Comments on: Belgrade Young Adults on Life and Free Time http://www.balkanfile.com/belgrade-young-adults-on-life-and-free-time Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:36:36 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Obelix http://www.balkanfile.com/belgrade-young-adults-on-life-and-free-time/comment-page-1#comment-424 Obelix Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:51:32 +0000 http://www.balkanfile.com/?p=949#comment-424 edit: after FOR in the third line of above reply, should go "all other people who live in Serbian diaspora countries". edit: after FOR in the third line of above reply, should go “all other people who live in Serbian diaspora countries”.

]]> By: Obelix http://www.balkanfile.com/belgrade-young-adults-on-life-and-free-time/comment-page-1#comment-423 Obelix Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:48:53 +0000 http://www.balkanfile.com/?p=949#comment-423 It's well known here. You'll get used to it after a while. The "it" is - Serbs in diaspora are rich, Serbs here are happy. As for expat Serbs, I guess that works for Happiness is state of mind. Here, obviously people can be happy while they are concerned about finding a job. This is patriarchal society - so people help a lot each others, keep good connections among relatives and friends, "veza" thing, etc, etc... so, even if I maybe won't find a job as a designer, it's not the end of the world, I'll find smth else. And why would I worry about that, when I'm young (joys of life, girls, parties, growing, etc... different mentality). As for safety thing - questionnaire failed. We are safe here. You can walk alone at night, everywhere. Unless you are overconfident (drugs) and approaching hooligans, a-la-in-your-face, while they are pissed off, because their team lost match. Then, you're f...ed up. :) Thousands and thousands of Dinars is tens and tens of Euros, so, it's not a big deal ;) It's not that people here feel safe, it's that people elsewhere feel unsafe. We feel just normal... don't think about that... mugging, don't-go-there city areas, etc. But, just in any case, spend this specific Sunday at home. All day! LOL It’s well known here. You’ll get used to it after a while. The “it” is – Serbs in diaspora are rich, Serbs here are happy. As for expat Serbs, I guess that works for Happiness is state of mind. Here, obviously people can be happy while they are concerned about finding a job. This is patriarchal society – so people help a lot each others, keep good connections among relatives and friends, “veza” thing, etc, etc… so, even if I maybe won’t find a job as a designer, it’s not the end of the world, I’ll find smth else. And why would I worry about that, when I’m young (joys of life, girls, parties, growing, etc… different mentality). As for safety thing – questionnaire failed. We are safe here. You can walk alone at night, everywhere. Unless you are overconfident (drugs) and approaching hooligans, a-la-in-your-face, while they are pissed off, because their team lost match. Then, you’re f…ed up. :) Thousands and thousands of Dinars is tens and tens of Euros, so, it’s not a big deal ;) It’s not that people here feel safe, it’s that people elsewhere feel unsafe. We feel just normal… don’t think about that… mugging, don’t-go-there city areas, etc. But, just in any case, spend this specific Sunday at home. All day! LOL

]]> By: Lora http://www.balkanfile.com/belgrade-young-adults-on-life-and-free-time/comment-page-1#comment-422 Lora Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:55:24 +0000 http://www.balkanfile.com/?p=949#comment-422 "Free time" and "Serbia" is a bit of an oxymoron for me, given that my work is about Serbia, and being here makes me think about work 24/7... Seriously, free time in Belgrade is best spent with friends, sitting in coffee shops (I'm an expert on this, possibly more so than the issues that I am meant to be an expert in), Ada (rowing, cycling, blading). I also like to walk around aimlessly, particulary if it's warm, and if markets are involved. As for the survey, some of the statistics don't really seem to match up: how can 82% say that they are satisfied with life in the first bullet-point, then the second says that this satisfaction goes down with concerns about finding a job (which implies that satisfaction is linked with employment), then over 70% highlight concerns about ability to get a job. If 70% express concerns about employment, employment is linked to satisfaction, then why do so many say that hey are satisfied? Quite a contradictory response, probaly arising out of questionaire design. The seatbelts thing.... I don't wear a seatbelt in Serbia, but i do in the UK. Quite how and why I do this, I have no idea. I am also surprised that more people do not feel secure on the streets of Belgrade - I found out tonight that my friend gets paid in cash, and carries around thousands and thousands of dinars as a normal thing. I was horrified - (particulary as I do a similar job and have some idea of the sums involved) - and my first reaction was "but what if you get mugged? This was not something that seemed to concern him. “Free time” and “Serbia” is a bit of an oxymoron for me, given that my work is about Serbia, and being here makes me think about work 24/7…

Seriously, free time in Belgrade is best spent with friends, sitting in coffee shops (I’m an expert on this, possibly more so than the issues that I am meant to be an expert in), Ada (rowing, cycling, blading). I also like to walk around aimlessly, particulary if it’s warm, and if markets are involved.

As for the survey, some of the statistics don’t really seem to match up: how can 82% say that they are satisfied with life in the first bullet-point, then the second says that this satisfaction goes down with concerns about finding a job (which implies that satisfaction is linked with employment), then over 70% highlight concerns about ability to get a job. If 70% express concerns about employment, employment is linked to satisfaction, then why do so many say that hey are satisfied? Quite a contradictory response, probaly arising out of questionaire design.

The seatbelts thing…. I don’t wear a seatbelt in Serbia, but i do in the UK. Quite how and why I do this, I have no idea.

I am also surprised that more people do not feel secure on the streets of Belgrade – I found out tonight that my friend gets paid in cash, and carries around thousands and thousands of dinars as a normal thing. I was horrified – (particulary as I do a similar job and have some idea of the sums involved) – and my first reaction was “but what if you get mugged? This was not something that seemed to concern him.

]]> By: Adam http://www.balkanfile.com/belgrade-young-adults-on-life-and-free-time/comment-page-1#comment-419 Adam Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:37:01 +0000 http://www.balkanfile.com/?p=949#comment-419 Thanks for commenting, Bibi and Obelix. I too feel fortunate, Bibi, that I make a decent income and am able to cover all my outgoings (well, just about!). Obelix, I should get a bit more exercise really. Though I do walk to and from work - hopefully that counts for something! Thanks for commenting, Bibi and Obelix.

I too feel fortunate, Bibi, that I make a decent income and am able to cover all my outgoings (well, just about!).

Obelix, I should get a bit more exercise really. Though I do walk to and from work – hopefully that counts for something!

]]> By: Obelix http://www.balkanfile.com/belgrade-young-adults-on-life-and-free-time/comment-page-1#comment-416 Obelix Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:02:31 +0000 http://www.balkanfile.com/?p=949#comment-416 24, still a student (graduating soon) - product design. Luckily, there's a family business in case my own fail/before I start my own. I don't think I'd find a job for my profession here, unless I make it myself, which I, hopefully, will. Copy/Paste your two last paragraphs here and just add girls, going to country, church, a lil bit of physical activity, etc ;) 24, still a student (graduating soon) – product design. Luckily, there’s a family business in case my own fail/before I start my own. I don’t think I’d find a job for my profession here, unless I make it myself, which I, hopefully, will. Copy/Paste your two last paragraphs here and just add girls, going to country, church, a lil bit of physical activity, etc ;)

]]> By: Bibi http://www.balkanfile.com/belgrade-young-adults-on-life-and-free-time/comment-page-1#comment-387 Bibi Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:35:37 +0000 http://www.balkanfile.com/?p=949#comment-387 Hi, Adam. Yes, I read this in the paper, and it doesn't surprise me, except that such a high percentage of young people are happy with their lives. I imagine it's their parents who are footing the bill, and when I see that some don't even think about finding a job (and I know it really is hard) that makes me kind of angry. I am also one of the 'privileged,' i.e. to have a good job, and I feel so fortunate. Hi, Adam. Yes, I read this in the paper, and it doesn’t surprise me, except that such a high percentage of young people are happy with their lives. I imagine it’s their parents who are footing the bill, and when I see that some don’t even think about finding a job (and I know it really is hard) that makes me kind of angry. I am also one of the ‘privileged,’ i.e. to have a good job, and I feel so fortunate.

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