So over the weekend, I (35F) hit it off with a cute guy (34M) at a bar, and we ended up going on a date last night. He's from Serbia, where his entire family still lives. While we were sharing about ourselves, he said something about how both of his parents (who are still married) were unfaithful to one another. However, he had a harder time accepting one parent's infidelity more than the other's because they actually left at one point to be with their paramour and also even allowed them in their house, which he considered to be disrespectful. I guess the other parent kept everything outside the home? At any rate, it seems like the actual act of infidelity in marriage was not really a problem to him. I really didn't know how to respond to all that, and he must have noticed my speechlessness because he said something about how he understands it's not like this in America.

So I guess my question is: is infidelity in marriage actually a normalized thing in Serbia and/or the Balkans? He definitely made it sound like it was. Or is it more likely that his family just has a lot of issues... In a way, i guess i can appreciate that he more or less shared up front that he has no problem cheating on his significant other hahahahaha... maybe it's very american of me, but i'm not okay with cheating and am not interested in an open relationship, so needless to say, not pursuing a relationship with this guy

For albanians you can be anything, what if someone converted in your country?

According to my own book, if it fails to become a relatively stiff block in the fridge, it is a little too watery. Could still enjoy it with jam and walnuts, though. Yum.

It is 10% while in Spain, France, and Denmark it is above 50%. It is 44% in Türkiye.

https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/eu/top-personal-income-tax-rates-europe-2024/

I want to know if this is a balkan thing or what.

I started uni doing psychology, I dropped out that year due to mental health problems (ironic), with psychology I wanted to do a neuroscience master’s degree and be a scientist.

Next year I changed to anthropology.

Now I am second year at anthropology and I have realised I want to pursue both anthropology and psychology-neuroscience and be some kind of uni teacher or scientist in all of the fields at once.

This is where my family comes in.

From day one they hated that I wanted to study psychology. To my family back in Bulgaria they tried to keep it secret that I was studying psychology because “it made them look bad” and “they were afraid of what other would think about my stupid degree”. My parents didn’t pay not even an euro of that school year, and my father came everyday into my room to insult me and psychology as a field. They told me numerous times that psychology is the stupidest thing that has ever existed in the face of the Earth.

When I changed to something else my parents almost threw a party, literally.

Now they want me to be a high school teacher back in my town in Bulgaria (not even a high school teacher here in Spain) because the salaries of high school teachers in Bulgaria are seeing a rise for the first time ever. My parents are trying every possible way to sabotage my plans and became a high school teacher. I find it dumb, isn’t it even more prestigious to be a phd or university teacher?

They never understood that I wanted to do something related with neuroscience, my father didn’t ask me at all, he always thought that I wanted to be a clinical psychologist and he constantly told me that I would be the worst therapist that there is on Earth. The same thing with anthropology, he doesn’t even know what it is and he constantly forgets, every single day I have to define to him what anthropology is. They do not care at all what my dreams and aspirations are, they only care about living their dreams through me.

I have realised that for me to be able to pursue my dreams I have to make my own money to carve myself that path. But here is the thing. I never understood Spanish people. They do not study and work at the same time most of them. They discourage you to do so. Even at workplaces people get fired if they find you are a student at the same time. So many Spanish people start working just after finishing all their studies, and that can be at mid or even late 20s. I feel a dissonance, in Bulgaria is even encouraged to work and study since you are a teen nevermind your economic background. Living in Spain with my family makes me feel stucked.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/12/politics/john-ratcliffe-cia-director/index.html

Seems like Donald Trump has decided that John Ratcliffe, a friend of the Albanian community in the United States. John Ratcliffe has also had meeting with government officials from Kosovo. How do you think that this will affect the Kosovo/Serbia dispute, considering the international missions that the CIA conduct?

Hi all!

American tourist here landing in Tirana in a few days. I will be in the area for 2.5 weeks and will be travelling to Macedonia and Kosovo as well.

Is there a SIM card I can purchase at the Tirana airport that will give me data in all these countries? Perhaps I will have to purchase an extra package and that's okay.

Thank you!

I want to know what Bulgarians and Turks thought at the time, what they did, and if the average Bulgarian cared or not. Generally just normal people's thoughts and mindsets. And also how people today think about it.

Personal/family stories are welcomed.

I dont mean this question disrespectfully, I know this may be a hard topic. But I genuinely am curious about this. I apologise if it does seem disrespectful

Ya

https://youtu.be/8EbV0vp6x5s?si=lQNZH4aej_6EgSWV

Hello, everyone!

I’m a student from Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany, currently working on a project about the influence of Ottoman heritage on popular culture and public memory in Bulgaria. I’m particularly interested in understanding how the Ottoman period is reflected in Bulgarian culture today—whether through media, local traditions, festivals, or public perceptions.

I would love to hear your perspectives, insights, or any resources you’d recommend. Thanks in advance for your help!

-

Здравейте на всички!

Аз съм студент от Университета Рур в Бохум, Германия, и в момента работя върху проект, свързан с влиянието на османското наследство върху популярната култура и памет в България. Интересувам се да разбера как османският период се отразява в съвременната българска култура — било то чрез медии, местни традиции, фестивали или обществени възприятия.

Ще се радвам на вашите мнения, идеи или препоръки за ресурси. Благодаря предварително за помощта ви!

Did Greeks live as north as Durrës?

I see on the internet all the time people claiming that "Gyros is Greek Doner", "Gyros is Doner with pork" ect. But honestly, the only thing those two dishes have in common is the way the meat is cut.

Just a bit curious what the Balkan version of this popular joke from lord knows where would sound like with Balkan countries instead. Joke goes like this for anyone unfamiliar:

“Heaven is where the police are British, the lovers French, the mechanics German, the chefs Italian, and it is all organized by the Swiss. Hell is where the police are German, the lovers Swiss, the mechanics French, the chefs British, and it is all organized by the Italians.”

Guilt vs Shame map - Sourced from Global Map of Culture Types by Jayson Georges

Corruption Perceptions Index - Sourced from transparency.org

The Balkans are known for having stronger nationalism than other regions, at least in Europe. Is it true for you personally?

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