This is perhaps one of the question I am asked the most, mainly by curious and slightly confused Albanians. There are many, many, many reasons but here are some of the main ones.
- Because I can walk down the street at any time of day or night with significantly less risk of being attacked than in most other European countries, I am also less likely to get mugged, shot, beaten up, robbed, or pickpocketed than in most Western countries. I feel safe here. While it is always necessary to keep your guard up, I have never felt unsafe walking around any part of Albania.
- Because the majority of people are kind and tolerant to children. Child having a meltdown in the middle of the road? Being a bit naughty in a restaurant? Trying to sneak a candy into their pocket in the supermarket? While in many other countries, people lose their temper with children misbehaving, in Albania, they are more tolerant. The default attitude is to admire and compliment the child and not get so irked when they are challenging. While it can be a bit judgemental and interfering at times, I appreciate that society loves children a lot here, unlike in some other countries where they should be “seen and not heard”.
- Life moves slower, leaving more time for enjoyment. This point can drive you crazy if you don’t adjust to it. Life in Albania just goes at a slower pace, and if you are someone fixated on timeliness, efficiency, and a fast-paced way of living, you will need to adjust or get prepared to dislike it. While it can be challenging at times, I have found myself slowing down somewhat to a more Albanian pace, and my health is better for it!
- Because I am surrounded by beautiful nature. My house is seven minutes from the lake, twenty minutes from the mountains, fifteen minutes from the rolling hills and lakes, and forty minutes from miles of beautiful beaches. Travelling just an hour or two in any direction means I pass historical sites, vineyards, agrotourism destinations, beautiful coast, wild countryside, historic bazaars, winding rivers, and much, much more. There are not many places where you can live within a stone’s throw of so many different and equally stunning environments.
- The food is great. I have been here for five years and only eat fresh, locally produced food. Processed or foreign food (except bananas) does not come into my house. It has got to the point that when I travel abroad for work, I start to feel sick after eating the local food, and I start craving the Albanian freshness upon my return. Tomatoes, cucumber, figs, melon, peaches, apples, onions, root vegetables, salad leaves, crumbly cheese, beans, fresh fish, village chicken, qofte, and of course, plenty of olive oil- why would I ever want to eat anything else? I enjoy the seasonality of Albanian food and finding the best street vendors for the best kinds of products. I buy my honey in a recycled jar and my olive oil in a 10l plastic bottle, which is how it should be!
- The people are lovely. Ok, my upstairs neighbours are a witches’ coven of horrible, bullying old women who think it is fine to throw their cigarettes in my garden, cut my flowers without my permission, and gossip about me in front of and behind my back, but asides from them, Albanians are great. I have neighbours who greet me with gifts of jam and soup, with flowers from their garden and strong spirits in plastic bottles. Everywhere you go, you are welcomed and smiled at, and of course, stared at with curiosity. Albanians are welcoming and friendly, and this is a country where it is impossible to ever feel alone. There will always be someone you can talk to about anything from food to politics to the weather, art, and history.
- It sparks creativity. I am a creative person- whether with words, paint, music, photographs, clothes, fixing things, growing things, rescuing things, or simply just imagining things- I like colour and stimulation, and Albania has plenty of both. I often feel like I am driving, cycling, or walking through a movie set, although the movie’s theme often changes. The people, the views, the nature, the good, the bad, and the ugly- all of it inspires something in me. This could be inspiration to write an article venting frustration, to try and change something, to help someone, to paint something, to go somewhere, or simply just enjoy it. I have never been so inspired in so many different ways as I have here.
- Because it is home, recently, I visited a doctor with my daughter, and he referred to “when I go home” and assumed that my being here was likely temporary. I quickly informed him that I had bought an apartment here, my daughter is an Albanian citizen, I hope to be (one day!), and this is my home. He was surprised but also happy. Albania is my home. There is no other home for me. It is where my house is, my heart is, and where I am most happy. Although I am different by way of upbringing, language, culture and many other things, I feel like I belong here. It is a place I do not get tired of and somewhere I miss after more than two days elsewhere. The moment the plane flies over land in Durres, I feel like I am finally home. In 35 years and four countries, this is the only place I have had that feeling.
