Before My Placement

A Bit of Background

Welcome to my blog, where I take you along with me on my month away working in the city of Pristina, the capital of Kosovo. A country in the south of the Balkans, bordered by Serbia, Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia.

My name is Shahid, I am 21 years old and have just completed my second year studying archaeology and anthropology at Bournemouth University. I chose BU in the hopes that it would broaden my opportunities in a way that I could use to challenge myself. Personally, this need to challenge myself has always been the best way for me to grow; in confidence, intelligence, tolerance and in all the other ways that a person can develop. Working overseas has always been a goal to help me in this task. Although I have travelled to different countries, I have never done so with working in mind. I would like to learn from intelligent people within their own culture and working environment. The idea of culture and being moulded by your external social environment is fascinating to me and one of my main reasons for choosing anthropology as a discipline, and my eagerness to travel. 

I heard about my job opportunity overseas directly through Bournemouth University from my lecturer Stephanie, who had a large influence in partnering Bournemouth with the University of Pristina. I was able to choose from a number of organisations in Pristina that function separately from the university. I chose the Oral History Project, an organisation that interviews people who have led interesting and important lives whose stories may otherwise go untold. Their website gave me an idea of the hugely meaningful work they are carrying out, producing interviews from ex-political prisoners of Yugoslavia to members of the Post-Pessimists, a cultural youth group active from 1995-2003, and disseminating these stories in multiple languages. 

-         I was heading to Pristina with two co-students, and friends, named Tom and Ethan. Once we had decided our organisation to work for, we could begin the Turing scheme process. The application process was slightly shaky at times but I had enough support to receive my funding before flying out on the 30th of July 2024. 

      Arriving in Pristina 

      In the days leading up to my mobility I had anxious feelings, but they were more excitement, readying myself for the unknown, rather than reservations. It also gave me confidence that I would be flying out with Ethan from Bristol airport. We landed at around 4pm local time (Kosovo is an hour ahead of the UK), the flights went smoothly so were feeling good. This started to deteriorate a bit when we got swarmed by the chaos of the taxis. However, it must have been some sort of organised chaos that I didn't understand as some extremely friendly drivers helped us out. It didn’t take long before we were on the way to our accommodation.

-        It is Sunday the 30th of July, meaning England were playing Slovakia, we just missed kick off but decided to find a local bar and watch the game anyway. Which is exactly what we did with a lovely and cold, local beer. Although the game wasn’t exactly enthralling! England won and settled our new country nerves perfectly. Tom arrived later that night, ready for the challenges ahead. 




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