Question: When does love become statistically relevant?
Answer: When a country’s immigration department notes an
unexplained increase in the number of visa and immigration applications based
on marriage between one of their citizens and that of specific other countries.
In this case, Germany and Serbia.
The keeper at the gate is based in Belgrade. Her name is Susanne – she is a pleasant, bubbly
though deep thinking person. Having just
finished her law degree and now on her internship at the German embassy in
Belgrade, hers is an interesting role…weighing love.
“How do you do that?”
“It’s not easy.” Clearly it’s a role that sits heavily on
her shoulders. While not mentioning any
names, she runs me through some recent examples. “Hard to call in some cases. “
“And how does a law degree prepare you for that.”
“It doesn’t, ” she
replies…then with a twinkle in her eye “Or about as much as any degree prepares
you for life.”
While not the final arbiter, she writes up the case files
and, in most instances, a recommendation.
We talk some more.
Love is safe with her. She is
young enough to still be an optimist, though intelligent and worldly wise
enough to know when the bullshit factor is at play.
The moral of the story…when it comes to love…have your story
straight and pray cupid is aiming his bow in your direction at the time.
You can look
but don’t touch
Vladimir’s eyes light up. A package has arrived from his mother from
the Serbian countryside. He is debating
whether or not to go and visit his parents for his upcoming 42nd
birthday. Son of a Montenegran father
and Serbian mother he has seen a lot of change in old/new cultures (“…and the
war we apparently needed to have to get there.” he comments drily.)
The package from his Mum is a food parcel. Not that he needs it – but he loves her
homemade baking and the national drink Rakia (tastes like a schnapps- just
better). He pours Susanne and I a glass,
filling his last. We do the triumvirate “Zeveli”,
“Cheers”, “Prost”
Vladimir has the perfect job for his personality and type.
He is a fashion designer trained in Belgium at one of the
more famous fashion houses in Europe
(“As regimented as the army” he complains). In addition to this, he is a qualified and
very good hair dresser. His
professional life is dedicated to making women look and feel beautiful. Being gay, he insists, is the secret
ingredient in this mix. “They feel
completely safe with me, they know I am not jealous of them and their looks,
they know I can cast an appreciative eye over their body and not feel
threatened that I am going to hit on them.
In fact, many of them flirt with me – and let me into their secrets. Many become friends…I am safe territory and I
am good at what I do.”
The last point is clear – he is finishing off a dress for a
private client when I arrive. He’s
running late on it – but pressure makes the diamond. The fabric is a dark blue silk – a plain
dress with small red buttons on the mid length sleeves and a hem line two
inches above the knee.
‘It is, by necessity, plain” he explains “This woman is tall
and has a natural elegance that means the dress should complement her body and
draw attention to her overall rather than drawing attention to the
garment.” He looks at it with some
pride. She arrives 20 minutes later –
and is thrilled with it.
The drink and the company are warm. I sit and while away the evening with great
conversation and company with someone who helps cupid and someone who judges on
his behalf.
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| Vladimir and Susanne - Belgrade |
One day, two nights in Belgrade. Tomorrow-
destination Istanbul.
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