Hello Europe!

I typed this out on the evening of 9/13.  I now have internet access for long enough to publish my first blog post from Bosnia.  Yay!  Here it is:

Tonight is my first night in Sarajevo.  I was exhausted and went to bed around 10:30.  Then I woke up thinking it was morning and it is only 1am!  Between the jet lag, dogs barking and a bit of homesickness, I’m feeling quite awake, so I figured I would get up and type a blog entry so that when I first get internet access, I can make an update right away.  For these first couple of posts, I will write them in advance and publish in internet cafes.  After a week or so I will (hopefully!) have wireless in my apartment and things will be easier.

My travels here could not have gone more smoothly!  Well, at least all of the hitches are minor ones.  For example, I insisted that Ross drop me off at terminal 5 at O’Hare since it’s the “international terminal”.  Whoops…Lufthansa flies out of terminal 1.  It all worked out after a short train ride to the correct terminal.

My flight from Lufthansa to Frankfurt was a little sad, because I was sitting next to a couple going to Europe for their honeymoon.  (Ross and I gave up our honeymoon, which was supposed to start today, so I could come here.)  On the other side of me was a man who thought his elbows belonged well over the edge of his armrest and in my personal bubble.  Instead of sitting there feeling angry for the entire eight hour flight (something I would normally do), I waited a half hour and then kindly asked him to give me some more space.  I asked politely, and we ended up getting along great.  He was from Serbia (what  a coincidence!) and so was very curious about why a US citizen would go to Bosnia (which is somewhat poor and has high unemployment) for a job.

I am pleased that so many people in the Frankfurt, Zagreb, and Sarajevo airports spoke excellent English and were very helpful and friendly.  It made me feel less stressed during all of my layovers. When I got to Zagreb, I was able to meet up with Matt, one of my three American colleagues who are also joining the Sarajevo Philharmonic for one season.

I spent my two intra-European flights looking out the window.  I got a spectacular view of the Alps from Frankfurt to Zagreb, and a view of Kosovo on the way to Sarajevo (how can such an idyllic hilly landscape be home to such a sad recent history?).  I took some pictures from the plane, so once I have better internet I can post them.

Matt and I arrived in Sarajevo with all of our bags in tact (hooray!)  Alisa, a manager from the orchestra met us outside customs.  “Customs” consisted of a man asking me “do you have anything illegal?” to which I replied “no” and was waved on through.  Alisa and two drivers took us straight from the airport to our apartment building.  I was quite shocked during the drive to see how much physical evidence of the war remains.  Many of the apartment buildings around ours are pocked with bullet holes.  People still live in these buildings, and their colorful laundry and flower pots provide a stark contrast to the damaged concrete. (Again, pictures to come)  I was also surprised and a bit saddened by the large number of poor gypsy children playing on the street and near the garbage with their dogs.

I greeted Sara and Tim (the other two Americans) at our apartment building, since they had arrived a few hours earlier.  I am sharing a three bedroom apartment with Sara.  The place is furnished, but quite sparse.   There is a CRAZY paint job.  Let’s just say we have some shopping and redecorating to do.

I am getting sleepy again, so I will have to write my account of my first evening here another time. Ciao for now!