People watching
Posted by Grouchy-Standard6748@reddit | AskBalkans | View on Reddit | 34 comments
I live in Sweden with a lot of newly built townhouses. A lot of my neighbours are originally from the Balkans. Something unique I’ve noticed is that - especially if it’s a sunny day, they’re simple out sitting on their porch chair - right from sunrise to sunset. They barely go inside - eating, coffee everything is done outside. And most of them simple people watch or talk. These include even new mothers/parents. I don’t suppose this is a very Swedish thing. I understand the love for sun especially up in the Nordics. But is this a Balkan thing ?
Yto_Itinen@reddit
To give you some perspective from the other side, for people in the balkans it's shocking to see scandinavians laying down on random patches of grass, sunbathing, on days with the faintest sunlight during spring. Cultures have different customs and things considered "normal", because everyone is used to it.
Now, sitting at the porch and staring is based on a small community life when there is no other entertainment.
On a small street, all families sitting out on the afternoon and chatting, is normal. Some sit on a stone porch carved with seats for this purpose, some bring out benches or chairs, even a small coffee table and drinks. It's social life, surveillance system and news all rolled into one.
In cities, it's the same, but vertical, in the balconies of the buildings. We grew up playing soccer with a ragged ball and stones for goalposts while all the grannies of the block would watch and cheer for us.
You gave a peck on the cheek to the girl you liked in the neighbourhood, 0.1 milliseconds her mom and your mom would have known. Did you throw the trash and missed the bin as a kid? Everyone would know and you would get smacked as soon as you went home, because "everyone will think badly of us". For good and bad, everyone knew everything all the time.
So yeah, it looks weird if only some people do it, and if you value the privacy of your own home, but there is a long tradition behind it.
Grouchy-Standard6748@reddit (OP)
Thank you
DoubleV12@reddit
Because they don't have a proper occupation. Then, they complain about life, low salary and so on.
Miserable-Ground-379@reddit
That is beauty of being Balkanian...time moves slower for us🤗
vulpixvulpes@reddit
I think this is a thing in all countries with a stronger community mindset. You see the same thing in the Balkans, Italy, Iberia, North Africa, Middle East..come to think, it's a usual thing to do in a LOT of countries.
Northern and Western Europeans being so closed off and separated from their surroundings are the exception, not the rule.
Creepy_Line3977@reddit
Definitely. My former father in law lives in Egypt and spends all day, every day out on his patio.
Chemical-Course1454@reddit
It takes village to raise a child. Young Balkan mums in your area are just working on building community by taking to neighbours. Sitting in your front yard is a very Balkan thing. At least it’s Serbian, and ex Yu countries. You kind of hang out, doing your thing, same what you would do inside or in the backyard. But by being in the front yard, you signal that you are open to socialising with the community. Some people go for a walk around the neighbourhood. They stop and chat with their friends, sometimes join them for a coffee or a meal. To others they just say hello. In suburbs or small towns sometimes it takes hours just to go to shops.
Grouchy-Standard6748@reddit (OP)
Makes total sense. And they are actually Serbian!
Anketkraft@reddit
People enjoy the Sun and try to talk to their neighbours.
OP: What is this unique behaviour?!?
Grouchy-Standard6748@reddit (OP)
You really didn’t get the point
Winter-Speech978@reddit
That's the old fashioned security cameras
Big-Waltz5204@reddit
Yeah in Balkans every rural house has an outside table and place to sit maybe under some grapevines. Probably has to do with climate. It's very nice and sunny in spring, summer, and even into the fall so people gravitate going outside more. Maybe doing some garden work or grill or just hang outside. Would be harder to do in Swedish climate.
Even balcony culture is strong in Balkans. When I lived in apartment with my parents, my mother spent hours every day on balcony yapping on phone out loud with her sisters about everything. Pretty sure everyone on the street could hear it. Pretty embarassing. That older generation still predominantly grew up rural so this kinda culture stayed with them.
Ok-Conversation-7292@reddit
Or watching out of the window, absolutely.
Grouchy-Standard6748@reddit (OP)
Now that makes sense
hero_in_@reddit
“And most of them simple watch … even new mothers”, is this English? what do you mean?
Also staying outside when the weather is good is not Balkan thing, it is GLOBAL thing
Grouchy-Standard6748@reddit (OP)
Well I think I need to clarify a bit here. I understand the good weather bit. Well that means going out, lying down in your garden, or probably basking in your backyard deck. Although this what I’m talking about is literally putting out a chair in front of your entrance door and looking at people passing by morning to night.
sjedinjenoStanje@reddit
That stopped me in my tracks for a second there too lol. I think they mean "simply"
Grouchy-Standard6748@reddit (OP)
Sorry, that’s a typo. I did mean simply*
sjedinjenoStanje@reddit
It shouldn't have been hard for me to understand but that was before my morning ☕
Full-Rice-9287@reddit
“Not a swedish thing” - my swede boyfriend and his friends, beg to differ. 😁
The urge to be outside when the weather is good, is universal however.
Grouchy-Standard6748@reddit (OP)
Well it’s really not about being outdoors. Does he simply put out a chair on his front yard and sit looking at people passing by? I understand lying in your garden or taking a walk in general - this is different.
azuratios@reddit
Bro, swedes will go chill on the grass the first time the winter sun appears.
Grouchy-Standard6748@reddit (OP)
Again, just like I commented above. That’s not what I’m talking about. Chilling on the grass, backyard or simply going out for a walk is very different to sitting on your front porch, and people gazing. Right from 7 in the morning until sunset.
Substratas@reddit
It is actually the most Swedish thing ever.
Swedes will jump out of their homes instantly when they see a little ray of sunlight poking through the clouds.
Grouchy-Standard6748@reddit (OP)
The Swedes I see usually take a walk, trek, or sit probably in their backyard. I’m talking about something very different here - front porch, sitting on a chair or bench and simply people watching.
Loopbloc@reddit
Culture shock between North and South: the surprise experienced by first travelers to Italy in the 1920s and 1930s that so much life happened on the streets. (Italy I used as an example, as there was little travel to the Balkans at that time).
x-ploretheinternet@reddit
Sorry, I'm a western European intruder but like to travel to the Balkans. We also go outside when the sun is finally out after a long, dark winter. Based on what I've seen, the main difference is the use of public space. Over here people will sit in their own chair in their own garden or go to a bar with a fenced in outside area if they want to go people watch.
In the Balkans I've seen old ladies take their chairs, tables, stereos, drinks etc. and move all of the necessary furniture under a big tree in the middle of the street where more people would join them. Some would sit there all day while others would stop by for a coffee or a relatively short conversation. It's like they're more part of the public space and community compared to the "each to their own" mentality we've got going on in the west.
NightZT@reddit
From where are you? Because in Austria it's common to put a bench or something like that infront of the house onto the sidewalk facing the street. It's kinda open to the public and especially elderly people chill on those benches together, talk gossip and OBSERVE
x-ploretheinternet@reddit
Sorry, I'm a western European intruder but like to travel to the Balkans. We also go outside when the sun is finally out after a long, dark winter. Based on what I've seen, the main difference is the use of public space. Over here people will sit in their own chair in their own garden or go to a bar with a fenced in outside area if they want to go people watch.
In the Balkans I've seen old ladies take their chairs, tables, stereos, drinks etc. and move all of the necessary furniture under a big tree in the middle of the street where more people would join them. It's like they're more part of the public space and community compared to the "each to their own" mentality in the west.
Accomplished-Hawk414@reddit
You should do a road trip through the balkan country side. We usually sit outside on the sidewalk, right next to our homes. Younger generations don't really do this anymore but elders can sit outside in the sun ALL DAYS LONG.
_whatever_idc@reddit
🎶🎵Gledan van, ludilo je dan… 🎶🎵
🎵🎶Nista mi nece ovaj dan pokvarit… 🎵🎶
Gotta chill outside my dude, its only natural.
Kappa_Bera_0000@reddit
It's a super Swedish thing to do, its called friluftsliv.
SolidSplit1305@reddit
I bet you are young and you don't understand the outdoors.
Distinct-Student-324@reddit
i remember my grandma and i were sitting at the entrance of our garden and watching people walking by & talking about random stuff.