As a foreigner living in Albania I have come across many things that have expanded and altered my views of this small country, its people, and culture. Doing my research before coming here was helpful but I found it to be a bit off the mark.
The aim of this blog is to give a light hearted and a more accurate version of Albania from a foreigner’s point of view. Having lived here long enough I am regularly amazed by some of the things that I see and witness, and I hope these posts give you a real insight into what its like to live in Albania.
Please feel free to add your comments or questions regarding anything you see here or more general questions regarding Albania.
5 responses so far ↓
Martin/ Tirana // July 8, 2008 at 12:22 pm |
As an expatriate having lived in Albania during the last ten months I can only agree what the author describes in his blog: the wild and wonderful landscape of Albania, one of the most unknown European countries, is just breathtaking. The beauty of Albania however is in high danger due to all the plastic garbage spread everywhere- in order to tackle the problem Albania needs both more discipline of its inhabitants AND a detailed road map in regard of systematically cleaning the country up. Maybe there is some International Organisation which could initialize such a program- by paying 20 Leks for each plastic bag delivered at collection points all over the country while the Government at the same time should forbid the further sale and use of these awful bags countrywide. Just hoping that Albania´s inhabitants will start cleaning their country voluntarily is unfortunately lost hope.
insidealbania // July 8, 2008 at 1:20 pm |
I would have to agree with you about voluntary cleaning is realy a lost hope.
Beatrice // July 10, 2008 at 5:51 am |
Of course we foreigners see immediately what needs to change here. We need to keep in consideration though, that change happens gradually, and that the countries we come from (USA, England, Germany…) were not perfect 30 years ago either, esp. the rubbish-issue was tackeled only 20 years ago, and the whole “dividing”-thing could only be imposed with hefty fines. What I’m trying to say is, changes can only effectively be implemented if the people are ready for it and see the need. Here is our challenge: Instead of nagging and pointing we need to transmit values and create the need for a better, cleaner, more honest and non-corrupt Albania. Only if we give people the chance to develop their own civilisation in their own time, changes will last.
True, on first sight Albania looks like a hopeless case, but having lived here for almost 2 years now and having visited regularly since 2001, I can say that many things have changed for the better. Esp. the new generation of Albanians, returning young professionals, share a common vision. It is those we need to trust and give responsibility, because the future lies, after all, in their hands, not in the foreigners’ financial aid.
insidealbania // July 10, 2008 at 6:23 am |
I cannot agree more with you, but I also sense that many of the young people here, although very patriotic at heart, are not so in their actions. I am also sure that Albania will develope, however it has the oppertunity not to commit the same mistakes as our countries did and in doing so would achieve more than what we did in 20-30 years. However the mindset of a nation needs to change for this to happen, and it has to start from the top.
IsaLeal // August 21, 2008 at 10:11 am |
which country doesn’t commit the same mistakes as other countries did? “El hombre es el único animal que tropieza dos veces en la misma piedra”
I’m not in albania now, but I come back in september; it’s nice to read you writing curiously and thinking about tne country.