Josh Spicer '24

Josh Spicer '24 studies International Studies and Political Science at Virginia Wesleyan. He studied at the American University of Bulgaria in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria during the fall of 2023.

What made you choose the location you studied at? How did you pick your program?
I chose the program after seeing that it was ranked very highly for international relations majors. As I needed to do most of my coursework for that major in my semester abroad I put Bulgaria at the top of my list. I also wanted a new and different experience. I wanted to go somewhere I had never been before and experience an entirely new culture.

How were the classes there different from the classes here?
Since AUBG is also a liberal arts school my classes did not operate all that differently. The one cool thing was that every single one of my professors was international. I had professors from Ghana, Germany, and Italy and the large mixture of international students was a great experience as well.

What was your favorite place you visited during your time abroad?
It is really hard to pick just one favorite place from my time abroad. I absolutely loved Peles Castle in Romania but Stockholm, Sweden was beautiful too.

What is your favorite word or phrase that you picked up in the language of your study abroad location?
Нека всичко, което правиш, да бъде правено с любов. This means "let all that you do be done in love". Besides just sounding beautiful I think it is a great way to live life.

Did you cross off anything from your bucket list?
 I was finally able to visit European Christmas Markets which had always been a dream of mine. They were amazing and when I was visiting most of them on one big trip, it was right in the middle of a snowstorm. The entire experience was just phenomenal. I was able to visit large markets in Sofia, Bulgaria; Bratislava, Slovakia; Brno, Czech Republic; and Wroclaw, Poland.

What is the most interesting thing you learned about the culture you were part of?
One of the most interesting things is that Bulgarians love their parks. But unlike Americans or other Western societies they prefer their nature to be untamed. So you'll see unkempt paths and overgrown shrubbery, but it's what the Bulgarians want and does truly allow a better connection with nature. This overgrowth definitely helps to see wildlife too. For instance when I visited the Rila Monastery in the middle of some mountains and forests, there was a huge white wild horse that was right there and he was truly a beautiful sight.

What is the most interesting thing you learned about yourself?
That I do really enjoy solo-travel! Being able to travel to different countries and cities on my own was so much fun. I had never gotten the opportunity to do that before, but exploring whatever I wanted to do each day was truly so much fun. The few group trips I took were of course fun too, but there is something special about figuring out your travel and your itinerary each day on your own. It makes you a more self-reliant individual.

What was the most common thing people there asked you about?
The most frequent question was actually about politics in America. I was asked a lot about how I felt about certain issues and a lot of questions about political polarization. Many people wanted to know if European news outlets were accurately reporting the state of government in America. To a lesser extent I also got a lot of questions about the Phillies or the Eagles as I consistently wore my jerseys for both teams while abroad.

Did you face any reverse culture shock after returning home?
 I think the only shock returning was getting used to the prices again. Everything in Bulgaria was so cheap. Going back into the grocery stores or restaurants in America and having to pay so much more again was definitely something to get used to again.

What advice would you give to anyone studying abroad? Studying at the location you chose?
For anyone studying abroad, the best advice I have is to keep an open mind about wherever you are placed. Bulgaria was high up on my list but still wasn't my first option and honestly I was a little upset when I didn't get my first choice. But I would not change the experience I had in Bulgaria for anything else. The schooling I was able to receive, the friendships I made, and the culture I experienced were all outstanding. So keep an open mind for wherever you're placed, I guarantee it will be fantastic no matter where you end up. For anyone going or wanting to go to AUBG specifically, make sure to learn some Bulgarian phrases before going. I only knew how to say goodbye and hello things like that and upon arriving I found that most of the AUBG support staff like cafeteria ladies or security guards only spoke Bulgarian as well as a majority of people in Blagoevgrad itself. So try to pick up a few phrases related to emergencies or food, things like that, before you go.