Transcription
Welcome friends to Real People with me, Flor Gjini. This is our meeting that you have so desired to find real characters, characters who are part of our Albania. I want to greet all Albanians and you who I am speaking to, you with whom I communicate, you who always write to me perhaps to give me a suggestion, to meet someone whom I have not met in my life and to bring them and make them part of our lives. You have no idea what a wonderful view I have from my left side, because I see Tomorr which is covered with snow. Wonderful Tomorr. And I am very close to the village of Ermenj, which has a nature that comes in the shape of a crown. Mountains everywhere, hills everywhere, and here I have come to meet a real person, as befits the program. Azbi, who has sheep, his sheep, and his whole life is connected to them. You have it connected to the livestock, you have it connected to nature because you can't do otherwise, right? Azbi: Uh, yes, it's a pleasure to meet you. How are you? Host: How are you? Azbi: Good. Host: Good. Good. How are you doing? Azbi: Good. Host: Uh, I'm good, to tell the truth, I missed a little bit of the aroma. Aroma of nature like this. Aroma of the mountain. Aroma of the mountain because this mountain aroma makes the sheep good and the people good. Azbi: Is everything organic? Host: No, because those from the field are not good, what will they say then? Azbi: No, they are very good. Host: They are also very good. Where were you born yourself? Azbi: I was born here in the village of Ermenj. Host: In Ermenj? Azbi: Yes. Host: Is it Ermenja or Ermenj now? Azbi: Ermenj. Host: Ermenj. Why is that? Is there a story? Azbi: I don't know why. I don't know the history. Host: I don't know the history of the name. On the way here, in fact, I saw that there were properties and springs. It's a bit far from Gramsh. Azbi: No, it's not very far, only the road is bad, 20 km from Gramsh. Host: 20 km, it seems like... Azbi: The road is very broken, very bad. Host: It seems like it's very far. Maybe I took about 60 minutes from Gramsh. Azbi: Yes, yes, it takes that long. Host: What did you do today? How did the day start? Azbi: We always wake up in the morning, feed the sheep, let them out, take care of them. It's also the period when they give birth now. Host: Is it the birthing period? Azbi: Yes, it's the birthing period. We check them, give them milk to drink for the little ones. Host: How beautiful the meadow looks like this. How beautiful Lindina looks like this. Come on, let's go. Meanwhile, you will tell me a little about what we have around here. Because you know this area better than I do. Azbi: Yes. Host: I can't do the geography here. Azbi: I was saying that I recognized this as Tomorr. Host: This is Tomorr. Azbi: Yes. Host: What other hills are there here? Azbi: This mountain up here is Mount Koshnica, the one up here. Host: Koshnik. Azbi: Koshnica. Mount Koshnica. Host: Kosn. Azbi: Yes, and these fields here? This is the village. These are the village fields that you see here. Host: Uh-huh. Azbi: The whole village. What do you see here? These are the village fields. How many heads do you have? Azbi: I have about 200 heads. 170 are sheep and 30 are goats. All together 200 heads. Host: 30 goats and 170 sheep. Azbi: And 170. Host: They don't look like that many. Azbi: Well, at the moment, some of them that have given birth are inside because it's birthing season. Host: Uh-huh. Azbi: Those that have given birth are inside. These are those that haven't given birth yet. Host: How is the livestock season? Azbi: They don't have a season. The birthing starts now, and in March, they sell the lambs. It starts with milk, the period starts, I mean from this period, from November-December until March, they give birth, and then until March, they sell the lambs, then the milk starts. From March to July, until August 20th, it continues. Then from August 20th until December, we rest. They don't have milk anymore. Where do we take the milk? We take it to the cheese factory. Because when we were down, during the period, I haven't taken the sheep out for a year now. Before, I used to take them to Lushnjë. Host: Uh-huh. Azbi: And I would take them to Erzen with the milk. Host: To Erzen? Azbi: Yes, I worked with Erzen. Host: Really? To take that milk. Azbi: They would take it and take it because the milk started in March and lasted until the end of autumn. Then, when the milk finished, I would come up to the mountain during the summer. Host: How many liters did you usually produce? Azbi: Well, it depends on the year. It depends. It's not like I remember it or have it written down. Host: More or less. Azbi: More or less, about 30 quintals per month. Host: 30 quintals per month. That's quite a lot. Azbi: Yes, with the payments. Host: The payments are not very good. Azbi: Well, the payments were good. No mix-ups, no problems. Host: I didn't know Erzen also took milk from this area. Azbi: Yes, we did, not at the time when we were in Lushnjë, you understand, because I haven't taken the livestock out for a year now. Host: Why don't you take them out? Azbi: I don't take them out because the lands there have been taken for solar panels, the pastures are closed, they have been tightened, and grazing has become very difficult. They can't move them. Host: Well, now it's the grazing period, it's the grazing period that has been preserved even by UNESCO. Azbi: Yes, yes, but not now because the lands are gone. Along the roads we will travel, I will describe the road. I want seven days with sheep in Fier. And they have planted all the lands. They don't let anyone pass. You have problems with people, conflicts, things, it has become a big problem. Taking them by truck is very expensive, we can't afford it. So it's a war, solar panels or sheep. Host: And always the powerful ones defeat the weak ones. Azbi: No. Host: That's what I believe. Azbi: That's the reality. The state intervenes, who knows who took them. They have occupied them. Now they don't let them. Before, individuals used to come and we would rent from them. We have nowhere to go. We are forced to stay. But before, it was more comfortable when you cooperated with a large collector or a large company, like you cooperated with Erzen, or when you take it to a cheese factory. Host: It's better that way when you cooperate with a large company. Azbi: Yes. Host: Why? Azbi: Things are more regulated, everything is different. And the payment issue is no different when you take it to the company. Host: But with payments, they are correct. Azbi: Yes, with the company, yes. But like this, we have received money and problems, they have brought us problems. Host: Because I have had farmers who have complained, for example, about the price, or they take my milk, they don't take my milk, or people about the price, and that affects it. These small ones don't pay, you understand. Azbi: Small ones don't pay. They don't pay in advance because there isn't much competition either, and it's a mountainous area, a difficult place. Host: But the quality of the milk? Azbi: The quality is good, and it's not bad quality. For me, for example, it was better because we had more milk, it gives more volume, you understand. Host: This is the wildest place. Why is pasture important for milk quality? Azbi: Yes, it's very important for quality, but also for me as a farmer, for the volume, the liters, you understand. Because it gave a lot. If here it gives 500 grams, for example, there it came to 700-800. Host: I understand. Azbi: I don't get, for example, that milk that you get there, I don't get it here. Host: Who taught you all this? Azbi: I inherited it from my father, from my father. Host: From your father? Because your father is also in this business. Azbi: In this business since 1991, when it became private. Host: And before, what did your father do? Azbi: Cooperative. With the cooperative's sheep. Host: With the cooperative's sheep? Azbi: Yes. Host: So you grew up. Azbi: Yes, since I was born until I was brought up with the livestock. Host: You didn't go to that shepherd's school they talked about. Azbi: No, no, I haven't gone to that school yet. Host: Did you see that video? Azbi: Yes, I saw that video. I will do it now. Host: Will you also do the shepherd's school? Azbi: The academy? Yes. Host: The shepherd's academy. Oh, Azbi, fantastic. You grew up, so you grew up here. What do you think? Is school needed for a shepherd, since we are here? Azbi: Not at all. Not at all. It has nothing to do with practice. You can spend all day in school, but without practice, it's useless. I can become a shepherd. Host: And you don't become one. But you have to take off your clothes. Azbi: I have to take off these clothes. Host: City clothes. Azbi: No more city clothes. Host: Yes, you are right about that. Azbi: You told me when you were little, and you were born here. Host: Yes, I was born here. When did you first go out with the livestock? Azbi: For the very first time, at the age of eight. Host: Eight years old? Azbi: Of course, I followed my father. You understand? I did work at that age. Host: You helped your father. Azbi: Yes. Host: You helped your father. Then did you like it, or was it normal? Azbi: If I didn't like it, I wouldn't still be doing it. What I liked, I have a passion for. Host: But maybe the conditions and circumstances also play a role sometimes. Azbi: No, okay, the conditions are there, but I also have a passion for it, you understand. It's not just work, it's a passion. Host: Tell me, I want to understand what you like about being a shepherd. Azbi: I like the work, being with them, taking care of them, where they graze, for example. I feel pleasure, I feel good. Host: Good. What is a shepherd's day like? Azbi: You wake up in the morning, you wake up at 6 o'clock. You go to the livestock there, you check them for illness, you open the water for the little ones, you start giving them hay, corn, grass. Host: Uh-huh, uh-huh. Azbi: If it's around 10:00, you take them out now in winter. Around 10:00, we take them out. We take them to pasture. Host: How long do you keep them in pasture then? Azbi: Until the afternoon. Host: Until four in the afternoon? Azbi: Yes. Host: And then you go home again. Azbi: So we will go there, finish our work, feed them again. Host: Uh-huh. Have you fixed up your house, or do you have the old house you had? Azbi: No, I built the house, I made it new. Host: You built a new house. Uh, do you know how much I've always enjoyed being among the livestock? Uh, who doesn't enjoy it, tell me. Host: To see the work. Azbi: Well, to see it. Host: Yes, because the work then is not... Azbi, you are an only child. Azbi: No, I have a brother and two sisters. Host: A brother and two sisters. Uh, were you the youngest? Azbi: No, the second to last. I have a younger sister too. Host: The second to last? How old are you? Azbi: '84. Host: 34 years old. Azbi: Yes. Host: What do you say? 34 years old and with livestock since you were eight. Azbi: Yes. Host: What difficulties do you have during the day, for example? Azbi: There are difficulties because when it rains, you have to stay inside. You have to stay inside all day. When it rains, you have to take care. Host: You stay in the rain here? Azbi: Yes, you have to stay. You have to say, whether it's rain or sun or snow. They need to eat. Host: In fact, when I think about our work, we don't want to go out when it rains. That's why I say they have it every day, always as if it's sunny, even when it rains. Host: What other difficulties does a shepherd have, for example? Azbi: There are difficulties. There are also hardships, for example, you have to secure food supplies because winter is coming, they need to eat, and for summer, you have to find the mountain again with pastures to graze, and then you will milk them, or you will milk them twice? Host: Well, why do you have to come all the way here, for example, to this mountainous area? Why don't you take them out to a simple field? Where is there a field? There isn't. But if we find a field, we don't have the opportunity for all of them, you understand, that we could go to a field there because buying land there is expensive, and renting, as I said, you can't find land easily. Host: Why, is this land yours? Azbi: Yes, the land is mine. Host: Is it your land? Azbi: The land is mine. Host: Is it inherited property from your father? Azbi: Yes, inherited land, property from my father. What did your grandfather do? Azbi: My grandfather was like this. In Enver's time, he worked as a bricklayer in construction. Host: In construction? Azbi: Then when it became private, he was a pensioner. He didn't make me afraid of the cameras. Host: No, they didn't know you, and... Host: Look, what are these called? What did you name them? Azbi: The black one is called Zebo. Host: Zebo? Azbi: Because he is black. Host: Uh-huh. And the white one? Azbi: Has wool. Host: Has wool. Azbi: Has wool. Because he has wool. Uh, you said you went out into nature at eight years old. Azbi: Yes. Host: And you started dealing with livestock. Azbi: Yes. Did you always think when you were little that you would be a shepherd? Azbi: When I was little, it was my dream. Host: A dream to become a shepherd. I was little. I had a lot of desire, a lot of enjoyment. I had my own sheep. Host: And when they asked you, for example, when you were little, what did you want to be? I said, a shepherd. Azbi: A shepherd? Host: Yes. Azbi: So you are realizing your dream. Host: Yes, I have made it a reality now. Host: You have made your dream a reality? Azbi: Yes. Host: Yes. This communication you have is so good? Azbi: How good? Host: It's very good. Azbi: Yes, like everyone else. Host: You are like everyone else. Now there are people who don't speak that well. Uh-huh. 2025, because there is no one who... Host: Who said that? Azbi: Uh, you didn't have other passions? Host: No, what is true is that these were my obsessions, like obsessions. I had this obsession. Azbi: Uh, I then dedicated myself to this. I didn't continue school after finishing high school. I didn't go to college. Host: Did you like school? Azbi: Not much. Host: Not much. You didn't like it? Azbi: You only liked physical education. Host: What about mathematics, etc.? But at least biology, because in biology you also studied animals. Azbi: I learned that too. Host: You knew that. No one needed to ask you. Listen, what else does a shepherd need during the year? To know when the animal has its season, meaning when it gives birth, when... Azbi: Yes, when it gives birth, you need to. Host: When is the shearing season? Azbi: In June, here. Host: In June, you always shear. What do you do with the wool? Azbi: The wool is thrown away, no one takes it. Host: No one takes the wool. Azbi: Thrown away. What else do you produce that you can't use? So, the sheep's wool that you remove, you don't use it much, except for the wool that goes to the goats, because the others, no. For example, we use the manure, we put it in the soil, those who plant. Azbi: Sales of livestock, we use them. Then meat, of course, we use milk. These are things that don't go to waste, only the wool has no value. Host: But why with sheep, why not with goats, for example? Azbi: Well, and with goats... You told me goats, but not as much as sheep. I feel a bit better with sheep, you understand. Host: Why? Azbi: They are a bit more tiring, they struggle, and these are more comfortable. Host: But you told me you enjoyed this work. Enjoy, we say, we will work, we will die for work. Azbi: Why, they are 10. Host: They tire you more? Azbi: They tire you more. In fact, they climb rocks, difficult ones, like sheep on the field. Host: Who is cleaner? The goat or the sheep? Azbi: The goat is cleaner. Host: Whose meat is better? Azbi: The goat. Goat meat... Host: Yes, Yzmeti doesn't make it when they say it. Its meat and cheese are better, for example. Host: Are you the only one living here in the village from your family? Azbi: I am with my mother, I am left with my mother. Host: Your brother is in Italy, married, your sisters are married. Uh, your brother is in Italy. Azbi: Yes. Host: How many years older is he than you? Azbi: Five years. Host: Five years. And one of your sisters, how much older is she? Azbi: One is two years younger, and one is two years older. The older sister is two years older than my brother. The sister is the oldest. Uh, the sister was first. Host: Yes, I am. The other sister is two years younger than me in age. Host: So, a family with four children. How was life in the village? Azbi: Very good. A bit with hardships, with suffering. And the village has one thing, it has work. Host: But you haven't tried the city? Azbi: I tried for a short time. Host: Where? Azbi: In Tirana. Host: You stayed in Tirana? Azbi: For a short time. I was abroad for a short time. Host: Where? In which countries? Azbi: In Greece. Host: How long? Azbi: About twice for three months. Host: You go and come back. Azbi: Yes. Host: Within a year. Azbi: Yes. Host: What kind of work did you do there? Azbi: I worked in construction, in agriculture. Host: Uh-huh. Azbi: It's tiring, difficult, dependent on others, those things. Then, my own work here is better. Maybe I stabilized, I haven't moved. Host: Why didn't they pay you well in Greece? Azbi: No, it's not that they didn't pay well. But I don't know, it seems to me that I wasn't worth it. Host: Why? Tell me what you think. How do you feel it? Azbi: For the amount of work I do, I am never paid enough for the work I do. Host: And in Tirana, how long did you stay? Azbi: I stayed in Tirana for about five months. Host: Why? Azbi: I couldn't bear it. It was expensive. Host: Tirana was expensive. Azbi: Life was expensive. The workday was short. Host: And what work did you do there in Tirana? Azbi: Carpentry work. Host: Let's say carpentry, because I couldn't last that long, for example. As an assistant. Azbi: How much did they pay you? As an assistant carpenter. How much did they pay you at that time when I was there? 450,000 lek. Host: What year did you start working? Azbi: '13, '13. Host: And then what did your father and mother tell you? Azbi: Well, try wherever you want. If you feel good here, come back here. If not... Host: How good you were. And look, you were almost 23-24 years old there. Azbi: Yes. Host: Did you ever think about going to school? Azbi: No, I didn't think about it. Host: A vocational school, for example. Azbi: No, I... Host: You could have become an electrician, a carpenter, a... Azbi: I said I had a strong inclination for those things. Host: Do you like sports, or are you not interested at all? Honestly? Azbi: Not at all. I don't watch it. Host: What other passion do you have? Azbi: What passion would I have? Host: Do you listen to music? Azbi: Yes. Host: You listen. What kind of music do you like? Azbi: Very popular music. Host: Popular music? Azbi: Yes. Host: Yes. These modern songs? Azbi: Rarely. Host: Do you have a favorite singer among these popular ones? Azbi: Yes. Host: There is Ylli Baka, Duindi, we have from Skrapar because we are bordering Skrapar. Azbi: And a village above me. Then the village starts. Host: Are you from Gramsh? Azbi: From Gramsh. Host: Is your father alive? Azbi: He is no longer alive. Host: He is no longer alive. Uh, how long has it been since he passed away? Azbi: Almost two months. Host: He passed away recently? Azbi: Yes. Host: What happened? Azbi: He was sick with cancer. Host: How old was your father? Azbi: 68. Host: 68 years old. You were, you were very close to your father, of course, because you were with him all the time. Azbi: Yes, it was a quick, sudden departure. Host: Did it take a year and a half? He had an operation, underwent chemotherapy, we took him to Italy, we did... Azbi: We did all the treatment there. Host: In Italy? Azbi: It went well for a year. Host: Where did you ask him? Azbi: Head. Host: In the head. I understand. Azbi: It went well for a year, then... Host: Did the doctors give him hope? Azbi: Yes, here the intervention was done here in Albania, because they hadn't arranged the papers yet, and they gave us a lot of hope, but it was vain hope, he couldn't make it. After a year with chemotherapy and things, after a year, it hit again, another fatal blow. He was paralyzed for about five months. Host: The last days, the last two months... Azbi: More or less, he was just living, but not... Host: We were just keeping him alive, feeding him. Azbi: I understand. Host: Who do you resemble more, your mother or your father? Azbi: They say I resemble my father. Host: Really. Why were you so similar to him? Azbi: Our physique. Host: What did he worry about? What did he worry about? He just wanted us to be well. That was his desire, for us to see our future. You told me you took your father to Italy. Azbi: Yes. Host: Why did you choose to take him to Italy? Azbi: Because of the better doctors, the medicines, everything. Host: And how was the medicine in Albania? Because they say you don't really understand unless you've experienced it yourself. Azbi: Here it's as bad as it can get. We who were here, you would go for a visit, they wouldn't let you in, they would make you wait. With the illness he had, they had to wait when you went to them for X-rays, we would be delayed, waiting for two or three hours in the hospital corridors, people, doctors, people working at the doors. The X-ray machine was broken. You understand, they delayed us several times for chemotherapy. Then we went to Italy because he started getting X-rays here. He only got X-rays here. He didn't get chemotherapy here. Host: It's tiring when you have someone in the hospital, it's very tiring. It's very tiring, isn't it? Azbi: Yes, it is very. Host: And did you go to Italy to visit your father? Azbi: Yes, my brother took me. Host: Only your brother took you. You yourself didn't go. Azbi: I couldn't go because I was with the livestock here. I had my work here. Host: Did your father take care of the livestock until he discovered the illness? Azbi: Yes, yes, until the last day. Host: How did he discover it? He just had a stroke, a sign at first. They thought it was paralysis, then they went and did... Azbi: So he wasn't moving. He had a blockage at first. Then he went and did the tests, the scans, the resonance, to find out. Host: Until the last day, he loved them, he loved the sheep very much. Azbi: Yes, people find common ground, don't they? Because someone might have a family member, they might have a family member, but it's the same as your situation. Host: I don't know. What would I say? What would I say? Patience, and only God. Only God. You can't do anything else. Only what God has written. And be patient. Be patient, be patient, and try to do everything you can. Host: Well, then you are your mother's weak spot. Azbi: She is left. Host: She is left with your mother. Now you also have her, and you worry about her. Azbi: Yes, of course. Host: Uh, yes, of course. Host: Are you married yourself? Azbi: No. Single. Host: Single. Uh. Do you worry about being single? Worry, worry. Azbi: I worry more, for example, that I would have created my own family. As time goes by, age is passing. Host: You are still young. Azbi: Well, I'm not saying I'm old. Host: 34 years old. Now, I believe it's an age when a family should be created. Host: Haven't you met any girl who perhaps could create a family? Azbi: No, not at the moment. Host: Not at the moment. But before. Don't tell me only at the moment. Azbi: What does it matter to us, why we came for tea and conversation. Why would these... Host: Why have you never been in love? Azbi: No, never. Host: Really? Azbi: Never. Host: Not at all. You are 34 years old. Azbi: No, no. Not at all. Never. Host: Not at all. Uh, and in high school, you didn't fall in love? Azbi: No. Host: You seemed to have fallen in love in high school. Azbi: Yes, but you don't say anything. Host: Listen, I'm not asking for names. The name doesn't matter. Azbi: And I'm saying it doesn't matter. I didn't. I haven't had it. Host: Well, weren't you someone's love? Azbi: Ah, I don't know about that. Host: Uh? Azbi: I don't know. Well, haven't you ever had someone express themselves to you? Azbi: No. Host: What do you say? Azbi: Well, when you see, for example, those stories, those love stories written with letters? Host: I don't know. I don't know how to write. I can't write. Host: You can't write. Really? Azbi: Oh, you can't write. You don't know how to write at all. You should know how to write, you went to high school for that. But I watch, I follow these programs with love stories. Sometimes when I have time. Host: Who do you follow? Azbi: No, sometimes, sometimes we don't have time because at the time they are on, I am at work. Only when I see something on the phone. Host: Yes. Azbi: Yes. Host: Do you have social media? Azbi: Normally. Host: And do they write to you like that? Have they ever written to you on social media? Azbi: They write. Host: They write. Do you have any requests? Azbi: No. Host: No. Azbi: Not at all. Not one. Host: Not one. What criteria do you have? How do you want, for example, your dream girl? Because you have found your dream job. Now, the dream girl is the issue. Azbi: She should be a simple person, a person for the family. Host: Just simple. Azbi: Simple and normal. Host: And someone who has money? Azbi: No, I don't want that. Host: Why? Azbi: Because those who have money have demands. Host: Why are you such a young man? What's the problem? A young man who communicates. Now, this is a job that a person will live and have a good life. What does this mean? A girl... Azbi: That's what you call it, but not everyone calls this job what you call it. They call it ordinary work, this job that I do. Women, for example, girls have demands, they say, "No, with sheep, that's not a job." It's an offensive job. Host: It's an offensive job. Which girls claim this? Azbi: All girls. Especially girls from the village. Girls from the village. I think about this. Host: Has there been, I'm being honest, has there been any girl in the village who has expressed this concern that she doesn't want to? Azbi: Truly, and you might have... Host: You might have asked for her hand. Azbi: Yes. Host: That she doesn't want to do village work. She wants to leave the village. Azbi: They want village life. You understand? Host: Where do they want to go? Azbi: To Tirana, to Germany, to England, I don't know, abroad. Host: I understand. Further, further, or it's not easy to be from the village, and we who have suffered like this, they want, for example, to demand something better. Azbi: Uh-huh. Host: Because I have suffered like this, I have lived my whole life, to go and fix it better. Azbi: But you love the village. Host: Yes. Azbi: You love the livestock. Have you ever thought of selling the livestock, for example? Azbi: Not at the moment. I don't know. Host: To start a life somewhere. Azbi: Well, for now, you live. Host: For now. Azbi: Later, I don't know how things will turn out. Host: Are you a believer yourself? Azbi: Yes. Host: What faith? Azbi: Bektashi faith. Host: Bektashi? Azbi: Yes. Host: So you believe in... Azbi: I believe in God. Host: In God. Azbi: And we have a tekke, we call it our faith. Host: Who is your dervish at your tekke? Azbi: Xhelal. Host: Will you become the leader of the Bektashis? Azbi: I will get the passport. Host: You will get the passport. Do you have a public figure that you like and often follow on social media? Azbi: I don't have a preference. Host: You don't have any TV program that you like? Azbi: Many shows, for example, I watch these things, these things that are related to the village. These things don't interest me, politics, these things at all. Host: You don't like politics at all? Azbi: No. Host: Why? Azbi: I don't like it because... Host: You told me at the beginning that you can't graze the livestock because the lands are blocked. Azbi: Yes. Host: Yes. And that part is politics. Azbi: It's politics. That's our politics, that they block us in every way. Then comes the issue of selling the lambs, they lower the prices, they block us. You understand, they never get what is rightfully ours, our due. They bring Macedonian meat from outside. Azbi: Uh-huh. Host: My lambs remain unsold. They put a price on them. I can't sell them. I can't get my money. They sell them so cheaply. As a country... Host: How much do they ask for your lamb? Azbi: Well, at the moment it's 6000 lek per kg. There is some demand now because there aren't many, you understand. Many lambs haven't started. When the period comes when many lambs are sold, they will take them for 4,000 lek, which is below cost. Host: In reality, how much should a lamb be sold for? Azbi: Well, at least a lamb should be 6,000 lek. Host: And how much did they buy the milk for? Azbi: Well, it depends. It was 1000 lek at first. It went up to 1300. Host: 1300? Azbi: Yes. Host: Per liter? Azbi: Per liter. Host: That's not bad. Azbi: It's not bad. Host: With milk. Azbi: It's not bad. Host: Only with livestock. Selling meat is bad. Azbi: It's a problem with lambs because they bring meat from outside. Host: And where did you take the meat before? Azbi: Well, we had traders, they would buy it. Traders, restaurants, and these. Host: But the trader doesn't come directly. They buy from them, and the restaurants don't buy from us, for example, because they are connected to the trader. Because I can't supply the restaurant all year round, because I don't have it all year round. Host: Do you have a veterinarian? Azbi: We do. Host: You have veterinarians? Do they visit your animals often? Azbi: Yes, they come when there are vaccinations. We mostly become veterinarians ourselves. We have learned to do it ourselves. Host: You do it all yourself. Azbi: Yes. Host: Yes. Veterinarians who come from the municipality groups. Azbi: We only have the veterinarian who comes from the municipality groups. Host: Are all these registered? Azbi: Yes, registered. Host: Registered. Uh, and you pay taxes. Azbi: We pay. Host: You pay taxes. Azbi: Normally. Host: Can you use a computer? Azbi: No. Host: Well, why can you use a phone and not a computer? Azbi: Because I don't carry a computer with me among the sheep. I carry the phone with me everywhere. Where did your father want to be buried? Azbi: Here in the village. Host: In the village? Azbi: Yes, in the village cemetery. He always wanted that. Did you not think, for example, he asked me, the last time he was paralyzed. How much is your mother's pension? 67, it hasn't reached 7000 lek. Host: How much do you need per month to live a good life in the village? Azbi: Well, it depends. If you don't have worries, things are different. But when you have worries, expenses are high. If you have health worries, things depend, you don't have a fixed rate. Host: Did you give money for your father? Azbi: Plenty. Host: To the doctors? Azbi: Very much so. They wouldn't even touch you without money, like a bribe, I think. Host: They caught something. Azbi: I don't know. They caught something. Host: To bring it. Azbi: No. Oh Azbi, I was very pleased to meet you. Azbi: It was a pleasure for me. Host: You, this interesting 34-year-old shepherd who has realized your dream. Azbi: Yes. Host: It was very beautiful. If I were to invite you, for example, to come to Tirana for a job, would you leave here? Azbi: No, I don't think so. Host: To work on television, for example? Azbi: I don't know, I don't think so at the moment. No. Host: You and Azbi are of the same generation, but two different people. Azbi: Different. Host: I thank you very much for having you today for an interview on Real People. Now you will tell people to subscribe to my YouTube channel. Azbi: How should I say it? Host: Subscribe. Do a... Azbi: Oh, you. Subscribe. Host: Subscribe. Bravo, because you are. I asked you about YouTube channels, and there, subscribe to the channel, do the bell, and every interview will be posted there. Azbi: Yes. Host: What else should people keep in mind about Azbi? He is single, so some good luck. Azbi: Thank you. Uh, who knows? What is your Instagram name? Azbi: Azbi Turku. Host: Azbi. Azbi: Turku. Host: Turku. Is it together? Azbi: Yes. Host: Without any dots, periods, or anything? Azbi: No, together. Host: Let me see. Azbi: Wait a minute, let me see, let me check there. Host: Because I will write to you on Instagram. Who? Azbi: No, I don't follow anything. As soon as I opened it, the first news appeared. Host: What appeared? Azbi: No, news, but it's asbi.pik.240. That's your name. Now let me check who I follow. Because who knows, I follow public figures. I don't follow any of these public figures. Azbi: No. Host: But all girls. Azbi: Yes, the boy himself. Host: Well, one follows, one follows a public figure, a politician, or... Host: Do you follow Ramsi? Azbi: Yes, and I might follow him. Host: You don't follow him. Who are you with? Azbi: Me? Host: You are bordering Skrapar. You seem to be with Ilir Meta. Azbi: No, no. Host: No, but who are you with? Azbi: Not one of them, because they are not... Host: With Berisha? Azbi: Not at all, not with one. Host: Not with Lapa? Azbi: Not with one either, because none of them are for work. What do they want? Thieves, all of them. Another thief, a deceiver. Host: Well, let me ask you a question. If you were prime minister, what would be the first change you would make? Azbi: For the country, for the people, for the population. Simple roads, things, at least villages, things need roads. The road itself is scandalous. Host: Wouldn't you take money? Azbi: I would take it. But not as much as they take. Host: You would also take it? Azbi: Yes, everyone takes it, you and I, if we were in that position. But not like that, but not to take. But not like they take, they only steal. They don't invest anything. Host: Why should you take it? A person, perhaps, even not... Did your father ever take money? Azbi: He didn't do anything with the sheep. Host: Well, in the communist era, didn't he do anything? He wasn't imprisoned because he was persecuted. Azbi: Was your father persecuted? Host: Our village is in history because it was the village of Abas Ermenj, who founded the Balli. This village here. Host: Ah? Azbi: Yes. And they were all from this village, a quality village. We were persecuted. Host: So, you were all, well, you were the village of the Ballists? Azbi: Yes, we are the village of the Ballists. My father's uncle was Haber 18. I don't know, this is the first time I've come to Ermenj, to tell the truth. Host: And this is the village of the Ballists, and it originated here. It is the village of Abas Ermenj, and he kept the name, he kept the village as his surname. Azbi: I understand, it's clear. Host: And your grandfather was born here? Azbi: Yes. Host: And your great-grandfather was here. Azbi: Yes, yes, it could be three or four generations. Host: Three or four generations that you have been here. Uh. And you will stay in Besnik Ermenj? Azbi: To some extent. Host: Here? Azbi: To some extent. Host: Good. Thank you very much for having this conversation together. Azbi: Thank you. Host: And always take care of the livestock, because this is a very beautiful job. I would have loved to stay in the village with all my heart. I don't want to stay in the city either. Azbi: The city doesn't appeal to me. I don't like the city much. Host: But what about daily work? Azbi: In time, you go to a village, buy a sheep, a goat, a calf. Host: Yes, now they buy them for Instagram too. Azbi: Where should I take the calf, tell me. Host: Ergeni. Azbi: Oh, you are something else. Host: Look, I'm closing my interview with Real People. Don't forget to follow Flori Gjini's YouTube channel. Don't forget to give me your suggestions on my social media, on Instagram. Write to me on Facebook, write to me about characters you want me to interview, and perhaps, why not, an interesting surprise that we can do. Someone that you absolutely need, and to have it as a memory, because this is a very beautiful thing. So, leave your comment there, and we must have good people in this life, real people. We will meet in, I don't know, the next episode, the next video that we will upload together. I embrace you. Ciao. To follow Real People, subscribe to my YouTube channel, Flori Gjini.