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Post by Teuta1975 on Aug 7, 2008 21:01:38 GMT -5
I know Mimi, there is a lot to do in there and in Albania too. People are nice and of course one can talk about everything there...(It is there I learned to talk, not here The progress has already started and there is no way back. This is what Albanians have always wanted. The possibility to start. Now it is given to them. It won't be easy, of course, and the challenge is huge, especially now that Albanians are trying to pass over many steps altogether in one huge step. Corruption and some other phenomenons will disappear little by little. But Albanians are alone on this, and it may take some time. It won't happen tomorrow. However, they have hope and will to go forward. They will make it ;D Visiting NY is marvelous. But living it is hard. The policy in this country is getting worse every day. Credit cards, Banks (through mortgages and other scams - (legalized) such as the game with the real estate recently, the stock market, the monopolization, China production and the wrong policy of politicians on disappearing the production from USA for private profit interest of huge companies, the game with the insurance companies and the game of the health plan, the game of the retirement plan (402K which is totally wrong) the indifference (type the rich people don't care for other people) are going to destroy this country and will turn it into a paradise for the rich people only and in a hell for the middle class that will become slave of paying off the own house through mortgage by working the entire life in order to see the house in foreclosure in 10 years because the bank can rise the interest as it pleases.... these and many others will make Europe the most wanted place to live. I am stuck here, with my job and my school. I had to take summer classes because I wanted to finish it as soon as possible; either way, according to the schedule they have managed to arrange with such smartness, I wouldn't be able to finish it for three more years because there are some courses that can be taken only during the fall term and one has to wait. Then, there are some classes that can be taken only after one has taken the fall term courses...and so on... But most probably in two years I can visit Albania (next year I will have to take summer classes too) ;D
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Post by albquietman on Aug 7, 2008 22:51:08 GMT -5
America...I don't think it sounds the same like it used to. The only thing that is the same in America are the cities at night...yes they are beautiful, but in the day light you can see the real life. And real life in America is not the one that we thought it was, not the one that some people still think either. You have to work hard to cover the cost of living that goes up by more than 5% every year, and the paychecks can't keep up with it...simple math tells us that wellbeing (if we can use this word anymore) is going down to drain.
The reasons of all of this? Teuta mentioned most of them, but I wanted to add that the reason that put this country on the top of the world, the same reason will put it back down, and that's trying to make profit on everything, even on life itself. Look at the healthcare, it's going up evey year, and nobody to date has mentioned any reasons why the healthcare goes up. I don't think that healthcare has anything to do with the oil prices. Jobs are being outsourced in China and India, people are put in eternal debt through credit cards and housing...and the list goes on. I don't think this country will be on the top any longer if it continues this way. You can't rip off your own citizens and pretend at the same time to be on top...
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Post by Teuta1975 on Aug 7, 2008 22:58:42 GMT -5
Hi AlbQ, For a little I thought you were with Donnie on the trip...long time no posting... ;D I see you get too sensitive when it comes to USA and the cost of living. We are on the same page on this I think. I agree completely with you. I am seeing things clearly now, after three years of being here (and what surprises me is that Americans can't see what's happening to them..do you believe they can't see it, they refuse to see it, or they see but can do nothing about it? (which is the biggest idiocy ever...)
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Post by albquietman on Aug 7, 2008 23:14:35 GMT -5
Hi Teuta...no I wasn't with Donnie in Albania, but I was last year there, and I did almost the same itinerary as Donnie did. It was beautiful and I know how Donnie feels about it. The srange thing is that time makes the memories of the trip more beautiful and after a while you want to get back and live there... Talking about America and americans, I don't think that the majority of the americans are aware of what is going on in their country. I don't know the real reason, but what I think is the lack of the information form other parts of the world, and especially Europe. I'm not saying that the average europian lives much better than the average american, but I can say better, because Europe is more social, and by social I mean that the healthcare is free for all, the education comparing to America is free. Think about it, the average coollege student in America must pay $80,000-$120,000 in order to finish the college. That means that he/she has already a huge debt even before finds a job... I don't think that the average american knows this stuff, but they know of course to whom was talking on the phone Britney Spears on friday night when she was in the ladies room ...this is America today...
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Post by Teuta1975 on Aug 7, 2008 23:30:05 GMT -5
lol... I find it somehow strange Americans not to understand what is happening...it is so obvious...the lack of information does not convince me because they watch BBC every day They have traveled Europe too... Could it be maybe, the fact that they are brainwashed with the ideology "this is how it works and nothing can be done to change it", or because they are afraid of the word "social"...then, I am not sure about it, but I don't even see a pluri-partiac system in here...only Republicans and Democrats! How about any social party? Is there any and I am not aware of? PS: I don't have much time to read papers and the lonely time I have is spent here...when I have it...
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Post by albquietman on Aug 7, 2008 23:43:15 GMT -5
Well, BBC of course is on Teuta, but that doesn't mean that the average american watch it. I don't know, but it is some kind of culture here since the time of golden days that make americans to not trust any other source of information other than Made in USA, and that's the reason I think.
You're right about the pluralism in America. I don't see it either. just two political parties are not enough to call it pluralism. On the other hand, you can't put your candidature for senator, or even governor if you're not a millionaire...how can a millionaire can defend our rights when he/she doesn't know how it is to not have money to pay your bills?
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Post by bordura on Aug 8, 2008 2:03:21 GMT -5
the average college student in America must pay $80,000-$120,000 in order to finish the college.albquietman, if u talking about average cost your numbers are not correct. Majority of city and state colleges/universities are very affordable even for people that flip burgers. Yes students borrow money, and pay later. Whats wrong with that? Are you against the borrowing logic? It had helped millions all around the world. Common guys try to not use the word Europe so loosely. Which part of Europe are you talking about when compare it to USA? America is in another stage of development from any other country. It has long left behind the mechanization, automation, industrialization moments. America is spearheading to a new stage deep informatization, global markets integration. As any new era it needs pioneering, trimming, course correction, adjusting learning, but in core it is innovative and promising not just for the American population, but as a model for billions of people. Of course it has a price to pay as any new investment in the future, but comon it is not doomsday. Maybe we visitors fail to see what is really going on not Americans.
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Post by ngadhnjyesi on Aug 8, 2008 3:52:06 GMT -5
albquietman, if u talking about average cost your numbers are not correct. Majority of city and state colleges/universities are very affordable even for people that flip burgers. Yes students borrow money, and pay later. Whats wrong with that? Are you against the borrowing logic? It had helped millions all around the world. Borrowing allows colleges to artificially raise tuition by a lot more than inflation. Borrowing allows the home prices to skyrocket within a very short period of time. Most Americans borrow freely when they are young yet it takes a lifetime to pay off that debt. Don't you see what happens to people when they are allowed to borrow freely. Case in point the subprime mortgage meltdown. By borrowing we are mortgaging our future to Corporate America. The end result is a whole new generation of slaves sitting mindlessly in front of computers and clicking our lives away. Luckily I didn't borrow for college (went to a s**tty city college) but I came out with close to $100,000 in debt from graduate school. It is obscene and disgusting what these supposedly not-for-profit institutions charge nowadays. Higher education is not a luxury but a basic human right. This does not seem to be the case in America.
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Post by meltdown711 on Aug 8, 2008 3:56:52 GMT -5
My parents took out loans however they are placing them in cd's so they can grow until I finish up. So far my parents have payed 100% of my education and will probably continue to until i finish my undergrad... however after that Im in no-mans land.
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Post by ngadhnjyesi on Aug 8, 2008 4:06:53 GMT -5
My parents took out loans however they are placing them in cd's so they can grow until I finish up. So far my parents have payed 100% of my education and will probably continue to until i finish my undergrad... however after that Im in no-mans land. Nice racket you got going there son. ;D So you got your parents hooked for the rest of their lives. Well if things go badly they can always default on all their loans and go back to Albania. No credit scores there yet.
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donnie
Senior Moderator
Nike Leka i Kelmendit
Posts: 3,389
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Post by donnie on Aug 8, 2008 12:26:17 GMT -5
Thanks guys!
The pictures are delayed ... I will post them later on. Meanwhile I can say that I am very pleased with my stay. Albania was visibly moving forwards; fine roads had been finished, such as in the south between Saranda and Gjirokastra as well as the road from Qafë Thana to Tirana & Durrës. One thing which I also noticed was the influx of foreign tourists, as in non Albanian tourists. There was a high figure of Slav Macedonians in the south, especially Saranda, but also elsewhere (Himare, Vlore etc). I also saw British, Dutch, American, Polish, Turkish & Serb/Bosniak tourists.
I am busy these days, but I'll try to post some pictures soon. I can honestly say that the Llogora pass was the most beautiful and spectacular scenery I've ever seen (I am yet to see Theth and the northern highlands, but it will be a tough competition).
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Post by meltdown711 on Aug 8, 2008 12:37:57 GMT -5
I have a feeling that we are going to be building strong relations with these people. Especially if we unite in the face of the Greek offensive.
Skam digju noj here per prindrit Shqiptare ne Amerike ti detyrojn femijet e tyre qi t'marrin leke borxh per shkolle. Per kundrasi, te gjith pagonin 100% por nuk i jepnin leke per qefli (qi di un)... Kur eshte puna per shkolle, prindrit gjithmone hedhin sa duhet, por kur vjen puna per tiketa e avionit per te shkuar the Florida ose Cancun per Spring Break, "mer pune" te thojn...
Prindrit time se kan aq te keq, un jam i vetmi femi qi kan. Halla ime ka dy goca dhe ny cun.... te gjith shkuan ne shkolla private dhe asnji nga keto moren leke borxh. Vetem nji tani po e mendon se do qi t'shko te mari MBA. Por shpreson se do e pagoi puna...
Please... dont do this to me Dijedon... Macedonians are enough... does this mean I have to place my towel next to a Slav? Please dont do this to me Dijedon... per hatrin tim... dont... please... No Slavs, I cant take it, Ill lose my mind.
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Post by ngadhnjyesi on Aug 8, 2008 16:15:52 GMT -5
Skam digju noj here per prindrit Shqiptare ne Amerike ti detyrojn femijet e tyre qi t'marrin leke borxh per shkolle. Per kundrasi, te gjith pagonin 100% por nuk i jepnin leke per qefli (qi di un)... Kur eshte puna per shkolle, prindrit gjithmone hedhin sa duhet, por kur vjen puna per tiketa e avionit per te shkuar the Florida ose Cancun per Spring Break, "mer pune" te thojn... It's not that the parents force you to take out loans but sometimes that's the only way to pay for school, specially when tuition runs in the tens of thousands per year. I went to Baruch for undergrad so no need for loans. Graduate school killed me though.
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Kanaris
Amicus
This just in>>>> Nobody gives a crap!
Posts: 9,589
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Post by Kanaris on Aug 8, 2008 16:36:51 GMT -5
I know we get taxed up here a bit more than the U.S. but it costs my kids $2300 per semester to attend a good quality college and above average university (McGill). Did I mention we have 'free' health care? ;D
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Kanaris
Amicus
This just in>>>> Nobody gives a crap!
Posts: 9,589
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Post by Kanaris on Aug 8, 2008 16:38:56 GMT -5
Toskali said: Then go for it .... and it will take you 100 years to join the E.U.
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Post by bordura on Aug 8, 2008 17:44:00 GMT -5
Higher education is not a luxury but a basic human right. This does not seem to be the case in America.
education is a human right YES, but the cost of it should not be guarantied from any subject in the cost other than who decides to pursue that right. Guys if grad school killed you by paying $100 000 US for 2 year education then definitely you chose a superior and luxurious school maybe one of schools that is elite in the entire planet and that is LUXURY.
And to be fair; the right to learn is a human basic, going to a particular school and paying for it is everyones burden. No individual should be forced to pay without his consent for others individual choices.
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Post by Teuta1975 on Aug 8, 2008 19:53:21 GMT -5
The Higher Education is getting monopolized too. How people can't see it? Beats me!!! Only the reach get to Harvard! No matter how brilliant one is, and no matter how talented, he/she still will have to pay. Even the system itself is done that way as to rip off the students. Let me tell you something: the math that Americans do in College I have done in High School and whatever they do as Graduate level, we did it in College. It is done this way so that the education prolongs and people borrow more and more. It is not the College that gives the loan but the huge foundations that are connected to Colleges. I could have been admitted to Columbia but why should I pay 50.000 dollars (55.000-57.000 because of the loan to be paid off) for the graduate school? Then, I was told about the City College where the selection re: the graduate studies was very strict. I was one of the chosen one...and whola...I had to pay 16.000 (20.000 $ including the interest) for my Grad. Of course, 20.000 is nothing compared to 50.000 thousand; but the point is that only rich people can afford Columbia and Harvard, or Princeton and so on. The rest (City) is left for the good students who deserve it, but yet, they would have to pay too! What struck me was that in Harvard and Columbia, volunteering for some organization was a primary criteria to get admitted to Grad school! Who has time to volunteer? Only the rich people; of course not the children of first generation immigrants! Is there any connection to Math and volunteering so to speak? I don't see any. Let's make a math game: (medium): 35 thousands for the college, and other 30.000 for grad (always presumably City Colleges), 65.000 already without even starting working on that profession. Add more 350.000 for a home or something, and more 20.000 for the car, it is going to be 430.000 already. How much a month should one monthly payment be in order to pay all these loans? (I am not including other bills - electricity, tax, living cost etc). And how much should one make in order to pay off these bills? In how many years? You'll end up by realizing that the person will die without paying off the debt. ...unless one makes at least 50.000 a year, which is 37.000 because the rest is tax if one doesn't have like 5 children to get money back... Is in Europe this borrowing system? Did any of you pay for the College? I didn't have to pay a penny in my country. How about other countries in Europe?
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Post by albaniansoul on Aug 8, 2008 20:46:03 GMT -5
Canaris, or we join EU first and then after help the macedonians?
Open boarders with Albania + Macedonia issue would get 2X harder to solve
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Post by Teuta1975 on Aug 8, 2008 20:57:03 GMT -5
AlbQ wrote: This is the wrong starting point. The future looks frightening
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Post by albquietman on Aug 8, 2008 22:58:14 GMT -5
Well Teuta, the future is already here, and you're right, it is frightening...
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