Albania
Posted by EastWrap8776@reddit | AskBalkans | View on Reddit | 17 comments
What is the general attitude towards Americans who live in Albania?
I read that the second most common flag in Albania is an American flag but is that true, are we genuinely welcome?
I heard something about Israelis buying up Albanian land, does anyone know if this is true? In what parts of Albania? So I can avoid.
I also read that smoking is a big part of the culture, is it allowed on beaches? Inside malls or restaurants? I do not smoke is why I ask
What is family life like? I’m thinking about moving with my 2 children.
Flimsy-Resident261@reddit
Albanians don’t hold any prejudices towards Americans and Westerners in general.
Trump’s son in law is investing in a small part of an island and on Zvërnec alongside two Qatari billionaires. Israel doesn’t have anything to do with it
Smoking is allowed outdoors, so yes smoking on the beach is common. But on malls, inside restaurants, caffès it’s not allowed and no one does it.
“How’s family life”?- Don’t understand this question. Like anywhere else in the world. You’ll find people who love their families and go out with them, and people who don’t talk to their family members.
You didn’t ask about this, but only younger generation speaks English, don’t expect it from the older generation(40+)
Diligent_Breath_643@reddit
How do you know that I don't speak English! I am 199 years old and I can speak (-;
Flimsy-Resident261@reddit
Found the Romanian
Diligent_Breath_643@reddit
Jo Jo, gjete shqiptar, tash le të merremi me gjera më serioze, Pse është bërë gardhi me gjemba deri tek uji në Zvërnec? E drejta e kalimit në bregdetin shqiptar i takon gjithkujt dhe nuk ka pasur pronar private kurrë në historinë dreqit të shtetit që kemi,s'ka nevojë te rrethohet me rrjetë hekuri e tela me gjemba gjithë ajo sipërfaqe zonë e mbrojtur,,,si do levizin kafshët aty,,,, zhvilloje mor zotni vendin, por mos e prek bregun e detit dhe ndalimin e vendasve për të vizituar ,,zonën e mbrojtur,, kaq kisha,, have a good day sir,
Observe_Report_@reddit
It’s not Israel purchasing it, for sure, but Kushner has very close ties to Netanyahu and the Israeli government. Rama is good at back slapping and the like, but he doesn’t have a long term vision in place, and the tourism minister should be fired as there are many issues unaddressed. For instance, if the tourism minister simply perused travel forms, they would see that there is a massive need for mini buses to shuttle tourists throughout the country. We’ll stay there. Would it be that difficult to form a public private partnership with a company and get those buses all around the country? So many other issues, that may seem minor, but stubbornly remain, and in a tiny country. Rama is NOT the guy, he’s a clownish character and a poor manager.
Flimsy-Resident261@reddit
People are acting as if we gave/sold land to the country of Israel, but that’s far from the truth. Kushner got the status as “strategic investor”, I am not against investing on Sazan island, but am against any sort of construction in Zvërnec. Also, Kushner isn’t the only person granted the status as “strategic investor”, for Port of Durrës a UAE billionaire got it, 0 conspiracy theories for that.
When it comes to transportation, that’s bad. We’re the only one who still has a person giving tickets. Is Rama a good leader? Hell no. But that’s not the topic here
Observe_Report_@reddit
I agree with you completely, that Sazan Island is sitting there unused, it will cost tens of millions of dollars before you can even start construction, so it makes sense to develop it. I realize the topic is not transportation, it’s something I’ve noticed on my last two visits, that you can give someone with an average IQ a pen and paper, an iPad, whatever you feel like it. Have that person travel around the very small country and list all the shortcomings, and I’m focusing on tourism. Rama is not that guy, I don’t see where the accountability is. He’s like a hype man, I cringe when I see him interacting with world leaders, with his silly wardrobe and sneakers.
Laluci@reddit
Albanians I think are warmer towards Americans than other nations.
Can't help with the Israeli thing, I follow it but don't know enough. I know kushner is involved. To be fair, his wife has been going there for a while (not this particular part) so I'm not surprised... What's disturbing is that it looks like they're building inside national parks.... Including the new airport.
Albanians smoke a lot. Outdoors is all fair play... And there are even some places that are "outdoors" but they're entirely covered with temporary glass, and you can smoke in there 🤣 I think you'll learn more when you go
CockamouseGoesWee@reddit
Why are you trying to move to a country you clearly know nothing about?
Do you know if they have a PM or presidenr?
EastWrap8776@reddit (OP)
Rude I’ve done some research. Thanks for the trick question. Albania has both.
CockamouseGoesWee@reddit
Very good.
I'm just concerned that you're willing to uplift your children's lives on something that seems like an impulsive decision.
Albanians are not heathens. Smoking indoors anywhere in Europe is prohibited.
Flimsy-Resident261@reddit
Americans can live in Albania for up to 1 year without a visa. Also, they’re not the first Americans to move here.
Smoking indoors is not prohibited in all of Europe. Some countries allow it
EastWrap8776@reddit (OP)
You’re making a lot of assumptions based on a few paragraphs and a handful of questions.
Asking Albanians about their culture, family life, attitudes toward Americans, smoking norms, and regional differences is literally part of doing research. That’s the entire reason forums like this exist.
You also seem to be assuming my children have deep roots, support systems, and extended family here in the U.S. You don’t know our circumstances.
Exploring a potential move is not the same thing as impulsively uprooting my children tomorrow. In fact, gathering information from people who actually live there is one of the more responsible steps someone can take before making a decision.
If anything, I’d be more concerned about someone making life changing decisions without asking questions.
Desperate-Tea-6295@reddit
You are going to find a very laissez-faire attitude to smoking in Albania, as well as throughout the region. In my experience, it's only venues where tourists predominate that you can count on to be non-smoking (restaurants, outdoor pool, etc).
There are lots of places where it will say "non-smoking" but ultimately that depends on the willingness of staff to enforce that, and they willingness is really only something you can count on if it's all tourists.
This is all a roundabout way to say, you will have to be able to accept secondhand smoke if you are thinking of living there. And your clothes stinking of cigarettes. Etc. Given that I have asthma, this is the main factor keeping me from spending more time in the region
Rider-VA@reddit
Smoking is allowed outdoors, like everywhere in Europe.
EastWrap8776@reddit (OP)
And so is it in the U.S. I was talking about smoking indoors, mostly. Thank you. I mentioned beaches because in Thailand they don’t allow on beaches lol
Rider-VA@reddit
I don’t think it’s the same in the US. You can’t smoke when you sit outside in a bar/restaurant. And yes, you can smoke om beaches.