Ucim Srpski

http://flic.kr/p/9rAjnQ

Has it only been 3.5 weeks? It feels like much more – but in a positive way. It’s good to finally have a whole evening to myself. I think it’s only been a week but it’s good to be able to have some dinner, sit down and relax then get on with some work.

I’ve started my Serbian lessons. It’s good to make a start. 3 hours a week so not too much. I’m still not sure I’ve learnt the alphabet for tomorrow. I cannot get my tongue/mouth around two of the sounds. I know they are meant to sound different but I’m not having much success. It’s like going to speech therapy all over again. I’m trying not to watch too much English television to get used to hearing Serbian. I’m picking up some words – even if I do not know what they mean. Thankfully at the flat there is recnik (dictionary) so that I can look up some words.

I’m meeting more students which is great. In a couple of weeks the student work will start.

I’m trying to get used to Serbian hospitality. I’m beginning to learn not to eat any food before visiting. They remind me of Mrs Doyle from Father Ted – “Go on, go on, go on, go on”. They say things much better than that. “Are you hungry?” “No”.

They wait a short time. “Can I get you some cake?” “No, thank you”. Another short time – “Would you like ….” Even if you give in early more food appears. I try to let people know early on that I’m a vegetarian as a bit of a warning. I’m afraid I’d have to offend someone by not eating their meat.

I’m enjoying catching up on my films. Some I haven’t heard off but am loving flicking through peoples DVD collections to see what films they have. The Copyright laws are different here so can download films from the internet.

Talking of the internet – this time tomorrow I’ll hopefully be a step nearer to better internet connection. But I’ll still have to be patient and wait for the modem/router to arrive. I cannot wait to be able to chat to people again. I’m really missing speaking to people back home – especially brother as I still haven’t found out how their Christmas and New Year was in Oz. “It’s good to talk”. Will we be able to have an interactive small group meeting, I wonder?...