This society has been running a Serbian language school in Vienna for years, and after a three year delay, they managed to bring to Banja Luka the children originating mainly from these parts, now living and studying in Austria.

Together with their friends from this school, they participated in a workshop where they learned Cyrillic penmanship, and before that they were introduced to the history of the school and work of its journalism club. They had the opportunity to experience a school class of their friends in the largest city of Srpska, and they made an effort to present to them the figure and work of the reformer of the Serbian language, Vuk Stefanović Karadžić.

Sofia, her brother Luka and their godmother Tijana are among the Viennese students visiting Banja Luka.

– This visit means a lot to me because it will supplement my knowledge. In addition to the regular school in Vienna, we attend Serbian language classes once a week where we learn to write and read the Cyrillic alphabet – says Sofija, and her brother Luka adds that he is glad to be able to learn something new here. He says that he likes the Serbian alphabet, and adds with a laugh that he likes a lot the city and Banja Luka ćevapi.

Their godmother Tijana was happy to come and meet her peers, but also to learn about a different school system.

– I love the Serbian alphabet, the Cyrillic, but due to regular schooling and many obligations, I do not find the time to practice much – said Tijana.

The Director of the Ivo Andrić Elementary School, Željka Opačić, said that she was very happy to have this visit organized in their school, and that a calligraphy course was prepared for the guests.

– Our school nurtures relations with colleagues from the vicinity. The visit should have taken place before the coronavirus, which is the reason why we have waited so long for this meeting – said Opačić.

According to her, the eighth and ninth graders supported the Viennese students and spent time with them.

– Each of the students had one of our students at their disposal in order to best master the tasks within this workshop – says Opačić, adding that the doors of their school were always open to all guests. They recently hosted students from Slovenia, and last year they received a visit by students from Kosovo and Metohija, as well as students from a Tuzla elementary school.

The hosts did not hide their delight either, as they waited impatiently for their peers to arrive and to spend time together in workshops and hanging out.

– I am happy to have new friends visit. We showed them the school and how our system works, and we practiced Cyrillic penmanship on the course – said a student of the Ivo Andrić Elementary School and added that everyone was trying to leave the best possible impression and put their city in the best light.

Source: Glas Srpske

Photo: Velibor Tripić