edon16

Sent you a message!

No, no, no. I'm so sorry, @catsbloom. You've been so kind and generous with your words. I'm so thankful for you.

Y'all, if you need a place to stay in Bulgaria then you can hit me up. I'm going to be an ETA there!!! I LOVE EVERYONE SO MUCH.

Kentucky juniors took the ACT today during school, and all my students left when they finished. I've refreshed this page and my email so many times. Have any countries announced today? I think you all are cool, wonderful people - if no one has told you that today

oh my god hahahaha. Please tell me you've used the carbonated bubble clay mask (elizavecca), and I'm super into the belif line right now. HI NEW FRIEND.

Yes! Like, why does this have to be the year they split the notification dates for research and ETA? I'm sure it wasn't intentional or ideal for them either but grr. Here is to another week of hope and waiting. Glad to have each other for support!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

I'M SENDING ALL MY GOOD VIBES TO YOU. CAPS LOCKED. FINGERS CROSSED. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

The cold chills are real. Thank you for sharing ~perspective~ ~breathe~

The only pattern I can make out is those are countries whose dates from last year have already passed (or are coming up soon)... I think the hope is that they will announce soon.

@Lab6214 Called IIE just to see if they were open (no harm in that, right?). No one answered, so they're either very busy or closed. I'd say our best hope today is that folks are working from home. EDIT: based on @thepictureisstill's tweet, it appears there was a three hour delay today! Good thinking!

from: me to: my inbox

Hi! It ended up feeling like a really good conversation and less of an under-the-microscope kind of interview, for which I was thankful. They asked me questions similar to what they asked you (what led me to Bulgaria, host community engagement, etc.), but then also a few specific to my application/answers. I tried my best, and that's been a primary goal throughout this process. They seem confident that IIE will notify us by the end of March. Def. gonna get a "~no regERts~" tattoo or something to commemorate post-interview life.

Bulgaria doesn't. It seems like a good handful of countries don't have PDOs.

Thanks! It's tomorrow (Monday) morning at 9 a.m. EST. No, they didn't give a range of dates - they pretty much offered Monday between 4-6 p.m. (GMT +2), but I'll be sure to ask them about their anticipated timeline for decision making.

@tommec @Jess2323 @catsbloom, just received an email request for an interview. Eeek! The selection of emojis on gradcafe are not adequate enough to detail my emotions right now.

Interesting on the notification point. Hmmm. I hope it went well! What types of questions did they ask?

Hi! I have not received word about an interview, but I'm strangely calm - somehow. In this situation and for me, I feel my worrying is not energy well spent, but lolololol I still check this forum and my inbox/spam on the regular. It's my understanding pretty much everyone received an interview last year, so maybe Bulgaria is smoothing out the wrinkles in their process and not attempting to interview all the recommended applicants. I'm trying not to read too much into what an interview means or doesn't mean. Though I've had moments of self-doubt, my gratitude to be in this position continues to outshine any anxiety and worry. I'm sending out good vibes into the universe so that all of us may be rewarded for our hard work! I don't know about @tommec, but good luck with your interview, @catsbloom! I'd love to hear how it goes.

Hey, I haven't heard anything from the Bulgarian commission, but my mindset is to be prepared for an interview / not freak out if one isn't offered to me. After speaking with some current Bulgaria ETAs, it sounds like interviews are a new thing for Bulgaria, like, last year was the first year. So, who knows if the Bulgarian Commission liked doing interviews with applicants - although I can't imagine why it would be a negative apart from the time commitment. I'm thinking if we don't hear about interviews by mid- to late-February then our cohort won't have them, likely, maybe, AHHH.

@Jess2323 and @catsbloom I made a gradcafe account, finally. Fellow ETA semi-finalist for Bulgaria here! Yay! Let me know if you all need anything or want to chat. My fingers are crossed for all of us.