- In Archive
- 2014-10-26 20:45:29
- 611 Views
Every year AUBG accepts a certain number of students from all over the world who are coming here as part of an exchange program. They are either staying at AUBG for a semester or for a full academic year. Often times exchange students become an inseparable part of the University and by the time they have to leave, they have made great friends and have made plans to come back again. However, there is an exchange student who has a slightly different reason to come back, and that is to become a director of a Bulgarian orphanage.
Meet Minka Dorer. She is 19-years-old and comes from Tennessee, U.S. She is in her second year of study of business administration at the Martin Methodist College back in her home town.
[caption id="attachment_22441" align="alignleft" width="106" caption="Personal archive: young Minka Dorer"]
[/caption]
Minka's reasons for coming to AUBG are personal. Although, she had never heard of the University until her mother suggested it, Minka’s bond with Bulgaria is rather special. She spent the first six years of her life in Bulgarian orphanages, until her parents adopted her and took her to the U.S. From age one to three, Minka lived in Blagoevgrad and then till age six she was in an orphanage in the village of Petrovo, near the Greek border.
Her memories from that time are not a lot, but they are very vivid. “Bread and butter were my dream,” Minka said. Food was insufficient and conditions were bad. The personnel were even worse. Moreover, the fact that Minka and a boy, who would turn out to be her best friend in the future, were the only Roma kids, made their stay in the orphanage awful.
[caption id="attachment_22714" align="alignright" width="215" caption="Personal archive: in front of the orphanage."]
[/caption]
“Every kid needs love, care, attention and affection,” Minka said. She remembers how her parents found her and adopted her. “Basically, my mother found me on the Internet. [And] I was cute, as well,” she said. There was a little description under Minka’s photo stating how much she loves music. Minka’s parents, being music lovers themselves, took the decision to fly to Bulgaria and adopt her. “They are my heroes [and] they will support me through everything, no matter what happens and what I decide,”she said.
Currently, Minka is enjoying her first semester at AUBG with her friends. However, not only is she having fun, but she is volunteering at a local primary school too. Together with her friends, she helps the Roma community in Blagovgrad and teaches the children English. “Those kids are so smart and bright. They just need to be given a chance. I am trying to learn Bulgarian at the moment because I feel like there is a language barrier,” she said. After learning Bulgarian she would like to learn the Roma language, as well.
[caption id="attachment_22715" align="alignleft" width="251" caption="Personal archive: Minka with her brother and parents."]
[/caption]
Minka recently visited the local orphanage, where she felt all the hopelessness all over again. “It was awful. [But] I met a little girl there who didn’t let go of my hand,” she said. This little girl reminded Minka of herself as a young girl. “I bought her a bracelet and in the next few days I will go and give it to her, and we will have matching bracelets. I will definitely adopt her one day.”
Minka’s plans for the future are to come back to Bulgaria after graduation. She wants to help not only the Roma community but Bulgaria as well to get out of this poor state of being. However, her strongest desire is to become a director of an orphanage. “It would mean half of my heart if I could do that.”
[/caption]
Minka's reasons for coming to AUBG are personal. Although, she had never heard of the University until her mother suggested it, Minka’s bond with Bulgaria is rather special. She spent the first six years of her life in Bulgarian orphanages, until her parents adopted her and took her to the U.S. From age one to three, Minka lived in Blagoevgrad and then till age six she was in an orphanage in the village of Petrovo, near the Greek border.
Her memories from that time are not a lot, but they are very vivid. “Bread and butter were my dream,” Minka said. Food was insufficient and conditions were bad. The personnel were even worse. Moreover, the fact that Minka and a boy, who would turn out to be her best friend in the future, were the only Roma kids, made their stay in the orphanage awful.
[caption id="attachment_22714" align="alignright" width="215" caption="Personal archive: in front of the orphanage."][/caption]
“Every kid needs love, care, attention and affection,” Minka said. She remembers how her parents found her and adopted her. “Basically, my mother found me on the Internet. [And] I was cute, as well,” she said. There was a little description under Minka’s photo stating how much she loves music. Minka’s parents, being music lovers themselves, took the decision to fly to Bulgaria and adopt her. “They are my heroes [and] they will support me through everything, no matter what happens and what I decide,”she said.
Currently, Minka is enjoying her first semester at AUBG with her friends. However, not only is she having fun, but she is volunteering at a local primary school too. Together with her friends, she helps the Roma community in Blagovgrad and teaches the children English. “Those kids are so smart and bright. They just need to be given a chance. I am trying to learn Bulgarian at the moment because I feel like there is a language barrier,” she said. After learning Bulgarian she would like to learn the Roma language, as well.
[caption id="attachment_22715" align="alignleft" width="251" caption="Personal archive: Minka with her brother and parents."][/caption]
Minka recently visited the local orphanage, where she felt all the hopelessness all over again. “It was awful. [But] I met a little girl there who didn’t let go of my hand,” she said. This little girl reminded Minka of herself as a young girl. “I bought her a bracelet and in the next few days I will go and give it to her, and we will have matching bracelets. I will definitely adopt her one day.”
Minka’s plans for the future are to come back to Bulgaria after graduation. She wants to help not only the Roma community but Bulgaria as well to get out of this poor state of being. However, her strongest desire is to become a director of an orphanage. “It would mean half of my heart if I could do that.”