Foreigners Living in Serbia about Serbia - Part 4

1. Who lived in Vietnam, Bulgaria and Albania?
2. Who decided to continue living in Niš ?
3. What are the reasons for people to come to live in Serbia?
4. Who is married to Svetlana ?
5. What does "živeti bubreg u loju " mean ?
6. What are the two main advantages of living in Serbia for the family from Germany ?

From several countries to one home in Niš

The speakers have lived in several countries, so continue living in Niš expresses a deliberate comparison rather than inertia. Listen for reasons involving family life, cost, pace and social surroundings.

Živeti kao bubreg u loju describes living very comfortably, protected and well provided for. The literal kidney-in-fat image sounds strange in English, which is exactly why the Serbian idiom is memorable.

Five reasons for staying rather than passing through

Latinica	Ћирилица	English
Posle života u Aziji izabrali su mirniji Niš.	После живота у Азији изабрали су мирнији Ниш.	After living in Asia, they chose the quieter city of Niš.
Porodici odgovaraju kraće razdaljine i sporiji ritam.	Породици одговарају краће раздаљине и спорији ритам.	The shorter distances and slower pace suit the family.
Deca lako provode vreme napolju sa prijateljima.	Деца лако проводе време напољу са пријатељима.	The children easily spend time outdoors with friends.
On kaže da ovde živi kao bubreg u loju.	Он каже да овде живи као бубрег у лоју.	He says that he lives very comfortably here.
Blizina rodbine im je važnija od velikog grada.	Близина родбине им је важнија од великог града.	Being close to relatives matters more to them than a large city.

Replace the idiom with a plain explanation, then restore it; the difference shows what colour figurative language adds.
Marina Petrović