Friday, March 10, 2006

Going for a visit

Albanians are very warm, hospitable, social people. I love that they are very affectionate and loyal. When you go for a visit to an Albanian, you have to take something with you like a kilo of fruit, something sweet, a fruit juice or a bottle of Cola. You have to greet in this order: men first in order of age, then women in order of age, then children. They'll ask you how you are in about 4 different ways, and you're supposed to answer "Good" no matter how you're really doing. Then you can set into normal conversation. You always have to have something in your house ready for guests because it's "turp" (shameful) if you don't. And you never serve what people just brought to you. If you know guests are coming, you usually pull out al the stops (put on the dog, as those southerners say I guess). My outgoing, hospitable personality goes well here!

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