Stereotypes

'All Albanians are in the mafia.'

I have heard this stereotype many times. A teacher once even asked me if anyone in my family belonged to the mafia. I was in shock that even a teacher would ask such a question. Of course, this stereotype is not true at all and to be clear, I do not know any Albanian who is in the mafia. I have heard that this is said not only about Albanians, but also about Italians.

This does not mean that if one was or is in the mafia, that the entire nation is in it. This is the same as if a tree has one rotten apple, this then does not mean that all the apples in the tree are rotten.

'Albania is dangerous.'

There are no unsafe places in Albania. However, there are still warnings about mines in some parts of Albania due to the war. Mainly in hilly areas near the border with Kosovo. The unsafe areas where mines may still be located are marked with warning signs.

Otherwise, the country is very safe, but as in most tourist cities, pickpockets are also active in Albania. It is advisable to pay close attention to your belongings and keep them nearby.

'Albanians are aggressive.'

This is absolutely not true. Not an entire nationality can be the same and be aggressive. Every person is different, of course there will be some individuals who are aggressive, but one should not generalise this by saying that everyone of that nationality is like this.

'Albanians only drive Mercedes.'

It is not true that all Albanians drive a Mercedes, but I must say that it is the most preferred car brand among a lot Albanians. Many people who came to one of the Albanian countries also saw that the most used car brand was a Mercedes. However, this does not mean that all Albanians have Mercedes as their vehicle.