The First Day of School

The first day of school here in Albania is a really big deal.  Just to show how big of a deal it is I'm going to repeat this...the first day of school here in Albania is a really big deal.

Now that we've established that let me try to explain.  In America our first day of school is exciting for maybe 30 minutes.  Thats the time you get to stand in the hall or sit at lunch and catch up with your friends, talking about your summer vacations or showing off your new clothes.  But other than that it involves going to all of your classes and hearing relatively the same speech about classroom rules and expectations and the occasional icebreaker to get to know everyone.  It isn't a difficult day, you're slowly eased into the routine of going to school again, but it definitely isn't like summer vacation.

But in Albania, the first day of school is something that students and teachers both look forward to.  You see Albanians don't have classes on their first day of school, they have a party!  Thats right, here on your first day of school you stand around with your class and socialize while enjoying performances, poems, songs and dances.  And the best part about it all...it only lasts for 2 hours and it counts as a day of school!!  Here are some of the highlights of the ceremony:

My school director welcoming everyone.

President of the Student Senate

My landlord was taking pictures for the Bashkia and managed
to paparazzi me.

A student singing Taylor Swift's "Love Story"

The teachers.

The students.

Needless to say, it is a much kinder way of starting the school year.  Parents come with their kids and take pictures, the school director welcomes all of the students, the mayor wishes everyone success and the students get to catch up with everyone.  While part of me missed the structure and efficiency of the first day of school in the states, I realize that the Albanian way has its perks as well.  Ive come to appreciate that here in Albania everything is celebrated.  It shows a willingness to take things slow and enjoy the little moments of our lives that most Americans don't have.  So this is one of the only times you will hear me use the dreaded (ok maybe I'm the only one who dreads it) PC saying, "It's not better, it's not worse, it's just different."