Vyckie Garrison Has Moved to Albania

[bubblekitty]

She bought one way tickets at the end of December and she and her youngest who I believe graduated HS this year are now living in Tirana, Albania. Apparently for the adventure.

Hilariously Suzanne/Calulu lectures her in at with State Department warnings and a huge finger wagging over how dangerous and ill thought this move is.

She intends to live there for a year at least and travel around to Italy etc.. (apparently you can live in Albania very cheaply for a year visa free).

Honestly, covid aside, good for her getting out of Nebraska and doing something very different. A bit sad for the kids I'd assume as they won't see her for a long time. I hope she has great travel insurance..

Stand by for the GofundMe to save Vyckie and her kid from a future disaster! "Vyckie needs to come home.. she is desperate.."

Edited January 31, 2021 by Coconut Flan

[Jrodseyeliner]

Da fuq?? I don’t know who this is? But who does this Pandemic or not to Albania? 
 

sounds like the couple that went hiking in Afghanistan whilst she was pregnant and then got kidnapped for years. 
 

 

[bubblekitty]

Albania is listed as quite a safe place, no reason to compare it to Afganistan. It's a popular place to move to because it's easy visa wise and super cheap.

Vyckie is old fundie history now, plenty of threads about her.

[Howl]

Da fuq?  This thread title was...startling.  I think Vickie Garrison (No Longer Quivering) was one of the first ex-quiverfull people I was exposed to back when.  

@bubblekitty, do have a link to this info? Is Vyckie blogging?

I don't know how Albania is doing now, but for quite awhile it was a desperately poor country with endemic corruption and closed borders -- you just couldn't go there.  I'm fishing around for this odd recollection from a long time ago.  I knew a woman whose sister walked all the way across Europe and then on to Israel (she wasn't Jewish, she just like to walk, a lot).  What I do remember is the only country she couldn't go through was Albania and had to take a detour around the entire country.  Looking at a map, Albania has a long coast along  the Adratic sea, bounded by Montenegro, Kosovo, NORTH Macedonia and Greece. I looks like it could be quite beautiful in some areas. 

That she decided to up and go for a year is fascinating, but yes, it's one way to get out of Nebraska.  I'd love to hear the story of how she heard about this option and then decided to go there. 

4 hours ago, bubblekitty said:

Albania is listed as quite a safe place... It's a popular place to move to because it's easy visa wise and super cheap.

I googled and found a Go Fund Me for Vyckie from 2018, when she was divorcing her husband. The Go Fund Me indicated that she and her son were in serious danger (presumably from the soon to be ex husband).  The Go Fund Me also noted that Vyckie was receiving disability payments for...??? I wonder if moving to Albania is to get further distance from the scary ex spouse.  All speculation since I haven't followed her for many years. 

Edited January 4, 2021 by Howl

[fundiefan]

I believe she is still running from her problems and Albania is as far as she thinks she can get, for now. 

But, since problems don't stay behind when you physically move along, I do not see this turning out well. 

And yes, the Go Fund Me because she's in "dire straits and needs to get back to the US immediately because her life depends on it" will be available shortly. 

[bubblekitty]

9 hours ago, Howl said:

Quote

Da fuq?  This thread title was...startling.

 

Yes ? I was very startled to discover this!

Vyckie's facebook has  always been completely public, that's where I found this out. She's posting lots of pics. It sent me a down an Albanian rabbit hole, it's quite an expat lure these days.

If she can keep her disability while overseas I'd imagine it's an option living there (barring medical needs).   I have known a few people who've moved somewhere cheap and lived on disability. Hopefully she has some nest egg though.

As to the ex.. I said this a year ago and I say it again, WHY is the ex still featured on her facebook in that panel of photos you always have on the front page? There are three pics of him and two of her kids. Why ?!?!?! I have blamed this on different devices maybe not showing that panel of chosen pics but it's been way too long, pretty sure someone's pointed this out to her.

I am still LOL at Suzanne/Calulu's finger wagging on a public post (I've always disliked Suzanne because of her terrible, endless, over written writing which is all NLQ is any more). Also Suzanne lives in Costa Rica which has far more travel warnings than Albania (whose travel warnings are standard ones for anywhere, other than earthquakes).

 

Edited January 4, 2021 by bubblekitty

[Black Aliss]

1 hour ago, bubblekitty said:

I am still LOL at Suzanne/Calulu's finger wagging on a public post (I've always disliked Suzanne because of her terrible, endless, over written writing which is all NLQ is any more). Also Suzanne lives in Costa Rica which has far more travel warnings than Albania (whose travel warnings are standard ones for anywhere, other than earthquakes).

Oh, that was a finger wagging of the highest order. Also full of misinformation. A co-worker was bicycle touring in Albania last year, crashed, and broke their leg. Not only was the medical care top-notch, but there was no bill. Definitely not paying upfront. Under Enver Hoxha Albania was communist; now I understand it's merely socialist. 

The US State Department travel advisories do some serious fear-mongering. You wouldn't want to ever leave the US if you understood how dangerous it was "out there". I routinely get emails warning me not to go to some of my favorite countries because of violent crime, political unrest, and last year <gasp> COVID!!!! 

I just checked and the threat level for Albania wrt crime is 3, exactly the same as for Costa Rica. Costa Rica is level 4 for health, compared to 3 for Albania. Don't tell Suzanne. 

 

Edited January 5, 2021 by Black Aliss

[bubblekitty]

Her whole finger wag was basically: you are an idiot.

Good luck to Vyckie, future Gofundme's notwithstanding. I've done plenty of spontaneous travel things and honestly if you can wrangle it just do it. Life is short and sooner or later something will stop you from ever contemplating it. It's a huge high to be living overseas (for me anyway) because everything, EVERYTHING is super interesting.

And yeah, I still get travel warnings for.. weather LOL and other stupid things including Covid.

[Skyline]

On 1/4/2021 at 1:14 AM, Jrodseyeliner said:

Da fuq?? I don’t know who this is? But who does this Pandemic or not to Albania? 
 

sounds like the couple that went hiking in Afghanistan whilst she was pregnant and then got kidnapped for years. 
 

 

I backpacked around Albania about a decade ago and I would hardly compare it to Afghanistan. 

It's poor yes and some parts can be rougher but on the whole I felt very safe. Travel through the country had its moments but that was mostly just due to road conditions. 

The locals loved their country and were so happy to see travelers and so proud to show it off. It was also the few countries I traveled to in Eastern Europe where I didn't get cheated by a cab driver ?.

 

Edited January 5, 2021 by Skyline

[Pleiades_06]

Albania is beautiful and her pictures look amazing. But why there? Is there a connection? And what will Wesley do there?

[apandaaries]

According to reddit and the OP, it’s cheap and an American can live there for a year without a visa. Guess that worked for her ?‍♀️ Good on her for traveling tho. Hope she doesn’t go the go fund me route later.

[louisa05]

Nebraska isn’t a horrifying place that everyone must go to great lengths to escape. Geesh, people. ?

[ADoyle90815]

I'm surprised that Albania let her in during this pandemic as much of the world isn't allowing Americans in, and the countries that are, require a mandatory 14 day quarantine.

[nokidsmom]

1 hour ago, louisa05 said:

Nebraska isn’t a horrifying place that everyone must go to great lengths to escape. Geesh, people. ?

Indeed.  I have been to Nebraska quite a few times and think it's fine.  I have had folks be horrified that I had to travel across it to get to and from places further west and I was willing to stop there.  Don't get it. 

 

[Marmion]

I think that the reason so many are concerned involves the Third Balkans War , which involved ethnic Albanians , and even spilled over into Albania itself .   https://www.thoughtco.com/the-wars-of-the-former-yugoslavia-1221861  

Quote

Albania’s bad reputation is hard to shake, although it is really a relatively safe place to visit.

This country does have some issues but they are mainly in the north of the country, on the border with Kosovo (a part of Serbia), since, over the years there have been many political incidents and quarrels with Serbia regarding the territory of Kosovo.

Albanians are mainly considered heavily armed people, so this is the reason why it is not safe to travel to those parts of the country.

Also, there are some unexploded mines left over from wars and conflicts in the region, so don’t go wandering around unmapped areas.

Another danger in Albania is that it is a country with around 100,000 tons of piled up munitions in various warehouses and depots.

These warehouses and depots represent a serious danger from an explosion and are not sufficiently monitored and dealt with.

In 2008 there was an explosion on a motorway near Tirana originating from one of these depots.

As for petty crime, pickpocketing and cell phone theft, as well as luggage theft are the most common forms of a crime you’ll find on the streets, and they are relatively common.

Carjacking is rare in Albania but vehicle theft is common so be sure to lock your vehicle before leaving it, and do not leave any valuables in a visible place in the car.

https://www.travelsafe-abroad.com/albania/    

[apandaaries]

18 hours ago, louisa05 said:

Nebraska isn’t a horrifying place that everyone must go to great lengths to escape. Geesh, people. ?

Not saying it’s bad, just that travel is good. I’m of the opinion that more Americans should travel widely (though obviously not during a pandemic). It’s a positive thing to experience different cultures.

[louisa05]

1 hour ago, apandaaries said:

Not saying it’s bad, just that travel is good. I’m of the opinion that more Americans should travel widely (though obviously not during a pandemic). It’s a positive thing to experience different cultures.

That is not how both “good for her getting out of Nebraska” came across. How about “it’s great that she’s experiencing another part of the world” ? 

[MamaJunebug]

Anybody else remember the Mob Wives cast member whose parents were Albanian immigrants?  Her dad was an Olympic-rated volleyball coach (IIRC) and she squandered (IMO) her potential as an athlete to marry a mob guy? Was it Drita D’Avanzo? 
 

[DonutWench]

On 2/1/2021 at 9:13 AM, louisa05 said:

That is not how both “good for her getting out of Nebraska” came across. How about “it’s great that she’s experiencing another part of the world” ? 

I read those more as people noting it was kind of a toxic place for Vickie specifically because of her history/past experiences there. 

[Bluebirdbluebell]

Maybe it's a red state-blue state kind of thing?

[Joe Pukepail]

My brother in law's brother was set to do a stint in Albania for the Peace Corps but was furloughed in April and came back to the US. I know the pandemic situation has improved greatly in many areas, it's my understanding that international travel is highly discouraged. Especially if the only thing you're doing there is grifting. So classy.

[hoipolloi]

On 1/4/2021 at 2:33 PM, Black Aliss said:

Under Enver Hoxha Albania was communist; now I understand it's merely socialist. 

There is a big difference between communism & socialism. I'd much rather live under a socialist regime. 

Re: Vyckie G moving to Albania. Power to her, I guess, if it's affordable, safe, legal, and she can make it all work. Not understanding, though, how much if any traveling she'll be doing for at least the next 3-6 months or more, till the pandemic is under better control.

[louisa05]

9 hours ago, Bluebirdbluebell said:

Maybe it's a red state-blue state kind of thing?

At one point, Vyckie was living in Omaha. Omaha was blue in this election. We split our electoral votes. We were literally purple in 2020. 

[Marmion]

On 1/31/2021 at 3:08 PM, louisa05 said:

Nebraska isn’t a horrifying place that everyone must go to great lengths to escape. Geesh, people. ?

For what it's worth , I have seen first hand both the beauty and squalor of Nebraska , existing in close proximity even .  You see , along with my sister , I decided to accompany my parents to bring a couple young cousins of mine back with us to stay for a time , until their father could complete the move back to Pennsylvania .  At the time , the trailer they had been living in was rat infested , and their hair was filled with head lice .  So yeah , for them Nebraska would have been a horrifying place from which they had to escape .  But at the same time , adjacent to the trailer park slum , there was a roadside rest , where my family and I spent the night , as we couldn't find any hotel vacancies , due to both the state fair , and a Nebraska Corn Husker NCAA football game having taken place at the same time . From what we found out , people come from miles around , even from out of state , to attend such events in Lincoln , Nebraska .  I did like the large statue of a turtle , and the wild flower garden that was at the roadside rest .  But having to spend a night in our car was quite an inconvenience .  The experience did however give me a larger perspective on what life is like here in the U . S . A.  , especially in regards to its contrasting splendor and poverty .  It's " The Other America  " that Michael Harrington wrote about .  And I would agree with @hoipolloi that as long as it's no more than democratic socialist  , rather than barracks communism , Albania might be a better place for Vyckie Garrison to live than Nebraska .  But that's just my own opinion , and personal impression . 

[louisa05]

2 hours ago, Marmion said:

For what it's worth , I have seen first hand both the beauty and squalor of Nebraska , existing in close proximity even .  You see , along with my sister , I decided to accompany my parents to bring a couple young cousins of mine back with us to stay for a time , until their father could complete the move back to Pennsylvania .  At the time , the trailer they had been living in was rat infested , and their hair was filled with head lice .  So yeah , for them Nebraska would have been a horrifying place from which they had to escape .  But at the same time , adjacent to the trailer park slum , there was a roadside rest , where my family and I spent the night , as we couldn't find any hotel vacancies , due to both the state fair , and a Nebraska Corn Husker NCAA football game having taken place at the same time . From what we found out , people come from miles around , even from out of state , to attend such events in Lincoln , Nebraska .  I did like the large statue of a turtle , and the wild flower garden that was at the roadside rest .  But having to spend a night in our car was quite an inconvenience .  The experience did however give me a larger perspective on what life is like here in the U . S . A.  , especially in regards to its contrasting splendor and poverty .  It's " The Other America  " that Michael Harrington wrote about .  And I would agree with @hoipolloi that as long as it's no more than democratic socialist  , rather than barracks communism , Albania might be a better place for Vyckie Garrison to live than Nebraska .  But that's just my own opinion , and personal impression . 

Yes. Because you came on a fall home game weekend and went to a trailer park, clearly, everyone here lives in a trailer park in absolute squalor. Warren Buffett, in fact, lives in a lice  and rat infested trailer that tipped over due to high winds during a blizzard last week. But what's he going to do? That's all we have here. 

They only charge a quarter for the season tickets to football, so they can fill the stadium with 86,000 people every game (except 2020). Otherwise we wouldn't have a sell out since we're all living in squalor and poverty. Most people push the model T's they've kept running through generations since 1922 to get to the games. And our poor coach makes $28 a year since there is no revenue. Recruiting is hard since the university doesn't have dorms and makes the players all live at that same rest area you stayed at. I'm surprised you didn't see their red tents.