Who Thrives in Albania — And Who Doesn’t

In this video we’re getting really honest about something we see all the time: people don’t “fail” in Albania because Albania is bad — they struggle because their expectations and temperament don’t match the reality on the ground. After living here and helping tons of people plan their move, we’ve noticed a simple pattern: most expats fall into one of three buckets — Thrivers, Strugglers (who can absolutely figure it out), or Disaster Cases (where things go sideways fast). CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 00:34 Bucket 1: Thrivers 17:40 Bucket 2: Struggers 26:51 Bucket 3: Disaster Cases 35:21 Self-Assesment and Conclusion We share real examples from everyday life here — bureaucracy, banking, internet installs, communication differences (“po po po”), money runway, healthcare planning, and why being “fed up with the U.S.” isn’t enough on its own to build a good life abroad. This isn’t gatekeeping. We want you to succeed. Our hope is that this video helps you come to Albania with the right mindset, the right plan, and the right expectations — so you can actually enjoy it here. 👇 Tell us in the comments: which bucket do you think you’d be in on day one — and what part of Albania do you think would be the biggest adjustment for you? If you want more Albania videos like this, please subscribe — we’re really glad you’re here. – Spencer & Sam Helpful links (if you want to go deeper): • Join the Smile Abroad Club: https://www.smileabroad.al/smile-abro... • Book a free 15-min call: https://www.smileabroad.al/ • More move-to-Albania resources: https://www.smileabroad.al/ • Residency Permit Services: https://www.smileabroad.al/residency #Albania #MoveToAlbania #ExpatLife #LivingAbroad