For many can be seen as a paradox, but it is true that Elisabeth Swiss Kuchler, is among the rare or the only country that has left Helvetica, to live in Kosovo, a country that still does not function normally.
The first time came in the newest country in Europe, was July 2008. Had not heard of this place, nor on the map did not know where the Kosovo. But just a week stay in the country, which declared independence in that year, of her life were enough to take another direction completely.
It was 63 years when the accident suffered Switzerland, from which even today after nine years not fully recovered. "IP warehouse" was in her house in the village of Gnjilane Livoç to look closely zviceranen living among Albanians, in a big house and beautiful yard.
Convenience and comfort that gave Kosovo has not met Lucerne in Switzerland. She had dreamed for the full six decades after a house, a garden and a carefree life, but had not achieved there, while Livoç aji had "touched" the dream, narrates the world today.
"In Lucerne had a very small apartment, I had no space to organize everything as I wanted. A house like this today I Livoç in Switzerland would cost a million, and I did not have enough money to fulfill my dream, "said Elisabeth reports" Reporter ".
Between Lucerne and Livoq, choose the latter
Lower Livoq is a village to raise a few minutes drive to the center of Gjilan. Among the homes of ordinary natives, it is Elizabeth who attracts the most attention.
"Given the low standard of living, and that I consider retirement, I see that I can not live with so little money in Switzerland. With a retired around 1500 euros was impossible to get out. I knew that before so I could live well here. And returned to Kosovo ", explains Elisabeth.
Swiss vicissitudes then explains the construction of the house plan that had become a Swiss architect to the building, which was also a company with baggage Swiss Kosovo.
"On February 23 I left Switzerland permanently, I sold my apartment there, I took everything with them and came to Livoç. For nearly three months I stayed in the house of my neighbors here. While during this period was dealing with interior design and other things around the house, "she says.
22 May finally got her dream come true. At the finalization of achieving a goal which came just two days before he be filled seven decades. And that desire like order, already come true to start a different life, to be celebrated.
"I had two reasons to celebrate, birthday and fulfill the dream that all life had to have a home, while I was starting a new life in a new place," he Elisabeth.
Is failing to learn the Albanian language
Swiss still has a handicap. She and despite investments in dictionaries, etc., is failing to learn the Albanian language. Or language that is difficult to establish sintaksisht Kosovars or she is older to articulate the Eagles phonemes.
"After the accident, the neurologist told me that my brain can not accept new information. For all these years I paid about 2,000 francs, I have books, CDs and everything else in Albanian, but I managed. It is frightening when others tell me I must learn your language, but they do not know about my accident, "says Elisabeth.
The history of Albanian language teaching started before she came to live here. Even back then had told him that within three months will learn the language. The course began in Switzerland Albanian, to continue later in Kosovo, but it seems that this is mission impossible for.
Since the age of 38 years, Elizabeth lives alone. "But I'm not alone here, I have good neighbors and four cats that cater to them," she says.
Elizabeth is also a good cook, although it prefers to cook traditional Albanian food. Care to eat healthy, detail is seen in the interior of her kitchen. The selection of cabinets with fruits and vegetables, are not totally random message.
"I like to cook, but not traditional cook your meals, because they do not eat. Eat salads, vegetables, fish, cheese, eggs and very little meat. Has periods not even eat my food, "explains Kuchler.
Otherwise, but love having the kitchen and cooking, having exercised the profession in Switzerland as an economist in a construction company, Elizabeth in her youth played saxophone and was the winner of multiple car races.
Inside the house where lives today, from the first floor to the second floor, are 18 degree, which she describes as "levels of gymnastics". He spends 20 times a day these degrees, and they help keep the body in shape.
Some things torment me more
She is very happy with life and offered Kosovo. "I feel good when every week I meet new people and each of them can speak English, German or French." But there are some things that do not seem quite normal.
"In your tradition, people remove their shoes at the entrance of the house. I have slippers at the entrance door to respect your tradition, but as I go with shoes and you can also log. I see that you wash carpets several times a year, while the need to maintain the carpet, but only wash them after five years, "says Elisabeth.
Her house has a large living room, in a corner of his mini-library. To continue with giant kitchen corridor separating work with all tools, plus a 'Storage' to store food. The most special is the work rooms.
"Desk, chair and others are all that I have received from Switzerland, where I worked. In fact, my office looked so well there, "she explains.
Another room is where Elisabeth made her therapy, which is absent when in Switzerland. A sewing machine in the next room working on another talent show that she has to care for clothing.
The missing relatives
The end of the corridor on the second floor, seems to be the most liked to. A double seat coupled with a small table, turning it into memories. Both had in her apartment in Lucerne, and if the same had got here.
A good part of the time she spends reading this angle, which calls itself "the Swiss Corner".
Unlike Kosovo has fulfilled her dream of better living conditions, but it has left a void. They lack family and friends, which last visited Kosovo.
And for seven years it was in Kosovo, it has only visited a school friend, while her four brothers had not ever come here.
"In May this year, has been visiting a school friend of mine. She liked your place and make you life. He has promised to be back again, and I believe that will do, "says Kucher.
However, when the model Albanians get Switzerland to be the best, "as in Switzerland," Elizabeth Kuchler had left Switzerland to live in Kosovo. What hearkened not hearkened Switzerland Kosovo. "Goodbye to Livoç ...!"