Tijana Jočić, commercial attaché in Embassy of Austria to Belgrade – What do I crave for so much ?

Source: eKapija Thursday, 01.01.1970. 20:11
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(Tijana Jočić)

- I am very happy with the fact that I am finally in the situation when I am doing something good for Serbia, the country of my origin, and for Austria, the country where I was born, where I grew up and received my education – says Tijana Jočić, commercial attaché in the Embassy of Austria to Belgrade, in her interview for eKapija and adds that her arrival in our capital in November 2007 was something that made her parents the happiest of all. Four decades ago, Mr. and Mrs. Jočić left Belgrade and moved to Austria where they met, fell in love and crowned their love by giving birth to their two daughters.

Tijana is happy for the fact that Austria welcomed her family warmly, exerting no pressure on them to give up their “national identity”.

- My parents have always cherished Serbian tradition, so that, ever since we were kids, both my sister and I knew who we are, what we are and where we are from, although we were taught how to get used to living in Austria, in order not to feel as strangers. I was learning two languages, I went to Austrian schools, I hanged out with Austrians, so that, in time, “their” way of life became my way of life. I learned how to get along with the people, get used to living in Austria, so that I have never had any problem because of my name or my attitude –Tijana Jočić explains, adding that she is always exhilarated by the news that some Serb achieved success outside the borders of our country because such people are the best ambassadors of Serbia.

By the way, this 32-year lady graduated from Viennese Faculty of Economy, and she started her economic-diplomatic career five years ago, as the representative of the Chamber of Commerce of Austria to Bratislava.

- I applied for the job in the Chamber of Commerce and got it, so that I soon moved to Bratislava. I was that lucky to go to Slovakia before it became a member of EU. It was interesting to observe, as well as to participate in the development of one east European country on its way towards complete European integrations. But, since I am a person who does not easily bond to one place and who is always in search for new challenges, I asked to be moved to some other east European country. I did not aim at Belgrade, but they offered it to me and I was glad to come to the country where my parents were born. I packed my things in November 2007 and came to Serbia –Tijana points out and adds that she brought luck to Slovakians since they were admitted into EU during her mandate, so that she hopes that she will bring the same luck to Serbia.

Her first “steps” in Serbian capital were made easier by her cousins, but, as she explains, she got used to Belgrade before she was aware of that.

- I’ve been all around the world, but Belgrade has its own pace and beautiful life style, which can not be compared to anything. I learnt in Austria to obey rules because it is a safe way to avoid making mistakes. It is not difficult to work and live by the rules. It seems to me that every person in Belgrade has some rule to live by it. Here in Belgrade, I was quickly drawn into a specific and quick tempo of life, I often work under stress because these specific rules make it difficult to me to decide what is the best thing to do – says Tijana Jočić and adds that it is sometimes hard for her and that she sometimes enjoys, but that, in any case, this rhythm represents another challenge in her life.

Although she currently lives alone on Vračar, she says that she has never felt alone in Belgrade.

- It is impossible to be alone in Belgrade and I keep saying that to my friends in Austria who often pack their things and come to visit the city that I am “advertising” with such enthusiasm. I made a lot of friends in Belgrade in very short time and they helped me discover some new details concerning me. I was considered a stiff person for a long time, but people here, with their sincerity, do not allow anybody to keep the distance. There is no such closeness between the people in the West. That is something that I experienced only here and that makes me happy. I have recently visited Vienna and I told to my friends that I already missed Belgrade and its life style. It was so quiet in Vienna that I wished for express return to this crowd – says Tijana and explains with a smile on her face that she has never seen “the traffic as crazy as in Belgrade”.

Belgrade is the only city she knows to have such beautiful and interesting markets, which she visits every Saturday.

- I am not a good cook, but the markets here, the kind Europe does not have any more, simply make me love cooking. I am going to the market every Saturday and I enjoy buying groceries there. I see that as some kind of mental relaxation and I take all my friends who come to visit me to Kalenić market – says Tijana and adds that Belgrade is special for one more thing – extremely beautiful women. Therefore, as she says in joke, in spite of taking care of her looks all the time, she sometimes feel like “ugly duckling”.

She also says that she has many business obligations in Belgrade, but that she always finds some time for her hobbies – jogging and swimming, as well as for good restaurants.

- I have some characteristics that seem to me as genuine Serbian ones, and one of them is that I am constantly active. I love to travel. I have been all around Europe, Australia with all of its islands… And now I am travelling all around Serbia. It is so nice to live in Vienna that people there simply do not have a need to leave it, because it seems to them that Vienna is the best city to live in. In spite of great life in Austria, I always wanted to go and meet other nations, their cultures and ways of life. It is not the same when a man, for example, tells you of life in Belgrade and when you experience living in Serbia. And I always say that the people in Belgrade love to live, no matter how life here can sometimes be difficult – says Tijana Jočić, adding that she meets many Austrians in Belgrade who do not wish to go back home.

- I have never made any plans in my life, but I have always had an incredible desire to advance. On the other hand, whole my life I’ve been looking for something, constantly chasing it and it would all be great if only had I known what is the thing I craved for so much – says Tijana Jočić, the girl who has no trouble with adapting because she fluently speaks German, English, French, Slovakian and, of course, Serbian, at the end of our conversation.

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