© Peter Neher

Name: Jutta W.
Mother tongue: German
Occupation: Employee of a publishing company
My object: 2 espresso cups
My story about it:

These two cups are from Yugoslavia. We spent a number of nice holidays there when our kids were young. The long trip to the island of Korčula would not bother us, because we felt good at Marko’s place, spending evenings on his terrace with the view of the sea. He would often invite us for dinner, and his fish soup with rice was excellent.
Once we took a Jadrolinija ferry from Korčula to Dubrovnik, which is when I took these two cups. This was our last visit to Yugoslavia, the war broke out the following year.
My husband and I drank coffee from these cups for a long time until I realized that they have become slightly worn out. I put them away, to keep them as a souvenir.

The kids grew up. Our youngest daughter studied the South Slavic studies and married a Croat. During one of their visits, I remembered these cups again. They have long been out of use and put away in the cupboard. Now we always drink coffee from these cups when we are together. Then I think how things in life do work out sometimes. Often, when I hold them in my hand, I feel bitterness because Yugoslavia can no longer exist. I shudder at the thought that our seemingly orderly life is actually quite fragile.