Albanian Culture In Five Big Flavors

Albania isn’t just a place on a map, it’s a feeling, and once you hear how Albanians treat guests, you understand why travelers come back changed. We sit down with Anila Nicklos to unpack Albanian culture in a way that’s practical and vivid: what hospitality looks like in real life, why the food matters so much, what makes the Albanian language unique, and how a small country can hold mountains, rivers, lakes, and sea views within minutes of each other. If you’ve been searching for Albania travel tips, Albanian culture facts, or a fresh perspective on identity and belonging, this conversation is a warm starting point. 

Anila Nicklos

• Tel: +1 216-870-1054
• Email: anila@icaremm.com
• LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/anila-nicklos

Then the focus shifts inward: legacy. Anila shares her word for the year, patience, and how it connects to long-term dedication, sacrifice, and showing up for the work even when results take decades. The line that sticks with us is simple and challenging: do the right thing when no one is looking, for the greater good, so we leave the world better than we found it. From there, we spotlight our monthly nonprofit, OUR Rescue (ourrescue.org), and why stopping human trafficking requires attention, funding, and community support. 

Join us as we support Our Rescue Organization this month!

If you like honest conversations that mix heart, curiosity, and a little laughter, you’ll love the word association game that closes the show. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find Friends From Wild Places. What word would you start the game with?

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Transcript

Show Identity And Monthly Mission

Voiceover 0:03

Tales from the Wild. Stories from the Heart. A journey into the mind and soul of fighter business professionals where they share their vision for the future. And hear from a different nonprofit organization every month as they create awareness of their goals and their needs. Dive into a world of untamed passion. As we join our host, Shireen Botha, for this month's episode of Friends from Wild Places.

Albanian Culture In Quick Highlights

Shireen Botha 0:40

More questions for our guests?

Tanya Scotece 0:42

Yes. So, Anila, I want to ask you because, you know, especially in Florida, right, for our listeners in Florida, it's a very diverse cultural melting pot, so to speak. But for the listeners that maybe are not familiar or don't have any knowledge of Albanian culture, would you mind maybe sharing maybe three to five, you know, like what type of foods, you know, what is the major language there? Like just some fun facts that so we can, um, Shireen and I both can take away from your conversation this morning with us and for our listeners. So maybe just some highlights of, you know, what is Albanian culture?

Anila Nicklos 1:21

That's that's a great question, Tanya. Um, the Albanian culture, we are let me start by by sharing with you, it's a very um old, um, ancient um uh sort of community. Uh we go back quite a few centuries, if not thousands of years. And um one of the things that even if we're if people were to go to Albania and be tourists, you know, like just enjoy the the country as tourists, they will notice right away that Albanians are known for their hospitality, great hospitality. They love you, they'll go um out of their way to really make a difference for your stay, um, for your experience. Like it's incredible. Uh, I can't say enough about that because it surprises me too. Another thing is our our food is delicious. Um I I know for a fact having a mother that you know makes amazing dishes, and my sisters, my family. Food is also an incredible, incredible joy and needs to be uh tested and experienced. Amazing food scene. Um, Albania is beautiful uh to view. There are two seas, there are lakes, there are rivers, there are mountains. So you can go in a matter of 20 minutes from a mountain to the sea and then have all these amazing views. It's a small country, but it's yet very rich in views. Traditionally, we're known to love our culture, to love our people, to love our guests. Um, the language is Albanian, it's its own language, it doesn't derive from other languages. New York Times has written a couple of times about how old the Albanian language is and all the other languages that derive from there. Uh, Albanians love God and their guests, the house of Albania is the house of God and the guests, as I shared with you earlier. Um, they work very hard, they're very honest people. Um they orient their children about education and they'll support their children during the education period. You know, when they go to school, they'll just tell their uh children that all you focus on is in school. I will take care of the rest. Um, we haven't gotten into the culture, especially in Albania. Here in America, we are of course adapting and uh shifting our perspectives, but over there, it's still the culture that the parents help their children as much as possible during their education years. Um art is fantastic, they express their feelings and their um uh imagination through art. Uh incredible painters, incredible um musicians, incredible writers. Um they're very much into the sports, so I think I'm giving you a little bit about a little bit of the the depth of the culture based on these pillars uh of different different things that they do.

Immigration, Work, And Modern Albania

Tanya Scotece 4:53

And and generally speaking, and I know this is like just a very general question, but most people residing in Albania, would you say like the majority are born and raised there, or do you have many um foreigners or you know, immigration to Albania, for example, for work, or you know, or is the main people Albanian? Like what would what would one expect? If I come visit your family in Albania, I'll make my way to visit Sharines in South Africa too. So, what is it like for me as a you know non-Albanian person? Would I find mostly Albanian people or a melting pot?

Anila Nicklos 5:30

And you know, that's another very insightful question. So I think what has happened in Europe, having the United Europe, um people have been traveling from one country to another and they're definitely taking their talents to different countries. That has impacted Albania as well. So if you were to go to Albania up to maybe five, six, seven years ago, you'd find all the the workers, the workforce would be 100% Albanian. I have now heard from my friends that that has changed. There are people that are coming from other countries and really taking the jobs that um, you know, some of the Albanians that may have already left Albania and have gone to other countries, they don't do those anymore. In terms of um what else to expect, a lot of um I'm heard I've heard of the Italians, you know, we border with Italy by border, by water, and so a lot of the Italians have made Albania their home, and it's a beautiful thing. So also people that are retiring and they were abroad for a number of years have chosen to retire back in Albania. But um, I will tell you, Tanya, I think there is a number of people, a large number of people that are making Albania their destination for their touristic um endeavors. And so you will find people from other countries. And one of the themes is that this is a lovely country. I wish I knew it was here before, and I'd love to come back. So those are the sort of sentiments that people have after visiting Albania.

Tanya Scotece 7:16

Okay, so I'm just gonna throw this out there, Anila. I see this in your future of having like excursions to Albania, like for example, you know, like Miami to Albania, like, you know, whatever seven-day excursion, you know, like Bayanila or something that you can kind of show the highlights and uh a guided, you know, kind of uh intimate tour, so to speak.

Anila Nicklos 7:36

Yeah, absolutely.

Tanya Scotece 7:38

Yeah, yes, all right.

Patience, Purpose, And Legacy

Tanya Scotece 7:41

Yeah, and my my last question, Anila, is um, you know, as we sit here today in 2026 and you know, you have the, you know, your book that you're launching, what would you say in a maybe I don't want to use the word just goal, it's just like an overused word, but what is your objective, let's say for the next one to three years, as far as you as Anila, what what do you hope that you you know what's your legacy? What do you want to really get out there to the world and to our listeners?

Anila Nicklos 8:16

I would love to um share with the listeners first that I have embraced my the word for this year is patience. Having patience, I think it's one of the most powerful words for me this year. I think it has to do also with going back and seeing that I was writing 20 years ago and then it's just coming to free fruition 20 years later. Just the mindset of sacrificing, transforming, growing, being dedicated, persevering, um committed, responsible, all of that. And so my legacy to the world, or you know, just the world includes my family, includes my friends, includes my colleagues, includes people in other countries that I may have never met. My legacy is to be someone that is remembered for doing the right thing even when someone is not looking, doing the right thing for the greater good, doing the right thing so that the world that we live behind is better than when we uh better than what we found.

Tanya Scotece 9:44

Yeah, truly, truly amazing, truly uh, yeah. Well, whatever leadership um opportunities present themselves, okay, I'm available for hire. So just throwing that on the record, okay? So whatever your journey is, I want to be part of the journey. So um truly just, I mean, just heartwarming on so many levels. And I say that with 100% sincerity, Anila.

Shireen Botha 10:10

Yeah, it's it's amazing, Anila. Um, I'm sure you've heard this so many times before, but it's amazing that English is not your first language, but you speak like it is, and you speak so well and so um majestically, that's I am drawn in to what you're saying, and it's an amazing gift that you have. Um, uh I absolutely appreciate that in you.

Supporting OUR Rescue Against Trafficking

Shireen Botha 10:42

Um but yes, listeners, this is the time that we value most, right? You know that every month we support a nonprofit, and this is important to us because life's not all about ourselves, it's our jobs, you know, our schedule. Happiness, true happiness, I believe, really comes in serving others, and so that's why I think it's so important to find a non-profit to support a community to support. And so this month we're going to support our rescue.org. That's our rescue.org. We're gonna have all the information in the show notes for you. But Anila, if you don't mind just sharing with us a little more about the organization and what the organization does for the community, but more importantly, how can we support them?

Anila Nicklos 11:49

So I I support uh different causes, but with our rescue, this organization came to the forefront after I had attended one of Tony Rabbin's um three-day events, and he is someone that is uh wholeheartedly really supporting the organization. And as a result of that, I made a donation, and then as a result of that, I found out that this organization um is located in my neighborhood. Unfortunately for the moment, I have been so busy to go back and give back and have additional donations, but the organization the purpose is to create funds and to create opportunities so that human trafficking comes to a halt. We know that human trafficking is a huge, huge um, you know, a huge concern because it's not going anyway. When we think it's getting better or we move forward, then we find another way of human trafficking and all of this. So um I had made a phone call with them right there and then, and I told them that they would like to get involved. And so I think for 2026, I will take a deeper dive into the organization and then really embrace the work that they're doing, and then hopefully be able to also make an impact. And I believe that today um it would be a great platform to have this conversation about the organization. And maybe it's a bit of me also saying, This is the organization that I would love to support, but I haven't done enough. And maybe by sharing it with others, that's my way of saying, okay, I'm going to give back, but I'm going to have and invite others to join the organization as well.

Shireen Botha 14:05

Yeah, you're doing exactly that. And we really appreciate you suggesting because this is this is a worldly problem. Human trafficking is happening throughout the globe, and it is uh shocking, it's horrendous, and it's only gotten worse. So um listeners, take some time, go check it out. Um, and if you really feel moved to help, uh assist, uh donate, I really do um encourage you to do that.

Word Association Game Break

Shireen Botha 14:40

So, with that being said, um I think this is the fun part of the the podcast where we're gonna play a little bit of a game. It's called the word association game. Uh, I know Tanya's played it with me. Uh Anila, I'm not sure if you've played the word association game. No, no, okay. Well, basically, we are creating a chain of related words. So we're gonna go around the room and start with whoever, and we'll go in that same sequence. And the person that starts starts with a word, and then the next person has to think of a word that's related to that word. You can't take much time, you must try and keep the flow going as fast as you can without repeating the word. And the other way the game stops is if you can't think of a word. So this will be interesting. Uh, are you ready?

Tanya Scotece 15:39

I have a question on this game. I know I've played it with you numerous times, but this question just came about. So, with the game, can you do a sequential follow-up? For example, let's say you say a letter, let's say you say a word that's begins with the letter B. Can uh can a relation be, for example, a C word, meaning that it's sequential, that it follows, or does it have to relate to the word itself?

Shireen Botha 16:03

I think it has to relate to the word itself with the actual word itself. Yeah.

Tanya Scotece 16:09

Okay.

Shireen Botha 16:09

That's a good one. Maybe we should. I don't know what of it.

Tanya Scotece 16:12

I just yeah, I just thought of it. I'm like, yeah, like almost like it could that be an answer, you know, like for a follow-up. So okay.

Shireen Botha 16:20

I like that. Okay, we might twist the game up next time. But um, all right. Who wants to go first?

Tanya Scotece 16:28

Let our guests go first. Let our guests go first. So Anila, so you can start us off. So you can come up with any word that you want, and then the order you want to go, Anila, Shireen, and then myself. Is that okay? In that order? Okay, so Anila, any word that you want, you start us off.

Anila Nicklos 16:44

Okay. The words to start is believe.

Shireen Botha 16:50

Did you just say believe? Okay, sorry. Um Disney. Harry Potter. Magic Festival.

Tanya Scotece 17:17

Music Rice Movement dancing.

Shireen Botha 17:29

Tap shoes.

Anila Nicklos 17:32

Acrobatic.

Tanya Scotece 17:40

Games. The game of pinwheel. Oh, I I messed it up. You cannot say you cannot use the same word. So I I messed it up. So I'm out, I'm out, I'm out.

Shireen Botha 17:54

Yeah, I was thinking I was thinking of the pinwheel game, but it was cannot use the word game. So well, that's funny because I think that's the longest time we've actually gone in there. Yeah, that was great. That was great. It was fun.

Tanya Scotece 18:06

It was fun. I like that word that you started us off with, Anila. It was like very um lighthearted, whimsical, inspirational. So yeah, silly. I wanted to get cotton candy in there. Cotton candy is like one of my favorite things. It has so much cotton candy, it's just a beautiful, like it tastes good, it looks good, it's it reminds me of like angel dust, angel hair. It's I just I think it should be more um, you know, more focused on cotton candy.

Shireen Botha 18:33

I love that. I agree. I love cotton candy myself. Um, especially if you're walking around in Disney World, actually, it's the perfect time to have cotton candy.

Contact Info, Thanks, And Subscribe

Shireen Botha 18:42

I can't believe we've come to the end of the podcast, ladies. You know, I really appreciated this uh podcast. Um, I am gen genuinely enjoy doing these podcasts overall. Uh it seems to distract me when um things are a little bit tough. And just these conversations are so nice and refreshing. Um, and the stories are so inspiring. So I I really do love doing these these podcasts with you, Tanya, and with every single guest that we ever have. So thank you for being my co-host. Just always remember that I appreciate you and I love you. And um, Anila, yeah, thank you so much for inspiring us uh with your story. It is inspiring, it is very scary to come into a new country not knowing the language, you know, that well and just starting afresh, um, is amazing. It's beautiful. And um, and so again, I'm really grateful for you and for having you on the show. Uh, with that said, you know, a lot of the listeners might be connected to you or have further questions for you or any of us. So if you don't mind just taking a few minutes, just sharing with the audience where they can find you if they want to touch base with you. Uh Anila, go ahead.

Anila Nicklos 20:13

Thank you. Thank you so much, uh, Shereen. I am available via LinkedIn. Um, you just have to type Anita Niklos in the LinkedIn search bar, and uh, my profile should pop up. Um I also have an email address if people would feel more uh happy and uh in in a better way to connect via email. That email is anitaan at icarem.com, anita at icarem.com. Those are the best ways to connect with me. Tanya, what about yourself?

Tanya Scotece 20:58

Sure. So for our listeners and maybe some new listeners out there, again, Tanya Scotisi. Um, my main focus is to always speak for the voiceless. That is what I do. I do that in three realms. I oversee the mortuary program for anyone wanting to become funeral directors andor embalmers at Miami Dade College, so I am a full-time professor. I also do senior placement specifically for folks with dementia. So if anyone has a loved one with dementia, sometimes finding a secure place or even understanding and navigating the whole realm is can be very, very challenging. There's no cost to use my service. We are a free placement agency with Sunshine Senior Placement Agency. I also serve quite frequently as an expert witness in the area of funeral, home, and cemetery, both on the plaintiff or defendant side. So my mission and my vision is to inspire those and speak for those who can no longer speak for themselves. So LinkedIn is the place to find me. I'm on there. You would think I own LinkedIn. Many people ask if I do, but I'm on there quite regularly and always here to answer any question. No question is too small. And back to you, Shireen. How where can we find you?

Shireen Botha 22:16

Thank you, Tanya. Yes, you can find me on all the socials. Shireen's bookkeeping is on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, as well as my personal side of life. As a digital nomad, I do quite a bit of traveling. And my life is there. So you can always check up what where I'm at. Next, and most importantly, you know, friends from one places, as I said before, are on all the platforms. Please go and like, comment, subscribe, tell us what you think. If you want to go and see us and hear us, there's a YouTube channel where you can go do the same. But, you know, I see you guys, we really appreciate the you listeners. I see the downloads, every single one of them, and they are um really appreciated. If you do feel moved to subscribe for just $5 a month just to help us out, we really appreciate it. Otherwise, Tanya and I just do this because we really thoroughly enjoy what we're doing and we just want to try and inspire someone else as much as we can. So if you want to go check friends from wildplaces.buzzsprout.com, that's where you find all the episodes that we have, and then as well as the subscription. Uh that's friends from wildplaces.buzzsprout.com. And once again, thank you so much for listening. And we'll see you next time. And remember, you got this, and stay wild. Bye guys.

Voiceover 23:49

You've been listening to Friends from Wild Places with Shireen Botha. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast from the links to catch every episode and unleash your passion.