Tijana

Tijana is 27 years old. She graduated from the Faculty of Philology at the University of Belgrade, specializing in the Arabic language and literature.

In the future, Tijana hopes to see Serbia as an economically powerful country that can offer more opportunities for cultural, scientific, and educational development. ‘I would like to see it as an economically stable nation that promotes culture, history, our differences, literature, young talent, and science.’

Currently working as a stewardess for Etihad Airways, she has the opportunity to travel all around the world and meet people of different cultures and religions. This experience has not only exposed her to other countries and their people but has also helped her better understand her own country and its inhabitants. She has noticed that people worldwide no longer view Serbia as problematic. They no longer see it as a country that initiated conflicts during the 1990s but as a nation that endured a challenging period and is now on the path to recovery. ‘People in Serbia, not just Serbs, are open-hearted, accepting of differences, highly hospitable, and always willing to help. We have wonderful cuisine, natural beauty, and a rich history.’ So, while Tijana acknowledges that the people of Serbia can be ‘impetuous, bad-tempered, and temperamental,’ she believes that many prejudices against them are unfounded.

In Tijana’s view, young people in Serbia face significant challenges. They have limited opportunities to travel, experience different perspectives, understand various cultures and lifestyles, and learn about other religions. ‘Traveling broadens horizons. I believe that Serbs might have more prejudices about others than others have about us.’ The quality of media content is often poor, leaving people feeling trapped and affecting their overall well-being. Additionally, there’s a constant struggle for survival in daily life. ‘Travel, media, and the question of livelihood are concerns that every Serbian resident, including myself, must grapple with. I fully understand that those living here may not have the luxury of travel and cannot afford certain things that may be considered normal elsewhere, such as in Europe.’

While Tijana may be one of many who left Serbia in search of job opportunities abroad, she did so uniquely by studying the Arabic language and working for an international airline company. This has allowed her to visit various places worldwide and create opportunities for herself. She had the courage to leave her home country and become an independent woman living life to the fullest.