We're just starting what is intended to become THE place to show future expats what it is like to stay & work in Albania. Please help us with your stories - you can all create pages for this book (login, and from the menu at the lower right column choose "Write - book page")
Thanks!
Albanians will treat foreigners as welcome guests, no matter the nationality. The guest is sacred in the Albanian traditions and no effort is spared to help or make the guest comfortable, no matter how poor the family is. However, there may be unfortunate exceptions (bad-mooded people, drunkards, criminals in hiding), so use your judgement and gut feeling about who you ask for help.
Men: be careful not to approach local girls in the villages and not to do any action that can be misunderstood. Their family will most certainly not like it and their neighbors will gossip about it. It is ok to ask help or directions, to greet, or to have a talk if you know a language in common, but do keep a physical distance ("personal space").
Albanians are not too scared about grown-ups smiling or talking to their children. Usually the young children will be shy and keep a distance from the group, but if they do come near, it's ok to greet them. Older children may mix with the hash group for a while and will be happy to talk to you; if you know even a little Albanian, try to communicate - they'll not care about your mistakes, and they may even talk to you in English or Italian. It will be a nice experience for both parties. Again, do not do anything that can be misunderstood. Albanians do NOT see a predator in every adult that interacts with their children, hence you can be pretty relaxed about that. However do talk to your fellow Albanian hashers if you are not sure about what is ok and what is not, or send us an email or leave a comment at this site.
Other expats (some of them hashers) are writing about their experiences in Albania. Read their blogs to learn more about the social, human, and everyday aspects of life in Albania.
Stepping Stones
http://acrossthelana.blogspot.com/
A Nevada Yankee in King Zogs' Court
http://anevadayankeeinkingzogscourt.blogspot.com/
Inside Albania
http://www.insidealbania.wordpress.com/
Mitt Albania
http://annesalbania.blogspot.com/
Missouri to Albania
http://missouritoalbania.blogspot.com/
Drita's blog (Albanian American woman writing about Albania)
http://tiralba.blogspot.com/
A US Anthropologist living and studying in Albania
http://www.chelsialbaniaadventure.blogspot.com/
A modern vagabond's Journey to Albania
http://www.vagabondjourney.com/travelogue/2009/02/mountains-of-albania.html
Brittany's Eastern Hemisphere Adventures
http://blynk.shutterfly.com/
These websites may be useful to you when first coming to Albania.
Hotels, information, etc. from a local partner of the World Hotel Link: http://travel-tirana.com/
If the Tirana Hash is not enough to satisfy your thirst for nature, try http://outdooralbania.com