How the other half studies: An interview with an Albanian teen, Ergi Hysa

Olivia Harrison
Staff Writer

As American teenagers, we do not really focus on what is going on in the world. We are very consumed with what is going on in our community, social media, classes, getting into college, and fitting in. But, we never really focus on what it would be like to not grow up in America. We rarely think about our European counterparts. To find out what it’s like to grow up in another country and the similarities they have with us, I interviewed my good friend Ergi Hysa from Tirana, Albania. Albania was established in 1912 and located in the Balkan’s of Europe.
  It has many cultural traditions, and a lot of people are still trying to keep those traditions alive. Ergi is fifteen years old and is in high school. His life is very similar  to ours with some important differences. While we might be worrying about how many views we get on a Tik Tok or what someone has said about how we look, they might be more focused on studying abroad and the future for their country.  They are also focused on preventing the earlier influences of communism from coming back in Albania. I had a few questions to ask my friend about his life in Albania and I was amazed to hear the answers.
  Ergi is growing up in the Albanian capital city, Tirana. He’s in tenth grade (or to us, a sophmore), which is his first year of high school. In Albania, the education system is very different and they use different terminology than Americans. As Ergi explained, school starts off as something called vjeçare or the “nine years”. The first five years of his schooling are elementary level education or fillore, and the other four years are what Americans call middle school. Then, you move onto high school. However, in Albania, what Americans call high school is actually considered college or university in Albania, and middle school to Albanians is considered high school. Unlike the American education system, elementary school and middle school are combined together. I was very confused on how this all worked and especially the names of things, but eventually I figured out how it works after some indepth research.
  Much like his American counterparts, Ergi says that school is very important to him and he plans to go to college after high school. He either plans to study technology and computers, diplomacy, or sociology. He knows for certain that if he goes into technology, he will study abroad at a university in Vienna, Austria. Since Ergi is getting ready to go to college, he explained how different the college process is from the U.S. He says, “It works like this:  To get into college, you need both good grades and social credits. They count 60% of the requirements as grades and state tests.  40%of the requirements are social credits (joining activities etc).  Having good grades is really important but a B student with great social credits and extracurriculars can win over an A student with no social credits. So even though having good extra curriculars is great, studying and getting good grades is important. Some branches (majors) and universities require lower scores but others require higher scores. There’s a lot of debate about this system, a lot of us don’t like it.” In conclusion, the college process in Albania is just as hard as the college process in the United States!
  When Ergi isn’t in school, he is involved in extracurriculars that most American teens would find familiar. Ergi is involved in an organization called Theatre Beyond Borders, in which actors from the  countries Albania, Serbia, Kosovo and Montenegro perform plays together. Back in the day, there were a lot of border disputes in the Balkans, and this led to war between Albania, Kosovo and Serbia. Because of this, there is a lot of tension between Serbians and Albanians. “When people do theatre, they have to work together. This project and organization will help bring us more together after all the conflicts in the region,” Ergi said. Ergi also runs a popular history account on instagram called @Aint.Doing.History and a Youtube channel of the same name.  He quotes, “The Instagram account has been growing quite fast and it’s active and healthy. The Youtube channel is quite passive although I really want to make it more active. I have two videos coming up about Iran and the twentieth century US.”
  When asked about his thoughts of America, Ergi had a lot to say, “We here [in Albania] hold an image of ‘great America’, like that everything is easier. For example those from Albania who have the opportunity to come to America we call “shpetoi” or “i’a hodhi, which means he or she has a better life. Shepetoi literally means “got saved”. You all don’t know how much we idolize you. When I was little, I wanted to become President of the United States.  My mom crushed my dreams by saying you had to be born there.  But recently, my family and I are coming to our senses because having relatives in the U.S. tell us that it isn’t a fairy tale and it’s hard over there too.”
  Ergi and his family are planning to get visas to come to the US and eventually become citizens. It is a complex and very long process. “Right now, we are currently through the process of “family union”. If I go that way, it will take 4-6 years. There is another option which is through school. I’d stay with my uncle in Long Island and attend university before my parents and my brother Rajan arrive. My dad wanted me to go to high school in America, but my mom disapproved of that. She feared we were going to disconnect.”
  For now, Ergi is living life in Albania and hoping the best for the future of his country. I asked him if he saw himself and his generation as the future of Albania, but he had some concerns.
 “I don’t think so, but I do hope that maybe we can make a difference. Lots of the younger generation in Albania are starting to lose some of the traditions that we once held. After the fall of communism in Albania, we took all the modernization and western influence we could get. However, it hasn’t gone well and we have lost some traditions because of that. In My hometown, Tirana, the youth mainly follows these trends just to look cool. I’m not saying that trends are bad, it’s just that we are losing traditions and the culture we once had. And, I feel as people start following trends, they won’t be leaders and individuals. Being a follower instead of a leader is not good for a nation. At this time I feel as if some of our traditions may fade because of globalization and assimilation and because everyone is just following trends and such.”
  Ergi hopes to make a difference and keep the traditions and culture of Albania alive while keeping up with the rest of the world.  Although we may come from different countries, we are all still teenagers and we are the future of our countries and the world. Together, we can put the differences aside and maybe make an impact on our world and shape it for the next generation to come.

Fun Pastimes to Enjoy While At Home

Kaylee Lynch & Lucie MacGillvray
Staff Writers

During times like these, it is really important to look around and think about what is important to you. For most of us, not being in a school was a shock and somewhat of a surprise, but there are definitely positives to this way of life and we just have to look at them. Here are some ideas and activities you can do to keep occupied and enjoy during this time away from being in school.
  Number one is to get cleaning! It is true that activities after school take time away from house chores. So now that we have the time, it is important to help our parents out! Try doing the dishes for a change or folding laundry. It will truly help you in the future when you have to do these things on your own. Also cleaning the windows with windex, or cleaning out your room will be a way to use your time productively and it really makes a difference! So get to it!
  Another great idea is to play games. Try playing real life games instead of the ones on the computer and phones. Maybe break out Monopoly or the boardgame Life.  It is also fun to play trivia or do something you used to when you were younger like hide and seek. Time is ticking away, so get moving!
  If you’d rather devote your time into something creative, try picking up a new hobby, such as drawing, learning card tricks or maybe even cooking! Different activities are always a blast to do. So ask your family to join in on the fun!
  Those who have homework during this time, listen up!  Now is the perfect time to get caught up on homework and other make-up work. Make sure to attend your online classes and zoom sessions!
  If you’re looking for a relaxing activity to do, consider starting to watch a new show or reading a new book while staying inside! If you’re looking for a funny show, try the Impractical Jokers or Brooklyn Nine-Nine! There are a boat load of choices to rewatch or begin watching. Ever hear of The Office? The main character Michael Scott is a riot and you are sure to have a good time!
    Even though we aren’t supposed to go outside and travel it is always nice to go for a bike ride or play frisbee. There are nearby parks that offer activities like these, for instance Peace Valley Park, Tyler Park, and Tinicum. If those places are not an option for you, you always have sidewalks and roadways to go walking or biking! Or even in your own backyard! So go fly a kite or take a walk while this warm weather is taking place!
  Most importantly, during this time, make sure you’re staying safe! Try to stay away from large groups and practice healthy habits. Also, wash your hands! Spend some time having fun and getting organized. We hope to see everyone back in school as soon as possible. In the meantime, enjoy your time at home with your family!