2 Months

It's really amazing to think that I have been in Mostar for 2 months. It feels like I know the place so well, but it also feels like I only left home last week. It's not a holiday any more! You keep so busy with work, travel and every other thing under the sun that you don't really have time to think about time. I wouldn't trade this experience for the world, it is to incredible. I have learnt more here in 2 months than I would have any where else. I have met some brilliant people and befriended the best of them. My life has changed so much in just 2 short months. 2 months in comparison is nothing, could be classed as insignificant but not these 2 months. I think I am rambling on and on in my own contemplative thoughts so I will go and do some more work.

Project Week ...

So I have had a couple of projects in the last week.

First, was "project", a young kitten. So the story is that a few students found a very young kitten when walking to the rugby field, they decided to bring it back to the residence. The kitten, known as "project", was harboured in a suitcase. But the main problem was that the kitten had an eye infection. I seemed to have the most experience so became residence vet. Over the couple of days I was around there was a big improvement in the kittens condition but then I had to leave for project week. I came back to find out that whilst I was away that the kitten escaped from the suitcase and is found by the house mum who throws it out. So hopefully someone else has found "project" and is taking care of him.

Me and "Project"

Project



And the second project was a project week in Srebrenica. On Monday Detmer, Becky, Samia and Me, as well as our supervisor Laila set off for Srebrenica. After 9 hours on a bus we reached the town. It was not what we expected at all! We spent the day relaxing and eating and seeing a little bit of down town. Our hosts were some lovely old ladies who spoke no English so communication was ... interesting but we learnt some more words! Super, dobro, da da da, ne ne ne, chai, hvala, molim were particularly useful!We spent Tuesday we met a youth worker and then we spoke to a teacher of a university faculty. It was amazing to see the views of people today about something that happened only 15 years ago!

The next day we went to the memorial centre. It was shocking, truly horrible. You could see rows and rows of names on a marble wall that went on and on. There were rows and rows of white pillars marking graves of those found. Our guide had lost his twin brother and father, it made everything so personal. He told us his story and the general story of the war. We saw a photo gallery and visited the Dutch base. Inside the armament factory was 2 black boxes. One contained personal items and stories of victims and the other a documentary. It was difficult to watch with dry eyes!! The rest of the day we remained catatonic! It was too hard to just continue with a normal day.

On Thursday we went to the municipality and spoke to the head of education. After speaking to several authorities we noticed a trend developing, the government needs to change! We then had a 10 hour bus trip back to Mostar today!

Even though some parts of the trip was hard but it was truly important to make us realise a lot about some things in this country and about the events at Srebrenica! But we also had a lot of fun and we got a lot closer as friends! It was a great, beneficial and worth while project!


The Graves

Making the Most of it ...

A piece of advice I was given before I came here was to embrace the opportunity and make every second count. I really think I am trying to achieve this.

This week has been pretty hectic. I have had school during the week apart from Friday when I went on a physics field trip to a power plant on the Neretva. Then I helped out with the Flea Market which was raising money for the refugee camp. Congratulations go to all involved as we raised a nice sum of money for the camp.

Saturday I visited the refugee camp for the first time. I was preparing myself for the worst, I expected to be treated with coldness and to face destroyed people. I am so glad I was wrong! The people were welcoming and kind, they are so resilient. Their homes were run down and all of the facilities were poor. To begin with there weren't many people around and as a non-native speaker I was going to work mainly with the kids as there isn't so much of a language barrier. Me and Maja found to young girls, they were very shy. After a long time we managed to get them to draw and play, a truly amazing feeling. As time wore on more people arrived and the camp seemed to come to life. I ended up juggling for a little crowd, playing football and being chased around by kids with water balloons. It was very fun but so tiring! Time flew by and it was time to return to Mostar. The kids are waiting for our return... with more water bombs so I'm told!

Then on Sunday I went on a hike, the first of the year. It was a very tiring climb but well worth it. It took us 4 hours to reach our final viewing point. It was breathtaking, truly breathtaking! We spent a while at the top before descending the mountain. We sang silly songs, pretended to be Indians charging down the mountain and decided to see how many UWCers you can fit in a tree. It was an awesome day that left us all very tired but very happy.

Survivors ...

How many UWCers in one tree?? 13 and counting ...

View ... WOW

At the Top :)

Water Bomb!!

Attack!

The Camp