Written by
Last year, the Belgrade Statistical office carried out a survey of foreigners in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia – there were around 7000. One of them is Bill Kralovec, a 41-years-old man, who is the Secondary Principal of the International School of Belgrade (ISB).
Founded in downtown Belgrade in 1948 by the wife of the British Ambassador, Lady Peak, the International School of Belgrade is an independent and co-educational school of over 400 international students. Currently 57 different nationalities are represented in the International School of Belgrade. ISB offers the primary years program in English for students in early years (age 3) through grade 9 - 12 (ages 15 – 18).
Bill Kralovec is originally from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USA and recently moved to Belgrade, where he lives with his wife, Nadia, a 31-years-old Australian and their three children, Owen (age 5), Oliver (age 4), and Ocean (18 months). He has worked in international schools for the past 16 years in Barranquilla, Colombia, Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Perth, Western Australia. After 6 years in Anaco, Venezuela, he decided to leave, and accepted a contract offer from the International School of Belgrade, in Serbia. Of course, he had many questions and concerns in moving a large family to Serbia.
"It was the first time we had to move with children. All three kids were born in Venezuela. Nadia also turned down a grade 3 teaching position. We were first worried if we could make it financially without Nadia working. Then in May a Kinder teaching position opened and then we worried about finding a nanny. Nadia also had a negative impression of Serbia from observations from leaving expats. I was concerned if I had taken a step down moving from Director to Principal. The photos of the house were also not pleasing. We were worried if we made the right decision."
What he found inside Serbia, was not a dangerous country filled with inhospitable people, but instead a safe country with plenty to do for children:
"Now, a year later and six months into our new life in Serbia, we feel we made the right decision. We found Vera Tutuš, who turned out to be a hard-working, trustworthy nanny for Ocean and our home. She not only watches Ocean, but does a majority of the domestic chores. I am renewed
with the challenges of a new, larger school. I was getting stale in Venezuela. We also were pleasantly surprised at how nice Belgrade and the Serbians turned out to be. It is a safe country with plenty to do for children."
Want to know more about Bill Kralovec life in Serbia? He is also a blogger. He expresses opinions and talks about almost everything, life in Belgrade, his kids, types of gasoline in Serbia, mall in Belgrade, and taking swimming lessons "I highly recommend the swimming club to anyone. Owen is the only foreigner, but we are treated very well by all. That is one thing that everyone always says about the Serbs here in Belgrade, they are really nice." It's a well worth reading blog about Serbia and Belgrade. Enjoy absolutely amazing pictures of Belgrade. A must see blog!
(click on the link at the left side of the screen).