Ever wanted to dig deep into Kosovo’s interesting and diverse culture but don’t know where to start? Located in the capital of Kosovo is the ever-authentic ethnological museum. Originally home of the Gjikolli family during the XVIII, the residence now serves as a stepping stone which links together two different time periods. The question is, how can such a place, frozen in time, bring something new to a modern age?
I had to pause for a moment and take in the fact that the place I was about to enter was around four centuries old, and as such it had seen our people’s every important moment: our days of joy, grief, pride, and unfairness. The entrance radiated respect; the brown wooden doors contrasting with the white walls were an eye-catcher.
I especially resonated with the stairs; after centuries of people walking all over them, they still remained strong and functional, just like everyone of us should. However, if you decided to treat yourself to Kosovo’s delecacies before visiting this place, like I did, be careful while climbing the stairs.
The Oda’s regal atmosphere made me feel that I was not worthy enough to enter. As a person who used to enter Odas while there was a meeting, I somehow expected to be yelled at by an old man and asked to leave or to get wood for fire. The room itself was built to handle both cold and hot days; the room was naturally cool and the metallic pot was used to carry charcoal to warm up the room temperature.
The women’s room felt repressed; the lack of space and light compared to the bright and wide Oda seemed unfair. As I also noticed, there were cradles. Women were expected to keep the babies asleep in a room right next to the Oda, which could have been challenging during noisy meetings.
We also met this enchanted-looking mirror which was used by the women to adjust themselves, and the box held brushes, jewelry, and other necessities. As for our silly expressions, I told my colleague the possibility of the mirror being haunted, which got into her head.
Lastly, I entered the kitchen. The chairs, though small in size, were really practical as they could be easily moved around. The many kitchen appliances made me wander of the all the traditional food that was served there, and the methods used to make it. The decision to have a metallic “sofra”(dinner table) was a smart one, for it can be easily cleaned and, just like the plates in the background.
If you don’t know what this is, you probably have gotten used to takeouts. The word for it is “Magje”, which is an object still used to hold flour until needed to make bread. The wood used for it seemed quite strong. The real stars, however, are the buckets that were used for the mixture of flour. I have never seen them before; just goes to show how well the craftsmanship was and the residents’ love and care for their home.
I liked how, at least for one day, I got to live in a different time period. All the time I felt as though I was a member of the Gjikolli family. This ancient place brings an experience which is necessary in a society that keeps moving only forward, oblivious to the past that became the foundation of everything we stand as a country. It is a new experience of old lifestyles which only a few places can bring, and I am glad I got to try one.
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