Belgrade 3 Afr

Dit gaan goed met die Van der Merwes in Belgrade. Hierdie week het ons minder verken, maar een groot verandering is dat ons na 'n "apartment" geskuif het.



Dis 'n welkome verandering en ons geniet dit baie. Dit het wel nuwe uitdagings.

Die kinders het so baie gehou van die nuwe plek dat hulle albei besluit het om nooit weer buite toe te gaan nie. Ek skat al is dit 'n avontuur is die veranderings van die laaste ruk nie altyd ewe lekker nie. Maar dit gaan baie goed met hulle en ons het al klaar weer 'n paar keer langs die rivier gaan stap (al waai die wind ons amper in die rivier in!).



Die ander ding wat 'n uitdaging is, is om inkopies te doen. Ons kan nou kos maak en dit beteken jy moet bestanddele koop. En die mense kan mos nie Engels lees of praat nie. So ek staan omtrent lank voor 'n rak voor ek weet watter label pas by watter produk. Maar dis darem nie so erg nie, in Indie het ons nie geweet wat die produk is nie :-). Maar ek moet se dis moeilik om te weet watter meel is watter - dit lyk mos maar dieselfde. Ek het ook agtergekom dat dit maar beter is om met die kasier te praat as sy in Srpski begin babbel, want sy dink of ek is bietjie snaaks of ek verstaan nie 'n woord wat sy sê nie. Hulle het darem nog almal laasgenoemde geraai.

Daar is net 'n paar dinge wat julle moet weet van ons nuwe apartment. Dit is net 300m van die Danube rivier af. Daar is 'n heerlike staproete al langs die rivier af.



Ons kan Kalemegdan van hier af sien (dit is miskien omdat ons op die 8ste vloer is - heel bo!). Ons sal die naweek daarheen probeer stap as die weer saamspeel (wil dit nie alleen probeer nie, want wil nie twee kinders alleen huistoe dra nie).

Maar die beste deel is die stort. Dis die hoogtepunt van my dag! Daar is 'n radio, ligte, sauna en voet-massage in. Ek het al al die knoppe probeer (mens moet maar versigtig wees, want jy weet nie uit watter rigting die water volgende spuit as jy so begin knoppe draai nie). Dit alles gebeur op die maat van vrolike radio musiek. Ek is skoon uitasem as ek klaar is, maar het darem nog altyd genoeg energie oorgehad om die skottelgoed te was daarna ... in die skottelgoedwasser ('n luxury vir ons).

Ek het hierdie week een middag in die hysbak ons buurvrou ontmoet, Anna. Sy praat Engels en het my ook genooi om te kom vra as ek iets nodig het (ek dink dat ons dalk saam winkel toe moet gaan). Ek was so opgewonde om uit te vind dat ek my buurvrou kan verstaan. Ek hoop ek sal haar beter leer ken.

Ons was Sondag by die "Assemblies of God". Dis 'n baie gesellige gemeente wat in 'n apartment bymekaar kom. Daar was omtrent 20 mense. Ons was laat, want Saterdagnag het ons tyd met 'n uur aangeskuif (ons is nou weer op dieselfde tyd as julle in SA). Maar dis blykbaar 'n algemene verskynsel en hulle het bietjie later begin. Ons het die lofprysing en aanbidding geniet. Hulle het 'n professionele orkes (met 'n vioolspeler). Die pastoor en sy vrou kan Engels praat, maar preek in Srpski. Daar was nog 'n vrou wat Engels kon praat en sy het vir ons probeer tolk. Die pastoor het Stephan genooi om te preek as ons nog die 15de April in Belgrade is. Bid asb. vir sy voorbereiding. Die gemeente het meer as die helfde van sy lidmate verloor toe Bosniers geforseer is om terug te keer Bosnie toe. Hulle het 35 gesinne so verloor, maar hulle is weer besig om te groei. Hulle sukkel ook met registrasie. Die probleem is dat die wette gedurig verander en dan moet almal weer registreer. Die pastoor se naam is "money" (se dit met 'n Russiese aksent). Hy kom van Bosnie af, sy vrou van Croatia en hulle dien in Serbia.

Ek, Stephan, werk maar hard - die laaste week elke aand tot ten minste 12. En ons het ook die taalprobleem... Dit lyk asof hierdie projek deurgaans met groot druk gepaard kan gaan, maar ons het darem ook baie humoristiese oomblikke en dit maak dit draaglik.

Dis seker genoeg vir eers. Sal weer van ons laat hoor.

Liefde
Stephan en Irene

Belgrade 3 Eng

The Van der Merwes are doing fine in Belgrade. We did not explore much this week, but we had a big change when we moved to an apartment.



We are very happy with this arangement, but it has it's challenges.

Die children like the new place so much that they both decided never to go outside again. The changes the last few weeks was not always nice even if it is an adventure. But they are doing well. We already went for a walk along the river (even though the wind tried to blow us into the rivier!)



The other challenge is shopping. We can prepare our own meals now and that means buying ingredients. But people here cannot speak of write English. It takes a long time to see which label goes with which product. But it is not so bad, in India we did not know the products :-). But is difficult to know which flour is which - it looks the same. I also realized that it's better to answer the cashier if she starts babbeling in Srpski. Otherwise she thinks I am strange or I don't understand a word she's saying. Up to now they have all guessed to last one.



There are a few things you need to know about our apartment. It is situated 300m from the Danube river. There is a lovely walking trail next to the river.



We can see Kalemegdan from here (it might be because we are on the 8th floor - on top!). We will try to walk there this weekend if the weather plays along (I don't want to carry two children home alone).



But the best part is the shower. It is the highlight of my day! Inside is a radio, lights, sauna and foot-massage. I tried all the knobs (but you have to be careful if you start turning knobs because you don't know from which direction the water will come next). It all happens to the sound of merry radio music. I am usually out of breath when I'm done, but I still have energy to wash the dishes ... in the dishwasher (another luxury for us).

I've met my neighbour, Anna, this week in the lift. She speaks English and invited to ask her if I need anything (I think I have to invite her for some shopping). I was very excited to discover that I can actually understand my neighbour. I hope to get to know her better.



On Sunday we visited the "Assemblies of God". It is a cosy congregation that meets in an apartment. There were about 20 people. We were late, because on Saturday night time move forward one hour (our time is now the same as yours in SA). But it is a common phenomenon and they started a bit later. We enjoyed the praise and worship. They have a professional band (with a violin player). The pastor and his wife can speak English, but preach in Srpski. Another lady tried to translate for us. The pastor asked Stephan to preach on the 15th if we are still in Belgrade on that day. Please pray for his preparation. The congregation lost more than half of it's members when the Bosniers were forced to go back to Bosnia. They've lost 35 families this way, but they are busy growing again. They also struggle with registration. The main problem is the changing laws. Every time the law change they have to do it again. The pastor's name is (say it with a Russian acsent). He is from Bosnia, hios wife from Croatia and they serve in Serbia.



I, Stephan, work very - the last week I went to bed only at 12. And we also have the language problem... It seems that this project will be associated with constant pressure, but we have our humorous moments and it makes it bearable.

This is enough for now. You will hear from us again, soon.

Love
Stephan and Irene

Belgrade 2 Eng

Dear friends and family

We are almost two weeks in Belgrade (Beograd/White City) now and enjoy discovering the city.

We went to Kalemegdan this weekend. It is in the middle of the city and also the place where the Sava and Danube (Dunav as they call it) rivers meet. We found a book (English!) that was written by one of the city's most famous writers and artists, Momo Kapor, "A guide to the Serbian Mentality". He describes the Danube like this: "The Danube foams like Swabian beer. He drinks like a Russian, 'bottoms up!', and with pangs of conscience; amidst merriment he is capable of secretly drawing a knife like a Bulgarian; he can utter a curse in Hungarian." We experienced Kalemegdan as a very nice garden with lots of high trees, benches and play areas for the children.

We went to look at the St. Sava church on Sunday. It is an othodox church which they are restoring. They are covering the whole building in marble. It reminded me of the Taj Mahal.

The pictures they sell of all the saints also remind me of the Indian gods. I know I cannot apply it directly like that, but it just looks the same. See for yourself. At twelve the bells started ringing. It was beautiful and clear.


Language learning is going okay. This week I must try to learn the numbers, because even if I can ask "how much is this" in Sripski, I have no clue what the answer is. It is a dilemma. I often get people who ask me something in Sripski, and then I have to admit that I am not a local. I sometimes answer them in Hindi (it is a reflex), but it doesn't matter even if I speak Afrikaans.



It is nice to blend in with the people and not to be clearly marked as a foreigner. We also got used to the city's bus system and can go to Centar/Slavia with ease.


I have met two people this week that speak English. The first was a women that I met in a park. She told me that she stays in a small apartment that she shares with het father-in-law and her brother-in-law. The 3 families share the apartment with one room each. Her husband is a baker. They have a boy, Martin, of almost one year. She says that it is very difficult for them. The other was a small girl of about Nadia's age (7/8). She told us that she stayed in America during the time of war. She didn't want to die. When her family left the city, they saw people dying while bombs were being dropped on the city.


The last bombs fell in 1999. Last week we drove past buildings that were bombed. It is sad, but the people are slowly busy building their country again. Everywhere we see people beautifying their homes and every piece of open land is being built on. We stay in a street that was previously called Yugoslavian Army Road, but now it is called Oslobodenja which means freedom. We've read in the Belgrade Times (the only English paper that comes out weekly) that Kosovo can cause a crisis. A decision must be made if Kosovo is going to become independant from Serbia. We are praying for a peaceful solution.


It is going well with Stephan's work. They are making good progress. We are waiting for the contract to be signed. It will mean that we might possibly move to an apartment. We look forward to prepare our own meals and washing our clothes in a machine again (the hotel asks so much that we can rather buy new clothes!). But we are spoiled every day with clean sheets, towels and a big breakfast.

We also got contact details of churches in Belgrade. There are many and we'll try the nearest one. We hope we will find a place where we feel at home soon.

Belgrade 2 Afr

Liewe vriende en familie

Ons is nou al amper 2 weke in Belgrade (Beograd/Wit stad). Dit is vir ons 'n lekker stad om te ontdek.



Ons was die naweek by Kalemegdan. Dit is in die middel van die stad en ook die plek waar die Sava en Danube (Dunav soos hulle dit noem) riviere bymekaar kom. Ons het 'n boek opgespoor wat geskryf is (in Engels!) deur een van die stad se bekendste kunstenaars en skrywers, Momo Kapor, "A guide to the Serbian Mentality". Hy beskryf die Danube so: "The Danube foams like Swabian beer. He drinks like a Russian, 'bottoms up!', and with pangs of conscience; amidst merriment he is capable of secretly drawing a knife like a Bulgarian; he can utter a curse in Hungarian." Vir ons was Kalemegdan 'n heerlike groot tuin met baie hoë bome en bankies en speelplek vir die kinders.

Sondag was ons by St. Sava. Dis 'n ortodokse kerk wat hulle besig is om te restoureer. Hulle trek die hele kerk met marmer oor en dit het my nogal herinner aan die Taj Mahal.



Hulle beeldjies en prentjies van al die saints laat my ook dink aan die Indiese afgode. Ek kan dit seker nie so direk toepas nie, maar dit lyk maar net vir my baie dieselfde. Kyk maar self. Twaalfuur het die klokke begin lui. Dit was baie mooi en helder.

Dit gaan goed met die taal. Ek moet hierdie week probeer om getalle te leer, want al kan ek vra hoeveel kos dit in Sripski, weet ek nie wat hulle antwoord nie. Nogal 'n dilemma. Ek kry ook baie mense wat vir my iets vra in Sripski, en dan moet ek maar erken dat ek nie 'n local is nie. Ek antwoord hulle dan sommer in Hindi ('n refleks), maar ek kan maar net so goed Afrikaans ook praat.



Dis nogal lekker om in te smelt tussen die mense sonder om so uit te staan as 'n vreemdeling. Ons het ook die stad se vervoerstelsel intussen baasgeraak en kan nou met gemak 'n bus vang tot in Centar/Slavia.



Ek het hierdie week twee mense ontmoet wat Engels praat. Die eerste was 'n vrou wat ek in die park ontmoet het. Sy het my vertel dat sy saam met haar skoonouers en swaer in dieselfde huis bly. Hulle is dus 3 gesinne wat in een huis bly met een kamer per gesin. Haar man is 'n bakker. Hulle het nou een seuntjie van amper 'n jaar, Martin. Sy sê dat dit vir hulle baie moeilik is. Die ander was 'n dogtertjie van omtrent Nadia se ouderdom (7/8). Sy sê dat sy in Amerika gebly het in die tyd wat daar oorlog was in die land. Sy wou nie doodgaan nie. Toe hulle gesin die stad verlaat het, het hulle gesien hoe mense doodgaan toe die bomme op die stad geval het.



Die laaste bomme het in 1999 geval. Ons het verlede week verby geboue gery wat duidelik gebombardeer is. Dis hartseer, maar die mense is stadig besig om weer hulle land op te bou. Oral sien jy hoe mense hulle huise nuut maak en elke oop stuk grond word op gebou. Ons bly in 'n straat wat eers genoem is Yugoslavian Army Road, maar dis verander na Oslobodenja wat beteken vryheid. Ons het in die Belgrade Times (die enigste Engelse koerant wat weekliks uitkom) gelees dat Kosovo dalk nog 'n krisis kan veroorsaak. Daar moet besluit word of Kosovo onafhanklik van Serbia gaan word of nie. Ons bid dat 'n vreedsame oplossing gevind sal word.



Met Stephan se werk gaan dit goed. Hulle vorder mooi. Ons wag net vir die kontrak om geteken te word. Dit sal beteken dat ons moontlik uit die hotel na 'n apartment kan skuif. Ons sien uit daarna om weer self kos te maak en wasgoed te kan was in 'n masjien (die hotel vra so duur ons kan maar eerder nuwe klere gaan koop!). Maar ons word elke dag bederf met skoon lakens, handdoeke en 'n groot ontbyt.

Ons het uiteindelik ook kontakte van kerke opgespoor. Daar is heelwat en ons sal maar die naaste een gaan besoek. Ons hoop ons sal gou iewers 'n kerk kry waar ons tuis voel.