Including our latest visit, weโve now toured Macedonia three times and have lived in the country for about nine months. Having the opportunity to travel through the region and live with the locals has allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in the culture. As a result, weโve learned, participated, and became creatures of habit in regards to many of Macedoniaโs cultural customs.
Whether itโs drinking rakija in the morning, taking a walk during sunset, or eating burek all hours of the day and night, Macedonians seem to be all about enjoying life. Thereโs a vast number of traditions and habits that are unique to Macedonia. Many of them warm our hearts, baffle us a bit, and many times make us laugh.
Here are 10 amusing habits we picked up while traveling through Macedonia.
1. Add Bread, Cheese, and Ajvar to Every Meal
Move over ketchup and mustard, since visiting Macedonia, weโve made bread, cheese, and ajvar our go-to accompaniments. Weโre going to have to start making our own ajvar pretty soon.
2. Think Itโs Always the Perfect Time For Rakija
Every morning we say weโre done drinking, a few hours later, โI could go for a rakija.โ If it feels so good, how can it be wrong?
3. Become More Afraid of Drafts (Promaja) Than of COVID
Whatever you do, donโt tell Fauci about Promaja. Heโll have everyone covered in crocheted blankets and we wonโt be able to leave our homes without a coat or with wet hairโof course, youโll need to close your windows too.
4. Drink Macedonian Coffee All Day Long
When weโre not drinking rakija weโre probably drinking Macedonian coffee, if doesnโt spill all over the place!
5. Condemn Drivers With Albanian Plates As Incompetent (Even If They Havenโt Done Anything Yet)
The only thing that slows down an Albanian license plate is a speed bump or a pothole. In fact, Albaniaโs the only country weโve been to that you can pass (overtake) the police without being nervous about getting a ticket.
6. Believe Weโre Experts in Regard to the History of the Balkans
At this point, weโre not sure anyone knows what exactly happened.
7. Only Refer to Macedonia As Macedonia, Never North
North Macedonia: it doesnโt even sound correct. Never say the โNโ word.
8. Sitting at a Cafe Bar For an Hour or Two and Only Ordering One Drink
Weโre getting better at this. The first time we sat down with friends in the Balkans for a coffee, we of course drank it within about three minutes, and then said, โWeโre not used to these small cups. Do they do free refills?โ It takes time to learn the art of a slow coffee.
9. Run the Vacuum All Hours of the Day and Night
Audreyโs obsessive-compulsive cleaning disorder fits in perfectly in Macedonia.
10. Talk Shit About Albania and Greece But Go There on Vacation
Well, some parts are kind of nice.
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It all sounds right, congratulations, you are now Macedonian, welcome!