On November 28^th, we wish a very happy celebration of Albania’s Independence Day to all our amazing team members from Albania! We appreciate you dearly and are grateful to have you in our multicultural Nobel team.

Last year, on the occasion of Albania’s National Day, we learned about this beautiful country’s history, geography and so much more, but this year we want to actually experience what it’s like to be living in Albania nowadays.

Our lovely Nobel Country Ambassador from Albania – Franceska Shehi kindly accepted to share with us some fascinating details about her home country. Join us below in discovering interesting aspects of the Albanian culture, food, daily life, travel attractions and more:

• Besides the Independence Day, celebrated on November 28^th, Albanians also celebrate Summer Day on March 14^th, Nowruz Day on March 22^nd, Eid al Fitir on April 21^st and Eid al Adha on June 28^th.

• Some of the most popular Albanian superstitions include:
  • Not accepting a young women’s gifts will prevent her from getting engaged
  • Spilt coffee will increase your bank account
  • Hanging stuffed animals on your house wards off evil
  • Eating sheep tongue helps you speak Shqip
  • Stepping on another person’s foot will kill their parents
  • Touching your throat when you have a sore throat will make the illness worse
  • If your hands aren’t cold, you’re not being honest
  • Pointing at a cemetery will cause a family member to drop dead

• Some of the foods that are always present on Albanian tables are:
  • Ferges (Summer Stew)
  • Tarator (Cold Yogurt)
  • Byrek
  • Ashure
  • Tave Kosi

• At the moment, the most popular music artists that are trending in Albanian charts are Ledri Vula, Dhurata Dora, and Capital – T. In terms of music genre, rap songs are most popular in Albania now.

• The most loved sport in Albania is football and the most loved football team is of course the Albanian National Team.

• The cost of living in Albania is $792, which is 1.29 times less expensive than the world average. Albania ranked 109th out of 197 countries by cost of living and the 67th best country to live in.

• The average salary after taxes in Albania is $505, which is enough to cover living expenses for 0.6 months.

• There used to be a habit for families to live all together (parents, siblings, and spouses). Currently people live separately from their parents, single or married, they tend to be more individual and have their own lives. Most of the youth are placed in the capital city of Albania, Tirana, even though now they plan to move abroad for better opportunities of living.

• Education in Albania for primary, secondary, and tertiary levels is mostly supported by the state. The academic year is much similar to that of the United States, classes start in September or October and end in June or July. Albanian is the primary language of instruction in all public schools. The education takes place in three stages such as the primary, secondary, and pre-university education and there are about 5,000 schools throughout the nation. Elementary education is compulsory from grades 1 to 9, but most students continue at least until a secondary education. Students must pass the graduation exams at the end of the 9th grade and also at the end of the 12th grade in order to continue their education. The ‘School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)’ of Albania is 16 years.

• The Albanian clothing and footwear industry is characterized by approximately 1,000 manufactures and 150,000 garment workers. Low production costs are tempting for the Italian luxury fashion industry, these garments, produced in Albania, are sold as ‘Made in Italy’. The majority of workers are women who work for an extremely low (minimum wage) income, six or seven days a week. This current system has an impact on how the young generation looks at the future: they see themselves as the next garment workers, working in the same conditions.

• In the town of Shkoder people commute to work, or different other places with bikes. This makes this town very special and known for this particularity.

• When visiting Albania, our colleague Franceska recommends going to Himara, Ksamil, Saranda, Gjirokaster Castle, and Porto Palermo. You also shouldn’t miss Ajman Park and Gjepali Shijak.

• Called nena in the local language, the plant of Chenopodium bonus-henricus is a type of wild spinach that has been gathered traditionally between late spring and summer by the indigenous Kelmendi community living in the eponymous mountainous stretch along Albania and Montenegro’s borderlands.

• For handcrafted items, Franceska recommends us to go to Korca, Gjiroakster, or Shkoder.

• If you’re curious about some special words or phrases in Albanian, Franceska shares with us two fascinating examples:
  • Kismet – Literally, this means “fate” or “destiny” and it’s used as a one-word response for questions like “when will you be married?” or “when will you have children?”
  • Bre – This word does not really have a particular meaning at all, but it is helpful in the sense that it somehow signifies annoyance.