Get to know Albania and GDQ International Christian School
How would you describe living in Albania?
Albania has a Mediterranean culture, social and warm. You will find people welcoming and helpful. You will also find people passionate in discussions. While individuals may appear argumentative, they are purely passionate.
The Albanian government is strongly pro-western (European Union and the United States). Expatriates from Western nations generally enjoy a great deal of respect from the Albanian people.
Albania’s population is roughly 3.5 million. Tirana has a population of about 1 million.
Albania is classified as a ‘developing democracy.’ The government is stable with two main parties.
Tirana has basically two seasons. May through October, the weather is warm to hot and humid. Temperature vary from 23 C ( 73 F) to 31 C (88 F). Summer temperatures may reach 40 C (100 F). A mix of sunshine and rain describe November through April. Temperatures vary from 2 C (35 F) to 19 C (66 F). It is rare for snow to fall in Tirana. Most people talk about the cold inside, as few buildings and homes have central heating. This is, however, changing.
Albania’s currency is the leke. Coins are in values of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100. Paper bills are in denominations of 200, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000. Below are the current rates in realtime provided by Iliria98.com.
Why Albania? Why GDQ?
Why Albania?
In February of 1967, Enver Hoxha, Albania’s leader since the end of WWII until his death in 1985, declared Albania the world’s first atheist nation. All churches and mosques were closed. Many of them destroyed. Towns bearing religious names were renamed. Parents were no longer allowed to give their children a name associated with a religious faith. Individuals who refused to give up their faith positions were arrested or forced into hiding.
Missionary organizations were warmly embraced following the fall of communism in 1991. During the nineties, the gospel message was spread to every city and village in Albania. Albanians were eager to learn of Christ and many made professions of faith.
Today, Albanians will identify themselves as Muslim, Orthodox, or Catholic. For most this is merely a label, in name only, as they have taken upon themselves the religious roots of their family prior to the rise of communism. Fewer than 1% of Albanians are evangelical believers. Jesus has commanded us to “go and make disciples of all nations.” First generation believers comprise the evangelical churches in Albania. These believers are young in their faith and in their understanding of biblical truth.
Why GDQ International Christian School?
- Contributing to the missionary effort in Albania by providing the children of missionaries a Christ-centered, international, and academically enriching education
- Touching the lives of international children
- Touching the lives of families who live and work in Albania
- Gaining a broader educational view and perspective of the world
- Connecting with missionary families and ministry organizations
- Working with a multinational staff
- Experiencing a different part of the world and a rich mediterranean culture
Living In Albania
The need for a visa is dependent on the country from which you are coming. All internationals coming for an extended period of time will need to acquire a residency permit. This is needed within 90 days of arrival. GDQ will provide staff with specifics concerning the documents needed prior to arrival.
It is possible to function in Albania with a minimal knowledge of Albanian. Your world will be limited, however, to staff at the school and other internationals you may meet in Tirana. Albanians, themselves, have a gift for languages, and you will meet Albanians with varying levels of multiple languages such as English, Italian, Greek, French, German, and Spanish. The more Albanian you can acquire, the more you will be able to immerse yourself into the culture.
No, GDQ does not have designated housing for our staff. Someone within the GDQ community, however, will help you find a furnished place to live, help you secure a housing contract (needed for a residency permit), and help you locate items you may want to purchase to furnish your home. Many of our staff live in the same neighborhood. Singles may choose to live alone or, if available, live with another person.
Transportation is varied. Some staff have purchased a bicycle here in Tirana, others walk, while some take the bus or a taxi. Navigating the city, itself, entails walking or traveling by bus or taxi. Should you want to travel outside of Tirana, busses and 10-passenger vans are located in various places throughout the city.
Yes. There are several churches in Tirana that staff attend, each slightly different in Evangelical style and means of translation.
Internationals residing in Albania should have up-to-date childhood vaccinations as well as Hepatitis A and B vaccines and a Tetanus (Tdap) booster. If a person was not vaccinated for Tuberculosis (BCG) as a child/infant, he/she should also have a TB screening (Mantoux test). Please note that health professionals in Albania recommend these vaccines. They are not required.
Family care / general practice health services are available through the ABC Family Health Center — http://www.abchealth.org/ Local hospitals are equipped to provide surgical and emergency care. Both Hygeia Hospital and the American Hospital are private hospitals with high quality care:
Common Questions About Albania
Albania has a Mediterranean culture, social and warm. You will find people welcoming and helpful. You will also find people passionate in discussions. While individuals may appear argumentative, they are purely passionate.
The Albanian government is strongly pro-western (European Union and the United States). Expatriates from Western nations generally enjoy a great deal of respect from the Albanian people.
Albania’s population is roughly 3.5 million. Tirana has a population of about 1 million.
Albania is classified as a ‘developing democracy.’ The government is stable with two main parties.
Tirana has basically two seasons. May through October, the weather is warm to hot and humid. Temperature vary from 23 C ( 73 F) to 31 C (88 F). Summer temperatures may reach 40 C (100 F). A mix of sunshine and rain describe November through April. Temperatures vary from 2 C (35 F) to 19 C (66 F). It is rare for snow to fall in Tirana. Most people talk about the cold inside, as few buildings and homes have central heating. This is, however, changing.
Albania’s currency is the leke. Coins are in values of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100. Paper bills are in denominations of 200, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000. Below are the current rates in realtime provided by Iliria98.com.
Living in Albania
The need for a visa is dependent on the country from which you are coming. All internationals coming for an extended period of time will need to acquire a residency permit. This is needed within 90 days of arrival. GDQ will provide staff with specifics concerning the documents needed prior to arrival.
It is possible to function in Albania with a minimal knowledge of Albanian. Your world will be limited, however, to staff at the school and other internationals you may meet in Tirana. Albanians, themselves, have a gift for languages, and you will meet Albanians with varying levels of multiple languages such as English, Italian, Greek, French, German, and Spanish. The more Albanian you can acquire, the more you will be able to immerse yourself into the culture.
No, GDQ does not have designated housing for our staff. Someone within the GDQ community, however, will help you find a furnished place to live, help you secure a housing contract (needed for a residency permit), and help you locate items you may want to purchase to furnish your home. Many of our staff live in the same neighborhood. Singles may choose to live alone or, if available, live with another person.
Transportation is varied. Some staff have purchased a bicycle here in Tirana, others walk, while some take the bus or a taxi. Navigating the city, itself, entails walking or traveling by bus or taxi. Should you want to travel outside of Tirana, busses and 10-passenger vans are located in various places throughout the city.
Yes. There are several churches in Tirana that staff attend, each slightly different in Evangelical style and means of translation.
Internationals residing in Albania should have up-to-date childhood vaccinations as well as Hepatitis A and B vaccines and a Tetanus (Tdap) booster. If a person was not vaccinated for Tuberculosis (BCG) as a child/infant, he/she should also have a TB screening (Mantoux test). Please note that health professionals in Albania recommend these vaccines. They are not required.
Family care / general practice health services are available through the ABC Family Health Center — http://www.abchealth.org/ Local hospitals are equipped to provide surgical and emergency care. Both Hygeia Hospital and the American Hospital are private hospitals with high quality care: