Upon arriving back in Belgrade I received a very nice note from long time Serbian reader, Peegee. Thanks for the warm welcome back! I didn’t even know you were still reading.
Anyway, whenever I refer to Belgrade as my ‘home’ I get a myriad of reactions. Some people just laugh. Some people think it “makes sense” since we lived here for two years… and my family has stayed on for a third while I am away. Heck, home where my family is… and frankly, wherever Serena and the boys reside is my home. That’s simply a practical argument. However… when it comes to Belgrade… it’s not quite as simple as being practical.
You see, when my Serbian friends catch me referring to Belgrade as “home” they’re overcome with personal pride and exude an overwhelming amount of warmth for me and my family, (Peegee, you’re not the only one). For me, it’s almost as if we’ve been thought of as ‘honorary’ for quite some time… and now that I think of Belgrade as home we’re being brought in on the secret.
Regardless of what it is… besides the fact that my family currently lives here… I have come to realize that I also miss the pride and warmth of the Serbian people, and the excitement surrounding my homecoming merely reinforces my love for Belgrade.
It’s sad really. In a few days I’ll be heading back to Pakistan for another three months or so. But I’ll be back… I probably have another two trips back to Belgrade in me before we depart for good sometime this summer. But when the time comes to officially say goodbye, it’s going to be sad… I really like it here. I really like the ivar, the Serbian beans, Serbian salad, pljeskavica, kymak… the Guca Festival!... Belgrade Beer Fest!... and Niksicko Tamno! Oh, Niksicko Tamno… I may miss you most of all! Serena and I both agree… it’s one of the top five beers we’ve ever had:
I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to find my favorite Serbian foods and beverages in Suriname… but until the end of time, Belgrade will always be one of our homes, and we’ll be leaving with a piece in our hearts to carry always.
Who knows… when the boys are grown, I’m pretty sure we’ll come back for a visit!
1 comment:
you still pop up in my google reader ;)
it's not easy being half a world away from a real home, glad to see belgraders made that transition even a bit easier (I'm not surprised, I know my homies ;))
wish you and your family a healthy, happy and successful new year!
PS. "One lucky enough to wake up in Belgrade can consider that he’s done enough in life for today. Anything more would be immodest" – Here is the best time to rest, enjoy the rest of the holidays! ;)
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