Beograd u svetu / Belgrade around: Uroš Zmaev Uljarević

What is the main difference between Belgrade and the city where you currently live?

Orderliness, cleanliness and the general existence of order, peace, security. Green areas, parks and forests - 50% of the city of Vienna is a green area. Arts, culture and music, a large number of museums, galleries and a handful of cultural and artistic events from all areas throughout the year.

The main reason for leaving Belgrade?

The need to change the environment. While I was studying in Belgrade, I also worked, and after my studies I increasingly wanted to try to build a life and career in a European city that would offer me something more that I felt the current environment did not allow. It is primarily the fulfillment of some needs for appropriate content, creative development. Also, the desire for a stable, fair and clean economic and political environment.

Does any part of the city where you live remind you of Belgrade and why?

Vienna is close to Belgrade in many ways, every supermarket offers Serbian products, many of my fellow citizens are from Serbia and other ex-Yugoslav countries. Some buildings resemble buildings in Belgrade, but that is more the influence of Austria on the architecture of Belgrade, than the other way around.

Would you rather move Belgrade to the country where you live, or the city where you live to Serbia?

I think that for many reasons it is more efficient to “move” Belgrade to Austria.

What was the first swear word in Serbian that you taught a local in the city where you live?

Austrians and people who live in Vienna have been surrounded by Serbs and the Serbian language since they were little, they certainly have more Serb friends, so they know, not only swear words, but also a lot of our other words

What is the food you bring with you from Belgrade to your current home?

Only homemade jam that my parents make, which I would bring from my parents house even if I lived in my apartment in Belgrade. I have Serbian products to buy in every supermarket.

If you had stayed in Belgrade, what would you be doing at the moment?

Probably as now - consulting in the information technology industry. However, I doubt that I would do painting in Belgrade - I learned and loved that craft here. I also founded the “Club of Young Artists” here, which brings together young authors and art lovers who come from our area. Vienna is an extremely fertile ground for every cultural and artistic activity, so these activities of mine were easy and logical and accompanied by great support.

Compare the night life and cultural scene of Belgrade with the city where you live.

Belgrade is a city that never sleeps, but still lacks the variety of its offer. Vienna is an international, multicultural European capital, half of the population are foreigners or of non-Austrian origin. They all bring and celebrate their traditions and cultures - there are rhythms of Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin rhythms … You can sing karaoke with Russians or go to Asian KTV, listen to jazz concerts, hard Berlin techno sound … almost everything can be found. Of course, there are also many bars with our music - DJ or live performances, performances by local performers, that’s never lacking. Vienna is one of the capitals of European culture, it is too well known and appreciated and it is definitely one of the strongest roots that keeps me grounded here.

If you were the mayor of Belgrade, what would be your plan of progress in order to attract people like you to return?

Systematic (re)arrangement.

Have your views of the world changed since you moved?

Every move and change of environment, whatever the distance, expands the view and opens the mind. It is an irreplaceable experience, crucial for the development of both the human being and the individual as a member of society. Getting to know new peoples, cultures, and all those differences as well as similarities brings a breadth of consciousness. People are social beings, and there are many societies and they should be mixed - that is how understanding, tolerance, inspiration are born.