I had a wonderful Halloween this year. I was lucky enough to be invited to help with the local high school celebration. I met with the teacher and kids prior to the party to plan the activities and decor.
After a short day in the village and munchkin interruptions getting ready, I was an hour late to help decorate. I am nothing but impressively punctual. (This should probably be my first folly, but I will let it slide.)
Pumpkins carved and glowing lit up the cafe. Black cat and skull silhouettes danced to the Halloween beats. People began to file into the party slowly while I had a chance to meet with some of the teachers.
The music was loud like that of a night club. It made conversation was a bit dodgy at times. But we all managed and I met some new peeps. 🙂
The other foreigner in town was invited as well and we were glad to be reunited. Spelling her name phonetically, Shu Sin Yen, was the bell of the ball. The young high school students (boys) were all about her.
One was very aggressive at asking her to dance, and she obliged the first time. But she is quite shy and was not keen on a repeat. This poor fellow, oozing with beer induced determination, wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Enter folly numero UNO!
I can see my friend is not wanting to be rude, but really doesn’t want to dance. She is too shy to tell this guy to bugger off leave her alone and she is also a teacher in town, so she must be polite.
I am just a foreigner who speaks the tongue of the parties origin, so I say to this guy in his native tongue, “Ajde mash bre!”. Immediately, I got high fives from the other fellows. They were pleased and I started to question my words.
It was the wrong choice. I thought I was telling him just to leave. I have heard my father-in-law among others and others saying it to hounding animals who keep begging for food and in other similar situations.
About a half an hour later, in a conversation with the doting bartender, I found out I have literally told him to “ef off!” This is not proper behavior for an adult school guest in my culture. (Somehow, I don’t think it is as damning in this culture, but I could be wrong.)
Games were played through the night and when they started bobbing for apples, I wanted my friend Shu to see this typical fall game. On my urging we walked over to watch. Like with most of the activities, she had never seen it before. We gazed on at the first round of bobbing as two fellas went against the clock and each other to grab apples with their teeth in a bin of water.
Follie Number TWO.
One guy was up for the next round and no one was going against him. They kept trying to pull some one in and no one would go. So they came to me. I didn’t really want to stick my head in and get soaked, but I also didn’t want to be a bad guest. Plus this was a game from my childhood so why shouldn’t I play. (Oh soo Many Reasons!)
I stand before the tub of bobbing apples and wait for the “GO!” I go all in and realize I am tall enough to practice scuba breathing but little else. I manage to get one apple, and after that, I feel as if I am just trying to drown myself. My height and bust size and stomach keep me from my goal of giving a competitive show… or so I thought.
When the minute is finally up, I feel the upper half of is totally soaked.I don my gnome hat and I look down at myself. The black bodice that I chose purposely to cover up my ample bosom has shimmied down. The shiny WHITE blouse is soaking wet and the leopard and lace print bra I am wearing is blaring through as if there is no shirt at all.
I may have just introduced and won the first wet T-shirt contest in Serbia at a high school event. CLASSY!
Fortunately, I haven’t enough sense to get all embarrassed and leave. I go to the bathroom. I fix the smeared mascara and dab myself with paper towel.
For the next bit to make sense to Westerners…. FYI In Serbia, the sink and mirror area are often a shared space for men and women.
As I wipe myself off, the bartender comes in and asks if I am O.K. as he heads into a stall. I say I am fine. Just embarrassed. He says something like, “Don’t be, It was great!” with the kind of boyish grin that makes it all the more embarrassing.
I did have some lovely chats post game that made up for all the shameful incidents. I can’t call the entire night a bust, pardon the pun. But part of it was. 😉
Looking back on the evening I realize, I am certainly making a name for myself in this town, just not sure what it is.
I did find a blip from the Halloween festivities. If you want to see the great decorations and some of the great costumes click HERE!
Happy Halloween!
The atrium in the center of the school was pumping with techno beats. Body heat and radiators filled the room to excess. Children’s cheeks were flushed. The place was a mad house. Pack to the gills! I hope they did well!
I think this was my favorite craft of all… maybe tied with this one below.
A quick walk up the hill and through the beautiful gate…
He was one of the many Russians who left his homeland to come and aid the Serbs in their fight against Turkish occupation in Serbia in solidarity of Slavic brotherhood and Orthodoxy. . He was also allegedly the basis for Ana Karenina’s lover, Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky .
The mosaic walkway is done completely in stone washed soft and round by water, collected over time and placed just so to created the most amazing designs.
Learning about the History here is NEVER short of amazing. I hope you enjoy hearing about it too.
Chronicles of Serbia 
