The name Montenegro, or “Crna Gora” in the local language, literally means “Black Mountain”. The country is relatively young — it became a sovereign state in 2006.

The area of Montenegro is 13.8 thousand square kilometers. More than 40% of the territory is occupied by forests.

The history of the people inhabiting present-day Montenegro goes back to the times of Ancient Greece. The food tradition is influenced by the Italian, Turkish, Levantine, Hungarian, and Croatian cuisines.

In daily life, Montenegrins adhere to the “polako”-lifestyle, which literally means “slow” — they are relaxed and in no hurry. Montenegro laziness championships are held every year. Participants lie down on a blanket — the rules allow them to sleep, read, eat, and take a bathroom break once in every 8 hours. The winner is the one who holds out longer.

Because of the altitude difference, the climate varies significantly throughout the country. There is the coastal zone on the Adriatic coast with Mediterranean climate, the mountain zone in the middle of the country with sub-alpine climate, and the continental zone with the warmest weather which also includes Podgorica, the capital of the country.

State medicine in Montenegro is free. Foreigners need a residence permit and a medical card to receive treatment. If you plan to stay in Montenegro, get a long-term medical insurance. It can be provided by UNIQA — a large insurance company dominating the local market. The cost depends on the number of services included.

There is no free ambulance in Montenegro. You can only call a doctor from a private hospital.

Kindergartens

Preschool education is divided into nurseries for one-year-olds and above and kindergartens for kids aged 3 to 6. Parents are free to choose from the list of nurseries and kindergartens in their place of residence.

Public preschool facilities are financed by the state for the most part, but parents still have to pay a certain tuition fee. At kindergarten, children play with each other, connect with nature and perform creative tasks. Writing, reading and counting are introduced later at school.

Schools

Public schools are available for both locals and foreign immigrants. The language of tuition is Montenegrin. There are also international schools offering tuition in English or Russian. The British International School in Tivat trains students for Cambridge exams.