10 Things You Need To Know Before Visiting Japan

Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Visiting Japan

So you’re planning to study abroad in Japan? Well, there are just a few things every good traveler should know before visiting the Land of the Rising Sun. Otherwise, you may end up asking yourself a lot of questions...

 10.  “Why Are Some People Wearing Surgical Masks?”

This may be the first thing you notice on your visit. Don’t panic! There’s no disease going around. The Japanese wear surgical masks to avoid colds and other bacteria, but usually they’re worn if a person is already sick and wants to protect others. If you have a cold or catch one in Japan, be respectful and wear a mask as you travel. You can purchase them in any grocery or convenience store.  And don’t forget: 100 yen stores sell almost everything you might have forgotten or not known you’d need!

9.  “How Do They Keep the Country So Clean?”

Do not litter while visiting Japan. I repeat: Do not litter! The Japanese take great pains to keep their cities clean. You can trust that stores and restaurants are also held to this high standard. Most restaurants will ask you to remove your shoes before entering through the lobby. Shoes are seen as especially dirty because they touch the ground all day. As a guest in a Japanese household, you’ll be given guest slippers, but at restaurants your socks will suffice. If you need to use the toilet, bathroom slippers are provided.

8. “If Japan is So Clean, Why Are There No Trash Cans?”

In Japan, too many trash cans are dangerous in crowded areas. You’ll have to hold onto your garbage until you find one. Trash cans are usually grouped together in an open space. But hold on! Recycling is a major source of pride to the Japanese, and they recycle almost everything.

Remember: Observe the procedures (notice the pictures on the cans) and recycle trash properly.

7. “Why is Everyone So Quiet All the Time?” 

There is a time and a place for everything in Japan –– except blabbering loudly in public. In general, use an ‘indoor voice’ outside. This is hard for Westerners because we often speak loudly. Even if you think you’re speaking quietly, you’re probably not.

Remember: Do as the Japanese do! If everyone is silent on the train, be silent also. Sure, say a few things to your friend; just keep it down.

6. “Why is Nobody Accepting My Tips?”

Nobody tips in Japan. Ever. In fact, tipping is seen as a rude gesture. Don’t be surprised if a waiter or taxi driver hands your tip-money back. So what’s the deal? In Japan, nobody believes they deserve monetary incentive for doing a good job. If you try tipping them extra, it’s like bribing them to ‘do better.’ But don’t worry. The Japanese know you’re probably unaware of this, and won’t take it personally. If you try giving them a few extra yen, they’ll just hand it back and smile. No harm done.

5. “How am I Ever Going to Find My Way Around?”

Trust me, the subway is way easier than you think, but here are some tips to help you navigate the system. First, try walking to the ticket booths and saying to the employees inside: “Sumimasen. Eigo no mappu wo arimasuka?... Arigatou gozaimasu!” 

Excuse me. Is there an English map? ... Thank you so much! 

(Sue-mi-ma-sen. Ay-go no mah-pu o ah-ri-ma-ska? Ah-ri-ga-toe go-zai-mahss!)

Once you’ve got an English map, find your location. Then, trace a line along the rails leading to your destination. The number listed next to the destination is how much your ticket costs. Insert the amount into the ticket machine, take the ticket that pops out, and feed the ticket into the machines where you board. Most trains have screens that show destinations in English. The stops will usually be announced in English over the intercom, too. Remember to switch trains when necessary! If you do run into trouble, use these phrases to help you out.

“Sumimasen. ... wa doko desuka?”

Excuse me. Where is ... ?

(Sue-mi-ma-sen ... wa doe-ko dess-ka?)

“Watashi wa doko desuka?”

Where am I?

(Wa-ta-shi wa ...)

Remember: Always say, "arigatou gozaimasu!"

4. “What’s the Deal with the Toilets?”

If you just can’t resist a mysterious button, there’s one you must know among the thousands that Japanese toire(toe-ee-ray) have, and it looks like this: 止 This tiny button will save you from certain embarrassment if you find your toilet spraying water and playing music, because 止 stops every function and restores order to your bathroom.

Every house and most restaurants will have luxury toilets in Japan, but you won’t find them on the metro. Let’s review some of the buttons you’ll find on them...

おしり (oshiri), or ‘buttocks,’ releases a spray of water. If you’re standing, expect a punch of water in the face. ビデ (bide), or ‘bidet,’ is like oshiri, but for women. And 乾燥 (kansou), or ‘dry,’ will release a burst of air. Also, observe the flushers to conserve water –– 大 for a big flush and 小 for a tiny one.

Remember: Japanese bathrooms do not typically stock toilet paper! If you forget, buy some in the dispensers, if you’ve got the change.

3. “Why Won’t Anybody Accept My Credit Card?”

Japan is largely a cash-based society, so most places will not accept your credit card. Even grocery stores are often cash-only. That means you’ll need to convert your money if you want to buy anything –– or eat. Which you probably do. I recommend transferring cash to Yen before arriving in Japan. 

Traveling on the trains can be expensive, though, so have at least 3,000 JPY (30 USD) for your first trip, in case you get lost. To get there-and-back, most day trips are in the range of 15 USD. Buses are typically 280 JPY (2.80 USD). Ifdo you find yourself strapped for yen, most convenience stores have international ATMs. Just expect a charge.

2. “How Do I Ask For Things in Stores?” 

Whether at a store or in a restaurant, you’ll want to know how to ask for something you want. Simply point to an object and say...

“(Kore) wo kudasai.”

Would you please give me (this)?

(Koe-reh o koo-da-sigh.)

Another helpful phrase is...

“(Kore) wa ikura desuka?”

How much is ...?

(Koe-reh wa ee-koo-ra dess-ka?)

1. “Everyone is SO Friendly. Am I Being Rude?”

If you learn one thing from this list, it should be this: Manners matter. Say thank you for everything in Japan! Smile and bow when you say it. An arigatou is good among close friends, but add gozaimasu for everybody else.

“Arigatou gozaimasu!”

(Ah-ree-ga-toe go-zai-mahss!)

Table manners are crucial, too. Before meals, say “Itadakimasu!” Literally, it means “Let’s eat!” but it’s more like, “I am humbled for the food.”

“Itadakimasu!”

(Ee-ta-da-ki-mahss!)

After the meal, say “Gochisousamadeshita!” to express gratitude. They may assume you disliked it should you say nothing.

“Gochisousamadeshita!”

(Go-chee-so-sa-ma-desh-ta!)

Also, try to finish everything on your plate (every single noodle in your bowl of ramen). You could insult your hosts, waiters or chefs if they assume you know better. Every grain of rice should be eaten to show respect to farmers.

Remember: Body language is important! Uncross legs and arms and remove hands from pockets. Always bow to show respect, and smile!

I know, I know. This sounds like a lot to remember! But nobody expects you to be perfect, so just be as kind as possible, remain eager to learn, and try to have fun while studying abroad in Japan.

15 Things You Should Know Before Traveling to Albania

Albania is one of the most interesting countries I’ve come across in a long time. To say it is unique is not enough and is the place to go if you are looking for a real European adventure.

The seven days that I spent there were full of all kinds of surprises ranging from pleasant to disappointing but combined were ultimately what made it such an exciting country to visit. More than “off the path”, Albania is over the hill and sitting in a mountainous valley of its own. You really never know what you are going to get which should be like music to any modern-day explorers’ ears and why I suggest everyone interested in traveling to less touristed parts of Europe put it at the very top of their list.

1. There are more Albanians outside of Albania than within

If you are doing some traveling through the Balkans, you will probably meet a few Albanians (and see Albanian flags and qeleshes) before you even arrive in Albania. Estimates of the number of Albanians residing abroad are anywhere from 7-10 million, mostly in other Balkan countries (Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Greece), but there are also a significant amount in Turkey, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and the United States. The number of Albanians actually living inside Albania? Around 3 million.

An Albanian and his horse in Prizren, Kosovo

2. Albania has an interesting history

In keeping with the aforementioned information, Albania has a pretty interesting history and you would be doing yourself a disservice by not reading up on a bit of it before you go. If not to understand that you are headed to a country that was totally isolated from the rest of the world for the latter half of the 20th Century because of a paranoid android Communist dictator, then to know what people are talking about when they say “Great Albania” because odds are, you are going to hear it mentioned at some point.

3. You are not going to get there by train and you will be lucky if you get there by bus/furgon

Transportation in and around the country was my biggest complaint with Albania. Everything about it was difficult and is the main reason I ended up staying in Tirana the entire time.

First of all, there are no international rail connections to Albania and the national ones are incredibly limited to say the least. Tirana’s train station is an attraction in itself mostly because it’s so hard to believe it actually functions. Does it even function? I still don’t know even after going to have a look for myself.

Buses or furgons (mini buses) are your best bet if you are lucky enough to 1) figure out their schedule and/or 2) find out where to catch them from. The country’s capital doesn’t even have a proper bus station, stops are scattered everywhere, so I was not surprised in the slightest finding a fairly up-to-date bus/furgon schedule that gives departure points like “In front of Bumper Cars” or “Fork in main road to the north” in other cities. Patience is not a virtue in Albania, it is a necessity.

Also be warned that many routes, especially in the south, are suspended during the off-season or when buses aren’t full. I had originally planned on taking a bus from Ohrid, Macedonia to Gjirokastra then making my way up to Tirana but found out only after I had arrived that it would be impossible in November. So it became Tirana or bust.

4. Just because there is a schedule, doesn’t mean there is a schedule

I wish I was joking above when I said you might find some scheduled bus routes suspended simply because the buses weren’t full but it’s true and I found out the hard way.

Suspending a route between say Ohrid and Gjirokastra during the winter? Understandable. Suspending the only bus route from the center of Tirana to the airport because there weren’t enough people an hour and half before my flight? NOT COOL. In fact, grounds for giving even the most relaxed traveler a panic attack.

If money isn’t an object then this won’t be an issue because you can always find a taxi; however, if you are on a tight budget and relying on public transportation to get around, this could be problematic. Catastrophic, even. Thankfully an English-speaking Albanian in shiny high tops saved my day by pulling me into a taxi with the 3 other stranded passengers and we made it just in time at a slightly higher price.

5. If you plan to drive around Albania, you are a brave soul

Not that this necessarily affects anything, but you should be aware that only 600 cars existed in Albania prior to 1991 and only Party officials were allowed to drive them. There are definitely countries with worse driving records, but in Albania it’s not only bad drivers that you have to worry about, it’s the actual roads themselves. Even though I heard improvements were being made, many of the ones I saw were in seriously bad condition and not anything you should be going over 40 mph on or navigating after dark.

6. There are some 750,000 concrete bunkers scattered around Albania

Driving through Albania you are probably going to notice quite a few concrete bunkers like the one pictured below. There were over 700,000 of them built during Enver Hoxha’s dictatorship to protect the country from an invasion that never happened so needless to say, many Albanians view them as unpleasant and annoying reminders of the 50 or so years of isolation.

Then there are others who view them as cultural artifacts, business opportunities, blank canvases, and/or resources for steel. Regrettably, I wasn’t able to tour any of the creatively converted bunkers on my first visit like I had wanted. Will just have to save that for the next time…rent one out for a party maybe?

7. The Albanian language is an anomaly

Then again I don’t speak Thracian or Illyrian (what are said to be the most closely related), but who does these days? Albanian is an Indo-European language but I could not discern one similarity to anything I’ve heard anywhere else in the world minus a few numbers, “Tuesday” and “Wednesday”.

This was bad news for me because picking up some words and phrases in Albanian would have been very useful considering it was the country where I felt I struggled the most only knowing English, Russian and Swedish. If any other language can get you around here, it’s Italian. In line with language (of the body variation), Albanians nod their head “yes” when they mean “no”, and vice versa, though I never had any misunderstandings. Or noticed, for that matter. Still good to know.

8. Sometimes Albanians add an extra zero to the end of numbers

Albanians do this sometimes not to be shady but rather out of habit since that is the difference between the “old lek” and “new lek”. For instance, someone might say you owe 1000 lek when they really mean you owe 100 lek.

I found that for the most part that people corrected themselves before they even noticed the shocked expression on my face which is what tells me they don’t do this to try to take advantage of foreigners. Nevertheless, don’t be afraid to ask if a price is being quoted in new or old lek if it seems outrageous because getting conned is a possibility in any country.

9. Mother Teresa was Albanian

Though she was born in Skopje, spent a great deal of her life in India, and was a citizen of the world, Mama T (Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu) was Albanian by blood.

If that doesn’t impress you enough, then maybe you will appreciate some of these other famous peeps of Albanian descent…

 mother teresa

Constantine the Great

Justinian I

ataturk

10. Tirana is a cool and colorful capital city

I really wasn’t expecting much from Tirana but that’s mostly because I had never really heard much about Tirana. I thought it was going to be concrete and grey like Bucharest, but it’s actually quite green and shockingly colorful. I also found it to be more expensive than Skopje and Pristina, but still cheap compared to western European capitals.

The green and colorful-ness of the city can be attributed mostly to Edi Rama, the painter turned politician who was mayor of Tirana from 2000-2011. He has been heavily criticized for focusing too much on the appearance of the city rather than its functionality (for example, putting tons of money into painting buildings all colors of the rainbow when electricity and water shortages continue to be a problem), but I think what he did was more beneficial than some people realize. Water and electricity are important, of course, but so are the psychological effects of color and nature.

11. Shopping in Tirana is pretty good

Ok, it’s not Paris or London, but Tirana was definitely the city where I found the best shopping in the region. There are a few big malls (Citypark, QTU, Tirana East Gate) outside of the center, some of which you can catch free shuttles to from just beside the big mosque near Skanderberg Square.

There is also some pretty solid thrift shopping if you are up for that kind of hunt. Rruga e Elbasanit, not far from George W. Bush Street (seriously), or near the “train station” you can find some gypsy markets or makeshift shops selling some legit second-hand items such as handbags, shoes, clothes.

12. Don’t look both ways before crossing the street in Tirana, look every way

I don’t know what things are like in other Albanian cities, but in Tirana the streets were not a place for the faint of heart. They were like a free for all where cars and buses fly from every direction and would not stop for Mother Teresa herself if she were crossing the street. Eastern Europe and the Balkans are not very pedestrian friendly in general, but Tirana is in a league of its own so keep that in mind and more importantly, BE CAREFUL.

13. It’s difficult to exchange Macedonian denar there, but not impossible

If you are coming from Macedonia beforehand, I’d recommend spending or exchanging as much of your denars as possible before you get to Albania, or at least Tirana. Could be easier in towns closer to the border.

I was told on multiple occasions that no one would exchange the denars that I had but I finally found one place. It’s sort of opposite the new Orthodox church near Skanderberg Square in the direction of the National History Museum. It’s on the second floor and looks shadier than the other exchange offices.

Also, most places only accept cash.

14. One “village” raki equals about three normal ones

Raki, Albania’s national spirit, is like any other rakia/rakija that you may have tasted before if you’ve been in the Balkans or Turkey. It’s essentially moonshine made from grapes and is STRONG.

You can order it in most bars and restaurants, just make sure you pay attention to what kind of bottle it’s being poured from if you want to properly monitor how much you are consuming. If it is coming out of anything other than a bottle that has a printed raki label on it (for example, a plastic water bottle, a suspicious glass jug, or Greek wine bottle), it’s most likely a home-brew that is seriously potent, like three times the strength of one that came from an actual distillery. Learned this one the hard way as well but no photos of that…

15. Albanian sweets are addictive

I really don’t have much else to point out about this except that these “amareta me arra” walnut cookies pictured below are perhaps the most addictive of all. Like DRUGS. And speaking of drugs….

*BONUS* Albania is one of the largest exporters of cannabis in Europe

I heard about the village of Lazarat before I even got to Albania. Its reputation as the “cannabis capital of Albania” proceeds itself and happens to be found not far from Gjirokastra, where I was originally headed to in the southern part of the country.

I don’t know how things stand right now, I’ve read all kinds of reports and heard a mix of things, but Lazarat has been for years a lawless place controlled by drug lords and insurmountable by the Albanian police. It’s definitely not the only spot in the country, just the most publicized, and the reason I think it is something you should know is because drug trafficking is one of the major problems Albania has to work harder on combating if it wants to join the EU. Banning all Albanians from using speedboats in the Adriatic is clearly not enough.

Biografia e Gjergj Kastriotit-Skenderbeut

 Gjergj Kastriotit-Skenderbeut 

Gjergj Kastrioti lindi rreth vitit 1405. Ishte fëmija i parafundit në familjen me shumë fëmijë të Gjonit e të Vojsavës. Këta kishin katër djem (Stanishën, Reposhin, Konstandinin e Gjergjin) dhe pesë vajza (Marën, Jellën, Angjelinën, Vlajkën e Mamicën).
Kur lindi Gjergji, i ati, Gjon Kastrioti, ishte sundimtar i një shteti të rëndësishëm, që shtrihej së paku nga rrethinat e Prizrenit e të Tetovës në lindje deri në detin Adriatik në perëndim. Qendra administrative e tij duhet të ketë qenë Prizreni. Këtu duhet të ketë lindur edhe Gjergji.
Që kur Gjergji ishte fëmijë, familja e Kastriotëve i ndjeu rrjedhimet shkatërrimtare të pushtimeve osmane. Dokumentet tregojnë se në vitin 1409 Gjon Kastrioti ishte detyruar t'u dorëzonte peng osmanëve një nga djemtë e tij, ndoshta Stanishën, dhe më pas edhe djalin e vogël, Gjergjin. Ky u dorëzua si peng rreth moshës nëntëvjeçare, kur osmanët pushtuan Krujën (në fillim të vitit 1415) që ishte në kufi me zotërimet e Kastriotëve.
Dërgimin e Gjergjit të vogël në oborrin osman rreth moshës nëntëvjeçare, e dëshmojnë, pavarësisht nga njëri-tjetri, burime historike bashkëkohore ose pak më të vona, vendase e të huaja. Këtë e pohojnë autorët e vjetër shqiptarë, veprat e të cilëve shërbejnë si burime më të rëndësishme për njohjen e historisë së Shqipërisë të shek. XV, si Marin Barleci, Marin Beçikemi, Gjon Muzaka, Dhimitër Frëngu. Edhe në jetëshkrimin më të hershëm për Gjergj Kastriotin, të hartuar rreth viteve 1481-1482 prej Martin Segonit, tregohet se ai u dërgua i vogël peng, u rrit dhe u edukua pranë oborrit të sulltanit. Të njëjtën gjë njoftojnë edhe kronistë e historianë të huaj, bashkëkohës me Skënderbeun, si italianët F. Filelfo, I. Potani, R. Volaterani, bizantini L. Halkokondili, shumica e autorëve osmanë të shek. XV e XVI: Ashik pasha Zade, Tursuni, I. Bitlisi etj.
Gjergji, pasi u mor peng rreth moshës nëntëvjeçare, u dërgua në kryeqytetin e Perandorisë Osmane, në Edrene. Ai u edukua këtu gjatë një periudhe dhjetëvjeçare në shkollën e iç-ogllanëve, ku u dallua mbi të tjerët. Në këtë shkollë futeshin zakonisht djemtë e zotërve të nënshtruar për t'u përgatitur e edukuar në frymën osmane si komandantë të zotë e feudalë të bindur. Këta zakonisht shërbenin si spahinj në vendet ku pushtimi osman ndeshte në qëndresën e popullsisë, si dhe në vendet nga ata kishin ardhur.
Gjergj Kastrioti nga natyra ishte i pajisur me dhunti të veçanta, shumë të çmuara. Sipas dokumenteve të kohës dhe njoftimeve të Marin Barlecit, Gjergj Kastrioti kishte mendjemprehtësi të veçantë dhe arriti të zotëronte disa gjuhë të huaja. Ai ishte shtatlartë, shpatullgjerë e shumë i fuqishëm. Luftonte mbi kalë e në këmbë dhe ishte mjeshtër i pashoq në përdorimin e shpatës e të armëve të tjera.
Gjergji u shqua gjatë viteve të shkollës, kur iu vu emri mysliman Skënder, dhe mori pjesë në fushata të ndryshme ushtarake, në Ballkan dhe në Azi të Vogël, gjatë të cilave fitoi një përvojë të madhe ushtarake. Pasi mbaroi shkollën e iç-ogllanëve, Skënderbeu hyri në kuadrot ushtarake të sistemit feudal osman dhe përparoi shpejt në karrierën shtetërore, nga pozita e spahiut deri në postin e lartë të sanxhakbeut.
Funksionet si kuadër osman për vite të tëra Skënderbeu i ushtroi në Shqipëri, duke u lidhur me mjedisin vendas dhe interesat e familjes së tij. Emri i Gjergj Kastriotit për herë të parë përmendet në Shqipëri bashkë me ata të vëllezërve të tij në dokumente të vitit 1426 për çështje pronësie. Në këtë kohë Skënderbeu kishte mbaruar shkollën e iç-ogllanëve dhe ishte në Shqipëri si spahi, më pas u bë subash i Krujës dhe qëndroi në këtë post zyrtarisht deri në fund të vitit 1438, kur në zeametin përkatës është shënuar se i rijepej Zaganoz Beut. Qysh në fillim, kur u hartua regjistri kadastral osman i vitit 835 h. (1431-1432), zeameti i subashit të Krujës është regjistruar me emrin e Zaganoz Beut. Pas riemërimit zyrtar në fund të vitit 1438 në postin e subashit të Krujës, Zaganoz Beu duhet të jetë rikthyer me vonesë në Krujë, sepse Skënderbeu përmendet në Shqipëri edhe më 7 dhe 10 korrik të vitit 1439. Nuk dihet se cilët fshatra formonin timarin e tij në Shqipëri, kur ai ishte në postin e një spahiu. Ndoshta kanë qenë disa fshatra të vilajetit të Dhimitër Jonimës, diku midis Lezhës e Rubikut, ku në mes të viteve 30 Skënderbeu pati në zotërim një timar të madh, me të paktën nëntë fshatra.
Skënderbeu konsiderohej si bashkësundimtar me të drejta të plota me anëtarët e tjerë të familjes në veprimtarinë politike të Kastriotëve. Prandaj emri i tij është shënuar gjatë viteve 20 e 30 në aktet zyrtare që rregullonin marrëdhëniet e Kastriotëve me vendet e tjera, si p.sh. në vitin 1426 në një aktblerje nga Kastriotët të një pirgu pranë manastirit Hilandar në malin Athos dhe në një aktdhurimi të dy fshatrave të Kastriotëve për manastirin e Hilandarit, si dhe në mars të vitit 1438 kur Stanisha dhe Gjergji kërkuan qytetarinë e Venedikut dhe më vonë (korrik 1439) edhe atë të Raguzës. Qytetaria veneciane e raguzane kërkohej që, në rast shkatërrimi e dëbimi nga zotërimet e veta prej osmanëve, familjarët e Gjonit të strehoheshin në këto vende.
Gjatë viteve të qëndrimit në Shqipëri si kuadër osman Skënderbeu punoi aktivisht për mbrojtjen e interesave të familjes së tij. Kështu, sipas një dokumenti osman pa datë, kur Gjon Kastrioti ra në konflikt me osmanët dhe humbi krahinën e Ishmit (Mysjen), Skënderbeu u kërkoi autoriteteve osmane që ta merrte si zeamet këtë krahinë. Gjatë këtyre viteve ai kishte një timar të madh në trevën Lezhë-Rubik, që përshkohej nga udha e karvaneve që lidhte bregdetin me Prizrenin. Kjo rrugë ishte shumë e rëndësishme për veprimtarinë ekonomike e tregtare të shtetit të Kastriotëve. Më 1437-1438 Skënderbeu u bë qeveritar (subash) i vilajetit të Krujës dhe siguroi për këtë një feud të madh prej dhjetëra fshatrash. Ky gradim ndikonte shumë në forcimin e pozitave ekonomike e politike të zotërimeve të Kastriotëve që shtriheshin në lindje e në veri të vilajetit të Krujës.
Pas vdekjes së Reposhit (1431), që i qe kushtuar jetës fetare, dhe të Konstandinit, dy vëllezërit e tjerë drejtuan shtetin e Kastriotëve, sepse ati i tyre, Gjon Kastrioti, ishte i sëmurë dhe vdiq në maj të vitit 1437. Të dy vëllezërit i kushtuan vëmendje ruajtjes e forcimit të marrëdhënieve me Venedikun e Raguzën, prej të cilave arritën më 1438 e 1439 të siguronin të drejtat e privilegjet që kishte patur ati i tyre me ato dy vende. Ata vepruan bashkërisht deri kur vdiq Stanisha më 1446.
Pas vitit 1439 Skënderbeu nuk përmendet më në tokat shqiptare. Në këtë kohë në Ballkan po fillonin trazira të reja, si rrjedhojë e aksioneve ushtarake antiosmane të Janosh Huniadit. Prandaj sulltan Murati II e largoi Skënderbeun nga posti i subashit të Krujës, duke e emëruar sanxhakbej me sa duket larg tokave shqiptare, ndoshta në Nikopol të Bullgarisë.
Gjatë viteve të qëndrimit në Shqipëri si funksionar osman, Gjergj Kastrioti-Skënderbeu del me emrin mysliman (Iskënder) në dokumentet osmane, kurse në ato perëndimore ka përdorur vetëm emrin e krishterë Gjergj, gjë që shpreh lidhjet e tij me parinë drejtuese shqiptare.
Sigurimi i privilegjeve dhe i qytetarisë së Venedikut e të Raguzës në fund të viteve 30, në një kohë kur Skënderbeu po përparonte në karrierën politike si kuadër i Perandorisë Osmane, tregojnë se ai e shikonte të ardhmen jo në kuadrin e karrierës së një funksionari osman. Përkundrazi, praninë e tij në radhët e kuadrove osmane, ai e gjykonte si diçka të përkohshme. Në kushtet kur së bashku me të vëllanë, Stanishën, kishin marrë drejtimin e zotërimeve të Kastriotëve, largimin e tij nga posti i subashit të Krujës dhe emërimin si sanxhakbej larg Shqipërisë, Skënderbeu nuk mund ta shikonte si një "gradim", por si shprehje të mosbesimit të sulltanit ndaj tij.
Ndonëse kaloi një kohë të gjatë në shkollën e iç-ogllanëve e në vende të huaja si kuadër e komandant i shquar i ushtrisë osmane, Skënderbeu mbajti lidhje të ngushta me familjen e tij, me interesat e zotërimeve të tyre. Ai jetoi për vite të tëra në atdheun e vet, ku u brumos dhe u formua në mjedisin e luftës së shqiptarëve kundër pushtuesit të huaj osman dhe të disfatave të para që osmanët pësuan në Shqipëri gjatë kryengritjeve të viteve 30. Kthesa rrënjësore e Skënderbeut në nëntor të vitit 1443, duke ardhur në Shqipëri për të ngritur lart flamurin e luftës kundër pushtuesve osmanë, ishte rrjedhojë e përvojës jetësore shumë të pasur të tij dhe e luftës së shqiptarëve.