I always remind myself that every first experience comes with a mix of excitement and anticipation for the unknown, while at the same time, trying to keep composure and not let stress take over — as I embark on a first-time experience. 

However, my first plane trip didn’t come with a dose of excitement — it was pure stress. I had no idea what to do beforehand, and I didn’t have much advice to rely on. In my family, since the visa regime was lifted in 2024, I was the first to travel by plane. My dad had flown when he returned from Germany immediately after the 1998-99 war in Kosovo, but so much time had passed since then that he had forgotten the procedures.

In this vague situation, I was fortunate not to have to handle the ticket reservation process. I was traveling to take part in a research trip to the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. At the time, the thought of this opportunity was too wonderful to be true. Yet, today, when I reflect on Brussels as the home of key institutions of the EU — the same EU that kept us isolated for so long — I feel a mix of pride and frustration.

We feel a sense of pride that we are finally able to travel freely, combined with frustration over the obstacles and delays that occurred in the visa liberalization process. The frustration created a sense of abandonment and disrespect toward the EU, a union that was expected to be open and supportive of us.

My first trip was scheduled for April 15. As the days went by, my stress only grew. First, I worried about the travel itself because I didn’t know the other participants in the research trip, and I would have to travel alone until meeting them. Second, I was anxious about what the trip itself might be like once I got there.

Three and a half hours ago

I’ve packed my suitcase many times before for summer vacations, but this time was different. For my first trip, I made sure to pack not only all the necessary items but also the finest clothes. I opened and closed that poor suitcase repeatedly, in fear that I might have forgotten something

The long-awaited day arrived. I remember that Monday as if it were today. It was an exhilarating thought that in the morning I would be in Prishtina and by evening I would be in Brussels. Yet, the journey from the city to Prishtina airport seemed to stretch on forever.

The constant stress of worrying about forgetting something was only magnified by the thought of a long queue. That rule of arriving two hours before the flight didn’t apply in my case — I arrived three and a half hours early.

Since the airport in Prishtina is not very large, finding the check-in area was not difficult. While waiting in line, I joined a chat group on Viber with the participants of the trip. I chose to message one of the girls from Kosovo in the group to ask if she had arrived at the airport. Before I knew it, she was standing next to me, and we started getting to know each other.

After completing the check-in, we made our way upstairs to security control. That procedure was stress-inducing, making me feel like I had something illegal with me even though I didn’t. Once past the control, I started talking to another participant and discovered that she was also traveling for the first time. So, neither of us knew what to expect. Following that, we met up with the rest of the participants.

It was too early to find the gate, so we passed time on the outside terrace of the airport until very soon, we had to be ready to board the plane. Not knowing what I was doing, I simply followed everyone else boarding the plane, hoping my seat would be near the window. As luck would have it, it was.

I will never forget the moment of takeoff. The noise until the plane’s wheels left the ground is still etched in my mind. As the plane rose into the sky, I looked in front of me, behind me and to the sides to check if everything was okay. The middle seat was empty, while in the other seat, a woman had been asleep since the moment she sat down. Wow, I thought to myself, how easy this flight must be for some people.

As we ascended into the sky, the view became more and more beautiful. A minute ago, I was on the ground, and now I was in the sky. Laughter overcame me. I continued to enjoy the view, and various thoughts came to my mind. When everything seemed to be in order, I remembered how tired I was and decided that a quick nap would be the solution.

In Brussels

The journey to Brussels was long, as the flight had two stops. The first stop was in Munich, Germany. Everything was different from the previous airport. Munich’s airport was much larger than Prishtina’s. To find our gate, we not only walked a lot, but also used the train and bus.

Everywhere I looked I saw people running with suitcases, who gave the impression that their flight was a matter of life or death. There was noise everywhere, and by the time we reached the gate, we were exhausted — not to mention that only half of the journey had passed. Despite everything, I remained energetic and brimmed with enthusiasm. 

Arriving in Brussels late in the evening, we hopped on a taxi to the hotel. Once settled into our rooms, hungry, the other participants and I decided to go out for pizza. While the day started with stress and ambiguity, it ended with lots of laughter. 

The next day saw us heading to the European Parliament. As soon as we arrived, a different energy filled the air. The Parliament was a vast space, and everywhere I looked I saw people, most of them in formal suits. In some areas, it felt like I was on a television set, as cameras were everywhere and people were being interviewed.

Brussels, with its five minutes of rain and 10 minutes of sunshine, was not ideal for someone who, like me, always craves summer. Although the weather wasn’t in my favor most of the time, I still found it easy to take the opportunity to explore the city. The old part of the city was astonishing. Brussels was known for its chocolates — every few steps, you’d find a shop selling them. They tasted fantastic and the people were very welcoming and sociable.

All these elements, with travelling and experiencing another city, have made this trip unforgettable, etching it as a wonderful experience in my memory. Now, every time I think of Brussels, I feel nostalgic for it and the time I spent there. Additionally, that experience taught me something new — how many new things I can do, how many new people I can meet, and how many new memories I can create.

Feature Image: Atdhe Mulla / K2.0

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This blog was published with the financial support of the European Union as part of the project “Diversifying voices in journalism.” Its contents are the sole responsibility of Kosovo 2.0 and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.