By The Balkanista.
I moved to Tirana 6 months ago. What started as a three-day sightseeing and fact-finding adventure turned into a love-affair of the highest order with a place that was once completely unknown to me.
I will be the first to admit that when I touched down in Tirana, I did not know what to expect. I knew that Albania was in the Balkans, and that my Great-Uncle Edward Lear had travelled through the country 150 years ago, painting its wild landscapes and waxing lyrical about its customs and peculiarities, but that was about it.
Within about three hours I had decided that I wanted to call Tirana home and in a matter of days I was making plans to relocate my entire life, two cats included, to this previously unknown place. As a freelance writer and marketing consultant, I have the luxury of being able to work wherever I want- all I need is my laptop, a connection to the internet, a steady supply of espresso and I am good to go.
At the end of February, beleaguered from curious questions and comments from my friends and family abroad, I decided to set up a blog documenting my life in Tirana, and what I was discovering about Albania as a whole. The Balkanista had 30,000 hits by its 30th day and I realised that the positive way I was writing about the country was striking a resonating chord with both Albanians, expats, and people from all over the world.
Albania is a country with many problems- crime, pollution, economic struggles, poverty, women’s rights- but I feel that there are also a great number of beautiful things that need to be highlighted as well. To stay abreast of all the negative news one does not have to look very hard, but to find examples of positive news was a little harder. That is why I decided to focus on musicians, artists, activists, culture, history, and the people that are working to make this society a better and more beautiful one. By giving these people a platform to express themselves in a positive way, I hope to show that whilst yes there are underlying social issues, there are also a great number of things going on that make this one of the most interesting places I have ever experienced.
Albania is a paradox and a dichotomy and it fascinates me more and more every day. It is a mish-mash of cultures, religions, traditions, and influences all combined effortlessly into a big melting pot of bubbling energy that is ready to explode at any moment. It inspires me to write and be creative, as well as to get out and explore as much as I can. There is an atmosphere of excitement in Tirana as well, and I feel it is a city that is in the infancy of a journey that will see it become a place of incredible cultural and artistic innovation.
In my blog, and my new column in this newspaper, I aim to explore the good, the bad, and the ugly of what Tirana, and Albania have to offer. I want to touch on all aspects of society and present my perceptions and opinions as an outsider looking in with a fresh mind and no pre-conceived ideas. I will not shy away from sensitive topics, but I want to be constructive with my approach and I want to use my experience in activism through journalism, to create awareness and present a different way of thinking.
To me, Albania and its people are a truly resilient force to be reckoned with, but I feel that many members of the public feel complacent with their country. The problems that affect their day-to-day life have resulted in many stopping to see the beauty and potential around them and I hope that in some way, what I write may help to inspire some spirit in them. From artists to musicians, philanthropists to activists and everyone else in-between, I wish to show that this country is totally unique and special, and that there is still hope to be had.
