The international terminal - when I first became a minority
The following morning, the others mentioned above and I went to downtown Sarajevo to go to the "Narodno Pozoriste Sarajevski" - the hall of the Sarajevo Phil. On the tram ride down there, we got a nice introduction to the city. Sarajevo has a number of tall buildings and lots of very old buildings. Many of the buildings you can still see damage left over from the war. There is lots of graffiti on buildings, train cars, shops, etc. It actually reminds me of Cleveland somewhat...but that also might be because it has been very cloudy most of the time I have been here. The National Theater itself is quite elegant and filled with history. The actual hall inside is very beautiful and well kept. It is on the smaller side but provides for close views of the stage from any seat in the house. One of the most essential parts of the theater I was first told is the "Coffee Bar" downstairs in the basement. During every "pauza", including and not limited to rehearsal breaks, pre-rehearsals, post-rehearsals, pre-concerts, concert intermissions, and after concerts, everyone flocks to this bar for coffee, beer, and cigarettes.
WHY IS THIS????
(Please comment with your thoughts)
Why are there hardly any water fountains in Sarajevo??? My friends tell me it is like this in most of Europe as well. I don't see many people carrying water bottles around and drinking from them either. Have people in Europe adapted to functioning on drinking less water??
Perhaps one of the best things that has happened here so far is my finding 2 great churches! One is Evandeoska Crkva in Sarajevo and Krščanska baptistička crkva. Both are small but seem to be filled with very committed Christians. Thanks so much to my brothers and sisters from COTW and EBF for the connections to find these churches!
Last night, Thursday the 18th, I had my first concert with the Sarajevo Filharmonia. It was pretty awesome to be playing with a European orchestra in a European hall. 'Twas a sold out crowd! Check out photos of the concert here!
FB page - Sarajevksa Filharmonija
Filharmonija Website
Thank you reading! Watch for more posts and pictures soon :)
At the start of my trip, when I walked into the international terminal at JFK airport, I realized that for probably the first time in my life, being a white American male meant I was a minority! It was very eye and ear opening to hear around 8 different languages being spoken around you.
Once I was finally aboard the plane, a Boeing 777, of Austrian Airlines, I encountered English being the translation of another language on all the public signs and announcements. In this case it was German! It made me realize how Spanish speaking people in the US must really appreciate it when there are Spanish translations of words on public signage. The English translations for the German text in the airplane safety instructions and the guide for operating the personal touch screen device, allowed for greater potential to save lives. And almost just as important... allowed for the watching of the FREE movies and TV shows aboard the plane!...jk about the importance...but it was really awesome watching the movies!
Once I arrived at the apartments where I would be living for the year, the other Americans that are in this "exchange program" with me (Jessica, Kevin, Dan), and I ventured out to find food. We found a place around the corner a bit called something we had no clue what kind of restaurant it meant it was. Here I experienced the "foreigner stare" when we walked into the restaurant. When our waiter came over, she spoke a bunch of Bosnian to us...then I had to say "na engleski molim vas", meaning "in english please?". We were given another waiter.
Once I arrived at the apartments where I would be living for the year, the other Americans that are in this "exchange program" with me (Jessica, Kevin, Dan), and I ventured out to find food. We found a place around the corner a bit called something we had no clue what kind of restaurant it meant it was. Here I experienced the "foreigner stare" when we walked into the restaurant. When our waiter came over, she spoke a bunch of Bosnian to us...then I had to say "na engleski molim vas", meaning "in english please?". We were given another waiter.
The following morning, the others mentioned above and I went to downtown Sarajevo to go to the "Narodno Pozoriste Sarajevski" - the hall of the Sarajevo Phil. On the tram ride down there, we got a nice introduction to the city. Sarajevo has a number of tall buildings and lots of very old buildings. Many of the buildings you can still see damage left over from the war. There is lots of graffiti on buildings, train cars, shops, etc. It actually reminds me of Cleveland somewhat...but that also might be because it has been very cloudy most of the time I have been here. The National Theater itself is quite elegant and filled with history. The actual hall inside is very beautiful and well kept. It is on the smaller side but provides for close views of the stage from any seat in the house. One of the most essential parts of the theater I was first told is the "Coffee Bar" downstairs in the basement. During every "pauza", including and not limited to rehearsal breaks, pre-rehearsals, post-rehearsals, pre-concerts, concert intermissions, and after concerts, everyone flocks to this bar for coffee, beer, and cigarettes.
WHY IS THIS????
(Please comment with your thoughts)
Why are there hardly any water fountains in Sarajevo??? My friends tell me it is like this in most of Europe as well. I don't see many people carrying water bottles around and drinking from them either. Have people in Europe adapted to functioning on drinking less water??
Perhaps one of the best things that has happened here so far is my finding 2 great churches! One is Evandeoska Crkva in Sarajevo and Krščanska baptistička crkva. Both are small but seem to be filled with very committed Christians. Thanks so much to my brothers and sisters from COTW and EBF for the connections to find these churches!
Last night, Thursday the 18th, I had my first concert with the Sarajevo Filharmonia. It was pretty awesome to be playing with a European orchestra in a European hall. 'Twas a sold out crowd! Check out photos of the concert here!
FB page - Sarajevksa Filharmonija
Filharmonija Website
Thank you reading! Watch for more posts and pictures soon :)
Kevin, this is so awesome! I'm excited for you. Congratulations. :) Keep posting so I can live vicariously through you. Love, Annie Z
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