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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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Koso

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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.