aba gega

Phonetic Planet has a new intern! Come and learn more about her!

Where in the world did you grow up, Aba?

I grew up in Albania, a country located in the Balkan peninsula, in Southern Europe. I still live there. Albania is a small country but it is full of rich history and traditions, together with beautiful landscapes and cultural monuments. Based on the dialects, Albania is divided into two parts, Gheg and Tosk. Gheg is in the northern part of Albania; some of the most famous cities include Shkodër and Krujë. The northern part of Albania is also home to some of the most spectacular views and it’s known for the beautiful mountains. Tosk is the southern region of Albania, and this is where I live. Some famous cities in this part of the country include Korca, Berat, and Gjirokastra. The Tosk dialect is the standard language in our textbooks and is the most studied.

Is there any place that is particularly special to you?  

There are plenty of green spaces in Albania and countless small hills and forests. I used to go to a horse riding course and the tracks we took along the hills were some of the best memories I’ve made having to do with Albania’s beautiful nature. The best days were the ones when we went riding after it had rained. Everywhere it smelled so nice and fresh with a distinct smell belonging to the big pine trees we passed along the way. The road might have been a bit muddy but it was worth it for the serene atmosphere and lovely scenery.

The world is devoting more attention to environmental issues these days, thanks in some part to the younger generation. What are your views on climate change, and protecting the environment?

My education on environmental issues has started from a very young age. I remember having school trips with my kindergarten class, going to our city’s green spaces, and doing volunteer work. It was always a fun activity as we also got to explore more about the places we went to. I also remember on multiple occasions our school had gathered funds on planting trees, once reaching the goal of three hundred saplings planted. Still to this day I’m very careful with keeping the environment clean and recycling as much as I can.

We would love to learn about some of your favorite books, particularly if any books by Albanian authors are available in English translations. Can you recommend three books for children and families, and perhaps suggest the appropriate age-group for each book.

• "Aventurat e Çapaculit" - The Adventures of  Çapaculi. It is appropriate for all ages who can read. It’s literally the Albanian equivalent of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

• "Çufoja dhe bubi Kaçurrel"- For 4-8 year olds.

• Adelina R. Mamaqi’s stories. For 4-10 year olds.

Aba, who is your favorite Albanian author, with respect to children’s books?

I grew up reading a book containing a lot of Adelina Mamaqi’s stories. An honorable mention goes to a very famous children's literature writer, Gaqo Bushako.

We are so pleased to welcome Aba to our team, and look forward to her contributions, written as postcards from Albania.  Phonetic Planet is happy to host interns from any part of the world who are eager to share information about their culture and, of course, their book recommendations!  Just let us know if you are interested in participating!