Alice Taylor: The Journalist Who Made Albania Her Home

What happens when a three-day holiday turns into a lifetime commitment?

Alice Taylor visited Albania in 2017, and never left. In this powerful episode of Tea with ALSA UK, we sit down with the British-born journalist who has become one of Albania’s most recognisable storytellers.

Now a naturalised Albanian citizen, Alice shares the deeply personal and political reasons behind her move, her career in journalism, and what it means to belong somewhere new. From raising a daughter in Albania to covering corruption, culture, and democracy, this is a conversation about roots, resilience, and rewriting the narrative from within.

You’ll hear about:

Her unexpected move from Malta to Albania

The cultural challenges and joys of living in Tirana

Building a journalism career as a foreigner in the Balkans

Publishing Inside Albania and why it matters

What the diaspora needs to understand about today’s Albania

Her advice for others who feel caught between countries, cultures, or careers

📌 Chapters:

00:00 – Intro: Who is Alice Taylor?

01:42 – Moving to Albania: A 3-Day Trip That Changed Everything

04:00 – Family, Identity & Reactions from Back Home

07:10 – Studying Law, Working in Malta & Finding Journalism

09:40 – Why Do We Talk About Diaspora So Much? (Migration History)

13:00 – The Early Culture Shocks in Albania

17:30 – Documenting Her Life on Social Media

20:00 – Advice on Sharing Your Story Online

23:00 – Journalism in Albania: Building Trust & Covering Tough Stories

27:00 – Why She Created Inside Albania on Euronews

30:20 – One Story That Stuck With Her

33:30 – Writing Inside Albania: Process & Personal Meaning

37:00 – The Role of Her Earlier Books on North Albania

39:40 – How Language Transformed Her Life in Albania

42:00 – Raising Her Daughter in Albania vs the UK

45:30 – Misconceptions Diaspora Have About Albania

48:10 – Underreported Issues Foreign Media Misses

51:00 – What Albanians Themselves Don’t Realise

53:30 – Advice to Diaspora Thinking About Moving Back

56:00 – Final Reflections: Home, Identity & the Power of Storytelling

🎯 Watch this if you want to:

Learn what it’s really like to move to Albania from abroad

Understand the complexities of identity, citizenship, and cultural belonging

Hear how journalism can shape national narratives

Get inspired to live boldly, even if it’s not what you planned

👤 Connect with Alice Taylor:

📚 Buy her new book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F9B5FQRM

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliceopheliataylor/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliceinalbania/?hl=en-gb

🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alice.in.albania

🌍 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/aliceinalbania

🔗 Follow ALSA UK:

🌐 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alsauk

👥 Join the ALSA UK Community: https://www.alsauk.co.uk/membership

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alsa_uk_/

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TeaWithALSA

🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/76KXivrg70p7E87L2cF2wD

📩 Email: [email protected]