Inspire 75: balbo debra svadba - Lepšie to dopadnúť ani nemohlo

 Text: Boba Markovič Baluchová (písané pre magazín Inspire 75/2015), Foto: Palo Markovič

A bit of relax after networking event

After the networking event full of fun and games for the Slovak Alumni of different U.S. Department of State programs and their families in Bratislava (Alumni family day) I needed a rest. I got huge dose of relax and sun bath on the other side of Bratislava city. I have chosen the closest location: commercial shore of Danube river with its public "beach", called Magio beach. Luckily they were not so many couples and noisy people there. So I enjoyed it a lot. I almost fell asleep there and dreamt about my U.S. experience...

Photo: Palo Markovič

balbodebra wedding

Instead of a big wedding dream at the garden of ancient Slovak castle we got married (at the end of May) in the city hall of one of the neighborhoods of Bratislava city – in complete secret and private atmosphere – without pressure, stress and buzz around.

Photo: Petra Rjabinin  

In a multi-cultural [fjúžn] mood

Milan Simecka Foundation organizes multi-cultural festival [Fjúžn] on annual basis (since 2006). The main aim of the festival is to bring people together - from diverse religions or cultures and to raise awareness about new minorities in Slovakia. It is good time and place to present the life migrants and discuss important topics, such as multiculturalism or migration.

Multi-genre festival [Fjúžn] consists of many events within a week: concerts, theater and dance performances, discussions, film screenings, creative workshops... At the end of that week there is also a special event, called Nedelna Parada / Sunday parade - where local citizens interact with migrants from all parts of the world. They sing, talk, dance, taste the food, test the clothes or cook together at Stara Trznica (old market in the heart of Bratislava). It looks like another way of mutual understanding and multi-cultural approach to understand each other. I like this kind of community events a lot.

Foto: Palo Markovič

Inspire 74: balbo debra - Striedanie ročných období

Text: Boba Baluchová (písané pre magazín Inspire 74/2015), Foto: Palo Markovič

Short Burque Bike-Dream

I just woke up & realized how much I miss ‪Albuquerque‬, my people, my bike, coffee times, cinema evenings, dancing nights, particular house, walking & talking, biking‬ in ABQ etc.! I want these days back. That ride without brakes, that life without breaks.

During my stay in ABQ I bought this stylish bike. It looks exactly like one from my childhood dreams. How I enjoyed all these crazy Burque night-rides! Hashtag for today? #ibikebecause it's the way of my self-expression & sustainable life-style. Simple as that. 

Written by: Boba Baluchova, Photo: Palo Markovic

To Summer girl about Winter season

Pamätám si na môj posledný deň vo Washingtone, DC. Teda skôr na neskorú noc. Po niekoľkohodinovej plavbe loďou po rieke Potomac sa niektorí kamaráti odobrali na party do centra, iní šli baliť kufre, lebo odchod na letisko mali o 4ej ráno. Ja som hľadala na youtube európsku hudbu s prvkami folklóru, ethno či world music a púšťala ju na posúdenie svojej priateľke Samar z Beirutu. Naša tretia blízka osôbka: Takhmina z Dushambe už snívala v posteli o tom, ako čoskoro uvidí svojho muža a deti. To ešte vtedy nevedela, že na celý víkend skysne pre nepriaznivé počasie v Istanbule. A vlastne aj tento blog bude o počasí. Tak trochu.

I remember my last day in Washington, DC. Or better said: very late night. After several hours of cruising the Potomac River, some of my buddies went to a party in the city-center, others went to pack their suitcases (because they were supposed to be at the airport at 4 am). I was looking on youtube for certain examples of European music with elements of folk, ethno and world music to play them for my friend from Beirut: great musician Samar. Our third close friend: Takhmina from Dushambe was already in bed dreaming about her reunion with her husband and children. At that time she couldn’t have an idea how this will end up. She stayed the entire weekend in Istanbul because of bad weather. And that’s what this blog is about. A weather. A bit.

Sedím teda nadránom na parapete hotela Washington Plaza, počúvam jeden z naj hlasov na svete: Dhafera Youssefa a zdieľam posledné hodiny so Samar – predtým, ako sa na pár mesiacov či rokov rozlúčime. Hoci som novinárka, jej životný príbeh by som si netrúfla vypovedať. A ani predstaviť si detstvo v Libanone – ako každú chvíľu leziem s rodinou do krytu a bombardovanie prekrývam spevom, aby ľudia nepociťovali takú úzkosť a beznádej... Dnes by som však do Libanonu šla. Vypočuť si, ako táto mladá žena pracuje so skupinami detí a cez hudobné workshopy či vystúpenia sa snažia spolu porozumieť svetu okolo. A čeliť problémom – lokálnym aj globálnym.

I was sitting on the windowsill of Samar’s room at Washington Plaza Hotel. We were listenning to one of the most beautiful voices in the world (Dhafer Youssef’s songs) and sharing the last few hours together – before we should leave each other  for a few months or maybe even a few years... Although I am capable journalist, I would not dare to testify her story. And not even imagine the childhood in Lebanon – all these moments when a person had to run to the fallout shelter and trying to make in such tough situation things easier by singing... Today, I would go to Lebanon. I’d like to watch how this young woman is working with youth groups and how through the music workshops & performances they are trying to understand the world around them (and to face local as well as global issues).

Samar sa vtedy pozerala z okna von a spomenula, čo najviac milovala na Washingtone, DC (počas jej štvormesačnej stáže): „Bola to jeseň – iná ako v Libanone – padanie lístia na chodníky, jeho zvuky, tvary, farby.“ A potom sa zamyslíte nad tým, akú krásnu dušu musí mať tá žena – aké maličkosti si dokáže vážiť. Nevedela som ako zareagovať, tak som spomenula, že doma na Slovensku máme všetky štyri ročné obdobia, listnaté aj ihličnaté stromy, že striedanie ročných období považujeme za samozrejmé. Na viac som sa nezmohla.

Strašne moc mi chýba. Moje interkontinentálne kamarátky, Samar, Takhmina a blízki ľudia z Albuquerque (kde som zasa pôsobila štyri mesiace ja). Posielam našej vysmiatej Samarke do Bejrútu fotky ozajstnej slovenskej zimy a yaxi-taxi funky-punky Bbnky zo zasneženej Bratislavy, spolu s ponukami práce a štipendií. Bola by som rada, keby sa čím skôr vybrala za mnou. Aby som jej nemusela veci a javy opisovať – aby ich mohla sama zažiť a zachytiť. „Samar, som si stopercentne istá, že naša obľúbená speváčka: Yasmine Hamdan napísala pieseň ‚Samar’ o tebe!”

Samar looked out the window and told me what was the most memorable moment from Washington, DC (during her four-month internship there): “It was the fall – completely different than in Lebanon – all these leafs falling on sidewalks and their sounds, shapes, colors.” Then you will realize how beautiful soul this woman must have – how little events she is willing to appreciate. I did not know how to react. I just mentioned that in Slovakia there are all four seasons, deciduous and coniferous trees too – and the changing of the seasons we take for granted. I couldn’t find more words.

I miss her so much. I miss my intercontinental friends, Samar, Takhmina, as well as my close people from Albuquerque (where I was placed as an intern last year). Every other day I send to Beirut (to our smiling 'Summer girl'): the photos of real Slovak winter and yaxi-taxi funky-punky Bobinkha in snowy Bratislava, along with some job offers and scholarships opportunities. I’d like her to come here to visit me as soon as possible. She should explore all these things and events on her own, in her unique way. "Samar, I am one hundred percent sure that our favorite singer Yasmine Hamdan wrote the song ‘Samar’ about you; you personally!"

Text / Written by: Boba Baluchová, Foto / Photo: Palo Markovič