When two irrational people are put together, only the irrational results are expected. It is like a mathematical equation filled with logic and definite outcome. Thats me plus Amber equals well, something of a comical yet, disastrous nature. Here we are at the beginning of our trip, already experiencing odd adventures. Today, we made it down to Sarajevo, the capital of BiH. The ride from BL took a little bit over 5 hours, since we had some technical difficulties. Nothing runs smoothly around here which is expected but just when you think you have seen it all, something peculiar occurs. First, when we got on the bus there were no seats since the efficient transportation industry and its workers had sold more tickets that there are seats available. So, far an hour, we had to stand crammed up. After a literally 5 minute drive, we were forced to stop since the bus driver forgot to fill up the tank. After good 20 minutes, we have finally resolved to head out. As if it was not convenient enough, Amber starts showing signs of nausea, making curious passengers attentive. After few offers to sit down, she finally accepted. While she was getting herself together, I started a conversation with a girl that let her sit. As it is a custom here, somehow down the line one finds something in common with another person, something austerely familiar.
The conversation took us to so many different places from the war experiences, to current and future lifestyles. However, the theme at times was gloomy and ironic as we were pointing out the things that are going wrong with this country and the only way out is unfortunately getting out. She was telling me about instances how corrupted and deeply disturbing political system is. We agreed on a lot of things and involved Amber after some heavy talks. After that she tried to point out our not so famous or not so accepted or even real pyramids older than the Egyptian once. Hoax or not, it brought light to the darkness of this nation. I could not help but think how different my life is living in a privileged world. I have never really felt a sense of an honest gratitude that the US has to offer, but the escape to the land of free, it really is just that. Diaspora ignores the devastations and hindrance of progress continuously recurring on daily basis effecting the lives of our countrymen.
Earlier before heading out of BL, I had another conversation with the cleaning lady at my aunt's house. Shes originally from Croatia, ended up in Banja Luka through the property exchange process that relocated many people within the ex YU. She shared the difficulties she has with paying her debts and taking care of three children in this different world of cyber culture. She sees no future for her oldest son who is intelligent by nature but challenging to take care off. All this real talk about real lives that are unveiling in this region seem more drastic and sad than the lives carried on during the war. At least, the "enemies" were tangible, now the abstract worries attack and no clear future is ahead. How many conversations do we need to have to realize that change is necessary more than water? When are people going to take things in their hands and get rid of the criminal opportunists that rule this country promising only nationalism and pay cut?? I am trying to make some sense out of this all with a hope that there is some type of a positive solution but it seems that things are unchangeably worse.
Here we are on this trip simply because we can, while there are people around who await for their salary for more than 16 months, patiently still attending their work posts in hopes that they might just get paid or maintaining their jobs because they will not be able to get another one. Is it out of desperation that a person gets up every morning to go to work knowing that he or she will not get paid or is it simply a clingy nature of us humans to keep whatever we can in order to preserve some type of appearances?
Then after initial incidents with our bus, we were moved to a different bus for an unknowing reason; just another hiccup in the transportation industry. When we finally made it to the capital, somehow we ended up in the shittiest cafe possible. After getting charged for the bags in the cab, I simply took it not as a robbery but as a person trying to get anything out of anyone to survive. I guess. It gives me some hope that there are still honest, hard working people. He was a douche but I did not want to argue over any principals tonight, so I let it go.
Finally, when we arrived to my relative's apartment our backs took a break from oversized backpacks and loads of other shit we are dragging with us. As it is the case, everything takes forever here, even the washing machines and dryers. We did not get a chance to completely dry our laundry so, discretely we laid out all the wet clothes we had around my cousin's room because the rack for drying was taken. And reserved me, would not ask for any hangers, so we spread it around an entire room. At least, it smells good and hopefully it will dry by tomorrow. These are my "problems".
The conversation took us to so many different places from the war experiences, to current and future lifestyles. However, the theme at times was gloomy and ironic as we were pointing out the things that are going wrong with this country and the only way out is unfortunately getting out. She was telling me about instances how corrupted and deeply disturbing political system is. We agreed on a lot of things and involved Amber after some heavy talks. After that she tried to point out our not so famous or not so accepted or even real pyramids older than the Egyptian once. Hoax or not, it brought light to the darkness of this nation. I could not help but think how different my life is living in a privileged world. I have never really felt a sense of an honest gratitude that the US has to offer, but the escape to the land of free, it really is just that. Diaspora ignores the devastations and hindrance of progress continuously recurring on daily basis effecting the lives of our countrymen.
Earlier before heading out of BL, I had another conversation with the cleaning lady at my aunt's house. Shes originally from Croatia, ended up in Banja Luka through the property exchange process that relocated many people within the ex YU. She shared the difficulties she has with paying her debts and taking care of three children in this different world of cyber culture. She sees no future for her oldest son who is intelligent by nature but challenging to take care off. All this real talk about real lives that are unveiling in this region seem more drastic and sad than the lives carried on during the war. At least, the "enemies" were tangible, now the abstract worries attack and no clear future is ahead. How many conversations do we need to have to realize that change is necessary more than water? When are people going to take things in their hands and get rid of the criminal opportunists that rule this country promising only nationalism and pay cut?? I am trying to make some sense out of this all with a hope that there is some type of a positive solution but it seems that things are unchangeably worse.
Here we are on this trip simply because we can, while there are people around who await for their salary for more than 16 months, patiently still attending their work posts in hopes that they might just get paid or maintaining their jobs because they will not be able to get another one. Is it out of desperation that a person gets up every morning to go to work knowing that he or she will not get paid or is it simply a clingy nature of us humans to keep whatever we can in order to preserve some type of appearances?
Then after initial incidents with our bus, we were moved to a different bus for an unknowing reason; just another hiccup in the transportation industry. When we finally made it to the capital, somehow we ended up in the shittiest cafe possible. After getting charged for the bags in the cab, I simply took it not as a robbery but as a person trying to get anything out of anyone to survive. I guess. It gives me some hope that there are still honest, hard working people. He was a douche but I did not want to argue over any principals tonight, so I let it go.
Finally, when we arrived to my relative's apartment our backs took a break from oversized backpacks and loads of other shit we are dragging with us. As it is the case, everything takes forever here, even the washing machines and dryers. We did not get a chance to completely dry our laundry so, discretely we laid out all the wet clothes we had around my cousin's room because the rack for drying was taken. And reserved me, would not ask for any hangers, so we spread it around an entire room. At least, it smells good and hopefully it will dry by tomorrow. These are my "problems".
good thing you live in NYC! you should be used to all the transportation hiccups and chaos! jk... on a diff note, this is deep. being able to see the harsh new reality of what you used to know. seeing people attend to work without pay-- i also see a sense of dedication to some sense of normalcy, and an obligation to continue ones role in an attempt to maintain a functioning society... glad your writing down your experiences, im sure there will be many ups and downs. your trip sounds like its going to be a great journey for you. enjoy every bit of it, and can't wait to hear more!
ReplyDeleteVery profound thoughts...so glad you are able to write about these experiences..in many ways you are acknowledging the hard work of folks who often do not get paid or wait tirelessly for a week's pay..these conditions are often not talked about and I believe if we do get the opportunity to return to our countries it is important to give the folks a voice and report on the conditions there coming from a first hand lived experience...
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