Navigating Off-Campus Life: International Students at AUBG

A stroll through AUBG is like a walk around the world; a diverse campus which students from more than 40 countries call home. However, is it all roses and sunshine, or are there some hidden thorns?

This year, challenges for international students, especially those in their junior and senior years, have increased due to limited capacity in the Skapto dorms. As more and more students come to the university every year, housing becomes sparse. Though the administration has promised the construction of a new wing of Skapto 3, housing will remain an issue in the years to come.

As a result, a lot of the juniors and seniors are moving out of Skaptopara dorms and finding their own places in town. This shift brings a new set of challenges to consider, especially for AUBG’s international community. What are the implications of this move? How are international students treated? What are the concerns they face? And what are their struggles?

Sana Aikyn, a senior student from Kazakhstan, ventured to live off-campus for the first time this semester. Sana’s quest to find accommodation off-campus was not all smooth sailing. For international students like her, finding suitable accommodation can be very challenging, especially when you take into account language barriers and time constraints. Sana had to find someone who spoke Bulgarian so they could help her find an apartment. “It was a lot of work,” she said.

One of Sana’s biggest challenges was related to government paperwork. “We need to have a certificate to prove that we live in Bulgaria so we can get Bulgarian IDs,” she clarified. She had to to rely on the good will of others, often regarding communication with her landlord or the state-issued documentation. “You actually need to ask for help, and that is kind of challenging,” she said.

While Sana's journey into off-campus life brought its share of challenges and adjustments, some of her experiences provide valuable insights into the transition that international students face.

Mohamad Hachem, a senior from Lebanon, also embarked on a similar journey in October last year. His story offers a different lens through which the intricacies of international life off-campus can be observed.

The process of finding a place for Mohamad may have been smooth, but the challenges associated with the complexities of life in Bulgaria were still present. Mohamad has a basic understanding of Bulgarian, but he acknowledges that navigating daily life in Bulgaria often demands more proficiency in the language. He admitted that "doing almost anything in Bulgaria requires you to speak a bit of Bulgarian." He highlighted the need for assistance with many things in order to navigate life off-campus. “I end up speaking to my landlord every time, which can be a little bothersome," he said.

In spite of this he manages to maintain an active presence on campus. "I'm involved in many campus activities, and I've always been. What off-campus living has provided me is a bit more privacy and the work-life balance I needed," he said.

Mohamad’s main concern is with those of the student body who advocated for equal treatment between international and Bulgarian students in terms of student accommodation, arguing that it simply doesn't align with how life works.

He stood against AUBG’s decision to treat international students equally to Bulgarian students when it comes to campus housing last year. “I was in Student Government last year. This was a very controversial topic,” he said, “Who do I blame? I do blame many members of the student body who insisted it was about equality.” According to him, treating everyone the same way is not a reflection of reality. “It's a matter of quality of life, not just equality,” Mohamad said.

"AUBG is a residential university,” he said. As such, ensuring spaces for international students, especially for those on exchange, is crucial for them to experience the AUBG atmosphere.

He clarified his stance, saying he doesn’t blame the administration for the implementation of the decisions, as they aim to serve the best interests of the student body, which they represent. He continued, "I really hope that this message goes out: we should rethink these policies and our approach to things.”

Much like Sana, Mohamad also noted issues regarding paperwork. He offered insight into challenges associated with visas and the "declaration of residence" requirement. "In Bulgaria, you need something called the declaration of residence. Usually, landlords are supposed to issue that, but many landlords don’t like paying taxes," he noted. He admitted to getting lucky with his landlord, who agreed to issue him the document with no questions asked. However, he disclosed that other international students faced severe difficulties with finding a landlord willing to issue them the necessary document.

The experiences of Sana and Mohamad offer a glimpse into the intricate world of international students navigating off-campus life at AUBG. Their stories highlight the importance of support, understanding, and an ongoing dialogue between the university and its diverse student body to create an environment where all students can thrive. But how does AUBG help achieve that?   

The residence director, Ilko Drenkov, admitted that he and his colleagues would often respond to the pleas of international students regarding off-campus housing. Mohamad, being one of these students, admitted: "To be honest, finding a place for me came a bit easy because I asked the residence office.” But is this really sufficient?

The complexity of handling off-campus housing has prompted the need for a dedicated department, an aspect highlighted by the newly appointed off-campus coordinator, Lyuben Mirchev. He started his interview by thanking the Student Government for pushing through with the decision. “The off-campus student body really needs someone to help them out with whatever issues they have,” he said.

Though “still getting his feet wet” with the position and its implications, he sees a lot of potential. Expanding on his role in the university, Mirchev detailed the broader details of his position. Not only would he be responsible for aiding with specific off-campus housing needs, but his assistance would also extend to navigating paperwork and documentation, especially regarding international students.

Moreover, he shed light on the immense challenges international students face when it comes to paperwork. “The biggest issue right now with foreign students is that when they apply for a (Bulgarian) ID they need a document from the landlord.” To mitigate this, Mirchev seeks to establish a database where agencies, that are open to renting to students, could share property listings with him. This database would help enable him to assist students seeking to rent.

The Off-Campus Coordinator hopes this database can, one day, be integrated into the AUBG website itself, and allow students to browse properties for themselves at a whim.