One of the local customs that I find most appealing and insightful is the custom of taking a small gift whenever you are invited into someone’s home. It can be a package of coffee, a snack, or even a thank you card. But Serbs don’t like to visit you empty-handed. Isn’t that amazing? And now that you know this, make sure you reciprocate and take a small gift if you are invited to someone’s home. No pressure, but it’s a nice gesture and a way to show that you know something about the culture.

My Top 10 Favorite Things about Serbia

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Here are some of my favorite things about Serbia and the Serbian language.

When I think about Serbia I get nostalgic. I can see the cobblestone streets of Skadarlija (in Belgrade), the beautiful architecture in the town square, and I can even feel the warm and welcoming energy of the people. Serbia truly is a special place. Here are my top 10 favorite things about Serbia:

1. The people

The people are superb. Truly! They are friendly to foreigners and they will help you with whatever you need. They will practice Serbian with you, even if you’re a beginner. They will share with you whatever they have. In short, they will make you feel right at home.

2. The language

Serbian language is one of the most fascinatingly beautiful languages in the world. It has influences from other Slavic languages, Turkish, and even Italian. Whoa! Serbian language has the sound of its colorful history. If you speak a little Serbian be prepared to be celebrated. Serbs love their language and are very appreciative of any effort you show.

But don’t feel any pressure, they speak English in most major cities and will be happy to speak with you in the language you are most comfortable in without judgment.

You might like this video: 

3. It’s peaceful

I feel so relaxed when I’m in Serbia. Whether I’m in a smaller town like Vrsac, a medium-sized town like Novi Sad, or the capital Belgrade, I’m always at ease.

There is a peacefulness that abounds in the city. Hardly any crime. Hardly any drama. Just people going about their day…with joy. It’s a wonderful environment to be in to just “chill”. Want to party all night and then walk back to your hotel room at 4am? No problem. You won’t be hassled or robbed. And while you are out make sure you stop by a food stand and grab a bite to eat. You won’t be the only one awake, or the only one who’s hungry.

4. It is not expensive to have a GREAT time

It’s a beautiful thing when you can go out on the town for an evening and only manage to spend $20. With that amount of money you will have eaten, had an adult beverage, seen a movie, and perused the local shops and museums in Belgrade. Try doing that in America. It would cost you so much more!

In Serbia, everything is affordable and this is true even for most locals. You can go to the town square, get a lemonade, and talk with friends for hours without waiters or waitresses hassling you to buy something else. In Serbia, people understand that having a great time SHOULDN’T be expensive. People appreciate the simple things. They go for walks, sit out at parks, and enjoy the company of friends and family. Priceless!

I’m always amazed at how little I spend when I go out. I have to actually work hard to spend a lot of money because when I’m in Serbia I actually have a great time doing not much at all. In the consumer-driven societies, many of us live in, Serbia is a breath of fresh air.

5. Going to the movies still costs $4

That’s right folks, going to the movies in Serbia still costs under $4. Talk about traveling back in time! Furthermore, you can do what I did and watch a movie in a large World War II era theater. But bring your jacket in the winter, there might not be heating. And bring a hand fan in the summer, there might not be air conditioning. But who cares!

And guess what: in some movie theaters in Serbia Operas, plays, and other performances are still performed there…when the movies aren’t showing. This practice goes back to the days when movie theaters first came to Serbia and they were housed in smaller “cultural centers” where locals gathered to socialize or enjoy the traditional dance performances, plays or other artistic events. Even today in suburban Serbia, some of these local “cultural centers” still share the same space with the movie theaters and people go there to buy tickets for different kinds of events.

6. Kalemegdan

A wonderful place to go for a walk and enjoy the sunset overlooking the two main rivers in Belgrade, Danube and Sava. Kalemegdan was built in 279 BC and reconstructed by the Emperor Justinian in 535 AD, and its the Belgrade Fortress that sits at the confluence of the Danube and Sava river.Legend has it that Attila the Hun is buried underneath it. Oh, and there is a club called Terasa where you can party on the rooftop of the fortress while listening to your favorite music and partying with locals. What?! Read about my trip to Kalemengdan with my Serbian wife.

7. In Belgrade the party starts at midnight and changes according to the seasons

In Serbia, the party starts at midnight. That’s right, clubs don’t even open until midnight, and they go all night long. But don’t worry, you can pre-game at one of the countless bars and lounges throughout the city

Furthermore, in Belgrade the club scene changes in accordance with the seasons. What do I mean? I mean that where you party in the summer is different from where you party in the winter. In the summer you party on boats on the Sava River, known as “Splavovi”. In the winter you party in the city. Now tell me that isn’t cool?! Check out the club Stefan Braun in the winter and Freestyler in the summer. You won’t regret it.

What it’s like being a Black Person in Serbia?

I’m often asked this question: What’s it like being a “Black Person” in Serbia? 

It’s quite a question. The answer, from my perspective, is not what most people think.

My name is Cam, and I started learning Serbian language when I met my Serbian wife who was my girlfriend at the time. Since then we lived together in many different countries and one of my favorite places is Serbia. Today, I’d like to share with you my experience of living in Serbia as a black person form the United States.

One of my favorite things about Serbia is Serbian people. They possess, generally speaking, a curiosity about other people and cultures in a very healthy way. Having had the pleasure of living in Serbia I can provide some unique insight into what the experience is like for people who, like myself, have African ancestry and aspire to travel to Serbia and engage with Serbian people. Here are 5 reasons why being a black person in Serbia is not only a “non-issue” but a benefit:

Serbs are friendly to foreigners and black people

Serbians love to see foreigners. They marvel at why we have an interest in Serbia. At present, Serbia is not a global tourist magnet…yet. As such, many Serbs never get the opportunity to see, let alone engage with, a black person. Interactions are friendly. I often tell people I felt safer and more at home in Serbia than I often feel in many parts of my own country: America.

Being a foreigner in Serbia is viewed as cool. And I agree with that sentiment. I think it takes a special person, regardless of race, to be interested in a country like Serbia and Serbs hold this view as well. This means when you’re a foreigner in Serbia you are especially appreciated for having an interest in the country and the people will make you feel right at home.

I can’t tell you how many times I walked down the streets of Belgrade, and other cities, and was greeted with a smile…a real smile that said “welcome”. People would often want to talk to me, especially the younger generation.

One of my favorite moments in Serbia

One of my favorite moments was playing basketball with some local guys. They invited me to play and we had the greatest time sharing our love of basketball and just talking the way real people do. I never once got the impression that I was being viewed as something less. If anything, me being “African-American” got me special treatment! They wanted to know if I needed anything, was I having a good experience in Serbia? Did I want to go partying with them later…etc?

In short, it took me literally a few hours to make 5 new Serbian friends. And when they discovered that I could speak some Serbian at an intermediate level they were blown away and only wanted to speak to me in Serbian so that I could practice. They called me “brate”, which means “brother”…a term of endearment only used among friends, not strangers…and we had only met minutes ago. Wow! I felt so loved and appreciated and grateful for their inclusion and warm hearts.

I bet you’re wondering if I partied with them. Yes I did, and it was awesome! I had a hard time trying to pay for drinks. That kind of camaraderie rarely happens in my home country.

I made this video about my experience with making friends in Serbia

If you guys want to connect with me, you can do so via Facebook and Instagram

Serbs love to hear what non-Serbs think about Serbia

Some common questions you will hear in Serbia are these: “How do you like it here?” “What’s your favorite food?” “What cities have you traveled to?”

Serbs are notorious for wanting to hear your thoughts on their country, but be prepared to be interrupted by another question while you attempt to answer the first. Hahaha! Word of advice, your responses should be a paragraph, not a novel. They just want to hear the essence of your sentiments, they are less interested in every detail and they can’t wait to ask the next question. It’s pretty hilarious but very sincere.

Serbs love to share

Serbs typically don’t have a lot. After all, it is still a developing country. That said, they are willing to share whatever they have and their grace in this respect is unmatched. They will share their belongings, food, alcohol, and more importantly…their time.

I remember getting lost one day and asking a woman where a restaurant was. Remember, I’m a medium-sized black guy walking up to a complete stranger asking for help. The result? She walked me to the restaurant and made sure I got there. Wow! There wasn’t any issue at all and we had a pleasant chat the whole way.

Serbs love to help out

Many Serbian men helped me out the same way too. I was working out at the gym and several guys came up to me and wanted to learn more about my training regiment and share theirs. They became my gym buddies. One day after a long workout I came out of the locker room and one of the guys had bought me a shake. The next day one of the guys invited me to a restaurant that his mom and dad own. They treated me to a meal and wouldn’t let me pay. Unreal right? Welcome to Serbia!

Serbs are hospitable and personable

One of the things you will notice right away about Serbian people is this: They are characters! Their language is very descriptive, at times vulgar, but always pleasantly real and “to the point”. If you ask someone in Serbia how they’re doing they will give you a real answer. I asked a guy once and he proceeded to tell me about how he had lost his job, didn’t have the money to take a trip over the summer, and he laughed while explaining this to me. It was an honest answer.

Serbs have an uncanny way of being open and real when engaging in day-to-day conversations. They aren’t fake or pretentious, they just speak what is on their mind and this encouraged me to do the same. This isn’t true everywhere. In many parts of America, I often feel we are programmed to give canned responses to real questions. Even if we aren’t doing well we will say that we are. Not the case in Serbia. If you ask a question be prepared to hear the real answer, and this is refreshing. Serbs are personable.

On the hospitality front, there is a custom in Serbia: If someone comes over to your house they will typically bring something like a bag of coffee, tea, or a bottle of wine or rakija (the local liquor). In Serbian culture, it’s viewed as impolite to visit guests empty-handed. Talk about a hospitable culture!

Much in the same way if you go over to someone’s house they will want to treat you to all they have. They will typically offer you a shot of rakija, “meze” (Serbian appetizer), remote control to the television so you can watch your favorite show etc. They want you to feel at home and enjoy the time spent with them. Like I said before, Serbs are very practical. It’s an amazing experience really.

Serbs don’t have a racially charged culture

Serbia does not have a racially charged culture in the same way that America does. This means their orientation about race is different. I was with a black friend of mine and there were some Serbs looking at us. My friend asked me, “Are they looking at us because we’re black?” My response: “We are interesting to them, it has less to do with race and more to do with curiosity”. I feel like as Americans we have to re-frame and re-train our brains to accept that many parts of the world, like Serbia, don’t have the same outlook on race as we do.

In Serbia they don’t have a history of enslaving black people. They don’t have a history of color-coded bathrooms and segregated schools based on the color of people’s skin. In short, they aren’t like us…and while I love America, this aspect of Serbia is beautifully freeing. Being a black person in Serbia for me was great.

Interracial dating

Interracial dating is also accepted and it goes both ways. This means whether you are a black man or woman you will be viewed as attractive and desirable to Serbs because they will be intrigued by your difference not put off by it. There are traditionalists everywhere, those who believe races shouldn’t mix, but this isn’t the dominating belief system at all in Serbia. In many ways, they are more advanced in this regard than Americans.

Serbian Core Values

In essence, what matters most to Serbs is that you are a good person. You can be any color in the rainbow, but just be a good person and you will be loved, respected, welcomed, and treated with hospitality. Being a black person in Serbia was awesome. You should go see for yourself…and that goes for everyone, not just black people. In Serbia all races are welcome. Thank you, Serbia for the experience of a lifetime!

Cheers!

Christmas Twice a Year? Yes…if you’re married to a Serb!

Is it possible to have Christmas twice a year?

Hi, my name is Cam and I am an American who is married to a Serbian woman. I’m learning Serbian language and I love the Balkan region. I am also the host of the show “The Broadcast” I talk about my Serbian language journey. If you are learning Serbian or you are thinking about learning Serbian check out the videos where I share some useful tips that can help you improve your Serbian. Click here to watch the videos.

Christmas twice a year

There are many reasons why I love having a Serbian wife. It isn’t just the fact that my wife is beautiful, intelligent, compassionate, practical, and globally-minded. While that would be enough reasons to be happily married, there is another reason: I get Christmas twice a year! How? It’s simple: because there is “Christmas”, and then there is “Serbian Christmas”. Allow me to explain.

Gregorian & Julian Calendar

In the United States of America, we use a calendar known as the “Gregorian Calendar”, created by Pope Gregory the XIII in 1582. But prior to the Gregorian Calendar most of Europe, the Roman Empire, and early European settlements in America used the “Julian Calendar”, created by Julius Ceasar in 46 BC.

In fact, there are some countries that continue to use the Julian calendar, and Serbia is one of them. As a result, Christmas in Serbia falls on January 7th, making Christmas Eve January 6th. How cool is that? This means if you’re American or live in a country that utilizes the Gregorian Calendar (it’s the most widely used calendar in the world) and you are married to a Serb then you get Christmas twice a year! Isn’t that amazing?

We wish all of you a Merry Christmas and hope this holiday season brings you love, peace, joy, and hopefully a second Christmas!

Merry Christmas – Srećan Božić or Hristos Vaskrs in Serbian

A Trip to Kalemegdan

Visiting Kalemegdan Park – A personal story by Cam “The Broadcaster”

Have you been to Kalemegdan Park? It’s hard to know where you are when you first see Kalemegdan. It looks lonely. The stones wrap around the walls as if to protect and encase the secrets that exist within. The statue of a naked man is elevated in the courtyard, a symbol of defiance and spite to the countless conquerors who built this place with less than noble intentions…all those years ago.

This is Kalemegdan, the Belgrade Fortress. My wife and I walk through the cobblestone entrances and into a great expanse, where the hustle and bustle of the city is quieted by the high walls that envelop the landscape.

Shop owners, men, and women, young and old beckon us forward to purchase the countless artifacts that are for sale. “Samo da pogledamo” we say as we pass them by (Serbian for “just having a look around”). The grounds are neatly kept. Flowers are in full bloom, shrubs are delicately cropped, and there is an aura in the air; an aura of time.

Time tells the story of Kalemegdan, but time also tells the story of our visit. As we peruse the fortress we begin to notice details that, upon first glance, were unnoticed. The walls of the fortress are no longer as sturdy as they once appeared. There are innumerable cracks on the surface, and this would make sense. The fortress, made of hewn stone, was originally built by the Byzantine emperor Justinian in the year 535 AD, and legend even has it that the final resting place of Attila the Hun is underneath the fortress.

In Serbian language when a wall has a crack they call the crack “the tooth of time.” Even time, according to the Serbs, has a way of carving out its presence, giving itself shape, and making itself known. The Belgrade Fortress knows this all too well.

Fatigued after several hours of walking we travel down a narrow corridor that opens into a terrace. Traditional Serbian folk music, with its unique blend of flutes, accordions, trumpets, drums, and cymbals, plays from the speakers and we know instantly that we have stumbled upon something special. I am eager to see what this place is all about and I ask my wife if she is as keen as I am. She nods her head excitedly. She always does that when she really wants to do something, as if her speech would misrepresent her level of excitement. As a native of Serbia she has been to Kalemegdan Park, but never to this place. A mangled sign hangs outside of a large door that reads “Terasa.” We open the door and walk down several stairs before finding ourselves in the waiting area of an astonishingly beautiful restaurant. The Danube River is directly in front of us but five stories below.

“Can I help you sir?” The voice askes…the sounds ricocheting off the walls creating the sensation of being spoken to from multiple directions. Neither of us knows where the voice came from. That’s when a medium-sized man sticks his head out of the wall and says, “A table for two?”

“Where did you come from?” I ask, chuckling. He steps out from his hiding place and shows me. There is a crack between the waiting area and the dining area and he had positioned his chair there so he could attend to both environments. I’m instantly fascinated by his ability to be in two rooms at once. “Did you position yourself there by choice or were you told to do so?” I ask. My wife repeats the question to him in Serbian unsure of his level of English. “Razumeo sam” the man states, which means “I understood” in English. He informs me that moving to the location between the two rooms was his idea and then signals us to follow him.

We sit underneath a large, impeccably clean white umbrella in stylish back-supported wooden chairs. From my chair, I can see the Kalemegdan Park and how the fortress follows the river as it snakes around the bend headed towards the Great War Island, a natural preserve and bird sanctuary at the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers. “What a place” I tell my wife, who excitedly nods in agreement.

Our waiter, Stefan, approaches the table, looks down at my cowboy boots and then says to me in very fluent English, “Do you know you look like the Rock? I was about to ask for your autograph, but then I realized you weren’t him.” I smile and remind him that the Rock is 6’ 5” tall, and I’m only 5’11”. “I have heard that before, and thank you…I’ll take it as a compliment” I tell him. “Serbian people love the Rock” Stefan says. We all laugh, then he departs and the sun hides behind the clouds as the moon prepares for its debut. A delicious meal consisting of homemade spicy sausage and beans topped with kajmak (a creamy white topping) is consumed and music reverberates from loud speakers from a place nearby, distance unknown. Stefan informs us that the restaurant also has a nightclub on the rooftop and that tonight is hip hop night. “You’re kidding?” I respond. I ask my wife if she wants to check it out. “Pa moramo bre” she says playfully (English translation: “well we must”). My wife tells me how much she enjoyed the meal, the nice combination of flavors and exceptional portion size.

We pay our bill and respects to the restaurant staff and make our way up to the rooftop – an open bar-terrasse. The moon is very much awake now and the sleepy fortress welcomes us atop its shoulders. We stare out into the darkness marveling at the endless walls and pockets of vegetation that are enveloped in shadow as Notorious B.I.G. blasts from the speakers above. “This sure is some place,” I say to my wife. She smiles at me, grabs my hand, and nods her head excitedly. “I thought you might like it here,” she says before switching to Serbian language. “Da li ti se stvarno sviđa ovde?” she questions happily. “I do babe,” I respond. I do.

Serbian for Dating
The Top 10 Reasons why everyone who is dating a Serb should learn Serbian Language

Here are my 10 reasons why I think you should learn Serbian if you are dating a Serb

When my Serbian wife and I started dating I was blown away by how well she spoke English. We could talk about everything under the sun and communication, at least for me, was never an issue. Then one day we met at her place and, over a bottle of wine, began talking about life, love, and dreams. That’s when she told me something I will never forget: She said she wished she could speak her language more and that since she had left Serbia she had minimal opportunities to use it. In fact, the only time she could speak her language was when she spoke with family on the telephone, or in the unlikely event, she met another Serb, which was almost never. It blew my mind.

As an English speaker I became immediately aware of the privilege and luxury I had of being fluent in the most dominant and influential language in world history. But what about her? I couldn’t conceive or imagine what it would be like to leave my country and almost never be able to speak my language and be understood. While this fundamental truth is obvious to so many, it wasn’t immediately obvious to me. After all, I grew up speaking English and though I had traveled plenty I had never experienced being completely removed from the English language. Even in foreign airports there were signs in English and a help desk in case I needed assistance. Hotel check-ins? No problem, the concierge almost always spoke some measure of English.

To be completely removed without access of any kind to English was an experience I had yet to encounter, and I was deeply moved by what it must feel like to know that for many people when they leave their country they leave their language behind.

I knew I had to do something. So I asked her if she would be willing to teach me Serbian; then we would be able to talk in Serbian all the time! I knew the journey wouldn’t be easy, but I was determined to be a part of the solution to her desire to speak Serbian with greater frequency rather than a passive supporter of the continuation of the status quo…the drab acceptance of an internal secret suffering. She started to teach me, and what followed continues to be one of the great joys of my life….speaking with my wife in Serbian. It’s honestly one of my favorite things to do.

I’m writing this piece to encourage anyone who is dating or married to a Serb to consider learning the Serbian language. I’m one of the fortunate few. I’m married to the woman of my dreams and we get to share a life together and navigate between our two languages, constantly learning from one another, and sharing the beauties of our different cultures. And let me tell you, Serbian language and culture are beautiful!

Are you dating a Serb or married to one? If so, learning the Serbian language should be on your immediate to-do list.

Here are the top 10 reasons why:

1. Serbs are connected to their language

There are so many expressions in the Serbian language for which there is no English equivalent. There is a soulfulness to the Serbian language. It has a soul, or as they say in Serbian, “ima duha”. If you ever have the pleasure of traveling to Serbia you will notice that people will be elated to speak with you in Serbian even if you only know ten words and they are completely fluent in English. Imagine that!

I can’t tell you how many times I ordered something at a restaurant in Serbia with my beginner Serbian while the waiter patiently waited for me to try to get the sentence out. It wasn’t until weeks later that, upon returning to the restaurant, I learned that the waiter spoke fluent English. When I asked him why he hadn’t interrupted me and spoken to me in English he replied, “I was so happy to hear you growing in the language and I wanted to help you practice. Let’s only speak in Serbian so you can practice…okay?” Wow!

Serbs will show you so much love. It’s something that English speakers, like myself, can learn from. The simple attempt to speak in Serbian will be welcomed with smiles, joy, elation, and encouragement. And don’t worry about making mistakes, that’s a part of learning and Serbians are aware of the challenges of acquiring proficiency in the language. They will just be pleased that you tried. With Serbs, there is no pretense. No one is going to stick their nose up at you because you mispronounced a word or used the incorrect case (referring to declensions) as I have done countless times. Your attempt to connect with the language will be viewed as your attempt to connect with them. So if you speak Serbian, you’re connected.

In this video, I share my 5 favorite words in Serbian.

I was in a hotel in Chicago once (which has the largest population of Serbs in the U.S.) and I walked into my room at the time it was being cleaned by the hotel staff. I heard two women speaking in Serbian. I entered the room and said, “Kako ste? Baš mi je drago da čujem srpski jezik.” Translation: “How are you’ll? I’m so happy to hear Serbian language”. They couldn’t believe it. I’m African American so it was quite obvious that I’m not of Serbian descent. The ladies were ecstatic. They ran out of the room and assembled several other Serbian women who also worked in the hotel and we gathered in the hallway and told tales of our beloved Belgrade and embraced as a family. “Ti si kao mi” they stated. Which means, “You are like us”. It was quite a moment and something that never would have been possible had I not spoken Serbian. The language brought us together. Serbian language made that magical moment possible, and I’m thankful for it. If you learn Serbian who knows what magical moments await you? That’s the stuff money can’t buy. Those experiences are the stuff of life.

2. Serbian is a beautiful language

When I think of Serbian language in terms of how it sounds, I think about history. Serbian sounds like its colorful and complex history. You can hear influences from Turkish, German, and other slavic languages (like Russian) and even small dashes of Italian (this is particularly apparent with certain similarities in grammar and even vocabulary). Example: “Biblioteka” means “library” in Serbian. It also means library in Italian and Spanish (though with a different spelling: “Biblioteca”). How cool is that?

Additionally, Serbian language likes to string consonants together. Example: “Prst”. This means “Finger”. Or “Trg”, which means “Square” (as in “a town square”). While learning how to pronounce these words can be a little challenging at first, it will come with practice and you will be blown away by the sounds Serbian language will teach you how to make. You will also be pleased to know that Serbian may be the most phonetic language out there…meaning you pronounce things exactly as they are written. Take that English and French!

3. Learn more about your partner and speak the language they dream in

What better a reason to learn a language than to be able to communicate with your partner in the language they dream in? Your partner formed their very first thoughts, their sense of self and the world around them, and their deepest sentiments and personal philosophies in Serbian language. You can’t access any of that if you don’t learn Serbian which means you are missing out on more than a language, you’re missing out on a deeper understanding of your loved one. Now that I have acquired proficiency in Serbian (though I too am still learning and will forever be a student) I see my wife in a whole new way. As my Serbian improves I learn new things about her, her sense of humor, and get to experience the joy of watching her completely release herself in her language. It’s quite an experience to hear her deepest thoughts in HER language and it encourages me to want to learn more. I find that my fascination in her is what drives my fascination in the language. Serbian language acts as a key to so many doors that I can now unlock and enter into. It’s profound.

In this video, I share my experience of dreaming in Serbian. Do you dream in Serbian?

4. You can speak with “in-laws”

My wife and I moved to Serbia to help her mom, my mother-in-law (who doesn’t speak a word of English), as she battled cancer. Sadly, we lost her after a nearly year-long battle. But what my wife and I remember is the time we all got to spend together and the fact that I was able to speak to her in Serbian. My Serbian wasn’t as good then as it is now (and I still have a LOT to learn) but it was sufficient to interact with her, and most importantly to tell her I love her in Serbian as she looked up at me from the hospital bed. She smiled and squeezed my hand. It’s one of my favorite heartfelt memories, and learning the Serbian language made that possible.

What’s more, my father-in-law is like the father I never had. He doesn’t speak any English, and that’s okay because it just means I can practice and improve my Serbian. I recall how he and I sat out over the Danube river at Kalemegdan (the Belgrade Fortress) smoking a cigar talking about the importance of family and him welcoming me into the family as we drank rakija (Serbian brandy) as we watched the clouds roll in like waves. If I didn’t speak any Serbian I would have missed those moments too and the building of a relationship between he and I that continues to this day.

5. Personal growth

In an age of instant gratification, there is nothing like learning a language. Proficiency doesn’t happen overnight, and that’s the best part. Learning Serbian will help you grow as a person. It will transform how you think, help you connect to people and places you never knew existed, and challenge your determination, resilience, as well as build new faculties you didn’t even know are inside you. And with time you will start to hear the language in your dreams. Your mind will constantly search for meaning, understanding, and clarity and you will become a different person, a better person for having pushed yourself to acquire a language you can share with your loved ones. You will stumble, you will bend, but what you will find is that you won’t break.

You will get stronger, become more determined, and then you will start to see slow but steady progress. Then a day will come when you will start making sentences and speaking with proficiency, or you will hear someone joke in Serbian and find yourself laughing only to pause and question, “How is this happening?” It was always happening, but all of the work you are putting into your language study isn’t visible…its internal…until it spills out of you having now become a part of who you are. Learning Serbian will transform you for the good and provide you with infinite opportunities to grow as a person.

You might like this video:

6. You can more comfortably travel to the region

Serbian language is the language of the former Yugoslavia (which means “The land of the Southern Slavs”). This means that if you speak Serbian you will be able to communicate with Croatians, Bosnians, and Montenegrins. The Balkan region (as it’s called) is stunningly beautiful with dramatic landscapes that will take your breath away. While neighboring countries like Slovenia, Macedonia, and Bulgaria speak their own distinctive languages you will be able to understand quite a bit, as well as be understood (for basic communication).

Traveling through the Balkans will enable you to experience the hospitality of its inhabitants, and the richly diverse cultures that abound. With nearly 22 million speakers in the region, learning Serbian will provide you access to fascinating and kind people.

If you are thinking about traveling to Serbia, make sure you watch this video

7. You can enjoy music, film, and literature together 

Learning Serbian will enable you to read the work of writers like Branislav Nušić, as well as enjoy Serbian folk music and films like “Ivkova Slava” or “Tito i ja”…absolute classics!

8. It shows commitment

When you learn the language of your loved one it shows an unwavering commitment to that person. After all, you are learning Serbian so you can speak to them and their family. What greater a gift can one give than to demonstrate a commitment to learning the language of your loved ones?

9. It’s cool

Let’s face it, speaking Serbian sounds cool and looks cool because it IS cool! Furthermore, I love the fact that when my wife and I go out and we want to have a private conversation away from the prying ears of others we can switch to Serbian language and instantly we have privacy. No one can eavesdrop on our conversation. All they can do is marvel at what they are witnessing…two souls bonded together and connected through language. Eavesdrop on that!

10. It’s fun

Learning Serbian really is a good time. It’s not without challenge, but challenges are opportunities and as long as you have a positive attitude, don’t put too much pressure on yourself, get consistent, and enjoy the journey you will have an absolute blast! It’s so rewarding learning new vocabulary and grammatical structures knowing that I will get to use them with the woman I love and have chosen to spend the rest of my life with.

Give yourself the gift of learning Serbian and stay encouraged on your journey. And when you need help, reach out to us. We are here to be your coach, resource, and cheerleader as you take a bold step towards something bigger than you could ever imagine.

Sve najbolje! (All the best!)