The latter form of reminder was what brought back to me mind the vague years of my high school.

Now, unless you have a child that is going to school you do not hear many stories of drug use and distribution inside them. However, such a recent story, recently reported by the media talked about the main arts school “Jordan Misja” in Tirana (which is where I went to school as well). These two students, ages 12 and 14 had smuggled drugs into the school and after using them had also tried to hide them into a potato chips bag so as not to be discovered. However, the news had gotten out and both had been discovered.

Even then, before the year 2000 had rolled around the use of some drugs in this renowned Tirana art school was known by the students (I was there) as everyone was an artist and artist are world-known to be rather more expressive and tolerant towards such experiences. However, with the increase of affluence and access, pupils and students have seemingly increased use of such substances and now the school authorities are working to deal with this ever-present and ever-growing issue.

Moreover, the saddest aspect yet is the fact that the quality of teaching at this school has not improved in years!

Albanian University (copyright: The Nailman on Flicker)

Thanks to a hint from a friend, I got to read a very interesting article pointing out the splurge of private universities in the region and in Albania in particular. The author counted some 10 public and over 30 private universities, which beats the rest of the Balkan countries.

As someone who aspires toward a teaching career at a university (after I complete my MBA), I find this current reality of concern because of its extremes. Meanwhile, I understand that it will take some time for the situation to consolidate (number to decrease) with some of the smaller universities closing out or merging into bigger ones.

However, of bigger concern are the extremes in terms of the quality of courses and teaching offered to students. I’ve gotten to visit several private university campuses and talked to both professors and students and constantly watching out for new developments.

There is one particular university that is best known for its somewhat gorilla marketing techniques (leaflets on cars, in the streets, posted everywhere). It has been attracting a growing number of generally middle to lower-class students through cheap degree courses.

My first impression when entering their campus was that of walking into something like a prison due to the number of security personnel that guarded the premises. Most of the students could not afford books so they photocopied and shared notes. I also got to meet and talk with some of the teachers but cannot say I was impressed in any particular way!

Another university, which I’ve also gotten to visit several times, is also very well known for its sponsorships and high media/political profile of its administrator. It does carry a unique European flavor to its academic life and its teachers are some of the best (judging by their degrees) as well as its curriculum (based on the books it uses). I have also gotten to talk to several of its students, which I know personally and I’ve been sad to find both extremes in terms of those who study hard and those who get by plagiarizing and copying notes during exams.

The future seems murky but with time the various universities will have to distinguish themselves somehow and my hope is that quality of teaching will be among the top criteria.

P.S. Check out full list of Tirana pictures by The Nailman on Flicker

Elevated levels of music noise and smoke-filled rooms are an all-year-round problem which gets worse in the colder seasons of the year.

Meanwhile, music noise levels are a ‘thorn in the flesh’ for the inhabitants of the apartment buildings around or above such places of “zombie like” entertainment!

In the past several weeks a couple of newspapers have given special attention to this issue by voicing the concerns of the inhabitants in their daily pages. The issue has gotten to the point that now the Tirana municipality and other related authorities are intervening to remedy the situation by issuing warnings and fines to those who break the rules.

On the one side, I can sympathize with the bar owners and managers who due to increased competition have to come up with ways to attract more customers, though their methods are always the same. If it’s not some band or special singer, then it’s just the DJ blasting loud music. But even for those places that may choose to keep their volume low, the surrounding sounds of other bars tend to intrude at which point the only solution would be to raise their volume as well. In this cacophony of mind-numbing sounds everyone is left deaf or close to it. But in my judgment the source of the problem lies elsewhere.

The obvious lack of entertainment venues such as theaters, galleries, etc., makes it almost inevitable for people to resolve going to such places such where the only language spoken is loud music and smoke.

I discovered this picture just today on Peshkupauje.com and thought it was hilarious as a transportation solution.  Who knows may be this thing might catch on and more people will start doing it, especially now during the summer .

I would love to see anyone try this in the middle of the Block area in Tirana.

I am talking about Albanian youth and politicians who use them for their own political campaigns, thus exploiting their innocence and youthful look to decorate their political stages while they fill you with ‘hope’ about what they are going to do in order to get your vote.

That is all that matters. Who cares if they are exploiting our youth and meanwhile saying anything necessary to ensure their own political future.

Anyway, beyond my personal interests in learning about developments in the internet and technology areas, I thought it most interesting to listen to this guy, whose job is to work at improving the world through the introduction of technologies and applications that spread information and knowledge by making it available to everyone.

Well, to get to the point, in speaking about the educational  and mental development of children in light of the present level of interruptions provided by the many sources of information, which in turn affect their cognitive or deeper thinking abilities,  he said: “I still believe that sitting down and reading a book is the best way to really learn something.”

A little later he goes on to stress the importance of teaching children the importance of reading, especially from their early age.

Well, despite the fact that I don’t have children, that does not mean that I don’t think that what he is saying is right and to the point. Moreover, I believe that that principle holds true even for us a mature adults who are faced with the same influx of information from every side and who tend to lose our focus all to easily because of the increased level of interruptions in our daily lives.

In you want to listen to Eric again, go to the 54^th minute of the video which is here:  Eric Schmidt at the Celebration of Teaching and Learning.

The MJAFT Movement organized another protest in front of the Prime Minister’s office today. Vora inhabitants (the town next to Gerdec) were yesterday and today out on the Tirana-Durres motorway protesting as well.

Meanwhile, majority of the media continue to report about the details of the mismanagement and pure corrupted deals that were made between the government representatives and the private Albanian entrepreneurs who ultimately brought about the death of innocent people.

I also learned about a website set up as a petition page where people could sign their name and leave a message as a sign of protest against Prime Minister Berisha.

Personally I am angered by this whole ordeal and the fact that it resulted from a sheer lack of care for human life and dignity in the name of personal profit. I have no doubts to the involvement of politicians, on both sides of the political sphere and have become even more convinced of the fact that this Albanian reality can only start to improve once many of these same politicians loose their political and social influence.

A friend of mine sent me this nice little picture on Facebook, which for me is true in many ways. It is true because, as many Albanians and I have discovered, the Internet and social sites like Facebook are the new meeting place even for those who live in the same country as much as those living abroad.

Moreover, this trend with social sites like MySpace, Facebook, Hi 5, etc, has really caught on with the Albanian youth and their numbers online are increasing steadily. Another advantage to this is the fact that they are learning to use the tools of tomorrow and hopefully learn to use them for their good and the good of this country.

How do I know Albanians are visiting these social networking sites, well I am one of them and I find many of them there too.

You see, moms are moms, and they are always thinking or working for the wellbeing of their children, above their own. And I know very well that this is true of my mom.

That is the reason why, I often try to think of some way to convey my feelings to her. A good way is through tokens, such as a small gift or something else that she would enjoy, which to her expresses my love and affection. More often, a quick phone call is my way to let her know that I have been thinking of her and that I appreciate all the things that she does for me.

The truth is that when you start working all the time, you don’t get to spend as much time with those whom you love or care about. But that does not change the fact that your relationship with that person is important to you or to them. That is why you need to figure out a way to continue to invest and maintain your relationship with that person so that it does not lose value!

Relationships are in a sense like flowers!

• They can be many in number; but nevertheless each one needs to be maintained in order to fulfill its purpose in your life.
• Not every flower is the same, but nevertheless each one needs its water of care and affection to grow.
• They don’t all smell or look the same, but each one needs to know that it is appreciated for who they are.
• Or at least they need to know, you know they are there, otherwise they may die!

That is why it is important to invest time and energy in your most important relationships starting first with the people around you like:

• Those who you live with – your family, dear ones
• Those who you know for a long time – your close friends
• Those who you go to school or work with – your classmates, colleagues
• Those who you know directly or indirectly – your acquaintances, strangers

Only you know what is the best way to maintain and grow your relationship(s) with those around you. And only you know what is the best way to invest in those relationships that may need to be restored or started out.

A small token of love and appreciation
As I mentioned at the start of this post, one good way to maintain your relationship with those close or around you is to express your feelings to them through small tokens like: a fresh flower, some sweets, a card, a book or just a one minute phone call or email to say ‘hi ’. Anyway, think of something to do for them and make it a habit to do it regularly.

What are you waiting? You know who those close to you are so start doing something about those relationships now

The other story regarded two roommates in the Tirana’s “Student City” or student dorms. For some reason, the two roommates had some type of grievance with each other, which turned ugly when one of them attached the other girl by trying to strangle her headphones cord while she was listening to music. What made her loose her mind so and not thing of the consequences.
Today, our young people seem to have little regard for life. Neither that of others, nor their own. But are these just some isolated incidents? I don’t think so. The graver truth is told through the suicidal stories that we hear about every now and then in the news.

Why do I say such things? Well, the two stories above are just snippets of what goes on almost everyday. To me is sounds like our young people do not see a clear future for themselves and that somehow the struggles of life seem to burden them such that they lose all hope, critical though and regard for consequences, and even life itself.

What is the answer? Who is the answer?

P.S. I apologize for dealing with such topics in my posts. However, this is part of that reality with which we have to live every day, even in more modern or developed countries.