Serbia is a popular place for relocation, company establishment, personal and corporate account setup, and investment. Its economy is developing at a tremendous speed as many major investors (mainly from China, the USA, and Europe) pour considerable amounts into its development.
Serbia has worked hard to elaborate a legal framework that would be attractive for foreign capital – and it has succeeded in doing so! What is more, the country is about to join the EU. It means that if you get a Serbian passport, it may be an EU passport by the time you get it! There is no quick way to citizenship in Serbia, so the only way to obtain citizenship is the naturalization path – and it will take you 5 to 7 years. However, far-sighted people tend to learn more about the country they are going to deal with, and that’s what we are going to do in this article. You can get much more information, though, by visiting Serbia Wealth, a portal that is exclusively devoted to this beautiful Balkan country.
You will often hear the word polaco in Serbia, and you’d better pay attention to it as it is a key to understanding Serbian mentality. It means slowly or calmly, and it is pronounced in a different tone in a wide variety of everyday situations. Does it hint at something about the Serbian lifestyle? Well, let’s investigate.
Lifestyle Based on Polaco
There is something the Serbs never do: they actually never hurry! Well, everything can wait. They are emotionally stable and it is very hard to make them nervous – they keep calm even in the toughest situations. Serbian residents are known for their poise, and they take most of the things that happen in the course of their lives with a philosophical note. You will hardly ever see a Serb carried away by emotions to some noticeable degree.
If you come from a country where residents are prone to more active behavior, and you are used to protecting your interests in any situation or doing your best to eliminate any inconveniences or delays, you may feel as if something is missing. If there is a long queue in a supermarket or a plumber comes later than scheduled, a Serb will take it patiently, while representatives of some other nations will be angry.
If you come from an energetic nation, Serbs may look like sleepy flies to you. Do you remember the phrase from the advertisement “and let the whole world wait!”? It describes the Serbian lifestyle very well. They never work in a hurry and often make coffee breaks – especially if they need to handle some unexpected problem. Serbian cafes are usually full of people enjoying life, and you will hardly see a local eating or doing something on the run.
Expats who settle in Serbia may first feel ill at ease, as the rhythm of life differs greatly from what they are used to in their home country. You will surely notice how leisurely they walk along the street, and they are not punctual at all: being late for a meeting is absolutely OK.
As you understand, polaco penetrates life and work equally, which is why bureaucratic processes may slow down. As a result, some public services may be provided less quickly than you would like them to.
Various institutions start working at 7:00. At 10:00, employees usually have breakfast, which means that they stop any activities, even if there is a long queue: breakfast is breakfast! The locals are in no way worried as they are used to this way of life and talk to each other to make the waiting time spent near the office seem shorter. There is nothing bad in waiting for Serbs – even if it takes several hours!
Serbs always stay true to their culture even when they find themselves among foreigners: they keep their polaco rather than adopt the attitudes of the new culture.
Polaco in Daily Life
If a Serb notices that someone is in too much of a hurry, he will usually say polaco. For example, a Serbian mum who sees that her kid is going to run, though his walking is still shaky, will say that. You may also hear this answer from the technical support operator if you call to find out why the worker is late. You will hear a multitude of intonations when polaco is said on a crowded bus or in queues. By saying that, the Serbs want you to stop worrying and take patience. The intonation is an important instrument that helps communicate the multiple meanings of polaco.
Kafana, the Temple of Polaco Lifestyle
Kafana is yet another term brought to life by the Serbs’ relaxed attitude to life. It refers to a public place, such as a pub, restaurant, café, or coffee house, where one can relax and have a break. If a Serb has free time, you will most likely find him or her in a kafana. This is the reason why a small town whose population does not exceed 100,000 people may have about 200 cafes.
Kafana is more than a place to have something to eat or drink: it is an ideal location to experience a bit of the polaco lifestyle. If you want to feel like a real Serb, you can order a cup of coffee or a glass of beer and sit for many hours simply relaxing and enjoying the atmosphere of the place.
A slow and healthy life don’t match each other, and many Serbs disregard the recommendations for staying fit and eating healthily. Polaco does not push Serbs to set a lot of goals and energetically achieve them, which may explain their lack of motivation for being strong and fit. Physical exercises are not as popular as spending hours in kafanas, drinking alcohol, and smoking. Serbia is one of the few places where you can freely smoke in any public area. The dishes you order in restaurants will usually be rich in calories, and be sure to have just one serving as it will be fairly large. The Serbs like fried meat with beer or a glass of local moonshine, which is called rakija. What is more, Serbians still read printed editions, and you will find a lot of newsstands in large cities where you can also buy cigarettes and low-alcohol drinks.
As you can see, the Serbians have built their unique infrastructure, which caters to the locals who enjoy the laid-back polaco lifestyle and are in no hurry.
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