Experience Albania: Travel, Pictures, History, Culture

The idea came straight from the students. They asked me to help them organize an ‘American style’ graduation ceremony, complete with caps and gowns, a formal presentation of their diplomas, plus guest and student speakers.
Little did I know that over a year after they proposed the idea (back in June ‘06), we’d be in the school courtyard celebrating their graduation from high school in grand ways…

We drew a big crowd. Families and friends of the graduates, plus community leaders and teachers from other schools around Berat.



As it was the first ceremony of its kind, emotions and energy were running high.

Students prepping before their families and friends arrived.


Zaku and Ryan, hanging out before the ceremony began.

Fitore and I sorting through and organizing the diplomas before presenting them to students.

Students used my graduation gown from St. Ben’s as a model and made their own at local seamstresses. All turned out really great and I love that each of them had a unique gown.

The Kaceli family, in support of Esti’s great accomplishment!

Congratulations to the ‘07 graduating class of the ‘Kristo Isak’ Foreign Languages Branch!