By Nastasia Peteuil
Tirana, April 19 – Albania and France do not have a lot in common. The language is completely different, the level of life is not really similar and the cultures are clearly distinct. But two common elements might have attracted the French community to Albania: coffee on a terrace and cigarettes.
Admittedly, some more substantial links existed already between France and Albania. On the economic level, several French banks and other well known French shops are part of the Tirana landscape. On the cultural level, the Francophone’s days took place a month ago to celebrate the French presence in Albania. Organized by the French cultural alliance, it has brought the possibility of a cultural exchange between these two countries.
Albania is not the first point of immigration of French people but it seems that the French community could become more and more important. According to the French Embassy, French people represent 200 persons in 2012, a number that reflects a 100% increase in the last three years. The majority of this community is concentrated in Tirana.
Gerard, 31 years-old and Barbara, 28 years-old shared their experience of being French immigrants in Albania with Tirana Times.
Living close to the Embassies’ street in Tirana, G곡rd and Barbara found everything they were looking for in Albania. Their story started five years ago when Barbara was doing her internship at a private university in Tirana. She chose randomly the country but since then, she has a privileged link with the Albanian culture. Back in France, without a job and facing daily difficulties to live comfortably, G곡rd decided to follow Barbara to Tirana, where she already has lived and where they could start a new life. Barbara is now a teacher in a Francophone school and G곡rd is a chef in the same school. “The real luxury is to both be employed,” Barbara explained, “It seems so easy here. Once you know someone and you start to work, you get more and more possibilities”.
Though both are now veterans of Albania, the experience is still sweet and sour. “I like coffee but Albanian coffee time is way too much here” G곡rd said. For Barbara, “It is really boring sometimes because something that could be done in one hour takes three hours. Albanians love to take their time. I prefer to take my time at home!” But they recognized that there are plenty of positive aspects. “I think it is a relaxing country when you compare it with France for example” G곡rd explained, “I don’t feel rushed like I was in Paris”. Barbara also remembers how well her Albanians colleagues had welcomed her.
Yet, their one biggest concern? A lack of cultural events. “There are not a lot of movies in the theater, few museums and no concerts except at the opera,” noted Barbara.
In spite of this, the couple relishes the ease with which a comfortable life can be bought in Albania. While that life may have some negative aspects, it certainly has brought a better future for them than France. They don’t know how long they will stay, but they do not seem decided to leave the country.
