Cultural Enrichment and Self-knowledge

by Bojan Brankovic (Serbia)

I didn't expect to find Serbia

Just I’ve been finished with the obligations for summer semester, the point that caught my eye was the announcement about grant for study visit and southern Balcan Study trip. Especially that I am not a ‘political point of view’ person, this stuff was challenge for me, because you know how they say ‘try new to met a true’. And yes, I have applied for. Wasn’t so surprised, when after two days I get the feedback approval and invitation for the program. This maintenance program was include four countries as participants: Kosovo, Albania, Monte Negro and Serbia. The main topic was to gather the youth form from region, and to express resolution of the prejudices, problems in their own countries and surfaces with daily problems that most of young people front on to, each day, whenever the region on Earth they are living on. But something specific about this program was that the people from this region had a conflict in the past. Me, as a pacifist, was challenge to be include in. To find the way of mechanism that people are in daily lives on. The first days was exciting. New faces, personalities, habits. But one thing was mutual for all: all of participants was high degree university stuffs. They just doing their all best, and at the first hand, all of us believed that the education is the bridge to upgrade. Day by day, we were met with culture, ethno tradition, started through the history and art and finishing with variety domestic dishes to met the culture better. Discover of tastes gives a special vivid and experience of picturesque representation of one nation . I can say, that Southern Serbia and Shkodra in Albania has so much mutual amenities and cult expression. The most impressive thing was the Vegan Ethno restaurant that employing the women who were victims of domestic violence. Social service made a deal with the government as an obligation to protect the woman and so showing the significant as woman in society. The museums that representing mother goodies and statues of idols was impressive, and remind on them from Starcevo Cult from Serbia origin from Neolithic era. Old monuments and debris parts of old State Fortresses complete the landscape and gives a seal of one time that happens behind. Many debates on topic of making inter-neighborly relations, and workshops that precisely describes what is the point and obligations between new generations, to establish the functional society for all. Including the minorities and their problems, considering the future establishment of regular and sustainable development. Of all variety conversations, and adventure that I’ve been passed through, the greatest part was made for great contacts and friendships. Now, I am planning sea-side holiday to my friends in Monte Negro, but the greatest of all, the friendship from Kosovo, that I consider as a long- life lasting friendship that happens to the people who have mutual interests and specific soul conection. This wasn’t just the trip, this was discovering myself through the others differs.