I cannot believe how lucky I am. I was just reading another blog about finding good neighbors. I realized. I have hit the jackpot. I have an English teacher neighbor that has become so important to me. She is steps from my front door. My two best friends also live very close. And, I really love the people in my building. They are Wonderful.
It took too long to find that out. But now that I know them, life is so much Better.
Serbian People are amazing!
Ziveli! (Cheers)
The yellow building with the statue on top is the largest museum in town. It houses a continuous collection as well as short term exhibits.
Zavicajni means homeland. This museum is all about the homeland. Local artifacts and exhibitions of local art and history are displayed.
The entrance of the museum. The grand old home was built by a man who owned a long ago coal mine in my hubby’s village Vina. Now, it is well-kept and a glorious reminder of antique architecture.
A work of art by a local artist, Dragoslav Živković, and the reconstruction of homes created by the orignal inhabitants of the region ages ago. The cavemen type of people even left their mark in local caves with drawings! Cool, huh?
Just a few weeks ago, I went to check out the new fruit exhibits, and the very exciting ancient Roman artifacts found just a few miles down the road!
An aerial photograph of the excavation. It is a massive site.
Ravna, a village 6 or 7 miles from Knjazevac is the home of the most recent archeological dig in our region.
Painstaking work by international groups of archeologists have unearthed some amazing finds. Including glass goblets! How freaking awesome is that!?
glass goblets and a glass vase
I got to talk to the Senior Curator of the museum, Milena. Her English is spectacular. We had a great chat. The most spectacular part of the visit was being shocked with meeting another American. I have NEVER run into a foreigner in my little town. Coming in contact with one of my own peeps was a complete shock.
He was a Dept. of State guy doing some public relations stuff, repairing relations with Serbia. His advice to me was to basically be friendly and help mend the tear between Serbia and the United States.
Some days, I think I am days I think I am very diplomatic… other times, not so much.
Please come visit our beautiful town and museums. We have lots to offer! Just like the rest of Serbia!
Planning for an English Club Halloween party is proving harder than expected. It will largely end up being just a costume party. That is enough, and most of the fun anyway, right? Keeping it simple is key.
Let me share the challenges I am up against. The decorations are the main issue.
I found that orange pumpkins aren’t so common. They are grown for feeding pigs. There are so many other options, that is really irrelevant. It is just shocking as massive fields are dedicated to these orange pumpkins in the U.S. for fall decoration and picture-taking purposes only!
The decorative brooms we use to decorate and symbolize a witches broom, is as common as sliced bread here. Here is a bit of irony: sliced bread isn’t so common. LOL Brooms are so different here, I could do a post on them alone! I guess that will be my blog.
Costume ideas are often culturally different… for instance. In the U.S. twice I have gone as Gypsy because no one knows they exist. To us they are like unicorns. A.k.a. mythical story book creatures. It is a little like this M&M commercial.
Yet, the word in Serbian for Gypsy in Serbian is like saying the “N” word in the U.S. Roma is the proper word for these people.
The irony continues… The “N” word in Serbia is common. There are almost no black people here… only in cities. And the kids here that listen to American rap here the word and don’t understand how bad it is. Who is gonna tell them? Maybe me? in this post. 🙂
Other costume issues are that things that are common costumes are possibly cultural reference that the kids here may not recognize. DIY (do it yourself) or home-made costumes don’t seem so common. But then again, maybe I am wrong. I am kinda new at this.
The food and drinks we would use back home aren’t even sold here. I doubt anyone here knows what candy corn are! In case you don’t, they are a super sweet chewy candy.
In the words of Wayne’s world, “Party on!”
or in the more recent and very popular…
Do you have any experience in putting on a Halloween party? Tell me about it!
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A small trip to the village this week for a final birthday dinner gave me the chance to take some new village new photos. The stairs up to the barn loft. Kindling piled under make a lovely bouquet of wood. … Continue reading
Chronicles of Serbia 