Macedonia in Wales: A Diaspora Night
O’Neill’s Pub, Cardiff, Wales 11/18/2025
7–1 on the Scoreboard, 1–0 in the Heart
I didn’t just go to a football match in Cardiff. I went to witness what happens when scattered people briefly become a whole again.
Over 700 Macedonians traveled from Macedonia, London, the USA, and across Europe to stand together in Wales for one game. Most of us had never met before, but we knew the songs, we knew the rhythm, and we knew why we were there.
The Journey to Wales
Cardiff welcomed us like old friends.
The Welsh people were some of the kindest I’ve ever encountered. Warm, respectful, and genuinely curious about us. That kindness stayed with me all weekend.
O’Neill’s Pub Before the Whistle
Before the stadium, there was O’Neill’s Pub.
Macedonian flags, jerseys, and voices filled the space. The tapan, our traditional drum, echoed through the pub like a heartbeat across borders. There was laughter, singing, hugging strangers like family, and even a priest who came just to show his support.
Then reality stepped in.
A small fight broke out over the old and new Macedonian flags. Alcohol likely fueled it, but the argument wasn’t about cloth. It was about identity, history, and wounds that still haven’t healed.
For a moment, unity cracked. And still, we stayed. Because even divided, we were together.
The Walk to the Stadium
Family and Football
Being there with my family made the match even more personal.
My niece plays for the VODNO football team back in Macedonia, and she’s the only girl on a team full of boys. She’s incredibly talented, fearless, and honestly… born for this. She wore her VODNO jersey proudly in Cardiff, representing her team like a pro already. She’s one of the most popular players on her team, and if anyone is going to make it to the professional level one day, it’s her.
My nephew plays for Vardar, and even though they’re still very young, 9 and 10, you can already see how football lives inside them.
Watching the match next to two kids who are building their own football dreams made everything feel full circle.
Maybe one day, I’ll be watching them play on a bigger stage.
The Game Beyond the Score
The score was 7–1.
A brutal loss on paper.
But something strange happens when you’re inside a moment like that.
The singing didn’t stop.
The pride didn’t fade.
The love didn’t shrink.
We lost the match.
But not the meaning.
Diaspora, Identity and What I Took Home
We’ve never qualified for the World Cup.
Now we face Denmark in the playoffs, again fighting history and not just opponents.
But what I witnessed in Wales was already a victory.
A diaspora that refuses to forget itself.
A culture that travels through drums, songs, and scarves.
A people still believing, even after 7–1.
I left proud.
Coming Next
This was more than a game for me.
I documented the entire journey for an upcoming Tinamar Media short documentary, capturing the travel, the unity, the conflict, and the heart behind it all.
Stay tuned.
The 5-Minute “Ugly Outfit” Shoot That Ended Up on CTA Ads
A rushed class assignment, a reluctant outfit, and a city-wide win.
How it really happened
Back in 2008, my roommate and I styled the photoshoot look together in five minutes. We both did not like it, but we went with it anyway. The assignment was to shoot a fashion look with a busy background, so we ran to Marina City Towers in the Chicago River North neighborhood. I positioned my model fast, and then I sprinted back to submit the assignment with about an hour to spare.
Why Marina City worked
The towers are a living grid. Their repeating balconies create a strong visual rhythm, turning the city into a graphic wall. That repetition framed my model and made the styling read stronger than it was. I learned in real time how to place people so the architecture does half the storytelling.
What came next
Harrington used the image for “Design Starts Here” ad, which showed on CTA buses and trains across Chicago. Marina City Online also featured the shoot. It did not launch my career, but it proved my eye and gave me the confidence to keep going.
The missed photo
I took zero pictures of the ads in the wild. Learn from me and document your wins. Even one quick phone snap helps. I added mockups here to show how it looked in the train and on platforms.
Full circle
Harrington later closed its doors and I received a refund, which I put toward more learning. Today I am studying media so I can become a better filmmaker and entrepreneur, music, and dance. That rushed day taught me to trust speed and taste and that a clear frame can turn chaos into something memorable.
Lessons I keep
Move fast with intention. Use the city as your set. Position your model so the background works for you. Always capture behind the scenes
Sometimes the rushed version is the most powerful. Trust the moment, do the work, and let the outcome catch up.
My 10 days trip to Iceland-Italy-Switzerland
What - 10-day trip to 3 magnificent countries
Where - Iceland - Italy - Switzerland
When - Aug 21 - Aug 31
How - Via Icelandair Stopover for an affordable price of $620 round trip
Why - Is that a question?
