Just a quick update

This morning I realized I'm about halfway through my placement, there are about 7 weeks remaining. I don't understand where the time has gone, and realizing that the next month is going to go by so quickly has me feeling a little sad. I'm not ready to even begin thinking about going back to Canada, and I know that it will be incredibly difficult for me to leave G-V U when the time comes.

Last night I spent a cosy and snuggly night wight with my family, after travelling in Croatia for a few days. I layed outside on the balcony under a blanket with Erna and Franjo, looking up at the stars, and felt more peaceful than I think I've ever felt. I learned a lot of things in my short trip to Croatia, but most of all I realized how much I love my family, and that I have a home in Bosnia. I told Erna that it doesn't feel like I'm in Bosnia anymore, it just feels like I'm at home, and I belong there. It's just a really good feeling, and not one that I was expecting to have here. But I am so grateful that I do.

While I was in Dubrovnik, I visited a war photo exhibit called 'Blood and Honey', which documents the collapse of Yugoslavia, and especially the war in Bosnia.(http://www.warphotoltd.com/?section=museum&page=2&item=2&exhibition=1) This was a huge learning moment for me, not because I learned a lot about the war or anything, but because I was surrounded by images of the war that my family experienced. The images on their own are disturbing, and probably upsetting for some people to see, but knowing some of my own host family's experience, and especially living in this beautiful country with these incredibly resilient and beautiful people just really shook something inside of me. I can't articulate it anymore than that right now, but I knew that for whatever reason, seeing this exhibit was a little bit of a turning point for me.

Aside from that, I've been struggling with personal things a little bit lately. I know that this is supposed to be part of the process, and what Intercordia hopes will happen, but it's very hard and lonely trying to deal with things without all my usual supports in Canada. We start programming(finally!) next week, so I'm sure I will get back on my feet then and be rejuvanated by working with the kids.