Kosovo Albanian 2000 Part.1 (2000.2.20)
contents
1,MW vs. Kosovo Albanian Spring 2000 part.1 Pristina/Podujevo
When we arrived at Pristina, several driver said 'taxi' or used whistle, but better than MK drivers in the autobus station (MK drivers in the city is much much better than in Kosovo)
At Saturday night after 2000, the city was unbelievably silent. Nobody made fun of us and we started thinking that they became rich enough not to humiliate others
But in the daytime, though there was heavy snow, lots of people say "Japanese" or "Hannyyooo" or something like this in Pristina
In Podujevo, lots of people made sound to draw our attention (by knocking their shop's window or making a noise or saying "hey"). However, they were not sure how they could treat us after drawing our attention
In Podujevo, lots of children tried to know what we were doing, but they were less energetic than other cases.
Usually they treat our PC as something precious they were rude and curious enough to invade into our space to see, but they don't touch.
Again, once noticed that our PC has camera, they want to be in our picture. But that's all. They even don't ask when and how they can get their pictures.
much less humiliation
The points are;
Now they can recognize us as Japanese and the accuracy is much netter than 3 months before -They've become used to seeing Japanese and Asian
They are energetic to see some new thing
Also they love the object which can show new changes with action (Therefore, they love Satellite program so much)
For them strangers are a kind of attraction in some senses (not always).
For them, somehow leaving their track (like in mind, in the picture) is important
In winter, the people are less activated (In Mitrovica, they don't have protest during the winter)
2,In a combi (minibus) to Podujevo
1 person tried to talk with me in German and failed. 2 people regarded me as 'tsung tsun' then tried to communicate in Albanian. Of course, they failed. They strongly repeated "SONY, Computer, SONY (= Stealth Z)"
didn't charge anything from me
4,In the autobus from Podujevo Part - 1
I took the bus at 1700 form Podujevo to Pristina. The staffs there showed me where the seat was and said something like 'relax!!'. Later I found that the seat had difficulty to see outside and went to the front. The driver offer me the seat next to me (for ticketkeepers) during that time, few people tried to communicate in German, but failed.
5,In the autobus from Podujevo Part - 2
Since the bus from Pristina Autobus Station (Stationi i Autobus) to Podujevo is difficult to find, I wanted to see where the bus was going. As the bus system is completely relies on the individuals (though they started publishing licenses), they asked to me first 'where are you going?' (because after dropping the last passenger, they can go home) They showed their typical thought; most foreign people go to hotel and in their mind the 'hotel' is 'Grand' (120DM, 5 stars). But I wanted to see if the bus go to the Autobus station and I couldn't tell it in the way they could understand, the conversation seemed to have difficulty. Then a guy who could speak French appeared. Then the part was understood. Next problem came when I asked "How many autobuses from the bus station to Podujevo?" (Though I found that my Macednonian is better than French, I could hardly ask it), first he said '30km', then '40minutes', finally, 'Aaha, 2DM' (I said "Combien du Autobus a Podujevo de Pristina?")
6,In the autobus from Podujevo Part - 3
Then a guy who could speak English entered. Though the guy and me could hardly communicate, the guy and the one who could understand French didn't communicate in Albanian. Therefore, the situation became more complicated. As it can be seen in the column of interesting people 'Kosovo children', they still don't have much idea to utilize already-acquired information (then ask the same question again). In English, the same tragedy happened (I repeated slowly for 5-6 times) "How many buses?" "30km".... Since they are quite energetic to help me, the gap of their actual communication ability and the one in their mind appears nothing but tragedy. (Last year in Kosovaska Mitrovica, this pattern showed up as the combination of the lacking-ability and stupid children. It was terrible since Kosovo-Albanian children are (present tense) much less likely to be sincere to listen to others.)
7,A guy working in the cappuccino bar in Pristina
Speaks basic English and politely asked me if I could do something for his brother to get a job. I told him HOW. but during the explanation, he didn't look at me. and when I asked "Do international people usually come here?", he said"Yes, it's very kind of you" (I'm not sure if it made sense)
Since his eyes were nothing but sincere, the point will be
- He was not kidding nor looking down me
- but believed that he could understand everything with the paper
- also his English ability is lower than he thought, but he didn't notice
- again, Albanians don't have any idea to ask back about vague point nor even understand they have an ambiguous point in the conversation