A snowy evening

On my walk to and from Ilidza, I usually see the same stray animals every day.  Right after I turn up from my street, I usually see a white cat with a few brown and black spots.  It’s pretty shy, but sometimes it will follow me at a distance.  I was pretty upset when I turned the corner today, and saw it lying dead in the middle of the street.  I was walking next to a group of teenagers on their way home from high school.  They walked right up to the cat to check it out.  A boy gently picked it up and they took it with them road, presumably to bury it.  I was quite surprised.  I don’t think very many teenagers in the US would do the same thing.  Most of the people I’ve grown up with are pretty squeamish about death, and afraid to touch a dead animal. (And not just for hygienic reasons.)  America road-kill is often left in the road, repeatedly run-over until there’s not much left.  (A pretty ignoble end.)

Living here, I am constantly reminded of the “grittier” realities of the world.  The physical damage from the war can be seen on almost every building.  I thought that I would get used to it, but every time I ride the tram, I can’t help wondering, “how can people do this to each other?”  How can you just destroy the things that others have worked so hard to build?  How can you just try to kill someone who has never done anything to hurt you?

Less upsetting, but still unpleasant, is coming across the large amount of garbage that litters the streets of Otes.  Although it is ugly, it reminds me of how much people waste, and keeps me more conscientious about the packaging of what I buy.  There is no recycling here, so I try not to buy too many soda bottles or individually wrapped snacks. (Though I’m a bit guilty of buying packages of peanuts and pretzels to bring to the long midday rehearsals.)

            Yesterday, we had our first snow.  The snow covered up all of the trash, making my neighborhood look quite pristine and beautiful.  It smelled nice too.  I usually don’t like snow.  I’m more of a beach person: I prefer warm sand and sunny skies.  However, the snow made me so happy.  It was not nearly as cold as it is when it snows in Chicago, maybe because the mountains shield Sarajevo from the wind.  So I was comfortable walking outside, taking in the newly cleansed sights and sounds of my neighborhood.

View from my bedroom window