They do not say in vain that it is not like your country. You are with your people, with your family, with others who speak the same language, share the same history and cultural heritage. She walks the streets she knows, she feels yours. You visit natural beauty and feel proud that you can call yours. You grow up here, you get educated here, but you see the future elsewhere.
It really doesn't like your country. But that doesn't matter anymore. Hundreds of thousands of Albanians choose to live mainly in the west for the famous "better life." With firm conviction we can all say that they have thought about emigrating to a point in their lives, but for circumstance, only a few came to realize this great dream of leaving their country.
However, even though they consider emigration to other more developed countries as an achievement, Albanian emigrants are unhappy. This is evident in almost every letter sent to Anabel Magazine's Facebook page. The three dominant factors are loneliness, the racism they experience, and the immense fatigue of their work.
The desire to return to Albania is very strong for most writers. It was as if this country met some of the requirements, which unfortunately we have and have always lived in Albania.
In many of the incoming letters, immigrants pointed out that they were extremely tired, but the payments enabled them to live a normal, if not above normal, life. So it is enough to work that all is achieved. Also, in times of need, foreign countries provide assistance and soft loans, which are left to be desired in Albania.
?I've been living in Italy for five years. At first it was difficult for me to get used to life here, alone and with no family. I used to think back often that I didn't understand the language, I had difficulties, I missed my home country. Now I say thank God I'm here. I have a whole better life. I'm cheaper. I work and my work is appreciated. I can fill myself a whim, get out, do whatever you want while I am working! ?
?I have been studying in Turkey for about five years. The beginning was a little difficult because the bureaucracies were numerous. It was worth it because education is better, quality of life as well. I am noticing how other states value and protect the people whether with assistance, soft loans or business or home loans. Salaries are not really like in Europe here, but life is much cheaper. "
?I have been living with my husband in the United States for three years. We are both at school for morning language and afternoon work for 12 hours. We leave the house at night and return at night. Where's the dream do you say? The dream is on our vacation. We've been to Santo Domingo twice and visited cities in the US The dream is to fulfill everything, feel good when you have worked at the end of the day, but you are rewarded for that job. "
"For five years in the US I built all the things that Albania would have needed to build a life: a good income, our own home and a car."
Looking for a job in Albania and not encountering favoritism or nepotism is almost impossible. It is almost impossible to complete a higher education in Albania and find a job that rewards your studies. It is almost impossible to find justice without doing the trick in Albania. But somewhere out there none of this is impossible.
?I live in the US There is a rule here and you can move forward if you have the will. You can become someone without knowing where you come from, whose child you are, what political force you support or which religion you preach. There are opportunities for everyone, but there is no life, no free time and no small moments to give happiness [...] Albania does not give you the space to move forward even though you may be educated or capable. Party militants are prevalent everywhere. And here you can change profession even at age 50, it is enough to have the will and desire. "
?After finishing high school in Tirana and seeing that meritocracy didn't exist in any kind of sector, I decided to move to the United Kingdom. Today I have been living in London for almost a year and every day I see the huge difference between where I grew up and where my dreams can be easily touched by dedication and work. ?
The quality of education and health in western countries compared to education and health in Albania was also an undeniable leitmotif in the sent letters.
?I've been living in the US for five years and I'd be lying if I didn't think about returning. But when I think about children's education and health, I change my mind. At least here the education is super. Hospitals and doctors are at a high level. Half a man enters the hospital and comes out. In Albania, schooling has come to an end, health care as well. I don't know where to go for an analysis or an operation. Private hospitals are a scandal, they are back in business. ?
?I've been an immigrant to France for several years. Along with my husband, we left for immense pain, exhausted and hopeless. 5 years of fighting for our child's hospitals that hurt doctors at birth and medications that were not for that disease [..] to our good fortune, the child's health was in line with what the doctors in albania were saying, but the medical wrong had left consequences in his eyes. The French doctors were amazed at the things our child had done in Albania. Today, we notice improvements, but cannot be cured 100% for the fault of Albanian doctors. The kid goes to special school for kids because these kids are super special. ?
?We live in the US and kids study at the best universities, with state-funded scholarships that have high scores. The best here is appreciated. Nothing is achieved without fatigue, but when I see children feel fulfilled for what they are, fatigue is forgotten. ?
The first day as a PhD student in Germany was very difficult as I realized that 'theory and books read at university were not enough. At first, I suffered from the fact that I had to learn everything from the beginning in terms of the practical part, as even what I had taught at the faculty were half-done, and not always the Germans were willing to explain everything. However with perseverance and a lot of work I have managed to be one of the best and most accomplished students today (those who do a PhD know how important the results are). During this time I am also working hard to establish contacts to realize one of my greatest dreams; the creation of a science lab in Albania where all students who are not only content with the theoretical textbooks will have the opportunity to acquire practical skills and not face the same difficulties I faced. I know lately young Albanians are asking to leave at any cost and I fully understand them, but the message I wanted to give them is: leave and get the most out of European countries, but one day come back and invest these experiences in Albania. We owe so much to our Fatherland! ?
And of course, the mindset, which feeds on a little bit of all the above factors.
?After 13 years of psychological and physical violence from the spouse of the children, I decided to leave the house we had bought with both children. I moved to another city in Italy, where I have lived for 19 years, and rented a small house. I succeeded in keeping up with the work that children now do. I am confident that I will succeed and I am happy to be here and not in Albania. I'm calm that no one prejudices me. I respect everyone who knows me. ?
?I have been living in the United Kingdom for 21 years. I came here as a kid with my brother. For anyone, starting is difficult, especially when you're young and inexperienced. In Albania, I had to get permission from the whole tribe to go out once [...] ?
Surprisingly, no one ever thought that we should do all of these things, and if we wanted to enjoy life in this country, we had to get to work. We leave you with a letter from a teacher who understands what to do. We hope to inspire you in some way.
?I've been living in London, the dream city for many, for a year. I live with my fiancée, have papers, and started work a month after coming as a teacher in a private elementary school. Everything goes great, but sometimes I feel alone. Not that I don't have people around, not that I have nothing to do, but that I'm in a foreign country, I speak a foreign language, I educate foreign children. I just feel I have no family, no friends. Above all, I feel only because wherever we are, we will never be equal to the inhabitants of the countries where we have emigrated. No matter how much money, opportunity, civilization here, there is racism, inferiority, and we will always be one step behind. It is true that Albania is going through turbulence these years, but if we all went back, as if all the smart minds that are giving so much to the countries where they have migrated to give to Albania, they would probably change the course of the country. Bad people are everywhere. Corruption, friendship, money work everywhere. Only we can change Albania. Only we can make our ancestors proud who fought so hard. Change will only begin in society, when we accept ourselves, others will accept us. When we love our country, others will love us too. We immigrants have the guilt of endlessly working for a foreign country and selling our minds when we return to our country, instead of helping. I'm probably one of the few immigrants I've decided to come back to at least educate the children of my country. "
