November is a notable month in Albanian history. The celebrations of the Albanian Flag Day and Independence Day takes place in November and is marked by a national holiday. Just in time for this season of Thanksgiving, I have THIS list of ideas to inspire you with love and gratitude.
Let’s start with the place we live in!
It’s been already 6 years since I moved to Albania with the whole family and I feel like my gratitude and trust I people have raised day by day, month by month. Now I can say to be in love with a place, more than might seem reasonable to people who live elsewhere.
I cannot say it was a love from the first sight. The first months were tough because I couldn’t understand the mentality of the people. I remember our washing machine got broken so I called the plumber and he came to fix our machine… after 3 days after the scheduled meeting. He didn’t bring any tools, just a plastic water bottler that I thought was water, but it was Raki. How do I know that? He offered it to me with a smile all mouth smile: “Do you want some? It’s excellent, and I did it myself!” Then he got a 3 minutes’ gaze at the machine and said confidentially, “I will be back tomorrow”. I stood in amazement and lost my faith in people at that moment as I had an urgent 3 loads of laundry to do! But. Indeed, he came and he did fix it. Moral: my first lesson to the philosophy of live in Albania: “Avash, Avash, Slowly, Slowly….”.
Since then, I tried to understand this and respect people, I’m trying to look from their perspective. Why do you have to harry up if you can take it slowly, right? Also, I discovered how important it might be to take things really slowly. You can start appreciate little things in life and start to notice more beauty in simple things, like colors of the trees, the smell of a good coffee or a smile of the baby passing by. Quite the opposite of my previous life, when I was always in a hurry, everything was scheduled on time, each day planned hour by hour, daily schedules, monthly meetings, etc. Here in Albania, it would not work!
Let’s have a closer look at the things I appreciate and I felt in love with Albania:
Why I Love Albania? My 5 reasons:
People and customs
- People are friendly and will help you in any circumstances if you ask for it.
- Even if you don’t speak a word in Albanian, you will always get understood. Most Albanian speak basic English and, or Italian. And if they don’t, you’ll still get what you want with people’s expressions and hands gesticulations.
- People are smiling in the morning.
- Children are beloved and they are above all. Their health and wellbeing count more than everything. Everyone loves children.
- Cleaning lady and babysitters are the members of your family and treat your children like their own.
- You can call a friend if you need to chat and they will show up after 15 minutes, no matter what.
- Don’t have to make appointments with your girlfriends’ months in advance.
- You don’t meet to discuss stuff in the office- you just go to a coffee for a meeting to speak about it.
- There’s always someone willing to pay for your coffee.
Nature
- It’s always sunny. 300 days a year.
- You can see orange and lemon trees in the town.
- Walking distance to stores and restaurants.
- The easy neighborhood for bicycling.
- The sea is just a 40-minute drive from the city.
- If you go outside Tirana, you visit the most beautiful countryside’s. You always got a room with an amazing view.
- Best seasides!
Food and beverages
- Fresh, good quality food.
- Fruits and vegetables are not expensive.
- The most delicious seafood.
- A coffee shop is available in every corner!
Services and cost
- Manicure and pedicure, and lots of other beauty treatments cost half price, (if not less) than in other countries.
- Making roots, cutting, and hair styling cost half-price then in the rest of Europe.
- You can get an appointment with your favorite hairdresser in ten minutes (incredible, right?!).
- In the restaurants, they would serve you earlier if you need a fast meal for your hungry baby. They would give priority and skip the line to give your baby a meal.
- For a longer discussion, you just invite your companion for lunch to the restaurant and it can last for 3-6 hours. Nobody will ever kick you out of the restaurant or a coffee. Even if you would order only a glass of water for the past 3 hours.
- Many radio stations play my favorite songs back to back. Without interruption.
Safety
- No sexual harassment on the streets other than looking at you. No “Hey blonde, whistling, or sexy baby” as you walk by.
- I’ve never heard of thieves and I have never been robbed.
- l sometimes forget to lock my car and I feel safe.
Certainly, your attitude about where you live makes a huge difference. Finding those little things that make you smile and make you feel the place “your own spots” is quite challenging but definitely worth it.I hope you liked my favorite things from Albania. I love this country because it gave me so much. First of all, my wonderful husband and my happy family and kids, that I’m so grateful for.
I am curious to hear what are your favorite things in Albania?
Do you agree with my list? Would you like to add some more?
You’re welcome to let me know in the comments below.
Sending you many warm hugs!
All the best,
Joanna
xxx
“If you don’t know where you are, you don’t know who are”. –Wendell Berry
