Albanian TV interview

Two envoys have recently visited Albania, and were interviewed by Top Channel TV. Here, thanks to HumanRights.gov is the transcript of this exchange regarding religious freedom.

Going global

It's almost incredible that people from more than 94 countries have visited so far this blog of mine. I started it a few years ago only to keep in touch with, and update friends and relatives, principally about my travels and projects.  Through a myriad of online possibilities and new technological ways of communicating, our postings are ceaselessly and instantly spreading  throughout  the entire globe, and today they can even be automatically translated into any language.   

Better yet, however, is to actually be fluent in more than one language, and this training comes very natural to children. That's why, since I am obviously partial to Albania, and especially about its youth, I am pleased to see in this article, confirmation of what I am already aware of, but like to share here with my friends:  Albanian  children are multilingual, and their education starts at a very early age. I can only conclude, using a word that is just as globally popular as 'ciao', by saying "Bravo"!

An Albanian movie

Glad that "The Forgiveness of Blood" was again presented  in a NY theater, yesterday I went to see this gripping story which treats a subject not new to me since it depicts traditional customs and cultural practices that ruled for centuries northern Albanian lands where my ancestors lived.  

I am aware that some 'blood feuds' unfortunately still exists  in Albania. Just about a decade ago I have also met and known a so called 'mediator", when he actually traveled between the US and Albania, to settle these type of disputes, but he never discussed any of his cases. 

What  was really interesting to me in this film was to see this tragedy evolve in the contest of a modern setting.  The divide between this ancient rule of law still being dealt by elders in the same old fashion, versus  the modern, at times,  as expected, rebellious behavior of the younger generation using however the latest technology, was striking. 

Several are the reviews available online, such as the ones from the LA Times, and the Huff Post. What I miss, however, are more details about the actual performers, whom, I understand, although local,  were non professional actors.  I thought they all did a wonderful job, but, for me,  Rudina's performance  (played by young  Sindy Lacej)  was consistently excellent.