Author: Coburn Swem

Getting a guided tour through countries like Albania and Macedonia was something that I never knew I would be doing. They were never places I had planned on going, but I leapt at the chance to go and experience this new culture. Albania’s landscapes were beautiful to drive through and I loved seeing the mountains and lakes that are so different from my own home. Throughout the trip I was constantly amazed by how beautiful the country was. The first night in Albania, some of the group went to view the soccer game between Albania and Romania. After Albania won, the crowd erupted in cheers, song and dance. Albanian flags waved high while strangers linked arms with one another to dance. The energy within that outdoor space was filled with celebration and upbeat music. It was a great feeling to be so welcomed into the culture and get a glimpse into something that means a lot to the Albanian people.

Another highlight of the trip included the trip to Skopje, Macedonia. We had the chance to sit with the leader of the RDK Party, Prof. Dr. Vesel Memedi. We listened to him speak about the country’s current situation and what has come to be known as the “Colorful Revolution.” Learning about issues that were previously unknown to me made me realize that there is so much more going on in the world than what we get in our daily news. It is important that we are able to make these issues known in order for the general public to care about the problems.

 

 

 

“Shqipëri! Shqipëri! Shqipëri!”

Before I knew how to say hello, thank you, or any basic language concept I knew how to say ‘Shqipëri.’ The word echoed the streets of Tirana, the color red painted the sky, and traditional folk music filled the air. Albania had just won their very first goal in a major tournament against Romania on June 19, 2016. You could feel the joy, the relief, and the unity the community of Tirana felt after Armando Sadiku scored the only goal to seal his country’s first ever win at a major competition.

It was an experience to say the least.

Viewing the event 75% through the lens of my camera I found myself drawn to not only loud, emotive expressions but quieter moments as well. I was drawn to the light, color and the smoke from fireworks let off by fans. I was entranced by the handmade gigantic banners over the barricades that read as revolutionary statements. Above all, I was fascinated that age was nothing but a number that night. Fans from as young as three years old to sixty cheered on for their country.

That night I did not only leave with images to look back on, but a true sense of what a strong community is and can be.

-Brittainy Newman

 

 

Typically I’m the type of person who gets nervous before any event in my life, whether it’s something as little as reading a paper in front of my class, or as major as bungee jumping off a cliff. However, as the date gets closer to leave for Pristina Kosovo, I don’t find myself very nervous. My family and friends constantly ask me if I’m excited or nervous to go, and I continuously respond with nervous not because I actually am scared, but because I feel that’s the answer they’re waiting to hear. Not only are my parents (particularly my mother) nervous for me to go, even strangers, (such as the lady who filled my passport at the post office) would hear where I was traveling, then give my mother a concerning look, asking if it was really safe to go there. I realized that they were more concerned about the past, and things they’ve heard about Kosovo, while I’ve been focused on what the future of the country had to offer. Not only would I be getting an experience that not a lot of other kids get, but I would also be able create a body of work that helps capture the essence of Kosovo through the people who live there, to reinvent its image, showing others that there’s no need to focus solely on the negativity of past events that occurred there. I’m so excited to learn about and immerse myself in such a unique culture and I feel so blessed to have this opportunity!

Exhilarated, anxious, and prepared. These are the words that come to mind before departing to Kosovo, a country I am eager to explore immensely during my stay. The research component of this trip struck me with endless amounts of discoveries and ideas and has only furthered my curiosity. Once in Kosovo, I feel as though there will be a gap between the generations, one that you can see physically through architecture, work spaces, and possibly family life. I am extremely excited to start talking to people that I will meet along the way, and will hope to gain important lessons from them, whether it through problem solving such as translation or telling their story with the utmost honesty and respect. I am excited to see the type of light and weather conditions that may differ from the States, and how Kosovars spend their summers. To travel in general brings me so much joy, self-exploration, and life-long memories, and I can’t wait to start it in Kosovo with RIT’s study abroad program. My goal is to return with a body of work that I am proud to present and to share ideas with the people I meet along the way. 

– Brittainy

Starting a new adventure always comes with a wide range of feelings. There’s the excitement of experiences that will be like none other, there’s a feeling of uncertainty that surrounds entering a culture completely different from you’re own, and lastly there is a bundle of nerves sitting at the base of your stomach that will make your mind run wild with anticipation. One of the things that makes me nervous about traveling is the language barrier and struggling to communicate with someone who may not understand me. I’m hoping to throw myself out of my comfort zone and into a learning experience. While I’ll miss a classic American burger, I’m excited to try new food. I’m curious to know what the lifestyle is like in Kosovo and they approach day-to-day life. I’m interested in learning about how people in Kosovo view their own country, as well as other countries in Europe and the world. I expect to experience many differences between living in Kosovo and the U.S., but I think these differences will hardly have an impact on me for too long. At the end of the day, I am hoping to gain a better understanding of this country and perhaps learn a few things that can be applied back to my own life when I return. I am so excited to bring back stories of this adventure and share my findings with others!

As the days leading up to my departure narrow and I get closer and closer to boarding a plane that will plant me nearly 5,000 miles from home, I’ve been ambushed by friends and family alike with what has seemingly lent itself as the go-to question: “Are you excited?”.

And while the obvious answer is YES, I’ve found it quite difficult to formulate an accurate response.

Of course I’m excited! I get to study and work abroad for an 8 week period  (I’m heading to Lebanon for a few weeks following Prishtina). While in the Balkans, I will immerse myself in a cultural landscape that I have only scarcely touched on through previous schooling. I will learn through interactions with new people and my new environment. I will expand upon my horizons and in doing so, I will expand upon my understanding of conflict and resolution. All of this excites me greatly.

So why do I have such a difficult time returning a simple answer to a simple question?

Because while I am excited, I am also anxious.

Not in a bad “keeps you up at night” kind of way, but I’ve been harvesting an energy that I’m quite eager to spend.

I’m going to Kosovo for the experience of traveling to a foreign place, but with a distinct purpose and motivation. I want to find stories, and I want to leave with a body of work that best represents and communicates the stories that I pursue.

One can prepare for something like this by reading and researching as much as possible prior to arrival, and that I have, but only with my feet planted firmly on Kosovar soil, will I know my advantages and my limitations.

Today I am packing my bag full of journals and pens, and preparing to roll with the punches.

Put, simply: I am very excited for the journey ahead.

Now that it is getting closer to our departure date, I’ve been trying more and more to picture what it is all going to be like when I get off the plane and walk out of the airport. But I still can’t seem to pinpoint any specific feelings that I might have. I really don’t know what to expect. I’m a little nervous, but an excited to be traveling to a new place kind of nervous, and very eager to arrive and really get a sense of the atmosphere there.

In some of the last few years, there have been some frightening news articles published about the problems in Kosovo, but I think the articles that are still being published about that aren’t truly current with what is happening in Kosovo today. I think those articles might be stuck on events from the past. Kosovo just celebrated a year without a single murder, which is quite an accomplishment, and from other things that I’ve learned in our trip preparations, I’m much more excited to go and learn about this place and culture than I am frightened of it.