Thank you, Serbia!

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Thank you, Serbia! (month.8 04, 2014 )

The sea of enthusiastic emotions, sunny smiles - with such memories returned a group of students of the Power engineering Institute. How could it be otherwise, when Eugenia Vashurova, Svetlana Smirnova, Ksenia Prudyakova, Maria Kretova, Nadezhda Kenia, Michael Seroshtan, Sergey Kudryavtsev were lucky enough to visit a Serbian spa town of Prolom Banja.
The most active students from the Institute delighted the peers with interesting social events throughout the academic year by arranging cultural campaigns organizing a spectacular event. To support the enthusiasts to enable them work for the next year, the university management decided to encourage them by sending them to Serbia for a week.
Of course, the students guessed about the nontrivial character of the trip, but not to the extent it came real! For example, the way from Belgorod to Airport Sheremetyevo in the Russian capital city the students had to overcome by bus. However, the young people were not confused with the lack of comfort of this travel option. Being true organizers by nature the students tried to find their own advantages - the opportunity to get to know each other more closely.
Another surprise was waiting at the airport.
- While we were sitting and waiting for the flight – the students recall – we saw people entering the waiting lounge, who looked strikingly different from the others: tattoos, beards, musical instruments. Somebody read the name of the group, and found information in the Internet. It was a Canadian rock band formed in 2014. So everything is still ahead. And if it becomes popular - we made at the airport for the occasion.
The flight from Russia to Serbia was good. Upon arrival in Belgrade, the students went for a walk. The consequences of the NATO bombings prevented from enjoying the charm and originality of this region. The Serbs are not in a hurry to build up anything in order not to destroy the evidence of barbarism.

- You feel frozen - tell the guys - when you are standing among the debris, imagining the whistle of bullets, bombs exploding and, as a consequence, the death of innocent people.
The sightseeing trip to the city of Nis was no less impressive. The students had to see a concentration camp of the times of the Second World War. Appropriate expectations were aggravated by the weather: heavy rain and thunderstorm. Because of this, the students were not able to leave the museum for long, becoming deeply imbued with the theme of the war.
- Very frightening. Imagine solitary confinement – said the students describing what they had seen. – There is a man in it. Standing until his feet keep him straight. And once he is exhausted, he falls on the floor laid with barbed wire.
A fortress made of 950 skulls looked horrifying. It was built by the order of the Turkish Khan. As planned, it was made to terrify the Disbelievers.

However, the Orthodox were not afraid of these "horror stories" seeking for every opportunity to get skulls out of the wall to bury them in peace and honor.

The students also visited Djavolja Varos ("Devil's Town") - one of the seven natural wonders of Serbia. This unique geological nature reserve, which is known for its huge outliers - the rock in the form of pillars with "hats" on top, are fantastically spectacular.
A bitter memory from places the students had seen in the capital and in Nis was compensated by extraordinary hospitality to the Russians. People in Serbia are ready to embrace and kiss representatives of the Russian Federation and prevent any possible desire.
- It is enough to sellers or barmen to hear an answer to a question: "Russia? Putin? " - as you are guaranteed a discount – recall the students
The students were surrounded with no less hospitality in Prolom Banja. The adults still remember Russian very well. So problems in communicating did not arise. However, the matter is not just the ability to communicate without intermediaries. Our students also conquered the others with their openness, communication skills. And once the "victim" of their charm was a basketball coach. He suggested that the Russians come to his training session, and all of them agreed with pleasure. Although the wake up hour left much to be desired - 5 a.m. But they are activists after all to be in time everywhere.

- We had a good warming up on that day, - admit the students. - After breakfast we enjoyed playing basketball.
The thirst was quenched by the water from the springs, for which the resort town is famous - slightly carbonated, alkaline and good thirst quencher. And the girls admitted how soft and silky , became skin and hair after using it!
There are many Orthodox churches around Prolom Banja, including one of the largest in Europe - St. Sava.
- They are all built on faith – say the students with amazement - Money in the Church are in sight, because people trust each other.
The temples themselves, according to the students look more the modest in finishing compared to Russian ones, but maybe this is their advantage? Nothing distracts you from the essence, not preventing the thoughts from going up to the Heaven.
Saturated with excursions, the tense days of power engineering students were followed by the evening, but not quiet and calm, as you understand, and no less exciting. Once, for example the students thought that dances in a local café were too passive. And they asked the accompanists play Russian folk song "Kalinka". And then they gave an example of vigorous dancing. And it was so contagious that those present could not sit still any longer.

All his organizational talents were realized as "excellent" during the trip.
- We were planning ahead where to go, and probably that is why were in time, - commented the students. - We visited various tours, watched movies in the cinema, played games. Bought a watermelon or a melon in a cafe and sliced them in a comfortable and easy way. Delighted ourselves with Serbian desserts. Appreciated the range of spa treatments. Went on a stroll through local forests with waterfalls. With a risk to life picked a small bunch of flowers on mountain slopes as a gift to Ksenya Prudyakova on her birthday ...
The students came back home as a solid team. A week after they managed to meet each other several times. The beginning of the next academic year is coming soon, and it is necessary to have a special celebration. The ideas about this are plenty - the inspiration is enough.
- We have been to a unique and wonderful country! We are grateful to University administration and the Directorate of Power Engineering Institute for the opportunity to visit Serbia and discover a lot of things, previously unknown, and also make friends, getting back to studies with renewed energy!

Irina Doronkina