Albania: Scarecrows and Teddy Bears
January 29, 2010 by James Morrison
Filed under Travel
As the bus hobbled across the Macedonia-Albania border, it dawned on me at the time that I only knew two things about Albania. The first is that it is involved in the Kosovo dispute, but I don’t know the details. Someone else can sort that out. The second is that, around the start of the 20th century, international cricketer and world long jump record holder, C.B. Fry, was, somewhat bizarrely, offered the throne of Albania. Initial signs, from the time we head across the border and into the Albanian countryside, are that the impression I gleaned from Fry might have some basis. The people look a bit peculiar, such as the guy on the bus who looks like Mel Gibson circa Lethal Weapon with massive mullet and all, crossed with Sylvester Stallone at the end of a Rocky movie once he’s had his face punched 200 times.
The other strange thing is the Albanian half-built houses that are all adorned with either a scarecrow or a teddy bear that has been impaled on a protruding metal rod or lynched to hang limply from the roof. This macabre cultural idiosyncrasy is apparently intended to bring good luck to the home.
A trivia question: Who is the only Albanian you’ve heard of?
Answer: Mother Teresa. They even named the country’s largest airport after her.
Bonus fact: She was actually born in Macedonia. Jim Belushi was also born in Albania but I’m sure that doesn’t make it onto many tourist brochures.
Until recently, the country’s borders were shut to tourists; only business travel was permitted. The result of this is that Albania and its people are not used to foreigners. The flipside is that much of the country is undiscovered and unspoiled by tourism, although this is changing quickly, as there are plenty of Albanian tourists available to spoil the spots.
Tirana, the capital, doesn’t look to be much of anything when we get let out at one of the bus stations. It isn’t really even a bus station, just a random dirty parking lot Somewhere along Tirana’s main street, I realise we don’t have any Albanian money.
Fortunately, a Western Union bureau de change comes into view. The 12,907 denars we have left over from Macedonia, our previous stop, equates to about $323 Cdn. The man behind the Plexiglas window – a squat, short-necked man with an Elvis-like lip – changes our money into Albanian leks, prints out a tiny receipt and pushes it all back to our side of the window.
We settle into a hotel – thankfully payable in cash but twice the price indicated in the guidebook – and head out for dinner. At around nine o’clock, I sit on the saggy hotel bed and take another look at our money. “Nineteen thousand three hundred and sixty leks,” I announce to no one.
“That doesn’t seem right.”
My wife Jane’s ears prick up. “What do you mean?”
“Well, I thought the exchange rate was more like two Albanian leks to one Macedonian denar. This guy has given us 1.5 leks.” I punch a few numbers into the calculator. “That’s a difference of … six thousand four hundred and fifty-four leks. That’s … 80 Canadian dollars!”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Right, let’s go kick his ass.”
We march back out into the quiet streets of Tirana, clutching our little receipt and ready for a fight. The exchange guy is entitled to a commission, that’s how these places work, but 80 bucks on a $320 transaction? No way, Goran.
Between our hotel and the Western Union office, we happen to pass the Albanian Police Headquarters, an imposing square edifice with several stone-faced policemen standing around outside. Jane walks up to one of them and asks if he speaks English, just on the off-chance that they might have some advice for us. He doesn’t, and neither do any of his colleagues. Fortunately, a couple of English-speaking passersby overhear our inquiries and come to help. We explain the situation to the young guys, who translate into Albanian.“He will call someone,” says one of the English speakers. We thank him for his help and they continue on their way. After a few moments, another policeman comes rushing over. He speaks a little English so we explain again, brandishing our postage stamp-sized receipt. He nods intently and confers with the first policeman, who also nods intently. A moment later, four more policemen walk briskly towards us, one hand on their guns. The assembled lawmen discuss our predicament with much nodding and serious-looking expressions, and several of them make calls on their cellphones.
“This is very serious,” he declares, while we try to keep a straight face. “These officers will drive you to the exchange office and we will fix the situation immediately.”
Suddenly, three police cars come tearing around the corner, sirens wailing. We figure that there must have been a terrorist attack or some similarly serious emergency in Tirana and that the group of policemen will be called away to deal with it. Instead, the cars screech to a halt right in front of us and another seven or eight police officers burst out, like circus clowns out of a Mini. We feel like we are on one of those reality shows, like Cops, and that someone is going to demand in an Albanian accent that we “reach for the sky.” The highest-ranking officer speaks some English and we sheepishly explain our exchange dilemma once more.
“This is very serious,” he declares, while we try to keep a straight face. “These officers will drive you to the exchange office and we will fix the situation immediately.”
“Uh, okay.”
We climb into the back of one of the squad cars and race off onto the main road, sirens blaring. The other two cars follow closely behind. Traffic veers to the side of the road and pedestrians dash for cover as we race through the streets. The police cars speed through red lights and take sharp corners like rally drivers, then stop abruptly outside the exchange office. Locals stop to look at the commotion, forming a small crowd. The security guard from the building that houses the exchange office is an older gentleman who was no doubt settling in for a quiet night with his feet up. He leaps to attention when the parade of police officers assembles outside.
Once all the cars in the chasing pack have arrived and everyone has emptied out onto the footpath, there must be about a dozen cops milling around, including a young lady officer who speaks English. We explain our situation once more to her and she also nods earnestly. The collective investigative skills of the Tirana police force determine that the Western Union office is in fact closed for the evening.
“That’s OK, we’ll come back tomorrow,” we offer. The group of police officers gradually disperses back into the night.
As it turns out, in the cold light of day, we don’t really have much of a case. The Western Union office’s published rate is indeed 1.5 leks per denar. Although we ended up paying a 25 per cent commission and effectively losing $80 Cdn, we didn’t have a ‘lek’ to stand on.
Sir what you have written about Albania is completely incorrect and you should feel ashamed of writing incorrect information about Albania, not once have I ever seen a scarecow or teddy bear in front of a home in Albania, and you can base a country on a village or a poor area where you probably have been, if you go to Tirana the capital it is beautiful and nothing like the pictures you have shown. If you go to a poor area in toronto it will not be nice either but we cannot solely base a country on one area because Toronto also has nice places like downtown and certain poor places. Just to let you know Albania is a small country with 4 million residents but it is one of the only countrys in all of europe who have maintained their own language.
and another thing Mother teresa is indded albanian and Tie Domi the hockey player is albanian. Mother teresas mother and sister were buried in Albania if they were not from there they would not be buried there. and half of the people in macedonia are albanian speak albanian.
The article does not contain any “incorrect information”.
For example, the fact that you have not seen a scarecrow or a teddy bear does not mean that they do not exist, because they most certainly do. They are called “dordolec” and are intended to ward off the “evil eye”. Here is a discussion on the subject (http://www.gadling.com/2007/08/23/whats-the-deal-with-albanian-teddy-bears/).
Secondly, the article said that Mother Teresa was Albanian (although she was born in Skopje, Macedonia), so I don’t know why you are upset on that count.
As for painting Albania in a negative light, the article does not do this either. The only negative comment is that the Tirana bus station was dirty (which it was). If anything, I thought the story showed how friendly and helpful the Albanian people were to visitors.
I read your article and what you wrote in it is very rude towards the people, who like you said where trying to help you. In any country where you go, its how you see things and how you want to interpret them. I travelled in a lot of countrys, they all have good and bad things, but the way you talked in the article is very hatred towards the Albanian people andi very disturbing . Out of curiosity how long did you stay there in order to make fun of all the things in the article you made fun off? And just so you know Mother Teresa is respected all over the world and the airport in Tirana was named after her just like a lot of schools and other things all over the world are. We are proud of her, becuase her mother was from Shkoder, Albania. Now Mother Teresa’s home is a museum in Shkoder.
I don’t appreciate your article, I think it very disrespecful. I guess you have to write something just so you make a few bucks!!!
While reading your article I started to realize your frustration and why you have used that discriminatory and offensive language. You were charged $80 for a service. That’s too bad that you didn’t do the math on the spot! But you were lucky sir to not have been in one of those banks that were robbed today in Toronto because such things barely happen in Albania.
You should be ashamed for naming something that’s not even a tradition as a “macabre cultural idiosyncrasy”. Yes, it is true that there are scarecrows in the fields to protect the harvests, but not as much as you can see in the Canadian villages.
One more thing. On November 28, the Albanian flag was raised in front of the Ontario Parliament and the ceremony was greeted by an MPP. On the contrary, you sir, have put the Albanian flag besides a very discriminatory title. In spite your personal opinion about Albania and Albanians, as long as the Canadian government recognizes and respects Albanian people and Albanian flag, you are obliged to do the same as a Canadian citizen otherwise this is discrimination.
I advise you that next time you attempt to write about Albania or Albanians better do some reading first. The Albanian culture is one of the oldest in the Balkan.
Your article is very misleading and does not show any professionalism on your part. I would never read this magazine again if articles of such a poor quality are written in it.
I urge you to make a public apology to the Albanian community for what you have written!
There is nothing to apologise for.
It is natural for people to be patriotic and ‘defend’ their country. It is also true that this is not your typical travel article, which simply sings the praises of an idyllic destination, describes it in flowery adjectives and recommends 5-star resorts.
I have nothing against Albania or Albanians and this was simply an honest observation from two travellers in the middle of a 30-country around-the-world journey. There is no “hatred” or “discrimination” and nothing that should be “offensive” to anyone.
All the events in the story are true and there is very little subjective language in the whole article, so I’m not sure why you guys have got your knickers in a twist.
At the risk of repeating myself, the scarecrow-and-teddy-bear phenomenon is real, whether you like it or not, and I would have no reason to make it up. (See my previous comment for a link to a discussion on the subject.)
And what is the problem with what I said about Mother Teresa? All I said is that she was born in Macedonia and is Albanian. I wasn’t knocking her at all. She sounds like a nice lady.
If anyone needs to be more objective, it’s you guys, who have totally over-reacted.
I’m no doctor, but if I was I would prescribe chill pills all around.
You seem to have run out of money very quickly. Next time when you decide to visit a country and write about him, find a healthier sponsor. The image of yourself that you convey through this article is of a superficial person, poor traveler and close minded.
Good luck with your next adventure.
regards
Ilir Lena
TV Producer
I am writing to you about an article that one off your contributing writers Mr. Morrison wrote about Albania. I read the article and I am very sad and disappointed. How is it possible that this person, that calls himself “writer” has such a bitter pen. “Scarecrows and Teddy Bears”-This is the article I am talking about. I have no idea what he meant. I have no idea what scarecrows and Teddy Bears was he talking about. I go to Albania every year. I haven’t seen them!!!! I guess Mr. Morrison has never been to Albania, or has only been to a few villages of Albania, otherwise he would have some ethic and wouldn’t lie like he did. I have been in Canada for 8 years and I wanted to tell him that even though we have been to many restaurants, expensive ones, I have never seen restaurants better than in Albania. I have never seen people that dress better than Albanians, I have never seen people that enjoy life more than Albanians do. Furthermore, I’d say, that he doesn’t know anything about Albania and I can’t understand, how a “writer” gives himself the permission to talk about a country he doesn’t know anything about. Albania is not how he described it. I don’t understand the reason though. I just don’t get it. What is his problem? Maybe he hates to death somebody that is Albanian and writes this big lie about Albania? I would really like him to see those videos about Albania, and to actually go to Albania, and after that he can write another article, a real one. I am very upset as all my Albanian friends are. He, whoever he is, can not through mud on our country.
I would appreciate your cooperation in this matter. He should apologize to all Albanians, for insulting us and for lying about Albania the way he did.
I am sending you a few links and I’d ask if you could possibly forward these links to him so he can educate himself about Albania and get to know Albania.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albania
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Teresa#Early_life
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Albanians
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUiDGPG1wGI&feature=related
Sincerely,
Elsa Galica
Wow! What a poorly written “article”. Perhaps it was your mood that affected this write, but it is to say, it is very unprofessional. Very vague observations made on such declarations. Please get to know more about Albania before you decide to publish such a deceiving article. And as for Mr. Morrison here, it is to say you are very obivious on Albania and it’s traditions, culture,customs. Also, Mother Theresa along with Jim Belushi, and Tie Domi are all Albanians no matter where they were born.
I also agree with all the above comments, and suggest you learn about Albania before proclaiming such deceiving facts.
Its nice to see an article written about your country when you are so faraway,but when i started reading first few row and i recognize that he is making fun of my country.Mr Morrison WERE YOU EXCPECTING BRAD PITT to be bus driver in Albania because the one that you saw didn’t had the exceptation that you were looking for? Too bad. All over the world scarecrows are made for the same reason, to protect the harvest. Just to let you, in Albania they are for the same reason. Good luck on the next travel and don’t forget to take extra money and a calculator and beware that in any country in Europe, its expensive, or better don’t travel at all. I would like to see your scarred face because I can recognize a cold heart from the way you wrote this article. And just to let you know, I like living in Canada but I am proud to be Albanian. I would aslo like to know your background because you might have come in Canada before me and you have some memories from homeland like everybody does if you are not Native.
Seems like the only thing you wrote this article about was to declare your money issues while you were there,so then decided to brag about everything else and trash-talk Albania.
Please get your facts straight and get informed.
A response to the article “Scarecrows and Teddy Bears” by James Morrison.
Dear City Life Magazine and Mr. Morrison.
My letter comes as a response of your article “Scarecrows and teddy bears” posted on the February/March 2010 edition. I find this article to be offensive and diminishing not only toward the Albanian community but also is concerning the Canadian community well. For instance my husband, who is a Canadian born citizen, accompanied by my family in-low and my friends are very puzzled from the content of this article. If a petition will be needed to prove my point I wont hesitate to create and provide such a document. The stigma enfolded in this article is in such deep level that not only do I feel my human rights have been exploited, but also I believe my country, Albania, has been ridiculed unjustly. Mr. Morrison, I do apologize for my lack of knowledge regarding your professional achievements and educational status, however i ought to say that it doesn’t take a genius to understand that u have crossed some ethical boundaries. Allow me to be more explicit by making some reference points from your article. In the very first paragraph of your article Mr. Morrison u refer to Albania as being known for two things:
“The first is that it is involved in the Kosovo dispute, but I don’t know the details” (J. Morrison, The City Life magazine.) My objection to that comment is that, this is a serious article, not a first year university essay Sir. If u wish to make reference to a particular political dispute, than perhaps u might want to make further research to support your ideas rather than just proposing an idea lacking a body of internal thoughts. I suggest u direct to the dispute as it has been known in history by using the right terminology. It has been refereed to as the war between Serbia and Kosovo.
My frustration and psychological terror doesn’t stop here, it continues with the second paragraph were Albanian individuals are portrayed as “peculiar” which means otherwise strange, odd, unusual. This opinion was based on a man in the bus who resembled, by using your description, Mel Gibson crossed with Sylvester Stallone after he has been punched in the face 200 times. Mr. Morrison I don’t know what ethical rules u r following but, would you look at a person with disabilities in the bus and ridicule them based on physical features ? My inner morality wouldn’t allow me to write such passage at any time. The article continues with describing Albanian houses as being unfinished that are “all” embellished with scarecrow and teddy bears. I would like to know why such generalization? Where are these houses located, in the rural areas of Albania, what village or city is this?
The Albanian boarders have been open to foreigners for at least twenty years and even though I personally phoned the Albanian Ministry of Tourism and External Affairs, i was enable to find a single person in authority to confirm such Law. How did you and your wife Mr. Morrison enabled this journey to Albania? I can only imagine how hard it must have been to enter our closed boarders as a tourist?
This article is the most unrefined kind of parody. Fruit of unprofessionalism. The assumptions made in this article are unforgivable such as: “The result of this is Albania and it’s people are not used to foreigners.” (J. Morrison, The City Life magazine.)
The article continues with scrutinizing Tirana, which by the way is my home town, and doesn’t look like much of anything according to Mr. Morrison. What part of Tirana is this that u r commenting on Sir? Certainly I haven’t witnessed such scene in my home town taking under consideration that I know every corner of the city like the palm of my hand and proving that pictures of such outrageous scenes weren’t included in the article.
I would like to conclude by saying that the Albanian community has been subjected once again to stereotyping and I truly consider this article to inspire cultural genocide at many levels but i shall stress the psychological level. If this is what freedom of writing is defined to be these days, we should review what the real meaning of freedom is. After the publication of this article I feel oppressed and oppression is the widely known as an enemy of freedom. I would appreciate a letter of apology not only directed to me but also to the Albanian community. We will not stand suppressed any longer. My voice represents the voice of many Albanians who have contributed productively to our beloved adopted mother country, Canada. My voice is the voice of honest tax payer and family members. If it is going to take me to approach legal authorities, radios, televisions, universities and else, trust me I will. This type of narcissistic behavior should be stopped a way or another.
Mrs.Isia Cullhai-Di Paolo
Inkurajoj te gjithe shqiptaret t’i shkruajne zj. Michelle Zerillo-Soza @ michelle@dolce.ca, Editor-in-chief e revistes se mesiperme.
I read your article Morrison and shame on you. I don’t know who paid you to write this, and I’d like to know who you work for. However, average people, without education, without knowledge, are free to write whatever they want. You’d beter klick on the links above Morrison and educate yourself. I hope this mistake you made is going to be a good lesson for you so next time you get prepared before you write about something, especially if you write about a country. This article shows to everybody that you are not a good writer, and I hope the Editor-in-chief of the magazine understands it too. You don’t know the history of Albania, you don’t know the language. It is so funny, you say that mother Theresa is not Albanian, and you don’t know her name Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, that is an Albanian name and last name, and you even say that she was born in Skopje and morrison, Skopje is Shkup and it was an Albanian city but it was given unjustly to Macedonia along with other cities of Albania in 1913. And this is the thing that makes me laugh because you mention the facts yourself and contradicts yourself. What a writer! And, I read that you were also “Business Analyst at Assante Advisory Services”. I am sure that they fired you, and I come in this conclusion reading that you weren’t able to calculate your money and to advise yourself and plan the money for a trip to a foreign country. How would you be able to be a business analyst?? No way. I am sorry morrison, but with this article you made so much fun of yourself. Good job boy.
As I have said previously, there is nothing factually inaccurate in the article and, therefore, nothing to apologise for. You guys all need to relax.
Everyone has a different opinion of a place when they travel there. Many people who come to Canada do not have a 100% positive opinion of it. That does not mean that Canadians should get up in arms and demand apologies.
Sure, I could have gone on and on in glowing terms about the historical charms of Tirana or the quaint rural villages, but the purpose of the story was to provide an alternative viewpoint.
Several other travellers I have spoken to have also found Albania to be an unusual country. I’m sorry if you find this offensive but that’s just the way it is. There are certain features about Albania that are different from many other countries. It doesn’t make it a bad place (and I never said it was).
The essence of the article, which you have all missed in your blinkered rage, is the fact that so many of the locals were willing to go out of their way to help us out.
All this nonsense about “oppression” and “deceiving facts” and “throughing [sic] mud” is just ridiculous over-reaction.
Perhaps it is telling that the only people complaining here are Albanians who are unable to laugh at themselves.
Unfortunately, the people who have commented here have done much more damage to the ‘good name’ and credibility of Albania and Albanians through their unreasoned frenzy than anything I wrote in the story.
I’m sorry that you complainers are so sensitive but perhaps you need to take a step back and stop treating the article as an attack on your home country (which it was never intended to be).
It was simply an honest first impression of a country that was a last-minute addition to our travel itinerary.
And the guy did look like Mel Gibson/Sylvester Stallone.
I am glad you admit that your trip “was a last-minute addition to our travel itinerary”. In other words, it was poorely prepared. That explains why the article is poorely writen. Sure, you have a unique point of view, but you Sir lack focus.
I urge my fellow country people here in this blog to stop worrying so much and get used to Anglosaxon cynism and their dependence on pills for relax.
Hi Morrison, it is different to have an opinion and keep it for yourself or share it with friends and it is different to make your opinion public and write an article about it. So, you should take your responsibility about what you wrote and for sure you should apologize. Everybody has to be responsible for what they say especially people like you that have the possibility to make your opinions public. So, we don’t need to relax, we need you to apologize because you insulted a whole nation and you don’t have any right to do it.
Sir,
This is the first time I read a story of yours and I hope the last one. Nevertheless, from my intuition as a journalist I assume that you ether wrote this story without knowing the principle of the Inverted Pyramid, which addresses 5 questions ‘who,’ ‘when’, ‘where’, ‘what’ and ‘how’ in the first paragraph, which is quite impossible because every student in Canada is introduced to such writing structure since grade 6 or intentionally got bribed to spread a bad image of Albania in Canada, which happens often among cheap foreign journalists who agree to participate into the hate speech affair in that part of Balkan region.
However I don’t want to speculate about your intentions or your professional skills. What I want to say is that readers of the City Life Magazine are not so naive to believe a story that has no names in it. You explained a lot in your story about this city or village which borders Macedonia where you pretend to have been there but you didn’t give the readers the specifications about the name and the exact location. The same thing happened when you described the policemen and other characters in your story. From this point of view it seems that the whole story of yours is made up.
There is one point in your story though that you seem to be honest and objective. You admit that you only know two things about Albania. I’m sorry to say that every journalist in the world and moreover a Canadian journalist is supposed to know a bit more about a country before daring to inform the multicultural public of Canada about the situation in a there. It’s obvious that you don’t know anything about the Albanian history, landscape, hospitality and effort for prosperity after a painful isolation. Not only that, but it seems that you know so little from the Balkans region when you write about the currencies of these countries. Not only as a journalist but even as a common tourist you must know that not every currency is exchangeable in such foreign exchange offices. Next time if you have some changes of Macedonian Denar you have to exchange them first in Euro, US Dollars, Canadian Dollars or any other Western currencies and then you will be able to get Leks in Albania and vice versa if you travel in other Eastern Countries. However you are saying that in the end you were able to exchange Denars to Lek, which means they broke this rule making you a favour and being nice with a foreigner as they usually are. I hope you will understand what a awful, unprofessional and uninformative article you have offer to your readers.
Genc Tirana
genctirana@hotmail.com
This reminds me of the British A. A. Gill (hope I got the name right) who wrote travel notes about Albania, which was perceived extremely insulting from Albanians.
I think such reactions are very infantile. I love Albania, but unfortunately, the corruption there looms. Being so sensitive towards an article that is just a travelogue, and bringing here the flag and the celebration of November 28, the Parliament, etc… is just going way out of proportion and is quite comical, if not tragicomic. Nobody said anything bad about Mother Theresa. Poor she! She has turned into a flag and instrument in the hands of super-patriots.
Why such reaction? Why are we not capable of behaving like grown ups? Why do we take ourselves so seriously and behave like neurotic children… to the point that even his Excellency, the Honorary Consul should respond (in a lame and embarrassing English in urgent need of at least a spell check, by the way).
Now you have covered up yourself and pretend to be some guy with the name Shqato. You have no face and courage to speak your mind any more sir.
I congratulate you for the attempts you are making to find out a nickname for yourself that would sound a litlle bit Albanian. The pills are taking effect……..
Reminding J. Morrison of the 5 Ws and demanding that he applies the ‘Inverted Pyramid lessons’ like a school kid is a bit fart fetched, almost an attempt in turning this show full of patriotic tears into a burlesque. As a well-experienced journalist, Tirana should be able to distinguish between travel impressions and investigative articles. What does he mean by the 5 Ws? Names of people and places? Should Morrison provide the names of the bus driver, of the money exchange agent, and the policemen he encountered? For what? Is he trying to uncover any crime or trying to catch criminals?
As Albanians, we still need to learn lessons of “free people expressing free thoughts”. Whether we agree or disagree about Morrison’s writing, impressions and perceptions cannot be easily changed. In fact they remain unchanged, and are even reinforced the more one uses the language of accusation, the more one demands apologies or forceful changes. When Albania grows up as a country governed by the rule of law, where citizens trust the government, and the government deserves their trust — then the travelers’ impressions and Albania’s image will change. Then we will not need any more to hide behind Mother Theresa, Jim Belushi and other celebrities.
Mr. Shqato
When a people and it’s home are portrayed in such poor manner by a proffessional whose work is read by many I believe that the reaction should be as such. It is true that there is corruption in Albania just like everywhere else around the Globe, the only difference is that the corruption in the west is more refined and done in a more “educated” way and with more devastating consequences then in other smaller and poorer countries such as Albania. Therefore is not as easy to spot by people like yourself. Furthermore, how can the albanian people “relax” when the reputation of Albania is at stake? How would you Sir like it if someone spread negative rumors about your family without any real facts to back it up? except some money exchanging incident (and by the way currency exchange officess here in Canada also give a little calculator receipt when you exchange your money) But then perhaps you are the westernized type of person who disregards opinion and ethics in exchange for individualistic ideas and selfishness. So I have no more to say to you.
Mr. Morrison
I do agree with you that in every article, whether social, entertaining or political, there should be different points of view offered. But sir my question to you is why do you not stand by your own words and do so? All I observed from your article were negative views of Albania and its people. You think that by throwing in there the names of Mother Theresa and James Belushi you did justice to freedom of speech? You sir shame the world of journalism with your writing because if according to you this was meant to be funny, it should have been published in the comics section of a newspaper and not in an informative magazine. Because the people who read such magazines expect honest journalists to supply facts and not biased personal opinions of a country they have no clue of. If you were correct in you work duties you would also inform the public of the positive virtues Albania holds such as: beautiful landscape and beaches, wonderful organic food, meditterenean weather, great hospitality, an original language and traditions as well as a very cultured and sharp people amongst many other things that I don’t find it necessary to list in these comments. People who dare comment on a country should do at least a little research before stating falsifications full of negative and hateful statements. Your superiors should be ashamed of themselves for allowing such poor material to be published in their magazine. I and many of my friends will never read it again.
So long Mr. Scarecrow (just my personal opinion)
I’d like to add my two cents and say that the writter (James) wrote about his first impression… How many times have we travelled to a destination that was so highly talked about (by others) only to have a negative experience??? How many times have you eaten at a 5star restaurant and rate it only a 3??? That was his personal experience and he wished to write about it.
I love the comment by Elsa Galica “we have been to many restaurants, expensive ones, I have never seen restaurants better than in Albania. I have never seen people that dress better than Albanians”… Elsa can you say I love Albania.
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jambo/rtw_2006_07/1187538120/tpod.html
This is a blog entry from 2007 from the same journalist, I think. Just curious, why would somebody post in 2010 things that happened 3 years ago? Should he at least mention it in the article/notes…..?
On another note, if should be obvious to some of us that English is a second language to most of Albanians here in Canada. The inability to write proper English shouldn’t be embarrassing to some of us: this is not an essay contest.
Best regards,
I believe that everyone is entitled to their own personal opinion, I’m not saying I enjoyed the article, but it was this writer’s impression of our country and he’s entitled to it. Perhaps he will visit again in the future (or maybe not after he is receiving all this negativity from this blog) if he does hopefully he will be more open to the beauty of Albania.
In response to Elsa’s comment “I have never seen restaurants better than in Albania. I have never seen people that dress better than Albanians”, I think some Canadians would be offended by these comments, she is criticizing James for his negative comments, but she has just done the same.
it says speak your mind so please dont be offended by my comment.
Couldnt you find at least a REAL albanian name to use instead of ”SHQATO” uhm sorry to say but thats FAKE. haha
And why are you offending us?
How would you feel if a weirdo complained about your country? yea not good didnt think so (:
RELAX?
pfft are you serious because your comment was so nice ,
all i saw was blah blah blah .
Good thing is no one will care about your opinion and well , i read your article and it was baloney .
Why dont you say the good things about albania?
Every country has bad things about it and every country has a corrupted government , sorry to say : )
RELAX are you like joking??
You didnt have time to relax in albania because according to you they gave you 80$ less, Oh whine no one cares, Why didnt you take your time and enjoy the beaches and thank the people that came to help you -____-
Why dont you relax and stop writing stupid articles,
Because honestly Albanians are better then what you will ever ”think”
Oh and by the way , dont delete my comment because ill keep writing it over and over so dont waste your time (:
Your not even worth saying bye to you ,
LOSERRR
Oh shut up , LISTEN ive been to albania , i lived in albania and i still visit albania
THERE ARE NO TEDDY BEARS OR SCARECROWS ,
just cause you see it at one or two houses doesnt mean its true kaay ?
Stop trying to turn this around on us,
Your just writing dumb things cause you want money ,
im not dumb kaay ?
Uhh okay ?
PFFT so much attitude eh?
you have no right : )
I sujesst you apologize and stop bieng an…
Well lets just say . im not going to say it here : )
but i think your smart enough to know
what the heck are you talking about albania is the best country in the world you be quiet and never again you EVER ever talk about albania like that!!!!
OK, I’m not Mr. Shqato… I am Mrs. Sh. Qato. What does it matter? And what does it matter whether I’m fake or real? How many of you would be real here? And why would I or anyone care? As a person, I am not really that interesting, just like most of you might not be – so please, let’s put ad hominem attacks or theories of conspiracy aside. Instead of being upset over who I am or whom I represent and who I serve, let’s stay focused on the arguments and ideas… Or has the target now shifted from Morrison’s writing to me? If so, let’s talk in Albanian and give J. Morrison a break.
Just because someone dares to write about his not-so-good experience in Albania, shouldn’t be a cause for collective hysteria. Not a big deal… Have you read what other articles elsewhere say about Albania? Albania is what it is and anyone who has eyes to see, ears to listen and mind to think knows what it is. After 20 years of transition, it is still a sad reality and a funny and not an unusual traveler story, exaggerated or not, doesn’t add or change much.
Mr. Morrison,
I have a University degree on Journalism and I was reading your article from a professional point of view. I realized that more than half of your article is about your money exchange and your adventure of trying to get back 80 Canadian Dollars. With all the respect, this sounds more like those cheap reviews about hotels or movies, where you can freely express all your emotions about a certain issue, depending on how the citizens perceive it. I couldn’t retrieve any detailed information from your article about Albanian economy growth, touristic sites, history, tradition, culture, weather or even political views.
It is obvious that you somehow wanted to let out your frustration of losing your money, through the article. However, this fact is neither professionalism nor ethical.
I am wondering…..would you feel better if you get that money back? I would kindly offer 80 CAD to you, if instead of wasting time running after money you would try to focus more on gathering some useful information about the country you decided to write about.
I am surprised, that you still have the nerve to reply and defend your already “spoiled” meal, instead of apologizing for ruining the appetite of the readers. You have really served an awful dish.
He doesnt have to be mean , he doesnt have to write about albania, if your albanian why arent you standing up for your country? Are you embarrised?
Give him a break ? give albania a break its a great country dont hate appreciate,
E dashur Ana, nuk eshte ofendim te thuash qe s’kam pare njerez qe veshen me mire se Shqiptaret, ofendim do te ishte sikur te thosha qe Canadezet veshen me keq se shqiptaret. Besoj se e kupton ndryshimin. Megjithese nuk besoj se eshte vendi te rrime e te kundershtojme njeri tjetrin ketu. Shpresoj se e kupton edhe nje gje te tille.
I am sorry I cannot call you “Sir” that can’t be your title, I cannot mention you as “Gentleman” either Goran, sorry! You will only be Goran and not much to say about it. Your name tells it all Goran. For people who do not know Albania let me just explain that Albanians call some people Goran and that is not to offend them, but because thei are from Gora community in Albania, and they are very respected people who leave in Albania close to the Albanian- Macedonian border, they are very well integrated in the Albanian society, they have schools in their own language, they have their own religion and live their live peacefully.
How is it Goran you don’t mention how much you paid on the hotel in Tirana (Albania) most probable 30 CAD. And you know what, let me tell you that no one in Albania and Macedonia who hasn’t been in England or North America know who C. B Fry is and what cricket is, so keep this to yourself Goran (is a good progress you know what cricket is who CB Fry is). You Goran came from Macedonia to Albania and you did not notice that the house of Mather Teresa (an Albanian form Macedonia) is destroyed by Macedonian government as part of changing the identity of people and places there, instead in Albania people can be declared freely what they think they are and predict in peace their own religion.
I’ll tell you Goran I am only writing with “You” because in English is the same for singular and plural and I cannot use “ti” but you know what I mean!!!!!
In reply to ana’s comment .
elsa, was trying to tell him albanians are great people,
she never said they are better?
how would she know anyway she is just ttrying to stand up for her country ,
This was a very poor article,
You insulted albania,
i personally dont mind your opinion ,
you can hate love i dont mind,
dont make it public
its mean .
Famous albanians ?
Ill name a few : )
Oh look , theres so many it wouldnt fit this comment : )
Travel brochures oh my,
Yes because if you go to south america lets say ,
they put a famous person on the brochure ,
Yea not really,
this article bugged me and im not going to stop defending my country
go to this website
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Albanians
Dont hate ^^ : )
Angela ,
You have enlightened me ,
You are right,
I will offer him 80$
He is acting like a little whining baby right now,
Money is different in every country !
I’ll bet you run out of money there because you have to pay too much for copyrights clearance of that police officer photo. You couldn’t find someone cheaper so you could have saved some money for your journey!!!!!!!!
I think the best answer to bad journalism is to let it go. By reacting like this we are offering too much publicity to this author. Italians have suffered from stereotyping more than Albanians and yet, their great men such as Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Verdi, etc. were never enough to help them improve their image.
Improving the image is a long process and it starts in Albania. We in Canada can only help, but unfortunately can’t be major players.
The majority of positive travel articles are sponsored either by private organizations or interested government. Apparently Mr. Morrison’s was not. Also, as he admits it, it was “a last minute” decision to visit Albania. And finally, he seems to by very cynical, dishonest and superficial. So, here we have a cocktail of A.A. Gill drink…
Naten e mire
Ilir Lena
Holta you are absolutely right. This was published three years ago. i agree with my fellow peer on the “cultural genocide” comment. What drove this foe journalist to repost an article from 3 years ago and reframe it’s content as if it had been written yesterday. What a joke. I will personally make sure to contact City TV and make this public. Let’s all try to make this known because the republication of this story is just the reinforcement of James Morrison’s hate toward the eastern and specifically Albanian culture.
I do have to agree that one has its own opinion with regards to the situation ,however, this article is premature and completely bias. You go on and on about your negative experience therefore painting negativity for the readers of this magazine.
I grew up in Tirana and in my 16 years there I have NEVER seen a teddy bear or scarecrow. I have no idea where you ended up to see such things. I cannot deny that you did not see it ,however, it is very uncommon unlike suggested in the article. If you go to United States and people tell you that the beaver is your best friend and start throwing the word “eh” in every sentence then you would have a dismissal look and be annoyed. Those are the feelings shared by the people in the community.
Lastly, why did you not ask the clerk before hand for the fee to exchange the money. You traveled 30 countries and it never crossed your mind to ask such BASIC question? In any business transaction that is the first question being asked and it is mind boggling that a man of your stature did not think of such simple thing.
Your experience could have been different if you followed simple travelers guides, and maybe today we would be commenting on your positive experience ,but, hey… it’s one man’s opinion. Maybe you will have better luck next time or maybe you won’t jump the gun to write an article based on excessive commission.
In your article, among others, you wrote : “No way, Goran”.
Is it your real name ? if so we can easely drow the conclusions.
Thnx
Hi James,
I agree with you point of view of being an outsider and give an opinion for a country being there in transit for two or three days. I will put you in my shoes to defend your country and culture. How do you feel about defending Canada regarding the seal hunt issue, when an European call this country “uncivilised” and “barbarian”? My point is that anybody can describe the negative side if the intention is there.
Letter to the publisher:
Hi Michelle,
thank you for your reply with clarifications of your side.
I think Mr. Morrison’s attempt to write a travel story about Albania has failed. He is very superficial, out of focus, misleading and very cynical. Just an example: his statement about Albanians as “not used to foreigners” sounds like an insult.
Albania was kept in isolation from Hoxha regime for decades, but since 1990 Albania has experience the largest emigration phenomena in the world: 1/3 of its population has left Albania. These people and their family members come and go bringing with them not only new experiences, but they also serve as a human bridge with people from countries where they have establish their residence. Moreover, Albania is a NATO member and a candidate for EU membership. Canadians, Americans and Europeans enter the country not only without any visas, but also without any entry fee. Hundreds of foreign non-government organization from allover the world have their representative offices in Albania, not to mention tens of thousand of foreign visitors. By depicting Albanians as “not used to foreigners” give a lot of space for misinterpretation. How? It sounds like they are xenophobic, at least.
Or take the other statement about Albanians who have “a peculiar aspect …like a guy … with massive mullet”. This kind of language is unacceptable in the 21st century. It sounds like a travel diary from some English traveller in Africa of 17th – 18th century, where the writer find himself among indigenous people and depict them how he wishes just to amuse his Anglo-Saxon racist readers.
On the other side, your position in defending this cheap journalist is also unacceptable, because you knowingly or unknowingly have published an outdated article without informing the readers. I would suggest you take the following steps:
1) remove this article from your web page
2) write an apology in your next issue.
If you are asking yourself why such a strong reaction from so many people, then ask an Italian-Canadian how he feels when their fathers and grandfathers are mostly represented in movies and books only as “Mafia people”.
Take care and take it seriously this time.
Ilir Lena
TV Producer
Dear James,
Life is full of experiences. Some of them are like you have expressed about Albania. However, in my opinion you have only expressed the negative part or maybe since your trip was very short you couldn’t experience any thing else.
Here are some question that I feel asking as a reader:
1-Do you think you are knowledgeable about what you are writing?
2- If you are only expressing your opinion why only negativity?
3-If I was you I will go in summer time, there are some beautiful beaches and the people are very friendly.
4- That were the only pictures that do took during the trip?
In my opinion, as a reader the writer should write the facts by dividing the truth from biases.
Please, enough already with the story of apologies…
Let me first clarify one thing: This article may not be a model of journalism, but I don’t think it was meant to be as such… The title is somewhat bizarre and I’m sure the writer could have come up with several much better options. Second, after reading the article, you get the feeling the story was somehow interrupted. It seems incomplete, or cut off, almost as if someone accidentally omitted a whole chunk of it.
Nevertheless, demanding apologies for a story that describes a personal experience is absurd. I find the narrative quite believable. I can picture the same thing happening to me (even though I am a native Albanian and language wouldn’t be a barrier).
A few other things:
1) Describing Albanians as “not used to foreigners” may technically be inaccurate. However, Albanians have proven themselves to be quite skilled in “copying and pasting” from the Western world, but without exceeding the borders of clothing, fashion, cat-walks, Miss Albania shows, tastes, objectification of women, cars, luxury, trashy TV and radio shows and last not least – the laws and constitution.
What they have not been able to “copy and paste” is the mindset, the democracy developed step by step and block by block, the rule of law, the willingness to protect their landscape and environment, the habit to put garbage in the trash can, the trust in the public system and a well run government, the respect for the public space – just to name a few. In this respect Albanians are “not used to foreigners” makes sense, doesn’t it?
2) It was disappointing to read comments with which someone labeled Morrison as Goran. The author even dared to explain what Goran means. But this is no different than calling Morrison, let’s say a Nigga. And this is shameful. Albanians have suffered from others labeling them with all sorts of racist words, but it’s sad to see that who suffered from racism is equally a racist, and ready to stick the same labels on others.
3) Whoever offered to pay Morrison $80 back I think is wrong and misses the point. What does this mean? “It’s OK that the agency guy ripped an individual off, here take my money and let’s get over it!” How generous, indeed!!! Who cares about (in)justice?
80 dollars is no trivial amount of money (especially having in mind that many of you who joined the discussion earn perhaps no more than $10 per hour, not to mention that some might even be on welfare – but hopefully not). Money is work and hard-working people respect work! People (including the highly paid) get upset when they are fooled, even over one or two bucks. And if they have been taken advantage, it is their right to be disappointed, and when such things happen, they should be rectified.
Last but not least, we do not always check receipts on the spot, because we tend to give people “the benefit of the doubt”. A transaction is carried out based on mutual trust, not on fear that you are being taken advantage of! I have been careless occasionally, but if I decided to return to a store or service provider in the US or Canada over a disputed item, I have usually been pleased with the treatment and outcome….
There is more I can include in the list above, but I think 3 should be sufficient.
come on “Mrs. Sh.Qato” (read Morrison), you don’t need to change your gender and nationality just to defend a lost cause. In this case pills are more efficient…
Mr. Morrison.
Here are some useful tips about Albania and Albanian people.
1) Albanians are the same as in Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro etc. The borders which left more albanians outside Albania were drawn by European powers in 19th century to “reward Albanians for stopping the Ottoman Empire spread to other parts of Europe”. Albanians do not recognize these borders. That’s why any Albanian famous or not from “bordering countries” are albanians from Albania.
2) Do not visit any country with prejudicial views toward its people and places. Next time study it. relax, open your mind, and do not make conclusions about things which are true to you only.
3) In roman times the people from northern europe were called Barbarians. In this century the Barbarians are giving lessons to the roman remains and the rest of the world how to live and govern. You never know what the future will bring.
Useful tip for you:
Grow up, be a man, admit that your article has prejudicial comments and views about Albania and its people and apologize for it.
<>
Caesar Augustus – founder of Rome
Peace,
B.K.
Mr. Shqato
You are a biggot, racist. and a true BUM. What makes you think that people who are writing here are in welfare or work and make only $10 per hour.
What an idiot!
F. U.
Ilir, am I supposed to feel flattered now, that you cannot distinguish between an anonymous like me and Morrison? Or are you suggesting that if I were an Albanian, you could never imagine me speak my mind and express views that are not the same as those of the patriotic crowd’s? Apo, nuk do te prishesh imazhin e turmes qe mendon “en bloc”, si “trup i vetem”? Morrison-i andej, turma ketej — si rrjedhim une s’mund te jem tjeter vecse maska e Morrison-it…
When even moderated and civilized people like you get so worked up over such things, then I think you must be right. It is a lost cause, indeed!
Pills? Why not save them for much more serious and worthier causes?
kauzat mbrohen me emer dhe mbiemer dhe jo prapa ferrave.
Ashtu eshte, mirepo pastaj duhet te durosh komente si ai i mesipermi, “biggot”, “bum”, “what an idiot”.
Kauzat i mbrojne me mire argumentat dhe arsyetimi, pak duan t’ia dine per emrin e mbiemrin. “Prapa ferrave” eshte togfjalesh teper i lodhur.
Duhet ta pranoj qe nuk jam i mire ne llogoren e bllogjeve, por u acarova shume me komentin tuaj ne lidhje me Genc Tiranen (in a lame and embarrassing English in urgent need of at least a spell check, by the way). Genci nuk u prononcua ne bllog si konsull i shqiptareve, pse u turbulluat aq shume?
Juve qe jeni kaq e preokupuar dhe e artikuluar per kauzen e lirise se shprehjes dhe “femijerine” shqiptare, s’duhet te fyeni dike per nje cilesi qe ju mendoni se e keni me tepri. Kjo moj moter/vella/shoqe/shok eshte cinizem. Ne kete pike jeni ne nje llogore me Gim Morrin (James Morrison). Megjithate pergezime per anglishten. Jam i mahnitur me shkallen e larte te zoterimit.
Me shume se anglishtja me irritoi permbajtja, toni pompoz, dhe patronizimi ne ate mesazh te gabuar, te pafat do ta quaja. Me vjen keq dhe nuk kisha per qellim te fyeja kend – ndofta duhet ta kisha shamangur ate fjali qe permend. Po tani, me thuaj si mendon: kur ulesh t’i shkruash nje kolegu gazetar a gazetes zyrtarisht e publikisht, perse te mos perdoresh se paku ndihmen e nje miku a nje studenti sa per t’i hedhur nje sy e per ta redaktuar te shkretin shkrim?
Pasqyren e ndjek me sa mundem, dhe te pergezoj edhe une per punen e mire.
Dear Mr. Morrison,
Dancing with Albanians, it’s a really interesting design, because Albanians were born dancers…earliest in the Europe History and will give you a perfect chance, of being famous journalist, if you are not so far?!
Visiting and trying to understand a foreign country, you really get a grasp, how universal human emotions can be; however, you also see, how much culture observe, how you deal with those Scarecrows and Teddy Bears emotions…
We all get angry, we all get sad, we all get worried, we all love our family, we all love our traditions and we all want some happiness in our lives. How do we deal with these things? How do we find these things? All these are questions answered largely in terms of culture.
Being there and giving your opinion about Albanian lifestyle, seems to be, an exercise in the age-old line of walking in another person’s shoes. Guess not!!! No matter what you did there, you’re still a Canadian, and you’re going, at least somewhere deep down, from a Canadian life-style. You judge, you react, you analyze, you criticize from a Canadian life-style, but you’re learning to make room for alternative ways of reasoning. If we all share something deeper than culture in common, namely the “human condition,” there has to be a way to understand each -other. Yes, you are a Canadian, but before you are so, you are human being. Existence came before nations, and certainly Albania and Canada.
That’s my only consideration about your article and
sorry English is not my first language, to meet with my sense of humor,
My point of view is the thought of a better or try !
Good luck ,
Love,
Artur
tur dynjoja.pacom
I lexova komentet e mesiperme, dhe e kam te veshtire te besoj qe i/e parafundit eshte me te vertete shqiptar dmth ndoshta eshte i/e lindur e rritur ne Shqiperi, por SHQIPTAR/SHQIPTARE brez pas brezi, s’me besohet.
shqato nqs ti e pranon se qa tha ai (se nuk mundem as emrin me ja than )ti ndoshta i ke te gjitha ato qe per mendi ndoshta ti ke ken ai dordoleci por ta dish se na shqiptarte nuk jena
There is no doubt that this article has been written being imprisioned by the deepest hatred possible. The worst message doesn’t come from scarecrowns or Teddy Bears, which are so popular here in Canada as well but, from the fact that here in Canada which is the model of multiculturalism and reciprocal respect, we still can find racist voices sticking around.
Fact: The people look a bit peculiar, such as the guy on the bus who looks like Mel Gibson circa Lethal Weapon with massive mullet and all, crossed with Sylvester Stallone at the end of a Rocky movie once he’s had his face punched 200 times.
Fact: A trivia question: Who is the only Albanian you’ve heard of?
Answer: Mother Teresa. They even named the country’s largest airport after her.
What do you mean when you use the word “even”.Should albanians have asked you before doing that ?! Or propably you are going to say that you don’t really care for Mother Teresa? OK! It’s your choice. She is a symbol not only for the albanians but for the whole world.
Fact: ….a squat, short-necked man with an Elvis-like lip –……….
I am very sorry if that happened but I think that it’s not his neck’s fault that you are dumb in math. You even had a slip in your hand. That sucks!
Fact: “Right, let’s go kick his ass.”
Do you think I am picturing you in this moment as a journalist? You are more similar to a spoiled and a conceited person. Probably you experienced bulling throughout your childhoodand but that’s what we don’t know. What we already know is that whatever you have written in this article is negative, evil-minded and ill feeling. You are not used to see both sides of reality, what is in the foundation of journalism. Nobody is saying that Albania is perfect. It has its problems but for sure it’s not what you have told people about it.
Do you understand what I am talking about?! If not, it’s just too bad.
O Zot, sa njerez fodulle e mendjemedhenj ka ne kete bote, qe kujtojne se i dine te gjitha e qe jane shume lart, e s’e kuptojne se faktikisht jane shume me poshte se ata te cilet i kritikojne per gjera qe s’ia vlen te besh kritike. Te dish nje gjuhe te huaj eshte shume mire, por ama te gjithe e dine se nuk don “tru” shume, e nese nje person eshte llafollog s’do te thote qe eshte i zgjuar, e aq me teper s’do te thote qe ka miresi ne shpirt. Fodulleku e mendjemadhesia tregojne vec shpirtvogelsi e s’ta rrit vleren vec ta ule ate.
Dear friends,
I am from Albania, too, and let me express a few thoughts on this issue.
Whenever we go back to our country we see a lot of progress and we are happy and proud. But we also see a lot of problems, and this makes us unhappy.
James Morrison writes a short piece about his impressions in our country. Whether we like it or not, the piece is funny. It could be a little more positive, but I personally do not find it negative or offensive. He writes about “dordoleca” – and so what?
And certainly he writes about his money exchange experience, which in a sense was funny, because it showed how inexperienced he and his wife were, but it was also not funny, because it told us that the Tirana police had better things to do rather than engage itself in the investigation of an innocent “bureau de change”.
Now, I have the highest respect for the Tirana police and I want them to be effective, and not waste their time and resources by assisting someone that didn’t even need any assistance.
I am glad we are all proud and hard working citizens of our new countries. And we see that Canada is a good country, where people protect the environment, buses run on time, the medical system works, schools are good, etc.
Well, Albania is a much smaller country and with lots of natural resources. And, to tell the truth, I am glad Mr. James Morrison did not see the garbage, which is almost everywhere; or the former pristine Adriatic beaches, which have now disappeared are under concrete; or old historical castles turned into restaurants (check out Petrela Castle, for example), or trains and railways that need urgent upgrading, or forests that are disappearing, or the air quality in Tirana, that makes you sick.
Therefore, my friends, take a deep breath. James Morrison is not at fault here.
There is no bias or anything against us or our country in his piece. Instead of criticizing him, I suggest you write to Berisha and Rama and ask them govern for the betterment of the people and not of their own interest.
Miq te mire ,
zoteria ai i yni,e kam fjalen, me duket mua,ka bere nje nderhyrje shume profesionale dhe aspak emocionale.
Beni mire ta ngrini nivelin e shqiptareve, nuk eshte mire te leme name ketu me kenge patriotike.
flm.
Desha te bej nje sqarim te vogel. Komenti im i mesiperm s’eshte per Z. Genc e as per Z. Igli. Jam shume dakord me gjithcka keto dy persona kane komentuar.
Zonja/Zoti/ Sh.Qato
Meqenese ju flisni nje anglishte jo “lame” perktheja dhe Gim Morrit keto vargje.
Shoke, kemi ne mest tene
Shum’ armik’ e trathetore!
Popo! mos u qofte thene!
Vec qe s’kane gje ne dore.
Harruane memedhene
Dh’ e lane kombine tene
E nje tjatere na gjene!
Popo! mos u qofte thene!
Lane zonjen e levduar
E zune nje kurve shtrige,
Te ndyr’ e te mallekuar,
Te felliqur e te lige.
Lane memen te xhveshur
Dhe mundohene per bote,
Pa dhe bota duke qeshur
U thote: mundohi kote!
Qysh u bene Efialte
E nuk e njohin te miren,
Uthullen pandehin mjalte
Edhe drite erresiren!
Buk’ e memedheut zente
Tradhetoret e pabese!
Dhe Zoti derrmen u dhente,
Kurre mos pacine pjese!
Miqt’ armiq i kane bere,
Armikete miq i zune,
Qysh jane fyell te tere!
Ç’eshte kjo e madhe pune!
Fajn’ e math kur do ta njohin
Njerezit e mallekuar?
Dritene pse nuk e shohin,
Apo jane te verbuar?
Jane se gjithash te marre
Dhe te liq me te vertete,
Memedheut bejne varre,
Po do te biene vete,
Se mbreteron e verteta,
S’del kurre genjeshtr’ e shkrete
T’ish ashtu, qe prishur jeta,
S’kish mbetur gje e vertete.
Ata turpine fitojne,
Nder’ e tyre posht’ e hedhin
Dhe armikete gezojne
E ne erresiret bredhin.
Nuk eshte kurre haruar
Dh’e mira dh’e lig’ e shkrete,
Te gjitha jane paguar,
S’ka mbeture gje ne jete.
Lerini, pa do ta gjejne,
Te verteten do ta njohin,
Se tani s’e dine c’bejne,
Jane te verber e s’shohin.
O, popo c’turp kane marre!
Jane bere tradhetore
Dhe s’jane me shqipetare,
Se nga kombi hoqne dore.
Me te huajne u bene,
Me armikn’ e Shqiperise,
S’duane gjuhene tene
Armiket’ e Perendise!
Ndjej, o Zot, se nuke dine
Se c’bejne, jane mahnitur,
Rrahin te prishin shtepine
Pun’ e lig’ edh’ e merzitur.
Te gjoret jane ne gjume,
Te vertetene s’e dine,
Do te mundohene shume,
Pasdaj mentte do t’u vine.
Vellazerin’ e harrojne
Dhe kombin e memedhene,
Dhe armikete degjojne
Edhe s’dine se ku vene.
Hiqni dore, hiqni dore!
Mblithni mentt’ e tuperohi,
Mos u beni trathetore,
Se pasdaj do te pendohi.
I don’t know why my previous post has been removed. I have used only the same words that Mr. Morrison has used in his articles.
My issue with Mr. Morrison’s article wasn’t his opinion about Albania, rather than misrepresentation of facts.
When you look at his past blogs (http://www.travelpod.com/members/jambo) you’ll understand that this is not something unusual for him. He’s from New Zealand – that’s why he loves cricket and C.B. Fry – and time and again between his drinking escapades and low budget travel all over the world his has made one thing clear in his blogs. He’s very self centered, with an astonishing lack of general knowledge and common sense, a bit arrogant and a cheap skate – the only people that he likes are the ones providing him free service. He is also a little bit Peculiar with a P, just like the idea he once had to visit all European cities starting with the letter P. When he left Italy he proclaimed he was going back to civilization, because he was moving away from a country of beggars and thieves and the Mafia country. He calls Bratislava (one of the most beautiful European cities) “the armpit of Europe”. He has traveled surrounded by “stupid Americans“, etcetera, etcetera, and etcetera. So nothing unusual in his writings about Albania – just the same old Mr. Morrison. Sorry, but I don’t think he is worthy of an ongoing discussion.
And Mrs.Shqato – If you really think “a transaction is carried out based on mutual trust” you are really out of your mind. A transaction is a legal contract – there is nothing based on mutual trust – you like what you get you enter the transaction, you don’t like it you walk away. When you dispute an item you are essentially bringing the legal contract on the table – the receipt. And that guy at Western Union had his exchange rates published, that’s why no “ass-kicking’ took place. If his exchange rates were one for one or one for ten that is his legal right – you like it you enter the transaction, you don’t you find a better deal. One more thing – I am sincerely happy you have made it and obviously reached a great status – but please, try not to look down on your compatriots. Even making the minimum wage, they are still paying for a PC and interent access and keep themselves informed and stand up for their homeland. Mrs. Shqato – Duaje emrin tend!
Zhan
Just perfect the above comment.
Hey James,
First of all you should spell check before you write
There is nothing to apologise for. – written by you, a few posts above.
While there might be nothing to apologise for – believe me, there is a lot to apologize for.
P.S. You’re not the firs, nor the last mediocre journalist who wrote about a country.
Oops – I meant to write “first”. I guess your misspelling is contagious.
Great comment Zhani. You are absolutely right…cultural racism is guiding this foe journalist’s heart.
Chill down my contrymen. The author, James Morrison has given his impressions from a visit in Albania. Right or wrong we can’t misjudge him but look into the reality of Albania today: the corrupt politicians, administration, great poverty, hatred, crimes, prostitution, dust, dirt, the many migjenian “Lul te vegjel” everywhere in Albania and everything. There is more to say but I will stop here for not making the whole picture worse.
This has nothing to do with the great qualities of the albanian people: their bravery, vitality, hospitality, openness, lack of cultural shovinism.
This is Albania today, the “shining beacon” on the shores of Adriatic sea and we must look into this reality with great courage to accept the truth. If some have a revolt here, let them go and contribute in changing this reality of Albania in Albania itself instead of “grinding” the author here with their anger.
tung
Oh yes , google translater,
arent you cool shqato ; )
Dear Dolce Publishing,
I would like to express my dissapointment in reading the above article on your magazine. I found it offensive, biased and not based on facts. I have read your magazine with pleasure until now and often based some of my buying decisions on comments or editorials from your team. I will stop doing so in the future. My decision is not only based on the fact that the article was poorely reflecting of reality but most importantly on the very poor way you handled the voice of concern from the Albanian community in Toronto.
Sincerely,
Erblin
A reader you have lost for life
Hi, I am an Albanian living in Albania. First, the ragged dolls on half built houses are a real fact. Not in every house, but in a lot of them. A supersticious tradition that makes people put ragged dolls on the half built houses so that they absorb all the evil, and the house grows up blessed.
It’s just a kind of modest blessing tradition, like some Canadians might use something borrowed when they marry and we don’t.
But I don’t understand why he has seen it as a “macabre cultural idiosyncrasy?” Was the doll in a macabre position? Was it with blood, like the Halloween dolls and masks they use in Canada? Was it in a pornographic position, like those wonderful Canadian ladies that you can download on the internet? What made him say those harsh words?
And then, when he says that James Belushi was born in Albania, when everyone knows that he wasn’t born in Albania but in Chicago, but his father was born in Albania… just tells that this is just an amateur writer on an amateur magazine, who doesn’t have even the simpliest common sense of the least experienced writer… to check the facts.
I’ve never been in Canada but obviously this is an amateur magazine with amateur writers. I guess it must be a magazine that you can take for free, can’t be something that actually sells copies. The fact that he’s been in a poor hotel tells even more. So, there’s no reason to give him all this attention. I’m sure he doesn’t represent all the Canadian writers. I mean… Canada is supposed to be an high-standard country… can’t have writers and magazines like this.
Why has he made all the figurative parallelisms of everything else with negative things? Why can’t he just give the facts like they are and say just “cops with a face that looked tired from a hard life” but he has to compare the faces of our cops with a “beaten Sylvester Stallone”, cops who seem to have offered him a great help. How dares he make fun of other people’s suffering?
Are all Canadians like him?
Boci said:
“And Mrs.Shqato – If you really think “a transaction is carried out based on mutual trust” you are really out of your mind. A transaction is a legal contract – there is nothing based on mutual trust – you like what you get you enter the transaction, you don’t like it you walk away.”
Boci, my dear, I’m sure you know that what you’re saying is wrong. And those who read you know this, too. But, any argument would work for the crowd, as long as it feeds its “hyper super duper nationalism”. Let me give you an example. Suppose you have “gorrica” from your grandma’s garden in Ziçisht to sell and your price looks decent. I think you are a great guy, and I pay you for 3 kg “gorrica”. As I am talking to you about the beauty of Ziçisht, and the lovely people there I don’t pay attention to how you are using the scale. As a good businessman that you surely are, you give me a receipt. I put it into my pocket, or throw it away and I go home. I figure out later that you have only given me 2 not 3 kg. What just took place between us, dear Boci, is a transaction -not a legal one – and I don’t think I’d send you to court over it and please rest assured, no legal action will be taken. I wouldn’t bother to write an article for the Ziçisht newsletter, either. Probably I may venture to let a couple of ziçishtarë know… I’d likely be upset for a minute or two and decide that I will never buy “gorrica” from you again. Our trust is breached. And this is what is going on in Albania. There’s no people-state trust, and vice-versa. People do as they please, and they take matters that should be handled through law channels and public institutions, into their own hands.
Boci further writes:
“One more thing – I am sincerely happy you have made it and obviously reached a great status – but please, try not to look down on your compatriots. Even making the minimum wage, they are still paying for a PC and interent access and keep themselves informed and stand up for their homeland. Mrs. Shqato – Duaje emrin tend!”
I am not sure, Boci, why you believe “I look down on compatriots”. Stating opinions and criticizing “standing up for homeland” for the wrong reasons is not looking down on compatriots. And I do respect compatriots who earn their living through work, regardless of their ability to afford or not a PC and Internet access.
And what makes you think I don’t like my name?
Respekt per te gjithe komentuesit per shpirtin patriotik qe tregojne.Lutem mos e ktheni problemin me komente si ne gazeten “shekulli”.Problemet e brendeshme te familjes nuk dalin ne pazar.
Here is a different opinion from that of Mr. Morrison’s “article”. LA Times about Albania-February 7, 2010
http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-trw-albania7-2010feb07,0,5443952.story
Enjoy
I was reading the article kind of differently. Yes, there were facts mentioned there. One could interpret them as per his own wish. I am giving myself the right to interpret them realistically, given that I have spent all my life in Albania:
• Goran entered Albania freely and having no problems, deciding in the last minute to visit Albania. In other countries, one might need a visa, many documents and a salty invoice, perhaps problems at customs, etc.
• Yes, there are many half-built houses in the process of completion, that’s a sign of vitality and dynamism of the people after the communism collapse in 1991.
• Western Union, an international company is present in Albania, in addition to many other international foreign investors (Canadian too); Western Union has its own policy, why argue about that? Personally I have never argued in any country…neither in Canadian banks, nor in Denmark as another example where you have to pay a 10% tax on every exchange…
• Yes, there are old buses. That’s an opportunity for business, any Canadian company wanting to do a business in the bus transportation sector in Albania? Still, anyone has the option to choose good quality buses and transportation in Albania; they simply cost more than old buses.
• Country’s borders were shut to mass tourists during communism time (1944-1991), but not to mass tourists after 1991, neither to Kosovo population kicked out by Serbs in 1999 from their homes and welcomed to Albania, neither to Jewish people when Nazists were prosecuting them, etc.
• Online hotel accommodation missing for many 3-star hotels, again a business opportunity for IT people and others…
• Dinner in Tirana. Doesn’t seem like an experience for the ‘writer’. One suggestion for dinner for his next time would be Sofra e Ariut, a traditional excellent restaurant where President George Bush and his wife ate dinner a couple of years ago when visiting Albania.
• The remaining 6,400 Albanian leke equal today to some 67 CAD and not 80 CAD. Are we sure the ‘writer’ is good with numbers? Is he properly sure how much he gave to the waiter? How come he did not make the check immediately after exchange transaction? If the whole thing came because of 80 CAD lost somewhere, then it’s a numbers discussion and it would be better the ‘writer’ to check and be 100% sure with numbers before he writes a maths article.
• Policemen take seriously their complaint. In fact, it is not a common thing in Tirana to have people go to police for such issues. The police find it very serious that an exchange office might do such thing, not to mention that we are speaking about Western Union, a very reputable company that would never do such thing and risk its reputation and license. By the way, exchange currency activities in Albania are regulated by law. I have never experienced or heard or imagined of any theft from them. Locals stopping to look at the commotion, forming a small crowd prove also the wonder we in Albania have for such complaints.
I agree this article is based on a personal experience, but if I would be a journalist I would think three times before giving a strong opinion for a country, independently of my anger from a ‘negative’ experience. That would be professional but also fair towards culture diversity. Plus, i think there are no negative experiences, but there are negative reactions to experiences.
And if I would be a tourist, I would prepare myself beforehand and would try to enjoy the most out of a trip and enrich myself with a different perspective of how people feel and behave and how things can be different from what I might be used to. There is never something wrong and something right. There are simply different things and we can change them in the construction or destructive direction.
Neritana Begaj
Last Christmas, I was travelling around Europe with a friend. We had no plan, no map and nowhere to stay… I think everybody should experience to go somewhere without any plan and expectations. Spending the last money for beer, missing the last bus, hitchhiking, meeting different people… It seemed like they can only happen in the movies like road trip. However, it can really happen and I’m sure you will have the time of your life.
By the way, Paris was great!
It was the last stop of our trip!
We count our money and with a carefully thought-out idea, could happen any surviving .I dreamed having dinner in a Paris restaurant. We stopped by checking prices –no way. I got a sandwich- finally. It tested so bad .Who cares, I was starving. Filling a Diarrhorea, I was looking for a public washroom. Nobody liked to speak English .Stupid city. Checking my pocket, lucky me… still my returned ticket was there.
At this point of view, I hate Paris!
I’m glad getting back to Canada.
Did you get me?!
Artur
turdynjoja.pacom
It is snowing quite a bit here on the northeast USA. Nowhere to go, so I read some more from the famous James Morrison. If you ever thought about PILFERING or FREELOADING here are some wonderful tips from the master himself, Mr. James Morrison. He has left is trail all over the internet. And to think that someone has hired this man to write for them!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Link: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jambo/rtw_2006_07/1196593140/tpod.html
Mrs. Shqato wrote: “80 dollars is no trivial amount of money (especially having in mind that many of you who joined the discussion earn perhaps no more than $10 per hour, not to mention that some might even be on welfare – but hopefully not)”. You are just assuming, just like you are assuming, oh no supposing that I have “gorrica” to sell from my grandma’s gardens in Zicisht. Don’t you think it is a bit ironic someone manages to sell YOU “gorrica” and on top of that skims you in the process for roughly 33% of the value? That’s the same as being able to “sell the whole bridge on this side of the pond, except one third of the supporting legs”. Now, the cognitive capabilities of anyone that even think about buying “gorrica” in Albania or “buy a bridge for sale” in USA should be subject of a professional evaluation. And being emotionally deprived like you seem to be, calling me “dear”, I could have accepted “payments in nature” from you – (based on the assumption of J.Morrison about Albania – “Maybe they don’t even use money here and prefer the traditional barter system) – but I have a gut feeling that I would look the other way if I were in front of you! – (http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jambo/rtw_2006_07/1187538120/tpod.html)
You are assuming, heck, you have it already fixed in your mind, that most of people here earn perhaps less than $10 an hour so may be not worthy to post and express their opinions. You can ramble all you want about buying and selling in Zicisht, but that doesn’t change the fact that whatever happen at the WU money exchange was legal just as this joke of a journalist accepted at the end of his article. No one was taken advantage of like you assumed.
As they say ……….assumption is the mother of all screw ups (you can substitute the last verb if you feel like)
By the way – where is Zicisht?
Enjoy
A ka ndonjeri te me shpjegoje se si ka mundesi qe dy shqiptare inteligjente si Zhani dhe Shqato humbasin kohen duke u kapur me njeri-tjetrin dhe nje legen nga Zelanda e Re arrin te botoje plehrat e veta?
ALBANIANS of BYTYM DYNJA, UNITE under the leadership of the albanian councellor Genc Tirana with 25 yrs experience in mediocre journalism and of Ilir Lena, a self proclaimed TV producer !!! Someone is offending us and our country that is a great example in everything for all the region. What a sacrilege !!!
Mr. James Morrison,
I have a question for you.
Are you sure you were in Albania?
The way you were whining about monetary problems gave me an impression that you were not paying attention to Albania and its Culture, because I am one hundred percent sure that they would help you and treat you with the utmost respect.
Regarding the man you saw on the bus, I suggest you take a ride on the TTC of Toronto.
I see homeless people on the streets of Downtown Toronto everyday, but we all know that we can’t blame Canada because it offers them food and shelter.
So please don’t skip to conclusions.
I wish you better luck on your next trip, and here’s hoping that your editor will give you a bigger budget next time.
Hi, Boc,
Qetesohu te lutem. Nga patriotizmi i flakte e i nalte tani po ulesh drejt e ne sheshin me balte te pallatit per t’i bere xhamat e dritareve cope me llastiqe, ose per te qelluar harabela ngaqe s’ke tjeter c’te besh e c’te thuash. S’eshte per t’u cuditur… mejdanet patriotike nuk mund te mendohen pa te tilla precipitime .
Perndryshe une vete e kam lekuren te trashe, dhe nuk tutem kur ne vend te argumentit nis gjuajtja me sacme te tipit “pagese ne natyre” e me the te thashe… (keshtu shpeton edhe Morrisoni dhe Michelle nga shenjestra, se u lodhen edhe ata te shkrete, ndersa nderkohe ky artikull kryeson listen e leximeve aktive ne saje te “garbage in garbage out”.)
Ti natyrisht qe e kuptove shembullin tim. Por nese jo, ose nese ben sikur s’e more vesh, atehere me lejo te them:
S’te pelqejne gorricat? Po mire atehere, ndjehu i lire, i dashur, t’i zevendesoh me nje tjeter frut te zemres. Si te duken fiqte ose ftonjte? Nuk e ke qejf mashtrimin me 33%? Po mire, e ndryshojme. Si te duket 25, 20, 15, 10 ose 5%?
Sa per shembullin tend te krahasimit te gorricave me uren, nuk kam fare c’te them. Nuk do ta kesh patur mendjen aty, me siguri. Sepse nuk di se sa mund te krahasohet pesha me gjatesine. Thjesht njesi te ndryshme matjeje.
P.S. Zicishti? Si keshtu, une te dija se te kishim pe Zicishti… E pranoj, e kam ditur gabim.
Qato bije,
Mesa duket e paske edhe mendjen sic ke lekuren. Nqs gorricat jane frutat me te cilat je ushqyer, me fal. Nqs mendon se askush tjeter nuk e kupton simboliken e gorricave te tua, gabohesh rende. Ne te njejtin kuptim simbolik ishte dhe shembulli i ures. Nqs ti e kuptove po nuk ke c’te thuash dhe mbush faqen me derdellitje femijesh, nuk ta ve re. Nqs nuk e kuptove – sorry, “you can’t fix stupid”. Eshte e qarte qe dhe per ato qe kujton se i di je plotesisht e gabuar, lere pastaj per ato qe ti “assume or suppose”. Qe te qetesohesh – asnje nga prinderit nuk eshte nga krahina e Korces. Une vete jam lindur e rritur ne Tirane – dhe nuk flas me theks pe Korce. Emri qe sheh ketu eshte emri im i vertete. Nuk kam nevoje te fshihem pas pseudonimesh si ty
Do te te isha pergjigjur me shpejt, po sa mbarova se pari nje film shqiptar ” 14 vjec dhender” Ti cupe, per c’fiq e ke fjalen?
Enjoy
Mos ke qene gje profesor/eshe a je akoma ti Z/Znj Qato a Shqato?!!!!!!
Dukesh sikur ke nje nje grup nxenesish perpara dhe po i korrigjon menyren e te shkruarit dhe te shprehjes se mendimit. Mjaft me banalizimin e ketij problemi.
E dime qe nuk je patriot i flakte sikurse jane shumica ketu. Do besh mire qe ato mendimet e tua per vendin tend e bashkombasit e tu ti shprehesh diku tjeter.
Meqe ra fjala dikush u terhoq nga gara per bashkine e Torontos sot. Mund te shkosh e te kantidosh. Ke mjaft shanse per treguar aftesite e tua korrigjuese…..
Mjaft!
Ju lutem lerini keto komente te sterzgjatura dhe pa ndonje dobi te madhe, si furtune ne nje gote uji. Neve nuk i ndalojme dot te huajt te komentojne cte duan, por le te tregojme ate cfare eshte ne doren tone kulture ne komunikim, dashamiresine dhe deshiren per te ecur perpara keshtu ja ngrejme imazhin Shqiperise tone.
Ne 18 shkurt 2010 kemi festimin e 2 vjetorit te Pavaresise se Kosoves nje nga trevat e shkeputura padrejtesisht nga trualli shqiptar, le ta festojme te gjithe se bashku sic jemi ketu ne blog mbase mundet te ftojme edhe Mr. Morrison qe te shikoje dicka nga kultura e tradita jone.
Shoqata e shqiptareve te Torontos organizon nje mbremje festive, lexoni me shume ne: http://www.albcan.org
Respekte,
Megjithese s’ka dyshim qe e kam kot, po e marr mundimin edhe nje here.
Une zgjodha fjalen “gorrica” sepse me duket e lezetshme, ndoshta edhe sepse mund te kem te pakten nja dy dekada pa e perdorur. Edhe m’u duk se Zicishti, ose po te duash Bilishti-Hocishti-Hotolishti (ato vise te Shqiperise qelloi te kisha ne mendje), i shkonte me shume sesa te themi Vicidolli, por nuk ngul kembe edhe aq.
Ti me pyete me shaka nga bie Zicishti (sepse sipas mesazhit tend te fundit del se e dije mire). Edhe une po ne te njejten fryme shakaje t’u pergjigja se te kujtoja prej Zicishti. Prandaj, te lutem shume Boci, mundohu te mos vish ketu me kostum e xhakete te kopsitur deri ne gryke. Nese mundesh, te pakten liroje pak kollaren edhe mos u tensiono kaq fort duke e marre gjithcka krejt literalisht. Sepse une s’kam nga ta di e as me intereson ta di se nga je, e as nuk i ka hije kujt te merret me hollesira te merzitshme, sikurse origjina gjeografike, pavaresisht se mua me behet qejfi vertete te mesoj tani qe qenke lindur e rritur ne kryeqytet.
Une nuk kam etiketuar kend ketu, edhe nuk me duket se eshte e hijshme qe kur te mungojne argumentat, t’u kthehesh “gelbazave virtuale” e cilesimeve si “mendje e trashe”, “e deprivuar emocionalisht”, “stupid” e skicimit te portretit moral e psikologjik. Nuk me ke prishur ndonje pune, thjesht nuk i hyjne kujt ne pune peshtyma te tilla.
Ti vazhdon te etiketosh dhe te stigmatizosh njerezit, duke filluar me ata qe paguhen me me pak se10 dollare ne ore, zicishtaret, e ata qe e mberthejne kostumin deri ne gryke. Kur te shkruajta “Duaje emrin tend” s’besoj se e kuptove ku e kisha fjalen – emri i dikujt nuk eshte thjesht nje emer ne pasaporte. Emri eshte edhe qyteti, krahina, vendi ku ka lindur, kontributi ne familje, shoqeri e keto nuk jane hollesira te merzitshme. Eshte respekti per te tjeret me te cilen te bashkon gjuha, packa se disa nuk shkruajne Anglisht aq mire sa ty, packa se e mberthejne kostumin deri ne gryke dhe mund ti kene cizmet me balte. Nqs e do emrin tend nuk fshihesh pas pseudonimeve. Do te doja te te jepja nje pergjigje per c’ke shkruar me siper, por PER RESPEKT te te tjereve qe kane shkruar ne kete bord po e mbyll me kaq.
Mund te shkruash c’te duash, nuk do te te kthej me pergjigje.
Enjoy
Shume mire qe nuk do te pergjigjesh me.
Po mire more mik, ku e sheh etiketimin dhe stigmatizimin?
Ka plot nga ne qe paguhen me jo me shume (nuk kam thene me pak) se $10. C’stigmatizim gjen ti ketu?
Po, e permenda Zicishtin. E cfare pastaj? Ku e gjen etiketimin ti ketu, i dashur?
Me sugjerove ta dua emrin tim. Me c’te drejte? Une t’u pergjigja se s’kam problem me emrin tim. Fundi ma kane vene, nuk ia kam ngjitur vete vetes. Eshte emer si gjithe te tjeret, as me i keq as me i mire. Ku e ke hallin?
C’hyjne qyteti, krahina, vendi, kontributi ne familje e shoqeri ketu? Nga Shqiperia jam, edhe as me ka penguar per gjesendi ky fakt, as nuk kam patur arsye ta fsheh a ta mohoj.
Nga e nxjerr perfundimin se s’me pelqejne ata qe i kane cizmet me balte? Perkundrazi, s’me pelqejne fare ata qe kane kapitale ne memedhe e gjetiu, por ketu kane rrojtur ose rrojne me welfare duke u kapardisur gjithe diten e naten para TV ne kanape. (Mos ki merak nuk e raportoj kete te Morrison-i).
C’te hyn ty ne pune nese une perdor psudonim apo jo? Bujrum, merru me ato qe them, jo me mua vete si person.
Dear Mr. Morrison and City Life,
I have not read every comment posted, so perhaps what I’m about to say, may have been said already. I do not know your credentials or your intentions with this article. You continuously state, in the comments that what you have said is factual, and perhaps some of “facts” or information you have delivered may be factual, but it is misrepresented. To start off, yes Mother Teresa was born in a place that is now part of Macedonia, but in 1910, the year she was born, it was Albanian territory. Once the Albanian territories were separated, her family moved to Shiroka, Shkoder. Also, the scarecrows, are a superstitious tradition, in remote villages, and that is not so different from lets say dream catchers that we seen in Canadian houses, schools, and cars, used to ward off evil spirits. How about wiping the number 13 from all buildings? That seems a bit “peculiar”, especially that a modern day country what do such a thing. Don’t get me won, I love Canada, but a lot of things are peculiar, but labeling a the people of a country you know nothing about by it, does not seem appropriate. As for stating that this article was intended to show how Albanians are so willing to help others, tourists. That seems a bit of a cop out to me
continued (posted by accident)….
When you wrote “This is very serious,” he declares, while we try to keep a straight face.” Was this the way you show your gratitude to those who attempt to help you? Were you attempting to keep a straight face because the person had a funny accent? Were you keeping a straight face because that person thought that a tourist being ripped off was a “very serious problem”? Perhaps it was hard to keep a straight face when they bent backwards to help you? To help a person who assumed they were robbed? When in fact it was your own fault for not reading things properly. You also fail to differentiate between things you see in a remote village, and Tirana, the capital. You transition your experience back and forth, making it seem like those scarecrows were in the capital. Judging by your pictures, which none are from Tirana, especially that police van, if that is the van you reference when you write, “the cars screech to a halt right in front of us and another seven or eight police officers burst out, like circus clowns out of a Mini”., you better check your sources, because that van (check the liscence plate), is from a different city, not even close to Tirana, and would never be in Tirana. And referencing to people trying to help as clowns, sure makes me think of the helping part more then the clown part. It is true that some perhaps overreacted, but such a reaction is also understandable. It is not a matter of whether what you wrote is true or false, its a matter of the way you represented it, or should I say misrepresented it. It is an article, in my opinion, based on stereotype. I do not understand how this fits under “Travel” as you say nothing about the country, but simply about the fact you got ripped off at western union; cause we all know how rare it is to be ripped off at an exchange office. Also, if Mother Teresa was the only Albanian person that is know international, it would be enough for any country to be proud of, but unfortunately we have many more (especially for such a small “peculiar” country). To name a few: Ismail Kadara, writer, who was considered for a Nibel Prize a few years back. Gjergj Kastriot, his name is enough, no need for credentials. A certain doctor, who has changed the pharmaceutical industry completely, especial in North America, with his initial find of nitric acid effect on blood vessel, no need for his name as I am sure you know his product, by the way he won a Nobel Prize too. Also to Jim and John Belushi, add Eliza Dushku, and Reggis who has some Albanian ancestry. Again, a few of many, many greats. I’m not a fan of wikipedia, but since you are not a fan of checking sources, wikipedia is a good start to learn something about Albania, although it would be after your unsuccessful attempt to write about it.
Please let me emphasize; the people that are rightfully outraged, are not denying statements made, they are simply denying that they exist in the way you presented them, completely wrong.
Just because it is cold in Canada, it doesn’t mean Canadians live in igloos, if you know what I mean, eh? (Stereotypes are easy. Neutral, factual writing is hard)
Regards,
LR Nika
PS. To posters, please do not clog the comment section with comments unrelated to the article, or in Albanian, as this serves no purpose. Comments should be for the writer, the magazine, and perhaps other comments related to the article.
Please and Thank You!
Good job Nika, 100% suport
I read this article and that’s his opinion… I’m planning on a trip this summer to Europe and Albania is on my list… Please share with me the hot spots!!
Of course, Nika, did a good job! The chances of receiving at least one apology from the author of “Scarecrows and Teddy Bears” are obviously improving, fast approaching a perfect probability of one, had Nika not missed a huge golden opportunity here.
He, knows all too well – as the rest of us fine people here engaging in deep thinking do – that it is celebrities who shape and make our brains. How could he miss the fact that Morrison and most of City Life’s gang are huge fans of “Dancing with the stars”? And… yes, you are absolutely correct to see now where I’m heading to: Tony Dovolani is their favorite! (Nika didn’t include him in the list, did he or did I miss it?) This is how you influence and persuade people. If you could get Dovolani come and help out here, it would be better yet. It wouldn’t be a bad idea either, to have everyone sign a petition as well. It simply works. It’s fast, easy and simple. Undoubtedly, a good tool to win a cause.
Wow, sir.
If you weren’t so terribly involved in all of the money, you could have learned something. Those police-men were fine gentlemen, trying to help you. You, on the other hand “trying to keep a straight face” are a joke.
Just so you know, your trivia question is very out of date.
If you cared enough to watch the Olympics you would see, Albania, second on the list, with one Athlete Erjon Tola!
Hardly can i understand the comment of my Albanians compatriots. M. Morrison’s aim was not to make a ” good biography” of Albany but to give a picture just as he had felt. And is a good description. But Albanian people, even though most of them are steeled in Canada, their mentality is clearly flooding in the “socialist ” pictures of values.
Titulli i artikullit mund te mos ishte prolem nese autori sdo fliste per kulture makare !
Ne cdo vend te botes ekzistojne besime, tradita bestytni etj etj dhe ska absolutisht asgje te keqe te thuash qe ka neper shtepija dordolece etj etj ! Ka njerez qe besojne ne magjira te zeza etj etj qe e bejne kete , or shumica nuk e ben !
Dhe se kuptoj ku eshte e keqja e nje zakoni te tille !
Por nuk mund te cilesohet kjo si kulture makaber : kjo eshte idiotllik total biles eshte fyese per shqitaret !
Personi qe na ngjaka me nje kryqezim te gibson stallone : element pa pike interesi per nje artikull ! Dhe une qe sjam gazetar sdo e beja kete ! Mendoj qe zoteria ska dit te shkruaje dhe e ka mush artikullin me gjera pa interes!
Po do ishte interesante te na jepte nje foto te ketij sozise se gibson stallones !
Per pershkrimin e policise ( tre makina , terrorizem , sirena – dyqani mbyllur) eshte e kote te shkruash per kete dhe eshte e sajuar !
Per 80 dollaret : Gazetari qe vajti ne bureau de change : kishte perpara vetes te gjitha tabelat ne anglisht me te dhenat ! Duhet te kishte kapur gabimin nese pati qe ne fillim dhe jo me prapa! Por do ishte mire sikur te vinte ne ketre faqe nje kopje te lexueshme te fatures se ex change ( mjafton ta skanosh ) !
Sepse duhen prova apo jo !
Duke ditur qe kane qene dinare per ne leke : ka mundesi mos kete pas fare gabim ne konvertim ( dinari eshte monedhe teper e ulet, flasim me miliarda dinare per 100 leke mos gaboj )
Por nese me te vertete ia kane futur me 80 dollare : kjo eshte turp biles me shume : vjedhje dhe ne skemi pse ofendohemi per kete por duhet reflektuar dhe sduhen lejuar keto gjera te pandershme jo vetem me shqiptaret po dhe me shume me te huajt !
Ska te beje me vleren or me parimin : cdo gje ka nje cmim: paguaj cmimin as me shume as me pak !
Cmimi i hotelit apo i darkes qe u dyfishua : me vjen keq por ka praktika te tilla qe ekzistojne sidomos me te huajt : he se kane pare keta dhe gjejne njerezit lkloj lloj pretekstesh per tua rritur cmimet !
Dhe njehere keto jane reale ne vendin tone dhe duhen korrigjuar se shqitari pak nga pak dhe po e hum traditen e mikpritjes : buke e kripe dhe zemer te bardhe !
Gjithsesi artikulli eshte shkruar me nje fryme teper negative: ose cdo gje qe i ka ndodh Morrisonit i ka ndodh me verte ( ka nga ata qe u vete ters gjithmone), ose i ka shpikur pa shku ne albani fare ose eshte ndonje fare gazetari me origjine te dyshimte e shkruan gjera negative per neve !
Por eshte e cuditshme ama qe sgjen dot asgje pozitive ne kete artikull : plehra , vjedhje , polici qe sdi anglisht dordolece etj etj !
E gjithe kjo per te thene qe eshte turp qe gazetaret te shkruajne kaq negativisht per nje vend nisur vetem nga eksperienca e tyre personale !
Nese do e kishte shkruar ne Bloggun e tij do ishte e pranueshme por jo ne nje reviste !
Pershendetje te gjithe shqiptareve te kanadase , dhe te gjithe botes !
Fredi
At first it seemed redundant, unnecessary or awkward to talk about, analyze or otherwise clarify each of the elements in the story that got people so worked up. Well, after 99 comments, and repeated complaints on “macabre cultural idiosyncrasy”, I think some clarification may be necessary, after all. What was it that seemed to throw people over the edge?
Morrison wrote:
“The other strange thing is the Albanian half-built houses that are all adorned with either a scarecrow or a teddy bear that has been impaled on a protruding metal rod or lynched to hang limply from the roof. This macabre cultural idiosyncrasy is apparently intended to bring good luck to the home.”
I haven’t been in Albania recently, but have heard of “dordolec/ë” used for the reason described above.
One would not have picked exactly the words that Morrison chose, but I don’t think he is wrong when he says “macabre cultural idiosyncrasy”. Now, you can argue about and get supersensitive over the use of word “macabre”, but I feel it’s even worse to censure and dictate over what words one is allowed to use and not use. To me this is fascism, and I think this is more dangerous than the words someone decides to pick, regardless of how extreme they are. And if they are inappropriate, then it’s always possible to criticize and reveal this inappropriateness and possible implications.
Teddy bears, symbolically and culturally, represent objects of comfort, softness, and love. They are especially associated with children, who often play and go to sleep hugging teddy bears or similar objects, feeling safe, loved and protected from the unknown evil, fear of darkness, including nightmares, scary dreams and thoughts.
Now, using “teddy bears” as “dordolec” – wouldn’t you agree with me? – is changing entirely their symbolic meaning and function, from items that suggest comfort, love, security and sweetness, into objects that are used to scare off the ill-intentioned creatures, bad luck, evil thieves, vampires and what not. Now, I hope you’d agree with me, that this is an example of a perfect “cultural idiosyncrasy”, and, yes, changing the nature of something from positive to negative, from good to evil, is not very far from a symbolic macabre act – because a child, might get scared and start crying, when faced with a teddy bear transformed into “a dordolec”, “a witch” or “a scarecrow”.
To James Morrison,
Too much cynicism to title the article about a country with scarecrows and teddy bears. Just take a look what any farmer does to keep birds away from their wheats and dare to name a country after that.
It is very sarcastic and shows how miserable you are when you describe people who tried to help with a problem that you pathetically caused in the first place.
It is always your responsibility to check when changing money. If you ever forget that, try in downtown toronto to send a wire-transfer and see how many times 80dollars will fly off your handle.
And that -no way Goran- where did that come from? How is that related to the article or the country? Are you gypsy?
In any case, next time you visit any country don’t forget your pills.
Dear Mr. Morrison,
While I am sure you did not intend any insult to Albania or Albanians, that is the exact result of your shallow and unprofessional reportage on Albania.
Keep in mind that Albania and Albanians belong to that part world that craddled the western civilization while your ancestors where still in caverns.
If you took the time to make a simple research on Albania and it’s history you would have found that Skopje (Shkup in al.) was part of a much bigger state at the time when Mother Teresa was born, and the so called state of Macedonia was “born” 50 years after Mother Teresa was born.
What leaves me without words is that you consider people who have some kind of superstition as uncivilized. Well… in the building where I live in Etobicoke they have lost the entire 13th floor, also the 13th appartment is missing in each floor.
I think Canadians are wild and uncivilized, or are they??
Yours Truly
Mishel Gjata
lets try this again ,
how about u take another trip to albania AND WRITE A BETTER ARTICLE!
Mishel wrote:
“Keep in mind that Albania and Albanians belong to that part world that craddled the western civilization while your ancestors where still in caverns.”
If what you’re saying is true, it doesn’t put us, Albanians and that part of the world where we come from, in good light. What matters is not what we were in the past and what our ancestors were capable of accomplishing (we don’t even know who exactly our ancestors are, because all Balkan countries claim deriving from the same ancestors). Nevertheless, what matters is what we are accomplishing today, while (following your logic) “the people still in caverns” are now so far ahead of us — of us, who once “craddled the western civilization”! Why are we so busy glorifying the history, instead of being busy catching up?
WOW…!!!!! Let’s keep it cool guys, Mr. Morrison has left already the scene of the debate. He knew from the beginning, what kind of reaction he would have got from albanians and canadians. The fact that he doesn’t have any professional remorse, tells a lot. Today, any decent, professional and inspired writer tries to find, even in the darkest spot of this world the color that gives life and hope.
But, in my comment, I am not going to punish him; I want to help him to be a different and wanted as a writer.
Mr. Morrison, please start read something about the place, country or region, before you take off and leaving on professional, historic or touristic trip. If you don’t apologize, don’t do it..but the next article of yours will definitely be different if you take my suggestion.
sincerely
agron zeqo
plans examiner
O Sh qato …
Ta kemi lene ty o plehre qe ta “catch-up” historine dhe te gelltisesh gelbazat e tua….Pasi nuk ke me cfare te merresh ke filluar e qan me ze te larte qe te gjesh mbeshtjetjen e dikujt… Ato vargjet qe lexova diku me siper ne kete blog besoj se bejne nje pershkrim perfekt te moralit dhe antishqiptarizmit tend te ndyre. Sado qe shan e turfullon je Shqiptar, qe mos qofsh me mire.
I haven’t been to Albania but some of my friends have. When they came back, one of the things they said they noticed was the teddy bears (and other doll-things) impaled on the houses. It’s funny that you Albanians have never seen them. Perhaps you just don’t notice them …
They also commented on the garbage, the corruption, the lack of tourist infrastructure, and other things that this guy (the author) didn’t even mention. Maybe you Albanians only see your country through rose-tinted glasses.
Every country has problems – Canada certainly does – but that doesn’t mean we can’t talk about them. Does it?
I can’t believe how sensitive you guys are to what I, as a neutral reader (I’m British), thought was simply a funny, light-hearted travel story.
Have you noticed how many non-Albanians have complained about the article? None!
The main problem, I think, is that you don’t understand what “tongue-in-cheek” means. This article was clearly tongue-in-cheek and anyone who did not have a dog in the fight would have noticed this.
Are the factual errors, such as where John Belushi was born, etc, really that important? Ask yourself this – would you have been crying like babies over these mistakes if the article had said only complimentary things about Albania? Of course not.
You are upset because someone dared to criticize your golden country. In fact, he didn’t even really criticize it, he just said some things that weren’t flattering.
You even get extra upset when a fellow Albanian (shquato) disagrees with you, basically calling him/her a traitor. Surely people from Albania – a country where free speech was outlawed for so long – would be more open to differences of opinion.
Your crazy comments have done way more damage to Albania’s reputation than this article. I would have visited Albania after reading the article but if it is full of people like those commenting here, I don’t think I’ll bother.
O Sh qato…
Kujton se stili yt i te shkruarit eshte i padeshifrueshem. Ti po perserit ato mendime qe ke shprehur diku me siper, se te mbaruan argumentat si dhe gelbazat e helmet qe leshove nga goja. Gjeja me e habitshme eshte qe te huajt sikurse pretendon ky (ti) mesiper, paskan marre persiper mbrojtjen e kauzes SH QI TO duke bere nje perkthim te fjales tradhetar. A thua keta te huajt jane kaq te etur per te mesuar ship???!!!!
Kthe ndonje pergjigje sikur je me origjine nga Zelanda e Re tani. Behu bashkepatriot me James se Shiptaret te kane bere te qash. Bota eshte e rrumbullaket dhe ngado qe te shkosh po aty ku je nisur mberrin……….Megjithese nje PLEHRE si puna jote nuk i duhet kujt.
GEN-X, I don’t even think, that Shqato is albanian.
This is for Mr. B.J.
Mr. BJ, I am that old, I have seen a lot of the stuff that J.M. described in his article.
As I have seen a lot of the opposite. The problem is not that it doesn’t exist, or we try to deny it. The albanians fight every day with that part of reality to improve it.
There are a lot of changes, as there are still tons of problems. In an article a reporter, publisher, writer can help, can kill or can be neutral. If you can’t help, be neutral at least. Being neutral means (as far I do understand), taking in consideration many facts, events, stories to create a good balance and somehow real of the environment, you’re writting of.
But, something tells me that you must be JM, trying to justify something that you don’t need to. Being oneside writer it is up to you and the the publisher pays you. If it does work, good for you, but don’t tell us how to react. Any good canadian citizen would react louder, higher, if a foreigner reporter describing the Downtown Toronto, gives to the rest of the world the twisted impression that there are only homelesses and some ugly shacks.
James, I think this article does not portray the country of Albania, and this is certain from someone who is not Albanian and has visited the country for the first time 1 year ago. It shows I guess how unprofessional and shallow you really are. First of all I’m not sure what this article is about….the scarecrows or this transaction which you have devoted half of the article on. I would be very interested to know in how many places you actually went in Albania to be calling this article as such. Personally im from Germany and once I visited I found it to be a very enjoyable. Of course the language is a barrier but that is your problem and not theirs, you are the one that visited not them. Before even tempting to write another article please sir do yourself a favor and try to think before writing something down that has very little to do with anything. This is a bullshit article that tries to hit the nerves of some Albanians I guess…butt I think you are the one who will come to realize the fact that simply because you lost 80 dollars because of information YOU did not pay attention on, you can put down a county like this. This is lame. Please never write again. Thanks
Hi James, your analysis of certain things are very inaccurate. It must come to your attention that your incompetence of doing your job properly is making a lot of people angry. First point. Albania has more culture and history then the place where your are from(whatever that may be). The Albanian prince “Skenderbeu” and his army of honest men fought for many years and helped Central Europe gather enough strength to defeat the Turkish empire. I am assuming the place where you stayed was maybe not the best place but that happens in every country, Take North York (Toronto) for example and i am assuming you know where it is, if you don’t then i would suggest you start and study your geography again. Try and stay at Jane and Finch for a day or so and you will witness some things that you would never see anywhere else. I rest my point and i suggest that next time you do an analysis on a country please do it proffesionally and focus on area that matter and do not write “stupid” comments like you just did in this article.It is offending to a lot of people. you should apologize for what you said. I hope you have enough education to continue your future studies in what ever topic.
Shame on you jamestone
while albanians were building the civilisation your ancestors were hanging from trees like monkeys. yes thats right, you didnt even had caves to sleep on.
i wonder what kind of a publishing newspaper are you citylife magazine, what is sure that you arent a serious one to have such incompetent writers on your ranks.
dhe shqato dicka ta kesh per perkthim sot.
ate motren nese ke nje te tille shkaperdhat.
shqato wrote:
“If what you’re saying is true, it doesn’t put us, Albanians and that part of the world where we come from, in good light. What matters is not what we were in the past and what our ancestors were capable of accomplishing (we don’t even know who exactly our ancestors are, because all Balkan countries claim deriving from the same ancestors). Nevertheless, what matters is what we are accomplishing today, while (following your logic) “the people still in caverns” are now so far ahead of us — of us, who once “craddled the western civilization”! Why are we so busy glorifying the history, instead of being busy catching up?”
Boy u must be joking.
first of all let me tell you couple of things.
our ancestors are the illirians and no other balkan or europian country claims deriving from them. try and use little bit google if you arent that good in history at least.
now let me explain about the civilization thing. ancient greece craddled the civilization 1.1k years b.c but today the modern greece is the same place and they are in economic crisis. even the word democracy is derived from ancient greece.
egypt another place of ancient civilization 3.2k years ago. today?
china, another one. today?
no tell me about ur background and we can talk with facts about ur homelan.
Proud to be albanian.
i will be calling and asking different tv channels and my MP about the discrimination from james morrison and the news paper publishing these innacurate publishing these kind of articles in our “multicultural citty of toronto”
and last but not least forgive me for my english. is my 5fth languange.
Were we having this type of communication at a table or at a coffee store, bullets would have blown my head off by now. GEN-X, as a true GEN-Y gang lead, with Kalashnikovs in both hands shoots on the left and on the right, not knowing what to do with his/her anger and emotions, sold as love and care for Albania.
Altin said: ‘i will be calling and asking different tv channels and my MP about the discrimination from james morrison and the news paper publishing these innacurate publishing these kind of articles in our “multicultural citty of toronto”’
The MP replied: Altin, I am sorry you feel this way. As an MP in a multicultural, diverse and inclusive country, I just cannot force Jimmy to like Albania or not, at least not the same way as you do. By the why, Altin, why did you decide to leave Albania, the cradle of western civilization, in the first place?
Shqato-shkerdhato sa mire te kane shkolluar atje ne Serbi. E qan edhe anglishten edhe shqipen.
Mishel, in his previous message has signed by the name of MISHEL GJATA, which looks like a real name.
As Internet houses all of our foot prints (practically our lives), through a quick and simple search on google, I found that Mishel is apparently an individual who like many other respected citizens in Etobicoke, Ontario, resides in a certain apartment of a 10th floor of a certain building. He seems to be a well educated person, who advertises his resume, address and phone numbers on the web, in search of translation or other work opportunities. He claims he knows an impressive number of 7 languages, 4 of which excellently and 3 on a basic level. He has a university degree in mining and has held a number of respectable jobs in Albania, including News story producer, interpreter and translator for investigative TV reporting crew. In Canada he has helped passengers in the airport with information and customer service, and has as well translated engineering notes and specifications.
Therefore, I find it strangely but mostly sad, that the same individual writes here with such filthy language and rage, fit for ordinary teen delinquents.
And the type of language he chooses to use in this site is here for everyone – his fellow Albanians, including potential employers (not to mention potential tourists or Albanian admirers) – to see, along and side by side with his resume.
SHQATO FELLIQESIRA
Ate te sharen qe te paskan bere e ke pak. Ti me siguri do kesh qene nga ata qe i ka ngrene kurrizi shkop ose ke pare birucen me sy ne kohen e Enverit. Nese kjo eshte e verteta, e paske merituar. Njerezit cinike jane zakonisht njerez te pakenaqur me jeten dhe ti je nje i/e tille.
Po Google search-in kush ta mesoi Enveri ne burg ……
You cannot use any other language but Albanian to express the cultural excrement above. It’s understandable, because your English is too superficial and thin to convey the filth you inherit from the totalitarian culture. This is why you get pathologically overwhelmed by even a light, ironic and harmless piece such as “Scarecrows and Teddy Bears”.
No, Enver Hoxha, didn’t have time to deal with me. I was too young, just a kid when he died, and very unimportant to catch his attention. But I know very well what he did to Albania. And the reason he managed to do whatever he did is, because there were too many people like you, Gen-X et al, narrow-minded, prisoners of ideology and myths, not difficult to be kept under the thumb. People like you carry on the same mindset wherever you go, because you can only change the geography and geometrical location, whereas the mind and thinking remains stuck in the past. And no wonder Albania remains stuck in the mud too.
Otherwise the day was lovely and hopeful. The sun shined and the sky was clearer than ever.
Mr. Morrison
I recently came across your article on the Internet, and I have to say that I was appalled. Even though these facts may be true (as it can be true in any other country, Canada included), I find it “interesting” that you only talk about three facts that all happen to be negative. This tells any reader that you had a clear negative agenda when you visited Albania. The fact that you know only 2 things about Albania, doesn’t mean that Albania has only those two things to offer, it only means that you are an ignorant man when it comes to Albania and it’s history. My advice to you is that you should educate yourself on your next visit to another country.
How would you feel if an Albanian visitor wrote only negative things about Canada?
An Albanian man like you had visited Toronto on the 26 of December a few years ago and he decided to write an article about Canada, here are 3 facts that he might have written about.
· Anytime I stopped in traffic lights in Toronto streets there were at least one or two “suspicious looking” beggars asking for money.
· When I drove downtown I saw that the streets were filled with homeless people and garbage surrounding them, some of them were drunk.
· When he passed by the subway station, a gang fight broke out and bullets started to fly everywhere. People started to run for their lives and later he discovered that an innocent young girl was murdered at the scene.
Do you think the article would be fair to Canada and Canadians?
Guess what – NO, Canada is a wonderful country with wonderful people, Canada has more to offer. The same apply to Albania as well; Albania had more to offer to you, but you chose to dwell on the negative instead of embracing the positive.
I can read between the lines your happiness to question her Albanian roots. You say that Mother Teresa was born in Macedonia – let me educate you – more than one third of Macedonian population is Albanian, and one of them happen to be Mother Teresa.
There is so much anger and negativism in you, you most probably you don’t fill good about yourself and your life.
Mr. Morrison,
I know my English does not fit to Mr. shqato and your ears but don’t worry and don’t need to assume. It is my second language, and I am not ashamed of this fact. This does not make me and my people less patriotic to Canada, to this great country we are proud to call homeland as much (maybe more) as you claimed so before us. I am not going to tell you if you are right or wrong on your article because this is obvious, but only to tell that English is none more than e derivate of Albanian language.
Don’t you forget that were Albanians (known as Pellazgs) who occupied England (back then they were known as Romans-there was no Italy who was formed by an Albanian named Garibaldi). Albanians (pellazgo-romans) who brought in the daylight of Christianity on this world, who formed Scotland and Ireland (why they have Albany name? – Simply because Albanian king Alban after the Armenian-Greek invasion left the motherland and headed north and captured English canal). Was Mother Teresa an Albanian since she was born in Skopje is your questionmark? Certainly you couldn’t distinguish the fact that Skopje is not Macedonian but rather Albanian city. History has played games with our people, with our motherland and with our own history…even some “Great nations” have peculate and make our own entient history their own history…even the greatest history belong to us, pellazgs, the Homer language – pelazgus language was diminished and vanished to be displaced with Armenian new Greek language…not mentioning the squeeze of our nation by Slavic disastrous invasion.
I am sorry to bring so much information on your mind, something you have had no chance to hear about….not to pretend to have learned in school.
What advice do I have for you? Read Lord Byron, read Mathiew Aref, read the only code of honour in the world known as the ancient constitution…and you will see next time in Albania an ancient people, ancient history, the only and greatest trunk of all world history. Read and dig deeper and you will find that great country in the world that not only fought Nazi invaders during the WW2, but also the only one to have stop the Nazi adventure against the Jew people. We took them in gave them home, but also we are the only and first country to be invaded by the nazi-fachist invaders during the WW2. And I am a proud daughter of a WW2 hero who fought for 6 years not to liberate his country but neighbours as well. Though, you will have maybe a chance to learn that there are over 70% of Greek population known as decent Albanians in Grece – afraid to say so, over 90% of Macedonian (FRM) population as decent Albanians in Macedonia – frightened and exploit by slavic minority tyrans, over 40% of Italy are decent albanians too. Albania stand for the only country to have stand in guard of Christianity for three decades during 15th centry’s Turkish invaders…a price we paid by blodshed and lost identity, by forcefully and largely becoming muslins in 17th century, a faith which to albainians is not their true believe. We are the only and the one who brought Christianity in Europe, defended it to our last drop of blood when others were building castels and parks – our catels were being destryed. We are the only people who have Christianity in our hearts…no matter how you portrait us. Hope one day you will learn that the biggest scientist that world has known, Robert Einstein, survived only by his albanian citizenship. The last thing I want to mention to you is that your luck of losing $80 to loansharking well known Western Union does not give you the right to portrait our country as country of “Scarecrows and Teddy Bears” a country who stand proud to Christianity and its people, the country who George Kastriot Scanderbeg, Napoleon Bonaparte, Ali Pasha Tepelena, Kollokotroni, Suliotet, Bubulina, Garibaldi the founder of Italy, mother Teresa, many Papas of Vatican have proudly called home, a country who have brought life to many other nations. Are we touched by this article? Certainly! Why? Because we have given everything to and for the world, and it forget who it is mocking off! Why didn’t you move five steps away off loansharking Western Union to a western Bank or to a modern exchange shop? Because you crossed Albania (hopefully you had the chance to pass the government terror against tourists) after visiting Macedonia, a country found over our ancient history blend with their Slavic culture!
Hope all this misinformation and rancour didn’t come to you by losing $80, a fact that made your eyes becaming grey…
Make your homework and don’t rush in concussions…esoecialy dont misinform for something you have not the right education and culture to do so.
Seems you didnt see a city largely build in marbles…but found a dirty buss station! Pity you!
As a simple westerner, the main thing I took from this article is that I want to nominate Tirana for the Most Uncorrupt Police Award.
All these angry comments though remind me of when the movie Borat came out. The Kazakhstan government took out full-page advertisements and TV commercials explaining that the country was not really like that, when no one even believed Borat was real anyway.
The only thing I remembered about Albania was that it bordered on the Adriatic, and I only knew that because it was part of a song in Cheers oh so many years ago (thank you, Google: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrz1q_zk-SU). I don’t think any Albanians need to worry about this article, certainly not from my (ignorant western) point of view. Heck, I want to buy a ticket just so I can say I’m flying from Lester Pearson to Mother Teresa. : )
Moderator: please change my link to this if you can… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F_tT-q8EF0
Sorry.
Elena, instead of worrying about your English (no one cares much to grade your English aptitude), I think you should worry about the fairy tales you’re telling about “Albanians (known as Pellazgs) who occupied England”, and “Albanians (pellazgo-romans) who brought in the daylight of Christianity on this world, who formed Scotland”. Now, these are things I’d be worried about, if I were you.
Where on earth did you learn such balderdash (nonsense)? Your dreams are fantastic…
But, even if they were not, what does “Albania – once the center of universe” have anything to do with traveler experiences today with buses, drivers, policemen, currency exchange agents, scarecrows and teddy bears and so on and so forth?
Zoti profesor Shqato,
Me qellim ose jo, erdhe ne qender te vemendjes duke luftuar me shqiptaret si Don Kishoti me mullinjte e eres. Qe nuk e do Shqiperine e nuk je patriot nuk ka asgje te keqe per mendimin tim. Edhe fjala patriotizem prandaj ka dale , qe te dalloje njerezit qe e duan vendin e tyre nga ata qe nuk e duan, dhe po e perseris edhe nje here, eshte krejt normale. Fillon te qelbet pak kur ti e vecon veten nga shqiptaret. Besoj qe edhe mamin adhe babin e ke shqiptar, keshtu qe nuk shpeton dot nga kjo e keqe ose e mire. Te gjithe shqiptaret ketu (ne canada e kam llafin) e dine kush ka qene e kush eshte Shqiperia. Disa prej tyre edhe parashikojne te ardhmen se si do te jete. Por rralle ndodh qe flasin me neveri sic flet ti. Qenja jote shqiptar eshte nje gje subjektive, keshtu qe ti nuk ke pse ke frike ose neveri. Nuk eshte faji yt. Edhe qe e shan, deri ne nje fare shkalle, nuk shikoj asgje te keqe. Por nuk mund ta mohosh sepse mohon veten mamin, babin dhe gjithe librin e shtepise.
Kam vene re se te gjitha replikat na permend anglishten tende te perkryer. Bravo te qofte qe nje anglishtshkrues i perkryer, good job. .Por kete mos na e trego ne shqiptareve. Kete tregojua canadezeve. Sa provime te kane kerkuar te japesh per te mbrojtur anglishten, qe duket se e di edhe me mire se canadezet? Sa kokecarje te kane dhene? Dhe per gjithe keto ti kujton se ta kane fajin shqiptaret. Shiptaret nuk kane asgje te bejne me problemet qe ke pasur ti ne Canada, nuk eshte faji i tyre. Por duket se anglishtja jote eshte si 80-dollareshi i Jim Morrison ne Tirane, qe humbi 80 dollare e botoi nje pacavure per te relaksuar veten e per te te vene ty ne pune.
Kam vene re se ti ke problem me shqiptaret qe marrin nga 10 Can per ore (packa se kinezet ne downtown toronto punojne edhe per 5 Can ora), ose ata qe jetojne ne ndertesa shumekateshe. Une nuk shoh gje te keqe. Dikush jeton ne ndertesa shumekateshe ne Etobicoke, dikush tjeter ne ndertesa shumekateshe ne Scarborough. problemi qelbet kur kalon ne te dhena personale te njerezve duke shfrytezuar ndonje moment sinqeriteti ose etike profesionale. Kjo eshte shume e keqe. Duhet te kesh qene ne momente te ngarkuara familjare dhe prap kalove ne origjine-per inat te sime vjerre fle me mullixhiun.
Cheers proffesor Shqato.
Hera e pare dhe e fundit qe shkruaj. Te me falin lexuesit qe disa here kam folur ne shumes.
Otaqsh-i shkruan:
“Edhe qe e shan [Shqiperine], deri ne nje fare shkalle, nuk shikoj asgje te keqe. Por nuk mund ta mohosh sepse mohon veten mamin, babin dhe gjithe librin e shtepise.”
Prej cka gjendet e shkruar ne kete vend komentesh, une po perpiqem te kundershtoj ato qe me duken te paverteta ose qe jane brockulla te pavertetueshme. Kjo nuk do te thote se po mohoj Shqiperine (lere pastaj mamin dhe babin qe s’hyjne hic gjekundi ketu). Ate e dua sic eshte, me gjithe vuajtjet qe ka hequr e po heq, por s’kam aspak nevoje te rrah gjoksin e te mbuloj diellin me shoshe, a te them gjera te paqena, e aq me pak kur keto s’kane asfare lidhje me temen.
Shkruan me tej Otaqsh-i (mbrapsht Shqato):
“Kam vene re se te gjitha replikat na permend anglishten tende te perkryer. Bravo te qofte qe nje anglishtshkrues i perkryer, good job.”
Nuk e ke vene re aspak, sepse nuk e kam permendur ndonjehere nje gje te tille (edhe sepse thjesht nuk ekzistojne gjera te perkryera). Mjaft me kete avaz. Edhe jo s’me ka dale fare shpirti duke mesuar anglishten, as me ka detyruar kush. Ne fakt me kenaqesi jam perpjekur e perpiqem ende ta mesoj sa mundem se bashku e krahas me shqipen.
Shkruan prap po Shqato mbrapsht:
“Kam vene re se ti ke problem me shqiptaret qe marrin nga 10 Can per ore (packa se kinezet ne downtown toronto punojne edhe per 5 Can ora), ose ata qe jetojne ne ndertesa shumekateshe. ”
Po ku e ke vene re more zotni i dashur? Une s’e kam fare problem qe disa shqiptare marrin 10 dollare ne ore. Vetem vura ne dukje nje fakt te tille dhe arsyetova se kush merr 10 dollare ne ore s’duhet ta kete te lehte to leshoje 8 ore pune (pa llogaritur taksat) veresie vetem e vetem sepse na i qenkerkash fyer sedra patriotike. Ne fakt jo 10 dollare ne ore, por edhe ai qe merr cilindo shumefish te 10 dollareshit, s’duhet ta beje as ta thote nje gje te tille sa arrogante aq edhe fallco. (Njerezit ne memedhe po ia kepusin njeri-tjetrit me plumb ballit per nje cope gardh…, por kur vjen puna per patriotizem e per t’u dukur para te tjereve, jo 80 dollare s’jane hic gje… Cfare, mos do te me thuash tani se s’e dua Shqiperine ngaqe po permend nje fakt qe te gjithe e shohim rendom ne shtyp?) Po ne vend qe t’i shesesh mend Morrison-it, coji ne Shqiperi ato $80, falja shkollave, shtepive te jetimeve, grave te keqtrajtuara, pensionisteve, spitaleve, familjeve fatkeqe te Gerdecit.
As me te dhena personale nuk merrem. Une po merrem me gjera qe jane vendosur ne Internet per gjithe syte e botes per t’i pare publikisht, prej njerezish te rritur e te pergjegjshem. Une nuk po them ndonje sekret, qe te tjeret nuk e dine ose qe pengohen ta dine.
ehhh…
Instead of my own words I got a story, from somewhere else…
____________________________________________________
My mom only had one eye. I hated her… She was such an embarrassment.
She cooked for students & teachers to support the family. There was this one day during elementary school where my mom came to Say hello to me. I was so embarrassed. How could she do this to me?
I ignored her, threw her a hateful look and ran out. The next day at school one of my classmates said, ‘EEEE, your mom only has one eye!’ I wanted to bury myself. I also wanted my mom to just disappear.
I confronted her that day and said, ‘ If you’re only goanna make me a Laughing stock, why don’t you just die?’ My mom did not respond…
I didn’t even stop to think for a second about what I had said, because I was full of anger.
I was oblivious to her feelings. I wanted out of that house, and have nothing to do with her.
So I studied real hard, got a chance to go abroad to study. Then, I got married. I bought a house of my own. I had kids of my own. I was happy with my life, my kids and the comforts, Then one day, my
Mother came to visit me. She hadn’t seen me in years and she didn’t even meet her grandchildren.
When she stood by the door, my children laughed at her, and I yelled at
her for coming over uninvited. I screamed at her, ‘How dare you come to my house and scare my
Children! GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!!!
And to this, my mother quietly answered, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry. I may have gotten the wrong address,’
And she disappeared out of sight.
One day, a letter regarding a school reunion came to my house. So I lied to my wife that I was going on a business trip. After the reunion, I went to the old shack just out of curiosity. My neighbors said that she died. I did not shed a single tear. They handed me a letter that she had wanted me to have.
‘My Dearest Son,
I think of you all the time. I’m sorry that I came to your house and scared your children.
I was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion. But I may not be able to even get out of bed to see you. I’m sorry that I was a constant embarrassment to you when you were growing up.
You see……..when you were very little, you got into an accident, and lost your eye. As a mother, I couldn’t stand watching you having to grow up with one eye. So I gave you mine.
I was so proud of my son who was seeing a whole new world for me, in my place, with that eye.
With all my love to you,
Your mother
What a story!
I showed it to a kid and this is what the kid said:
I think this story is not intelligent. Did this mother and son ever communicate with each other? Where was the father? Were they divorced? What was the mother trying to prove? What was her goal? Surprising her son by waiting till the end of life to finally tell him the eye truth? Why? What for? I thought people hide bad things, because they are either too ashamed to admit what they have done wrong, or they intend to keep it a secret, so that they keep doing it. What’s the purpose of hiding information about a good thing? Do people have to hide good things? Wasn’t the boy ever curious that there was something strange about his eyes – the color did not exactly match or the shape was not the same, or they felt and looked funny? And then, did the mother simply have a hole where one of her eyes should have been? That must have been a scary look… Didn’t she get a fake eye, or at least some dark glasses? Weird story… Who authored it anyway? Where did you get it?
I didn’t tell him that the mother was supposed to be “Mother Albania”, who gave me “the eye so I could see a whole new world” and that I was so ungrateful till the day she died (God forbid)!
Artur,
Nje tregim mjaft domethenes dhe prekes.
Ky blog qe po vazhdon gjate tregon se sa shume shqiptaro-kanadeze jetojne ne Toronto e rrethinat. A nuk do ishte me mire qe te gjithe neve te kontribuojme ne nje ceshtje me te rendesishme sic eshte ajo e: Familjeve te permbytura ne zonen e mbi Shkodres?
Shoqata shqiptaro-kanadeze po zhvillon nje fushate per te mbledhur nje fond ndihme qe do te dergohet nepermjet Kryqit Te Kuq Kanadez ne Shqiperi.
Per me teper lexoni: http://www.albcan.org
Respekte.
ky forum eshte bere si ato muret e haleve te plazhit (kush i mban mend) ku sharjet pasonin njera-tjetren, por ngjyra e germave ishte gjithmone e njejte: kafe
i am from albania and i`m only 8,and i know that`s not nice to say,so next time,
THINK TWICE,dude
Well it seems to me that you visited Albania but did not see it. Like many treasures of the world, you must look a little deeper than the surface. Albania is a wonderful country full of incredible people. Because of communists government the people may not have much, but what they have they would freely give, unlike most of the rest of the world that is concerned with only taking or filling their pockets.
Albania is considered the most hospitable country in the world. My experience has been if they are not, they certainly are at the top. If you go back, let me know and I will contact a few that will really show you Albania!
P.S. Those are eagles…not crows…
Yes, we are eagles and is not good to hear that for my country and my people…
hi everyone from an albanian, what happened to that guy wile visiting albania i see as a normal thing, i really thought that we albanians are a lil bit tough but when i got to visit the world, i realized that albania was the paradise i have been looking for even though i lived there i didnt realize, and i understand the guy about his experience in tirana, but the same thing happened to me when i got in new york for the first time when i wanted to exchange euros to dollars, and i thought that this would not happen in albania but everywhere u go ur gonna be seeing good and bad things, my bag was stolen in new york’s subway, and when i visited canada i lost my wallet, but still that doesnt say anything about canadians or americans same as this article doesnt say anything bad about albanians even though is seen not with a good eye, however go in albania with a plan, there are a lot of wonderful thinkgs to see, its a pitty u missed them, anyway i dont understand why ppl visit e place and miss the beautiful paert of it, or may be u went as an agent lolz, take care, and wellcome back to albania but this time look for the good and interesting things that albania is unique about, cheers
and SHQATO u sound to be smart for ur self, i like ur idea of prosperity, but i dont understand where to place u? u have confused me, not that i care that much but i just wanna know where ur roots are placed, if u have any! i can see ur good in english and albanian but is absolutely useless in the way ur using it, u sound like a spy dude! i dont know if ur feet stink or if u have bicycle but i know for sure ur not albanian, and this breaks my heart lolz( not really). no seriously u seem to be a wise man but i think ” KABLLAT TU KAN PERZI” . kastravec mos mshit kopalla ktu