Is GDQ connected with a church or denomination?

GDQ was founded to support the Evangelical Protestant missionary community in and around Tirana. We are not connected to a specific church or denomination.

What is the size of your school?

Around 60 families,100 students and 50 (full- and part-time) staff make up the GDQ family.

What countries / nationalities are represented at GDQ?

Presently, our families and staff come from four continents: North America (Canada and the US); South America (Brazil, Argentina, Chile); Europe (Albania, Croatia, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and the UK,); and Asia (South Korea and Hong Kong).

Where are your teachers from?

Our teaching staff are predominantly from the UK and the US.  We also have (or have had) teachers from Albania, Canada, Croatia, Finland, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, and South Korea.

What is the mix of missionary and non missionary families?

About 75% of our families are in Albania with a ministry organization. The other 25% are engaged in the business sector.

What ministry organizations are represented by the families and staff at GDQ?

Presently, our missionary families and staff represent more than fifteen ministry organizations.  Some of these are Assemblies of God, BMS World Mission, CAM International, Campus Crusade for Christ International, Christar, Church of the Nazarenes, Global Missionary Fellowship, Operation Mobilization, TeachBeyond, Youth with a Mission, WEC International, and World Vision.

Tell me about the students at your school. 

Our student body is a mix of missionary and non missionary children. They come from different cultural backgrounds, and their parents have come to live in Albania for various reasons.  Some of our missionary children have grown up in Albania; others have been in Albania for only a year or two, their parents having recently decided to pursue full time ministry in a country other than their own.  Some of our non missionary students may be in Albania for two years only, depending on the nature of their father’s work.  They may have moved to Albania from a country other than their parents' birth home and may move again to yet another country distinct from their parents' background.  Some of our students have parents with differing cultural backgrounds – born in different countries, even on different continents. We are an English speaking school, but for many of our students English is not the primary language spoken at home. Some of our students speak and understand to some level three or four languages.

What resources are available to better understand the lives of children (missionary and non missionary) who attend international schools?

The following links may help broaden your understanding of third culture kids (TCKs).  Please note that our inclusion of these links does not indicate our total agreement / support of each link's philosophy or the content of individual comments posted to each link.  They are simply TCK links that you may find helpful.

http://michelephoenix.com/mk-tck-resources/

http://libbystephens.com/third-culture-kids

http://teachtck.com/

http://www.mknet.org/resources/webpages.htm

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Do I need a valid teaching certificate / license?

Teaching staff should possess teaching credentials valid in their home country. Should a potential candidate not have a teaching license, this requirement may be satisfied in one of the following ways:

1. Written evidence that the teacher qualifies for a teaching credential in his/her home country.

2. The equivalency of a teaching credential, as determined by the director, based upon a bachelor's degree and either two years teaching experience or recommendations based on the quality of past teaching performance.

3. The equivalency of a teaching credential, as determined by the director, based upon evidence of experience and of comparable certification.

Does GDQ provide a salary? Do I need to raise finances?

In order to keep our tuition costs low for our missionary families, GDQ asks their international staff to raise the majority of their finances. As a school, we extend around $280 / month for first-year full-time staff and a lesser amount for part-time staff. This amount increases incrementally with additional years of service. The school will also cover one flight each year, up to $1,000.

Do I need to partner with a mission sending organization?

Partnering with a ministry organization is advantageous for raising finances and working through the adjustments that will come in living in a culture distinct from your own.  Parthering with a ministry organization is highly recommended but is not essential.

What curriculum is used?

Our curriculum standards and resources pull from both the US and the UK.  The school does not rely on any one textbook, curriculum, or publisher. Rather, teachers draw from a number of resources, possibly several texts, both printed and virtual.  The teachers themselves are the main source of creativity and inspiration for the subject materials.

How many students are in a classroom?

Our class sizes tend to run between six and thirteen students.

Does the Albanian political system impact the school?

The Albanian government does not affect our school. We are free to teach to our set curriculum. The only stipulation we have is from The Ministry of Education who have limited our student population to those students holding international passports.

What technology is available at the school?

Our school is equipped with several networked monochrome printers and one LaserJet color printer.  We have a networked copier at both the K-8 and 9-12 campuses.  We have overhead projectors and several LCD projectors that may easily be transferred from one classroom to another.  The K-8 campus has a computer lab with 14 stations.  Staff may use the computer lab before and after school and during the day when classes are not in session.  Most staff find it more convenient to have a personal laptop.

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Do I need a visa to enter / reside 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.

How important is it for me to learn Albanian?

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.

Does GDQ provide housing for their staff?

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. 

How do staff travel to and from school?  Around the city?  Around Albania?

Transportation is varied.  BMS World Mission has two vehicles that the school uses.  Depending on where staff live, they may be able to travel to and from school in one of these vehicles.  Some staff have purchased a bicycle here in Tirana.  Others walk. Some will 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.

Are there churches where I can worship without knowing the Albanian language?

Yes. There are several churches in Tirana that staff attend, each slightly different in Evangelical style and means of translation.

What immunizations, if any, should I have prior to living in Albania?

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).

What type of medical care is available?

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. Hygeia Hospital is new private hospital with high quality care -- http://www.hygeia.al/

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How would you describe the Albanian culture?

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.  Underneath, however, the culture is struggling for its own identity and sense of value. 

In Tirana, the generation gap between the 18 to late 20 year olds and those over 40 is broad.  Communism fell in the early 90s.  With influences from the West, Albania’s young have grown up in world quite distinct from that of their parents and grandparents.  Gravitating more and more to a ‘me first’ mentality, the sense of community is breaking down.

How do Albanians feel toward internationals?

The Albanian government is strongly pro-western (European Union and the United States). Expatriates from Western nations enjoy a great deal of respect from the Albanian people.

What is the population of Albania?  Of Tirana?

Albania’s population is roughly 3.5 million.  Tirana has a population of 1 million. 

How stable is the Albanian government?

Albania is classified as a ‘developing democracy.’ The government is stable with two main parties.

What is the weather like in Tirana?

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.

What is Albania's currency?

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.  Exchange rates are roughly 1 USD to 100 leke, 1 EUR to 138 leke, and 1 GBP to 166 leke.

Learn more about Albania by exploring the following link:

http://www.aepfoundation.org/index.php

EndFAQ