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Key Terms

Key Terms Back home – a place you never return, even if you visit; no longer a geographic location but a before  Here – always where you immigrated; in relation to family’ story, the United States of America Gjuhe nenes – mother tongue; the language that comes out when you’re cursing because you forget your keys…

Interview in Photos

Can you describe this photo for me? I was supposed to grow my hair long because my sister had long hair and they wanted me to be more like her after she died. They sent me to school for sewing because I wasn’t allowed to go in a public school. That’s why I don’t like…

Throw salt in the fire

What do Albanians have to be afraid of? (besides speaking, eating, breathing, witnessing) Their superstitions? (bad luck, evil eyes, curses) Their government? (communist, socialist, democratic, all corrupt, all holding on to power) Their family? (honor costs) Instability? (the only thing we know is a city of stone) Anarchy? (i thought this is what it was…

The Boat

At first,  They didn’t think we were people They heard savages were coming to their shores And they were scared We swam to the shore  because there was nowhere else to go.  When they realized, we were, in fact people they fed us, clothed, befriended us  It was a time  Before they sent us to…

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About This Project

uncovering the history of my family, my country, our immigration and assimilation experiences, our journeys, our collective history, our point of views, the stories we tell ourselves, snapshots of ourselves, the way tell the same story over and over again until it is myth, which is stronger than fact, a reconstruction and recreation of the narrative

Explore My Blog

Please click around and find stories, poems, interview transcripts, vignettes and assessments