For the past week I've been to Montenegro. Its a pretty small country near Croatia and Albania, you know the one with the 'en trend' music festivals where all the young people of South London seem to end up in the summer. It's been an interesting time.
Travelling through Eastern Europe has taught me a few things.
Mainly not to take offense with all the staring, pointing and requests for photograph requests.
Not being a celebrity, yet, it was quite flattering at first to be a woman in demand, but as time has gone on, it’s pretty tiring and at times rude. I’d love to think it’s my striking beauty but actually I’m still seen as exotic, feared and even verbally sexualised in many parts of Eastern Europe. My first experience of this was a trip to Serbia via Hungary. Almost as we crossed the border the passengers who boarded started asking me questions and complimenting me on my skin colour. Eventually I asked a young woman why this was happening. And she explained that she’d never seen someone of my colour before and added, can I take a photo with you. I obliged but as the week continued my answer became no. It was impeding my enjoyment of the festival I’d come to.
The second time I experienced this was in Georgia where I was stared and pointed at whilst walking through the airport and then almost arrested by 3 police cars as I got off the local bus from Tbilisi to the small town I was doing youth work in. You know that Black mirror episode white rabbit, it was a bit like that. Loads of people surrounded me with their camera phones and shouted at me in Russian, whilst a small child asked me for my passport. It all worked out in the end but I was called Beyoncé for the rest of the week and when I returned. Curious that she was their only reference to black culture. There’s also a tonne of photos of me holding babies that the town people took.
And most recently in Montenegro I was stared at the entire week. To be honest it was just kinda rude and the worst. I really tired to ignore it all, but who needs that kind of heat when you just want to relax with friends. I felt like I was walking around naked they way they wouldn’t stop staring. People went out of their way to stand in vantage points on. The beach to get a good look, or nudged their friends to turn around and stare. I hope I didn’t disappoint, but I probably did. Did they think I wouldn’t notice? I’m Still human with eyes and ears and a good understanding of body language. I started staring back and pointing at them. Most stopped shortly afterwards others thought it was a game. The most curious thing is it’s right next to Croatia where they have loads of tourists
and really couldn’t care where you’re from. And it’s part of the EU.
Finally a man volunteered the info as to Montegrin behaviour. A visa costs €300 to apply and could be rejected. They just can’t afford to leave the country and experience different cultures. Montenegro isn’t part of the EU and it’s not a desirable place to move to, I guess. So multiculturalism just hasn’t reached here.
Imagine if travelling across the border to Scotland or Wales from England caused that kind of behaviour? We probably wouldn’t stand for it.
Comments