It’s Monday morning, 6:00 a.m. My alarm clock rings and I’m incredibly tired. Nevertheless, I’m excited, because today is the day – I’m flying to Serbia!
Back in May, I was allowed by the ENCC to attend the Lights On training in Oostende, Belgium. When the new Incubator + program was presented on the penultimate day of the training, I knew: I want to do THAT! Intercultural projects on a European level with a sustainable character – what could be better? That very evening I called my two best friends, who fortunately are also both working in the cultural sector. „Friends, we are founding an association! I have an idea…“
Less than three weeks later, the three of us were sitting in Oostende ourselves, writing our project proposal for Incubator +. Full of excitement, we sent it off. And then, the waiting began. In the meantime, Michael and I travelled to Iceland, because even if you don’t believe us: even us people working in the cultural sector (sometimes) take a holiday. We were sitting in the car in southern Iceland when we received the email: Application accepted! We were selected with our project to travel to Novi Sad, Serbia, for a week to be coached for our project. Until then, however, there was still a lot to do, so let’s do it!
Now, three months later, I was sitting on line 16 to Cologne Central Station. From there I took the RB27 to Cologne/Bonn Airport and from there, with a delay of almost an hour, the plane took off to Belgrade. In the air, I prepared my pitch. „15 slides maximum and you only have 5 minutes time! That is going to be a challenge for all of you!“, we were told in the preparatory Zoom call. But I thought: watch me, I’m doing a poetry slam, I thought. 5 minutes? I can do it. Easily. Even 4.5.
When I arrived in Belgrade, I first explored the city. I arrived on Monday to have enough time for that. The Airbnb is fantastic and right in the centre. Belgrade has excellent bookshops. By chance, I discovered the Cultural Center of Belgrade, which is located above one of these bookshops. And I get to see the exhibition and attend a piano rehearsal for a concert. In the evening, I sat down to dinner in the Bohemian Quarter. The hospitality and the food are amazing. The week can come, I thought to myself. And for the culinary people: I had some fantastic Serbian crêpes.
Yours, Anna Lisa