Bulgaria: Why Did I Leave? Past Review
By Hannah B (Nursing., University of Maine at Orono) for
American University in Bulgaria: Blagoevgrad - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I am a more independent person now, if that's even possible. I experienced diversity, which being from Maine is hard to do. It helped with my nursing career in a way that it hard to understand. It was just a life changing experience, that everyone should have.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The workload was easier for me than other, because I was just doing general educations. But I really enjoyed all of my courses, they were very interesting. The school is based off American universities so grading is similar and so is the teaching methods. It seemed like my professors had more passion for their subjects than professors here do. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I kept in contact with UMaine while I was away. They were an email away for any question I had. The study abroad team at AUBG is great too. Pavlina Pavlova is so helpful. And Lydia Krise and I became very close, I went to her for anything I needed. They were more than helpful and very accommodating. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The dorms are either suites of 6 people, rooms of 3, or rooms of 2. AUBG places you in a room, but easily adjust it if it needs to be. I brought sheets and towels, and then left the, there. I bought other home goods once I got there, and that was no problem, and inexpensive. |
| * Food: |
All of the restaurants around town are delicious. Frame and Napoli are my favorite. and if you go you must go to KEPAB 13!!! It is a duner place that is open 24/7. I miss it soo much. The restaurants are all cheap and there is two dining places for the school as well. Niki's is across the street from the dorms and has amazing chicken noodle soup. Prego has wi-fi and delicious pizza. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The school host an International Week, which was awesome. Just going out at night was a cultural experience in itself, even walking around town. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I always felt safe at school and around town. There are plenty of people around who will protect you, especially when it comes to the language barrier. The is a doctor at the school, but I would not recommend going to him. I'm a nursing major so I seemed to be in charge of diagnosing my friends when they needed it. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Maybe $20 a week, depending on the week. Probably less than that. You can get a good three-course meal for about $6-7 there. It was free to get into a lot of clubs with a student ID, and if not it was only about $1. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | There were no unanticipated expenses, except my fall break trip, which was more expensive than I thought it would be(France, Netherlands, Belgium). |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | DO IT!!!!! the best program ever. Bulgaria is underestimated, but it seriously is the best place in the world. I just want to be back there. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Bulgarian Folk Music |
| Course Department: | FAR 309 |
| Instructor: | Hristo Botev |
| Instruction Language: | English - with thick Bulgarian accent |
| Comments: | It was slow moving, but very interesting. I now have a great appreciation for not only Bulgarian folk music, but worldwide folk musics. I know all about instruments and the different regions of Bulgaria. It was a great class! |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | None. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
AUBG Choir |
| Course Department: | FAR 105 |
| Instructor: | Hristo Botev |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Hristo is passionate about music. He has a great selection of songs that cover all genres of music and multiple world regions. The class goes on a trip every year to sing in beautiful locations. That semester is was Macedonia, the year before it was Italy, the year before it was Spain. It is a really talented group of singers! |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | None. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Elementary Linear Algebra and Analytical Geometry |
| Course Department: | MAT 105 |
| Instructor: | Tatyana Ivanova |
| Instruction Language: | English - with thick Bulgarian accent |
| Comments: | Math is taught differently in Europe compared to America. I was harder for me to learn and follow, but Prof. Ivanova was a great help. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | None. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Comparative Mythology |
| Course Department: | ANT 350 |
| Instructor: | Mark Stefanovich |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Stefanovich really likes to show movies in class, which is a bit challenging for a 9am lecture. But i learned a lot about mythology and anthropology. He really like students to share their own interpretations and opinions of things which is great, especially when it is a small class(10-15 students). |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | None. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Introduction to Philosophy |
| Course Department: | PHI 101 |
| Instructor: | Diego Lucci |
| Instruction Language: | English - with Italian accent |
| Comments: | My favorite class by far! Prof. Lucci is Italian, and it is true what they say about Italians and philosophy. He was so unbelievably passionate about what he was teaching us that it was impossible not to be captivated. He also is the reason that I cannot think of/see/hear about The Matrix without thinking of Plato's Allegory of the Cave and other philosophic theories. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | None. |
