Serbia is slowly melting, revealing the vivid colour and dilapidated paintwork of the buildings. The oldest part of town in which I am situated (Petrovaradin) is European in it's design and has the grandeur of high windows and ceilings which are so typical. The main city however is coloured somewhat differently. The politics of equality have left the city with many late 70's and early 80's towers, most of which would not be forgiven for long in England's present styles. The apartments are rather similar inside (or so I am told) and it leaves you with the unsettling feeling that is usually stereotypically reserved for the more run down council estates on the edge of our cities. However, the city is much safer, the streets are friendly, if unevenly covered, and really the social divides that we use to such detriment in the UK don't seem to exist here in such a way. The city houses what seems like countless different ethnic communities, and this provides the some of the structure we usually have with class, though obviously it is un-pc to say that, both here and there. Speaking more than one language is usual in such a ethnically diverse city, in fact I am struggling to find what is typically Serbian. (I could be forgiven for thinking the national dish was pizza with the number of outlets here!) The offices I sit in as I type this are used to having many languages bantered about, English is frequently used and though most understand, not many are easy in their fluency. Although English is widely spoken, to be an English girl in Serbia is still quite a novelty. People constantly ask three questions; where in England I come from, how long I am here, and what my age is. Coming from a tradition where people almost apologise before asking your age, it is very direct. The novelty was brought home to me when we sent out a plea for private Serbian lessons across the volunteer network, which seems to be thriving here. Immediately we had responses and they just continued coming in, offers for free lessons just for conversation practice were included. Volunteers do get paid for the work they do, a little more than what we would call expenses but especially for students who find it so difficult to get paid work this is such a huge blessing. I seem to be finding out a lot about the volunteer network. I suppose it makes more sense when you realise that it is normal to be a student until you have passed your 30th birthday. Here I am very young! Again with work the system is so different here. School appears to start at 7 years old and as there are more kids than school places they often work on shifts, having lessons only in the morning or afternoon. It means they can finish quite late in the day. Adults equally have an unfamiliar work pattern. Work starts between 7 and 8 in the morning and by 3pm the offices are all but empty. It leaves you with a huge swathe of afternoon to occupy and late nights become more lethal. Thankfully as I have a volunteer status I can arrive late into the office each morning! Enough for today, I've been wandering the centre's shops and taking video so hopefully more to come by the end of the week!
Badge reads something like: one female volunteer brings the spring