joelle

The Missing Babies Mystery

Brev and I came across a protest in Belgrade a few weeks ago, and while we couldn’t understand the chants or read the signs, we were intrigued by the baby dolls protestors were holding up. It turns out that between the 1960s and early 2000s, hundreds of young Serbian parents were told their newborn babiesContinue reading “The Missing Babies Mystery”

Novi Beograd

This weekend Brev and I bused over to New Belgrade (Novi Beograd), which is across the Sava River and a municipality of the city Belgrade. World War II destroyed many residential buildings and homes in Serbia, so following the war New Belgrade was built to address the housing crisis. This is why the city wasContinue reading “Novi Beograd”

The Belgrade Fortress

Last weekend Brev and I went to Serbia’s capitol Belgrade, or “Beograde” as the locals call it, and visited the Belgrade fortress. The fortress is built on a ridge with white stone, which is why Belgrade is referred to as the “White City,” where the Sava and Danube river converge. For centuries, everyone in theContinue reading “The Belgrade Fortress”

Serbian Apartment Tour

We’re renting a furnished apartment in downtown Pančevo and when Brev’s teammate came over he told us that we have some “very rich neighbors.” While our apartment here in Serbia is double the size of our apartment in Madison, we’re paying half the price. However, the average Serbian household income is about $500 a monthContinue reading “Serbian Apartment Tour”

Kafanas and Skadarlija

The first kafana (coffee house) in Europe opened in Serbia the 1520s. It was introduced by the Ottomans (Turks) and only served black Turkish coffee. These kafanas evolved from being a place where people simply ate and drank, to being a pillar of their community. They hosted political discussions, marriage arrangements and the first filmsContinue reading “Kafanas and Skadarlija”

International Travel During Covid-19

Flying during a pandemic sounds stressful, but I actually felt very safe while traveling. I flew Turkish Airlines from Chicago to Istanbul, Turkey and then to Belgrade, Serbia. On each flight, the airline provided a “hygiene kit” containing multiple face masks, wipes and hand sanitizer. Passengers had to wear masks throughout the entire flight andContinue reading “International Travel During Covid-19”

The (Dreaded?) First Blog Post

A wise man once said, “Does your girl write a blog? If she doesn’t, she will. And you gotta read it” Well, Trey Kennedy, you were indeed right because here we are (hi Brev!). If you have no idea what I’m talking about and want a little laugh, take three minutes to watch Trey Kennedy’sContinue reading “The (Dreaded?) First Blog Post”