An Albanian immigrant in Italy has attracted the attention of all the media of this country, after writing his first novel "Once upon a time a clandestine".
Eltoj Bida, 41 years old, confessed in Italian what adventures he had to go through to escape from Albania 25 years ago.
"When I talked to my friends and my girlfriends about how I came to Italy, they all told me that I should write my story. I actually succeeded. The book starts from the first day I started. It was 1995. I started with the smugglers I met to make the fake documents, but I failed. When I returned from Vlora, I told my eti that I am not going back there. I have no future. My father helped me. I left by raft, the journey took four hours. At first you are not afraid at all, but when you are in the middle of the sea you think, "oh my head, what have you done to me", you only see water, darkness, even a wave will come and you will end up in the middle of the sea. On the other side, two Albanians were waiting for us, they asked us for more lek and then they took us to the warehouse", says Eljton Bida, the author of the book.
Although, he was only 17 years old when he took the path of emigration. Even today, he remembers the first changes he saw in the neighboring country.
"When I was on the raft, I regretted it. Whereas, when I arrived in Italy, the feeling I had was very great, because I arrived in the country I dreamed of. I was very happy, I saw the change there, I saw at that time how a man and a woman kissed on the street, which in Albania did not happen, plus I saw cleanliness and education. I immediately liked Italy...", adds Bida.
Today, Bida is the father of two children. Although he could not even finish high school in his country, he tells us that he speaks 6 foreign languages. That's why you can't stop saying that in no country in the world will anyone close the door if you want to work to make your dreams come true.
"In the beginning, I worked in construction for several years. For 13 years I worked as a hotel receptionist. I wrote the book on my days off. Until I reached my goal, to write all day now. (laughs) I say that if an immigrant reads this book, from what it proves, that "if you behave well and have the desire to work, you can become an immigrant, living a happy life." I tell you what happens, month by month. My dream is that immigrants, reading this book, will also learn how they can make a dream come true...", he/dita says.
