I have been to Kosovo once before, so I came into this year with a basic understanding of what to expect. I knew I was going to be welcomed by the warm and generous people. I knew I'd be dazzled by the engaging arts scene. I knew I'd enjoy moving about the walkable city while going about my day to day life.
While all of the above have held true, there are a few things that have made my current experience in Kosovo different from my first. The last time I was here, I traveled with a group of familiar friends! This time, I arrived alone.
Arriving in a new place as a visitor is very different from arriving in a new place as a temporary resident. Before my arrival, I didn't consider how lonely I would find myself feeling during my first month here. Since I'm a journalist doing independent work, I spent my first month working out of my home. Wow! I didn't anticipate how difficult it would be to make friends and connections without work, school or extracurricular activities to help spark them.
All of this makes sense, of course, in retrospect! I showed up to a place where I knew very little of the language, without a network to support me. While the people here are warm and inviting, they also have lives of their own!
