From Tetovo to Tirana: My Summer with WISE
Growing up Albanian in North Macedonia often meant that I was living between different
worlds. At home, my family spoke Albanian, followed traditions, and maintained strong ties to
their heritage, but outside life unfolded in a very different context. Like many young people
from my country, I became very aware of borders, not only geographic but also cultural, and
how they shaped the way I saw myself and others.
When I was first selected for the WISE exchange, I saw it as an opportunity to gain
professional experience while also spending a summer strengthening my ties to my
community. Through the program, I joined Patoko, a growing tech startup working to bring
innovation closer to home. Everyone was working to bring the first super app to Albania and
looking forward to its expansion.
My first day was hot, humid, and filled with more foreigners than Albanians. However, I
quickly realized that collaboration and teamwork would come easier than I had imagined. An
American, an Albanian, and a Canadian walking into a room might sound like the beginning
of a joke, but it was actually my first meeting at Patoko. All I remember is that I left the room
feeling encouraged and supported in what we were building together.
During my time at Patoko, I had the chance to experience a broader startup ecosystem. I
was exposed to people from different backgrounds and cultures, which made me realize one
thing clearly: the similarities outweigh the differences when we are working toward a shared
goal. In many ways, the Albanians I met in Tirana had different experiences from mine, just
as our colleagues from abroad had perspectives that differed from ours. Despite this,
brainstorming ideas, solving problems, and building something meaningful together made
those differences feel like an afterthought.
By the end of the program, what started as a simple internship exchange developed into a
longer-term opportunity at Patoko. For me, this was the biggest reminder of what initiatives
like WISE can accomplish, not only temporary placements but also connections that allow
young professionals to collaborate and create opportunities that would not have existed
otherwise.
Looking back at my experience in Tirana, the most important takeaway is that whether we
share the same language and background or come from completely different ones,
perspectives and conversations shape who we are and how we work toward progress.
Experiences like this demonstrate that regional mobility is the first step toward understanding
one another and working toward a more unified future. In a region often defined by its
borders, it reminds us how much can happen when we choose to cross them
