Belgrade Children's Orphanage

        One of my most memorable experiences in Serbia so far, was the opportunity to visit an orphanage for children. Located in Belgrade the orphanage caters to children who were victims of violence, abuse, neglect, victims of trafficking and those children without parental care. The orphanage is called 'Prihvatilište za decu, Beograd' and accommodates for children all around the country, from ages 7 to 18.They have housed  over 70,000 children during 57 years of operation.

         On one of our many discussions about our purpose and role in society and life, we thought about ways in which we could help as students in our current society. The options became narrower, simply because we were foreigners in Serbia and had our individual obligations as students. 
       We all agreed that the Orphanage was a great idea and the most meaningful thing we could offer was our time, care and company. We then decided to organized a creative, musical and sports workshops for the 23 children residing at the Shelter.

 

During the two-hour meetings with them, we drew, read and sang songs. After the indoor activities we went outside for some sports and games that were specially prepared for them.

       Girls and boys aged 8 to 18 years were able to learn about the life, culture, and sports activities of the Caribbean islands but we also learn something. The kids were eager to show us their dance moves, songs and collection of things including medals.

        At the end the of visit the kids were all happy and cheerful, and we were even more happier when we saw the smiles on their faces.

Shelter for Children, Belgrade (Prihvatilište za decu, Beograd)

Students from the Caribbean played basketball with children from the Shelter..Blic Online.

Students from the Caribbean played basketball with children from the Shelter... 24 Sata.

Nikola Tesla Museum

Nikola Tesla is a renowned scientist and inventor. He is best known for many revolutionary contributions in the field of electricity and magnetism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Museum of Nikola Tesla in Belgrade keeps complete personal belongings of Nikola Tesla, which were, according to his last will and exceptional efforts of his nephew Sava Kosanović. He collected and transferred them to Belgrade after Tesla's death in New York in 1943.

 It is the only museum in the world which preserves the original and personal inheritance of Nikola Tesla.

It holds more than 160,000 original documents, over 2,000 books and journals, over 1,200 historical technical exhibits, over 1,500 photographs and photo plates of original, technical objects, instruments and apparatus, and over 1,000 plans and drawings.

His greatest contribution to science and technological progress of the world was the rotating magnetic field invent. Also, he invented the complete system of production and distribution of electrical energy (motors, generators) based on the use of alternate currents. His name was given to the SI unit for magnetic induction "tesla". Tesla also constructed the generators of high-frequency alternating currents and high-voltage coreless transformer known today as "Tesla Coil". 

 After death Tesla was cremated and the urn was transferred to Belgrade in 1957.The urn with Tesla's ashes is kept in the Museum. 

Serbian Orthdox Christmas

Christmas for Serbs who are Christian Orthodox, comes two weeks later than that of Roman Catholics. Serbs do not celebrate Christmas on December 25th, but on January 7th. Also they celebrate New Year on January 13th rather than on December 31st. 

This is because the Serbs follow the Julian calendar created under the reign of Julius Caesar in 45 BC., while Roman Catholics follow the Gregorian calendar originally proposed by Pope Gregory in 1582. But in much of the former Soviet Union and Middle East they remain on the Julian calendar.

The Serbian name for Christmas Eve during the day is "Badnji dan". After sunset it becomes Badnje veče. On this day the family makes preparations for the oncoming celebration. Early in the morning the head of each family, usually accompanied by several male relatives, selects a tree from which a log will be cut for their household. 

When the head of home finds an appropriate tree, he stands in front of it facing east. The tree should fall to the east, unhindered by nearby trees. If the tree is not cut down after the third blow of the axe, then it must be pulled and twisted until its trunk breaks. Once in the home, the "badnjak" is cut into three logs correspondingly with the number of men, the women, and the children. It is then place in fire for good fortune for the household.

Christmas Day is in fact only the first day of Christmas. The festivity is announced at dawn by church bells, and by shooting from guns. During the Twelve Days of Christmas (January 7 – January 18 on the Gregorian calendar), one is to greet another person with "Christ is Born," which should be responded to with "Truly He is Born." 

A "polažajnik", is the first person who visits a family during Christmas. This visit may be unexpected or pre-arranged. People believe that it will summon prosperity and for their family in the following year. 

The White Palace (Beli Dvor)

The White Palace is the former royal residence of the Karađorđević dynasty. It is located within the same complex as The Royal Palace. It was built at the wish of King Alexander I for residence of his sons Peter, Tomislav and Andrej. However, after his assassination in Marseilles 1934, the young King Peter II, moved to the Royal Palace where he lived with his mother, Queen Mary, and two brothers.

The White Palace took almost four years to finish (1934-1937) The palace was designed by architect Aleksandar Đorđević, in a neo-Palladian manner inspired by the 18th century English houses. Beli dvor was periodically used by presidents Josip Broz Tito and later by Slobodan Milošević for official state functions and foreign visits.

On my visit to the Palace I was shown a number of art work, painting from artists such as Piero di Cosimo, Biagio d'Antonio and Nicolas Poussin etc. I also meet the Crown Prince Alexander (Alexander II Karađorđević- last heir apparent to the throne of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia) and Crown Princess Katherine who gave us a little insight about their lives and their functions as the Royal Family.

The compound is 134 hectares in area which include the White Palace, Royal Palace, a thatched house and a park.

The White Palace is open for public visitations on weekends during the tourist season from April to November.

Museum of Yugoslav History

        The Museum of Yugoslav History is a national history museum in Serbia. It is the one place you experience Yugoslav like if you were there yourself. With over 200,000 items the museum presents an incisive picture of the nation that existed from world war II till the 1990s It consist of three separate venues:

• The May 25 Museum
• House of Flowers
• Old Museum.

         The May 25 Museum is an exhibition area, where one could witness temporary exhibitions. It covers various aspects of life in Yugoslavia, from everyday life to music, culture, marketing.

         House of Flowers is the mausoleum of Josip Broz Tito who died on 4 May 1980, and his wife Jovanka Broz. Tito was the president of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) from 1953 to 1980, as well as the supreme commander of the Army of Yugoslavia, president of the Yugoslav Communist Party, leader of the war of national liberation during World War II and one of the founders of the Non-Aligned Movement.
  

         During my visit to the Old Museum I saw a collection of Tito's army uniforms, as well as an extensive collection of the gifts Tito received during his many visits with foreign dignitaries during his presidency.