When we found ourselves in the others

Thirty years ago, Albania stood on the threshold of profound change. After decades of isolation under Enver Hoxha prior to the fall of Communism, Albania was suddenly rediscovered by the world—a discovery often tinged with fear, prejudice, and misunderstanding of the nation that had been shrouded in mystery for so long. Western headlines were full of misconceptions: Albanians were seen as disorderly, risky, chaotic. Due to Hoxha’s iron-fisted rule and distrust of the West, Albanians also saw foreigners—including Americans—as suspicious and hostile.

A new chapter

It was in this turbulent climate, a time when distorted pictures of the other thrived, that some of the bravest individuals stepped forward: Peace Corps Volunteers. The first group of Volunteers arrived in 1992, marking a bold new chapter of connection and cooperation. Their service was interrupted by civil unrest in 1997, which led to evacuation of Volunteers. But the Peace Corps’ commitment did not end there, returning in 2002 to stand alongside Albanian communities in a spirit of partnership and peace.

Volunteers arrived with a humble mission of peace and friendship: to connect, to understand, to share, and to be present. They helped rewrite a false narrative by turning fear into curiosity, stereotypes into stories, and mistrust into friendship. They were among the first to make Americans visible to Albanians and Albanians visible to Americans. They forged understanding and connections in villages and towns where no citizens of either nation had ever expected to meet.

Three changed lives

It was in the quiet unfolding of these encounters that the magic of transformation began in the communities where Volunteers served, and in the lives of those who met them.

In 1993, Bruna was a young student sitting quietly in a cold classroom in a small Albanian town. Her dreams were stranded by a country still finding its way in the world. She wasn’t sure of the future, but she was hungry for knowledge. Her English teacher that year was a Peace Corps Volunteer, one of the first to arrive in Albania. The lessons went beyond grammar and vocabulary. They opened windows into another world and, more importantly, helped Bruna discover her own potential. She saw someone from a faraway land invest time, energy, and care into her future. Something began to grow in her: maybe she, too, could do something that mattered.

In 2018, Katie M. came to Albania as a young Peace Corps Volunteer. Assigned to work with a Roma organization, she found herself immersed in a culture rich with resilience, rhythm, and history. The Romani people, believed to have migrated from India centuries ago, offered her a lens into a world often unseen. In return, Katie offered her willingness to learn. She listened more than she spoke. She absorbed both Albanian and Romani languages, and slowly, something extraordinary began to take shape. Alongside her Roma partners, she began compiling one of the first Albanian-Romani language glossaries—a labor of love and a bridge of understanding.

And then there’s me. When I joined Peace Corps staff in Albania about a decade ago, I was at a crossroads. I had seriously considered leaving my country. The future in Albania felt uncertain, and opportunities seemed too far out of reach. When I began working for the Peace Corps, I expected a job. What I found was something else entirely: a quiet revolution of purpose. I witnessed the connections and transformations, both in communities and individuals. I saw Volunteers come from across the ocean to live with Albanian families, learn our language, share in our daily struggles, and do it all with grace. Their belief in our people started helping me believe again too.

Peace Corps ripples throughout the years

These stories began years ago but their ripples are felt today.

Bruna, the inspired student, is now a distinguished lecturer at the University of Foreign Languages. She teaches the very language that connected her to a new world in her youth—and now does the same for new generations. The spark she once received, she now passes on daily. Her life is a living echo of the courage and connection sparked by a single Peace Corps Volunteer. As Bruna likes to repeat: “I’m a tree grown by a seed planted by a Peace Corps Volunteer.”

Katie M., after completing Peace Corps service, returned to the U.S. not just familiar with new languages, but transformed by her deep cultural understanding. She is now a U.S. foreign service officer serving in South Asia, the region believed to be the ancient homeland of the Romani people. Her journey of working with people of different cultures continues beyond her Peace Corps service.

And me? I no longer dream of leaving Albania. I have found purpose right here. The Peace Corps transformed me from someone searching for hope into someone who helps nurture it. Every day, through my role, I contribute to the ongoing mission of peace and understanding.

Volunteering with the Peace Corps is not about working for others, but with them—becoming co-workers, neighbors, fellow travelers on the journey of life. The great gift of the Peace Corps network, which I along with Bruna and Katie are part of, lies in being or cooperating with a Peace Corps Volunteer, which becomes another way of being human. A better, braver kind of human.

So, looking back on the service of Peace Corps Volunteers in Albania, we do more than commemorate—we recognize those who helped create a better understanding of each other and became friends. Because in the end, the Peace Corps is not about “us” and “them.” It’s about our other selves.