Going Back

As I said two posts earlier, I am trying to fill in the many gaps of my story of life here in Sarajevo by going backwards. I've found that going back and looking at my photos helps jog my memory. Here's one that stands out to me:

You may be able to tell from this photo that I am standing in a room that has been transformed into a forest of toilet paper due to the ingenuity of my colleagues and me. I don't recall the reason for the idiotic look of wonder on my face (please compare with the confused-but-cool look of the picture below), but I do recall what was going on in my life at this moment.

The moment was towards the end of my first year in Sarajevo. We had just returned from a time of relaxation and reflection in Split, Croatia (see picture below) and were in a bittersweet stage of goodbyes and anticipation. My colleagues and I chose to say goodbye to our team leader by decorating his room in the aforementioned manner after a round of strangely-hilarious prank calls back to friends in the US. Laughter is the best elixir.

This moment was also a time of me looking ahead to a second year of work in Sarajevo that promised new challenges. I was excited about being asked to lead the team in my second year, looking forward to being with friends and family back in Atlanta for a couple of months, and confident in God's provision.

Split, Croatia

Split has become a city of beginnings and endings for me. I began my time working overseas in Split in 2009 and ended my year there this past Summer in 2010. Runs in the early-morning heat and walks along the "Riva" in the evening were my favorite times.

Karneval!

Me on one of those rides that spin you around so that you are smashed into the seat because of the g-forces and all need to hang on is quickly forgotten.

My family used to go to the Georgia State Fair in Perry, GA (the geographical center of the state) every once in a while. The rides were great because they were cheaper than say Six Flags and they had the added thrill of not quite being sure if the good ole' boys who assembled the ride really new what they were doing or when one of the bolts would pop out and you would be hurled out over the noisy crowds into a pop-the-balloons-with-darts stand only to receive the grand prize of the life-size plush purple gorilla.

So, you can imagine how excited I was when I saw that Sarajevo had a carnival complete with swings, pony rides, wheelie-esque rides, scramblers, and lest I forget, bumper cars. After some convincing of my team to leave the comfort of the apartment we had congregated at that evening for dinner, we arrived as giddy as school kids (well, maybe just me) at Sarajevo's "Karneval" (no translation needed). We were there till the last ride turned off its lights and the ponies were loaded into their trailers. I left barely able to speak from screaming my lungs out.

My team at the Karneval.

Me hanging ten on a stone bulls' nose outside of a casino in Croatia. (We were in Croatia for a few days for a conference, not gambling.)

Picking Up Where I Left Off...

Here, I will try to fill in the 8-month silence that represents my inability to stay committed to blogging and relative preoccupation with the chaotic life I lead abroad.

Let's start with now and go back.

When I wrote at the beginning of my time in Sarajevo, I described my neighborhood, Grbavica-- a nice suburb of quiet streets and parks along the Miljacka River. A lot has changed since then. I now call the neighborhood of Bjelave my home. I now live near the Italian, Slovenian, Austrian, and French embassies, above Veliki Park (Big Park), and about 15 minutes from everywhere I need to be. There's one catch, it's up a very steep hill. I suppose God wanted me to have exercise built-in to the end of every day.

Here are some pictures:

The Street Bjelave. (When it's a clear day you can see the snow-covered mountains in the distance.)

Our pink/beige house that I share with my roommate who shares my name. Yes, that's a garage there on the right and a porch above it. (Next items to purchase: Scooter and Grill)

Nathan II enjoying our newly-acquired internet access on the infamous "Green Couch."

My bedroom in an unusual state of order. (The jury's still out on whether or not that's the correct way to hang the flag.)

So, this new home is an answer to prayer and has been a huge blessing. Immediately when I arrived back in the US for my Summer break and after moving out of Apt. #1 that I spent all last year in into Apt. #2 nearby, I found out that I had been kicked out of Apt. #2 by my landlord. My colleagues who were still in Sarajevo quickly found an Apt. #3 that to this day I have never seen, because four days before I returned to Sarajevo from the US, I found out that I (and all my stuff and the stuff that has been accumulated by my colleagues over the 10 years of my organization's work in this city, i.e. an enormous amount) had been kicked out again. So now, after staying in a local church for a few nights and meeting an extremely helpful local realtor, I live in Apt. #4 and hope to remain here till I move back to the US next Summer.