It is an honour to express my gratitude to The Nippon Foundation for pledging its trust to me, the first Albanian lawyer to apply to IMLI, and consider me as a deserving candidate to be awarded a scholarship. Training at IMLI was beyond expectations and it opened a new world to me who knew little about the depth of maritime affairs and the real impact such affairs have on a country. I had at the time been more involved in policy issues and had worked on very few international conventions. It proved, at the time, a challenge to fully understand the nature and objective of an international convention which the country was prepared to ratify or accede to and to prepare a national draft law that would fully implement the obligations arising from the convention. Training at IMLI, therefore, was a wonderful opportunity which was unique not only to one of the few Albanian female lawyers involved in the maritime industry but also to a country which very few knew where was on the map and which was trying its best to improve the maritime sector. My lecturers were my guide and my mentors. They helped me understand international maritime law, think outside the box and carry out research in areas completely unknown to me. The international environment of my classmates introduced me to new cultures and backgrounds and some of them remain, until today, very close friends. But above all, I am grateful that I was given the opportunity to join IMLI in a different capacity. I am blessed to know that, as a Member of the Faculty, I have in a very small way contributed to the launching of excellent international maritime lawyers who have taught me as I have taught them and who will remain with me forever. Indeed, words are not sufficient to express my gratitude. May this support continue and may it affect the lives of many other generations.