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Published: January 18th 2007
When my friend Jelena told me she was going home for Christmas for the first time in four years and said I could tag along I jumped at the chance. What else was I going to do, besides harass my kid brother into asking for a Wii for Christmas so I could subsequently steal it from him? (He didn't get one, "but all my friends did, so I can play theirs". Pfft.) So it was back to Serbia after 18 months. As per usual I got spoiled to death by my Serbian family- thanks so much, Vesna & Branko!
What's changed since July 2005:
Election time: Serbs love politics! With parlimentary elections coming up on Jan 21st, I got to witness the campaigning in full swing. Jelena's and my favorite: the anti-snail one (see picture below).
Rubbing elbows: Branko and I were in St. Sava Temple and he recognized the American Ambassador to Serbia Michael Polt from TV so he told me to go talk to him. I figured as a taxpaying citizen it is my right to interrupt American ambassadors when they are showing their children around tourist sites. Well he was really nice and we chatted
a bit, but I completely forgot not only to take a picture but also to ask him how exactly one becomes an ambassador. I'm after your job, sir!
Serbian television channels: 18 months ago they had a channel that would show
Legends of the Hidden Temple and
Wild & Crazy Kids and other Nickelodeon favorites from my childhood. I confess I screamed when I saw Omar for the first time in a decade. Recently FOX came to Serbia which excited much anticipation- finally, smutty American TV! Unfortunately the Serbian version of FOX is a huge disappointment. Instead of
Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire? the programming is mostly dull British nature documentaries about the mating pattern of iguanas and Italian soap operas.
Winter: I am not a winter person. I spent the first week in Serbia vaguely ill and sleeping in odd intervals so that I did not see the sun in about a week. I went for walks and took ~*~artistic~*~ pictures. One time two people asked me for directions in an hour, ++ Balkan cred. Orthodox Christmas is Jan 7th so December 25th is pretty much like any regular day in Serbia.
What hasn't changed:
That dude that's in The Hague that has posters all over: I actually took the initiative to look him up. He's Vojislav Šešelj, president of the Radical party. Branko found it very satisfying to step on his face (via picture on flyer on the ground). He's still all over Serbia.
The people: My second home is in Serbia. You guys are amazing *sob*. You all are so friendly, intelligent, and attractive (see photographic evidence).
Party like it's 1999: I have been to Serbia TWICE now and I've yet to get a picture of the 1999 NATO bombing remnants. It's pretty cool what those Tomahawk missles can do. Especially when you're not the target. NEXT TIME.
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Governor
Kent D. Converse
Another Great Blog!!!
Kate: I have been looking forward to your blog. You are one of the best. I wish I could take off on a whim. Say hello to your great Mother who lets you do all of this, and the rest of your family. Kent