Igman

Well, the events and fun don't stop here in Sarajevo. Ana and I have been busy with "school" and life in general. Friday, the centre was planning excursion to Igman, home of the ski jump and some downhill events of the 1984 Winter Olympic Games here in Sarajevo. The members at the centre have been excited about this for weeks, and the day finally arrived. We had to be at the centre early, and the entire day was sponsored by "TWI 4 kids", an organization that has been working with children and families in Sarajevo and the Balkans since the end of the war. TWI was started by a wonderful woman named Bobby, and she collaborated and supported the founders of Radost Zivota when they started up in 2002. TWI and Radost Zivota have been connected ever since, and TWI still financially supports Radost Zivota so they can remain in operation. So Ana and I learned a lot about the beginning stages of the centre, and it was fantastic to collaborate with the other volunteers from TWI. TWI runs workshops for children and families with and without disabiltiies but that have been affected by the war. They feel that children are the best way to achieve love and reconciliation post-war. So they put on a day camp for Radost Zivota filled with stories, music, dancing, arts & crafts, and sports, and we all had a fantastic day together.
During lunch, Hana, Nermin, Ana and I climbed up 234 stairs and then some to the top of the ski jump, which overlooked the valley below. When we got to the bottom, TWI had arranged for the volunteers, and professionals to take the chairlift to the top of the mountain. So without thinking about it, we hopped on the sketchiest chairlift I've ever been on and were heading to the top. Shortly into our journey, I then thought about the possible safety issues with us taking this chair. Although it was hot and happening in 1984, the region was then occupied through the war by the UN, and honestly looks abandoned and unused since 1992. Asking it's owners about it's usage, they merely stated that it's used "as needed" throughout the summer. What the means is anyone's guess. But it was fun and beautiful from the top. The day was filled with fun, love, laughter, new friends and new places. We will remain in contact with those people from TWI, and they suggested we join their tour through the Balkans next year.


Saturday morning rolled around, and because Sarajevo is blistering hot, Ana and I decided to seek refuge from the one and only outdoor public pool in Sarajevo, but it was an adventure. Ana and I didn't get a lot of sleep the night before, but we woke up at 9:30 and sucked it up and took the 45 minute tram ride to the end of the line. We then, got lost in the heat, and were unsure whether or not we'd make it to our final destination alive. Alas, we made it, to only be faced with a 20 minute, sweat dripping line to enter. But once we got inside, it was the craziest waterpark with something for everyone: multiple pools, a wave pool, waterslides, rock climbing, bungee jumping, hot tubs, bouncy castles, bars and much much more. It was so nice to cool off, considering we've had a week of profuse sweating.

We went out with Hana and Nermin on Saturday night. We started off business like, where Ana and I completed our interview with them, and then ditched the computer, and we went out for dinner and drinks. We had a hilarious night, laughing and drinking the night away, enjoying eachothers company. We exchanged stories, and joked around all night. They're probably 2 of our favourite people in Sarajevo, and we're making plans to hang out again this week. It's sad to think that we have less than 2 weeks left here.

Today (Sunday) was a day of work for Ana and I. So we headed to a cafe, reviewed the interviews, and did research, working away on our project. We have a better idea of what we're doing, and after tomorrow, we should be well on our way. When leaving the cafe, we stumbled across the best street performers we'd ever seen! They are a group of travelling, musically talented, Swiss friends, each of them has an instrument (trumpet, sax, guitar, maracas, cowbell, drums, trombone, etc), and they play together in the most joyous, and harminous of ways. They looked like they were having so much fun, dancing around barefoot, playing, composing and conducting their own music. I've tried uploading a few of the videos I took of them, and they aren' t working. I'll try again later, cause it was honestly the best street performance I've ever seen. I have more to report on, but my bed is calling, and it's time I catch some zzz's before another amazing week!

xoxo