This is Switzerland for 18 years spending summer holidays in Kosovo

Markus has still been a minor when he for the first time headed towards Kosovo with his best friend, Elbasan.

Kosovo, he knew him from the Elbasan stories and was heading towards peaceful Prizren, but with mixed feelings. The first „Conctacts were not as impressive“, he recalls Albania of 2000. The ruined roads, lack of signaling and chaos in communications were the major change the young Swiss had experienced, through the waterways, at the port of Durres.

The first „when I arrived in Kosovo has all seemed strange and unlike Switzerland“, he relates.

Marcus had crossed the road across Albania with his friend's family, never knowing why all that rushed to get to Prizren as soon as possible...

But he never thought that Kosovo and Albanians, seemingly chaotic, but within loving and close, would soon conquer the most sensitive heart point; love for people, for Albanians.

The family warmth he was experiencing in the deep mountain of Opija, he was failing to take away his memory and thus does not spend much time back on vacation in Kosovo. Now not once, but he was coming regularly for each summer, “will even hold the wedding in Kosovo, with local music and drums”, the 32-year-old electrician says.

After knowing people there, I realized they were very hospitable; everyone tried to speak German to me with the few words they could have heard. This has fascinated me, since we no longer act foreigners like this in Switzerland“, Markus says.

Markus Leutenegger for all these post-war years of Kosovo, has only three-four „shortages“from summer vacation in Kosovo.

For every summer with three to four weeks, I spent my Bretney holiday with my friend Elbin“.

She was in love with the people of Kosovo, never thought of life without them

His entire company was Albanian, vacationed there, and the love of life was looking for him there.

The man feels good among them. Albanian hospitality is a very good tradition“, he shows feelings for the Albanian people and the Albanian girl of life, Havin, as he calls it. Which he announced during his summer vacation in Prizren and will soon marry.

„The tenth of Albanian women is different and they think differently“, indicates Marcus Leutenegger for his experience with the Albanian fiancée who will wear the wedding dress for her.

This has happened very quickly“, he recalls the embarrassing moments of the decision to go to the home of his girlfriend Havije, where she asked her parents for the girl's hand.

My first contact with my fiancée Hava's parents was „

They've been waiting for me, most of them speak German very well. While Havi himself is a German teacher and communication with him is easy and unmistaked“, Markus describes the girl he will marry wine, with a big wedding in Prizren.

„We have invited about 200 people, Markus says, with a wink of eyes. I don't have much, just my family and some friends. But my bride, yes. She invited the rest of the “.

“may look like a large number for my parents, but for the Albanian wedding circumstances of 200 guests, it's not large”, shows the Swiss that for so many years, Albanian society understands Albanian rather well.

He likes Albanians, he's alone with them, but he can't eat peppers...

He has walked Kosovo everywhere, tried Kosovo's best restaurants, “but peppers”, he says, “cannot eat them. But I like the pastul, it's very good, the kebabs, the pit”.

When I think about what Kosovo looked like right after the war, I can say that „today over 18 years after the liberation and ten years of independence, Kosovo has changed a lot, especially in infrastructure, where everything has become new and there is almost no more road or village unsanctioned“.

Markus' fiancée, Havija, says their relationship is not different from other ties between Albanian couples. It's not been that difficult since Marcus knows our culture and mentality very well. His friends are Albanians, and from 2000 he comes on vacation almost every summer in Kosovo, to his friend's family.

This has facilitated communication with him and my close family has reacted better than expected. Granted, they have not been so excited about it, but they have not opposed my decision. Then I've been approved even more, known as Marcus”.

Haviv has lived several years in Germany and is familiar with the mentality and way of life in Switzerland and Germany, but he says, “again, I wonder if I can really live in Switzerland”.

Marcus' family are very kind and close people. I've been admitted into their family and told that we shouldn't be worried about this”, reports German teacher Javier Hoxhaj.