From the States to the Shesh

I’ve officially made it to Kosovo, and I couldn’t be more excited for everything that’s ahead! I’ve traveled to Europe before, but this is my first time in the Balkans, so it’s a whole new adventure. My roommates and I are staying in a house about a ten-minute walk from our classes, while the other students live in apartments around town.

Our Classroom

Here in Prishtina, we’re close to an area called the Shesh- a large pedestrian zone that’s closed off to cars. It’s quickly become my favorite spot in the city! There’s always something going on: festivals, concerts, theater productions, plus tons of restaurants, cafés, and shops. Pretty much everything I enjoy doing in my free time can be found on the Shesh.

Our days are usually split between classroom learning and field trips, which has been such a cool way to engage with what we’re studying. It’s one thing to learn about Kosovo in class, but getting to experience those concepts in real life makes it all so much more meaningful. So far, we’ve visited the Old City of Prizren, the Serbian municipality of Gračanica, and several historic sites around Prishtina.

The Old City Prizren

Serbian Orthodox Church

The food here is more familiar than I expected, which definitely helps it feel more like home. Nearly every menu includes pizza, pasta, and soup, so even though I enjoy trying new things, it’s comforting to have those options. My favorite dish so far has been Kosovo donuts. They aren’t very sweet, but when dipped in honey, they’re amazing. My mouth is watering just thinking about them!

A Meal in Kosovo

One pleasant surprise has been how widely English is spoken in Prishtina. I expected to face a language barrier, but most people I’ve met speak English, which has made daily life much easier to navigate. Of course, there have been some culture shocks too. One of my favorites has been ‘çka me bo’, the local approach to time. Basically what this means is that people here are a lot more relaxed about schedules. If you’re late to something, “çka me bo”, it’s okay! As someone who’s very Type-A and used to things running on a strict timetable, this laid-back attitude has definitely been a bit of a learning curve. But I think I’m adapting well, and honestly, I’m starting to enjoy the slower pace!

This first week has been incredible, and I can’t wait to see what’s next!