I realized that after a month or so from coming back, I had not closed this properly.
So in a very brief overview, I will conclude.
Borders and identity separate people more than they think, and it also unites them more than they would like to realize. When its for a common cause they come together and speak out. When its not for their benefits, they do not participate or turn the other way. When our minds are trained to think a certain way, and the future struggles while living with the past, there's a strong hope that things won't be like this forever.
Everyone wants to be labeled as something, to be identified with a title. They strive to have society call them something, be it positive or negative. This may be because when we are born into this world our slates and characters are white. We do not know how to act and social interactions forces us to pick which group we best fit in. It is then through this desire to find a way to act and live, that we strive to find a title to copy. And then those who do not put themselves as a group are seen as rebels, conformists, outsiders because we can not label their identity.
Such a thing as personal identity is Taboo to them.
In this world we consciously separate ourselves to form another group of identity or an existing one. And yet we hardly decide our own personal story.
I find that both strange and interesting. I am accepted for being something I'm not, but when I act in a way undefinable, I am confronted with ostracism. Should I then sacrifice my own personal well being to conform to what society thinks is best way for me to act? I understand about cultural movement and beliefs and thoughts, but how far can a person go without obeying the rule of segregation? IE. the rule that places you in a particular group by society's standards?
I'll have to admit that I am afraid to try that....but in certain moments what I personally believe I am will overcome what people personally believe I am.
There's much more to be said on this subject, yet I am afraid I still need information. Both raw and processed info that allows me find an answer in between scientifically acceptable and commonly acceptable.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Last night in Piran: Day 27
Last night in Piran: Day 27 (2010/01/28)
The last day of classes finally ended today around 3:30 pm. The professor ended with a brief talk about the power, benefits and downsides of the EU. I was surprised actually that he would end on that topic. It seemed like he should have talked about borders, or something more on what we experienced on the course. Instead he focused on the progress (if you call it that) of BiH getting into the EU and the outcomes of joining this elite club.
Attentive till the last few minutes of class. I think everyone was ready to go then.
I've been having stomach pains after eating at this one restaurant this week. It feels like there is a ball of spikes in my stomach or some sort of stretched hole. I can deal with it at some times, but other times it just suddenly kicks up in pain. If this does not go away sometime this week I just might have to go see a doctor.
I didn't really do much in my last day of Piran. Everything was already packed, I had my gifts, and everyone else basically did whatever. So I stayed up for another hour before taking a nap at 4:45pm.
We leave tomorrow at eight in the morning to catch the bus, last bus ride with Borris and maybe Dushka, to the airport. There I will bandage my luggage like a mummy so it will not spew all over the place when we travel. Remember when I said how my bag had this big tear on the side when I got it back? It is patched back up, but not enough to survive the dangers of bag handling in Europe. This time I will get my bag back and it will be in top condition with nothing broken.
This is my reality/fantasy.
The last day of classes finally ended today around 3:30 pm. The professor ended with a brief talk about the power, benefits and downsides of the EU. I was surprised actually that he would end on that topic. It seemed like he should have talked about borders, or something more on what we experienced on the course. Instead he focused on the progress (if you call it that) of BiH getting into the EU and the outcomes of joining this elite club.
Attentive till the last few minutes of class. I think everyone was ready to go then.
I've been having stomach pains after eating at this one restaurant this week. It feels like there is a ball of spikes in my stomach or some sort of stretched hole. I can deal with it at some times, but other times it just suddenly kicks up in pain. If this does not go away sometime this week I just might have to go see a doctor.
I didn't really do much in my last day of Piran. Everything was already packed, I had my gifts, and everyone else basically did whatever. So I stayed up for another hour before taking a nap at 4:45pm.
We leave tomorrow at eight in the morning to catch the bus, last bus ride with Borris and maybe Dushka, to the airport. There I will bandage my luggage like a mummy so it will not spew all over the place when we travel. Remember when I said how my bag had this big tear on the side when I got it back? It is patched back up, but not enough to survive the dangers of bag handling in Europe. This time I will get my bag back and it will be in top condition with nothing broken.
This is my reality/fantasy.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Sarajevo to Mostar: Day 21
Sarajevo to Mostar: Day 21 (2010/01/22)
The bus ride today was short and uneventful in the sense of something magical or adventurous happening. Like snow bears appearing or a giant dragon popping out somewhere. Nothing of the such happened.
I awoke between 6 and 9 in the morning, drifting in and out of sleep. For the most part I had a good nights rest, until hunger forced me out of bed and down to breakfast. Today we headed out to Mostar, the city that my group presented in one of our projects. I decided to wear the new shoes and coat I bought, still a bit iffy about the whole washing before you wear it deal. A quick glance outside my window told me that it had snowed the night before. Now a slim layer of snow covered the ground. After stuffing everything together I went downstairs and had my breakfast.
By nine we were out of the hotel and on the bus. The hospitality of the ladies working at the hotel left a good impression on me, even Dushka commented on how nice they were and that one of them had not only ordered dinner for her, but had put down salt on the ground to melt away the ice. Outside apparently was very slippery on the steep hill we sat on.
I have to say I felt better wearing ‘fashionable’ clothes. But I also felt self-conscious a bit. It is a very bizarre feeling that I had, because it felt like I was looking everywhere for someone to approve of me. Later on I realized that I wasn’t used to getting looked at because I dressed nice, and would have to wear more ‘fashionable’ clothes in the future to get used to people starring.
Dushka and Borris gave us a look at the Olympic area and tower in Sarajevo. Before the war it was a place of prosperity, but after it looked like another cold, grey building in the city. At least that is what I thought. I also thought that the American embassy could use some color on their prison like structure. They also took near the biggest cemetery in the city, where the hills were covered in sections of black for Christian and white columns for Muslim.
“Isnt that funny? They are separated even after death,” I said outloud to no one in particular.
Back on the road I promptly fell asleep, only to wake up occasionally to view the passing scenery that slowly got colder and heavier with mist and snow, and to listen to random conversation. Dushka told us of houses that were abandoned or entire towns that were left empty during the war. A few people had come back and modified the houses, but the majority of the town had been taken back over by Mother Nature. It didn’t really phase me, because the building reminded me of the ones left by earlier settlers in the Bahamas.
The bus stopped in one town that had a major part in WWII. I think it was called “The Wounded Battle” where Partisan soldiers who were wounded passed over one of the destroyed bridges by Tito. About 4,000 wounded men crossed over with the help of the local people. It was part of a strategic trick against the German army who were closing in on them. There was a museum that we entered without any heat and shady looking bathrooms. Between 1991-1995 it had gotten damaged and was still in the process of being renovated. It was situated right next to the river that housed the iron bridge that was destroyed and later used as a sort of crossway for the wounded soldiers. We stayed for about an hour, with Dushka translating the man in charge before heading back on the road.
The bus is called the magic school bus, and Borris is Ms. Frizzle because of the magic he can do with the bus. He is a very skilled and safe driver and never ceases to amaze us. On the icy roads he went slow and safely, until we got lower into the mountains where the warm air melted away the snow on the road. The weather practically changed before our eyes from snowy to a nice warm feeling. It didn’t take long to reach Mostar and when we did I couldn’t help but think which side we were on, because after the war the city was divided by the bridges with Bosnians on one side and Croats on the other. Apparently, as I found out later one, the hotel we are staying at is on the Bosnian side.
The hotel is very nice, but the rooms are cold. They have this old looking heater that doesn’t seem to want to work, and when I took my nap today after eating lunch at a nearby restaurant with Catey, Rob, and Mei, my feet were freezing. Hopefully I can figure it out before we go to dinner tonight and come back to a warm room.
At 3:50pm we left to go to the Nasen Dialogue Center in Mostar. A small little place just around the corner, it took less than five minutes to walk in the very windy weather. We were greeted by one person who directed us to one of the rooms, and there we were educated on what the center did, how they are progressing, their experiences, activities in the school and general public, and the interference of ethno politics that strive to rule over people based on their differences.
Dinner was at 6:40, and we left the hotel to walk along the street and into a little shopping center. The pavement was made of big pebble rocks, so my feet hurt when I stepped on the stones. I looked at Mei who also walked, every day, in high heel shoes and asked her,
“How can you walk like this?!”
“Now you know my pain darling,” she replied back. I had to hook arms with Catey to help me not fall. It took about fifteen minutes to get to the restaurant and it was this nice little place to dine in. The group we picked up, members of the NDC that were in our level of education or higher, dispersed at each table. We just so happen to sit with a very handsome, nice guy called Gabriel. Well, that is his Christian name, but his real name has this awesome role of the tongue on the r. He. Was. Cute! All of us thought so, and usually our tastes are very different. Sadly he had a girlfriend, so that killed all my motivation and he only became eye candy. On the other hand, he talked to us very openly and answered our questions. Very polite and conversational, he told us about what he does, how the interaction is between the Croats and the Bosniacs, what his nationality was (which is Croatian) and a lot of other things. We talked about politics, tv shows, my hair, the meaning of beauty, tons of things that you normally wouldn’t talk about with a person you just met. I found myself catching my self two times because we slipped so easily into dialogue. I had to remember he was just a host.
For dinner we had two appetizers, the main meal, and desert, which was a crepe with warm raspberries and ice cream. I finally got my hot chocolate where in the beginning I didn’t get it because I thought it was actual melted chocolate. When the waiter handed me my drink I was so happy, and immediate started to drink it despite the hotness. Suddenly I got this strange feeling and looked up, realizing that everyone was watching me.
“Why is everyone looking at me?” I asked, laughing and feeling unsafe at the same time.
“Well it looks like you’re really enjoying it,” Mei told me. I feigned shyness and insecurity by picking up my drink and turning away from the group, holding up my hand to block out the rest of their faces. They laughed at this and Catey mimicked me.
Surprisingly the man knew a lot about the Bahamas compared to most US people that I met. Apparently he watched documentaries on it.
When people was about to leave someone mentioned a party. It perked my interest for only a few seconds before I decided that this wind and full stomach needed a nice warm bed. My fun was different from everyone else’s, and I didn’t need to get drunk in order to have a good time.
Overall, a good day. Tomorrow Split!
The bus ride today was short and uneventful in the sense of something magical or adventurous happening. Like snow bears appearing or a giant dragon popping out somewhere. Nothing of the such happened.
I awoke between 6 and 9 in the morning, drifting in and out of sleep. For the most part I had a good nights rest, until hunger forced me out of bed and down to breakfast. Today we headed out to Mostar, the city that my group presented in one of our projects. I decided to wear the new shoes and coat I bought, still a bit iffy about the whole washing before you wear it deal. A quick glance outside my window told me that it had snowed the night before. Now a slim layer of snow covered the ground. After stuffing everything together I went downstairs and had my breakfast.
By nine we were out of the hotel and on the bus. The hospitality of the ladies working at the hotel left a good impression on me, even Dushka commented on how nice they were and that one of them had not only ordered dinner for her, but had put down salt on the ground to melt away the ice. Outside apparently was very slippery on the steep hill we sat on.
I have to say I felt better wearing ‘fashionable’ clothes. But I also felt self-conscious a bit. It is a very bizarre feeling that I had, because it felt like I was looking everywhere for someone to approve of me. Later on I realized that I wasn’t used to getting looked at because I dressed nice, and would have to wear more ‘fashionable’ clothes in the future to get used to people starring.
Dushka and Borris gave us a look at the Olympic area and tower in Sarajevo. Before the war it was a place of prosperity, but after it looked like another cold, grey building in the city. At least that is what I thought. I also thought that the American embassy could use some color on their prison like structure. They also took near the biggest cemetery in the city, where the hills were covered in sections of black for Christian and white columns for Muslim.
“Isnt that funny? They are separated even after death,” I said outloud to no one in particular.
Back on the road I promptly fell asleep, only to wake up occasionally to view the passing scenery that slowly got colder and heavier with mist and snow, and to listen to random conversation. Dushka told us of houses that were abandoned or entire towns that were left empty during the war. A few people had come back and modified the houses, but the majority of the town had been taken back over by Mother Nature. It didn’t really phase me, because the building reminded me of the ones left by earlier settlers in the Bahamas.
The bus stopped in one town that had a major part in WWII. I think it was called “The Wounded Battle” where Partisan soldiers who were wounded passed over one of the destroyed bridges by Tito. About 4,000 wounded men crossed over with the help of the local people. It was part of a strategic trick against the German army who were closing in on them. There was a museum that we entered without any heat and shady looking bathrooms. Between 1991-1995 it had gotten damaged and was still in the process of being renovated. It was situated right next to the river that housed the iron bridge that was destroyed and later used as a sort of crossway for the wounded soldiers. We stayed for about an hour, with Dushka translating the man in charge before heading back on the road.
The bus is called the magic school bus, and Borris is Ms. Frizzle because of the magic he can do with the bus. He is a very skilled and safe driver and never ceases to amaze us. On the icy roads he went slow and safely, until we got lower into the mountains where the warm air melted away the snow on the road. The weather practically changed before our eyes from snowy to a nice warm feeling. It didn’t take long to reach Mostar and when we did I couldn’t help but think which side we were on, because after the war the city was divided by the bridges with Bosnians on one side and Croats on the other. Apparently, as I found out later one, the hotel we are staying at is on the Bosnian side.
The hotel is very nice, but the rooms are cold. They have this old looking heater that doesn’t seem to want to work, and when I took my nap today after eating lunch at a nearby restaurant with Catey, Rob, and Mei, my feet were freezing. Hopefully I can figure it out before we go to dinner tonight and come back to a warm room.
At 3:50pm we left to go to the Nasen Dialogue Center in Mostar. A small little place just around the corner, it took less than five minutes to walk in the very windy weather. We were greeted by one person who directed us to one of the rooms, and there we were educated on what the center did, how they are progressing, their experiences, activities in the school and general public, and the interference of ethno politics that strive to rule over people based on their differences.
Dinner was at 6:40, and we left the hotel to walk along the street and into a little shopping center. The pavement was made of big pebble rocks, so my feet hurt when I stepped on the stones. I looked at Mei who also walked, every day, in high heel shoes and asked her,
“How can you walk like this?!”
“Now you know my pain darling,” she replied back. I had to hook arms with Catey to help me not fall. It took about fifteen minutes to get to the restaurant and it was this nice little place to dine in. The group we picked up, members of the NDC that were in our level of education or higher, dispersed at each table. We just so happen to sit with a very handsome, nice guy called Gabriel. Well, that is his Christian name, but his real name has this awesome role of the tongue on the r. He. Was. Cute! All of us thought so, and usually our tastes are very different. Sadly he had a girlfriend, so that killed all my motivation and he only became eye candy. On the other hand, he talked to us very openly and answered our questions. Very polite and conversational, he told us about what he does, how the interaction is between the Croats and the Bosniacs, what his nationality was (which is Croatian) and a lot of other things. We talked about politics, tv shows, my hair, the meaning of beauty, tons of things that you normally wouldn’t talk about with a person you just met. I found myself catching my self two times because we slipped so easily into dialogue. I had to remember he was just a host.
For dinner we had two appetizers, the main meal, and desert, which was a crepe with warm raspberries and ice cream. I finally got my hot chocolate where in the beginning I didn’t get it because I thought it was actual melted chocolate. When the waiter handed me my drink I was so happy, and immediate started to drink it despite the hotness. Suddenly I got this strange feeling and looked up, realizing that everyone was watching me.
“Why is everyone looking at me?” I asked, laughing and feeling unsafe at the same time.
“Well it looks like you’re really enjoying it,” Mei told me. I feigned shyness and insecurity by picking up my drink and turning away from the group, holding up my hand to block out the rest of their faces. They laughed at this and Catey mimicked me.
Surprisingly the man knew a lot about the Bahamas compared to most US people that I met. Apparently he watched documentaries on it.
When people was about to leave someone mentioned a party. It perked my interest for only a few seconds before I decided that this wind and full stomach needed a nice warm bed. My fun was different from everyone else’s, and I didn’t need to get drunk in order to have a good time.
Overall, a good day. Tomorrow Split!
Sarajevo: Day 20
Sarajevo: Day 20 (2010/01/21)
Today is the last day in Sarajevo, such a beautiful city with lovely food and inexpensive items if you shop in the right area.
After my whole morning routine we headed out to the building where convicted war criminals are judged and ruled over. It we listened to a recording of an old trial, where they showed us how the proceedings went. For the political majors it provided great opportunities. For me, I admit at being slightly bored after I got my answers.
A break at a local market was next, then we went to the country side of the city looking for the underground tunnel. It is situated near the airport and was made by men on either side of the land with their bare hands. It was cramped, small, and used to import goods and export people and other things. It became a life line inserted into the body of Sarajevo.
Borris did a good job at finding the location, because there were no signs to tell a person where it was. Dushka told us that the Serbs didn’t come to the tunnel. It was actually a house before it became a museum, the man who owned it helped made the tunnel. His son helped along with several other people. Yes they were gunned down everyday, but the army couldn’t reach them because they were protected. Inside were old sacks that they used to carry across rice and other supplies, as well as guns and shells. He told us the history and we watched a documentary of it afterwards. The whole area was completely destroyed, nothing but mud compared to how the area looked now. It was very dangerous too, an underwater stream appearing while they made the tunnel. He said it was very lucky that they connected on both sides. Later on they added electricity, gas, and some other wires, which was even more dangerous. They used trees while the people in Sarajevo used metal. Now only a bit of the tunnel is left, the rest filled in with cement. He is thinking of reopening the rest of it, and I am all for that. For his good deeds the government of the US gave him a brand new house since his old one became a museum. That was a good deal actually.
After going through about 80 meters of the tunnel, buying a poster, and spotting some Bosnian soldiers, we headed back to the hotel. With nothing else planned by the teacher most of the students went to the Fernando museum where he was shot. Catey, Mei and I went to the market to get something to eat. We walked in the Turkish market, looking around. Finally I spotted something in the corner of my eye as we walked down a shopping district. It was called Bosbum or something like that. Catey said it looked shady, but when we went down there it was really nice. Like fancy nice. Like, enough to satisfy Mei Cheng nice. So we sat there and ate such good food and desert that my stomach almost exploded. At a good price too. We then left about three hours later and went shopping for my coat and shoes.
Let me tell you something, big girls like me have difficulty finding clothes to fit as I’ve said before. They are used to slimmer girls, which I am not, so we basically went to store, to store, to store looking for the right size. They already had the style, but the sizes were not there. I got my scarf’s first, which are really nice and they had a lot of nice scarves there. I then got my shoes, which didn’t cost that much at all, just 41 marks. And last, my coat. I was so glad to find it, and lucky too considering that there was only one size of a certain style in that store. After much debate and talking from my friends I bought the coat, and almost a very funky cool looking dress, but the boob part wasn’t good so I put it back. Happy was I to have bought my coat and shoes for my outfit. It was navy blue, but I could always buy a black or gray coat.
Very stylish it was. And very satisfied was I.
Today is the last day in Sarajevo, such a beautiful city with lovely food and inexpensive items if you shop in the right area.
After my whole morning routine we headed out to the building where convicted war criminals are judged and ruled over. It we listened to a recording of an old trial, where they showed us how the proceedings went. For the political majors it provided great opportunities. For me, I admit at being slightly bored after I got my answers.
A break at a local market was next, then we went to the country side of the city looking for the underground tunnel. It is situated near the airport and was made by men on either side of the land with their bare hands. It was cramped, small, and used to import goods and export people and other things. It became a life line inserted into the body of Sarajevo.
Borris did a good job at finding the location, because there were no signs to tell a person where it was. Dushka told us that the Serbs didn’t come to the tunnel. It was actually a house before it became a museum, the man who owned it helped made the tunnel. His son helped along with several other people. Yes they were gunned down everyday, but the army couldn’t reach them because they were protected. Inside were old sacks that they used to carry across rice and other supplies, as well as guns and shells. He told us the history and we watched a documentary of it afterwards. The whole area was completely destroyed, nothing but mud compared to how the area looked now. It was very dangerous too, an underwater stream appearing while they made the tunnel. He said it was very lucky that they connected on both sides. Later on they added electricity, gas, and some other wires, which was even more dangerous. They used trees while the people in Sarajevo used metal. Now only a bit of the tunnel is left, the rest filled in with cement. He is thinking of reopening the rest of it, and I am all for that. For his good deeds the government of the US gave him a brand new house since his old one became a museum. That was a good deal actually.
After going through about 80 meters of the tunnel, buying a poster, and spotting some Bosnian soldiers, we headed back to the hotel. With nothing else planned by the teacher most of the students went to the Fernando museum where he was shot. Catey, Mei and I went to the market to get something to eat. We walked in the Turkish market, looking around. Finally I spotted something in the corner of my eye as we walked down a shopping district. It was called Bosbum or something like that. Catey said it looked shady, but when we went down there it was really nice. Like fancy nice. Like, enough to satisfy Mei Cheng nice. So we sat there and ate such good food and desert that my stomach almost exploded. At a good price too. We then left about three hours later and went shopping for my coat and shoes.
Let me tell you something, big girls like me have difficulty finding clothes to fit as I’ve said before. They are used to slimmer girls, which I am not, so we basically went to store, to store, to store looking for the right size. They already had the style, but the sizes were not there. I got my scarf’s first, which are really nice and they had a lot of nice scarves there. I then got my shoes, which didn’t cost that much at all, just 41 marks. And last, my coat. I was so glad to find it, and lucky too considering that there was only one size of a certain style in that store. After much debate and talking from my friends I bought the coat, and almost a very funky cool looking dress, but the boob part wasn’t good so I put it back. Happy was I to have bought my coat and shoes for my outfit. It was navy blue, but I could always buy a black or gray coat.
Very stylish it was. And very satisfied was I.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Sarajevo: Day 19 (2010/01/20)
Sarajevo: Day 19 (2010/01/20)
Dear blog,
I got lost today, and then was found.
The end.
No, its not really the end. That was just the major event that happened today for me: getting lost with Mei, Catey and Hugette in the back streets of Sarajevo.
After spending the entire morning listening to lectures at a hotel and at the University of Sarajevo, a small group of us headed back with the professor. We walked all the way, and its wasn't far from the university at all. Sarajevo has an interesting structure that made it a real hard hit in the war. There are mountains around the area with the city down in the middle, so it was basically shooting fish in a barrel. There are houses on the hill, and that's where our hostel was situated. So after classes we made our way back, but we didn't really hear his directions.
So instead of going up a little and walking completely right, we went up the hill A LOT and went right a little. I never felt my thighs burn so much on this trip as I did today. And Hugette and Mei had heals on, they always do, and the hills were fun to watch them climb. We walked and chatted, using the map that we got from the hostel. Two people helped us find our way, one in an artitechure store, and the other a modern women with her mother on a walk. It was an adventure, just cold and I wanted to take my nap.
After walking for about half an hour or so we finally reached the hostel. Happy day! I went right up to my room, stayed up for about twenty minutes and then took a nap.
Dear blog,
I got lost today, and then was found.
The end.
No, its not really the end. That was just the major event that happened today for me: getting lost with Mei, Catey and Hugette in the back streets of Sarajevo.
After spending the entire morning listening to lectures at a hotel and at the University of Sarajevo, a small group of us headed back with the professor. We walked all the way, and its wasn't far from the university at all. Sarajevo has an interesting structure that made it a real hard hit in the war. There are mountains around the area with the city down in the middle, so it was basically shooting fish in a barrel. There are houses on the hill, and that's where our hostel was situated. So after classes we made our way back, but we didn't really hear his directions.
So instead of going up a little and walking completely right, we went up the hill A LOT and went right a little. I never felt my thighs burn so much on this trip as I did today. And Hugette and Mei had heals on, they always do, and the hills were fun to watch them climb. We walked and chatted, using the map that we got from the hostel. Two people helped us find our way, one in an artitechure store, and the other a modern women with her mother on a walk. It was an adventure, just cold and I wanted to take my nap.
After walking for about half an hour or so we finally reached the hostel. Happy day! I went right up to my room, stayed up for about twenty minutes and then took a nap.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Osijek to Vukovar to Sarajevo: Day 18 (2010/01/19)
Osijek to Vukovar to Sarajevo: Day 18 (2010/01/19)
In the morning Catey told me I attacked her in the middle of the night. It went something like this.
"Hey LaVana, do you remember getting up alot last night?" she asked me.
I sat on the bed, fully dressed and feed, but confused at her question. The bed was not good on my back and even though I had some sleep, it didn't charge me all the way up. "No, not really, why?"
"Because you slapped me in the head last night and said 'Its all over you! It's all over you'!" she told me very simply like she does.
I stood there horrified at my subconscious actions. "Really?! I am sooo sorry!!"
She laughed. "Meh, its okay. I mean, you only hit my head and then started to wave your hands about trying to swat whatever was on me." Mei was on the other side of the room and laughed at the explanation.
After breakfast the group headed towards the bus. Walking outside its started to snow and couldn't help but lift my head and open my mouth. I caught a few pieces, but the first group melted because of my breath. Borris then came and we rolled on out. I slept the first few hours. Then the boarder came, from Croatia into Bosnia. They checked our passports leaving the country and checked them entering. I had to wonder what the land was between the borders, if it was neutral or not. On the bus ride, we passed by houses and small towns that were heavily damaged. Then we reached Vukovar where the Yugoslav army tried to enter the country and bombed the hell out of that place.
We met the major, a very passionate man whom they called the 'White Obama' of the town. He led a hard life during the war. He was captured for being part of the military and suffered through the camps they had. His story was very passionate and I could tell he was good for his town, for his people. He wanted to bring the Serbs and Bosnians together. And the funny thing was that right across the river was Serbia. Isn't that amazing? I had to wonder the mentality of these people, who lived and separated themselves from their enemies.
Afterwards we went around the town looking at the old destruction and looking at the new construction. There was still alot of work to do, but the place looked nice. Last year they couldn't stay in the area because they didn't have a place to house them...or maybe that was Sarajevo.
For lunch we ate at a Bosnian boating club restaurant. It was nice outside and I ordered me a meat plate that had steak, chicken and lamb on it. Some people ordered fish in hopes of a better fish meal than they had last night. I tasted it, and the fish did not taste right.
On the way out of the town we saw the water tower that became the towns symbol of strength. No matter how hard the army tried to destroy the tower it never fell. Sure the people could never use it again, but the fact that it remained standing through out the war became empowering to them. The major talked about it in his speech, which he had a translator for us.
On the road most people slept. I did sleep alot, had a good amount but was ready to sleep in my own bed. We road on into the night and passed by towns that had alot of garbage in them and didn't smell to good. We stopped for a break at this shady looking mall and I didn't buy anything from it. Back on the bus I slept for two more hours before we came into Sarajevo. The city was beautiful at night and had alot of buildings patched from the war. Of course its political structure was absolutely ethnically fear ridden, but it looked nice.
The hotel we are staying at is Hecco. Its on the hill stretching the parking skill of Borris to the max. He managed it and we all cheered, and went inside. It was very modern and nice, though some of the hallways were a bit confusing for me with its style. The shower is absolutely lovely and the beds are soft, much better than the one in the last hostel we stayed in.
Miriam became my roommate again, and I was completely fine with that because we seemed to be working well together so far. I lasted about an two hours before going to sleep.
The bed was awesome!
In the morning Catey told me I attacked her in the middle of the night. It went something like this.
"Hey LaVana, do you remember getting up alot last night?" she asked me.
I sat on the bed, fully dressed and feed, but confused at her question. The bed was not good on my back and even though I had some sleep, it didn't charge me all the way up. "No, not really, why?"
"Because you slapped me in the head last night and said 'Its all over you! It's all over you'!" she told me very simply like she does.
I stood there horrified at my subconscious actions. "Really?! I am sooo sorry!!"
She laughed. "Meh, its okay. I mean, you only hit my head and then started to wave your hands about trying to swat whatever was on me." Mei was on the other side of the room and laughed at the explanation.
After breakfast the group headed towards the bus. Walking outside its started to snow and couldn't help but lift my head and open my mouth. I caught a few pieces, but the first group melted because of my breath. Borris then came and we rolled on out. I slept the first few hours. Then the boarder came, from Croatia into Bosnia. They checked our passports leaving the country and checked them entering. I had to wonder what the land was between the borders, if it was neutral or not. On the bus ride, we passed by houses and small towns that were heavily damaged. Then we reached Vukovar where the Yugoslav army tried to enter the country and bombed the hell out of that place.
We met the major, a very passionate man whom they called the 'White Obama' of the town. He led a hard life during the war. He was captured for being part of the military and suffered through the camps they had. His story was very passionate and I could tell he was good for his town, for his people. He wanted to bring the Serbs and Bosnians together. And the funny thing was that right across the river was Serbia. Isn't that amazing? I had to wonder the mentality of these people, who lived and separated themselves from their enemies.
Afterwards we went around the town looking at the old destruction and looking at the new construction. There was still alot of work to do, but the place looked nice. Last year they couldn't stay in the area because they didn't have a place to house them...or maybe that was Sarajevo.
For lunch we ate at a Bosnian boating club restaurant. It was nice outside and I ordered me a meat plate that had steak, chicken and lamb on it. Some people ordered fish in hopes of a better fish meal than they had last night. I tasted it, and the fish did not taste right.
On the way out of the town we saw the water tower that became the towns symbol of strength. No matter how hard the army tried to destroy the tower it never fell. Sure the people could never use it again, but the fact that it remained standing through out the war became empowering to them. The major talked about it in his speech, which he had a translator for us.
On the road most people slept. I did sleep alot, had a good amount but was ready to sleep in my own bed. We road on into the night and passed by towns that had alot of garbage in them and didn't smell to good. We stopped for a break at this shady looking mall and I didn't buy anything from it. Back on the bus I slept for two more hours before we came into Sarajevo. The city was beautiful at night and had alot of buildings patched from the war. Of course its political structure was absolutely ethnically fear ridden, but it looked nice.
The hotel we are staying at is Hecco. Its on the hill stretching the parking skill of Borris to the max. He managed it and we all cheered, and went inside. It was very modern and nice, though some of the hallways were a bit confusing for me with its style. The shower is absolutely lovely and the beds are soft, much better than the one in the last hostel we stayed in.
Miriam became my roommate again, and I was completely fine with that because we seemed to be working well together so far. I lasted about an two hours before going to sleep.
The bed was awesome!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Zagreb and Osijek Day 17
Zageb and Osijek Day 17 (2010/01/18)
All right, a lot of information and things happened today.
First of all I woke up continuously between five and eight this morning and around seven I heard someone open our door, enter, and then close it. I fully woke up along with my roommate several minutes later.
'Did someone just come into our room?" I asked her. She looked confused as well.
"Yeah, I think so. It might have been the cleaning lady." Either way it was weird to have our door open and close when we both had our keys and still slept.
After looking around for the breakfast area for a good eight minutes the Professor directed be to the back of the hotel where the food was served. It was nice to have so many variety of fruit, meat and bread for breakfast. The peaches were delicious, they slithered right down my throat. Maybe I just missed fruit, either way they were some good peaches.
By 10:00 everyone was on the bus and ready to go. Rob was late, but he finally came. Our guide, who's name I can not remember, was an elderly old lady who had very high opinions and claimed not to be a feminist when she made some very feminist comments. It didn't bother me, I saw her as a very strong women who lived through a war and knew her history. Throughout the tour she frequently told us about times when Italians or French people would come and she would give a tour of the city, they would make various comments.
Yeah.
On the bus tour she showed us the wonders and disasters of the city when the war started in 1991. There were patched bullet holes on most of the buildings and alot of the main buildings were still being repaired. Some of them were already fixed, one building the guide told us had belly dancers during the war and when the building was hit they were injured, forcing them to retire. the enemy, the Yugoslav Army, were initially aiming towards the children's hospital. Those were one of the things that she couldn't forgive about the war.
We continued to drive around and went to one of the biggest cemmentary in Europe. She told us there were still quarrels about that among the French and other people say. The cemmentary was huge, an example of the ethnically diverse community that lived in harmony before the war. Christians were on one part, Muslims had their part, and even Jews had a section. But all were buried in the cememntary. However, you had to pay yearly to have your dead ones there, or they would be exumned from the graves and placed in a different place to make room.
Alot of the group gasped when they heard that and I was shocked as well based on my knowledge of never disturb the dead. These things happen, and I found it sad that only in death could these religions ever get along. In real life they waged war against each other, and even though Zagreb was ethically diverse they still had their underlying troubles. She showed us the place where a major politician was buried and told the story of how people complained that it was too big.
The group then went for lunch and stopped at the church I saw the other day with Catey and Mei. I got a Kabab, which is an open sandwich with sliced meat and other burger pieces. The day before the square was empty, but as we walked in there were people with their stalls celling fruit and trinkets. The open market was lovely. We then headed towards a statue that had St. George for the war, with the dragon already dead to show that they were thankful to have their enemies defeated and done. We then headed to the church where it caught fire. I stood looking at this arch way made in 1269 or so and noticed that they had a spike ball on tha top. That spiked ball happened to be a weapon, in which was tied to a string and swung around. Apparently the fire burnt everything in the church except for a picture of the Virgin Mary and her son. They had it out in the open and I was amazed by it and couldn't help but think how my father would love to be here. On the side there was an old lady that had a metal bin filled with lit candles.
A funny thing she told us when we reached an overlook view of the city after passing an old church and school, was that on the left side of the main church, on the top, a person committed suicide by climbing all the way to the tipy top and jumping. I was amazed, because how did he get up there? There had to be a secret passage way and I now wanted ot go inside the church and look for it.
And then we went down the stairs and she showed the statue of a famous poet who wanted the entire city, or half of it, against him. I took a funny picture, which got laughs from people in the building next to it.
She then showed a tower where at exactly twelve every day the small canon went off. It was a good thing she told us or else all the people would have been freaking out. It was initially to tell the towns people to come in at a certain time between nine and ten at night to keep them safe from robbers and the like. Here's a video.
After the main square and chasing pigeons, we headed back to the bus where she bid us farewell and we went off. There is alot of graffiti in the town and as the bus went towards the outskirts of the main heart of the city the graffiti amplified. Here are a few a examples, but there were plenty more. It reminded me of the ghetto in America. The bus ride was long, reaching Osijek in three or four hours. Catey being the smart one followed the teachers, saying they had the best accommodations for them. Which was true, because our hostel was much nicer than the Bar Hostel that the other half of the people stayed in. That's right, there was a bar beneath them, lockers for their important things, the locks on the doors didn't work- the complete sketchiness of sketchers.
After getting in we headed to the restaurant, where we ate a good meal of meat soup and fish soup. I ate alot, having a good time with my friends. Of course this was after we had a presentation of the Nanson Dialogue Center, where they worked to fill in the gap between the ethnically divided groups. I learned about Rob that night, well more about his family because he sitting there all quiet. And then I learned that his family hardly talked ever over dinner. Only about sports. Me, coming from a very open and I have to be blunt, sort of violent family, I was very surprised. I seem to be surprised alot during these days. But here he was, saying he never really talks over dinner. My family on the other hand, and I told him this, talk with and about each other. He laughed, and said that he would most defiantly talk with his kids when he has a family. That made me smile, and then it made me remind myself about how a child can sometimes act like their parents subconsciously. I seem to be reminded about a lot of things on this trip as well.
Back in the room Mei was telling us some creepy things. Like how she would like to take a picture pf the both of us sleeping together if we were hot guys. Catey and I both laughed nervously, and glanced at each other.
"That's...highly disturbing," I said to her and Catey agreed.
"Yeah, I feel slightly uncomfortable now," she said. Mei just laughed and I ran into the bathroom for safety.
And that's how my day ended.
All right, a lot of information and things happened today.
First of all I woke up continuously between five and eight this morning and around seven I heard someone open our door, enter, and then close it. I fully woke up along with my roommate several minutes later.
'Did someone just come into our room?" I asked her. She looked confused as well.
"Yeah, I think so. It might have been the cleaning lady." Either way it was weird to have our door open and close when we both had our keys and still slept.
After looking around for the breakfast area for a good eight minutes the Professor directed be to the back of the hotel where the food was served. It was nice to have so many variety of fruit, meat and bread for breakfast. The peaches were delicious, they slithered right down my throat. Maybe I just missed fruit, either way they were some good peaches.
By 10:00 everyone was on the bus and ready to go. Rob was late, but he finally came. Our guide, who's name I can not remember, was an elderly old lady who had very high opinions and claimed not to be a feminist when she made some very feminist comments. It didn't bother me, I saw her as a very strong women who lived through a war and knew her history. Throughout the tour she frequently told us about times when Italians or French people would come and she would give a tour of the city, they would make various comments.
Yeah.
On the bus tour she showed us the wonders and disasters of the city when the war started in 1991. There were patched bullet holes on most of the buildings and alot of the main buildings were still being repaired. Some of them were already fixed, one building the guide told us had belly dancers during the war and when the building was hit they were injured, forcing them to retire. the enemy, the Yugoslav Army, were initially aiming towards the children's hospital. Those were one of the things that she couldn't forgive about the war.
We continued to drive around and went to one of the biggest cemmentary in Europe. She told us there were still quarrels about that among the French and other people say. The cemmentary was huge, an example of the ethnically diverse community that lived in harmony before the war. Christians were on one part, Muslims had their part, and even Jews had a section. But all were buried in the cememntary. However, you had to pay yearly to have your dead ones there, or they would be exumned from the graves and placed in a different place to make room.
Alot of the group gasped when they heard that and I was shocked as well based on my knowledge of never disturb the dead. These things happen, and I found it sad that only in death could these religions ever get along. In real life they waged war against each other, and even though Zagreb was ethically diverse they still had their underlying troubles. She showed us the place where a major politician was buried and told the story of how people complained that it was too big.
The group then went for lunch and stopped at the church I saw the other day with Catey and Mei. I got a Kabab, which is an open sandwich with sliced meat and other burger pieces. The day before the square was empty, but as we walked in there were people with their stalls celling fruit and trinkets. The open market was lovely. We then headed towards a statue that had St. George for the war, with the dragon already dead to show that they were thankful to have their enemies defeated and done. We then headed to the church where it caught fire. I stood looking at this arch way made in 1269 or so and noticed that they had a spike ball on tha top. That spiked ball happened to be a weapon, in which was tied to a string and swung around. Apparently the fire burnt everything in the church except for a picture of the Virgin Mary and her son. They had it out in the open and I was amazed by it and couldn't help but think how my father would love to be here. On the side there was an old lady that had a metal bin filled with lit candles.
A funny thing she told us when we reached an overlook view of the city after passing an old church and school, was that on the left side of the main church, on the top, a person committed suicide by climbing all the way to the tipy top and jumping. I was amazed, because how did he get up there? There had to be a secret passage way and I now wanted ot go inside the church and look for it.
And then we went down the stairs and she showed the statue of a famous poet who wanted the entire city, or half of it, against him. I took a funny picture, which got laughs from people in the building next to it.
She then showed a tower where at exactly twelve every day the small canon went off. It was a good thing she told us or else all the people would have been freaking out. It was initially to tell the towns people to come in at a certain time between nine and ten at night to keep them safe from robbers and the like. Here's a video.
After the main square and chasing pigeons, we headed back to the bus where she bid us farewell and we went off. There is alot of graffiti in the town and as the bus went towards the outskirts of the main heart of the city the graffiti amplified. Here are a few a examples, but there were plenty more. It reminded me of the ghetto in America. The bus ride was long, reaching Osijek in three or four hours. Catey being the smart one followed the teachers, saying they had the best accommodations for them. Which was true, because our hostel was much nicer than the Bar Hostel that the other half of the people stayed in. That's right, there was a bar beneath them, lockers for their important things, the locks on the doors didn't work- the complete sketchiness of sketchers.
After getting in we headed to the restaurant, where we ate a good meal of meat soup and fish soup. I ate alot, having a good time with my friends. Of course this was after we had a presentation of the Nanson Dialogue Center, where they worked to fill in the gap between the ethnically divided groups. I learned about Rob that night, well more about his family because he sitting there all quiet. And then I learned that his family hardly talked ever over dinner. Only about sports. Me, coming from a very open and I have to be blunt, sort of violent family, I was very surprised. I seem to be surprised alot during these days. But here he was, saying he never really talks over dinner. My family on the other hand, and I told him this, talk with and about each other. He laughed, and said that he would most defiantly talk with his kids when he has a family. That made me smile, and then it made me remind myself about how a child can sometimes act like their parents subconsciously. I seem to be reminded about a lot of things on this trip as well.
Back in the room Mei was telling us some creepy things. Like how she would like to take a picture pf the both of us sleeping together if we were hot guys. Catey and I both laughed nervously, and glanced at each other.
"That's...highly disturbing," I said to her and Catey agreed.
"Yeah, I feel slightly uncomfortable now," she said. Mei just laughed and I ran into the bathroom for safety.
And that's how my day ended.
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