It's a Brit Thing

Since arriving in Tirana, Albania just 17 days ago I have experienced several levels of culture shock.  Navigating the traffic (on foot) has certainly become an exciting part of my day as has the walk through the market with the smells from the fishmonger, the butcher shop, and the various dumpsters strewn along the path.  Not to mention the packs of stray dogs that wander and laze about in the streets.  Culture shock about Albania...I expected that.

But I have encountered a whole other level of cultural adjustment with my new friends (and there are a lot of them) from the UK.  You think to yourself, "They speak English.  They're basically a western culture.  How different can they be?"  Riii-ight.  A large portion of the staff at GDQ are from England and I have thoroughly enjoyed sharing meals and experiences with them.  They are delightful and an "all round brilliant" group of people.

The "loovleh" lady I am staying with is Jane.  Jane is from Leeds in the county of Yorkshire in Northern England.  Think Calendar Girls and Wallace & Gromit for the accent and the countryside of the BBC series All Creatures Great and Small for her birthplace.  She is gracious and funny and we have spent many evenings in tears from laughter.  I am working on my Yorkshire accent and she is working on her Southern.  Frankly my Yorkshire is much better than her Southern.

Just last night we were preparing food for guests who were coming over tonight for dinner. Jane announced she was going to make her Granny's chicken and ham pie.  Yes, folks, you read that correctly.  Chicken and ham pie...served cold.  The more Jane explained the pie the more leery I became.  The pie is baked for an hour and a half (so the sausage can cook) and is then filled with a gelatinous goo that, when cooled, holds the whole thing together.  Think fancy Spam.  Jane was worried that the pie would not be as good as Granny's because all we could find was "poofed" pastry and we needed "shaught" pastry.  Below is an account of Jane pouring the gelatin in the cooked pie...at 11:30 at night.  We were a bit punchy by this point.  Notice my excellent Yorkshire accent as we discuss the lack of the correct type of pastry.

Mmmmmm...chicken, ham pie held together with sausage and gelatin.  An acquired taste. 

Penny (Canada), Kathy (US), Jill (Ireland) and Jane (UK) sitting down to chicken and ham pie.

Other odd things in Jane cupboard.  Marmite is sort of like Vegemite and Bovril is a beef gravy drink mix.

It's a Brit thing!

Shkolle GDQ

Since my arrival I have spent considerable time at my new school. 

Shkolle GDQ - front of school

I have a classroom, of sorts, and have spent some time pulling it together to resemble a workable space.  Here's where I will be serving the students at GDQ with special needs and those who need intervention, as well.

Student Support Services room - before.

Student Support Services room - after

Student Support Services room - after