get cultured: kosovo
DESCRIPTION
A journey through the culture of Kosovo.TRANSCRIPT
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Koso
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01 W E L C O M E
02L O C AT I O N
03C U LT U R E
04L A N G U A G E
05F A M I LY
06F O O D
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Koso
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Mirë se vjenWelcome
Welcome to the world of Kosovo. Learn about the fascinating culture this country has to offer by taking a journey through the pages of love, language, good food, and laughter; Be inspired and get cultured.
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QUICK FACTS
Official name: Republic of Kosovo
Local short name: Kosova/Kosovë/Kosovo
Capital: Prishtina/Prishtinë/Pristina
Location: Southeast Europe
Domonym: Kosovar, Kosovan
Population: 2.2 mil
Age Structure:
0-14 years: 27.7%
15-64 years: 65.7 %
65 years and over: 6.6%
Median Age: 26.3 years
Density: 220/km2 l 500/sq mi
Life Expectancy: 64
Government: Parliamentary Republic
Independence Day: 17 February 2008
Area: 10 908 km2/4,212 sq miles
Currency: Euro
GDP per capita: 2,065 (IMF, 2010 estimate)
Language: Official: Albanian, Serbian.
Other: English, Turkish, German
Religion: Muslim, Roman Catholic, and
Orthodox
Time zone: UTC +1
Literacy rate: Males: 98, Females: 90
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Ways to spell Prishtinë:
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42.6000ºN20.8500ºE
Pris htinë,K osovo
Prishtinë is the capital of Kosovo. Location: Southeastern Europe.
Pristina, Kosovo
15Kosovo 14
The Land of Kosovo
The non-coastal country of Kosovo is in border with
Albania, Macedonia, Serbia, and Montenegro, with
less than a 4-hour drive from Greece. Kosovo is ringed
among the Sharr Mountains located in the southeast
border close to Macedonia. The north is surrounded
by the Kopaonik Mountains and the southwest borders
neighboring Albania and Montenegro are also rocky
and mountainous with the highest mountain, Gjeravica
peaking at 2,656m high.
As far as the central region of Kosovo, it is chiefly hilly
and also possesses two extensive plains which spread
over the east and west sides of Kosovo. Prishtina,
Kosovo’s capital, is the largest city as well as the
administrative center of the country. Other key cities
include: Peja, Gjakova, Prizren, Gjilan, and Mitrovica
which is currently divided into two parts. The region
that is most mountainous and filled with valleys which
include the chief basins of Kosovo is the Dukagjini
region located in the west, which is also drained by
the Southern Morava River.
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Pristina is located at the geographical coordinates 42°
40’ 0” North and 21° 10’ 0” East and covers 572
square kilometres (221 sq mi). It lies in the north-
eastern part of Kosovo close to the Goljak mountains.
From Pristina there is a good view of the Šar Mountains
which lie several kilometres away in the south of
Kosovo. Pristina is located beside two large towns,
Obilićand Kosovo Polje. In fact Pristina has grown so
much these past years that it has connected with
Kosovo Polje. Lake Badovac is just a few kilometres
to the south of the city.
There is no river passing through the city of Pristina
now but there was one that passed through the center.
The river flows through underground tunnels and is
let out into the surface when it passes the city. The
reason for covering the river was because the river
passed by the local market and everyone dumped
their waste there. This caused an awful smell and
the river had to be covered. The river now only flows
through Pristina’s suburbs in the north and in the
south.
The Land OF Prishtinë
In general, the climate is continental,
with cold, relatively dry winters and
warm, humid summers. Summer
temperatures in the mountainous
areas are notably cooler, averaging
about (18°C) with up to 120 days of
annual snow cover in the mountains.
In mountainous areas, trees cover 40%
or more of the region, mostly oak and
beech. Deer, bear and wild pigs abound
in these areas. May and September are
usually the best times to visit climate-wise.
1918Pride Kre nari
Albanians take great pride in their culture.
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History and Culture
Kosovo’s long, troubled history and its rich culture are
linked to the many different empires prominent in
the region over the centuries, as well as to the diverse
ethnicities of its present-day residents. Population shifts
due to wars and internal conflicts have resulted in
different religions and traditions, and the country’s
recent declaration as an independent republic has
brought all its people together in pride and peace.
At the present time, ethnic Albanians form the majority
of Kosovo’s population, with Albanian the country’s
official language and Islam the major religion. Village
life, with its extensive family networks ruled by a
patriarch, still exist in the rural areas although, as
young people move to the cities, it’s being diluted
by Western values. Among this group, lifestyles are
based on the clan system, with many unwritten rules
and norms that date back centuries regarded as
legally binding, including personal honor and trust.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February
2008, after years of strained relations between its
Serb and Albanian inhabitants. It has been recognised
by the United States and major E.U. countries.
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3m high – 22m long – 1m thickWeight: 9 tons
The Newborn monument is a typo graphic sculpture and tourist attraction in Pristina, Ko sovo. It was unveiled on 17 February 2008, the Day tha t Kosovo declared independence from Serbia.
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NEWBORN
The Newborn monument was created by Fisnik Ismaili
and creative agency Ogilvy Kosova. At the unveiling
the organizers handed out black permanent markers
and invited then President Fatmir Sejdiu and Prime
Minister Hashim Thaçi to sign it, followed by some
150,000 people attending the manifestations on 17
February 2008.
“Newborn” was chosen as a single English word for
the power to describe the birth of a new country,
its positive connotations, ease of understanding by
non-native English-speakers, and potential to present
Kosovo as a new, contemporary, trendy country. The
yellow color was chosen in combination with blue
banners and the supporting slogans to represent both
Kosovo’s new flag colors as well as EU colors. According
to New Kosova Report, the supporting slogans used
during the unveiling were “NEW life is BORN”, “NEW
hope is BORN”, “NEW future is BORN” and “NEW
country is BORN”, all presented in blue and yellow colors.
Weighing in at 9 tons, Newborn’s
dimensions are 3.0 metres (10 ft) by
24 metres (79 ft) by 0.9 metres (3 ft),
set in DIN Black typeface. Newborn
was the first large public monument to
commemorate Kosovo’s independence.
It was built in ten days of around the
clock work.
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Gjuha Shqipe
Albanian Language
Albanian is an Indo-European language spoken by approximately 7.4 million people, primarily in Albania, Kosovo, the Republic of Macedonia and Greece.
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With approximately more than 90% of the population
of Kosovo being ethnic Albanians, the Albanian
language is recognized as an official language along
with Serbian. Other languages including Turkish,
Romani, and Bosnian are also spoken.
English is widely spoken, especially by youth. English
is also taught at schools starting from primary education.
Albanian is an Indo-European language that is spoken
by numerous inhabitants of the Albanian culture
especially those bordering the Albanian and Kosovo
countries. The language is divided into two-main
dialects used depending on the geographical area of
the inhabitants. The first dialect, Tosk, which derives
from southern Albania, is mostly used in Albania,
Italy, Greece and Turkey, whereas Gheg, the second,
is spoken by the majority of the Kosovar people and
in places such as Macedonia and Montenegro and
northern Albania.
The language is very distinct to most Indo-European
languages and it remains independent of its sub-group.
The closest relation towards the language can be the
ancient Illyrian language.
The Albanian Language
Yes
PO
Please
TË LUTEM
Thank You FALEMINDERIT
Good Morning MIRËMËNGJES
Good Night NATËN E MIRË
Good-Bye MIRUPAFSHIM
What is your name?
SI JU QUAJNË?
My name is… UNË QUHEM…
How are you? SI JENI?
Fine thanks, and you?
MIRË FALEMINDERIT, PO JU?
Do you speak English?
FLISNI ANGLISHT?
I don’t speak Albanian?
NUK FLAS SHQIP?
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ALBANIANALFABETI
A B C Ç D DhA BË CË ÇË DË DHË
E Ë F G Gj HE Ë FË GË GJË H Ë
I J K L Ll MI JË KË LË LLË MË
Rr S Sh T ThRRË SË SHË TË THË
N Nj O P Q RNË NJË O PË QË RË
U V X Xh Y ZU VË XË XHË Y Z
Zh ZHË
3332 të DuaI love you
Close Family ties, lots of love, and friendship are common in kosovo.
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The Selimi’s
The Selimi family was born and raised in Prishtinë,
Kosovo. Mom, Hava and Dad, Muharrem raised 4
children: Sabrie, Bujar, Agim, and Valdete. They
moved to America in 1999 due to the Kosovo war,
but have held on to their love and their culture here.
Most of their family remains in Kosovo. They visit their
family members often and Skype with members when
they are unable to travel. The family ties in Kosovo are
very strong. Families eat together, work together, and
do just about everything together.
The Selimi’s are a very hard working family. After coming
to America, their parents got a job right away and
have been working ever since. All of their children
work harders as well. Everyone helps each other and
is always there for each other no matter what. When
the Have and Muharrem get older, the children will all
help take care of them. The culture strives on selfless
among families, and even after moving to America,
they have kept this standard.
Life moves slowly, and family and
relationships are still the hub of Kosovo.
Family matters day in and day out. After
experiencing the Kosovo War, families
are stronger than ever, and the Selimi’s
are a prime example. Stepping between
two worlds was a hard adjustment, but
the Selimi’s have balanced it well and
continute to remain close. They have
even connected to local Albanian’s in
the area, and have made multiple
frienships here in the states.
3736Muharrem Hava Agim Sabrie Valdete
Bujar
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T’boftë mire!Bon appetit!
Kosovo is known for having delicious food. Menus are filled with meats, stews, salads, pastas, dips for bread, and much more.
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The main meal of the Albanians is lunch. The cuisine of Albania is Mediterranean, influenced by
Turkish, Greek, and Italian cooking. Albanian cuisine is
characterized by the use of spices such as black pepper
and Mediterranean herbs such as oregano, mint, basil,
rosemary and more in cooking meat and fish, but also
chilli pepper and garlic. Olive oil and butter are a main
ingredient in dishes.
Meat (lamb, beef, chicken, pork and rabbit) is used
heavily in dishes in most of the country. Seafood
specialties are also common in the coastal cities
such as Durrës, Vlorë, Shkoder, Lezhe and Sarandë.
Vegetables are used in almost every dish. Usually,
Albanian farmers grow every vegetable present in
the Mediterranean region and sell them at the local
farmers’ market. Vegetables are bought fresh at the
farmers’ market early in the morning, which is open
every day.
The main meal of the Albanians is lunch, which
usually consists of gjellë (Stew), the main dish of
slowly cooked meat with various vegetables, and a
salad of fresh vegetables, such as tomatoes, cucumbers,
green peppers, and olives. The salad is dressed with
olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice and salt.
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Albanian Food
Traditional food of high nutritional value is eaten in
Kosovo. Typical Kosovo dishes are made from potato,
beans, peppers, meat, dairy products, legumes, rice
and pastry. The food is primarily prepared by roasting
not boiling.
Meat is well represented in daily meals. Mainly beef,
baby beef, lamb, poultry (chicken) and rarely kid.
Meat is also cured and sudžuk and smoked beef,
similar to cutlets, are characteristic dishes. Despite
rich water fauna, fish is rarely found on menus.
Main meals are pies, burek, kebab, sausages, mainly
lamb, stuffed peppers and other dishes made from
peppers, beans, and other dishes. Another dish worth
mentioning is burjan – spinach with rice baked in an
oven with pieces of lamb.
Traditional Kosovan desserts are often
made with sherbet, which is cooked
sugar with either lemon or vanilla flavor.
Baklava is one of the most widely used
pastries in Kosovo. Another is Kajmaçin,
which is composed of baked eggs,
mixed with sugar and oil. Sheqer Pare
is a pastry similar to Baklava, as it is
topped with Sherbet. Other pastries
such as Kaqamak, Tespishte, Rovani,
Tullumaand Pallaqinka are also a very
popular breakfast foods in Kosovo.
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Ingredients
Instructions
Flour 2 C.
Water 2 C.
Spinach 2 Stalks
Green Onions 2 Stalks
Olive Oil 1 TBS.
Salt 1 Pinch
1. In medium mixing bowl, mix together the flour
and water until you get a nice non-sticky texture.
2. Chop the spinach and the green onions and mix
together in large mixing bowl. Add in the olive oil
and salt to taste.
3. Knead 2 large sections of the dough.
4. Preheat oven to 425º
5. Stretch each dough ball until it’s flat like a pizza.
Lay this piece on a large circle pan.
6. Spread a thin layer of the spinach bowl mix on top.
7. Repeat step 5 and place on top of the mixture.
Connect the sides.
8. Bake until golden brown.