Snapshots of the Balkans

Since World Learning was founded in 1932, generations of Experimenters, study abroad students, and exchange students have been carrying their cameras and camcorder (and iPhones) to document their experiences abroad. Many times the snapshots captured go unexamined until the students return home to emotionally unpack these experiences abroad.

In the fall 2011 semester, Orli Fridman, academic director of the SIT Study Abroad Serbia, Bosnia and Kosovo program, decided to give students a chance to unpack these memories during the program. Fridman, along with a local digital artist Nada Kostic, created an optional photo and film club for current students interested in digital media.

“The idea behind this optional activity was for students to engage in a more creative activity throughout their time stay in the Balkans,” said Fridman. “Additionally, this activity provided them with an opportunity not only to acquire an introduction to a new skill, filmmaking…but also opened up a venue for deeper individual analysis of the study abroad experience and resulting emotions.”

One night per week throughout the semester, Kostic taught basic lessons in photography, documentary film, and storytelling. Kostic organized each workshop in a different location throughout Belgrade, including visits to publishing houses, artist collectives, jazz clubs, and sculpture studios.

At the end of the semester, Kostic collaborated with each student on a personal video story of their own. Click below to watch videos by alumni Andrew Greaves and Gregory Chapman.