By Gabriel Brazle, Mission Catalyst at Global City Mission
I’m not Albanian, and sadly it wasn’t until 2008 that I even realized these people existed. It was in that year that the blockbuster movie “Taken” was released to theaters and the world was introduced to one of the main antagonists of the series, Marco from Tropoja.
If you haven’t noticed, Albanians nearly always get a bad rap from American films. I think that in part, this negative attention, often causes people to miss much of the beauty of the Albanian people and culture.
I moved to the Bronx in 2013 and within a few months of settling, had begun to know some of my neighbors. Many were Albanian.
I quickly learned that vengeance wasn’t always the first thing on these peoples’ minds (like I’d seen in the movies) and that though seemingly quiet towards strangers, once known in the community, it as near impossible to not feel welcome. The warmth and generosity of the Albanian people is something unseen in most of the United States.
Shqiptar culture moves at a different pace than New York City and offers a very different feeling entirely. However, what some may see as a primitive culture is actually a culture full of life and values often missing in my American home culture.
During this past summer I had the opportunity to visit both Albania and Kosovo with my family. While there, people kept asking us what we loved about the country and our answer was often this, “In America, children are often seen as an inconvenience to one’s personal success, but here in Albania, your whole family is cherished.” This is a culture that though moving forward, still knows how to value relationships and especially family. Americans are so time/success oriented and event focused that we often miss seeing and being with the people around us. Contrary to that, to be Albanian seems to involve simply being with your people; talking, drinking coffees and watching the grass grow.
As an outsider, when I am with Albanians, I feel as if I am important and at the center of attention. Often in my home culture though, the clock is the only thing allowed to sit in the center.
Though some might always associate Albanians as ex-communist mafia members likened to what they’ve seen in the movies, rest assured, others know what beauty lies within. Albanians have overcome and will continue to overcome the difficulties that threaten to hold them back and there will continue to be many teachers, doctors, computer programmers and successful politicians among these people. In addition to that, these successful people also be some of the most hospitable and loyal, generous people you’ll find in this world, barring they hold onto their beautiful Albanian cultural roots.