Zagreb

The training today was exhausting. We were in the same conference room in the court for nearly eight hours, under the harsh fluorescent lights. But it was very interesting. Most of the time, I was just watching and listening to Ericka and Gaby teach. It a useful refresher in mediation skills and I even brushed up on my facilitation skills—and not only as a spectator! Ericka and Gaby asked me introduce one of the mediation exercises so I was able to participate in the training as a facilitator, even if it was just for a few minutes. The added challenge of the simultaneous translation forced me to slow down, which was very useful since one of my flaws as a facilitator is my tendency to speak too quickly.

This evening, after a full day of training, I bought a small paper cone of hot roasted chestnuts and took a long walk around Zagreb. I strolled along the cobblestone streets without a map, just guided by my curiosity and desire to experience the city. I came upon a path leading uphill and decided to follow it. After a steep climb, I stumbled upon the historic centre of Zagreb. Perched on a hill, old Zagreb offered striking views over the new part of the city. From this perspective, the city looked sprawling but still somehow quaint, despite the ugly billboards and austere Soviet architecture that dominated parts of downtown.