On Thursday, April 8th, 2010, 40 students from the University of Vlora were given the unique opportunity to meet with US Ambassador John L. Withers II, confirmed by the US Senate as United States Ambassador to Albania on June 28, 2007.
Students from ENG 263: Studies in the American Culture and ENG 276: Interpretation courses with professor Mrs Erida Prifti met for more than an hour of friendly conversation with Ambassador John Withers II, during which the Ambassador answered student questions about American culture and his everyday collaboration with interpreters.
The two courses that these English language students are taking this Spring semester, Studies in the American Culture and Interpretation, are being enriched with activities aided by members of the Peace Corps Organization living in Albania, especially Ms Amy Fladeboe, who is Vlora's Peace Corps volunteer for English education. Professor Amy Fladeboe taught at UV during the academic year 2008-2009 and is still contributing enormously to the University's academic community. Such activities include inviting guest speakers to share their experiences and points of view as American nationals during class and more notably, helping to coordinate this educational opportunity to meet with Ambassador John Withers II.
The students from the Department of Languages represented the Ismail Qemali University of Vlora with great dignity, admirable skill, and remarkable politeness and civility at the meeting with Ambassador Withers, rendering their dialogue with the Ambassador a pleasant and memorable experience. They asked questions about the key to the Ambassador’s success as a diplomat, about the three aspects of the US culture worthy to be put in a "time box" for the future, about the Ambassadors’ expectations of a good interpreter, and even a request for a word of advice to UV students. The answers received were thoughtful, deep and full of fatherly wisdom by Ambassador Withers.
The students and their professor showed warm appreciation for the Ambassador’s time and the significant imprints he left in the minds and hearts of the students in attendance. The Ambassador graciously accepted the students remarks of gratitude and the symbolic gift they had prepared for him, which contained Ismail Kadare's "Chronicle in Stone" translated into English by the respected writer and translator Arshi Pipa, as well as a piece of hand-made wood art representing our Albanian flag. The students had also put all their signatures on a beautifully framed pergamena with a thank you note written on it. At the end, the Ambassador took the time to take individual pictures with each of the 40 students, as well as the staff members.
The IR Officer Mr. Erald Pelari, who was also accompanying the group of students, on behalf of the Rectorate of the University of Vlora extended to the Ambassador an official invitation to be the honored guest at the UV Graduation Ceremony in July 2010.
E. Prifti
The IR Officer Mr. Erald Pelari, who was also accompanying the group of students, on behalf of the Rectorate of the University of Vlora extended to the Ambassador an official invitation to be the honored guest at the UV Graduation Ceremony in July 2010.
E. Prifti
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3 comments:
Some days ago we went in a trip to the American Ambassy to the American ambassador John Withers.I was very happy that for the first time in my i was meeting someone very distinguished as the Ambassador.He was very polite with us also the employers there have treated us very good.First where the Ambassador came we gave him the present we had prepared for him.
The first question was made by Denis.And the Ambassador said to him that he likes the implications.And it was easy to be an American Ambassador in Albania because the relationship between Albania and America is very good for a long time.The second question was made by Saimir about one of the characteristics that he wanted to add in his personal culture and the answer he gave was that it was very easy for him to be adopted in Albania and in other country also when he has been 10 years old people has treated him very well.He also said that when you go in other country like a formal you gradually got used and in Albania is very easy to be adopted with.
The third question was made by Brikela "If you could choose three aspects of your culture to put in a time box for the future what would you put in it?"And the answer that she got from the Ambassador was:Lots of elements the first will be 1-Democracy which is not a system of government but a system of belifs.2-Igaliterianisme when he said that we should not be judge by our parents values but by our own values because everyone has its own talent.3-Individualism we got regional identity because there is no kind of clan we belive that our society and politics are each-one personal and we have to respect those.in the end of the intreview we asked him an advice of how to be good interpreter and he said to us that we should work very hard then after the interview we went out to make photos in groups then in individuals with the ambassador.
meeting with the ambasador of the usa.great oportunity for me and my friends.
Some of the question that we made to the Ambassador were:
1Mr.Ambassador what is the key of your succes as the ambassador of the U.S.A in Albania?
Its easy to be an Ambassador in Albania. The reason is the good relationship between countries.
2Mr.Ambassador it is difficult to fit in the Albania culture?And what value of our country do you appriciate more?
I have lived in some countrys Africa, asia, and europe and each country i have been ,they have treated me very well.
The hospitality and generosity is what I appriciate more.
3if you could chose three aspects of your culture to put in a time box for the future ,what would you put in it?
democracy: is not just a system but a system of mind.
Is not perfect but is the best that we have.
-egalitarianism: we believe we should be juged by our values and to be equal with everybody.
-individualism: people feel very proud of their origin.
people use to see you as an individ.
4-What is a good interpreter for you?
I have been fortunate here because i have two interpreters Fred and Bruna. What i appreciate in them is that they have a real talent. They are not looking my English words but the meaning. When I gave a speech is not important what I said but what you hear" The interpreter should construct a bridge between languages. The interpreter should make the speech more interesting in the hearer and to impact on it.
5-What is your opinion about democracy in Albania?
I notice a good progress in institutions and all this made function to democracy.
The decisions are made according to the constittute.
Sometimes is not efficient because the leader sometimes don't accept some concept. Am surprised that you the young generation don't express your opinion throught the media.
All things will improve and people should do more about this issue.
brikelda nanaj
We went in a trip to the American Ambassy to meet the American ambassador John Withers.I was very happy that for the first time in my i was meeting someone very distinguished as the Ambassador.He was very polite with us also the employers there have treated us very good.First where the Ambassador came we gave him the present we had prepared for him.
The first question was made by Denis.And the Ambassador said to him that he likes the implications.And it was easy to be an American Ambassador in Albania because the relationship between Albania and America is very good for a long time.
The second question was made by Saimir about one of the characteristics that he wanted to add in his personal culture and the answer he gave was that it was very easy for him to be adopted in Albania and in other country also when he has been 10 years old people has treated him very well.He also said that when you go in other country like a formal you gradually got used and in Albania is very easy to be adopted with.
The third question was made by Brikelda
"If you could choose three aspects of your culture to put in a time box for the future what would you put in it?"And the answer that she got from the Ambassador was:Lots of elements the first will be 1-Democracy which is not a system of government but a system of belifs.2-Egalitarianism when he said that we should not be judge by our parents values but by our own values because everyone has its own talent.3-Individualism we got regional identity because there is no kind of clan we belive that our society and politics are each-one personal and we have to respect those.in the end of the intreview we asked him an advice of how to be good interpreter and he said to us that we should work very hard then after the interview we went out to make photos in groups then in individuals with the ambassador.
What is a good interpreter for you?
I have been fortunate here because i have two interpreters Fred and Bruna. What i appreciate in them is that they have a real talent. They are not looking my English words but the meaning. When I gave a speech is not important what I said but what you hear" The interpreter should construct a bridge between languages. The interpreter should make the speech more interesting in the hearer and to impact on it.
What is your opinion about democracy in Albania?
I notice a good progress in institutions and all this made function to democracy.
The decisions are made according to the constittute.
Sometimes is not efficient because the leader sometimes don't accept some concept. Am surprised that you the young generation don't express your opinion throught the media.
All things will improve and people should do more about this issue.
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