Short stories from Vienna

For the taxi driver, the boxer and visa liberalization

"Are you going to Austria? I lived there for 9 years, I became the head of the family".

That's how the taxi driver who was taking me to the airport started the conversation, after I told him where I was headed.

The twenty minutes, which is usually the length of the way to the airport, was enough for him to tell me a part of his life story. He had worked in Austria and Italy, as he told me. He had also made "mistakes" during his life on the curves, for which he said he regretted. But also for the work he had done in construction.

"As a 19-year-old, I went out, young," he told me.

After working for nine years in Austria, he decided to return to Kosovo. He says that the family's hater did this. He had hoped that the conditions in Kosovo have already been adjusted. But you could see the disappointment in him.

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He told how he works as a taxi driver for a "charity" salary, which he "shrinks" even more, in case there is any damage to the car, although he says that all cars have full insurance.

"There is no church here. Yes, I'll wait a little longer, I'll get one and I'll go out again".

Many citizens in Kosovo, especially young people, have the same disappointment as this taxi driver.

You hear many young people telling how they plan to leave, once the liberalization takes effect. Among the reasons, they mention poor working conditions or trouble finding a job.

There is also a considerable number who have left or are thinking of leaving the country, due to the deplorable state of health in Kosovo. Another reason they mention is the dire situation in education. They often support this reason by citing the results of PISA, in which Kosovo is once again ranked at the bottom.

The taxi driver was telling me how he left the country as a young man because he couldn't find a job. As the eldest son he wanted to help the family. With the savings made during several years of work in Italy and Austria, he had built a house in the countryside. He intended to restart his life in Kosovo. But, you could see the disappointment in his eyes, as they had not "turned out" as he had thought.

Before we said goodbye, he also showed me some places in Vienna that "you definitely have to see".

***

Upon arriving in Vienna, the hosts of the boxing night who invited me, took me to have coffee at a place that was very frequented by tourists.

There were a large number of tourists, considering it was December. It also happened to be a holiday in Austria.

The owner of this cafe, in this very frequented area, was Mario, from Dukagjini. He said that he has been living in Austria for over 19 years. It was a success story.

He had worked for years in gastronomy, had bought the bar and also had two apartments in this very prominent area.

He also showed that he had also invested in Kosovo, in real estate.

The story of Mario and the taxi driver who brought me to the airport were connected at one point. Both had left Kosovo young, aiming for a better life.

But until Mario managed to penetrate and stabilize in Austria, with a lot of commitment and work. The taxi driver did not have such luck.

For every expat success story there are dozens that didn't go so well. It is proof that leaving the country does not guarantee success and that it takes a lot of commitment and also luck to achieve success.

This is also said by Mario, who was one of those who had worked, but who was also brought by fate.

***

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I had traveled to Vienna with a boxer and trainer from Gjakova. They were going to participate in the boxing evening that was being organized by the brothers Shpëtim and Shkëlqim Shala. Another success story of Albanians in Austria.

Shpetimi, after successfully developing his career as a professional boxer in Austria, decided to form a boxing promotion company, but also manages athletes.

He says that this job is more of a hobby, as he and his brother own a well-known construction company in Austria.

He recounts how much work it took to organize a boxing night. This time he was organizing it on the outskirts of Vienna, at a famous sports school.

Preparations for the evening that was to be held the next day continued until the late hours. Employees of his construction company, who were Albanians, were helping him in assembling the ring and also carrying chairs and other things.

They too had left Kosovo as young people and had already settled in Austria.

***

In the boxing evening, several successful Albanian boxers were boxing, mainly those who live and develop their careers in Austria.

The gym, although not very big, was packed with fans.

"Albanian, Albanian" were heard every time an Albanian boxer was fighting in the ring.

These calls were also heard when the boxer from Gjakova, Venhari, who was actually a guest, entered the ring.

With every blow he gave to his Iranian opponent, who on paper was local, he turned the fans even more for himself.

This support surprised even the local boxer as the punches surprised him.

When Venhar's victory was confirmed by points, the joy in the gym was evident.

An Albanian from Kosovo, with significantly less conditions for work, had managed to get by. The life of a professional boxer is not easy, especially if financial support is lacking.

Venhari had worked as a cook to make a living, as professional boxing alone is not enough to sustain himself. He shows how in professional boxing you usually box as a guest, where winning is quite difficult. This time he succeeded, as it was seen that it had given him motivation to continue with sports.

He received numerous congratulations from the Albanian fans present.

"Just keep practicing", were the messages addressed to the boxer from Gjakova.

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During the cocktail party after the evening, we happened to meet some other Albanians who had come to see the boxing night. They told how they finished their studies in Kosovo, but after not finding a job they decided to leave.

In Austria they had managed to find themselves and build their lives. But he missed his hometown.