Gezuar Kristlindje!
I have been incredibly busy the past few months, which is why I
have not posted. I will write down some notes for myself of what has been
happening and come back to write it out later. For those concerned, I will be
traveling with Justin in Bosnia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Macedonia for
break so pray that it all works out because I have been able to plan very
little. Because I am using my break to travel, I have been pushing hard to get
done with all my grading and planning ahead of time so I am ready when we
return to school in 2014.
We have had several celebrations at the school in the past several
months each involving food and dancing. Although Thanksgiving is not an
Albanian holiday, we invited all the students’ families for a bountiful feast
at the school with hours of dancing by the students. The leftovers resulted in
a 10-day sandwich festival with chicken and sausage. It was unusual to eat
sandwiches, so this was the only time we bought sliced bread, cheddar cheese,
and mayo but it was tasty. Next was the 100 Vjet Pavarsi (100 year anniversary)
celebration during the school. All students wore red or dressed in traditional
clothing and there were patriotic performances followed by traditional dancing.
The next day in Tirana, there was a huge cake made that covered the porch of
the culture hall and rather than cooperatively being served, people starting
climbing onto it, throwing it at each other, and shoving it into bags to take
home. This turned out to be quite a mess that many people were embarrassed
about because it was all over the internet.
Before Christmas break, we again invited the families to the
school. The Nativity story was acted out by freshman, the music club sang, and
there were videos including one featuring pictures of us teachers during our
childhood. These celebrations are always accompanied by ample home-made raqi
and wine shared around the tables making for an atmosphere different from any
“school” celebration that I had heard of, but it was completely normal for them
and a way to share in the joy and fellowship of the holidays.
Over the past several months, Ermal has wasted no time taking part
in the Albanian culture of marriage. He was set up with the older sister of a
student, and once they spent time together, the assumption was that they would
get married. Traditionally, marriages are mostly arranged so you do not get to
date as you choose. If you decide you like someone enough to ask them out, then
you will marry them or the family and others may be upset with you. Since Lezha
is fairly conservative, this is still being held onto and is likely seen as a
way to protect the purity of young people. The more free, Western influences
coming in are changing things quickly though as young people hang out together
and often become casually involved with each other. Ermal respected the
traditions of the girl’s family and they are now engaged. We were invited to a
celebration in Tirana along with his whole family and parents who came over
from the US. We ate a ton of lamb and danced for hours.
There were two other celebrations we were all invited to involving
food. Adelajda, one of our graduating seniors, had a big birthday celebration
thrown at a restaurant with buffet style seafood, wine, and dancing. Later, Engerta's
family took us out to a traditional restaurant in the countryside to thank us
for helping Engerta study at Christopher Dock for her senior year. This was one
of my favorite meals because of the quality of the food in addition to the
sheer quantity. Salad, breads, pastas, risotto, chicken, lamb, beef, fish,
wine, and good company until we were full. Her parents are very hospitable and
there were dozens of different toasts made including one by me as a good
cultural gesture. Dini gives me hints about anything that would impress
Albanians including how to recognize the head (“dole bache”) of the table and
leading out in one of the series of “Gezuar” cheers whenever you are dining
with others.
Classes have continued very well as I am teaching Civics, WH1, and
American history while beginning my preparations for the behemoth WH2 that I
will be teaching second semester. My classroom is now completely decked out in
social studies material with the flags on the ceiling; world, US, European, and
Albanian maps; pictures, historical posters, and Bible verses hanging on the
walls along with student timeline projects, Bill of Rights bumper stickers, campaign
posters, and the class constitution from our legislative simulation for Civics.
This simulation runs through much of the Civics class involving groups creating
a state, writing a constitution, merging as a class republic, writing new
bills, forming political parties and choosing leaders, debating and voting on
bills, and electing a president using the Electoral College system. This rules process
is set up under different classroom rules, which I enforce, while much of it is
run by student leaders. Examples of the consequences chosen by students include
sitting in the corner, singing a song, forced drinking of a water bottle,
written apologies, push-ups, and finally Lek given toward the class treasury.
After a lot of work sifting through resources and videos, I have
an organized set of material to use in US history to supplement the textbook,
meaning that most of my planning work is complete. I have started taking an
online Cross-Cultural Discipleship through EMS that was recommended and
provided for me through VMM. The class will explore mission in other cultures
through response to a set of questions and discussion between other students
who are all serving in missions abroad. There is a lot of work to be done, but
it has not been overwhelming and I am glad that I will have most of my
preparation efforts available to learn and build the WH2 class because of the
vast array of topics and resources needed.
Drudging of winter, struggles to stay focused, Constantly feel
older, muscle twitching and soreness.
Cold and rain bring electricity outages and the struggles in class
without it
We are continuing to hold our students to higher standards,
modeling with consequences, and searching for continued improvement in the
curriculum. School fundraising video with the teachers and students each saying
something that makes LAC special. Bullying day, and constant meeting and
decision making toward shaping usable policy
Into the Wild - new experience, challenging self, quiet thrill and
perspective to share about in the US, adventure reaches deep into the human
spirit that is not fulfilled by material pursuits of the modern
world, want to continue to travel the world
Daily Show, updated on the world, hilarious, drawn in by some of
the simple perspectives.
Election thoughts from abroad and changing demographics in the US
(majority is minority)
Conversations and reflection that are leading me to see the
Christian walk as a simple decision every morning. Do not look behind or worry
about the future, there is no time that you will reach a point of maturity or
satisfaction, but it is a long process of transformation as you reach out of
your fallen nature and up towards heaven day by day. Depend on God every day
because we cannot succeed on our own and our attempts to are sinful so accept
forgiveness and be drawn into the Lord.
Transformers 3 patriotic justification of strong
violence instead of reconciliation, Angels and Demons perspective that humans
are advancing faster than they can process leading to the destruction of
morality and society in pursuit of material gain. The Church should serve as a
filter to slow down advancement to a pace we can process with healthy Christian
perspective to adapt forward moving science to improve the lifestyle of all
humanity
Josh and Brenna in Honduras, Success of Jesse's BBQ, Joanna is
graduating, Luke is speaking, Mom has a lot of exciting things happening in
Haiti
Grandma's death and the legacy left on the family
Historical Notes on Balkan Countries:
Bosnia - Illyrian, Rome, Slavs, Ottoman rule and majority
conversion, Austro-Hungarian incursion, foreign powers and wars developed
nationalism (Croats, Serbs, Muslims), atrocities of WW1 and 2, Yugoslavia to
the break up when Croats and struggle for territory in Bosnia, independence, 2
part country (Muslim and Serbian majorities) Dayton Agreement that together they
focus on the economy.
Croatia - Frankish dominance after Rome, Catholic resistance
against the Byzantines, protected from Ottoman conquest by the Austrian, part
of Pan-slavic movement that fell apart, Facism and Ustace attacks on Serbs in
the south and the Chetnik response, Tito partisans takeover, gain independence,
offensive push for territory, modern push for EU membership.
Serbia - Slavs converted to Orthodoxy, Ottoman attacks, gain
independence, occupation during WW's, Tito communism takes power followed by
the breakup of Yugoslavia, nationalist conflicts in Bosnia and Kosovo (against
Muslims), turn toward Europe with granting independence to Montenegro and
Macedonia
Montenegro - Mountain landscape has led to defensive position with
rugged soldiers, Serbian leaning but a distinct identity, more westward focused
Romania - Latin roots with German and Hungarian peoples coming in
(peasantry), Ottoman resistance, border changes, communism and revolution
Macedonia - Alexander, Romans, Slavs, Orthodox conversion, Turkish
dominance, Albanian conversian, struggle between Serbs, Bulgarians, and Greeks
for territory in Macedonia, join the republic of Yugoslavia, 1992 voted for
independence that was peaceful separation from Yugoslavia, struggles with
Greece for national recognition, EU push, Serbian church dominance, Albanian
political issues.
Bulgaria -
