Balkan Social Club

Much of my time and my working life has been consumed with the Balkans. But after a less than satisfying experience working in the region recently, I decided it was time to move on. So move on I was going to do at Columbia. Find a new passion, broaden my horizons.

But maybe there's no getting away from what really interests you. It all started with a course on Post Soviet States and Markets which I promised myself I wouldn't take. Too similar, move on, I told myself. But I found my way into the lecture anyway, hoping it would be rubbish and I would not need to go again.

But the professor was fantastic, of course, and I could see that there was no option but to take the course. It would act as a soothing counterbalance to Statistics class, I convinced myself. Fair's fair.

After the lecture, I spoke briefly with the professor and somehow ended up mentioning that I had a connection to the former Yugoslavia. "Oh, you should meet Gordon then!" By then the elevator had delivered us to the 15th floor and home of The Harriman Institute, of which the professor is the Director and Gordon the Assistant Director.

Gordon has a Balkan heritage too, though judging by his faultless accent, he grew up in America. He promised to put me on the Institute's mailing list and told me about some events he has planned. I tried to resist, but was secretly fascinated: a study group with former Prime Minister of Croatia Ivo Sanadar, a course on Yugoslav history, a lecture on Croatia and dealing with the legacy of the past, an event with the Prime Minister of Kosovo, a Balkans Summit Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria....and a Balkan Social Club.

So now I am writing articles on Balkan affairs, planning Balkan movie nights, music events, Slovenian wine tasting (it's happening next week in Greenwich Village), oh just all sorts.

I suppose you can take the girl out of the Balkans but...!