Day 246 - Wednesday - 5/16/2012

This is a day I will NEVER forget. Now I can say that about many of the days I have experienced since arriving here, but today was extra special...

The day started in the office working on the various things I need to do before leaving. This also includes preparing for a few more clinical teaching experiences this week.  SEE-U was also hosting an event today to promote International Scholarship opportunities.  Representatives were invited to come to SEE-U to have booths and present on their country's opportunities.  Gezim and Saranda from the American Corner, along with Gazmend from the US Embassy were in attendance. I assisted as much as I could with the booth, signing up new members for the American Corner, answering questions, etc.  It was a great time!

The booth

Standing behind the booth

Following SEE-U we went for coffee and then lunch.  Gezim ordered us delicious pizzas from a local restaurant.  I need to preface this with- it was delicious and I would eat it again... however when it was set down in front of me, to my surprise there was an egg right in the center.  Now I have had breakfast pizza, but this was not breakfast pizza, it had meat, cheese, peppers and olives on it as well...  I have already experience adding ketchup and mayo to pizza, but this was new.  As I said, the pizza was delicious, but I may not eat the egg if I ordered it again.

A few months ago I decided that I wanted to do a book drive for the American Corner. My original hope was to get a few hundred children's books for the kids to check out at the American Corner. I shared my thoughts with my family and the school I work at back home, Holmes Elementary. After talking with them, I increased my hope to 1,000 books.  Well after months of hard work from kids, teachers, school administrators, community members, Temple Chapter Order of the Eastern Star, Mainfreight Omaha, Runza Restaurants and many many many friends...over 14,400 books arrived today in Tetovo!!!

These books traveled through the USA, to Canada, to Hamburg and then across Europe and arrived just as they were sent from Lincoln.  We are planning a book donation event in Tetovo on May 31st (Thursday).  Because of all of the hard work of the people of Nebraska, the lives of so many kids throughout Macedonia will be changed.  These books will go to all parts of this country...way more than I ever could have hoped for!!  A special thanks also goes out to a few of the members of the American Corner Tetovo for helping unload the almost 100 boxes of books!

Truck backing up to the door

One of the signs from Holmes that were wrapped with the books

The unloading crew

THE BOOKS!!!!!

I also had a very special invitation today to eat dinner at a colleague and friend's home.  Hajro one of the professors at the Language Center, and his fiance Nita invited me to their home for a scrumptious meal.  Nita shared that Hajro was quite the cook, I can say with certainty that she is right!  He made us bruschettas with fresh tomatoes and pasta with a tuna, tomato, garlic and parsley sauce - WOW!  For dessert Nita's mother had made homemade Tres Leche cake.   Although the food was memorable, the conversation was even better.  I so enjoyed spending time with the two of them talking about life and living.  Hajo was a Fulbright scholar to the US so his insight about the transition of coming home was also priceless.

Lesson:  People make the difference.

Day 243 - Sunday - Belgrade 3 - 5/13/2012

Day 2 of our Belgrade journey was not as jammed with places to go. I also was not feeling well. I think I am exhausted physically and emotionally.  I am a huge supporter of change and I think that it is good for us. But it is hard on me. I think that the stress of my time here ending is starting to weigh a bit on me. But there is no time to be sick, so I refuse!

Our first stop today was to be the Nikola Tesla Museum. We walked the distance to the museum and along the way got to see some amazing architecture.  We also saw some of the buildings that still are standing and not yet renovated from the NATO bombing in 1999 during the Kosovo war.  We saw the Yugoslav Ministry of Defense building.

architecture

Yugoslav Ministry of Defense building

Yugoslav Ministry of Defense building

The Nikola Tesla musuem was founded in 1952. Nikola Tesla was an engineer, futurist and inventor. Tesla was born in what is present day Croatia during the Austrian Empire. He moved to the United States and lived in New York as well. He is said to have made large contributions to commercial electricity, electromagnetism as well as the basis of wireless communication and the radio. We were able to see several of his inventions and even some of them in action!

Wardenclyffe Tower facility

Food is a huge part of our travel plans where ever we have gone... today was Serbian Salad and Kebabs. DELICIOUS!

Our train was not to leave until 9:50 so we had some time to kill in the afternoon. We went to a coffee shop and spend, well a lot of time, reading and enjoying some beverages.  I was so excited to see an iced moca on the menu complete with blended ice!!!  It was wonderful. I think it has given me the power to wait another month for blended drinks :)

The train ride back to Macedonia was much like the train ride there. I have learned that sleeping on trains is not my favored method of sleeping. I don't know if it was that I didn't feel so good, was subconsciously worried about waking up for the boarders or what...  but I am so glad that we took this method of transportation.

Lesson:  Simple joys of life, don't seem so simple when they are gone!

 

Day 242 - Saturday - Belgrade 2 - 5/12/2012

We arrived in Belgrade with no problems.  I didn't sleep so well, but that could have been because of excitement, new setting, or the heat.  Our hostel was easy to find, just across the street from the train station.  It was about 5:30 when we arrived, and the hostel was expecting us.  Since it was early, we were not able to check in yet because the beds were not yet free. We brushed our teeth changed our clothes and waited a while before heading out on our journey to see Belgrade.

We are in Belgrade!!

View from the hostel balcony

Our first stop was going to be Tito! Josip Broz Tito was a revolutionary statesman in Yugoslavia and served as president of Yugoslavia from 1953-1980. Prior to that he was also the Secretary-General of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia from 1939. Tito was the leader of Yugoslavia for 41 years. He was extremely popular not only in his country but throughout the world receiving over 119 awards and decorations from 60 different countries.   His death in 1980 was mourned by many. Tito was put to rest in a mausoleum in Belgrade which is now a memorial complex. His grave is in the House of Flowers, an indoor garden area.  Within the same building is a display of battons used in the celebration of Youth Day. Youth Day was held each year on Tito's birthday. Each republic of Yugoslavia brought and presented a baton that had been created in their republics and carried to Youth Day. It is much like the torch in the Olympics. Also in the complex is the Museum of Yugoslav History and an Ethnographic Museum of items from around the word given to Tito.

We arrived a bit early to the museum so we took naps on the benches in the park to pass the time.  We also got to see a beautiful view of Belgrade including the Serbian Orthodox Church , Cathedral of Saint Sava.

resting in the park

Saint Sava

Saint Sava from my bench

Museum of Yugoslav History

Tito's Statue

Walking through the gardens

Fountain outside of the House of Flowers

Looking into the House of Flowers - Tito's grave is the marble rectangle

Youth Day Baton displays

Youth Day Baton displays

Ethnographic Museum of items given to Tito

Next stop was some food!!!  We began walking back towards the center of Belgrade and were planning to stop at the Saint Sava Cathedral. Before we crossed the highway, we found a restaurant and stopped!! I ordered a traditional Serbia stew!

LUNCH!

Cathedral of Saint Sava is the largest Serbian Orthodox church, and let me tell you it is VERY impressive. Leading up to the front is a park and fountains. We were able to go inside. Currently it is under construction on the inside but the size was still breath taking.  There were areas set up for worshipers to come, lines of people were waiting to pay their religious respects to different saints around the cathedral.

 We began walking back towards the old town and fortress of Belgrade. Along our walk we had a bike race pass us. This is not a normal occurrence so it was pretty exciting!  Like other cities I have traveled too, Belgrade has a tram system that runs through the city.

City view with tram

The bike race

We made our way towards the Danube river and the fortress of Belgrade. Like all fortresses this too was impressive! Within the walls of the fortress is the Military Museum as well as a park.  Around the grounds of the Military museum are cannons, tanks and other large military equipment.  Being that we are fairly goofy people, Cassidy, Lizzie and I stopped to take some action shots! 

Gate to the fortress

Military items around the museum

Me shooting Cassidy...

Military Museum

Outside the military museum

clock tower in the fortress

 The park area through the fortress was so peaceful. After taking a few pictures, we laid in the grass just looking up at the beautiful sky.

Looking over the fortress wall towards the river Danube

Sava and Danube rivers

Fulbrighters are spread all throughout the world so when we travel we sometimes get the opportunity to meet up with others!  Tonight we ate at a Mexican cantina with 2 Fulbright researchers in Belgrade. The restaurant was right along the river... what an enjoyable evening.

River and bridge after dinner

Lesson: National pride is not only visible it runs through you.

Day 241 - Friday - Belgrade 1 - 5/11/2012

Cassidy, Lizzie and I were taking another weekend trip. This time we were off to Belgrade.  This was going to mark the last vist to one of the former Yugoslav Republics.  After classes on Friday Cassidy, who had been in Tetovo to present at one of the classes Thursday, and I traveled to Skopje.  

 We had a dinner date set with the Pout family. Dinner was at Plaza Del Torro in Skopje along the Vardar. This marked the last time that all of us would be together in Skopje. We took a picture to commemorate the moment.  Its hard to believe that over 10 months ago we met in Washington DC at our orientation before heading on this journey of a lifetime!  The pictures prove that dinner was a wonderful time, not short of laughter!  I am so blessed to have met this group of wonderful people. We have made memories together that I will always treasure.

After dinner, Lizzie, Cassidy and I boarded the night train in Skopje to travel to Belgrade. This was my first journey on a passenger train. I have grown up around trains, my dad is an engineer. I have ridden on a train before in the train yard, but not across country!  The moment I walked into our cabin I thought of Harry Potter...that may be the dorky side of me coming out, but I felt like we were traveling to Hogwarts! 

After passing through the Macedonian and Serbian borders, it was off to try and get some sleep before our arrival in Belgrade in the morning.

In our cabin

Leaving Macedonia

Train hallway

Lesson: People really do leave imprints on your heart, they change you for the better!