8 Dec 2014

Brace Yourselves, Slavas are Coming

When you say winter in Serbia, you mean Slavas are coming!


The Slava, also called Krsna Slava, is a Serbian Orthodox Church tradition of the ritual glorification of one's family's patron saint among Serbs. But what does this actually mean? It means tons of food, drinks, cake, and most importantly, friends and family.



Serbs usually regard the Slava as their most significant and most solemn feast day. It is inherited from the head of the household—normally the father—to sons. Daughters inherit the Slava only if they stay in the home, while married women normally celebrate their husbands' saint.

And if you have any doubt about the importance of Slavas to Serbs, Slava is officially included on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Thus, Slava will be remembered as Serbia's "first entry" on the list of world's intangible cultural heritage.

Interesting facts:

1. Traditional foods that are prepared for the feast are: "Slavski kolač", decorated with various symbols, such as a cross, ‘dove of peace’ and others relating to the family; and žito - boiled wheat.


2. There are two types of Slava: mrsne and posne. If the celebration takes place during the period of fasting, the feast consists of animal-free (with the exemption of fish) foods, thus making it a posna slava. Otherwise it’s a mrsna slava.


3. There are several Slavas which majority of orthodox Serbs celebrate. The most common Slava is St Nicholas’ Day (Nikoljdan) observed on the 19th of December. The second most widely celebrated Slava is Saint George’s Day (Đurđevdan) which is dedicated to Saint George and celebrated on the 6th of May. There is one Slava that every child in Serbia has celebrated for a portion of its life. It is the Slava of all schools, also known as Saint Sava’s Day.


4. Tradition says “na slavu se ne zove, na slavu se dolazi”, meaning everyone is welcome, invited or not.

If you ever have the chance to go to someone’s Slava, here are some tips: 

- When you enter the house you should say “Srećna slava domaćine/domaćice“, which means “Happy slava, host”. If you want to make it more traditional, you should add “da slavite još 100 godina”... 
- It is common for guests to bring wine, coffee and chocolate, or other gifts, depending on the closeness with the host family. 
- To gain a good insight into how Slavas were celebrated in the 19th century, we suggest you watch the Serbian movie Ivko’s Feast (Ivkova slava). It’s a film about Ivko, a man who celebrates Đurđevdan with people across the town of Niš, and gets in all sorts of comical situations. 


(Written by Bojana Zimonjić and Tijana Šipka)

24 Nov 2014

Busy November!

ESN BelUPgrade has had a very, very busy November so far!

After a successful Halloween trip to Transylvania, our team turned their focus to the 2014 Autumn SocialErasmus Week. During this week, ESNers and exchange students across Europe joined forces to help and inspire those in need.

ESN BelUPgrade organized two events for this season’s SocialErasmus week. In addition to donating blood, our members and international students paid a visit to the National Association of Parents with Children with Cancer (NURDOR) three times. Our lovely volunteers helped arrange and pack Christmas gifts and cards and assisted the hardworking staff at NURDOR in other things that needed to be done. Unfortunately, a planned visit to a children’s shelter in New Belgrade had to be canceled due to bad weather. Overall, the week was a successful one, so we celebrated with a 100-member guest delegation from Zagreb!

On November 18th, representatives of ESN BelUPgrade and the Tempus office in Belgrade held a presentation on exchange programs available for students in Serbia. Students had the opportunity to hear about the existing and future programs, the application procedure, the experiences of former outgoing students, as well as other important details.


And finally...SEEP! Over the last 4 days, two members of our section, accompanied by the outgoing and newly elected ESN Serbia National Representatives, attended the South Eastern European Platform in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. This is one of 6 regional platforms – ESN international events gathering members of local sections from each respective region. They, literally, serve as a ‘platform’ for sharing experiences between local sections with the purpose of improving one’s practice and building friendships. More than 120 participants had the chance to learn about new aspects of our evolving network, discuss important matters, attend workshops, play games and have a “bloody awesome” time! Our delegation had an unforgettable weekend and returned enriched with new skills, knowledge and inspiration, which they are hoping to transmit to their colleagues back home.

27 Oct 2014

Halloween Edition


Halloween isn't a holiday in Serbia? False! Pardon my language, but it's a bloody fantastic holiday observed by all the fun-loving party-goers across the country! 


On a serious note, Halloween is a Western Christian feast which takes place on October 31, on the eve of All Saints' Day (or All Hallows' Day). It is thought to have been initially influenced by Celtic harvest festivals and rituals, later spreading to other parts of the United Kingdom, as well as to North America. However, as most holidays nowadays, Halloween has become largely secularized and commercialized.

The costume-party element of Halloween celebrations has become increasingly popular across continental Europe! And Belgradians sure know how to throw an awesome costume party! 

Dom omladine (Belgrade Youth Center) has hosted the largest Halloween costume party in the capital for years, and this time around will be no different. Up to 2000 witches, vampires, policemen, nurses, hippies, rockstars and superheroes sounds like a good time! If you're in town on October 31st and wish to join the celebration, you can find your ideal (ambient and music-wise) party to attend here: http://urbanbug.net/kalendar-desavanja/nocni-zivot/pretraga.


ESN BelUPgrade will not be in town for the occasion, however... We're heading to TRANSYLVANIA! 
Ever since the publication of "Dracula" in 1897, this historical region of Romania has been associated with vampires and perceived as a 'land of mystery and magic'. Thus it became a popular tourist destination at this time of the year. 


This will be our second Halloween trip to Transylvania. Last year's was a major success, so much so that it sparked interest from Erasmus students in neighboring countries. 

Breathtaking scenery, overwhelming 15th century Gothic castles, medieval towns and well preserved folk customs are only some of the things that make Transylvania a truly special place on the European map of cultural heritage. Add ESNers, Erasmus students and scary costumes to the equation, and you got yourself an exciting Halloween getaway! 



We wish you a spooktacular Halloween! 

(Written by Maja Dragičević)

22 Sept 2014

Must-See Serbian Films

I assume the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Serbian films is our famous film director Emir Kusturica. Emir is indeed one of Serbia’s most prominent and renowned figures in the industry, but our cinematography has so much more to offer. 

Serbian and Yugoslav cinematography has over a hundred year long history, starting in 1896 when the first film was shown in the "At the Golden Cross" café in downtown Belgrade. This took place only six months after the release of the first motion picture in Paris. The 1970s are considered the golden age of domestic film. However, numerous cult movies were produced after this period.

Serbian films are largely war-themed or black-humored, and sometimes difficult to understand for foreigners. Serbian directors are masters of presenting gloomy scenes in a comedic way. 

I've frequently been asked for Serbian movie recommendations. Thus, here is a list of must-see movies filmed in the last three decades that will make you fall in love with Serbian cinematography! 

1. The Marathoners Run the Lap of Honor (Maratonci trče počasni krug, 1982.)


The story takes place in an unnamed small Serbian town in 1935, and focuses on the Topalović family consisting of six generations of undertakers. Though operating out of a prominently located shop in the town, Topalovićs' business is mostly based on illegal activities. One day, the oldest Topalović, Pantelija, dies…


2. Who's Singin' Over There? (Ko to tamo peva?, 1980.)


On Saturday, April 5, 1941, one day before the Nazi invasion of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, a colorful group of random passengers on a country road deep in the heart of Serbia board a dilapidated Krstić & Son bus, headed for the capital Belgrade: two Gypsy musicians, a World War I veteran, a Germanophile, a budding singer, a sickly looking man, and a hunter with a rifle. The bus is owned by Krstić Sr., and driven by his impressionable son Miško. 



3. Balkan Spy (Balkanski špijun, 1984.)

Ilija Čvorović, a former Stalinist who spent several years in a prison on Goli otok, is contacted by the police to routinely answer questions about his sub-tenant, Petar Markov Jakovljević, a businessman, who spent twenty years living in Paris, and has now returned to Belgrade to open a tailor shop. As time passes, he becomes convinced that Petar, a modern man from a capitalist country, might be a spy, and starts spying on him.


4. The Elusive Summer of '68 (Varljivo leto ’68, 1984.)

A high school graduate Pera has entered adulthood and is set on finding the "love of his life". Feeling intense physical and emotional attraction to women, he intermittenly and simultaneously falls in love with a number of women. This leads him into a series of comical situations and also upsets his father, the municipal judge, a Marxist and a man of high reputation… 

5. Kusturica’s movies


Do You Remember Dolly Bell? (Sjećaš li se Dolly Bell), When Father Was Away on Business (Otac na službenom putu), Time of the Gypsies (Dom za vešanje), Arizona Dream, Underground (Podzemlje), Black Cat, White Cat (Crna mačka, beli mačor), Life Is a Miracle (Život je čudo).



6. The Wounds (Rane, 1998)

The film revolves around juvenile delinquency in a post-communist society struggling with conflict, sanctions and winds of transition. It follows the fate of two teenage boys, Pinki and Švaba, growing up in Novi Beograd during the 1991-1996 period. Pinki is more thoughtful and articulate, while Švaba is moody, impulsive, and prone to anger outbursts. Like many of their peers, longing for recognition and a luxurious lifestyle, they enter the world of crime at the age of fourteen...


7. The Dagger (Nož, 1999. )


The plot is based on Vuk Drašković's novel of the same name. The story follows the life of Ilija Jugović/Alija Osmanović and depicts the horror and absurdity of ethnic partitions.

8. When I Grow Up, I'll Be a Kangaroo (Kad porastem biću kengur, 2004)

This movie consists of three parallel stories: of a young man dating a model, two guys who do nothing but hang around and get high, and of two other guys who just go the betting shop and cheer for their friend who is playing for Manchester.

9. Tears for Sale (Čarlston za Ognjenku, 2008.)  


A story about two sisters living in the 1930's in a village without men. They had all gone to war and haven't come back. So their plan is to kidnap some men from the city and bring back life to the village. 


10. The Parade (Parada, 2011)


The movie is about the struggles of the LGBT population in Serbia and their attempt to take part in the 2011 pride. A wedding-planner and gay activist Mirko seeks help from a homophobic gangster called Lemon, offering to help him with his wedding preparations in return. Interestingly, Lemon invites his civil war enemies to join the mission...

11. Montevideo, God Bless You! (Montevideo, Bog te video, 2011) and See You in Montevideo (Montevideo, vidimo se, 2014)

This popular film series is about a young, talented football team and their amazing journey to the 1930 World Cup.



8 Sept 2014

Welcome to the campus of University of Belgrade!

Our incoming students should be arriving to the Serbian capital in the following few weeks. As Belgrade is the largest student city in the region, September sees a large influx of students from across the country, neighboring states and, as of recently, further abroad. 

For our approximately 15000 freshmen and foreign students, University of Belgrade will be a new academic and social setting.  

Established in 1808 by prominent Serbian author and philosopher Dositej Obradović, University of Belgrade is the oldest institution of higher education in Serbia. For over two centuries, its teachers and alumni have made significant scientific, educational, political, cultural, entrepreneurial and economic contributions to this country.




The University campus comprises 31 faculties, 11 research institutions and 11 student dormitories. Its buildings come in a variety of shapes, sizes and architectural styles. While some date back to the mid-1800s, others are rigid communist structures. 



UB enrolls approximately 90000 students per year, making it one of the largest universities in Europe! Interestingly, due to a record-breaking number of applicants to the Faculty of Economics in 2009, the admission exam was held in the Belgrade Fair dome, as seen in the photo below. Quite impressive, huh? 


The "student park", located at the Student square across the University Recorate building, is a popular place for group hangouts and open-air cinema. 


This time of the year is an exciting time for students, especially those living on campus. Lectures are not as intense, there are plenty of parties and it's still warm enough for a variety of outdoor activities! 

(Written by Maja Dragičević)

1 Sept 2014

We're back! And celebrating!

Today is Monday, September 1st - the first day of school in Serbia and several other Eastern European countries!

Although the fall semester for university students doesn't start until three-four weeks from now, we decided that today's the perfect day for our FIRST FALL POST (and yes, theoretically, it's still summer). So, kids are back to school, and we're back to work! :)


Autumn of 2014 will be a time of hard work, but also a time of celebration. In October, the Erasmus Student Network will mark its 25th BIRTHDAY!





Let's take a look back.


In 1987, the European Community (one of the three pillars of the European Union) adopted the Erasmus Programme - an exchange program for university students providing them with the opportunity to spend a period of their studies abroad. However, lack of peer-to-peer support was cited by former exchange students as a major issue, among others. 


Thus, the "students helping students" idea arose, and came to be the core principle of work of the Erasmus Student Network. 


The first section using the Erasmus Student Network name was founded in Utrecht, the Netherlands, on the 16th of October 1989. In the following years, ESN sections were created at universities across Europe. In 2005, ESN established an official seat in Brussels, Belgium, where the international board, secretariat and interns work full time. 


Today, the Erasmus Student Network comprises more than 13 500 members of over 450 sections in 37 countries! 


ESN BelUPgrade joined the family in May of 2013, quickly establishing itself as an exemplary section in the Network. In the upcoming weeks we will be welcoming our fourth generation of exchange students! :) 


(Written by Maja Dragičević)

8 Jun 2014

OFF DUTY - Summertime in Serbia/Belgrade

As the semester is approaching its end, lots of students are thinking of where to spend the upcoming summer holiday. We all know it can be a really hard decision to make, but brace yourselves, because ESN BelUPgrade has prepared a special for you. You don’t have to ponder any longer, Serbia is calling! There are various festivals and events during the summer in Serbia, but we have prepared several for you to learn about.
So, buckle up, here we go!

EXIT FESTIVAL (10-13 July 2014)
www.exitfest.org



EXIT is the biggest music festival in South Eastern Europe and has taken place since 2001. EXIT was proclaimed the ‘Best Major European Festival’ at the 2014 European Festival Awards, but has garnered other significant accolades over the years: the ‘Best Overseas Festival’ award at the UK Festival Awards in 2007, ’Best Major Festival Award’ in 2013 and was ranked one of the 10 best major festivals at the European Festival Awards in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. 
The unique side of EXIT, to which it owes much of its popularity, is the location - beautiful and magical Petrovaradin fortress, on the bank of the Danube River in Novi Sad. There are four big stages on EXIT FESTIVAL: Main Stage, mt:s Dance Arena, Fusion Stage and Explosive Stage. Depending on what kind of music you like, you will choose stage/s for yourself. But this year the EXIT crew prepared a special treat for you: it’s the SEA DANCE FESTIVAL which will take place in Budva, Montenegro (15-17 July 2014). More than 80 famous musicians will perform this year, such as Queens of the Stone Age, Gloria Gaynor, Hurts, Skrillex, Stromae, and many others. Don’t miss the chance to have a crazy time at one of the best festivals in Europe.







GUČA TRUMPET FESTIVAL (6-10 August 2014) 
www.cksguca.rs


In 2013, the festival lasted seven days with more than 400,000 visitors. Located in the picturesque village of Guča, each year it welcomes the best trumpet players and brass bands in Serbia, becoming the world's “undisputed trumpet capital”. Musicians have sent the audience into delirium with their spectacular performance at the last festival. The music program is accompanied by all-around folk dance, exhibitions of folk handicrafts, traditional dishes, painters and poets. With its roots in folk tradition the festival is becoming even more popular in the 21st century. For more than half a century, as this event takes place, Guča, the capital of the trumpet, has been visited by 16 million domestic and foreign tourists from more than 80 countries. Join the party in Guča – do not miss the opportunity for an unforgettable experience.




NIŠVILLE INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL (14-17 August 2014)
www.nisville.com


The jazz festival tradition in Niš started in 1981. Under the name Nišville, during its previous 19 editions, the festival has evolved into the most visited jazz festival in the region, welcoming names like Solomon Burke, Benny Golson, Incognito, The Brand New Heavies, De Phazz, Roy Hargrove, DuškoGojković and many others. The festival is now being held in an open space that can accommodate more than 4,000 people. Apart from the main program, the accompanying program, which is free for audience, features around 20 bands with 200 performers. During the festival, free jazz workshops are held for almost all jazz instruments. Set out on a jazz journey in one of the most beautiful, spacious and acoustic amphitheatres in Europe – The Summer Stage of the Niš City Fortress!




BELGRADE BEER FEST (13-17 August 2014) 
www.belgradebeerfest.com



Since its foundation in 2003, the Belgrade Beer Fest has attracted more and more people every year to reach the number of 900,000 in 2013. Staged annually, with more than 40 bands and individual performers, it has become one of the biggest summer parties in Europe. Set in a beautiful park on the bank of the Danube where the Rolling Stones, Madonna and the Police have had their concerts, it is rated among the 20 world events that should be seen – according to British newspaper “The Independent”. But, it's not all and only about partying – in the last two years the festival featured a social campaign “I choose to recycle” aimed at raising awareness about environmental issues. Join the fun to find your favorite taste among 70 beer brands during these five days of August in Belgrade!




ADA (All summer long)



For those who see summer as a time to relax and rest, we have a special recommendation. Many of you have probably heard of Ada Ciganlija, or as we like to call it, “Belgrade’s Sea”. This is a wonderful river island located in the Sava River’s course. It has an amazing beach, but also many sports facilities and coffee shops. Be one of the 100,000 visitors daily, and enjoy Belgrade’s most known summer resort.






























RAFT CLUBBING (All night long)


Belgrade is famous for its exuberant nightlife. And raft clubs spreading along the banks of Sava and Danube are at its core. These floating clubs and bars have made Belgrade the regional and, as of recently, the European nightlife hub. The likes of CNN, BBC, The New York Times, the Huffington Post and Lonely Planet seem to think so, too. 
Boasting beautiful decor, a variety of music genres, cheap booze and uncontainable energy, Belgrade's "barges" are attracting an increasing number of young foreign visitors to the Serbian capital. If you are an avid partygoer, this is the place to be!





If you have visited Serbia during school months you definitely must be here during the summer. We have a lot to offer! All you have to do is pack the most important things – sunglasses & good mood, and we will provide you with the rest.

(Written by: Marko Stanić)

31 May 2014

ESN Solidarity

It has been two weeks since disaster struck the Balkans region. And, with flood waters having almost completely withdrawn, it has become clear just how destructive it was. The death toll from floods and landslides has reached 51 in Serbia (25), Bosnia and Herzegovina (24) and Croatia (2), not including those who reportedly died of natural causes and the dozens still missing. 

Sports arenas and school facilities continue to accommodate thousands of evacuees still awaiting their fate. Some are still not able to return home due to safety reasons; others have nothing to return to. 

They must start from scratch...


The ESN family understood the scope and graveness of the situation. ESN Serbia, ESN Bosnia-Herzegovina and ESN Croatia joined forces and initiated a “SocialErasmus Solidarity for Balkans” project – a series of charity events and awareness-raising activities. They invited other ESNers across Europe to join the action. The response was overwhelming!

Local ESN sections in Bulgaria, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Austria, Greece and other countries have organized a variety of fundraising events. The outpouring of support and compassion proved once again just how united the Erasmus Student Network is.

A couple of days ago, ESN BelUPgrade members made another small, but meaningful contribution. We collected water for one of the shelters in Belgrade. Each water bottle carried a message of support, love and encouragement for the evacuees.


We hereby wish to express our utmost and deepest gratitude to everyone who helped. THANK YOU.


(Written by Maja Dragičević)

23 May 2014

Generosity and Unity Emerge from Floodwaters

On this warm and sunny day, with crowded cafés and patios, and streets and quays teeming with pedestrians, it’s hard to imagine that the country is in a state of emergency.

In fact, it is.

During the past few days, Serbia has been struggling with the biggest floods in recorded history. People who live in the central and western parts of the country have suffered the most. Due to enormous and unusual amounts of rainfall for this time of the year, rivers Sava and Kolubara have gone out of their beds and flooded most of the towns they flow through. As a result, hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes, while dozens perished. Neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia are suffering the same disaster, with the north-eastern and eastern areas, respectively, being the most critical.

An estimated 2 million people in the Balkans have been affected by the floods, but the damage caused by overflowing water has yet to be determined.


The moment the situation had become alarming, the people of Serbia rushed to help those in need. They organized labor actions (radne akcije), which included building dams along rivers and assisting evacuations; established funds to collect money for the endangered people; and donated food, water, clothes, medical equipment, medication...

Of crucial importance was, perhaps, the response of the Serbian youth. Thousands of young people have been mobilized by the Serbian government and the Red Cross to help in the relief efforts. Volunteers were allocated across various evacuation centers established in sport centers, arenas, faculty halls and hotels in Belgrade and other cities, sometimes even outnumbering the evacuees.  


Companies, supermarket chains and shops, associations, famous and wealthy people joined the action by supplying these centers with food, water and other necessities or making money donations for subsequent recovery and repairs. The help from abroad is also noteworthy. The European Union, the United Nations and individual countries and organizations have joined the relief and recovery efforts. Most overwhelming and heartfelt were the help and support from former Yugoslav republics, who were among the first to provide man-power and truckloads of food and water.

(Skopje, Macedonia)

Last but not least, radio-amateurs and social network users had a pivotal role in rescue missions, reportedly having saved over a thousand lives. They worked through day and night, linking boat rescue teams to stranded people and distributing information and updates on flooded areas and missing people.

ESN BelUPgrade is currently organizing a fundraising event which is to take place by the end of the month. In the meantime, our members have been volunteering at evacuation and donation centers.

Thus, we end this week’s post with a genuine testimony from a fellow “BelUPgradian” who has been actively volunteering over the last week.

Being a volunteer who helps people in need can’t really be described as nice or wonderful, but I can say that I’m glad I am able to help with what I can. Of course just like the rest of the people, I wish my help or any other help wasn’t needed, and that none of this has ever happened. However, we can’t live on wishes and hopes. We need to be united, because that’s the only way our help can be provided, and I’m glad that’s the case. For the past few days I have been volunteering at one of the collection centers, where we were sorting out goods, packing them and organizing delivery. After a long day, when I get home, I feel tired, but I choose not to think about that. I choose to think about how happy some kid will be when he/she sees the new toy we packed for him/her. Volunteering are people of different age and profession, but most of them are students, just like me. We choose not to think about the upcoming exam period, constantly repeating to ourselves that there are worse things that happened to some people. I must mention my greatest moment, which made me burst into tears. One elderly woman came and asked what we need most, to which we replied we needed hygienic goods. Fifteen minutes later she returned carrying two plastic bags of old perfumed and very expensive soap bars. She said that those soaps were a memory of her husband, but that there were people who needed it more than her. It is because of those people I am always ready to help. I would also like to use the opportunity to ask everyone who can help, in any way, to do so. One box of cookies, wet wipes, or anything else is not little. It means the world to them.“


(Co-written by Jovana Ružić and Uroš Jovanović)



16 May 2014

Serbia Floods

Serbia has been hit by the worst floods in 120 years. Due to the catastrophic situation, the Long Night of Museums, which we talked about in our previous post, has been delayed until further notice. 

If you wish to help those affected by the floods, you can see how below.





15 May 2014

„Great time in museums!“

Unfortunately, no one has yet invented a time machine, so we can explore past events or meet people we admire. Luckily, museums somewhat enable us to go back in time and enjoy the path of history. And Belgradians will be doing just that this Saturday, during the Long Night of Museums!

The Long Night of Museums (or Night of Museums) is a 17 year-old cultural event in which various cultural institutions are open late into the night to visitors with a common entry pass. The concept had a humble beginning in 1997, in Berlin (in German Lange Nacht der Museen), but quickly grew in popularity and expanded to 120 cities in Europe, Argentina and the Philippines.


On the evening of May 17th, museums across Serbia will open their doors to art and history fans for the eleventh time! In Belgrade, visitors will have access to no less than 80 locations, organized into 7 different zones. With so many interesting things to see, planning your route may be difficult. Thus, we decided to help you by presenting you with our Top 4 “places to be“.



„A small collection of a big scientist!“ - Museum of Nikola Tesla


While most people know Tesla as a great scientist, few know he was a passionate art collector. As weird as it may sound, Tesla had a remarkable sense for art. His personal collection of artwork includes Dutch landscapes, fine Japanese art, caricatures and aquarelle paintings with animal motives.

The museum curators give you a unique opportunity to see Tesla as curator, however, you will also be reminded of his greatest achievements and work in interesting 3D animations.



„Hello, dear newlyweds!“ - Konak kneginje Ljubice


Have you ever wished to see what weddings looked like 100 years ago? If that’s the case then you definitely need to visit Konak kneginje Ljubice. Within its premises, you will time travel from the 19th century onwards and see how customs and dresses have changed through the years. You’ll be able to experience a true Serbian wedding back in the day and learn about different roles people had at weddings.



„Freemasons in Serbia“ - Museum of Ethnography


What is it about Freemasons that make them so intriguing? What is the meaning of this organization and when was it established? 

Freemasonry occupies an important place in Serbian history, with names such as Vuk Karadzić, knez Mihailo Obrenović, Ivo Andrić, Djordje Vajfert, Aleksa Nenadović and Stevan Mokranjac associated with it.

On display will be private collections, a specially prepared Nazi Anti-masonry exhibit and, for the first time, a Freemasons temple!


„Museum of magic“ - The House of King Peter


Flying tables, Chinese circles, cards, top hats and magic wands! Anything you can think of when you think of a magic show you can see here. This „institute of wonders“ was founded by famous Serbian illusionist Miroslav Vuković Rossy. 

You will be able to see an exhibition of historical elements of magic shows dating back to ancient Egypt and some of the most famous magic tricks, including Houdini’s “Milk Can Escape”.

For more information, you can go to www.nocmuzeja.rs.

(Written by Nevena Nikolić)

8 May 2014

Hello, May!

The beginning of May was very interesting for the members of ESN BelUPgrade.

It started off with the celebration of Labor Day on May 1st. We celebrated the traditional way with early rising (prvomajski uranak) at Košutnjak, followed by barbecuing, drinking, dancing…  The fun went on ‘till late afternoon.


But, we didn’t stop there! From 2-4th May there was the Nature Adventure. The trip begun with the visit to Drvengard (a.k.a. Kustendorf) - an ethno village created by famous Serbian film director Emir Kusturica. Next stop was the camp ,,Hum’’, located near the town of Foča. Since it gets cold alongside the Tara River, the campfire kept us warm and made for a romantic ambience for playing games, dancing, drinking medovača and getting to know one another. The pinnacle of the trip was, of course, water rafting! It’s adventurous, it’s fun and it keeps the adrenalin levels high. The skippers were very nice and introduced us to the history and background of the location. Of course, there were breaks for capturing memories near a waterfall and a little brook. On the way home, we visited the famous  bridge near Visegrad, and a little town dedicated to Ivo Andrić, who described all the historical events of this area in his Nobel Prize winning novel ,,The Bridge Over the Drina’’.


It may seem that all we do is party and eat, but no! This week is dedicated to others, when we gather to help those in need.

This week is SocialErasmus Week, when ESNers across Europe turn their focus and energy to contributing to their environment and helping those in need.  While volunteering at the Belgrade Zoo is well underway, members of ESN BelUPgrade and foreign students will also have the opportunity to help cancer-stricken children at NURDOR (National Association of Parents with Children who Suffer from Cancer), and homeless kids at Belgrade’s children shelter “Svratište”.

Volunteers at the Zoo have, so far, been involved in cleaning cages, petting animals and assisting zookeepers in other tasks.

Hopefully, our volunteers at NURDOR and Svratište will put a smile on these childrens' faces and draw inspiration from their strength and energy. 


 (written by Tijana Šipka)