An Albanian woman and a Serb in Rajanovce in a happy marriage for over a decade

An Albanian woman Marijana, originally from Lezhe, exchanged it for the Kosovo-Pomoravlje by marrying a Serb, Caslav Jevtic, with whom she started building a new life in Rajanovce near Kosovska Kamenica over 11 years ago.

The marriage of Marijana and Caslav is proof that love can bridge cultural differences and overcome language barriers.

It all began about ten years ago when Jevtic decided to return to his village from Ub, marry, and create a family in Kosovo.

"My desire to return to my homeland for my mother was very strong, so I returned here in 2011, from Ub to my hometown where I grew up and went to school. Then, I realized that we couldn't live alone. Fate led me to Albania, where I met Marijana, and a love blossomed between us. By the beginning of spring in 2012, Marijana had arrived here", Caslav says.

When Marijana arrived in Rajanovce, she found a run-down house, and since Caslav is a heart patient, a more significant burden of responsibilities fell on her.

"She bears the entire burden of this household, taking everything upon herself, and now our children as well, as I must not do much work. They mow the grass, collect and tidy up... they do everything in the field. All in all, we are satisfied and more than satisfied. We make a living from agriculture, we have some land and livestock, and that's how we manage. We are in good standing with her family in Albania; we communicate, and they visit us. My wife is supposed to go to them; she went last year as well, but I don't go due to health issues. We live on some social assistance, and we educate our two children. The children are excellent students, receiving praise for their performance. We have to make a living. We thank all the good-hearted people who have helped us and continue to help us. Thank them very much, what else can I say", Caslav says.

In the beginning, it wasn't easy. Marijana didn't know Serbian, and Caslav didn't know Albanian, but over time, these barriers were overcome, and the community warmly accepted the daughter-in-law from Albania.

"People are good, it was a bit challenging for me in the beginning, but now I've learned a lot of the language, although there are still things I don't know, but it's okay. I have neighbors who come over. I come from a place near the sea, and it was hard at first, but when I can, I visit my family. We have plenty of work and are always busy", Marijana says.

The crown of Marijana and Caslav's love is their two daughters, Andjela and Vera. Accustomed to a modest life, they help their parents with daily household and agricultural chores.

"Our day looks nice; we work, milk the cows, clean, and study. We have many friends, play together, they come to our place, and we go to theirs", Vera said.

For Caslav's mother, Zivka, there is no better or more hard-working woman in the village than her daughter-in-law, Marijana.

"I couldn't wait for her to come to my house. I was alone, and I couldn't do the work. As soon as she came, I told her, 'Here, daughter-in-law, this is all yours'. She is good and beautiful. She works around the house, everything you see, she does it and cleans. I can't do it; I'm old. And she takes care of the children, educates them, and even works in the field. She does everything. There is no woman in the village like her", Zivka says.

The Kosovo Online team also experienced what kind of a housewife Marijana is, as they were welcomed with coffee, Serbian plum brandy, and a table full of food.