For one group of Open World delegates from Serbia, an invitation to visit was not just a pleasantry. They meant it. They wanted their new American friends to see Serbia for themselves and to experience its hospitality first-hand. And the Hall family was happy to oblige.
In November 2012, a group of five Open World delegates traveled to Bradenton, Florida. Funded by Congress and administered by the Open World Leadership Center, the Open World Program brings emerging leaders from Serbia, Russia, Ukraine, and other Eurasian countries to the United States for 10 days of meetings, site visits and observations alongside American counterparts. Comprised of young professionals working in the area of Asset Forfeiture, the Serbian delegation was hosted by Florida's Manatee County Sheriff's Office, led by Sheriff W. Brad Steube and General Counsel Michele Hall.
Ms. Hall and her family served as a host family for one of the delegates and group facilitator and American Councils staff member Sanja Ignjatovic. During the group's visit, the Halls bonded with their guests and promised to visit Serbia in the future.
In June 2013, the Hall family made good on that promise. Ms. Hall along with her husband, Douglas and their three children Knox, Grayson, and Tristan visited Serbia and reunited with their friends. All of the Open World delegates worked to organize an itinerary that encompassed the best of Serbian hospitality, history, and culture, and to make their visit one that the Hall family would never forget.
They organized a walking tour and a bus tour of Belgrade; delegates served as tour guides themselves for Belgrade sights like Ada, the junction of the Danube and Sava rivers, Novak okovi 's tennis courts, and Avala Mountain just outside of Belgrade. One of the delegates, Jovana or evi , organized a tour of the Oplenac Royal Mausoleum and a visit to a royal vineyard in her hometown of Topola.
Vladimir Stevanovi and Dejan Mileti , both assistants to prosecutors working at the Special Court in Belgrade, organized several professional meetings for Ms. Hall, arranging an observation of an actual court session as well as a tour of the court itself.
The highlight of the Hall family's trip was meeting the delegates' families and realizing how similar life in Serbia is to life in the US When asked why they decided to travel to Serbia, Doug Hall said:
We decided to travel to Serbia (unanimously, as a family) because of the deep friendships that we were able to make with the Serbian folks that came to stay with us in Florida. In just a week, we felt like they were lifelong friends. We also heard many interesting pieces of history and of the country that made us want to visit as well. Once we visited, our friendships grew even stronger. We now feel like we have a large extended family in Serbia that we can visit any time or that conversely can visit with us any time.
We were extremely glad that we had the opportunity to travel to Serbia. It greatly exceeded our expectations. We loved the country and its people and most of all our friends. We hope that more Americans that hosted Serbians in the US have the chance to go visit as well. And, most of all, we hope that our people and countries will continue to strengthen our relationships and thrive and a peaceful environment for many years to come!