An Explanation and A Return

Welcome! Today is the day that I leave for Bosnia. A day that I've felt like I have talked about forever yet, now that it's here, I realize I haven't quite wrapped my head around it. For those of you who don't know, I have spent two summers in Bosnia and just fell in love with it. Now, after my graduation from college I am going to return to work with an NGO called Gariwo that works on peace and reconciliation through education. I'm really excited, but also nervous about starting my work there. But wait, I'm getting ahead of myself. I need to explain before I can return...

So the title of this blog may sound a bit mysterious but that's why I feel I should take this time to tell a story. The first title I wanted to give this blog was "Balkan Vespa Diaries" but since I have no idea if I'll get a Vespa (although I am convinced I'd look damn cute in one), I felt it wasn't a safe bet. So One for the Door refers to the first time I went to Bosnia. I was in, like my second visit as well, Fojnica a small mountainous town (that has my heart). Basically we were hanging out with a group of people and at one point some of the men took the door off the hinges and tossed their drinks on it. The explanation later came that "under communism they had enough money to buy themselves a drink, their friends a drink and even enough to buy the door a drink. But now, even when they have no money, if they all pull their money together they can at least buy the door a drink." Now, the reason I chose this is not to make a political statement (but I'm sure I will on this blog), but rather, what I like about this experience was that it was the first instance I had in Bosnia that showed the frustration, culture, friendship and let me understand just a tiny bit more.

So now I'm waiting for my departure. I am going to live this next year in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Although I've visited Sarajevo, I don't know it very well, so I'm looking forward to being able to explore it and call it home for a while. Also, I feel really lucky because I'll be close to Fojnica but I'll be able to get a city-perspective compared to the country mentality that I am used to in Fojnica. But I am going to return to visit! In fact, my first weekend in BiH will be back in Fojnica to celebrate the wedding of my two friends Colleen and Mario, so it will be a wonderful homecoming/party!

Alright, I should get back to finishing packing. It's weird because I almost don't know how to feel. I am excited and nervous but ready...yet, also not completely understanding that I am moving. Lucky you who get to read along while I map out my emotions...

Well, here's to safe travels and I'll write when I get there!