Dear Joe,
I don't know where you got that information about Albania but it is exaggerated and quite out of date. (See the letter from a reader and a reply, "So rich he wants to start his own country".) Albania is a poor country that foolishly made a stamp to honor George W. Bush during his recent visit, but I've been there twice and it's not nearly so fucked up as you wrote. There is corruption just like in every other developing country, and there is real poverty. But Albania has come amazingly far in 15 years after having the craziest communist regime in Europe. And unlike most Americans, Albanians have their own kind of la dolce vita -- they know how to enjoy life without making every aspect of it a commercial exchange.
It's never a good idea to generalize, especially as I don't think you've been to Albania. You'd love the Albanian people though, I guarantee it. They are so hospitable and so many of them are just so kind. I know that from the time I've take spent there and from having an Albanian boyfriend for some time a while back. Perhaps it shows that centuries of oppression and decades of topsy turvy politics doesn't destroy man's potential to be good.
I'm sure it was a careless remark, but really Albania and Albanians deserves a bit more respect. And they wouldn't take your Winchester acquaintance's money in exchange for their country for ANY reason.
I always read your blog with admiration, and recently it's been better than ever :-)
Tony
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Tony,
I imagine you are right. The person who gave me vivid descriptions was Albanian, and a person who escaped from the old regime toward the end. And even she said the people were warm and wonderful and in fact, found the working poor of this town to be much the same as Albanians. I should have been more careful with such a throwaway quip.
My deepest apologies to all Albanians.
Joe
