As 2018 draws to a close, what a wonderful year it has been! I have travelled the length and breadth of the country, met some wonderful people, and had some truly incredible experiences. Over the next week, I will be looking back at some of the things that made 2018 great with a variety of blog posts about the year- this is the first.
According to my analytics, these were the blog posts that you read, shared, and liked the most during 2018!
10 Things I Learned After Moving to Albania– 10,987 views
To say Albania is a fascinating place would be a bit of an understatement. The whole country is a dichotomy, a paradox, and a mish-mash of contradictions. When I touched down in Tirana, I readily admit to not knowing anything about the place or its people. Now I live here, I have had a crash course in the truly unique way of living and the fascinating idiosyncrasies of everyday life, and it is these things that I have learned during my short time here that I will share with you now.(Read More)
You Know You are Dating an Albanian When…-9,962 views
I asked the online expat community of Albania, what their experiences are in dating Albanians. The question caused much discussion and a lot of humorous responses and these are a selection of 27 of the most interesting, interspersed with my own. Of course, no one is meaning to generalise an entire country of people, but the following points were all mentioned multiple times and to me, they are endearing and part of the reason why us expats love the Albanian people! (Read More)
Only in Albania…-8,120 views
Now I realise that as a foreigner I am on dangerous ground posting these jokes. But please remember that I LOVE this country and the Albanian people, and that this is only meant to be a bit of fun!
It is also worth noting that this post went totally viral and was translated and reposted on every single online news portal in the country! (Read More)
An Open Letter to My Friends: Why You Need to Come to Albania This Summer– 6,930 views
The chances are that when you think of perfect summer holiday destinations, Albania is not at the top of the list. I was once guilty of it as well- scouring Europe for the perfect combination of sun, beaches, culture, and fun- but never once did this Balkan country make it onto my short list. Well, I am here to tell you that you need to put some serious thought into considering Albania as a destination for your summer holiday. (Read More)
Moving to Albania? Here are Some Things You Need to Know– 6,648 views
As an EU Citizen (until Brexit at least), I have been used to moving from EU country to EU country without any hassle or excessive paperwork. Getting legal residence in Albania was a little trickier. As well as the formalities you need to prepare for, these are some other things I discovered that I think may be of use to anyone moving here. (Read More)
Only in Albania…Part 2- 5,343 Views
So, having been in Albania for 10 months now, I thought it was about time I did a little update on my “Only in Albania…” list. Considering that the last one went viral and was translated (badly) into Albanian without my permission, I would like to write a few disclaimers and suggestions in case the same thing should happen with this one. (Read More)
What was your favourite Balkanista post of 2018? And what would you like to see more of in 2019?
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