Aug. 6, 2010-Feb. 24, 2011Kathryn Jenson White, Associate Professor of JournalismGaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication

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

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

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

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

Wonderful, helpful women Connect with in-country Fulbright

Commission asap, no matter the countryBe patient with language Be patient with bureaucracyBe patient with changes in plansBe patient

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

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

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

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

• 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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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