Bulgaria and Greece 2008 Trip
CEERES was asked to organize a pre-departure workshop for a group of educators selected to participate in the Fulbright-Hays Seminar Abroad “Bulgaria and Greece: A Shared Past and a Common Future,” which took place from late May to early July 2008.
Chicago provided a venue for getting acquainted with new colleagues and getting a taste of what was to come. We were delighted to meet this vibrant and enthusiastic group of teachers and have been privileged to keep in touch with several post-seminar.
Greece is regarded as the cradle of western civilization and the birthplace of democracy, western philosophy, the Olympic Games, literature, political science, major scientific principles and drama. Greece has a long and eventful history, a rich cultural heritage and is also a modern country – a member of the European Union and a major player in the Balkan Peninsula. The objective of the Greek portion of the seminar was to provide an overview of Greece, including Greek history and culture. Participants were introduced to the country's history and culture and experienced contemporary Greek life through visits to archaeological sites, schools, universities, nature reserves, museums and cultural centers. Visits were combined with lectures by professional staff to tie in the educational, political, cultural and historical significance of the places visited.
The Bulgarian portion of the seminar focused on expanding the participants’ knowledge of Bulgaria, the Bulgarians and their culture, in the context of the country’s recent accession to the EU and its millenniums-old history linking it culturally, politically, and socially with southeastern Europe and the Balkan region. Presentations and discussions touched on key topics; e.g., Bulgarian culture in a historical perspective, political and economic issues of today and tomorrow, Bulgaria and the EU, Bulgaria and NATO, the situation in the Balkans, ethnicity and religion, and Bulgarian education, arts, and literature. Meetings with Bulgarian educators and professors from the major universities in Sofia, government officials, university administrators, public figures, poets, musicians, artists were supplemented with visits to museums and art galleries, and trips to historic sites throughout Bulgaria.
Each year, the US Department of Education works with Fulbright commissions world-wide to offer several short-term seminars. As the educational materials and the blogs from these participants show, this is a wonderful opportunity for educators. More information on the Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program can be found at http://www.ed.gov/programs/iegpssap/index.html.