university of nova gorica graduate school contested spaces and ...

consider the pupils’ reactions and reach a decision whether I should continue with teaching
English or not.
While we were talking about this, Andrea’s wife remained silent. She broke her silence a few
minutes later. With a disagreeable expression, she turned to Maria and asked her where we
had met before we came to the village. Maria was surprised to hear this kind of a question, but
she willingly explained how we had met in Vlorë and had taken the bus to Dhërmi/Drimades.
Andreas’ wife looked at her husband in disbelief. He, in turn, told us in a slightly upset tone:
“I know all about you! I have spoken with the dean of Vlorë University today and he told me!
He told me that he knows all about you!”
Since I could not understand everything he said after that, I was more or less helplessly
looking towards Maria, noticing that she was becoming increasingly irritated. Before she
could say anything, Andrea’s wife uttered another claim: “Didn’t you meet at Llogara pass,
where she was waiting while you were brought there in a black makina?” This remark caused
Maria to become even more upset. In a flood of words she nevertheless explained all over
again everything about our relationship. When she finished, the couple looked at each other in
a meaningful way, and Andrea said: “Both of you were chosen very well! The one who chose
you really made an incredibly good job!” I did not understand anything that was said until
later, when Maria translated the conversation to me, but I could guess from the expressions,
gestures and loud voices that this was turning into an unpleasant misunderstanding, which
could end in an open quarrel.
At that moment the village councillor Kosta came through the door. Our tense scene
immediately changed and so did Andrea’s facial expression. He stood up and excitedly
welcomed Kosta. Even before they sat down, Andrea was already ordering ouzo. “Ouzo for
the boss!” he yelled to Behar, who was all this time standing behind the counter. I did not
know Kosta at that time but was nevertheless happy to see him interrupt our painful situation.
Maria and I did not have a clue about what was going on.
The flickering of the light awoke me from my reflections on the day’s events. “Electricity is
coming back!” said Maria cheerfully. But it did not last for long. Maria wrapped herself in a
blanket and sat down on the bed. In the candlelight she again summarised our conversation
with Andrea and his wife. This day was not really a day to be remembered. I did not know
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