To Croatia and back:

Diaries from Parshuram Yadab and Sheetal Shresta

Impressions from two young Nepalese who attended a Summer University in Europe in July and August

24. August 2005

-The roads were wide and clean

 -We shared food with everyone; no caste system and discrimination in Croatia!

-We had to pay more than locals in the shops and were treated like rich tourists

-Missing a flight is terrible

-I was surprised to see beggars – there are also poor people in Europe!

-It is very civilized; people clean up after themselves and after partying

-People took pictures when I was wearing kurta suruwal

July 19, 2005
My friends, family and my well wishers have already heard about my journey for Croatia. They were very happy, but when I had to leave my cottage, my whole family, my wife, farther and brothers seemed sad. 

Nobody of my family had ever gone out of my country. When I started for Kathmandu my family and villagers were seeing me, shaking hands and blessing me, whishing a safe journey. At that moment I had forgotten my trip and my mind was in a dilemma; should I go ahead or not. But when I gathered my courage I move ahead. I shock my hands and said good bye. 

I went to KSSC who has helped me getting this opportunity. All friends shook hands and blessed me for a happy journey. At that moment I was so much happy as I have got the best opportunity of my little life.

When I reached at Siddrath Airport I was exited. It was my first travel by plane in my life. So I did not know how to tie the belt or find my seat number. When the plane started to fly I sensed fear and I was thinking about various possible accidents.
Parshuram Yadab

July 24, 2005
It is 6.15 a.m. local time when we land in Vienna, the capital city of Austria. It took us another 50 minutes to reach Zagreb. It is my first experience of traveling in Europe. In general the weather of Zagreb resembles that of Kathmandu. From Zagreb we have had a six hour long bus journey to our final destination; Vukovar. 

I'm quite surprised to see that old and seemingly dejected houses almost all bearing bullet holes in Vukovar. I imagine the situation here during the war much have been quite bad and their life more vulnerable than ours in Nepal.

All participants gathered in the evening and got introduced to each other. A Croatian host welcomed us. We are all staying in two simple houses which also bear many bullet holes.
Sheetal Shresta

July 25, 2005
It's the first day of our training course and Stefania is our coordinator. We are altogether six from different countries to attend this course.

Psychologist Charles Robur from CWWPP, a Dutch organisation working on youth and conflict, has facilitated our class the first day. We have shared and discussed on youth and conflict today. Charles talked on the conflict of Eastern Europe and also on the problems in Vukovar.

According to him, among the total number of youth unemployment in Europe, 60 to70 percent is from Eastern part. He has also delivered lecture on how to prepare strategic plan to address issues related to youth unemployment and conflict.

Through formal and informal sharing we have learned that many locals of Vukovar don't want to work and some of them have no idea how to work. Many of them think that it is government's responsibility to provide jobs to them. Only 45 percent out of the total population of Vukovar go to university.

War has badly damaged Vukovar and has left deep psychological scars in local people. We have discussed and shared about this and other conflict and youth unemployment related things today. It was indeed quite interesting.
Sheetal Shresta

July 26, 2005
Today I had a lecture about the history of Nationalism focusing on First World War colonization and Second World War decolonization and the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe has had on people and their sense of national identity. The method; a lecturer given by a professor followed by questions from the students.

In the Afternoon there was a summing up of the first and second days through text and posters. And then we had a historical class by Morten, the chairperson. Each participant gave a short historical background of their own country. The class was mostly focusing on the Balkan war. Then there were sports games and music play and a movie about the history of Vukovar.
Parshuram Yadab

July 27, 2005
Today there are no lectures, so I slept until late. After breakfast I was sitting at the beach where boats and ships were passing. Then one old man who was president of Intercultural Institution came and gave a lecture about his organisation and the history of Vukovar.

I was walking around the market with a black friend. We had an ice cream and met other friends. I talked about my country. We all went for dinner at a fisherman bungalow and both men and women drank beer. But I didn’t. I really enjoy seeing Western culture and eating the fish and bread.
Parshuram Yadab

July 28, 2005

Lecture started after breakfast as usual. Today temperature suddenly went up and everyone felt hot. So we agreed to stop our class in the middle of the day and went to see the exhibition organised by Greenpeace, an INGO working in the field of environment and preservation. We also came to know that they are working to decrease pollution by mobilising local resources.
Sheetal Shresta

July 30, 2005
Today I, along with my friends, went to a place called Petrovci and visited museums. We also went to a local church. It was my first entry in a church in my whole life.

It's also our Nepal presentation day today. After, the participants asked us questions about our culture and arranged marriage, child marriages etc. which still exist in our society. We ended our presentation by singing a Nepali song. All liked it very much.
Sheetal Shresta

July 31, 2005
I woke up at 5.30 am and since the breakfast time is from 9.30–10 I went to the beach for sitting and reading about Nepal because I have to present something about Nepal. An African guy was discussing AIDS.

Sheetal and I started our presentation at 8.30 pm. I read the paper and then people asked questions. It took 1 ½ hours and then we went to the pub where guys were dancing and taking beer. I sat for some time and went back to the house at midnight.
Parshuram Yadab

August 2, 2005
I got to bed early last night. I was so tired. This morning I was getting up early and ready for class at 9 am. The lecture was about traumas after war. In the evening every country presented their food, wine and dance. We also presented. Actually it was very interesting and we came to know many cultures.
Parshuram Yadab

August 4, 2005

Today’s lecture was on rehabilitation or the constitution of Vukovar where too many people died and became displaced as refugees in neighboring countries. There was also a talk about majority and minority rights. It was discussed that people want concrete things, not trainings, conferences and meetings – but food and employment.
Parshuram Yadab

August 6, 2005
Today is the final exhibition day of Summer University and I was a bit in despair in the beginning, fearing how it would go. But things went normal and I enjoyed each and every programme.

Guess what? I have been famous here and it is because of the dress I put on - sari and kurta suruwal (a kind of womens' dress in South Asia with long shirts and trousers) and sandal. Whoever saw me said they liked my dress and took many photos.
Sheetal Shresta

August 7, 2005
Many friends have returned home today. I went to bus stop to bid good bye to friends. Nomsa from Zambia and Ivana from Crotia have become my good friends. I missed Nomsa a lot. But I'm going with Ivana to her home tomorrow.
Sheetal Shresta

August 8, 2005
We left Vukovar with Ivana at 3.30 p.m. local time. I'm feeling a bit uneasy. Can I meet these friends here in Vukovar again? Can I have class together with Nomsa in Vukovar again? These and other nostalgic questions time and again have kept striking me as Ivana's car raced to Zagreb. Bye, bye Vukovar!

It was 7.00 pm when we reached Ivana's home in Zagreb. Small and beautiful house! I thought I was in my own home in Nepal. Her mother has prepared dinner and food items that were similar to Nepali food. Rice, tomato pickle - I liked very much. Then I also went to Stephania's house.
Sheetal Shresta

August 9, 2005
Today I have to leave Vukovar for Zagreb. I got up early in the morning, went to the bathroom and took some apple, bread and banana for breakfast.

I then went to the market to buy some things for my friend but it was really expensive and that is why I bought only two vests. At 11 o’ clock I started to say good bye, hugging, kissing and shaking hands with the other participants. Some came to see me off at the bus station.

When I reached the destination some local friends came to pick me and some other African and Danish friends up. I went to Ivana’s house with Sheetal. Actually she behaved very friendly just as an eastern person. She provided us with a lot of food and sheltered us. I gave her a Nepal Guide book and she seemed quite happy.
Parshuram Yadab