The Staircase
Issue II
24th Regional Session of EYP Serbia
Editorial Today you reached one more step in this long journey. Some of you noticed that step and some of you are going to be aware of it in two days when impressions from the sessions calm. Anyways, we, the media team worked very hard to make this session special for you and to bring smile on your lovely faces every time you think of this session. Speaking of smiles, the thing you are holding in your hands is secon issue of “The Staircase“ which serves to welcome you to our world as well as to help you understand it. I hope you will enjoy in this fruit of our work and I hope we will have chance to surprise you even more. Milica Simeunovic, editress of the session
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Content Editorial..................................................1 Content....................................................2 Novi Sad a champion of change..............................3 EYP through generations....................................5 Thank you come again........................... ...........7 Artista....................................................9 Bucket list...............................................11
Journalists
Milica Nektarijevic Anja Martinovic Milena Smigiv Milan Davidovic
Editorial assistant Ivana Biga Editor Milica Simeunovic
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Novi
Sad a champion of change? In 1985, there existed an idea of designating an annual Capital of Culture in order to bring European cultures closer. A city is chosen by the commission of the European Union and really does represent something beautiful. Novi Sad has been nominated for the European capital city of culture for 2021 for a reason. For Novi Sad the transition started slowly, with the just being small town in the eitheen century. Even thought „Petrovaradin fortress“ looks like an added structure to the inovation of the city,it isNovi Sad that had a support role.The more modern look of Petrovaradin fortress we owe to the architectures that rebuild and rearmed the fortress in XVII century Harbsbug monarcy to support the front line against Turks. The fact that it was never taken by the Ottomans, makes it seem like a legend at the time. When you look at the dates of construction of most buildings, you might question yourself: „Why are all the building not older that 170 years?“ . The answer is a sad story of the civil war in the Austrian empire which caused a massive destruction of the city. The destruction took 80% of the thriving town, a huge amount of lost architecture and beauty. The rebuilt
oftown preserved some of its look today. The famous Catholic Church still stands with its tall clock tower, very colorful roof and strong pillars at the front. The”JovanJovanovicZmaj” street gives you a wonderful feeling of being in a differenttime when daily activities were not being done in a rush. Dunavski Park was a very prestigious park in the past, with pretty much same arrangement, but now it seems that no one cares for its beauty anymore. The same neglect you can experience while you go visiting the National theatre. The marble white stone that the structure is made of doesnot seem so white anymore. I love the felling of walking on the cobbled roads, but it doesn’t help the city’s infrastructure. Good examples of change can be seen by the banks of the river Danube. Novi Sad has built defensive measures to ensure that the city cannot be flooded, but it also serves as a place to walk and relax.I addore running of „Kej“ in the spring and I know that I am not the only one. In the early 60s the Novi Sad University was formed, which marked a modern era of construction. Next that was build was the famous „Nis“ which dominates its surounding with its wonderfully decorated fountain, very modern lights and its use of glass to give the inside a lot of sunlight. With both of these projects, led to building new
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flat blocks Liman, Novo Naselje and part of Podbara, which gives a unique Yugoslavian architecture to the already unique Novi Sad. What I love is that mix of culture that Novi Sad has, it attracts and inspires people to come and visit and experience the joy that is living in this city. When you pass an old building, try to stop and think why it was build. Think what people in the past thought when they looked at the same building hundred years ago and ask what has changed?
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EYP Through Generations The only constant thing is change, that’s what people say. How well are we aware of the change of ourselves and the world around us? We are here now to take a closer look to the aspects of different people who are yet so alike. You have a great opportunity to hear a long standing EYP experience of Nemanja Predojevic, former president of EYP Serbia, who started his EYP journey in 2009 as well as first impressions of delegates Isidora and Damjan who are experiencing EYP for the very first time.
What is the achievement in your EYP career that you are most proud of? Definitely the time I spent in the team that leads EYP Serbia, called Board, and seeing what my board members have accomplished since each of them are pursuing their goals with excellency.
How did you start your EYP journey? It was my third year of high school when I’ve heard that there is some seminar in Belgrade but I didn’t know much more. I was curios to find out more but couldn’t find anyone else from student parliament to come with me. Therefore I brought four of my classmates to come with me explaining that there will be free food and accommodation. And we all stayed in EYP. .Which position in session do you prefer and why? Is it a chairperson, a member of media team or yet an organizer? -I actually preferred being a delegate because that position gives a person a chance to work together with others and explore solutions to different issues that tackle our society.
.What motivated you to stay an active member of EYP for so many years? Are that primarily people that you met or yet academic progress that you noticed on yourself? -I remained connected to the EYP because of values that organization promotes and that despite members of EYP are so different, we are achieving positive impact on other young people. The funniest or the most interesting moment in your EYP journey that you will always remember? -Definitely travelling by interrail to Girona in Spain for Second Iberian Forum that I used to chair. First night of our trip we spent in the train, than second on the beach in Nice and third in Mon Pellier! On our way back, our friend forgot her bag in the train, so we finished up in Paris looking for embassy of Serbia hoping that they will help us. Unfortunately, they could not do anything, so we spent couple more days with barely any money in our pockets! But when we got back to Serbia, the only thing that we remembered was the great time that we had on this trip.
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Do you have any recommends for young people that have just became a part of EYP ‘community’? -Try to make most of it, be strong and be brave!
What motivated you to become a member of EYP? I heard of EYP from my friend, that is the head organizer of this session, and when I saw the call, I liked topics very much so I decided to apply. I wanted to make new friendships and also to experience something totally new in my life. What are your skills that you would like to enhance while you are in EYP? Primarily, I want to overcome my fear of public speaking and I see this as a perfect opportunity to do so. Also, I would like to enhance my knowledge in English language. How do you like this session so far? I find it really interesting. I like the games very much, they are really innovative and funny. If I could have to rate this session, I would say 10 out of 10. Atmosphere is good and communication between people is perfect, that is not an often case.
Do you have any goals in your further EYP career? As an almost every EYPer, we would love to go to the sessions abroad, but also to contribute development of EYP Serbia as much as we can. Do you have any comments to add? We would like to say that our chairpersons did a great job. We appreciate that they are willing to hear everyone’s opinion and to give us constructive remarks.
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“Well it was very random I basically didn’tknow I was going a week before. My uncle asked if I wanted to go to India and I said yes.” Stefan Stanojevic
THANK YOU COME AGAIN In India you can rent out an elephant ride. On the ride to the fort a guy tried to sell me a turban and since I didn’t want a turban I told him : ‘’I will give you a very small amount of money for it, it’s low quality and I don’t need it’’, He didn’t want to sell it for a little money, but was actually offering it to me for some enormous prices, like everyone in India does. Finally he came close to my initial price, but I still wasn’t interested. He continued casing me, wanting me to take it, throwing it to me, putting it on my head while I was taking it off my head telling him: ‘’ No man, Idon’t need it’’ ‘’but look at this one its good’’ and he continued following my uncle and me. So finally, we got on the elephant and he just started running after us and throwing the turban to me while I was on the elephant. Imagine a scene where he throws one to me I throw it back to him, he throws it again and shouts: ’Buy,buy very good price very good price my friend’’
‘’No I don’t need it and even if I did, I wouldn’t know how to pay you since I am on an elephant, in motion, so how do you expect me to pay you for something if I am ridding an elephant?’’ He left us alone but along the way, on the trip a random merchandiser still wanted to sell us goods and was pointing their merchandise at us shouting : ,, Good Sir this is good price this for you ‘’ I was looking at them and asking them : ,, Sir would you explain to me how can we have this transaction since I am on an elephant ?!’’ But they are just trying to sell it to you, not knowing how they just do want to sell . Eventually they do leave you and find someone else . When we got off the elephant there was a lot of them wanting to sell us some more stuff. We figured that the best thing to do is ignore them complitelly, othervise they will not leave you alone, but follow you even if you are on an elephant .
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Serbian delegation around the world
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Artista How many people in your life are considered “artistic?” Perhaps it is hard to count them all. To start, there was one friend of yours in elementary school who was into fashion or who was listening to unusual music. Then, there is that colleague of yours you have heard singing in the coffee room and who discreetly uploads covers of popular songs onto YouTube. Of course, you can’t dismiss Katarina whose drawings look like a million dollars, or Marko, the guy who takes blurry monochromatic photographs, nor your older brother who tries to be cool wearing long and messy beard. The list turns out to be much longer than you thought it would be at first, doesn’t it? But are all those people that popped into your mind truly artistic? How do you define an artistic and creative person? Are there other creative souls floating around you, just not making their talents as visible? Art has always been inevitable ingredient of man’s life. From Antic Greece where men played dramas in front of the big audience, through Renascence with all that “new” Michelangelo gadgets, to expressionism, impressionism and now, post modern one. It is all considered as an art, because you can see it on some exhibition in museum, and some professional classified it
as great piece of art, throwing on you the must-respect attitude towards that. But, think for a second is it the best art because it is seen and shared with the public. Art is not limited to producing visible proofs of its existence. Art comes in all shapes and forms, just as people do. Art has no boundaries. An artist can simply be someone who thinks differently, someone who comes to creative solutions to any problem. It doesn’t have to be visible to the average eye. In fact, great art is often understood only by a few. This is due to the fact that underneath every each art lies a complex set of emotions which the artist engraved into it and which he/she allows us to see only partially. They let us see only as much as they want us to see. Part of art will always remain unsaid. It is worth mentioning that Aristotle thought art had to bring the spectator to the point of catharsis, that is, purification and renewal of emotions. Art had to, and still should, get our feelings flowing; it should encourage us reflect about certain elements in our lives on a deeper level. The colors on a painting, the notes in a melody, the words in novels are all supposed to make us feel something. What that something is, depends on us. Based on Aristotle’s defini-
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tion, an artist, then, must make people feel. Nowadays, we have tons of people who are trying to be unique, not because they really are, but because they want to draw attention on themselves. Of course, we are all unique in our ways but is it smart to express ourselves in ways in that we are not familiar to just to make some impression and in. But does their art make them feel something firstly, as Aristotle said and then other people as well, or is it just being trendy period? All things considered, if we tried to count again those ‘artists’ in our lives, we would find that the number has decreased significantly. Just because people produce something visible, or audible, doesn’t mean that they are producing art. That veil of illusion that self-proclaimed artists built around them suddenly drops. There aren’t many genuine artists around us. We have to look more carefully for them, recognize and, when we find them, praise them before it’s too late. They work in silence, yet their work speaks loudly. Who knows what they have to tell us.
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The bucket list RULES: Use boxes for your personal checks 1. Fall asleep with your eyes open without anybody noticing during GA 2.
Find a tasty cup of coffee on a session
3. Sing on the top of your lungs within your committee Big Fat Pony while walking down the street 4. Send a postcard to someone you met during a session 5. Show the magic of Honey Tell Me That You Love Me to a random person on the street 6. Write an attack speech during the GA on your best friend’s resolution 7.
Perform at the Euro Concert
8. Have the flight attendant make a last call Imenaaerodromuposlednjesticinavoz u poslednjemtrenutku 9.
Prijaviti se zanacionlnu-poslednje
10. Call a person from your committee in 4am to ask them if you could crash at their place at 5am, but the person can’t be from your country 11. Don’t have ‘’media campaign’’ or “raise the awareness” in your resolution 12. Run from a sauna while it’s -3 degrees outside and jump into the sea 13. Be taken for a tour of the city by a person you met on a session 14.
Crash a session
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15.
Be nice to organisers
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Learn foreigners how to say :,,Cevapcici’’
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Spend 24h without any sleep
18. Make up a dance with your committee by having every person come up with one movie and win the dance floor 19. Find out the real colour of the dress(come on white/gold or blue/black) 20. let
Leave a post-it on your crushes resolution book-
21. Host people from EYP who are not from Novi Sad during Exit 22. In cahoots with your journo prank your chairperson 23.
Get everywhere on time
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Find out a legend about every city you visit
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Write an idea for an article on a napkin
26. Dance around your room with your roommates in your young sisters skirt you just bought her while singing I’m a Barbie girl 27. Rent a limousine from your hostel to the airport with your delegation 28.
Pick up a foreign accent
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Take a selfie with every person on the session
30. Start honestly laughing without a reason there by causing a chain reaction during committee work
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