I got to be a part of it – My professional & personal journey in – New York, New York

For the last couple of months, I have been living a few miles away from home, and to be a little bit more precise, 4,618 miles away…in New York City. As I attempt to make my way in this enormous, crowded, chaotic, but at the same time charming and fascinating city, one question keeps coming to mind: Who would have thought?

The answer to this question lays within the pandemic, this unprecedented event that lead to an extraordinary experience in my life. The pandemic was a lot of things for everyone, and I make no exception. Seeing the whole world struggle and kneel in front of a virus, was definitely not a pretty or encouraging sight to see. However ironically enough it is sometimes the upsetting views or situations that cause major positive turns in the path of life; they shake you to the core and make you comprehend important things.

In my case, the pandemic had a pivotal role, simply because seeing how vulnerable we are in front of unpredicted difficulties, made me realize that we have to seize every opportunity we can get in this life and at the same time continuously grow and evolve to have a better chance against the challenges the future may hold.

It was during the lockdown in Albania that I made the important decision to change my life and applied for the AADF MIP programme, for a professional fellowship in the United States. Fast forward almost one year later, with all the struggles of the pandemic situation, I am now living and working in New York City.

Having read and listened to all the stories and watched all the movies, you think you might have a grasp of how life is supposed to be in the big apple, and yet you come here and realize that it is nothing like you have imagined…it is even better.

My professional and personal adventure – an unpredictable and enlightening one – started in September 2021, with a New York City recovering from the pandemic and gradually resuming normal life. I can’t even begin to explain how the words “New York City is back” shouted now and then randomly in the streets, make me feel. Indeed, it is back, in all its features, the good and not so good ones. The best thing about this hectically beautiful city for me, it`s not the lights, the famous attractions, the sky-high buildings, or the fact that it never sleeps, but the diversity that characterizes it. This city has a place for anyone, anytime – you can be yourself in it, and maybe you can even find yourself here. NYC gives you the feeling that you can achieve whatever goal you have in your mind, and whatever dream you have in your heart, being an excellent confidence booster and source of inspiration.

As a former Albanian public servant, now navigating in the international relations and diplomatic world, NYC – home to the United Nations HQ – has certainly been enlightening for my professional journey as well. During my 7 years in the Albanian public administration, I created a sense of the international arena and the diplomatic world, however now I am experiencing all of it quite differently and from a fresh perspective. I have had the opportunity to work at Independent Diplomat (ID), a diplomatic advisory group that works to support more inclusive peace processes, working inside the diplomatic system to ensure that the voices of the people most affected by international negotiations are heard in discussions about their futures. During this time, I have followed more closely the most catastrophic humanitarian crises the world is currently facing, the fights people less fortunate than us go through on a daily basis, co-living with famine, insecurity and death. However, what is moving, is that no matter the challenges and difficulties, among them there are leading voices, extremely brave people who speak against the oppression and fight for their country and people, leading voices that need to be heard and be included in the vital decisions being taken in the international arena regarding the fate of their own country. Working with ID`s staff of former diplomats and communication experts – who with their efforts have achieved important milestones in some of the pressing issues in the world today, from the Women Peace and Security Agenda and Refugees to climate change – has been motivating and encouraging and has certainly given me a new outlook for my career path and for what I would like to achieve in the future not only as a professional but as an individual as well.

I came to the US with high expectations to go through a significant personal and professional journey, and I have to say those expectations have been surpassed. And as this whole experience is approaching its finish line, I am really excited to get back home and put to practice the knowledge and skills I have acquired here. I have learned so much during these past months, not only on international relations, negotiations, mediations or diplomacy but also on the multifaceted world and people out there.

It gives me quite some pride to know that I’ll be back to Albania with a wider perspective, a more open mind, more confident and enthusiastic about the role I can play and the contribution I can give to my country, community and society in this day and age. What’s more is, that I go back home knowing that I lived this experience to the fullest not only professionally but personally as well. I walked the streets of this marvelous city every day – yes, the streets that make you feel brand new, and saw the lights that inspire you – I visited its breathtaking museums, libraries and landmarks, travelled to a few other lovely states, watched Broadway shows and stand up comedies. I also got to celebrate my first Thanksgiving ever, realizing that I have so much to be thankful for, and the most magical of it all – I got to experience the sparkling and fairytale-like Christmas in NYC. And through it all I meet some amazing people; colleagues who taught me so much and shared their valuable knowledge with me, new friends who made this journey extraordinary, and old friends who made me feel like home.

I am well aware that time after time I will miss New York City, the US – land of the free, home of the brave, the “rollercoaster” of emotions that the whole experience has been, but I`m glad that for a while, I got to be a part of it, for a while I got to live the dream and the magic. And so can you.

Cheers to everyone who made this journey a remarkable one, family, friends and colleagues and enormous thanks to AADF for making it possible in the first place.

Arvena Deda
Independent Diplomat, NYC, MIP Fellow, Cohort 2021-2022