Vukovar

In the town of Vukovar, they divided us into groups of ten, and we each visited a local family to learn about their daily lives. Our family actually consisted of one lady, Mrs. Durisic, and an interpreter, Mirjana. When we arrived, Mrs. Durisic had a table prepared for us with food (apple streudel and a pudding/almond layered dessert) along with coffee, tea, and juices.


While we ate, Mrs. Durisic and Mirjana told us about what life in this town was like in the past, and what it is like now. At one time, Mrs. Durisic was at home when Serbian soldiers came into her house in the middle of the day with their guns, telling her to get out. They allowed her to only pack a small bag. At the time she had 2 small children. She was not allowed to pack clothes for the children. She left Vukovar and went to a refugee camp in nearby Osijek. After the occupation ended, she returned to her house to find it badly damaged, and needed to repair it in order to live in it again.

It is a small house - "four rooms if you count the bathroom". Mrs. Durisic's sole income is serving tourists as she was serving us today. She has a permit from the government, similar to a health permit, to do so. The permit is required since she is serving food to outsiders. 

The area we are visiting is the poorest part of Croatia. Mirjana told us that there used to be 80 factories here and now there are 5. Mrs. Durisic told us about the local Catholic church. It is a very strange shape - like a swan. She said no one in town likes it. The architectural design was the priests' idea.

Someone asked if crime was something to be concerned about here. Mirjana immediately responded that all politicians should be in jail! I guess it's universal.

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