From July 1998 through July 1999, my dear friend Angelica Anastacio went on a very memorable trip to various places around the globe. A native of the Philippines, she has lived in the United States for many years, most recently in San Francisco, California. She agreed to send periodic updates of her adventures, although in no particular time frame, to the visitors at Steve's Web Stop. Throughout the year, these updates were posted here as they arrived.

Now that her trip is over, the complete series is here in its entirety for your enjoyment. Thanks Angelica!

By the way, the music for this page is especially nice for mood. If you have a sound card, press the "Play" button at the top.

Thu, 09 Jul 1998 (This is the first in a series)

I finally got my details and time schedule for my Yugoslavia trip. I am being recommended to be part of the Belgrade-Kosovo team because they thought I have the personality (volatile??) and experience for that region. I am excited as the work will be more taxing and definitely will not be dull. I am also going to be sent to a peacekeeping conference in Croatia hosted by War Resisters League. It will be a good opportunity for me because I will be part of the "Identity and Conflict" workshop. This really is a good surprise as my undergrad thesis and unfinished Masters thesis is a comparative analysis on Identity in the Asian Region ('tis the short version). So I really have a big interest in this kind of mumbo jumbo.

So you can follow my wanderings, the following is my tentative itinerary:
Mid July = Chicago
End of July/August = Florida/Might go to Cuba by way of Jamaica.
August = Up in the air/Cuba?
Mid August = Europe/London
First week of September = Netherlands for Assessment Workshop
Mid Sept = Croatia for the Conference then Southeast Europe.
October = Training in Ireland. Depending on certain issues, I should start November in Belgrade. Will give you updates along the way as they come up or change.

ANYONE WANT TO TRAVEL WITH ME!!!!!!??

Hope all are in good health and spirits.

Always, Angelica
 

Sat, 17 Oct 1998 (Second in a series)

Well, into my second week at work here in Split. Work has been very interesting but two weeks is not much to base anything on. So far I really have just been concentrating on learning the language so I can be effective with the local activists. I have also been circulating, getting acquainted with the various characters I will be working with, both on the local and international level. Mind you, "characters" really is a good way to describe them! On a more personal level, I believe that I will probably find my work with the local activists more interesting.

The reality is that it is worse here than is generally thought. But that is not what strikes me, it is the slivers of hope and the struggle to work towards it that sustains me when I see it with the Croatians. Keep the faith in humanity.

Keep well.

Angelica.
 

Tue, 15 Dec 1998 (Third in a series)

I just drove through the Dinara Mountain range. I saw the sunrise through the snow covered mountain tops with an explosion of vibrancy over the mist covered valleys, blue, orange, and red colours--it looked so ethereal to me.  For a second there, I thought I was ascending to another world--then a dirty rickety bus careened towards our car reminding me that I was on my way to Banja Luka, Republic of Serbska. The way to Banja Luka, from our satellite office in Knin, which is about two hours northeast of my home in Split, took our team through towns inhabited only by ghosts in homes destroyed by bombs, guns, and fire. I did not even see livestock, just snow blanketing charred wood, concrete walls with no roofs, and brick columns holding nothing else but air.

What was odd driving through these roads through the Dinars were the number of SFOR tanks and APCs that we got stuck behind or passed us by from the opposite side of the road. Why were they still present?

To get to Banja Luka from Knin, we had to drive through the Federation of Bosnia then on to the Republic of Serbska. We stopped in a place called Drvar (in Bosnia), which paraded the Croatian Flag, and the police stopped us for no apparent reason other than to check out our passports. Halfway to Banja Luka, our team decided it was time to make a scientific experiment with food tasting. There is a very greasy specialty here called "Burek" (which I really like--hey, I just might get that potbelly, if I don't already have one;-)!) which is supposedly better in Bosnia. Our team stopped in a place called Svanski Most but lo, we did not get the anticipated results with the "Burek" there. It was overcooked and more greasy than usual. Nevertheless, the Burek was consumed (especially by me) with gusto, as it was also our first meal of the day.

From Bosnia, we knew we finally hit the Republik of Serbska because of the sudden sight of cigarette stands by the roadside. We were all looking for CD stands as Republik of Serbska is known for cheap pirated CDs. Unfortunately, we did not find any until we got to Banja Luka where we went wild buying CDs at great prices. Croatia has a 22% tax on everything, so buying it here is out of the question (about 15-20$ for one CD and the selection is really poor). Suffice to say, I added more to the 150 CDs I have already been carting around.

The meeting in Banja Luka was good, but I won't bore you with details regarding that at the moment. We were able to decide on concrete next steps to further the project we are planning together.

I saw the sunset in the Dinara Mountains on our way back home. There was fog hugging the valley floor so closely it looked like it was gently caressing the land. WIth the backdrop of an electric red and blue sky, the contrasts reminded me of the country we were heading back to--Croatia.

Dualities are so apparent here not only in the culture but it seems in the psyche as well. Which road to reconciliation and forgiveness? I think, just with anything else, it will always be the long road. I won't go into my thoughts about work or issues of reconciliation and peace at the moment. So much to talk about, think about, wonder about, learn about, challenge and work on--all I want to share with you.

Well, cheers my dear friends...I promise to drink to your health and life! Zivile! (z pronounced zh as it really should have an accent on top of the z, and it means "to life!")

May this note find you in good spirits and health.

Angelica
 

Mon, 21 Dec 1998 (Fourth in a series)

Cestit Bozic i Sretan Novi Godina!!!

That is Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in Croatian!!!

The rain is falling here in Split but I am off on a mission today after my (hopefully) last meeting for work until next year. I want to get some decorations to bring the holiday spirits in to this flat/office. I also want to get a small planted tree to put gifts under so it really would feel like the holidays for me here. I got some invitations for dinner (YUMMY!) with my friends but all in all this should be a quiet break for me. I want to catch up on my language work so next year will see me speaking more fluently or at least communicating better with the locals.

I wish you all the best these holidays!  May it be full of love, peace, music, joy, good friends/family and not to forget good food! I hope this note finds you in good spirits.

Be happy and well.

Angelica
 

Entry for Tue, 12 Jan 1999 (Fifth in a series)

Sretna Novi Godina, Moji Prijatelji!

Am back at work full swing without time to breathe after a good holiday. I had time to go to Dubrovnik, formerly known as Ragusa, and did I fall in love with the city! I recommend it! The sea, the mountains, the history, the stone fortress...I can go on and on and I still have so much to explore. I tried to sneak into Montenegro but had a cranky border patrol who wouldn't accept bribes...couldn't be disappointed as at least one of us was following the rules! Will try again next time as I read so much about the Kotor region and how beautiful it is. Wish me luck.

I hope that all of you had a wonderful if not restful holiday.

Take care and be well.

Angelica
 

Entry for Tue, 16 Feb 1999 (Sixth in a series)

This weekend I saw a wonderful concert of a well known Dalmatian singer/guitar player performing Leonard Cohen songs in Croatian. Absolutely wonderful! And even more wonderful was when he sang his own compositions. The guitar playing was excellent and the songs were good. I look forward to even more discoveries like this. His name is Ibrica Jusic.

Saturday night, I finally told someone off in Croatian. Does this mean I am getting better with the language? Or am I just learning the bad words? Maybe I am getting better with the language because I am learning the bad words...

Well, gotta go back to work. This brief rambling was brought to you by my boredom with what I think are inconsequential reports, but are great training for bureaucracy and wasting time. Okay, I really better get back to honing my skills in paraphrasing and verbal fencing with colleagues. Ahh, the wonderful aspects of the peace movement.

Angelica
 

Entry for Mon, 29 Mar 1999 (Seventh in a series)

Hello, everybody! I just wanted to let you know that we are back safe here in Croatia from Republika Srbska.

My concern is for the people here who have family and close friends in the Former Yugoslavia. The communication lines are still down but email somehow is not compromised. We are trying to help get information for some people here who have family in Serbia by contacting our colleagues in Belgrade to check up on them. But that is very hard as the police in Serbia are mobilised and have been picking people out of the streets.

I am strongly opposed to this war and bombing. I don't see it as a solution nor a good response to the aggression/war against Kosovo Albanians.

With that note, I hope all of you are well. I just wanted to thank everyone who inquired about my safety here. Also wanted to put in my two cents (as usual) about this war/bombing. So many thoughts about what does peace really mean and what does believing in it as well as promoting it entail.

Anyway, take care and be well.

Angelica
 

Entry for Mon, 10 May 1999 (Eighth in a series)

Hope all of you are well. Am safe but unhappy about the whole sad set of events here in the Balkans.

Take care and be safe.

Angelica
 

Entry for Sat, 10 July, 1999 (Ninth in a series)

Love from France!!!!

Just to let you know that I am now in the sleepy town of Colombier. I will send out a better note next time when I get the hang of this French keyboard.

Hope all are well and safe.

Angelica