Stories about Albania from November, 2007
Albania: Death Rites
Living in Shkoder writes about Albanian death rites.
Albania: Independence
Albania marked 95 years of independence on Nov. 28, and Albanian Blogger posted “a short history leading to the country’s independence.”
Former Yugoslavia: Vladimir Arsenijevic's Piece
The Glory of Carniola discusses an article by a Serbian writer, which begins this way: “For all ex-Yugoslavs, but particularly for the Serbs, the Kosovo Albanians used to be simply ‘our negroes.’ Nowadays, however, they are cast as Serbia's arch-enemies […].”
Albania: Religious Tolerance; Riding a Bike
Living in Shkoder, Albania writes about “religious harmony” in his city: “…the greatest danger would be to underestimate the danger.” Also, a post on riding a bike in Shkoder.
Serbia, the EU: Stability and Association Pact
A Fistful of Euros writes about Serbia's Stability and Association Pact with the EU (SAA), to be signed in Jan. 2008: “It looks like Brussels is trying to strengthen the ‘liberal and Western’ strain of Serbia’s politics before December, when problems are likely to arise with Kosovo.”
Hungary: Open Letter to Slovakia
Pestcentric writes an open letter to Slovakia: “Last year you even had garage bands calling for the destruction of Hungary. This is just not good. It seems that being in the European Union has led you astray. Now, I know you’ve yet to fence off the Gypsies like the Czechs...
Europe: Gastarbeiter
Romanians aren't too welcome in Italy, Poles aren't too welcome in Britain. Pestcentric reviews the situation with migrant laborers from the EU's new member states.
Albania: Religions
Living in Shkoder, Albania writes about the country's three major religions: “Although there is no recent survey to show the statistics, it is believed that it is approximately 70% Islam, 20% Albanian Orthodox, and 10% Roman Catholic.”
Albania: “Washing” in Tirana
Some think it's hilarious, others hate it: a creative way to decorate an apartment building – whose tenants have no choice but to continue living there, even if they don't like it. Belatedly – photos by Our Man in Tirana, posted back in August (link via Albanian Blogger).
Albania: Online Bookstore Update
Things are going pretty well for Albanian Blogger‘s online bookstore that sells Albanian-language books – so well that it has inspired him to read a couple titles, too.
Albania: Cell Phone Recklessness
Albanian Blogger writes about reckless Albanians who manage to talk on their cell phones even when riding their bikes.
Albania: Hopeless Youth?
Albanian Blogger thinks that Albanian “young people do not see a clear future for themselves and that somehow the struggles of life seem to burden them.”
