PHOTO ALBUM
American University in Bulgaria

 

 AUBG is a special place, doing amazing things in its short life. My internship was centered in Student Services, and I spent a little time in each of several offices, while learning about the university as a whole.

Here's the building, in all its glory for the "24 Mai" holiday. The former regional Communist headquarters, it is an imposing structure on one end of the main square. AUBG leases most of the building, with the library in the basement, the main student affairs offices on the main floor, and classrooms and other offices upstairs. The canteen is on top, and a conference room where receptions were held is also on the top floor (see just above the words? That's a balcony. I have other photos taken from that balcony.) Anyway, the decor is exactly my stereotype of "Communist" - heavy, blockish, dark, and not at all handicapped accessible! AUBG shares this building with a restaurant and the other local university, but hopes to someday complete a complex of buildings near the river, around what is now just Skaptopara residence hall.

"Life is a Bowl Full of Cherries!" Here's me at "my" desk. Student Services Director Lydia Grim was in the U.S., so I used her space for my stay. I am posing with cherries, both red and white, from Maia's garden. It was cherry season, a celebrated time of the year since the Romans lived there. I certainly enjoyed the treats.

On my last night in Blagoevgrad, Jill hosted a good-bye party for me. We had tacos (perhaps better-named "Bulgarian tacos" with cucumbers and white cheese!) From left to right: Sathyam, a visiting professor; Todor, from Campus Living, Polly, who works with international students; Jason, intramurals coordinator and baseball-coach extraoridinaire; Jill, my internship supervisor and Director of Campus Living; and Jordan, a student from Amherst College who came to AUBG for a summer adventure, just like me!