Sunday, July 27, 2008

...in the meanwhile, in Sarajevo

Back.

Rain, mist, temperature differing from 13 degrees to 27 degrees. Sweaty, damp, but also cold and chilling. The city has improved, much more restored since I have left. Almost normal. Both the city and I have changed more or less, I guess. Or better- I have changed for sure. Whether the city and the country have changed since I first arrived, or from, let's say 1997- I am not sure. The visible wounds that were there in 2004, seem to have healed, though.

No real celebrations after the arrest of Dr. Dabic, Karadzic. Walked past a Muslim graveyard yesterday, where where fallen war heroes lie to rest. One of the buried defenders of the city, a Muslim, was called Karadzic. So what is in a name?

The arrest opened wounds, my friends tell- it brought back memories they have hidden away for a long time; memories they wished they had forgotten. His arrest is worth the return of the memories, they say, with almost zealous conviction as if they have to convince themselves. His arrest will not change anything, they say. And I believe them- it won't bring back anything. But it will bring justice. As that should be done.

On my strolls through town, I walked into Paddy Ashdown, the former High Representative to BiH. Today I read his thoughts on BiH. I am afraid I subscribe to them.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

No ceiling

Tomorrow morning I am going back to BiH. Sarajevo, to be more exact. A place with bitter sweet memories; a place I go back to with mixed feelings. It is under my skin, though. There is a song by Eddie Vedder, which comes to mind when I think of Sarajevo, called 'No Ceiling':

Comes the morning
When I can feel
That there's nothing left to be concealed
Moving on a scene surreal
No, my heart will never
Will never be far from here

Sure as I am breathing
Sure as I'm sad
I'll keep this wisdom in my flesh
I leave here believing more than I had
And there's a reason I'll be
A reason I'll be back

As I walk
The Hemisphere
I've got my wish
To up and disappear

I've been wounded
I've been healed
Now for landing I've been
Landing I've been cleared

Sure as I'm breathing
Sure as I'm sad
I'll keep this wisdom
In my flesh

I leave here believing
More than I had
This Love has got
No Ceiling

Monday, July 21, 2008

GOT HIM

UNBELIEVABLE!!!! The biggest war crimes suspect of Europe is caught! Radovan Karadzic has been arrested about an hour ago in Serbia. I can honestly say that during my time in BiH I more than doubted that they would ever catch him, but 'they' got him. The details are still unclear to me, but I am watching CNN and BBC World now. Apparently the Serbian Authorities arrested him.

Am going to Bosnia in two days, so am curious what will be going on in Sarajevo and Banja Luka.

Sunday, July 06, 2008

Education Permanante

"Thirty, and still a student?!? Moewahahahahaha"
I am standing at the entrance of the UN, to get my library card extended. The UN library is a great place to write my thesis: it is big, it is spacious, it is calm, it has internet, it has free photocopying, and most importantly: it gives access to the Un cafeteria. That cafeteria is heaven compared to the cafeteria of my school, and it caters to those with a thin and small wallet. However, to get into the UN building, I need a renewed pass. And to get this pass, I need to get passed this security guard, who thinks it is about time that i should get a real job, instead of bumming around as a student. He hands me back my passport, and shout to his colleague that he is sending a thirty year old student through. For a second I contemplate of giving a summary of my resume, but I decide to admit defeat and nod sheepishly. "Yeah, I need to graduate," I tell him. "I have been studying since I was six," I say to him when I walk on. "My parents are by now bankrupt. There are no excuses left anymore..." He laughs, and his colleague gives me my new pass. The first day of writing my thesis has started...

The aforementioned reaction is one I get often."You are thirty and you are a student?!?" Initially people think I am a moron, someone who has been studying the better part of his life. Once I explain that I am doing a post-graduate education, the mood swings. However, all good things come to an end, and so does student life. Two more months and than my thesis needs to be handed in. In the meanwhile I found a job, on that I am actually really looking forward to: from autumn onwards I will be a lawyer, an esquire, a barrister, an advocat, a counselor, a legal entrepreneur. Criminal defense work, in Holland! For at least 3 years. As said: all good things come to an end. Like roaming the globe. Well, at least for the coming three years...