Manners and Customs That You Should Be Aware Of

Macedonian-Bulgarian, Macedonian-Albanian, and Macedonian-Greek relations are all hotly debated topics. The majority of Macedonians have strong political feelings toward their neighbors, and they will not hesitate to express them. Politics is frequently mentioned over a cup of coffee in casual conversation. To avoid upsetting your hosts or newfound acquaintances, you should steer clear of topics like the 2001 war against the NLA, Macedonia's division during the Balkan conflicts, and Macedonia's potential membership in the European Union or NATO. Don't be afraid to bring up Josip Tito or the communist era.

Because of the current situation in Kosovo, you should exercise extreme caution when discussing politics, as there is a significant Albanian minority here. You are free to ask as many questions as you want (within reason), but no comments are permitted. Remember that one out of every four people you meet on the street is Albanian, with much higher percentages in the west, and tensions between the Macedonian and Albanian populations can be severe at times. To summarize, keep your political opinions to yourself.