By Angelica Cheyenne
Staff Writer

If studying in a historic and beautiful country is on your bucket list, California State University, Dominguez Hills’ Extended and International Education is offering a trip to Bulgaria from June 8-20 for students taking one of seven courses offered during the spring intersession for CSUDH Study Abroad. The deadline to apply is April 23.

Any CSUDH student in any major is eligible to attend the study abroad trip to Bulgaria as long as the student is enrolled in one of the seven 2018 Spring Intersession courses offered during the trip.

Those courses include anthropology, comparative religion, food and culture, occupational therapy, and more. These courses are available to all CSUDH majors, not only social science majors

Students must complete an application and have a minimum GPA a 2.0 to apply.
Students who take one course must pay $900 by May 1. Students taking two courses must pay $1,740 by May 1.

Students will be hosted by Stone and Compass and will experience “a global education, ecotourism, and cultural retreat center in Stolat, Bulgaria” according to the CSUDH Study Abroad Bulgaria website. Estimated expenses for students taking one class are $2,120, and $3,060 for students taking two courses.

The Bulgaria trip is the brainchild of CSUDH alumni Robert Goodwin, who became involved with Study Abroad after taking a two-week archaeological field excavation to Bulgaria in 2010. After that trip, Goodwin became more involved with international education at CSUDH.

The trip will provide a unique educational experience but also a cultural one, according to Dr. Janine Gasco, a professor in the Anthropology department.

“It brings the material to life,” said Prof. Gasco. “[You’re able] To see a different cultural and physical environment. [You’re able] To hear from local people how they see their own culture, and how they see us.”

While Bulgaria may not be as familiar to many people as other European countries such as France, Germany and Spain, Gasco said those who experience Bulgaria will be fascinated.

“Most of us don’t know much about Bulgaria,” said Prof. Gasco. “It’s a mix of so many different cultures,” from ancient civilizations such as Thracian and Roman, to contemporary Greek and Bulgarian Orthodox.

The geography and food, many of which have a rich history all their own, are also unique, Gasco said.

“[It] has mountain ranges and low population,” said Prof. Gasco. “[It’s] very rural and has lots of farms. We watched a woman milk her cow and then ate the yogurt made from the milk the next day.”

More information is available on the CSUDH Extended and International Education website at https://www.csudh.edu/ceie-intl/study- abroad/programs/bulgaria/.