Fulbright Greece/Bulgaria

Yesterday I received the agenda for our orientation at the University of Chicago May 29 and 30.  I’ll finally get to meet some of the coordinators of the program from Washington, Greece, and Bulgaria and the other fifteen “survivors” who I’ll be traveling with.  We’re scheduled to have sessions on the language, culture, history, and the art of both countries.  And the session that sounds really good to me is titled “Traveling with a Teacher’s Eye: Collecting Materials and Developing Curricula.”

We just returned from a relaxing trip to visit Katie in Florida.  I had a chance to test some of the things I want to bring with me this summer: digital voice recorder, zip-off pants, rechargeable batteries.  I also bought (with Jill and Katie’s help) a cotton blazer I could wear for dress up occasions.  We’re scheduled to go a reception at the U.S. embassy in Bulgaria on the Fourth of July.  I also received flight information from Meredith at the University of Chicago.  It turns out that Meredith grew up in Rochester and returns here often to visit her parents.  (Maybe that’s one of those six degrees of Bulgaria things.)  I also bought that emergency insurance that will fly me or my remains out of country in case something really, really bad happens. (Hopefully, it won’t.)  And for the bad news, as things stand right now, I’ll be taking an unpaid leave from Sodus Central School while I’m gone.  So this program will cost me a lot more than I planned.

My son tells me that for this blog to work, I need to post stuff more often.  So here is my latest post.  I’ve heard from all of the other 15 people in my group.  What a diverse group!  They are from all over the country: Hawaii, Montana, California, Texas, New Hampshire, Illinois, Georgia, Utah, New Mexico, Massachusetts, and of course New York.  We have professors of history, education, philosophy, and psychology.  A couple teachers teach at private schools, one at a New York City magnet school.  And there is at least one other school librarian.  Only a few of the people teach at public schools.  So at this point, I’m getting a little apprehensive.  Will this be like a college road trip with a lot of cool, smart people who you like to hang out with?  Or will it be more like “Survivor Greece/Bulgaria” where you can’t vote anyone off?  What do you think?

We received an e-mail from Meredith at the University of Chicago giving us more details about the orientation there.  We’ll be in Chicago May 28, 29, and 30.  We’ll stay in hotels, attend meetings, and talk about ideas for possible curricular projects.  And then on to Greece May 31.  Our return from Sofia is July 7.

Everyone’s asking me for details which I didn’t have.  Now, all of a sudden, they’re flooding in.  So here goes for all you detail freaks: Today I heard from the Educational Adviser for the Fulbright-Hays Greece Bulgaria Program.  We will have our orientation meetings in Chicago from May 29 to May 31.  In Bulgaria we will be attending lectures, museums, art galleries, and dining at restaurants with cool names.  (I wonder what the food will be like.)  We’ll eat at the Hassienda, the Happy Bar and Grill, and the Pri Yafata.  Eating seems to be an important feature of the schedule.  (That’s a good thing!)  We’re scheduled to visit the famous Rila Monastery, tour Sofia, and travel to Varna on the Black Sea.  Those are a few of the scheduled events.  I’ll update you more as I receive more information.  Keep checking this site. Bulgaria schedule

I received the medical history form for Dr. Hannan to sign.  It’s a basic medical history form with a place for the doctor to verify that I’m physically and emotionally capable for a full course of study, lecturing, and research and that I don’t require special assistance.

I also need to have insurance that covers “emergency evacuation” and “repatriation of remains.”  Hopefully, I won’t have to collect on that policy.

I also heard from more of the participants.  So far, there is one other person who teaches in a public school.  Everyone seems a little frustrated with the lack of information we have about where we’re going and what we’ll see.  Maybe that will be coming soon.

I wish I had more details other than the dates I’ll be traveling.  I’m supposed to be hearing from the commissions in both countries about the details of the itinerary in each country, but so far there has been no word.  I spoke to my principal Thursday, and he wants to set up a meeting with the superintendent about my trip  hopefully to figure out how I can get some time off school for this experience since I’ll have to leave before school is out for the summer.

I did get a Lonely Planet: Bulgaria for my birthday thanks to my wife.  You know, you need good information before you go.  By the way, if any of you have any connections to these far off places, let me know.  Is it seven degrees of Kevin Bacon?  Or seven degrees of Bulgaria?

This is an experiment.  I’ve never done a  blog before, but I thought it might be a way to keep friends and relatives up to date this summer while I’m on my Fulbright.  I did find out yesterday that I’m leaving May 26 and will return at the end of June.  I’ve had e-mails from a number of the other participants.  Several of them are college teachers; one teaches at a private girls’ school in Los Angeles.  So far, it looks as though I’m the only one who works in a public school.