Beder University...

Greetings:

After almost two and a half years in Albania, I’m headed back to the states today. I know it’ll be a culture shock, but it will be good to get with the kids and grandkids – Skype has been great, but nothing like hanging out.

Teaching at Beder University here in Tirana has been perfect. It's been a busy term: classes, radio interviews, conferences, work-shops, guest teaching, thesis committees and supervision, high school visits, even editing accreditation and grant applications. It’s good to have a break, but already missing the classroom.

Yeah, thought I might be headed out of Albania for good last December. Enjoyed my teaching, but the state system is a bit political and well – you got a hint of it on the last post. But I got all the right answers when I looked into the position here and it turned out better than I hoped – these kids want to learn and they work hard. Taught undergrad courses in academic writing, American studies, and stylistics. And now set to teach three literature courses and one grad course in criticism. Really good to get back to literature after all those years in history – love them both, but madly with lit. So, back at the end of the month and hitting the preps.

I haven’t taken too much time away from the university – I figure I’ve passed some kind of life-point, I mean, it must say something when you get to the point where there’s nothing more you’d rather do than work. Like, I thought about going to beach last week, but no, to the Aba Bar early and work on my PowerPoints! Even getting to this blog is down on the list (as opposed to a year ago, when it was pretty much my vocation). So, this is short, and a bunch of random photos of students, colleagues, etc. Will do better later on the local color, promise. Each day starts out hitting the coffee bar early, and since the students aren’t around anymore I do most of my preps outside. And when I’m not in my office that’s where the kids usually find me. 

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The biggest change, and welcome, is the collegiality here at the school. I’ve met and talked to ten times more professors in the last six months than in two years previous in Elbasan and Vlora – it’s a different world. Professor Erbas, the Vice-Rector and Department Head works my butt off – but even with that he's always checking to make sure I have everything I need, including a good meal. Plus, and this is a big plus with me, he’s the best damned administrator I have ever worked under.

So, here are a few more pics from the term; man, Albanians love pictures and coffee. 

Oh yeah, slowly, slowly, right? New “clubbing” update in a couple of months.

My best to all of you.

XOXO

To Tirana...

Greetings:

I know, it’s been quite a while since my last post – been pretty busy – and this one is brief. Since that post I have moved to the Tirana, the capital of Albania and started this semester teaching at Beder University - http://www.beder.edu.al/.

Early morning preps from my apartment balcony.

Time in Vlora was great; wonderful people, some good colleagues at the university, and I made some new friends. But at the end of the term last spring, with a new university rector, new department head, and a bit of misguided pressure to pass a student (“Now, tell me again, who is this guy?”), I was out of work again. Bummer. So, with the help of Mitesh I kept my fall busy teaching private lessons at my various coffee shop offices. Had a great time doing that – good kids.

Then in December I got a call from the Vice-Rector at Beder University in Tirana who had gotten word through the Albanian academic pipeline (thanks again, Mitesh) about a stranded American academic looking for a new place. So, a face-to-face meeting, a tour of the facilities, all the right answers to my questions about the academic environment, and BAM! – a new home, a new experience, and back at it again. Yay!!

The term started in March but they wanted me on campus in January for conference talks, video voice-overs, workshops, visits to local high schools (near and far), and of course I really appreciated the time to prepare for three new classes: American Studies, Academic Writing, and Stylistics. Undergraduate work in Albania is completed in three years, and the English Language and Literature Department has a total of around eighty students – I get to teach every one of them.

Kickin' with my American Studies class

After living in a hotel for about a week, the Vice-Rector found an apartment right across the street from the university – five minutes door-to-door. The neighborhood is great and the locals are friendlier as hell: a great outdoor market around the corner for sundries, fruit and vegetable, another perfect barber, cleaners, mani-pedi shop (welcome to Tirana!), dentist, pasta dishes and the pizza as good as anything this side of the PIE in Salt Lake City.

Dinner at the International Hotel and the Skanderbeg Square makeover

Faculty dining room with Sami - who always serves me an extra portion; and one of the professors with the Islamic Studies Department - the collegiality around here is as good as it was back at the University of Utah - nice

The big difference at Beder compared to my experience at the universities in Elbasan and Vlora is quite remarkable. Are you ready for this? The professors have offices where they can work and meet with students! Yeah, I still have a coffee office for the early morning double cappuccino, and the gang at the Aba Bar makes me feel right at home.

One of my Stylistics students and a few of my first year Academic Writing kids

And without question, the two most important pieces in my day: Krisien, the IT guy who keeps things running smoothly; and Pulon, who gets me running every morning at 7am with my "dopio" Cappuccino - BAM!

With my new attorney, Julian, and Gazi

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On the “Clubbing” front – only a quick note: finally (!!), a hearing a couple of weeks ago in Tirana, and another next month. Whatever the outcome (yeah, everyone is hopeful), Seattle this summer to make contact and get things rolling in the states. What a trip. (And I promise, these guys on the right do smile - but serious stuff, huh?)

Later, munchkins. My best to all of you.

XOXO