the former yugoslavia... sarajevo... 1984, 1994note -all z = y on this keyboard... apologize for typing too fast to correct

after interning with the ICTY (the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia) and reading all about the conflict/dirty war that occurred there, i decided that i just had to visit and meet the survivors of this conflict (for many, it was a modern day genocide). i needed to see the country as it is today, not as the wartorn country it was in 1994 when Sarajevo was under seige from Serbian forces for 44 months.
i have listen to their stories and felt some of their pain. hopefully the work of the ICTY will help heal their wounds, but really only time and forgiveness (i believe) will bring them healing.

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as for travels, yesterday i went to Mostar while on my way to Dubrovnik... however, i did not make it to Dubrovnik... (a story for another time). while enroute, i met a wonderful woman from Sarajevo my moms age named Dorthy. We talked about many things, including the war though she (and others i have met) really did not want to talk about the past, though once they start they talk quite freely.

as for Mostar, very quant. it was cold and rainy, but the old bridge was nice. google Mostar bridge and you will see what i mean.

then on the train back from Mostar, i met a Bosnian poet and two Canadian girls. We had a wonderful 3 hour conversation.

then, today (friday) just explored Sarajevo with two Aussies from the hostel. nice time.