Syria: Refugees Impact On Macedonia

          In my previous post I described how much I enjoyed Belgrade with my fellow PCV's.  However, I left a large part of our experience out of that post because it deserves it's own forum.  While traveling to Belgrade, and in the city, I was deeply impacted by the exodus and migration of the Syrian refugees through Greece, Macedonia, Serbia and into Hungary.  I'm not sure exactly how much media coverage is being covered on this issue, I've been told it's a lot, but I do know that people have been seeing reports concerning Macedonia.
          I want to emphasize that this post isn't about the greater problem of how the EU is "attempting" to process the refugees but is only about how their migration is impacting Macedonia and Peace Corps. Click here to read more on the former topic.*  

          As we traveled from Skopje to Belgrade I woke up early to freshen up thinking we were close to Belgrade. As I opened my sleeper car I looked to my left and saw five people sleeping on the end of the car.  Between us was a glass door locked by a deadbolt.  Looking at them I immediately knew who they were.  They were doctors, lawyers, teachers, mechanics, business owners, parents, sons, mothers, daughters who had left their country because if they hadn't they would have been killed.  When they left they knew they'd most likely never return home. 

A man without a home.

All of these refugees were waiting for the next train out of Belgrade.

          You might have seen several news reports about police clashing with the refugees along the Macedonian border.  The problem for Macedonia is the sheer number of people attempting to cross the border.  Right now it's averaging 3,000 a day, with 44,000 crossing in the past two months alone.  That is a huge number of people for a country that has the infrastructure to transport about 800 people a day.  Following the border crash with police, Macedonia set up camps outside of the train station to place people as they are waiting for the trains.
           Greece, likewise, is challenged with this influx of refugees and moves them quickly across the border into Macedonia.  Obviously, that creates more strain on Macedonia but the government has opened the border and is allowing a 72 hour "pass" for refugees to travel through Macedonia.  
          Now, how is this impacting Peace Corps Macedonia? Volunteers that are along the transport line from Greece to Serbia are more likely to see the refugees but are not in any danger.  I am not impacted by their journey.  However, the impact of each refugee, their lives and their family's life as they journey through Macedonia into Europe will continue for many years to come.

*"Again, the contents of this website are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the US Government or Peace Corps."

The End Of Summer: Belgrade, 30th Birthday & Work Begins Anew.

          First, thank you all again for the birthday love.  I feel really good about being 30, perhaps it's because of the example some friends and family have made but I find it exciting. It feels good to close the chapter on my 20's and be ready for the next one of my 30's. I know that I only want more of what I already have. 

          I had a great birthday and traveled to Belgrade, Serbia with five other PC Volunteers who had their birthday in the previous four weeks.  We visited Tito's grave, who I learned a lot about, Yugoslavia's history and it's role during the Cold War.  Belgrade itself is an amazing city and is the most Western Balkan city I've visited.  You can tell it's always been an important city due to the Hapsburgs influence, large roads, many forts and of course the Danube running right through it. It's vibrant, organized, complicated and the people are motivated.

Waiting on the train in Skopje. It was late arriving, then didn't leave for 90 minutes and we ended up in Belgrade fours hours after schedule. That didn't happen on the return trip from Serbia. 

Sleeping on a train is always nice. 

Belgrade is a city that has one foot in the past, one moving forward but is scarred by it's previous conflicts. Here you can see this difference with the building on the right still bombed out from NATO in an attempt to end the Kosovo conflict. The building still stands because of the cost to break it down and dispose of the hazardous materials. 

Lakefront park view of the city. 

You're looking at Kale Fortress.

The crew.

Communist graffiti.

Fort Kale at night.

Yes, my friends that is a still functioning video, DVD rental store!

American style breakfast with OJ, drip coffee and BACON!

We were ready to fuel up for another day of sight seeing. (Excuse the angle I'm terrible at selfies).

This was right outside the apartment, it fits. 

A gorgeous shot of the train tracks heading into and out of the city. The church you see in the background is the Cathedral of St. Sava. 

          People here in the Balkans have strong emotions concerning Tito which causes him to be remembered differently by people within each former country of Yugoslavia. Some remember him as a great source of Balkan pride and economic success, others as a brutal dictator who murdered thousands. History, as always, is reinterpreted with each generation.  He brilliantly used the Cold War to his advantage and  politically maneuvered himself to be independent of both the Soviet and Western bloc.  My favorite story about Tito is how Stalin attempted to assassinate him several times but failed.  After the last failed effort Tito sent a messenger to Stalin saying he only needed one attempt to kill Stalin.  No other assassination attempts by Stalin were made. 

Tito's Museum and Cultural Museum.

I found this map interesting.

Honestly, I wasn't expecting Tito's grave site to be so serene and calm. 

Joseph Broz Tito.

Dave loved these hats. 

I also learned that batons became a great source of Yugoslavian pride. Beginning in 1945 baton relay races were held in honor of Tito's birthday. Every year, the baton chosen to travel around Yugoslavia represented a different organization, workers, associations or individuals.  Some years the baton looked like a piece of corn for agriculture, or a hammer for labor, or pencil for education. They're still an important metaphor for Yugoslavism today.

Tito with Kennedy.

Tito with Che. 

          Next, we headed across town to check out one of the largest Greek Orthodox churches in the world, St. Sava Cathedral.  It's truly massive but the interior is incomplete.  Walking up to it I felt the grandness but also it's warmth.  The grounds surrounding it are lush, open and quiet despite being in the center of town. 

          Walking inside, I was surprised how how unfinished the interior is.  The Cathedral was built in honor of the first Archbishop of Serbia, who is buried underneath the structure.  Construction has taken decades to complete due to lack of funds, government change or war.

Clearly, you can see why it can hold 10,000 people.

I enjoyed being inside such a holy structure that was incomplete.

People light the candles for numerous reasons but all are private.

          Afterwards, we headed back to freshen up and get ready for our combined birthday celebration,  at PivoFest, or BeerFest in English.  It's one of the largest festivals in the Balkans and didn't disappoint. 

Real beer.

The music was a lot of folk music, Celtic? and rock. Still it had a bit of a state fair feel to it.

Victoria, Dave, Alex, Abby, Andrew and I. 

This is ckara, or BBQ, and it was delicious.

Dave was ready.

We were all confused by the Russian beer.  

Ohrid sitemates.

Jones and I.

Breaking it down.

Of course we rode some fair rides.

Victoria did well on the bull.

However, Dave couldn't be stopped.

No shoes, no problem.

 The following morning we went to see Belgrade Fortress.  Located at the confluence of the Danube and Sava Rivers, it's been an important military location since the Roman times.  They were the first to build a large scale military structure at that location.  From the 2nd to 18th centuries it's been build, destroyed, and rebuilt several times. It was the Austrian Empire that constructed it into its final form and I must say it's impressive.  In front of the fortress there's a large green space, called the Kalemegdan (Turkish for "fort field/square") used in the past for battle but now is a beautiful park. 

Belgrade.

Part of Kalemegdan Park.

The second wall before entering the fortress.

Nicely done Vic!

Notice how thick the walls are.

Inside there was a military museum.

Of course I hopped up on one of the tanks.

Danube and Sava Rivers.

It's a popular spot for locals and tourists alike.

Dave wasn't sure how to operate such a low tech device.

Group shot.

One of the cannons used to protect the fort.

The park has plenty of play space, these were the nicest basketball courts I've seen in the Balkans.

They also had clay tennis courts. 

The hats work for Dave but not I.

Afterwards, we visited Kneza Sime Cathedral. It was a gorgeous, ornate and decadent Orthodox cathedral. 

There's more to Belgrade than it's historical buildings because it's also a lively and chic place to live and visit. This restaurant is clearly doing things differently with its outside patio and people loved it.

The Hotel Moskva is designed after Russian architecture and is considered Belgrade's finest hotel. 

A final sunset from the train ride home.

          Not only did we get to see a fantastic city but we also chowed down on McDonald's, KFC and Burger King. Yeah, a little sad but hey that's the most authentic American cuisine we could find.  I can't wait to return to Belgrade and discover more of it's hidden gems. 

          The following weekend was a bit bittersweet as dozens of PCV's gathered in Skopje to say goodbye to a volunteer who had completed her service.  She was the first of the Mak 18's, the group that came a year before I did, to COS, or Close Of Service, and was beloved by all. Peace Corps is unique since you become friends with people here while back in the States they're 2,500 miles away. Fortunately, that's what road trips are for. 

Hanging out in hot Skopje.

Skopje's only microbrewery is a hot spot for Americans.

Group shot of Mak 18's and 19's.

Good luck back in the States Britt!

          There you have it, summer is over.  School started today so you'll be getting posts about my real life of working and living in my village. I'm very excited to be starting work again since I now know what to expect and the challenges involved.  Lastly, I do find myself missing home a bit since football season is starting up.  Nevertheless, knowing that just gives me more opportunities to take advantage of my home.  So during the harvest this Fall I'm going to learn how to make some apple and pumpkin pies with my host family.  My host grandfather is already harvesting his bee farm, stay tuned for those posts!