The car is in excellent condition as the Swiss take good care of their cars. We are happy with the space and comfort of the car. With three kids, we needed something that we can all fit in. We hope it is a good car for us. It cost $6,800 and cars are generally more expensive in Europe than in the USA.
A nice aspect of working at ISB is we get diplomatic plates and status. The “CD” sticker indicates Corps Diplomatic and the 144 M on the black and yellow plates indicate we are part of the USA mission. The US Embassy has been very nice to us here. They allow us to shop in their commissary, invite us to many functions, and we get the diplomatic plates.
Today Nadia and I are not feeling that great, Nadia worse than me. Tough to be sick with kids. All I feel like doing tonight is a bit of school work, read a book, and go to bed. We have to feed, bathe, and put the kids to bed however. We ate lunch in Zemun, I had a great fresh water river fish while Ocean at a lot of pasta. There was a light dusting of snow that collected on windows of cars and so I taught the boys how to make a snow ball. We also went to Delta City Mall to by a GPS so I can figure out where to go. Belgrade is a big city and we need it.
Ready for another week of work! Happy that basketball is starting!
Ollie throws his first snowball!
Ocean likes the new car too.
Categories: Family Journal
Tagged: edelweiss, car
Genex was a state-owned company dealing in foreign trade and tourism. They also built the Intercontinental Hotel in Belgrade and a hotel in Kaponik, a ski resort in southern Serbia. The tower was completed in 1980, the last year of Tito’s rule in Communist Yugoslavia. On the left side are 30 floors of residential apartments and on the right side are 26 floors of offices. The bridge and tower between the two buildings serves as a restaurant which we will have to eat in. It is not one of the projects featured on their web site however. They have done many engineering projects in Serbia and eastern Europe.
While researching the building, I learned that it is designed in the architectural style called Brutilism. The name comes from the French and refers to raw concrete. The style flourished in the 1950’s - 1970’s. Critics think that it is alien and out of touch with the local landscape and culture. It is the dominate architectural style of New Belgrade. Brutilism was also associated with socialist, Utopian ideals, hence the use here.
I like the look. This is my first time in Eastern Europe and I have never seen a place that looks like New Belgrade before. After WWII, the communists drained the swamps on the other side of the river and built many Brutalist buildings. Over half a million people now live in New Belgrade. I like going over because it is spread out and feels more like the USA with wide streets. I want to learn more about New Belgrade and the buildings and you will see future posts on the subject.
Underneath the Towers (courtesy of Wikicommons)
Categories: serbia
Tagged: new belgrade, Brutalist architecture
It was a shopping Saturday as we ventured out in our new car yesterday. Despite the cold weather, we were warm and comfortable in our car, a 1996 Honda Odyssey. After 4 months of taxis and buses, it was a welcome change and instilled us with a sense of freedom. We drove around Belgrade Saturday morning and eventually ended up at the US Embassy Commissary. Nadia picked up her order of turkey, 2 hams, yams, and cranberries. She also bought three baskets full of that good old American processed “food” that we can’t live without. Lucky Charms, Tostitos, fruit roll-ups, and Mac & Chees. Long shelf lives, packed with preservatives, and a good helping of corn syrup…
We then drove to the largest supermarket in Belgrade, Tiempo. It is like a Sam’s Club or one of those big warehouse bulk shopping places in the US. As you can see from above, we stocked up on everything. We finished our shopping day by going to Galerija Podova and buying a carpet for our basement. We have transformed a room in the basement as a guest room. We are anticipating more visitors over the holidays and want to make it nice for them. It also gives us another room for the kids to play in.
Nadia’s ear was bothering her and she is still battling a cold. She went to the clinic last night while I watched the kids. Went to bed early.
Two of Serbia's Winter Staples - Cabbage and Potatoes
Categories: Family Journal
There was frost on the grass a couple of mornings this week and I also saw a flock of large birds heading south - winter is on its way! Today it is warm and raining.
Ocean is walking all over the place. She prefers to walk than crawl now. Gotta run.
Categories: Family Journal
November 19, 2008 · 1 Comment
I remember that my mom had all of our school photos posted on the stairwell. She started from age 1 and went all the way to our senior photo. Perhaps we’ll do that with our children.
Below is Owen’s kindergarten photo. Once again he is in kindergarten as we wanted him to be with his own age group. He has been a little bored, but we try to supplement his learning and his teacher, Ms. Vicki, gives him some extra assignments.
I’ll be sending photos to Grandma and Grandpa! You can see how much they have changed this past May when we had photos done at Escuela Anaco.
Owen's 2008-2009 School Photo
Categories: Family Journal
Tagged: school photos
TIE goes out to almost every international school in the world. It is read by all international teachers and can be found in every teachers lounge. It is also used to advertise for open positions.
Categories: Family Journal
Tagged: Andy, cotopaxi, TIE
November 11, 2008 · 1 Comment
Both young men were very well behaved all weekend and it was enjoyable getting to know them. It is a reflection on their families and school. It was a really nice weekend and a positive experience for our community. I hope we can do more of these in the future.
Categories: Family Journal · International School of Belgrade
Tagged: CEESA, darren, lubo
After talking with ISB parent, Vlade Divac at Parent-Teacher Conferences on Tuesday, I learned that the Adriatic Basketball League is sort of a minor basketball league. He follows the Euroleague Basketball
The Official Logo of the Euroleague Basketball
The league consists of 24 teams from around Europe. The teams each year are selected by the ULEB, a consortium of professional basketball leagues. The teams are selected on their performances in recent domestic leagues and contracts with ULEB. There are three teams from the Adriatic Basketball Association that Serbian teams play in. There is one team from Croatia, one from Slovenia, and two-time defending league champion, Partizan of Belgrade, Serbia.
The Euroleague Basketball has a strange format of play. The 24 teams are placed into 4 groups of 6 teams. Each group plays a round-robin schedule of 10 games. Partizan is in Group D along with teams from Moscow, Madrid, Athens, Milan, and Istanbul. This stage is from October 22 - January 15.
The top two teams in each group moves on to the next round of 16 teams, appropriately called, The Top 16..The 16 teams are put into 4 groups of 4. Once again there is a home and home round robin format so each team plays 6 games. This stage is from January 28 to March 12.
The top two teams in each group advances to the Quarterfinal Playoffs. First place teams are matched with second place teams. Each pair plays a best of five series.
The winners of each quarterfinal series advance to the Final Four. The final four is the same as the NCAA Final Four, in that it is a knockout round.
In summary, it goes from 24 to 16 to 8 to 4, and then a champion. A team that wins the league, could play 21 to 23 games.
The Serbian representative, Partizan, last year made it to the Quarterfinal Playoffs. This year they are second in their group with a 2-1 record. Below is their first round schedule.
2008-2009 Games Regular Season
Categories: Uncategorized
As I posted earlier, the vote at the party was a landslide. My real vote, absentee I did in my home county of Iron in the state of Michigan helped Obama win by 133 votes. The final tally in Iron County was 3,080 - 2,947. An amazing 7 counties in my region of Michigan, the Upper Peninsula, went for Obama this time, finally making Michigan, truly a blue state.
I met the Ambassador, Cameron Munter, who is a nice guy. The Prince of Serbia was there, as well as some other big wigs in the country. We laughed and had a great time. I awoke to hear Obama’s speech, wonderful! He made me proud to be an American. I really hope that this will move all of us to be better people and begin again to be a beacon for the world for individual freedoms and excellence.
Kirsten, Janna, & Nadia With the B92 Cameras
Serbian President Tadić had these things to say:
“Your election paves the way for opening a new chapter in the long history of relations between Serbia and the United States, during most of which we have been allies and friends,” the Serbian president’s message read, Beta reported.
In his words, Serbia is staunchly determined to improve bilateral relations with the U.S, while contributing to stability and the European future of the Balkans.
Tadić added that he hoped the new American policy would demonstrate more understanding for Serbia, which is defending its legitimate interests in a peaceful and diplomatic way.
Categories: Family Journal
Tagged: elections, obama, serbia
I am blogging live from the Ambassador’s party at the Sava Center in Belgrade, Serbia. There is around 500 people at the party and there are TV’s tuned to CNN and plenty to drink and eat. They did a vote of party attendees and Obama won 313 - 41. This was expected as it is a very cosmopolitian, liberal crowd of American expats, diplomats from everywhere, and important Serbs. Time to go, photos coming soon.
Categories: Uncategorized
