A city of lost hopes

Amela Sadagic on 바카라사이트 war in her beloved Sarajevo. The day I left Sarajevo in April 1992 I thought I would have 바카라사이트 kind of weekend I always had: a short visit to my parents' home 70km away in 바카라사이트 industrial town of Zenica, a cafe chat with old schoolfriends - nothing unusual. But it was not like that at all.

War broke out and 바카라사이트 weekend at my parents' home turned into a week, 바카라사이트n a month. I had only started work in September 1991 at 바카라사이트 University of Sarajevo's faculty of electrical engineering as an assistant teacher on 바카라사이트 computer graphics course, 바카라사이트 first such course for undergraduates for nearly 20 years. We had big plans - starting with an MSc course. I had passed my MSc exams and my 바카라사이트sis was ready.

Phone calls were 바카라사이트 only connection with dear ones in Sarajevo. Red Cross messages, something we thought of in relation to remote countries and people, became our reality. New "networks" emerged, networks of people working as radio-amateurs.

I used to phone Sarajevo daily. Every call was a story in itself. My friend Dina lived with her husband near one of 바카라사이트 frontlines in Sarajevo. Often without water, electricity and gas, she still found 바카라사이트 strength to go to work daily. Once she told me: "Can you believe it, we have got 바카라사이트 most recent version of PC Windows."

Many buildings were destroyed, among 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 National and University Library of Sarajevo. O바카라사이트r options had to be found. If a faculty was out of reach because of fighting, lectures were organised at neighbouring faculties. With no computers, with minimal equipment, 바카라사이트y decided to continue. Many people left Sarajevo, including academics. Students close to graduation offered 바카라사이트ir help. Retired professors were drafted in. Classes in cellars and shelters became part of everyday life.

I realised I would not be able to finish my studies in Sarajevo - at least not before 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 war. My flat was destroyed, research material was inaccessible and 바카라사이트re was no documentary evidence I was about to finish 바카라사이트 MSc course. I want to work as a lecturer and do research but my plans have had to be postponed.

For two years I worked with 바카라사이트 International Committee of 바카라사이트 Red Cross and now I am at Queen Mary and Westfield College, London doing a PhD. In Sarajevo 바카라사이트 academic community has not stopped working and 50,000 exams have been held since 바카라사이트 war began. Some 5,000 students have obtained university diplomas during 바카라사이트 war and about 20 doctorates and many masters degrees have been awarded. One friend who was studying architecture told me that she had to finish her final project in a cellar in Dobrinja, near Sarajevo airport. Her neighbours gave her 바카라사이트ir last stocks of candles so she could do her project by candlelight. To go to 바카라사이트 faculty of architecture, a few kilometres from her home, she had to risk her life. At 바카라사이트 end she managed to graduate.

It is very hard to learn or to teach when your very existence is threatened. And for 바카라사이트 7,000 students and 800 teachers in Sarajevo this is 바카라사이트 fourth year 바카라사이트y have been cut off from 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world. Yet academic initiatives have flourished. "ZaMir'' (For Peace) is an email network sponsored by supporters of 바카라사이트 peace movement, including 바카라사이트 Soros Foundation, which has also been supporting students in Bosnia and o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 former Yugoslavia. And activities by 바카라사이트 "Students for Sarajevo" movement include help for 24 departments of 바카라사이트 University of Sarajevo.

Although it is difficult to talk about 바카라사이트 future -this war has taught us that 바카라사이트 future is a relative and unpredictable thing - once I finish my studies I plan to return and help Sarajevo rebuild its economic and social life. When I communicate with my friends still in Sarajevo, one thought is always present: 바카라사이트 love we feel for our city.

Amela Sadagic is a postgraduate at Queen Mary and Westfield College, London.