectures in Comparative Administrative Law and the Law of When the Berlin Wall crumbled in Section. He had been as a public International Business Transactions, 1989, Brian C. Murphy was serving servant for more than 20 years, scheduled late in the afternoon, as chairperson of the Federal Bar mostly with U. S. Government were sparsely attended, until he hit Association’s International Law agencies in Washington, D.C., and upon the idea of luring students to
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class with the promise of free pizza visit to Bulgaria for the Jessup and by passing out casebooks to the competition in February of 2016. students (which were difficult and quite expensive to obtain). However, As if reviving the Jessup Competition Murphy decisively won the respect were not enough, another highlight and admiration of law students and of Brian C. Murphy’s Fulbright colleagues by his revival of Bulgaria’s experience was the late U.S. participation in the Philip C. Jessup Chief Justice William Rehnquist’s International Law Moot Court visit to Bulgaria. “I was asked by Competition, which had petered then-Bulgarian Supreme Court out several years earlier. Jessup Chairperson Ivan Grigorov to invite is the world’s largest moot court and escort the late U.S. Chief Justice, competition, with participants from William Rehnquist, on his first-ever some 600 law schools in more than visit to a newly-democratic state— 80 countries, and is a simulation Bulgaria,” Murphy recalls. “I did so, Na dobur chas, Ioli! of a hypothetical dispute between and Chief Justice Rehnquist met with countries before the International many Bulgarian judges during his Iolanta Koprinova, the Court of Justice. Murphy tirelessly visit. The Rehnquist visit eventuated Bulgarian Fulbright recruited and trained talented in a number of visits, in turn, to the Commission’s long-serving Bulgarian law students and raised U.S.A. by Bulgarian judges. His visit administrative secretary, funds to bring the winning Bulgarian marked the first time in memory team to the international Jessup that such a senior U.S. official had retired from her position in semi-final rounds in Washington, visited Bulgaria.” Murphy credits February of 2016. She joined D.C, in 1994 ,where they performed his exceptional former law student the Fulbright team in 1995, creditably. The Jessup team members and close friend, Svilen Todorov, in the first years after its were most fortunate to have such an with inspiring Rehnquist’s visit. As founding, and was a pillar accomplished jurist as the estimable a young Bulgarian student, Todorov of support for generations of Professor [and former Ambassador so impressed the long-serving Fulbrighters, fielding phone and United Nations Judge] Clerk of the Supreme Court of the calls and questions and Alexander Yankov, to judge their United States, William K. Suter, at a making sure applications efforts before going to Washington, luncheon in Washington, D.C. that he and information got where D.C. The Jessup competition has endorsed the Chief Justice’s visit to they needed to go. Her become Murphy’s lasting legacy Bulgaria. in Bulgaria, as he returns to the subtle yet impeccable country every year to participate in After his Fulbright experience in taste was apparent in the competition. In 2016, Murphy Bulgaria, Murphy went on to work the design of Fulbright has arranged for not one, but two in numerous countries, including communications, as well as Bulgarian teams to go to Washington Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Armenia, parties and events, which to showcase the talents of more Rwanda, Kenya and Eritrea. Yet, no bear her aesthetic stamp than one Bulgarian university in this matter where he has gone in the to this day. She was an prestigious international forum. world, Murphy has maintained close invaluable link in bringing ties to Bulgaria in the more than 20 new ED Angela Rodel (who “Working with bright and aspiring years since his first visit, returning remembers Ioli from her young law students and young regularly for the Jessup competition own Fulbright grant back lawyers in Bulgaria was the most and to visit Bulgarian friends, fulfilling role of my career in public colleagues and former students: “As in 1996-97!) up to speed service,” Murphy notes. “I remain the first situs of my work abroad, with her new duties. The in regular contact with a number Bulgaria and Bulgarians earned whole Fulbright Bulgaria of my former law students and a very special place with me. A staff and community wish colleagues.” This is certainly the case, beautiful country, with an educated, Ioli happiness in her well- judging from his packed schedule of upwardly mobile and informed deserved retirement! meetings with friends, colleagues populace, it has indeed proven to be and former students during a recent the ‘Balkan Surprise!’”
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Visitors to Sofia’s newly remodeled Central Railway Turning Station will now have the opportunity to travel not only through Bulgaria, but also through time – thanks the Wheels to Fulbright alumnus Boyan Dobrev’s new multimedia installation “The Wheels of Time,” which was unveiled of Time: on February 12, 2016. An Interview with Fulbright Located on the second floor of Alumnus Boyan Dobrev the railway station’s lobby, this 24 by 6 meter lighted panel from a by Angela Rodel distance shows a train’s powerful metal wheels; however, when looked at from up close, the picture “disintegrates” into a mosaic made up of 5,600 individual pictures from the history of the Bulgarian National Railway. In the interview below, Professor Boyan Dobrev, who teaches wall-painting at the National Academy of Art in Sofia, discusses the inspiration behind this project and his work as a whole.
What is the idea behind the “Wheels of Time” installation?
I could call it a 2380 by 620 cm time- capsule. It contains 140 years of memories, visualized in photos of all kinds – trains, people’s faces, suitcase handles, sandwiches, celebrations and departures…. When creating a piece of art, the artist should always keep in mind that his piece of art is a message. The message should reach the persons for whom it is intended. My message created in the lobby of the Central Railway Station in Sofia is expected to reach the widest range of personalities and cultural identities. So I created a piece of art where we have realist documentation of 5,600 moments connected with Bulgarian railways, as well as the abstract image of the Bulgarian railways in one. The viewer gets both by simply moving closer or
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is popularly known in Bulgaria, plays a fundamental role in Bulgarian culture, because Bulgarians are Orthodox Christians, thus wall paintings have been a way to express the divine other than with words since 865. Public art also played an important role during the totalitarian period as a place where state propaganda reached the people. Today new media substitutes for the old techniques in public art worldwide. The “Wheels of Time” is one of the first examples of this worldwide trend in Bulgaria. I hope the “Wheels of Time” marks a new period!
How has your Fulbright experience shaped your practice as an artist and educator?
I had the exceptional honor to be a Fulbright grantee twice! My first Fulbright was at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) in 1997-98, where the experience I had helped me create my book The Principles of Visual Composition. It turned out to be a textbook for my students as well as my personal statement about what I am going to do with my art in the future. At SAIC I enrolled in an interactive multimedia class and it turned me from an artist working in classical media to a digital person. further from the “Wheels of Time.” and BDZ (Bulgarian State Railways) The metamorphosis of the abstract gave me all photos I asked for. At My second Fulbright was as a lecturer image into a repository of documents the opening a person came and at CalArts in Valencia, California is the compositional method I decided told me that he saw his photo in in 2007. I taught an interactive to use here for the first time, but one the 5,600 photos incorporated in multimedia class there, and my of the greatest advantages for artists the image. He told me that I hadn’t experience was on many levels. It working in space is to use the power gotten his permission to use it. My forced me to face the challenge of space properly. answer was that if he likes, I could of teaching at the one of the best give him all the other 5,599 photos art schools in the world and to Where did you find the photos that in exchange…. He didn’t answer, but be in a place where the future of make up the “pixels” of the larger finally he told me that he likes the technologies is being shaped. image and how did you arrange “Wheels of Time.” them into this enormous panel? I have also been lucky to participate What is the history of public art in in the events of Bulgarian-American The institutions helped me. I got Bulgaria and how does this work fit Fulbright Commission ever since I a permission to take photos in into it? came back from SAIC, from 1998 until museums and train depots. Todor today. This has definitely helped me Kableshkov Transport University Public art in Bulgaria, or stenopis, as it to be the artist I am now!
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The school as it first opened in 1885, the year of the Bulgarian Unification
The impressive building of the school was designed on the eve of the Exarch Joseph Bulgarian Unification by Friedrich Grünanger, an Austro-Hungarian architect who was residing in Razgrad at the time as the city’s chief architect. During his thirty years of Foreign work in Bulgaria, Friedrich Grünanger designed and constructed numerous remarkable public and residential buildings – the Synagogue, the Central Language Mineral Baths and the Seminary in Sofia, the Teacher’s Institute in Kyustendil and the Regional History Museum in Ruse, to name just a few. The citizens of Razgrad entrusted School, him with this project as the secular school in town, teaching Bulgarian and Turkish girls and boys, had only Razgrad nine classrooms and was becoming by Iliana Dimitrova too small for the growing needs of the city in the turbulent years following the Liberation from Ottoman rule. In this issue of our newsletter we would like to introduce you to The land for the building, said to one of our long-term partners in the Fulbright English Teaching hold the remains of an old sanctuary, was previously owned by Myukerem Assistantship program - the Exarch Joseph Foreign Language Hanim, the sister of one of Razgrad’s School in Razgrad. After hosting volunteer English teachers from feudal lords, Rifat Bey. Myukerem the American Peace Corps for ten consecutive years between Hanim was one of the town’s respected 1992 and 2011, the school has continued its commitment and refined women. She owned the first piano in Razgrad, and after moving to quality foreign language education and has been a host to Turkey around 1882 she gave it as institution for Fulbright ETAs consistently since 2012. a gift to Stanka Nikolitsa, one of the
16 PARTNER IN FOCUS SPRING 2016 first Bulgarian female poets, a teacher In recent years the school has taken “Today the school and interpreter from Serbian. Stanka part in multiple initiatives aimed at boasts numerous Nikolitsa was also the wife of Todor improving the learning environment, Ikonomov, one of the distinguished medals and awards such as USPEH, an initiative of the Bulgarian revivalists, a writer, publisher, won by its students Bulgarian Ministry of Education and politician and a passionate activist from national and Classroom in the Open, an initiative of striving for the establishment of the international Olympiads the Ministry of the Environment and Bulgarian Exarchate. and competitions, such Water. The school also participates as the International in many national programs initiated In the fall of 1885 the new school Physics Olympiad (IPhO) by the Ministry of Education and welcomed its first students, all male, in Canada and the providing support for primary and and just ten years later it became one International Biology high school students based on their of only nine male-only schools in the Olympiad in China. “ individual needs and unique talents. country to offer all classes from first In 2012 the school won funding from to seventh grade (which corresponds the America for Bulgaria Foundation to grades I to XI as we know them wanted to continue their secondary to support the complete renovation of today). In 1902, to mark its 25 years education in a progressive and the first floor of the school’s west wing. of service to the community, the supportive environment. The hard school was named after Exarch Joseph work of management and faculty The principal of Exarch Joseph FLS, I and received the blessing of the has paid off and today the school Peycho Georgiev, was among thirty Bulgarian Exarch himself. boasts numerous medals and high school principals from state and awards won by its students from municipals schools across Bulgaria Between 1948 and 1991 the school’s national and international Olympiads selected to participate in a week name changed to that of Nikola and competitions, such as the long education leadership seminar Vaptsarov, a prominent Bulgarian International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) inVelingrad, Bulgaria, in April 2015. poet, communist and revolutionary. In in Canada and the International After presenting his concept for 1991, by order of the Ministry of Public Biology Olympiad in China. The improved foreign language learning, Education, the school was split into the school’s basketball, gymnastics (girls) Peycho Georgiev won a place among Nikola Vaptsarov Primary School and and badminton (girls) teams have the fifteen finalists selected by the the Exarch Joseph Foreign Language competed internationally in Brazil, Institute of International Education School, which for the first time offered the Czech Republic and Chinese Taipei to take part in a customized ten- intensive instruction in the English, after winning first and second places day leadership and professional French and German languages. in the republican championships. development experiential program in New York, USA in the fall. Both The further development of the The school today has 532 students trainings are sponsored by the school in the following years soon and 37 teachers, of whom nine teach America for Bulgaria Foundation as made it a preferred choice for English, three German, two Russian part of the Bulgarian Young Leaders students from the region who and one Spanish. Program.
The faculty at Exarch Joseph Foreign Language School, 2015
17 SPRING 2016 FULBRIGHT FICTION
“I’m not sure I can rationally explain Angel Igov my fascination with Yuchbunar – which An Anything but Meek Writer was not a particularly sanitary place and by Angela Rodel which does not, strictly speaking, even exist nowadays. Call it a Angel Igov, a 2010-2011 Fulbright Visiting Student Researcher to writer’s intuition if you UC Berkeley, has just published his second novel, The Meek. A wish, but this collective urban narrator seems literary critic and teacher of translation in the English Department to have become a major at Sofia University, Angel himself has translated into Bulgarian point of interest for major names from contemporary English literature, including Paul readers and critics.“ Auster, Martin Amis, Ian McEwan and Angela Carter.
What made you decide to write about the People’s Court?
It was not a sudden decision at a particular moment of my life; I had been interested in these events for a long time. I guess I was able to find in them a manifestation of some issues that are of perpetual interest to me, such as the relativity of justice and the transformations an unexpectedly empowered person suffers. Also, the general historic period is one that I am somehow fond of, and I wanted, among other things, to recreate the atmosphere and zeitgeist of mid-20th century Sofia.
Why did you decide to narrate much of the novel from the point of view of Strezov’s neighbors, the Yuchbunartsi? His first novel,A Short Tale of Shame, right of appeal. However, Igov’s was translated and published in novel does not deal with the “high My initial idea was simply to write the United States by Open Letter profile” victims of this purge, but a novel in the second person. Press. The Meek examines one of rather explores what might motivate Then, gradually, a narrator evolved, the darkest chapters of Bulgarian the common man to take part in addressing the protagonist in the history, the Naroden sud, or People’s these trials. His main character, second person, and then this narrator Court, a series of trials staged in Emil Strezov, is a young leftist who became the collective voice of 1945 in which nearly all of Bulgaria’s through happenstance finds himself those unidentified young men from pre-communism political elite – a prosecutor in the People’s Court the proletarian neighbourhood of three regents, eight royal advisors, trials of artists and writers. Narrated Yuchbunar. I’m not sure I can rationally 22 cabinet ministers, 67 MPs from in the first-person plural, this “we” explain my fascination with Yuchbunar – the 24th National Assembly, 47 are his neighbors in Sofia’s Yuchbunar which was not a particularly sanitary generals and senior army officers District, a Greek chorus of sorts that place and which does not, strictly – was sentenced to death with no in the end judges Strezov himself. speaking, even exist nowadays. Call
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it a writer’s intuition if you wish, but fog, but hung around the lamp posts across one of your poem in the thick this collective urban narrator seems like ragged halos. The man’s footsteps anthologies, they would read it and to have become a major point of crunched on the trampled-down snow, say: well, it’s not bad. And we would interest for readers and critics. Among which was black from soot and cinders. tell them: Emil Strezov, you say? He other things, it reinforces my unheroic He didn’t meet anyone, and even if he lived across the street back in the day. reading of the events, adding the had, his neighbors from Yuchbunar If you only knew what a smack I gave perspective of people who are highly likely would not have recognized him him once. And what did he do? The skeptical and ironic most of the time. at first. kids would ask. What do you mean, what? He wasn’t a good-for-nothing How much of the novel is based on That was you. like us. What was he like? He was… documentary evidence about the He was the little old ladies’ favorite. events of 1945? We knew you, Emil Strezov, for whole He was Uncle Petar’s polite tenant, he months and years we were following was always rushing here and there, up A lot of it. It actually contains sheer your every move; and even though until that autumn with books tucked documentary material as well, we didn’t see you then on that bridge, under his arm, after that with a pistol interspersed throughout the narrative. even in our sleep we knew that you tucked in his belt, but he always found This is, amazingly, the first Bulgarian were there. Carried away in their rapid time to say hello and chat a bit about novel about those traumatic events movement, our eyeballs still noticed the great events that had taken place and I had to be certain I got the facts everything, even through our closed and the even greater ones that were right. Evidence is not so easy to find eyelids: the gray tatters of the fog, the to come. But if any of us had passed either, especially evidence about the lonely man’s footsteps that sprang up you on that night, he surely would everyday aspect of the events. How in the snow. We saw, we heard. We have noticed that there was something exactly did the trials proceed? What remembered how you moved to the strange in your gait, in your gaze, in did the premises look like? How were neighborhood, how you came from the wrinkles unexpectedly carved into the prosecutors and judges chosen? that nearby town, so insignificant that your forehead, which made you look By whom? I had to find the answers to its name isn’t even worth mentioning, grown-up and furious; that one of us these questions before I started, and I we saw with our own eyes how from would even have wrinkled up his own went on browsing the archives through a down and out high school student forehead in turn, wondering whether the process of writing as well. you became an underappreciated he hadn’t mistaken someone else for poet, and then the generous autumn you and whether that rushed young of ’44 suddenly thrust into your hands man was the same person who so Excerpt from The Meek the power to decide human fates. We bloodthirstily, his face ablaze in a smile, joked that one day, our children, when had made the rounds of the Sofia In the thick February fog, saturated they entered that university of yours Streets in early September. with the scent of coal, a young man that you never did finish, would come was standing on the bridge by the Yuchbunar baths, tearing pages out of the notebook in his hand and tossing them into the river. When the final page had been carried off by the current, he seemed to hesitate for a moment. Then with sudden decisiveness he tore off the cover as well and tossed it into the dark water, which in places glittered with thin slivers of ice. Without looking down the young man turned around and quickly set off towards the center of town. At that time of the night, there were no other passersby: the streets were snowy and deserted. Here and there, from the yards in the side streets came the listless barking of dogs. The bright breath of the electric street lights on Pirotska did not manage to pierce the
19 SPRING 2016 BERLIN SEMINAR
2016 Fulbright Berlin Seminar by Iliana Dimitrova
“In our presentation we were able to give people a quick glimpse into our diverse lives as ETAs, particularly focusing on our involvement in our Bulgarian communities. “
Fulbrighters in Berlin, 2016
Seven Fulbright English Teaching Assistants represented question and answer portion of the Bulgaria at the 62nd annual seminar organized by the German presentations that followed we were also able to engage the audience Fulbright Commission on March 20-24, 2016. Over 300 American and teach them Благодаря and Fulbrighters from 20 countries in Europe got together to network Наздраве and led a folk dancing lesson and share their experiences, challenges and achievements. afterwards which was a lot of fun and received very positive responses from the audience,” shares Sirena. Here is how our Fulbright Bulgaria When Molly O’Keefe, ETA in Stara representatives experienced this Zagora and Sirena Wurth, ETA in After listening to presentations wonderful event: Razgrad, decided to apply as panel from Fulbright scholars, researchers presenters, they had no idea they were and English teaching assistants, “Although the seven of us were facing stiff competition: “Out of over participants had the opportunity small in number, we found 50 applications we were selected to to break out into discussion many opportunities to share our present on our topic “Bulgaria: Beyond groups focusing on various topics – experiences”, says Lauren Gieseke, the Classroom”. I was really pleased we performance arts, the role of sports, a Fulbright ETA in the town of were selected because after just the sexuality and gender expression, the Shumen. “From the beginning of the first day of the conference I was noticing impact of migration and immigration conference, our unique position as a pattern in the reactions of people on education and many more: Bulgarian ETAs was clear…. We were, if after asking which country we were not the only Fulbrighters from Eastern representing. The answer of “Bulgaria” “It was intriguing to hear the Europe, at least one of the largest was met with frequent follow up variegated perspectives of ETAs in groups from this part of the globe. … questions and curiosity because most large, urban areas where the arts Other Fulbrighters were continually people knew little to nothing about the are supported by public and private surprised both by the number of ETAs country….. In our presentation we were funding in comparison with smaller in Bulgaria and our representation able to give people a quick glimpse into arts communities which tended to at the conference. We thus sought our diverse lives as ETAs, particularly be influenced at the grass roots level. opportunities to share our experience focusing on our involvement in our There was a substantial representation and answer questions, including Molly Bulgarian communities. We highlighted of theater fanatics and I was one of and Sirena’s excellent presentation the differences between life and the few who shared my experiences about life in Bulgaria and a subsequent teaching in bigger and smaller towns, with instrumental music in Europe”, horo lesson for Fulbrighters from as well as the Bulgarian English comments Andrew Malin, ETA in Spain, Norway, and Germany.” Speaking Tournaments (BEST). In the Dobrich, who attended the discussion
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together with Molly O’Keefe. Since less personally than do mine. …While teaching assistants, Bulgarian Molly studied music and theatre it’s true that being a confidant puts ETAs discovered that location- in college and worked in theatre one in a possibly uncomfortable based placement is not a universal before applying to Fulbright, seeking position, the truth of the matter was requirement of the ETA programs out opportunities to see innovative that their students didn’t approach and some of their peers commute performances was on her priority list them simply because they didn’t need to their schools for hours each day. when coming to Bulgaria: “In fact, to. Whereas the students in the West “The experience of living in small one of the reasons why I wanted to had support, structure, education, and towns and cities across the country– come to Bulgaria in the first place access to resources, mine don’t, and residing in the communities in which was because of the performing arts so they came to depend on me for that we teach – is truly invaluable. ... For tradition here. I have been able to information…. That support network me, my job at Nikola Vaptsarov FLS see some pretty incredible artistic is something that we Westerners and my life in Shumen go hand-in- work in Stara Zagora, especially at so often take for granted just living hand; I can’t imagine living outside the Puppet Theatre, which hosts in a society where self-expression this community”, says Lauren. She also many international theatre festivals is not only encouraged, but also shares how American Fulbrighters at as well as touring companies from admired. While our contribution to the the seminar served as a resource for all over the country. The discussion seminar may have been our sense of German Fulbrighters preparing for group in Berlin was full of other ETAs community, my personal takeaway has their projects in the U.S.: with artistic backgrounds who shared been that everyone, no matter where my enthusiasm for exploring the they live, deserves the chance to learn “Aside from these informative European arts scene!”, says Molly and how to express who they are and who interactions with other ETAs, the adds “… in the EU there seems to be they want to be. I’ve taken that for conference was an incredible an abundance of government funding granted for far too long, and now my opportunity to meet other for art, and a general belief that art is students are going to have to write a Fulbrighters – European and something that can really positively lot of poetry to make up for it.” American, scholars and teachers – contribute to the culture of a town working on diverse projects and living or city. I see this positive attitude in Sirena Wurth and our second ETA in in different places, but united behind Bulgaria, for sure in Stara Zagora, Silistra, Emily Herlinger, joined the Fulbright’s mission of education and at least, the city seems to view art discussion on the impact of migration cultural exchange. On the first night, exhibitions,theatre performances, and and immigration on education. “Our for example, we divided into regions concerts, as something crucial for the discussion focused in on refugee based on our American hometowns city, and these things are all publicly populations in Germany and the and connected with German students accessible, instead of only reserved for United States. The German ETAs going to our parts of the US. We the elite few.” shared some challenges they have spend so much time here being seen as the schools have been cultural ambassadors with theoretical “After the breakout sessions were changing because of the many new information– describing life in the US through, one of the attendees from students, but they also shared some to students who have never been, for each gave a short summation of what success stories of how communities example. Giving practical advice about was discussed in front of the entire have welcomed the new groups of apartment hunting, restaurants, conference. We were all delighted to people coming in and have committed and local activities was, therefore, a find that all of the Bulgaria delegation to helping them. We discussed what different experience altogether.” had been very vocal in almost every problems we foresee there being in session”, says McKinley Alden, ETA the future as these changes continue “I came out of this experience with a in Silistra, who joined the discussion to unfold in parts of Europe and the greater appreciation for the community group on gender expression. “I ended United States. Because of my degree in which I live and my role as a teacher, up bringing up the topic of what to do is in ESL Education, I know that in an Asian-American male, a friend and when a student approaches you for my future as an educator in the US, a part-time therapist. I came back from help with understanding themselves I will be working with these specific the Berlin Seminar with a newfound as a member of the LGBT+ community. populations. This conversation helped respect for my surroundings and an I’ve had this happen several times me gain new insights into some of understanding of how much the people throughout my time in Silistra, and the challenges ahead for some of my here have taught me about respect, was curious about the experiences of future students and also our countries community, and the strength of honest others. Strangely, however, it struck as we work together to help this human interaction”, concludes Reid me at first that the students in other humanitarian crisis”, says Emily. Furubayashi, our Fulbright ETA in the countries thought of their ETAs much In their conversations with other town of Montana.
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Bulgarian-American Commission for Educational Exchange
17 Alexander Stamboliiski Blvd 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria Tel: +359 2 981 85 67 Fax: +359 2 988 45 17 [email protected] www.fulbright.bg