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[lowercase]

Does anyone have info on the new university being set up in Albania?  They are looking for faculty.

[just_dave]

Is this the one you're talking about?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_New_York_Tirana

http://www.unyt.edu.al/

[lowercase]

The school that I am looking at is Epoka. A brand new university.

Just wondering what life in Albania is really like beside the info I can dredge up on lonely planet, etc...

[prytania3]

The school that I am looking at is Epoka. A brand new university.

Just wondering what life in Albania is really like beside the info I can dredge up on lonely planet, etc...

I think that may be one of life's great mysteries...

Albania used to be a very backward country, then they were Communist, but aligned with the Chinese. For years, no one was allowed in there.

There is a very good chance that no one on this board has ever been to Albania, and yet you have many well-traveled people here. I've been near it...I know some Albanians, but I'm afraid that's all I can give you.

In other words, consider yourself a pioneer. Oh, and if you take that job, please report back and let us know.

[just_dave]

It's impressive that they list of salary of $40-50,000 and include yearly airfare.   I imagine one could like quite well there on this salary. 

I wonder though about the statement that professors should be able to communicate with the wider community.  What, in Albanian?

[lowercase]

It's impressive that they list of salary of $40-50,000 and include yearly airfare.   I imagine one could like quite well there on this salary. 

I wonder though about the statement that professors should be able to communicate with the wider community.  What, in Albanian?

It probably means that they don't want an ex-pat community that sticks together and doesn't participate in the culture.

I have lived in the former soviet union, and so I can imagine what life might be like. It is a good salary. I just wonder how secure it is there politically. And it would be, for me at this point in my life, a perm move.

Oh well, no job offer yet.

[larryc]

Flickr tag "Albania": http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=albania&w=all

[just_dave]

Looks like a generally attractive country -- at least to the extent that tourist photos reflect a country's true nature.

If you don't have dependents to consider, this might very well be a fascinating "next move."  There was a point in my career where I really couldn't imagine being in any one country for more than 3-4 years.  And I used to eye all sort of curious jobs all over the globe.  For a while I was considering a job as director of studies at a univerisity in Tajikistan during my sabbatical.  When I was still in Mexico I did actually apply for a US government EFL position in East Timor.  But the person I spoke with suggested it wasn't a safe move for someone with family.

But now I've been at the same place in Japan for 10 years.  I still cruise the exotic listings here on CHE and on Dave's ESL Cafe but more and more I know that, at least for now, this is mostly fantasizing (on those days I feel burnt out here).

Go for it, I say.