Living in Serbia impressions after a month of living

Are you curious about what it's like to live in Belgrade Serbia? In this video, I share my experiences and impressions after spending a month in this country. Serbia has left an impression on me, from the locals to the culture. In this country, I got a second residency.
👉 Topics Covered:
What I love about living in Serbia
The people: Are Serbians friendly?
Surprising things that impressed me
The process of getting a residence permit
A quick life update: How am I doing so far?
🔔 Subscribe for more expat life experiences and travel tips: / @stepansodyssey
Video Chapters:
00:31 Where are we staying
00:59 What I like in Serbia
02:57 About locals
04:40 About the Resident's permit
06:15 A quick life update

[@vladstam]

Добро пожаловать в Сербию! I hope you will feel like at home. Serbs are incredibly approachable people in general. As you start interacting with locals you will find friends easily. I know how it feels because I'm a Serbian guy who's currently in Russia. I lived in US before that for a long time, so I went through this "adjusting to new place/ finding friends" type of thing few times. I find it hard here because my Russian in not that great, and you need language to interact with locals. Luckily Serbians speak good English so you should be fine in that department. Удачи Вам!

[@StepansOdyssey]

Хвала! Wow, you definitely know what I’m talking about. Yes, many people in Serbia talking at English, so it’s easier to communicate. Now I have more time, so I will start finding new friends. It’s really interesting for me, to study people and culture of country. As I know, not many people in Russia talking at English if it not Moscow or St. Petersburg. And even there the level of English speakers is not very high. How you do with this? In what city you’re now?

[@vladstam]

@@StepansOdyssey Yes, English is not much of a use here for me (in Tambov). That's not necessarily a bad thing as it forces me to learn another language, but it is not the best feeling in the world not to be able to communicate with locals to the fullest extent. I did not experience that issue in the USA, because my English was pretty good from the get go. Another thing that's different, I don't have any Serbs here like I did in Chicago. Although I wasn't the kind of person to stick to my Serbian community only (I had American friends also) it's still very helpful to have people from your country around you. That's why I think Belgrade is a good choice for you. As you said, you like to study people and the culture, and you will find a lot of interesting connections between our countries. After the revolution many Russians found refuge in Serbia, and traces of their lives are everywhere in Belgrade, particularly architecture. It just takes time for things to fall into place. Все будет хорошо :) Удачи тебе еще раз Степан!

[@StepansOdyssey]

@@vladstam thank you and good luck to you!

[@andrijaperiic]

Fell free to speak a little bit with locals and you will see how much affort they put in conversetion, especially when they see you are Russian. Because we are friendly and we consider Russia like brother country. So try it and you will maybe make it in some bar drinking ,,rakija’’ with someone😅🇷🇸.

[@StepansOdyssey]

Thank you for the suggestion! I'll definitely make an effort to engage with the locals and experience Serbian hospitality 🙂

[@psu2dcu]

I'm shocked you feel isolated. My experience has been that Serbs are among the friendliest and warm people you could ever meet. If you make any effort to get to know the locals I'm sure your opinion would change dramatically.

[@StepansOdyssey]

Yes, the reason is not local of course. it depends a lot on how much effort you put into it and how your experience turns out. I unfortunately didn't have much time for it and the place we live in now doesn't offer many opportunities for new friendships. I guess we'll probably change the apartment and then maybe something will change for the better :)

[@gsm147]

I noticed that Russians always have a problem of assimilation in Serbia, while foreigners from the West are all amazed by Serbian hospitality.

[@StepansOdyssey]

@@gsm147 many of my friends from Russia find it very comfortable and easy in Serbia. Everyone has their own experience.

[@psu2dcu]

@@gsm147 That's interesting my experience has been the opposite - slavic culture, common orthodox religion, similar values.

[@anaatanaskovic4814]

Russians behave like isolated here, in Belgrade.

[@Brave2standalone]

Wishing you the best of luck in a new country! Serbian people are very helpful and polite but you have to 'break the ice' and initiate the conversation first. It's true, Serbs value privacy greatly but that shouldn't stop you from asking for help, especially from your neighbors and that how you create new friendships.

[@StepansOdyssey]

Couple of times i asking a help in the street and people was very friendly! Thank you for advice!

[@kikasokino6754]

Stepan you are in Belgrade, I grew up there but when I married and moved to smaller town and I learned to smile to other people. Then I figured that Belgrade was to big to show any emotions, we where like robots there. There is to much people on streets and we looked just in one direction

[@StepansOdyssey]

Thank you for sharing your personal experience! It's always fascinating to hear how different places can shape our attitudes and behaviors.

[@psu2dcu]

My experiences (I've been in Beograd lots of times) have been completely different. Maybe because I'm a Serbian American I find Belgrade as a wonderful small town with a fantastic night life, incredible food, inexpensive cost of living and warm interesting people.

[@bgdabg6769]

​@@psu2dcuThis small town happened to be in top 15 largest European cities. 😂

[@psu2dcu]

@@bgdabg6769 Compared to New York, Chicago, LA, Houston, London, Paris and so on it really is both small in actual terms and in its vibe.

[@zoranveselinov7362]

Тhere are a lot of people from Russia for whom Serbia is just a stopover to Europe, as the gentleman mentioned.

[@StepansOdyssey]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and adding to the conversation! :)

[@evystts]

Thank you for sharing! I once watched a video of a trip through a small town in Serbia and left a good impression, I think the Serbian people are very hospitable. Your video made me want to travel there even more

[@StepansOdyssey]

Thank you too! I’m glad to hear it :)

[@MrDomingo55]

There are lots of Russians in Serbia but I think they don't all congregate in Belgrade. For some people, smaller cities or towns are more attractive and these places can be much cheaper.

[@StepansOdyssey]

Yes! I'm thinking about small town, too.

[@alexandartheserb7861]

Welcome. But it is not easy place to live. Who love to be in center of battle between Good and Evil should be in Belgrade, but who love more normal and peaceful life should go to some smaller place.

[@StepansOdyssey]

Thank you for watching and leaving a comment! I appreciate your perspective on living in Belgrade. Can you tell me more about this battle? I'm not in context and didn't understand.

[@alexandartheserb7861]

@@StepansOdyssey If you stay long enough you will feel it yourself.

[@Oshinut28]

Maybe they are not smiling on the street but they are definitely lough smile sing cry in kafana 😁😁

[@StepansOdyssey]

By the way, the coffee shops here are very good! and I’m glad that they smoke in them 🙂 (If I understood the word kafana correctly)

[@Oshinut28]

@@StepansOdyssey kafic would be coffee shop sort of , kafana is the big brother where folks get smashed, live country music.. Narodna muzika mixed with Kafanska muzika two different genres. That's the place where you really see the emotional side also aggressive sometimes, all in one.

[@StepansOdyssey]

Cool! Thanks for explaining :)

[@StepansOdyssey]

I haven't been there yet, but I think so.

[@gdejepopust]

Wellcome to Serbia❤

[@StepansOdyssey]

thank you! :)

[@mavericktent]

Спасибо за что-то новенькое!

[@StepansOdyssey]

Спасибо за просмотр :)

[@patriotsrbin537]

rusi u nasa braca i svi su uvek dobrodosli u srbiju.dobrodosli iosecajte se kao kod kuce

[@StepansOdyssey]

Хвала на гостопримству! :)

[@pop.76]

ziv bio Stefane...dobrodosao i uzivaj u Srbiji brate @@StepansOdyssey

[@zarjesve2]

Leaving cigarets is most important decision in life! Probably more important then to leave home country…:)

[@StepansOdyssey]

Hello! Thank you, it is so hard. I'm still can't do it this, but I'm try.

[@nikolaforzane2285]

I am selective of friends because my IQ is over 130, so it takes more time to find right people.. After food/shelter/job making friends is the secret to happy life.

[@StepansOdyssey]

Yes, sometimes it takes longer. Thanks! :)

[@glendatelgenhoff6514]

Despite being in smoking withdrawal, you seem happier, Stepan. It will all get better, I'm sure 😊

[@StepansOdyssey]

Hi Glenda! I do feel better when I don't smoke, but the condition is not stable. I think I need to get through the first month and then it will be easier. Thanks for your support!

[@glendatelgenhoff6514]

@StepansOdyssey If you're interested in what rural Michigan looks like, I have a little youtube channel in which I record the drives we take and set them to relaxing music. I want to be able to relive the beauty of Michigan when I'm (someday) elderly and can't get out. My editing is improving. It's called "Berries and Backroads."

[@StepansOdyssey]

Of course im interesting! Thanks for sharing :)

[@Cyclonus2377]

You had me at "barbecue!" 😋😋😋😋

[@StepansOdyssey]

😄😄😄

[@MrZoooiii]

Relax and enjoy life here, you are very "wooden", you are too serious!!!

[@aleksandraj.8414]

Im what sub. you live, since Zemun that you are filming is not 😂

[@StepansOdyssey]

That was Altina, near Zemun.

[@LindoYqueLoco]

Ako su samo cigarete …

[@willbygosh4887]

Just think of all the money you'll save by not smoking.

[@StepansOdyssey]

Indeed! This thought helps. So far I'm a little tossed from side to side. I should make a video about quitting smoking, then I won't have any other options :D

[@lynfl9814]

It sounds like it is lonely for you. Do Russians try to get together to support and encourage each other in Serbia? I feel for you with quitting smoke. My husband tried many times in life to quit cigarettes and each time he went back to smoking. He finally tried Nicorette Gum (nicotine in gum); he has not been able to get off of the gum. If you can quit, without nicotine replacement; that is the best thing to do. I wish you the best in your quest to quit smoking; you and your family will benefit from your better health without cigarettes.

[@StepansOdyssey]

You right, it is feels lonely. But here in Belgrade many Russians, and our diaspora is not bad. But the place were we living right now is far enough from places were this people we can meet. So we thinking about change apartment. About quit smoking cigarettes it's a tough task. I was try 3 times after publish this video, I won't stop trying until I quit smoking :)

[@ognjenkabogdan8787]

welcome brother!!! dobrodosao brate!!! ❤❤❤

[@StepansOdyssey]

Thank you brother! :)

[@zarjesve2]

1:20 just do not buy meat in Lidl…

[@StepansOdyssey]

Ok :)

[@zarjesve2]

@@StepansOdysseyLidl bring meat all along from e.g. Spain or similar, frozen meat. You have a lot of small meat shops that have a fresh meat...

[@Жарко-ф4ш]

How can someone in the 21st century still smoke when they have all the information about the harm to health. Do some sport in the club, so you will quit smoking and have communication with the local population.

[@StepansOdyssey]

Thank you for tips. Smoking, like some other addiction, not easy to quit.

[@snikos979]

Я человек который жил в России 15 лет визде. Русский холодный и серый народ. И по етому не согласен. Мы разные.

[@StepansOdyssey]

Спасибо что поделился своим мнением. Я думаю у каждого свой опыт, свои встречи с другими людьми. В целом я согласен что русские холодные.