Albania is a small country situated in southeastern Europe, bordered by Greece, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Kosovo. The country has a rich history, with influences from the Greeks, Romans, and Ottomans. Albanian cuisine is a reflection of this diverse cultural heritage, blending Mediterranean and Balkan flavours with a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Dishes like fërgesë, tavë kosi, and byrek are staples of Albanian cuisine, known for their hearty and flavorful nature. Albanian food is a must-try for anyone looking to explore new culinary traditions.

This weekend, the last one before the Easter holidays, our boys from Olympus did not sit still. On the contrary, they enjoyed the multiple activities and sports they are used to. Tennis, badminton, chess, climbing… from Friday to Sunday, our students made sure to keep their bodies and minds moving.

Below are some of the photos we have selected to illustrate it:

As you can see in the photos, Bohdan (left) and Nikolai (right) did not want to miss their regular tennis lessons. This weekend they focused on improving their return skills. Week after week, our two students are slowly turning into real professionals.

Similarly, Aleksei, Herman (both pictured) and Ilya exercised their grip skills by climbing some of the most difficult boulders possible. As we all know, climbing is one of the best sports for developing all the muscles in a very balanced way, and our students did not want to miss the opportunity to take advantage of these benefits.

As part of this weekend’s special activity, our Olympus boys, Läel and Adi, went to Geneva to watch a football match. Our local team, Servette FC, won, fortunately, 2-1 against BSC Young Boys, a team from the capital, Bern. Thus, our students were able to enjoy the match and cheer on our local young players.

And we cannot end this blogspot without mentioning other students who took part in the activities. Otabek, Murat, Richard and Ayu improved their badminton skills on Friday, as did Tim and Louis in basketball. And Artem exercised his mind at his regular chess club meeting on Sunday.

It’s always great to see people come together for a good cause. Running for Mental Health Awareness is an important initiative, and it’s great to see that Adam, Lael, Ilya, and James participated and did well in the Grand Prix Race.

Nowruz is a time for renewal, rejuvenation, and new beginnings, and the traditional foods served during this time reflect this spirit. One of the most important dishes is “sabzi polo mahi,” which is a fragrant and flavorful dish made with basmati rice cooked with fresh herbs such as dill, cilantro, parsley, and fenugreek, and served with fried fish. This dish represents prosperity and abundance, as fish is considered a symbol of fertility and rice is a symbol of wealth.

Another popular dish is “kuku sabzi,” a savoury herb and vegetable frittata made with eggs, parsley, cilantro, dill, scallions, and other greens. This dish is often served as a snack or appetizer during Nowruz celebrations.

Other Nowruz dishes include “ash reshteh,” a hearty noodle soup made with beans, lentils, herbs, and spices, and “dolmeh barg,” stuffed grape leaves filled with a mixture of ground meat, rice, herbs, and spices.

Finally, no Nowruz celebration would be complete without sweets, and one of the most popular desserts is “shirini berenji,” a sweet and fragrant rice pudding made with milk, sugar, and rosewater, and topped with pistachios, almonds, or other nuts.

Overall, Nowruz food is a wonderful and delicious celebration of the arrival of spring and the hope for new beginnings.

Here are some photos from the International Dinner: