School event

Today I participated in an event that involved a contest, organized by Microsoft Albania for a selected number students, chosen from the public schools in Tirana that are using game technology. More than 75 students were present with their teachers and good number parents. 

It was a joyous occasion for the participants notwithstanding the nation’s mourning due to the loss of 12 students, caused by the crash, yesterday, of the bus they were traveling in, during an excursion in the southern part of Albania. 

The event's participants covered two groups of students - ages 9 thru 13, and 14 thru 17 - everyone having the chance to present their own little projects using technology, in a variety of subjects.   98% of the competitors were boys, but the small representation of girls displayed just as much creativity, capability, and spunk. They were even more at ease than the boys in their presentations.

The three judges’ panel had a difficult time choosing the 6 top winners in three categories of prizes consisting of a small gift at the third level, and a notebook from Microsoft at the second level, while the number one prizes were two Kinect Xbox 360 offered by the organization that I work with, which cosponsored this event. 

More details will become available in the appropriate online sites of the participating organizations that also involved a particular department of Albania’s Ministry of Education. No need for interpreters during the opening statements and conversations with the students and teachers on a one to one basis. They are all tri-lingual, but, for me it was exhilarating to watch this youth of Albania display their enthusiasm, energy, eagerness and creativity!

 Congratulations to all!

Sub-tenants

One day, while in bed, I noticed comings and goings of some birds in the proximity of my window that prompted me to investigate this ‘wing traffic’.  Sure enough, I discovered that, tucked in a corner, positioned underneath the base of the balcony above my apartment, some swallows had built a nest. 

I was surprised that such an activity would take place at this height, since I am on the 12^th floor, but, leave it to animal survival wisdom, this corner could not be any safer or cozier.  It is way above the tree line of the boulevard below, where heavy human traffic never seems to end, and well exposed, while being shaded from the blistering midday sun by the above balcony bottom. 

This brings back memories of my childhood in Italy, where, in my grandparents’ country home the swallows would return punctually every year to rebuilt and refurbish about a dozen nests in the same spots they had left them the previous fall. 

The trail they leave behind is a bit messy, as it can be seen also in these pictures.  In Italy their nests were all at ground level, but the house, and adjacent garden, except for my playing and running around, were very quiet places. The swallows actually flew in and out, just above our heads, knowing that they were completely undisturbed by us, and so they shall remain here until they wish to stay.    

 

In Tirana again

Arrived yesterday, safe and sound, and on time, via Austrian Air, which, so far, has never let me down. We were lucky this time to only spend ½ hour taxing the field at departure from  JFK, and the journey was smooth all the way to Vienna. The only distraction during this fully booked flight, was the never ending movements of six Hassidic Jews, who, I guess to conduct their prayers, kept  putting their hats and coats on and off quite frequently. Some of them were not sitting together, so they walked the aisles to meet each other and to stash away their clothing in various overhead bins. 

It’s a bit boring having to spend 4 hours to make the connection to Tirana. My choice not to read, but just relax, usually rewards me with a variety, and sometimes interesting, comings and goings in the waiting area of that airport, equipped also with some lounge chairs where one can stretch the legs. There are not many of these seats, but they are eagerly sought, and, once occupied, travelers easily fall asleep in them. Some young people carry their own, good sized, pillows, which they use on planes and  also to stretch out, length wise, on benches in the transit areas. 

In this zone at Vienna’s airport, very conveniently located next to a busy self-service café, one can watch the world go by: young and old, with different somatic features, mostly dressed in comfortable and even sloppy clothing, dragging all sorts of paraphernalia; a few looking lost and seeking help, while others, self assured, occupy themselves with smart phones, and laptop computers.  

This time I had in front of me for a while, six young Buddhists simply wrapped in their traditional red and yellow, sleeveless robes. They wore socks and modern sneakers, but from their light carryon luggage a couple of them pulled out red cardigans to fence off the air conditioning.  Airport prices are outrageous everywhere, and the concessions are making a good business selling especially water since it’s not allowed to be carried by the passengers anymore. Example this time, in Vienna, I paid 7.40 euro (=$10.00) for one espresso and a pint of water.

Two other observations I made during this travel regard the US Customs Office at JFK, and the passengers’ assistance at Tirana’s airport.  

The first is tucked away in the arrival area with no sign of any kind, behind closed and alarmed doors that you cannot access from the outside.  If you are are departing, therefore, you have to have to descend one level in the building.  The little window available to departing passengers was shut, so one has to ask around. Even airport personnel is unaware how to reach this office, and I was a kind of an oddity when I asked to be directed there. It took more than 15 minutes of walking around, and asking.  I was finally ushered by a security guard, through a locked door, inside the “arrival area”, but with no security check about me!  There, I finally found a uniformed Customs Officer, who smiled when I told him how difficult it was to find him. He was busy (I guess checking incoming passengers) and pleasantly relieved when I told him that I had already filled out for him the required form that I had downloaded from online and printed out at home.  We had a pleasant chat and he wanted to assure me why they do requests certain type of declarations, but I reiterated that they were too ‘invisible’ to the departing passengers…..;-) 

Tirana’s airport is now equipped with a couple of very modern vans for passengers requiring assistance on arrival. They have appropriate personnel in uniform with special signs on their jackets, but, this time, they were not available at the bottom of the movable stairs to the plane to help unload the luggage.  I was fortunate, however, to receive assistance from a young Albanian, fellow passenger. Once on the ground, I saw the airport staff rushing in. They drove me quickly to the arrival building, whisked me thru passport control in a jiffy, and carried my luggage out of the arrival area. 

There, my faithful old driver was waiting for me. In less than ½ hour I was in my apartment, where, as usual, everything was ready for me, including a refrigerator stacked with food, vegetables, and fruits. On my dining table, a bouquet of flowers and some sweets. 

Had to deal with a few glitches that took 24 hours to solve, such as a dead cell phone, and an Internet modem that  did not want to wake up and work for me!

The temperature in Tirana is already in the middle 80’sF degrees. It will take me a few days to adjust to the change of climate, time, and local habits, but here I am, and will be for a while, with loads of work to be accomplished ahead!