#in the way momo kapor write that i forgive it

[yugocar]

When the Germans occupied Serbia in 1941, we could not travel anywhere - except to concentration camps. Then, in 1944, the Russians "liberated" us - that is occupied Serbia - with the result that the most loyal could travel to an Athletes' Jamboree in Prague or to attend a military school in Moscow. In 1948 when we fell out with the Russians and the West had not yet taken us under its wing, we essentially locked ourselves in. We lived this way until the early 1960's, when the first of us left to work abroad. Until that time, the bravest fled to the West across mountain ranges or by hiding between the wheels of a railroad coach heading west. Some chose to remain in the West following an appearance with a touring symphony orchestra or ballet troupe. Some fled across the sea...People would flee in the most imaginative ways until the regime finally became so fed up that it began issuing passports to anyone who asked. The borders were opened and our entire little country rushed to buy clothes, footwear, and to see the world. [...] Be that as it may, due to wars, rows and a general breakdown of the system, today's twenty-five-year olds have not only missed the world, they haven't seen Dubrovnik, Sarajevo, Zagreb or Ljubljana.. True, today they can see Toronto or Wellington, New Zealand - but this ticket is one-way: to reach their work post as a computer programmer or baby-sitter. And when they reach that coveted paradise, the average Westerner finally travels, as I said before, just before they die. Only then do they see the planet on which they have spent their life working from morning to nightfall. [...] Serbs have recently begun to travel again. Traveling in groups has become popular, as the tourist package sidesteps the difficulties of obtaining foreign visas for individuals. When I travel with them, I watch their eyes full of inquisitive radiance. Most touching are the older ladies from the provinces, retired doctors or teachers whose sons paid travel agencies so their parents could see Greek temples, the Pyramids, or stand before the Wailing wall in Jerusalem.

- Momo Kapor, Guide to Serbian Mentality 

#momo kapor #balkan youth have always outlived evil times #last momo kapor draft thats been sitting away #once again its all very romantic which im usually wary of but there is something just so sweet and illustrative #in the way momo kapor write that i forgive it #after all his words are my balkan tag so! #q