Finding Community in Albania — Even When Few People Look Like Me
The Question I Had Before Moving Abroad
When people think about moving abroad as a Black woman, one of the quiet questions that often comes up is:
Will I feel out of place?
It is a real question. And it is an honest one.
Albania is a very homogenous country. Depending on where you are, there may be very few people who look like you. As a Black woman living in Tirana, I am aware of that. I notice it. I do not pretend it does not exist.
But what has surprised me most is this:
Standing out has not meant being shut out.
Albania Is Homogeneous — But I Have Felt Welcomed
Since arriving in Albania, I have experienced warmth, hospitality, and kindness in ways that have helped me feel more grounded here.
I have been welcomed into spaces, helped by locals, treated with care, and reminded that community does not always arrive in the form you expect.
Sometimes we assume community has to look familiar to feel meaningful.
But Albania has shown me that connection can come through everyday kindness.
Community Does Not Always Look the Way You Expect
Sometimes community looks like a landlord who is kind and responsive.
Sometimes it looks like a neighbor, a café owner, a local shopkeeper, or someone willing to help you navigate a system you do not fully understand yet.
Sometimes it looks like being greeted with curiosity instead of coldness.
And sometimes, community starts with small moments that remind you:
I may be new here, but I am not invisible here.
Meeting Other Black People in Tirana Matters Too
There is also something deeply comforting about meeting other Black people in Tirana and realizing:
I am not the only one building a life here.
That part matters.
There is a layered experience that comes with living abroad while Black — the visibility, the questions, the curiosity, the beauty of being somewhere new, and the need to occasionally be around people who just get it without explanation.
Finding those connections has reminded me that community can be both local and familiar.
It can come from Albanians who welcome you with kindness.
And it can come from other Black people who understand parts of your experience without needing a long explanation.
Belonging Takes Time
Finding community in Albania has taught me that belonging is not always immediate.
It is built slowly.
It comes through repetition.
Through showing up.
Through being open.
Through learning the rhythm of a place.
Through allowing yourself to be seen, even when you stand out.
It Is Okay to Wonder If You Will Feel at Home
For women thinking about moving abroad, especially women who worry they may feel isolated in a country where they do not see many people who look like them, I want to say this:
It is okay to ask that question.
It is okay to wonder whether you will feel safe, welcomed, understood, or at home.
Those questions do not make you fearful.
They make you thoughtful.
Community Can Surprise You
Community may not look exactly like the community you left behind.
It may not form overnight.
It may require patience, softness, and a willingness to be open to connection in new ways.
But it can happen.
For me, Albania has been a reminder that home is not only about familiarity.
Sometimes home begins with kindness.
Sometimes it begins with one conversation.
Sometimes it begins with being welcomed in a place you never expected to feel seen.
And sometimes, even when nobody looks like you, you still find your way into community.
Thinking About Moving Abroad?
If you are thinking about moving abroad and wondering where to begin, start with my free Move Abroad Checklist at She Moves Abroad™. It will help you organize the practical pieces so the idea of moving abroad feels less overwhelming.
And if you are considering Albania — or trying to choose the right country for your next chapter — you can also book a free 15-minute clarity session with me. We can talk through your questions privately and help you get clearer on your next step.
