Rrethi I Brendshem

Miremengjese, WagonWatchers!

Things I have learned about Albania (so far):

1. I have learned introductory Albanian, enough to greet others & have minimal small talk.

2. Illyrian people date back to roughly 6000 years ago, so in my mind Albanians could speak to their ancestors in the same language. (Obviously, that's improbable, but a romantic ideal.)

3. I have multiple ways to consistently remind myself of common words & phrases, including videos, notes, texting, speaking Shqip aloud, etc.

4. There are many stunning mountains & beaches & villages.

5. Community is of value in Shqiperia, though just like anywhere else corruption exists.

6. Albania is also a very safe place to live & has hot summers, but a temperate climate overall.

7. There are the same number of people living in Albania as Philadelphia (2,500,000 approximately).

8. People not from Albania (immigrants/foreigners) cannot drink the water in Shqiperia due to the older pipes in many buildings & natural mineral content. Fresh water is available for a nominal expense.

9. Albanian people are recovering from very recent war & ethnic cleansing by other Balkans & empires.

Things I'm still learning about Albanians:

1. Kosovo exists! And they are Albanian too, like Dula Peep (Dua Lipa). I will be expanding my research there too.

2. I'm practicing my conversational Shqip with others & connecting with Black Women expats & solo travelers on socials.

3. I'm investing hours per week with various forms Albanian culture such as movies, podcasts, & music.

4. I'm doing a deep dive into the lifestyle of vacationing &/or living abroad Albania, Kosovo, & other neighboring nations.

5. I want to understand the process of having a new journey ahead.

Words of the Week: Letter C

Celesat (keys- elongated metal used to open doors)

Type: Noun

Sentence: A i njihni dyert që mund të hapen me çelësat e duhur?

C'kemi (Hey- casual greeting)

Type: Noun / Verb

Sentence: C'kemi, si je sonte, mik?

Cirk (circus- local/regional production of live performers & animals)

Type: Noun

Sentence: Tifozët janë të mirëpritur në cirk.

Start to learn a new skill, read an article or book in full, & have a civil discussion with someone different than you. Don't let software hack your actual mind & turn you into mind controlled zombies. Keep your resources in your communities & not in major corporations. Take time to be in partnership with the people closest to you. We all need each other & desire connection to other. Be in control of you own mind & you own body. It's our only "possession."

I hope you learned something from reading this & are inspired for work towards your individual purpose.

Sinqerisht,

xo, Xhersi Kuin #wagonwatch

P.s. Look up the list of safest nations in the world & see if there are any places you'd love to visit.