Belgrade, Serbia

"serbia"

"siberia??"

"no not SIBERIA.. SERBIA.."  

(convo with JM)

"hi guys.. where are you now??"

"we are in Serbia!"

"haha ya right.. but seriously where are you?"

(convo with TC)

"home for the month of January.. change of plans... TH signed in Saudi Arabia."

(post on JC wall)

"hope you brought your warm winter jacket!"

(inbox message from LH)

haha

I was very ignorant about Serbia before I came here.  

I thought it may be 3rd world-ish.  

Would I step on a land mine?  

Is it safe?  

I even had to look it up on a map to make sure I knew where it was exactly.

I found it even funnier when I told people where I was going...  Serbia isn't a top tourist destination, people just don;t know about Serbia.

So when we arrived in Belgrade, Serbia... a city with a population of over 2 million people it was a hot +17 C and we were happy to find out that people drive cars, live in houses and apartments and look like us.. hahah

I am happy to be here and to share my experiences with everyone.  Maybe after my Serbian Review.. there will be a couple more tourists from Canada that come to visit this beautiful country and it's VERY beautiful women... the men are alright.

Zoeter-Bankrupt.

I remember how excited I was in the summer when TH had signed with a team in Holland.  Him having his Dutch passport and now with little A having his, I felt like Holland was somewhere where the Harrison family needed to experience.  

The other reason was my strange love for windmills and cheese.

TH left first and A and I left on Sept 12th, 2010.  The city we were living in was called Zoetermeer and it was pretty much a great location and had everything we loved and needed.  

Little A and I walked everywhere and after only 2 months I felt like this was somewhere where we could stay another season.

The hockey... well... not the best I've seen and lets just leave it up to players to experience that themselves.  

I enjoyed watching the game and sharing our love for hockey with our son. 

After that 2 month point though... things started to crumble... week by week.  

I started to worry and I was ready for TH to pull the plug and find something else.. 

I had a feeling things were going to go south FAST. 

There was a day when I was very upset and was waiting for TH in the hallway, 2 people who I won't name came up to me and one put his hand on my shoulder and said.. 

"do not worry Harrison Family, it will work out for you, just trust us"

SO we did...  how do you look someone in the eye and touch their shoulder and LIE.

Anyways... 6 weeks later here we are in Serbia, not HOLLAND..

I do not regret my time in Holland nor do I hold grudges. 

Lets move on.

I met some great people who I will hopefully get to see again in the next hockey seasons.  There were so many people who went out of their way for us and for that I am grateful

That is basically the low down of how we ended up in Serbia but I think there is another reason.

I am not sure what it is yet but it feels like this was meant to be when I start piecing things together.

It is time.

After a year of no blogging I have finally been inspired to write about my experiences again.

I've  had severe writers block and since I have been in Serbia I have found myself wanting to share my experience with whoever wants to read them.

But.. unlike when I blogged before, I now have a little guy to look after and I don't have the time I used to to write everyday.. so check back often... but not too often :)