Janica Kostelic of Croatia (C) celebrates her win in the women's World Cup slalom in Aspen, Colorado, November 27, 2004 with second placed Anja Paerson (L) of Sweden and third place Tanja Poutiainen of Finland. REUTERS/Mark Leffingwell
Croatia's Janica Kostelic celebrates after winning the women's World Cup Slalom race in Aspen, Colo., on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2004. (AP Photo/Alex Trovati)
Croatia's Janica Kostelic slams past gates during the second run on her way to winning the World Cup Slalom in Aspen, Colo., on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2004. (AP Photo/Nathan Bilow)
Croatia's Janica Kostelic sprays champagne into the crowd after winning the Women's World Cup slalom with a time of one minute and 43.70 seconds in Aspen, Colorado, November 27, 2004. REUTERS/Mark Leffingwell
Winner Janica Kostelic (C) of Croatia, second-placed Anja Paerson (L) of Sweden and third-placed Tanja Poutiainen of Finland celebrate on the podium after the World Cup slalom in Aspen.(AFP/Don Emmert)
Croatia's Janica Kostelic in action during her second run, to a first place finish at the Women's World Cup Slalom in Aspen, Colorado November 27, 2004. Kostelic had a time of one minute, 43.70 seconds. Sweden's Anja Paerson was second with a time of one minute, 44.97 seconds and Finland's Tanja Poutiainen was third with a time of one minute, 45.02 seconds. Photo by Mike Blake/Reuters
Croatia is in my blood. Growing up in our home, symbols and stories of the homeland filled my heart and mind. My parents always spoke our native tongue. Our meals were from recipes passed on from generations past. Croatia was everywhere. The Croatian Coat of Arms, the Grb, along with other artifacts and woodwork from Croatia adored our walls and shelves. Croatian music filled the air. I remember the beautiful songs, but most importantly, I remember hearing the accounts from my parents and their friends of a life in a Croatia when it was called Yugoslavia. To my parents, Yugoslavia was an evil and oppressing place from which my father fled for freedom, and for a better life, to my sisters and I it was a place of caring families, beautiful scenery and a place of mystery. I sensed in their stories a loss, like pieces of their hearts were broken, maybe never to be mended. Even at a young age I could begin to comprehend my parents anguish and pain for their birthplace. I knew then it was my duty to pay closer attention to my parent’s passion for Croatia and make it my own.
I am still am very interested in my parent’s stories as well as stories from their close friends, about life in former Yugoslavia. Although Croatia struggled in the clutches of communism for almost eight decades, it was still a country of beautiful loving people, a country swept with the be-witching blue coastline of Adriatic Sea, the ancient history of Dalmatia and the natural wonders of the Plitvice Lakes. But surrounding this beauty were the stories of oppression, injustice and poverty. It was these hardships that caused many a family to struggle to survive, and for some, a plan to escape a country that was no longer their own. These were the stories of great escapes, not only for freedom but in many cases for survival. It was then I began to understand how special my parents were, and how intense the Croatian plight for life burned in their hearts.
In 1986, my parents, my two sisters and I went to go visit the homeland. My Dad hadn’t been there since 1971, and it was on that trip when I received an education in the evils of communism. The country was on the brink of war, a war that eventually came in 1989 but at that time we could already feel that something terrible was going to happen. The signs were everywhere. The streets were occupied with Yugoslavian police, armed with machine guns and attack dogs. Even a simple conversation on the street drew the ere of the ever watchful communist police.
The Catholic Church remained the support for the Croatian people, and it was in these cathedrals of peace that communism was at bay. It was the church that gave the Croatian people solace and the strength to continue with their daily lives. We went to visit the magnificent Zagreb Cathedral, and as were walking from the church; the armed Yugoslavian police came with their dogs and told us to keep moving. I had never been surrounded by armed police, it was then I realized the evils of communism.
Since that time in 1986, I’ve had the opportunity to visit a free Croatia three more times and eagerly await my next opportunity. I realize that there are many challenges that arise from a former communist country transitioning into a democracy, but I know in my heart that the promise of free enterprise, open elections and the voices of the people heard, Croatia will once again be whole and that the people will prosper.
My passion continues and with the help of the internet and my involvement in Croatian organizations, it has given me the opportunity not only to learn new things about Croatia but to keep current on Croatian political news. Most importantly it has given me the ability to connect and make friends with other Croatians. Recently, I was invited to join the Los Angeles Croatian community to view the film “Freedom from Despair” by first generation Croatian Brenda Brkusic. This documentary brought attention to the inhumane and repressive Yugoslavian system where her father endured; I was captivated by her Dad’s remarkable story, his desperate life in a communist country and finally his dangerous escape. I saw his anguish, felt his pain, and rejoiced in his new life. It was like I was watching the story of my Dad, and millions of other Croatians who were forced to escape from their own home. It was an emotional time for me, much more than I expected but I found myself surrounded by fellow Croatians whose passion for our homeland was as intense as mine. I was home, and Croatia will always be in my blood.
Michelle Dunaj
Michelle Dunaj, Rad Artukovic and Hilda Marija Foley
Brenda Brkusic and Michelle Dunaj
Hi Nenad,
Dobar Dan!
Hope all is well and Happy Thanksgiving. I went to LA to view Brenda Brkusic’s film, and I was amazed and thrilled at the job she accomplished. The music was also wonderful! Not only was the film and epic account of her father’s story, but it also brought you into his desperate life and the complex life of the others in a former Yugoslavia. My father also had to escaped, and one day I would like to write a book detailing his journey to America, and yes, a documentary would ultimately be my goal. Brenda and I have that in common, and it’s really special because without our fathers having the courage and faith to escape, we possibility wouldn’t be living in America.
I really hope that Croatian pays homage to the ones who died in the name of freedom or died vowing never to bow down to the communists. I am truly in love with my heritage.
LA was really a fantastic time, but meeting Brenda was really special.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg to travel to Croatia in Olympic bid
November 29, 2004, 1:41 PM EST
NEW YORK (AP) _ Mayor Michael Bloomberg will travel to Croatia on Friday to present the city's bid for the 2012 Olympics to a group of European Olympic committees.
Bloomberg said Monday he will travel with a group of advisers to the Croatian city of Dubrovnik, site of a meeting of the 48-nation European National Olympic Committees.
Representatives of candidate cities are allowed to meet with members of the International Olympic Committee at the conference.
The IOC will announce which nation will host the 2012 Games on July 6.
Besides New York, four European capitals _ London, Paris, Madrid and Moscow _ are bidding for 2012.
Dalmacijo Singers and Novi Stari Tamburasi on Dec 3rd
Holiday pop
Dalmacijo Singers and Novi Stari Tamburasi. Christmas carols from Croatia. 8 p.m. Dec. 3. St Joseph's Catholic Church, 582 Hope St., Mountain San Jose.View. Free.
Telecom Paper , Netherlands 34.4 percent or 1.2 million people of the Croatian population older than 15 years uses internet at least once per month, according to a survey by GfK Croatia. ...
U Tarpon Spring, malom turistickom mjestu sjeverno od St. Petersburga, na Floridi, Kruno je kao i obicno bio glasan u razgovoru s prijateljima na hrvatskom jeziku. Jedan gospodin ga je zaustavio: "Da li ste vi gospodin Kruno Masina?" "Da, to sam ja, gospodine". Na to ovaj kaze: "Slusao sam vas kroz niz godina na hrvatskom radiju u New Yorku, sada sam prepoznao vas glas, no nikada nisam imao priliku sresti vas sto mi je sada velika zadovoljstina. Cestitam vam na uspjesnom radu, koji je uvijek podizao duh nasih zemljaka i u najtezim trenutcima za Hrvatsku".
Kruno je umro 18tog Studenog ove godine na putu iz jedne bolnice u druhu, iz Splita u Zadar, od zlocudnog raka, koji ga je ubijao kroz zadnjih nekoilko mjeseci.
Kruno Masina je bio, nakon bijega iz komunizma, zatvora, tegoba izbjeglickog zivota po svijetu (Italija, Francuska, te konacno U.S.A.) preko 30 godina voditelj programa hrvatskog radija u New Yorku. Imao je dvije ljubavi u zivotu: jedna, njegova draga supruga Mira, s kojom je organizirao mnoge proteste Hrvata u New Yorku, Washingtonu i drugdje. Druga njegova ljubav je bila posvetiti sve slobodno vrijeme hrvatskoj ideji za samostalnost. Nikada nije imao materijalne koristi radeci na tom dugom i mukotrpnom putu. Kruno je bio niz godina "Vijecnik" u "Hrvatskom Vijecu", koje je jedna od najjacih organizacija Dijaspore, a cija je rijec cesto bila odlucujuca za probleme u Hrvatskoj. Ta organizacija je imala izuzetan utjecaj na upoznavanju americke javnosti i Administracije o dogadajima u nasoj Domaji, Hrvatskoj.
Godine 1966. dosao je sa suprugom kao umirovljenik na Floridu, gdje se je ubrzo nasao u krugu svojih prijatelja Hrvata, a i mnogih mjestana njegovog dragog Preka iz otoka Ugljana. Tu je odmah, kao ugledan rodoljub, aktivirao se u hrvatske klubove, gdje je kao izvanredan govornik i voditelj ("Master of Ceremony") zagovarao hrvatsku ideju samostalnosti, cije je ostvarenje konacno i docekao! Priznanje za njegov dugogodisnji rad bilo mu je dato da bude voditelj programa prigodom posjeta Americi naseg Predsjednika Stjepana Mesica.
Kruno i njegova draga supruga odlucili su vratiti se u Domovinu, u njihov voljeni rodni kraj, u Domovinu koja je sada slobodna, a kojoj su posvetili cijeli zivot. Nakon dolaska, kupili su dom u Zadru, koji gleda prema moru, sto je bio niihov zivotni san.
Sudbina je, mozda, odredila da taj veliki/mali covjek dode umrijeti tamo, gdje mu je ljubav i srce bilo, u toj divnoj nasoj Hrvatskoj, na tom divnom nasem Jadranu. Mozda je tako bolje!
These two articles appeared prior to the Tamburitzan performance in Hilton Head, NC in October.
Tamburtizans at arts center
What's Up? Your community events guide for Oct. 25-31. Carolina Morning News
The Tamburitzans, a troupe of young folk artists from Duquesne University, perform Saturday at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina on Hilton Head Island.
The troupe has a 67-year history, making it America's longest-running multicultural song and dance company.
Named after the tamburitza family of stringed folk instruments, the 37-member troupe specializes in the music, songs and dances of Eastern Europe. Each year, choreographers and linguists from Russia to Croatia are brought in to teach the student artists a new program of songs and dances. The students also learn how to play such diverse instruments as the bandura, tambura, gadulka and cimbalom.
The 400 elaborate costumes used in this year's show are all original reproductions of ethnic dress from Slovenia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Transylvania, Slovakia, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Greece and the Ukraine.
In addition to the show, the troupe will conduct a master class for local dance students from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday. This folk dance workshop for ages 12-adult will include dance steps, combinations, styles and choreography from Eastern European countries. The cost is $20 for students and $25 for adults.
Reservations can be made through the Arts Center education office at 686-3945 ext. 222 or 233.
Tickets for the Tamburitzans' 8 p.m. performance are $29 for adults, $20 for children younger than 16, and may be purchased at the box office or by phone with a credit card by calling 842-ARTS (2787).
Tamburitzans take audiences on musical journey through Eastern Europe
Hilton Head Island Carolina Morning News
Paul Stafura expects his troupe of talented young folk artists to get a standing ovation when they perform Saturday at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina.
The Duquesne University students, know as the Tamburitzans, have been earning the exuberant gesture of praise from audiences across the country for 67 years, making them America's longest-running multicultural song and dance company.
"It's that kind of show," said Stafura, managing director of the group. "They perform riveting dances that are high-energy and high-impact. It's jam-packed entertainment."
Named after the tamburitza family of stringed folk instruments, the 37-member troupe specializes in the music, songs and dances of Eastern Europe. Each year, choreographers and linguists from Russia to Croatia are brought in to teach the student artists a new program of songs and dances.
The students also learn how to play such diverse instruments as the bandura, tambura, gadulka and cimbalom.
"We bring Europe to us," said Stafura, who started as a Tamburitzan in 1967 and has been working with the company the last 31 years. "We're here to entertain, but we keep everything authentic from the costume pieces to the dances to the way we present them."
The 400 elaborate costumes used in this year's show are all original reproductions of ethnic dress from Slovenia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Transylvania, Slovakia, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Greece and the Ukraine.
This year's program includes a waltz and several polkas from Slovenia, a medley of humorous love songs from Bulgaria, a Serbian instrumental for the clarinet and a slapping, clapping fiery dance from Hungary.
Venturing beyond the Slavic borders, the group also will perform an Irish dance.
"It's a little bit of River Dance," Stafura said. "It's a wonderful piece that shows off our tap dancers."
The students, who receive substantial scholarship awards to the university, spend 25 days in the summer at the Tamburitzans' headquarters in Pittsburgh rehearsing from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. to prepare for the show.
"It's grueling," Stafura said. "It's like boot camp."
Starting in August, the troupe takes to the road every weekend, performing some 80 concerts a year.
"We'll travel 40,000 miles before it's all over," Stafura said. "What's amazing is that these are all full-time students - and 68 percent of them are on the Dean's List."
While there are several numbers that feature a duet or quartet, most of the sets involve six to 12 couples jumping, whirling and spinning in a spectacular kaleidoscope of color. The closing numbers for both the first and second act showcase the entire troupe with 24 of the members dancing and the rest singing and playing instruments.
"One of the unique traits of this ensemble is that they multitask," Stafura said. "You'll see someone singing one minute and dancing the next."
All of the music is live and each song is performed in the language and dialect of the country it represents.
"There's something for everyone," Stafura said. "Children are captivated by the movement and sound. It's a great show for the whole family."
In addition to the show, the troupe will conduct a master class for local dance students from 1-3 p.m. Saturday. This folk dance workshop for ages 12 to adult will include dance steps, combinations, styles, and choreography. The cost is $20 for students and $25 for adults.
Reservations can be made through the arts center education office at 686-3945, ext. 222 or 233.
Tickets for the Tamburitzans' 8 p.m. performance are $29 for adults, $20 for children younger than 16, and may be purchased at the arts center box office or by calling 842-ARTS (2787).
THE Bahrain national Hoi Jeon Moo Sool team will vie for glory at the World Championship which takes place today in Cancun, Mexico.
A total of 12 countries - South Korea, US, Finland, Spain, Oman, Canada, Brazil, the UAE, France, Croatia, Mexico and Bahrain are in the fray for this one-day event.
The 20-member team underwent the weighing-in procedures yesterday and are ready to compete with top martial arts players from across the world.
Mohammed Bakhsh, Ammar Rafei, Mahdi Farhadi and Mahmood Al Shuala will take part in the first dan black belt competition, while Ahmed Janahi, Mohammed Isa, Mohammed Habib and Mohammed Al Bastaki are in the fray for the second and third dan contest.
Rafei, Al Shuala, Habib, Salah Al Kharraz and Faisal Taqi will participate in the free style competition.
In the sword demonstration event, Al Shuala, Habib, Al Kharraz, Taqi and Hamad Al Bastiki will be in the fray, while Taqi will take part in the stick demonstration contest.
Seven team members - Jamal Al Khaldi, Al Shuala, Mohammed Farooq, Mohammed Isa, Hussain Ahmed, Al Kharraz and Taqi will participate in the self defence contest.
The final competition will be the special kicks in which 10 players will be taking part. They are Rafei, Al Shuala, Habib, Al Kharraz, Taqi, Bakhsh, Mohammed Merza, Jamal Al Mutawa, Janahi and Isa.
The Bahraini team started their preparations two months ago at the Hoi Jeon Moo Sool Gym located on Budaiya highway next Bahrain International Hospital under their eighth Dan black belt Korean coach Kang Kio Sig.
The delegation is headed by team manager Yousef Al Taho and includes coach Sig, administrator Sanad Al Mutawa and physiotherapist King Huan Yang.
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