Why this American chose Serbia for life

Meet Raleigh. He is an American who has lived and worked in Thailand, Costa Rica, and Slovakia, but chose Serbia as his home. He has been living here for 10 years. He works as an English teacher, hosts craft beer tours, and plays country and blues music. He shared with me why he feels more free and happy in Serbia than in America, what is similar between Serbs and Americans, and what is the most unconventional food festival in Serbia. Enjoy!
To book a craft beer tour with Raleigh: pivoslavija.com
Raleigh's Instagram: / raleigh.bruce
Sponsorship-related requests: [e-mail]
My Instagram: / attic.life
If you have a guest suggestion for an interview, please reach out at [e-mail]
WATCH NEXT:
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► What happened to this foreigner after 10 years in Serbia • What happened to this ...
► Why he chose Serbia over Canada for life • Why he chose Serbia ov...
► Why he left London for Belgrade Serbia • Why he left London for...
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 INTRO
00:39 First impressions of Belgrade Serbia
01:44 Serbian language for an American
05:11 Slava on St. Patrick's Day
06:31 Three best and worst things in Serbia
09:54 Srpski zet
10:43 Best food festivals in Serbia
12:29 Crazy story In Balkans
15:09 Serbia and America
If you're a company seeking sponsorship opportunities contact me at [e-mail].
#Expatlife #Attic Life #Serbia #Belgrade #Balkans

[@kraljibi]

My opinion is that when we say "Fuck the USA" most Serbs mean the USA administration, not the USA people.

[@mihaelzupan8799]

Normal

[@Bionickpunk]

It also refers to US people that hate Serbia or are intentionally ignorant of it's history and in favor of what their government did to it.

[@svetlanasoucek3960]

Нормално!Народ нема ништа са будалама које их представљају у најгорем светлу. Ни они нису срећни са својим вођама који мисле само какода изазову нови рат.

[@chrisgrezinger7430]

Suppose they'd say the same about the Germans if they'd a chance to meet them ... without the US propaganda that tells lies to the whole world - not onöy about Germany

[@izil1fe]

This is actually very true.

[@djape1977]

There's an American mechanic here living in Belgrade for like past 20 years. He met a Serbian woman in the US, they got married and moved to Serbia. After some years they got divorced, she went to the US and he stayed in Belgrade. He runs his own mechanic's workshop and says he has no interest in going back to the US.

[@AtticLife]

great story! could you share the name of the workshop? I would gladly film this guy

[@djape1977]

@@AtticLife I'll try to get in touch with him and ask him if he's willing to give you an inteview its been several years since I saw him last.

[@merima333]

funny

[@borisgaming4473]

If i could take my Chevrolet to him it would be perfect, where is he located?

[@djape1977]

@@borisgaming4473 last I visited his workshop it was in Zemun, in a rented workspace. He might not be there anymore, I need to go and check. Naturally, he's an expert in American cars although he doesn't shy away from fixing anything really, as long as you're willing to pay his hourly rate. I first met him when a friend of mine needed something fixed on his Cherokee Jeep and the next time I went to him he was busy working on a 1990 Ford Sierra. In any case, keep an eye on this thread, I'll reply here when I track him down

[@flaviosonanini6585]

i am from switzerland i live in novi sad for 10 years and i loved it here aswell :)

[@milosJoe93]

I am native Serbian , born on South, so if this makes you happy , i dont know Padezi as well xD I'm born without it

[@mufljuz563]

Eeee...koliko ja znam juznjaci...oni znajučak 3 padeža. Ko zna od kude si ti😂😂😂

[@pepakinder5730]

😂

[@chickenlover657]

Ma nemate vi juznjaci ni mozga, pa kako da savladate padeze? hahahaha

[@neskobuka65]

​@@chickenlover657 To je BE torlacki dijalekt koji je nekako umro i pretvorio se u shopski, makedonski, bugarski Sigurno je slicniji od štokavkog onom starom jeziku na kojem je biblija napisana

[@zrikizrikic9126]

Ти си тупан југ је Штрпце..

[@robertA19754]

I think I’m the Canadian version of this guy.

[@LindoYqueLoco]

I live in Canada (and Mexico) yet…. would like to return to Belgrade. Simply don’t know how to do that. For the encouragement LOL watching videos, what else…..

[@robertA19754]

@@LindoYqueLoco Canada is no longer a good country to live in.

[@GA_ME]

One more awesome guest. I like that guy. You are rocking bro!

[@danilogrujicic6699]

I like how every person talks about Polako when they come here

[@stana6548]

I'm happy for this guy

[@DP-ky4wz]

Russian and American together. Friends. That is the way. Right way. In Serbia. I love it. Greetings from Serbian in Australia.

[@stevasteva4982]

Ruski liberal

[@Byja80]

They should made this interview in Diomede Islands then, with ofcourse some serbian presence there as we are in every čorba the mirođija, there you go with another lovely word from our beautiful language 🎉❤🇷🇸🇷🇺🇺🇲 It is only place where you can literally walk from Russia to USA and vice-versa, in winter when Bering sea freeze :) Our bro can take Sv. Diomed as his Slava instead of Sv. Patrik 😉

[@Tikvicki100]

@@stevasteva4982 ajde ne seri stevice

[@martinadjokic7114]

oh guys how i feel you... i´m czech, my husband is serbian and we speak english at home because of that language shifts between czech and serbian :D

[@Omidion]

interesting, could you give some examples, please ?

[@__-bc4bs]

Cool, Wellcome to Serbia Brate. 😎👍🎸🇺🇸🇷🇸🇷🇺

[@alexglanz7406]

Grew up with lots of Serbs and Croats in Chicago ('60s) Lots of fights, but great food and great work ethic. Most of the steel workers on the south side were Serbs and Czechs. I spent time in Yugoslavia, hitchhiking. It was beautiful then. Much luck and I am happy that Serbia is again peaceful. Great interview!

[@Pisovac]

Svaka cast na ideji kanala, odgledao sam svaki klip i imam osecaj da mogu da ih gledam svakodnevno danima. Samo nastavi ovako, sa srecom..

[@MadisonLamchop]

Your guest speaking about Serbia, he sounds JUST like my friend Joel… I wonder if theyre related. Also him living in Serbia for ten years, its funny that he still dresses the attire of an American, i love it.

[@huaqwe]

Wow ! I'm really surprised that the author of the channel is not Serbian ! I would never have thought he was Russian if he hadn't said that in this clip ! Maybe you can make a clip about your story?

[@nevenak344]

Lol he has typical Russian English accent

[@bruh-st9rq]

American and a Russian talking about Serbia middle ground god damnnnn 😮😮

[@Munzaba]

Haha (trucker here) I'm watching this and I'm currently 26 miles away from "Godfrey" aaaaa 😀😀😀💪

[@KocaMetallec]

Jel FL i dalje $1.2 po milji mame joj ga

[@Munzaba]

@@KocaMetallec 600 za 900$😅😅😂

[@KocaMetallec]

@@Munzaba puska

[@vanjavasiljevic7952]

@@Munzaba Ja prosle sedmice izvukao vozaca iz Miami za GA za 2 po milji ladno :D Moze se

[@Munzaba]

Ma samo nek se guzi lova braco moja napacena

[@milangovedarica6952]

Very level headed, rational interviewee. Keep up the good work @AtticLife !

[@Ragmon1]

Keep the videos coming, this is really nice to watch. Hail from Subotica.

[@nikolarajic9042]

Good interview👍keep up with the excellent work. I LIKE the content a lot

[@milicastanar9654]

Great guy and great interview as always

[@m1k4c]

It's awesome hearing foreigners and their perspectives - these little details they notice about some culture when they come from other places - jebiga, popizdeti, women being boss and men being guests in their homes, sneakers thingy, food thing, all those things we never even notice. Probably you neither, being from Slavic country. Though, you did notice "vukojebina", which is kind an awesome word ;D

[@frostflower5555]

Sveti Patrik! A new slava is born. It's got to start from somewhere! 😊

[@lovcenac100]

Welcome to Serbia bro

[@user-vv9bz2gg1l]

Ko si TI, da nazivaš nekoga nepoznato bratom i želiš my dobrodošlicu. Možeš samo k

[@deanc.7734]

​@@user-vv9bz2gg1lKo si ti da drugima odredjuješ kako ce koga zvati!? Sredjuj svoje privatne probleme sam i opusti se. Welcome to Serbia svakome ko voli i poštuje ovu zemlju.

[@sunflower8918]

Да ли кажеш welcome својима из дијаспоре или исељеницима српског порекла или ти је само језик навикао на стране гузице?

[@vitas5995]

I've been living in America for almost 30 years, and this is getting old, it's not the same place anymore, thinking about Serbia a lot!

[@picaso1509]

Me too!

[@GARRY3754]

Not a lot of compassion in US

[@Somi-dp7eg]

Dont go to Serbia

[@picaso1509]

@@Somi-dp7eg why?

[@thejoker2214]

@@picaso1509 because if you living in Serbia you can see in Noon everbody is siting in a Caffe and trinking lemo or Coffe and tell " oh I`m so tierd , you know i`ve go to my Doc and make a Sickleave " and at the end of Month he`ll Screem " holly shit why do i Earn so less Mony!? " in Serbia anyone work eficiently only 3 to 4 hours in 24h .... this is why he say to you - you should`nt go to Serbia !

[@cityistired]

Awesome content! Best of luck from fellow Serbian living in the Netherlands! (hopefully temporary)

[@gazibengazi]

As a Serbian, I've watched many KZbin videos about Serbia with similar content, where foreigners are interviewed in Serbia. However, yours stands out significantly in terms of quality and has set new standards. I'm not sure if it's because of your choice of interviewees or your way of conducting conversations, but your content is top-notch, and many could learn from you. Best regards!

[@gr-gx4zy]

Hey Attic life, I watched every single video you did. And thank you for creating this kind of content! I have small idea for you or wish. :)) Maybe do one interview about your life in Serbia with same questions where you give us your opinion? Cheers and all the best in future

[@am3273]

Excellent guest! Great story! Thanks, guys! I just wanted to add that "jebi ga" is usually used in a negative context (Jebi ga! Zaboravio sam da kupim sladoled. F... it! I forgot to buy ice cream.) The expression "jeb'o te" (literally: It f....ed you) is extremely common both in positive and in negative contexts (Jeb'o te, kakav gol! F..., what a goal! or Jeb'o te! Kako si zaboravio da kupis sladoled? F...! How did you forget to buy ice cream?).

[@AtticLife]

haha! thank you for the clarification😁

[@NeverNotHoopin]

But it´s also used a lot in positive way. For example "Jesi dig´o onu malu sinoc u klubu? Jebiga druze, znas me." "Did you picked up that shorty last night in the club? F*** it my friend, you know me." or "Kako si to uspio? Jebiga, ko zna, zna." How did you manage to do this? F*** it, who knows, knows." While jeb´o te is used, not always, but mostly when you´re in disbelief in something. For example, to continue the club story, "Jeb´o te, pa kako si to uspeo?" "F***, how did you do that."

[@am3273]

@@NeverNotHoopin Those are good examples. Another one that comes to mind would be: "Jebi ga, ima se moze se". But I still have the impression that the examples of the usage of "jebi ga" in a positive context are more limited compared to the negative ones. Perhaps it's just my own experience. When it comes to, "jeb'o te", I agree that it's often used to express either positive or negative surprise.

[@ivan5083]

Nice interview, I like how straight to the point Raleigh is. Now how about you do an interview with yourself? :)

[@annerne2299]

I loved all my trips to Serbia and loved it

[@milosmanojlovic5805]

My man nailed every point . I’m glad you found a new life brother

[@SimplyNow]

Mi jadni volimo vise strance nego same sebe...

[@milosstamenkovic5941]

Da to je nazalost tacno i nasa trenutna realnost.

[@svarozjov]

Тако је, али Таванџија је емигрант и снима клипове о другим емигрантима за емигранте, а ти узми сад покрени канал где ћеш снимати интервјуе као домаћи, о домаћим, за домаће. Ево ја ћу се први субскрајбовати :)

[@dusica1904]

Nije tacno...nego ne obracamo paznju. Ja obozavam vise nas narod nego bilo koga drugog

[@msascha1973]

To je suština naše vere, samo treba da budemo više svesni njene velicine

[@GlasRazuma888]

@@milosstamenkovic5941 ...тужно, све нам је туђе боље,...или волимо да будемо (извини) дупелисци!!!

[@irenajeremic50]

Nice guy!

[@user-cr2xj7uu8x]

Great video! Your content is very interesting and I love it

[@JESUS_CHRIST_777_GOD]

Raleigh looks like a serbian to me.

[@s_for_short2400]

The letter Lj or Љ in cyrillic is seemingly impossible for americans to day 😂

[@Tmikelito111]

Thanks for your sincere words about Serbia , no society is perfect , but I am pleased you found your place under the sun !!! Good to have you there , cheers !!!

[@RainDelay]

Great channel, Attic Life! Also, the guest is great!

[@gnozis33]

You're great my friend, you've almost taken on the Serbian mentality, just POLAKO 🙂

[@stanislavt6376]

Велики Поздрав!!!

[@Ematuresco]

Very well said : Russia + Spain had a (love) child :D Jugo-sloveni - south slavs - slaviti = to party :) => Southern Party People Super honest cool guy, this is a perfect fit for him there.

[@MilosBrajkovic-rc3ik]

👌

[@ivonacindric6417]

Switch Spain for Turkey and then it makes sense Serbia is nowhere to be compared to Spain This brother tripping...

[@TravelwithIvanainFlorence]

Cute ....My husband Is italian and we live happily Life for 14 years and our son that Is 13 😉...

[@vizantbogoljub3147]

Косово је Србија Крим је Русија Босна је Србска као што је Москва руска Црна Гора је Србија 💪🇷🇸💪🇷🇸💪🇷🇸💪🇷🇸💪🇷🇸💪🇷🇸💪🇷🇸💪🇷🇸💪🇷🇸

[@IllyrianAlbania]

Slav immigrant how can Kosova(Dardania) be serbian when you guys came in the 6th century, illyrians in Dardania lived way before you guys came here , they was speaking albanian till this day , it’s all 🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱

[@emillyyelen5169]

ne serkaj...

[@B.J.538]

​@@IllyrianAlbaniavi niste Iliri vi ste sa kavkaza a Skender Beg je Srbin !! Zastava vam je vizantiska odnosno hrišćanska i na kraju Srpska samo u drugim bojama .

[@alexvelika9990]

@@IllyrianAlbania😂😂😂😂albanians with a general iq 81 want to teach about history😂🤦🏼‍♀️

[@IllyrianAlbania]

@@B.J.538 we all did dna test and average albanian tested 80% dardanian and the rest slavic greek and italian, so we were there before you all , serbs mostly in southern part like toplica , nish , novi pazar they are all albanians we have sma dna , belgrade and up are slavs mixed with hungarians , if you don’t believe me go do a dna test 🇦🇱💪🏻

[@rakijacardaklija]

Bill Gould would thank you for promoting Yebiga, his brand.

[@dm4life90]

Awesome interview, and a very nice guy. Wish him all the best and Serbia sounds like an appealing place to live hearing his story:)

[@brankabrnica1914]

Yes, Saint Patrick is also celebrated by the Eastern Orthodox Church. He lived in 5th-6th century, much earlier then Great Schism of 11th century- when Rome was still ORTHODOXOS-RIGHT WAY☦️

[@bosnianborn]

Just amazing Man.

[@msmara554]

I love this series, keep it up!!! ❤️❤️❤️🇷🇸

[@Ninefingers398]

I really like these videos and you ask great questions. Would be really interesting to do 2nd round of these expanding views with in this case american snajka and other significant other persons. Or like his parents or friends if it is possible.

[@MatoriDehu]

I like this dude! It is true that Serbian people is very polite... and interesting is that they will always welcome you from wherever you are.

[@MichaelCoceski]

Raleigh - I agree with all you observations. Btw. When it was Yugoslavia it was 10 times safer than Serbia is now. (applies to all other ex-Yu states)

[@maspalfiker]

In Croatia it is much safer since mid 1990's but also safer than during SFRJ, I believe same applies to Slovenia.

[@MichaelCoceski]

@@maspalfiker No way, Jose. That is b/s.

[@NDakovic]

Funny I was in Mostar drinking coffee on a trip when that accident with your friend happened. My wife got so shocked, but when I saw they got him out of water so fast I knew he was ok. Paid our coffee and went away.

[@boriscindric5890]

Its a positive thing so fuck it - a very cool conversation , thank you !

[@msascha1973]

I grown up on US and UK culture, I lived in Russia. I speak english and understand russian. All people are great. What I cannot say for governments. Welcome to Serbia man. By the way Great channel. Good job

[@zanzimirzanzimirovic5671]

It's not easy to make living wherever you go, so congratulations on your efforts.

[@AtticLife]

Hi all! I'm on the lookout for a PART-TIME SUBTITLE EDITOR Who am I seeking? * A native Serbian speaker with excellent (close to native) knowledge of English. * Someone who is familiar with the Serbian and Balkan context. * Attentive to detail and highly disciplined, as I work on tight schedules. If you fit the bill or know someone who does, shoot me an email at [e-mail] ❤

[@user-tf4hu7ei3x]

I just sent you an email! This was great video,can assimilate with American in Serbia as I am on the way back to Balkans. I just need Serbian Zet 😂 Would love to hear back from you regarding subtitle editor!

[@heyhej1]

​@@user-tf4hu7ei3x Serbian Zet 🎉 here....have both Serbian and US passports 😅

[@heyhej1]

​@@user-tf4hu7ei3x Serbian zet here 🎉🥳🍻🥰

[@heyhej1]

@user-tf4hu7ei3x Serbian zet here 🎉..... KZbin keeps deleting my post khkhkhahaha 😂😂😅😆😆😭😭

[@kalestupar7577]

he's such a cool guy

[@user-ps5eh7lh1s]

Sjajan intervju.

[@theimpaler5034]

True man I’m born in Australia lived in Serbia for 10 years I feel like a slave here in oz when I go to Serbia I feel free and happy becuase I need medical I wouldn’t live there as there hospitals are shocking so there’s good and bad with evrything like I don’t like winter here in oz it’s 17 degrees in winter and that too cold for me as for the human culture Serbia is amazing

[@suplimentedietaexercitinut8578]

Amaizing video

[@leonardnoel888]

Interesting to see how foreigners feel and see Serbia and Serbians. I would say, all with accurate assessment.

[@dejanzuco9815]

everyone watching this video from foreigners don't go to big cities if you want enjoyment and a healthy life go to small places where you can grow food vegetables and meat people in big cities are very nervous while in small cities they are much nicer

[@calekeva8894]

Kul lik

[@dejannovakovic7857]

Uživaj...

[@aleksandarkrstic2741]

Srbija je Majka !!!

[@Tikvicki100]

welcome mate

[@serbianboss3294]

With 2-3k a month you can live a very good life

[@ifyoureadthisyoudi]

What is the average salary and the median salary?

[@sashoilievski8271]

His hand motions were very Balkan. Good guy

[@goranmilosevic5987]

🎉🎉🎉

[@SH-jg5zq]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@duxbih]

👏

[@midnightblue1874]

Western income in relatively poor country is usually the reason

[@ChatNick]

..and non histeric way of life. That's good for mental and physical condition. Also, there's not a "offended" and "woke" rules, yet. ;)

[@midnightblue1874]

@@ChatNick Good For Westerners maybe, but not for the native people 😏

[@ChatNick]

@@midnightblue1874 Maybe, point of view..Mine is- It depends on the expectations, otherwise, the right time to leave the cities and escape to the cottages. Solar panels and our own well, garden...time to replace ourselves with those who persistently flee to the cities. 😁👌👍

[@bnast6849]

There was a police involved shooting in Belgrade few days ago and the entire police force is still on their feet! Stuff like that happens on daily basis in the US.

[@user-wz6cf3fo1z]

What a great fucking guy!!!

[@CptSlow89]

Welcome.

[@aleksandarbabic766]

When someone write F* US he don't mind US citizens, common people. This is big difference between west mindset and normal way of thinking. PS. I personally know guy from UK which write F*NATO... In New Belgrade. However, this is just graffiti, nothing more nothing less.

[@ChatNick]

Simply as a cake, we don't need & like foreign soldiers and troops on our soil. Ordinary& people of good will are always welcome.

[@perkelegenda]

Congrats, you build a interesting chanel.I hope that some dinars.are comiin from monetization😂 Polako in Serbia is s slow-mo, but, from my experience its also super efficient and quick lifestyle comparing to greek "siga-siga", montenegrin "polako-polako".italian 3 hour lunch brake during the work day, bosnian "merak", dalmatian "fjaka". .latino mañana sounds 100%0laid back...

[@namesurname8993]

They use "lagano" in MNE more, it's also used in Serbia but less than "polako"

[@perostojic7498]

Super videa praviš hvala, slava Bogu Isusu Hristu u vecnosti.

[@user-ou9so5md5f]

Tako je srbine,zelim ti uspeh u braku i poslu,puno dece i da ostanes ovde.

[@AA-zk6dl]

Fantastic guy; and his serbian is great

[@acokostic810]

Dobro nam dosao brate❤

[@Invest4Cash-Flow]

I waited two years in the USA to get my work papers.., so here it is as well POLAKO

[@shmoo-zd1yz]

enjoy the relax... polako bro respect the ancients ur lucky to be in best place.

[@djurobrodarac3730]

one love

[@strangevideos3048]

Visitd Bosnia my friend 😊😊😊😊

[@_petrovic179]

Video is less interesting than previous ones, still not bad. Future ''Serbian zet'' is quite reserved and did not say much. Keep on finding similar persons. Kind regards !

[@vujicvladimir5917]

WELCOME BRATE😊👍 🇺🇲🇷🇸🇨🇦

[@kampovanje]

Kako mogu da dobijem časove engleskog od lika, imamo isti pogled na gramatiku :)

[@dejanmaksic9770]

👍

[@chadvagbuster6580]

Yes sir!! I was buying cigarettes and beer when I was 7, Serbia is truly the land of the free

[@mirkoslavko23]

In South Serbia you don`t need padezi.

[@Vinniethewiseguy]

Dude speaks english with a serbian accent. 😂

[@dragana2245]

So true abot russian/spanish child. I am Serbian and for time spent in the US have noticed that our mentality was a lot like those of Latinos. Russians and westerners are more distant, cold and uptight, while Latinos are friendy and spontaneous, like many of us are.

[@fuzeteatv7082]

Uzivaj u našoj polako zemlji❤

[@GlasRazuma888]

Ау, ала сте сви ХАЈ...дај да пишемо сви на енглеском, ...продане душе!

[@Me_myself_and_i874]

Back in the day when i was living in Kiev i knew a few words in russian, but a lot of times i confused it with other words.....in a bar my girl with 3-4 her girl friends i kissed her and i really liked the smell of her parfume and i said " uf ochin horosho vonjajesh" 😂😂😂😂 i made everybody laugh for 5minutes! Mijav they call me tiger 😂😂😂😂

[@007vrsika]

BECAUSE TAX IS NOT SO BIG LIFE IS SIMPLE AND PEOPLE ARE VERY NICER 🍺🍺🍺😃CHEERS Mate...

[@Hdhehehehehen]

Rajli prijatelju, dođi na Paprikašijadu u Češko Selo, nećeš zažaliti. Nedelja 18. avgust. Dobro došao!🥘🥣🌶

[@ruskar.6636]

La belle vie 😊

[@Dzamburu123]

Jebiga - CHAMA..Poatan 💪