location: smitten

decided to stay on in Sarajevo because, ahem, my heart is fairly gone to the city. ever since my original arrival here (perhaps you recall the tangible glow), i have had the sense that i could live here and be completely well. this is only further solidified by a resounding comparison with Beograd.

i could wax and wane, all by myself on the panel discussion "Reasons Why Sarajevo Rocks and Beograd Doesn't," but that would be slightly unfair. certainly, they are on different planes (this is elevationally true) and scales. additionally, i think that someone else could find the experience of living in either place relatively similar—else could chalk up most disparities to a big city/smallish town dichotomy. during this visit, however, i became convinced that it is solely, albeit overly profoundly (in my assiduous noting), the homogeneity of Beograd that grates on me—and its lack here in Sarajevo that causes the elation which translates into my ease of movement and thought.

when i heard the muzzein call the faithful, just now, i saw a piece of something fall into place. it's impossible to "create diversity" (as much as institutions such as U of Michigan would claim that this is their primary business). in addition, as is evident not only here, but everywhere in which it really exists, diversity (or at least people from diverse backgrounds, living in close proximity—but is not this, freeze-framed and then slapped with a label, the most basic definition for "diversity"?) brings with it a vast amount of tragedy and instability. i would not, though, slip into the easy next clause—about it being, sometimes, more trouble than it's worth—because it's of more value than i can say: the minor melody that haunts the red-tiled roofs and, settling upon them, settles us all.