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Fulbright in Bulgaria

Aug. 6, 2010-Feb. 24, 2011 Kathryn Jenson White, Associate Professor of Journalism Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. Fulbright in Bulgaria. Bulgaria??????. Almost no knowledge of this fascinating country here Fantastic place for media in evolving democracy

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Fulbright in Bulgaria

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  1. Aug. 6, 2010-Feb. 24, 2011 Kathryn Jenson White, Associate Professor of Journalism Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication Fulbright in Bulgaria

  2. Bulgaria?????? • Almost no knowledge of this fascinating country here • Fantastic place for media in evolving democracy • Much more interesting than Western Europe in many ways; rich and ancient culture • Central location for travel • Venice, $50 roundtrip flight • Istanbul, $90 roundtrip • Bus to Skopje, Macedonia, $30 round trip • Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission does more than many • It sends an information package, but you must be responsible for figuring many things out yourself, of course • Saw some of the ETAs struggle; one from Oklahoma resigned her post before it began

  3. TIP: Country Choice • I was interested in Bulgaria when I went to the list of awards available to start the process • However, I wanted a Fulbright experience more than I wanted to be in a particular place • I assumed lesser-known country would give me better chance • Think about Bulgaria if you have the option BEFORE it becomes a hot spot • This is happening fast: I just received a request from the B-AFC to help judge that big increase in applicants for next year • Accept, no matter your country, that you will face challenges: It’s not a vacation; it’s a job, but one with great perks

  4. View From My Flat’s Terrace

  5. Baba Marta: Grandmother March, Spring Holiday

  6. Rich Culture: Steeped in Tradition

  7. Rila Monastery: Astonishing Icons in Stunning Churches All Over Country

  8. TIPS: Application • Craft application to specific country needs • Think about what you can do for the country rather than what the country can do for you • Think equally about research, teaching and public diplomacy; the latter is part of the job. Making clear you know that matters • Focus on your flexibility, adaptability, etc.; the commission staff valued that highly • Any international experience is valuable

  9. TIPS: Pre-Departure • If visa required, start process immediately; can be expensive and slow (not just vacation/long stay) • Oklahoma assigned to D.C. consulate. Someone asked for another location for visa visit (Chicago); I didn’t realize I could do that, so it took more time and cost more • $1,000 for flight, hotel, transportation, etc. • Housing guarantee became an issue for me; a letter guaranteeing shelter is often required; you can find apartments online; the Fulbright Commission often helps • Start health exam process immediately (must be within six months before departure) • Check out diplomatic pouch for books • But only going to country. Have to pay to send back, so you might plan to leave for the university library or the American Corner library in the city if there is one

  10. Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission • Wonderful, helpful women • Connect with in-country Fulbright Commission asap, no matter the country • Be patient with language • Be patient with bureaucracy • Be patient with changes in plans • Be patient

  11. FISI • Fulbright International Summer Institute • Only in Bulgaria • Two weeks in Bansko, ski resort village • Students and faculty from around the world • Extra month in country without teaching to explore • Superb cultural classes each day for 90 minutes; language not offered, but now it will be

  12. Bansko Babi

  13. Teaching Assignment: Sofia University • Faculty minder assigned to me was superb; became good friends • She organized, so I spoke on political advertising in the U.S. at an annual Media Fair • She was only person who really reached out to me on faculty • Never asked to speak in American Media Systems course; I made myself known and offered in general, but I should have been more aggressive • Ultimately, I felt a bit underused by the university • Language was part of it, but time and attitude also part: some degree of frustration and anger among faculty over education situation there

  14. The Faculty

  15. In Bulgarian (Cyrillic): Sofia University, St. Clement of Ohrid, Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication

  16. My Shared Office: Minimalism is a Key Word

  17. Teaching • Great students who wanted to practice English and talk about U.S. as much as learn about subject • Course: Women in Media Leadership • Language a challenge but workable • Took lessons; mastered alphabet • Great appreciation for any effort • Faculty support not what it is here, of course • Three stotinki per copy; nothing was free. We had Ethernet but no wireless in building • Limited technology (bought LCD projector with some book funds ($1,500 given by Fulbright to buy books, supplies to leave with university); also left books I brought new from U.S. worked with minder to order rest of books

  18. Tip: Teaching • Focus course on something the university you have targeted does not offer but that is of relevance; information is on Web site • As back-ups offer to teach existing courses • Again, I found these on website when making proposal • Be prepared to adapt syllabus to system and conventions once you arrive • Letter of invitation suggested; I didn’t seek it

  19. Some of My Students

  20. The Grading System

  21. TIP: Offer Your Services in Country and Region: Start Early • Sent short professional bio and list of workshops and presentations to embassies in the region • Spoke at three other universities in Bulgaria; Fulbright Commission really liked this. I would mention this possibility if I applied again. The commission doesn’t care about other countries (see below), but it likes to send you elsewhere in its own country • Invited to Bosnia and Herzegovina • Met with high school students for two three-hour workshops, two groups of university film students, NGOs working on media literacy, women journalists for my research, two presentations to university media students: media literacy and new media • Invited to Macedonia • Embassy budget crisis and time frame stopped it

  22. Velika Tarnovo: Bulgarian University

  23. Research • No problems with this except that journalists, my subjects, are busy all hours of the day • Minder helped me gather women journalists for focus group/survey research • I used university facilities • Lots of cooperation from all involved • One national and one international conference paper so far; will submit for publication

  24. TIPS: Research • Look for joint research if possible; find a research partner at university of choice • I did not do this, but I could have done easily if I had thought to do so

  25. TIPS: Social Life • Find those outside university who do what you do in terms of interest groups to enrich your experience • I’m a quilter. I found quilters and helped them file papers for the first quilt guild in Bulgarian history

  26. My Kilting Friends Who Love to Sue (Bulgarian pronunciations)

  27. Money • If I hadn’t done a full year’s sabbatical, would have made money • If I had thought it through more, I could have taught second term (February-June) and not missed a semester; the fall semester, when I went, overlapped with our spring semester • No significant complaints here; B-AFC helped with travel expenses to other universities in Bulgaria, but not much. I paid some of my own expenses; universities had almost no money. They couldn’t even pay hotel costs in two of three cases. • Stipend for flat was sufficient; subsidy for food, utilities only a small bit of the cost, so you will you stipend money to live

  28. TIPS: Money • Get a credit card with no foreign transaction fees • I had my stipend money deposited in my American account and used ATMs, but be sure the ATM fees are low: OU Federal Credit Union, $1 per withdrawal/$250 limit per day but you can ask for 24-hour increased limit if you want over the phone (Skype phone)

  29. And Speaking of Money, Taxes • Think about this from the beginning and prepare • Entire amount taxable in the 1099 realm, although the commission does not send you anything except the grant letter with amounts; I was used to that from freelancing, but that much untaxed money can be a big hit • Talk to accountant BEFORE you go if you have one; I didn’t then, but I do now • Keep all receipts and label them carefully for expenses • All Cyrillic looks the same to me now, so tough to tell what is what in some cases

  30. The Home Front • Skype and phone plans make being away not so difficult, of course, in terms of communication • House and car issues for six months • Have a good plan to avoid stress • Home hibernation, I called it • Good friend to check/house-sitting if that works for you

  31. TIPS: Random • Application should use key words from award description • Be as specific as possible • Choose a representative sampling of your activities to show breadth and flexibility • Show depth for research focus • The reporting burden isn’t too heavy: mid-experience report (PowerPoint for presentation in country) and final report (online for CIES) • Choose references thoughtfully for breadth • Try to include a former Fulbright recipient in your reference list

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