What do we bring with us when we return? Stories from our September Meetup

Our September gathering brought us back to the familiar setting of Gallery N.EON, but, as always, into a slightly different community. New faces, people returning from different parts of the world, and conversations connecting experiences from Serbia and abroad once again came together in one place.

This time, we were especially glad to have the opportunity to hear from Marija Nedeljković in person, a scholarship recipient of Returning Point and the PEXIM Foundation, who recently returned to Belgrade after completing her master’s degree at the University of Cambridge and a professional internship.

We had previously come to know her story through our emails and posts, and this time we had the opportunity to hear it directly from her: about life and studying in the UK, the people who influenced her there, and what it is like to return home with new knowledge, experiences, and a different perspective on the world.

The conversation then naturally expanded to what comes after an international experience: how it continues to shape our everyday lives and work in Serbia, what becomes important to us when we return, and how the knowledge, connections, and ideas we gain abroad can find their place here. This is where space for exchange opens up, because everyone who returns brings their own story with them, and every new encounter can take that story in an entirely new direction.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. See you at the next MeetUp!