Intervista 3

Nome: Gordana

Cognome: Menićanin Luogo di nascita: Belgrado Sesso: F

Età: 53 anni Padre: (Jovan Menićanin) serbo Madre: (Ester Kubiček) croata Occupazione: insegnante di lingua serba in una scuola primaria a Belgrado

Anni a Belgrado: ha vissuto sempre qui.

Mesi/giorni a Vukovar: occasionalmente con la scuola e con i suoi studenti (qualche giorno) Luogo, data e durata registrazione: comunicazione telefonica e via web (Verona-Belgrado), dal 12

al 14 novembre 2019, 74’

Informazioni di rilevamento:

V: Dobar dan, ja sam Vanja, kćer Zeljka. First of all, thank you very much for your support and time you give me. As my mother said, I’m working on my master degree’s final thesis which is about the memories of the battle of Vukovar in 1991. My thesis is an anthropological one and the focus is about the memories/witnesses and oblivion about the 1991. So, in other words, I gather witnesses of people who was involved in this war, analysing their stories and explain the very important role of the memories in Anthropology. Hope I explained it clearly, I know it’s a little complicated but for any further information, please ask me.I understand more of less croatian (even if I’m not able to speak it fluenly) but if you want to write me in english or croatian, there wuold be no problem. I’m very glad to know you.

196 13/11/2019

V: Don’t worry, no problem.

G: Do you have any questions for me? You may send it and I will answer them. Ciao

V: Okay, that would be great, thank you! Well, I would know about the 1991’s conflict and hear about your story.First question: did you had any fear or suspicion before all it’s happened? Did you have any worries? For exaple, local newspaper, tv news or something else? Well, did you expect that a homeland war was starting somehow?

14/11/2019

G: I will write on serbian language and your mother will translate you. U Srbiji se nije osecala nikakva tenzija, bar ne u Beogradu. Mene je početak rata zatekao na moru u Hrvatskoj i uopšte se tome nisam nadala. Dok su stranci bezali sa mora jer su čuli da se nesto desava, ja se do kraja svog letovanja nisam vratila kuću. Nisam ni verovala tome što su pričali. Uskoro počinju svakodnevne vesti o nemirima u Hrvatskoj i svadje političara iz svih republika. Slušamo i čitamo vesti o sporadičnim i sve ozbiljnijim borbama u Hrvarskoj izmedju Srba i Hrvata. Iz Srbije krecu u rat dobrovoljci koji se pridruzuju regularnoj vojsci JNA. Sa srpske strane slusamo jednostrane vesti i ne razumemo u potpunosti šta se dešava. Samo saznajemo da se dešavaju strašni zločini, nešto sa TV-a, a nešto od poznanika i rodjaka iz Hrvatske. Nismo u Srbiji znali kome da verujemo. Shvatali smo sve više da se strašne stvari tek spremaju. Strepimo i nadamo se da se strahovanja neće ostvariti. Ali vesti su do kraja godine sve lošije. U Srbiji ne osecamo rat direktno, ali već sledeće godine imamo hiperinflaciju. Inflacija u SR Jugoslaviji iznosila je čak 19.810,2% Narodna banka SRJ krajem 1993. Godine na vrhuncu hiperinflacije izdala je novčanicu od 500 milijardi dinara sa likom Jovana Jovanovića Zmaja. Cene su se udvostručavale svakih 16 sati. Pakla cigara koštala je pre podne 1.000.000.000 dinara, a već uvečeve bi nijhova cena bila dvostruko veća. If you have any questions I will gladly answer them. Pozdrav

V: Thank you very much! I understand quite all. If I’m not wrong, the 1990’s was a horrible year for economies from all over the world, there was the highest hyperinflation and I cannot imagine how hard was with a war too. Tell me if I’m wrong. Well, yes I have some questions, a bit personal, but importantly detailed: you come from a serb-croatian family like my mother Zejlka, isn’t it?

G: Yes.

197 G: I lived in YU very nicely and hapily

V: (And for a detailed information… where and when precisely were you on the beach? And when do you leave?)

G: I lived in Belgrade thoes years, and as student I was at sea when the war begine. 15 days in Korčula. V: In July or August? And what did you study?

G: June or July, I don’t remember V: Good.

G: Serbian language.

V: Sorry for the numerous questions! I have too much to aks, a very big work.

So, what was the situation in your family? They were worried, I imagine, for who were in Croatia. Also, my mother said that and tells me about the song Pioniri maleni, do you remember it too? G: Yes, of course. I remember with nostalgy. This is important. I was studing serbo-croatian language and 1 year after the war I was studing serbian language. So, I started 1986, with serbo-croatian language and I finished with serbian. In Serbian schools pupils were learning serbo-croatian, in Croatia were learning croatia-serbian language. Well, a little confused. In Yugoslavia (YU) was BRATSTVO I JEDINSTVO after World War 2. Ask mother about that. She explain you.

V: This is very interesting! And also about the “serbo-croatian and croatian-serbian”. I suppose it’s all for cultural and identity reasons. Thank you for this important point, it’s very helpfull. I also read about Vukovar in particular.that also now there are arguments about teaching serb or not, or to divide the classes, is it right?

G: I don’t know.

V: Okay, thank you. I know that you and my mother met on the beach one summer, and you visited each other sometimes (sometimes at Vukovar and sometimes at Belgrad) and sent many letters of friendship, right? I suppose you were worried about her and about your croatian member family, right? How did you fell and think on that time?

G: I was very worried about her because she and I are not be in touch. Phone doesn’t work. Phone and letters were only possible ways to comunicate. In that time… My cousins in Croatia, some of them, were in army and I didn’t have any information about them.

198

V: I’m very sorry for that. What about your year of birthday, your parents and how much did you lived in Belgrad and how many times did you visited Vukovar?

G: Hello again! I was born in Belgrade 1967. I am teacher of serbian language in Primary school. I live in Belgrade whole my life. I was in Borovo and after that in Vukovar when ever I have spare time during my school and my students days. My mom name Ester Kubiček and her nationality is croat. My father name Jovan Menićanin and his nationality is serbian. All the best in your life and work! If you need anything else from me you can ask me! Pozdrav.

V: Well, Yes I do. Thank you. What did you visit in Vukovar?

G: We are walking around centre of the town and visited a lot of restaurants and hotels. I also celebrate a New year in Vukovar ones with your mom. I remember we visited some castle. I dont know its name.

V: Uhm… maybe the Eltz castle?

G: I dont remember It wasnt so big but is was nice.

V: [mandando una foto della villa] Like this one? I think it is this one, because one letter of yours (for my mom) had mentioned it.

G: Than you are right.

V: Perfect! Thank you! It was a very beautifull building!

G: I remember I liked to drink white vine produced byVupik though I despise vhite