My World

May 12, 2010

These photos I have posted up are of a shoot I did in April before I left Canada. I got to shoot with one of my favourite stylists Jamie Rae (she is amazing). We shot outdoors and with my luck not only did it rain but it also hailed. Thank you Canada for your unpredictable weather. The model was a trooper. She still rocked the shoot with the little amount of clothing she had on lol.

Hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed creating them

Model: Sheila Hui, Make-up: Floe and Stylist: Jamie Rae

May 11, 2010

I have been in Tirana for the past 11 days and I’ve had the pleasure of seeing some of its true beauty that this unrecognized country has. Albania has so much potential as a country and many amazing things it has to offer, but it will never become well known nor be a part of the European Union unless the Albanian people change their way of living and most of all their way of thinking. Albania is Europe’s darkest corner and I hope as most of us Albanian’s hope that our country one day gets a light shining its way!

Enjoy the photos!

This is Tirana’s Beauty

May 7th, 2010

On May 5th , 2010 I went to visit my grandpa’s grave. Last time I saw my grandpa I was 14 years old him and my grandma came to Canada to visit us. My grandpa past away 2 years ago and I was in Canada while my mom and brother were here in Albania. I didn’t get to hug or kiss him one last time nor get to go to the funeral. Going to see someone who the last time you’ve  seen them they were alive, kind of freaked me out. It hits you hard and makes it reality that they are truly gone. I haven’t cried that hard since god knows when. It killed me inside. I kissed his photo there hugged him and talked to him. The hardest thing was when we had to leave. I couldn’t. my feet felt like they were nailed to the ground. I wanted to stay there forever.

When I got home I was talking to my grandma, she still feels the pain of my grandpa being gone and said it will never get easier. She said something to me that will never leave me. She said “Eri I have lost my mother, my father, and my sister and it was painful but nothing has been as painful as losing my husband, your life partner that you have experienced everything with, who knows you inside and out. It feels like you are no longer complete, you feel empty and no matter what something will always be missing.

I hope I never have to feel that kind of pain.

My Grandpa. Rest In Peace! I love you so much <3

May 4th, 2010

I’ve been in Albania for the past 4 days now and I can not put in words how much I have missed my family. My brother Elvis who I haven’t seen in 7 years and my mother who I haven’t seen in 6 years. My dearest  grandma who I haven’t seen since I was 14 years old and my cousins, aunts and uncles since I was 8 years old. Its been great spending time with them all!

Everything looks so different yet all to familiar. Remembering places where I used to play when I was younger, blurry faces clearing up and my mind begins to piece them together. I feel lost when I am out and about, people  looking at me like I do not belong, talking about me thinking I don’t understand them. So many people are so vulgar and have such animal characteristics here.

Feels weird to see animals roaming the streets eating garbage. Watching kids up to 4 years old walking around bare foot on the street looking for food all by themselves, sleeping on the street late at night with no one there to take care of them. I have never felt this kind of sadness like I’ve felt these past few days of witnessing all these things. I used to think my glass was always half empty, this life experience has opened my eyes and shown me that my glass has always been half full!