July 1st, 2011 Part1 @Belgrade, Serbia
“LiceUlice” has double-meaning; if you read it “Lice U Lice,” it means “Face To Face,” and if you do “Lice Ulice,” it does “Face of the Street.”
The conversation with a former play-wright and current editor-in-chief of the street magazine, Saki, made me feel like I was on a stage of witty play.
Dialogue went on like this;
Saki: Buying ‘LiceUlice’ helps many people, and reading ‘LiceUlice’ helps yourself.
Me: Wow, That’s the good one! I would love to steal it!
Saki: Help yourself!
When I mentioned the stylish graphic design of “LiceUlice,” Saki told me that design was like a Trojan horse. “The design is pay-attentioner and it makes people to come closer to the message we would love to convey.”
Saki said that they would love to put 30 percent of locals and 70 percent of international contents especially from former YugoSlavia countries, with a collaboration of Croatian “Ulične svjetiljke,” Slovenian “Kralji Ulice,” and Macedonian “Ulica.”
“Lately, capitalism and globalism is showing us the ugly face. We would love to pursuit some alternative ways of living, such as co-existing with diversities. Our message is always Humanity and Solidarity.”

June 30th, 2011 @ Belgrade, Serbia
How many people did I ask the way to the office of street magazine, “LiceUlice?”
The reason why I get lost easily here in Belgrade is due to Cyrillic alphabet. The map I have is written in English, on the other hand, the letter on the street sign is in Cyrillic alphabet…
The kindness of the people here, however, always saved my life. Everybody is nice enough to show me the way and I managed to get to the destination.
Nikoleta, a staff of the Belgrade-based street magazine welcomed me at the office. The Serbian media has just got birth in July 2010. As soon as a famous actor here spotted “Notabene” in Slovakia, he was eager to get launched one in his country. He came over to a social enterprise, SMartKolekvit and this mother organization created the first issue of “LiceUlice.” Most of the vendors are Roma youngsters, they say.
Nikoleta herself worked as a copywriter before, however, “It was the most aweful job I’ve ever experienced” she said. “Job here is worth doing because you can contribute to the change of a society.”

June 25th, 2011 @ Budapest, Hungary
A social worker of Flaszter, Csaba revealed that he wanted to become a sociologist when he was younger. Watching his heart-warming handshakes with vendors, however, made me think that he is more social worker than sociologist.
Called Pearl of Danube, this beautiful town, Budapest got launched a law, which put fine on sleeping in a park. “If you sleep on the street of Budapest, it will cost as much as a luxurious hotel along Danube river,” Csaba said sarcasticly.
Getting on a tram running along the deep river, I gazed at the surface of water.

June 24th, 2011 @Bratislava, Slovakia---Budapest, Hungary
I apologized for one hour train delay, and a social worker of Flaszter, Csaba and a vendor Zoltan welcomed me warmly.
Zoltan, who has been selling the magazine since 1996, said, “Because of alcohol, I lost, home family, job…everything.”
Thanks to Flaszter, however, he began renting a room and was able to meet his two daughters again. “Our mutual friend let my daughters know that I was not an alcoholic any more and got another job.”
Losing everything once, but piling up again. When talking about his daughters, Zoltan showed big smile for the first time.

June 22nd, 2011 Part2 @Bratislava, Slovakia
Seven o’clock at Bratislava. Went to watch a theater called KUKA PACA with Zuza, a staff of Notabene.
As soon as the curtain was unfolded, a shadow appeared in darkness, shouting “Life is a game.” Six people spilled their own proverbs and the light came onto the viewers, with a line, “And where are you?”
Proceeding the opening, there is a conversation of a couple at a stage of annui, a dialogue with a mid-aged woman and a dog, a heart-breaking rap by a youngster, and so on. Life mosaic by various people was depicted.
KUKA PACA, whose actors are all homeless people, has just celebrated fifth anniversary in this May. Jelka, who is a vendor of Notabene played a role of a woman who revealed her feeling only to a dog. “What I played is what I am. I’m still afraid of speaking out what I’m thinking to others.” “But…,” Zuza interrupted. “Jelka wrote the script of next show.” WOW…Brilliant!
Patrick, who has been involved with this project says, “Their way of expression is direct and simple. I feel like they know how to survive their lives. All the lines of the show, including the rap were created by themselves. It’s so amazing that I could witness their process of creating.”
After thirty minutes’ performance, all the actors were in a conversation with viewers.

June 22nd, 2011 Part1 @Bratislava, Slovakia
A vendor of Slovakian street paper, Notabene, Vlada has been selling it since the beginning. Raised at an orphanage, he said, “I have never experienced love of parents.” Though he was working at a factory, its laid-off made him jobless and homeless at the same time.
Having gone through trials on the street, such as some attacks by youngsters, the life as a rough-sleeper never brought him a peaceful moment.
The happiest moment in his life was the encounter with Notabe, he said. Though I asked,"What was the hardest moment during working," he answered, "Nothing hard. The Previous life was much more harsh."
Living at a garden cottage with his friends, currently, Vlada seems really enjoying the precious friendships build here in Notabene community. “I don’t have any dreams now, but I just want to live to the fullest,” Vlada said.

June 21st, 2011 @Bratislava, Slovakia
The birth year of Notabene is 2001. “Ten years! Time really flies!” Sandra kind of shouted. “My work is so related to my life. I have learnt almost everything from my work.”
She took one of the examples. Six years ago, there was a social issue here, which was twenty homeless people died on the street. Back then, there was an alcohol test before allowing to stay at the shelter, and the only place where people who rejected could go was frozen street.
“My coworker Nina and I was tackling and campaigning this problem, but some people were so cold-hearted. I almost gave up, but Nina said, ‘How can we allow people to die on the street in 21st century?!’” Sandra said. Nina’s belief moved peoples’ hearts and a shelter permit all the people even under the influence to stay in. “I witnessed your belief would move people and the situation itself. Since then it has been one of my mottos. ‘You need to believe in what you are doing!’”