The schoolmates married on an exotic island after 50 years

That life is directed by special films and writes extraordinary novels confirm Zdravko Gutić and Momir Knezevic from Sarajevo with address in New Caledonia, who went to the same grade in the elementary and high school, then did not see 50 years, and then after a couple of meetings were married last year, the "golden age".

When a journalist in his profession encounters a novel-life story and happy people seem to have a New Year's days - during which express the beautiful wishes and expects to years in which we have recently entered brings the realization of plans, dreams and desires - the right time to first separate life stories, and then shared the story spouses Zdravka and Momir presented as an example of that, though, fate, karma or believers predestination everything leads us in the direction that we "see".

At the beginning of the conversation that I have with spouses bus in Sarajevo, where they arrived during the New Year and Christmas holidays, the question of where the people of Sarajevo, Momir Knezevic in New Caledonia, overseas territory of France with around 230,000 inhabitants, located in Melanesia in the southwest Pacific, about 1,500 km east of Australia and 2,000 kilometers north of New Zealand.

" Upon completion of the dam in Queensland, I received several offers from which the most attractive was the Director of the Project construction of large dams in New Caledonia. Not a second I did not hesitate in accepting the offer, attracted by lifestyle rather than material gain, " explains interlocutor.

When asked what life in New Caledonia, an island in the Pacific Ocean, Momir replies that it is a country of smiling people who will not pass each other without saying goodbye, know you or not, the country with the most beautiful sunsets, flora and fauna, breathtaking, with turquoise sea within the coral lagoons, white sand beaches and climate, two seasons, summer with the maximum temperature around 32 ° C and "winter" with a minimum temperature of about 20 ° C. This is New Caledonia.

The life paths are diverse and often spread across the globe. Momir ancestors came from Montenegro in Sarajevo. A town on the Miljacka Momir went to the US on business and was inhabited for decades around the world.

With a laugh and a remark to her husband Zdravko sometimes presented as Crnogorac because of his character, Momir said to be "real" Montenegrins his deceased parents.

"My grandfather (Knezevic) and his brother lived in Sarajevo in 1918 and is in the midst of today's pedestrian zone, Štrosmajer streets. I was born in Sarajevo, lived in Bosnia and Herzegovina by the end of December 1991, including three foreign labor episodes, from 1 to 4 years in Iraq and Libya on projects (construction sites) Hidrogradnja Sarajevo, which I was an employee from 1978 to mid in 1992. but then because of the situation in the country, that we as a family of four, caught in Libya, at your own risk (with $ 3000 in his pocket), we set off into the world adventure " , begins to recite Momir his life story.

After already performed tasks, HEMREN dams with hydro and Bekhme hydroelectric power plants in Iraq (Asia), Visegrad dam and hydroelectric power plants in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Europe) and the system of water supply nine cities in Libya (Africa), continued to repeat engagement Momir Knezevic in the global construction industry, in the project for the project, the state of the country ... Grand Hotel Excelsior - Malta (Europe), expansion of the mine and refinery uranium - Rocksby Downs (South Australia), "Hisense" sports Arena in Melbourne (Victoria), telecommunication projects - Sydney (New South Wales) and Eidsvold dams for the purpose of water supply - Brisbane (Queensland).

"His working career I ended up as a builder of dams Kwe West in New Caledonia, which I, after four continents" registers "and geographic region Oceania" , summarizes Momir Knezevic his career BA. Civil Engineers.

The implication is, with respect to such engagement on different continents and in different climates, the question of what is particularly remembered from the profession.

"A lot more I remember the challenges me all the time monitored through my career, but some that say," personal success ". Projects that I singled out are, above all, my debut HEMREN dams and hydroelectric power plants in Iraq that I, as the director of the project, together with his team, and over a thousand workers successfully completed in 1983. The dam was completed one year ahead of schedule, and hydroelectric power plants in the agreed period , "said interlocutor.

The next challenge that stands out is taking responsibility for the design and construction of one of the most luxurious hotels in Malta, "Grand Hotel Exselsior" in mid-1992, after leaving Libya on the way, he says, in suspense.

"This responsibility indulged himself in his greatest professional adventure, because it was the most complex reinforced concrete complex ever built by some of the Maltese company, and by the way, not my knowledge of English was not at a high level, while the local (Maltese language) I never spoke nor understood. The biggest problem could arise due to lack of knowledge of the local market resources (labor, materials, equipment, ...). No matter how risky this is a unique opportunity to enter in a big way in the global construction equipment and give my best to succeed in the realization of this great task, which happened ", describes Momir Knezevic their business challenges and successes.

However, he says that the construction of dams, hydroelectric power plants was and still is his passion that continues to conduct training of younger colleagues, as well as through active involvement in national and international committees and commissions on Large Dams.

"I have my foreign colleagues often knew to tell the story of Mehmed Pasha Sokolovic bridge over the Drina and the Nobel prize Ivo Andric in the book that talks about when it was built. My story would end "the hope" that one day someone get Nobel Prize for a book about the time of building the Visegrad dam, which is located only three kilometers upstream from the bridge , "he says with a smile builder of numerous hydroelectric power plants and other large facilities around the world.

In business career Momir Knezevic private life meant the family adaptation field engagement and life at different addresses in the world. Although it sounds like a phrase that life is a novelist, story Momir Knezevic looks more exciting than literary and movie content.

"I believe that in my life story could draw several books of various genres. Although I "manic" loved his job and taught him to the last shred of energy, family is always first. Without the support of the family would not have been my extremely exciting life. From country to country and from project to project, we were always together until they son and daughter started making their own family. There is no greater satisfaction for parents than children perform in real time, after which the two life companion can be left to age relaxation.

There could be no better place than New Caledonia for something. Then, after 10 years of a mythical life in this paradise, wicked disease and loss of life companions. For me it meant the end of my life. From depression I pulled my conscience to work because they had to put an end to the construction of the largest dam in my career, and even more than that, a sense of responsibility towards children and grandchildren. And then there was the meeting with my schoolmate of mine Zdravko ", Says Momir and the continuation of the current marriage story leaves his wife Zdravko which clarifies that it is the beginning of a wonderful friendship started organizing High School Reunion.

"We are, finding over the internet. I got a request for friendship on Facebook Momir Knezevic. Since that moment I have not been able to remember when I asked a common friend Facebook when it is. She said our Momo, do you not remember? I asked: that little black Momo, because he was one of the smallest boy in the class. Views'm pictures from 4th grade of primary school and the second and 3.razred gymnasiums and recognized the "small" Mom, who is in the middle 4.razred rose sharply. We have become Facebook friends. And after 50 years, the first time we met in 2014 at the reunion that had come from New Caledonia ", tells a new and common life Story Zdravko, who is to marry for Momir life spent in Sarajevo.

The next meeting was in 2016 with a friendly coffee in Sarajevo, when they first talked about their lives before and after the loss of life of people traveling.

"We have seen a few more times that would have helped him to resolve the administrative work in the city, due to problems he encountered. One trip to promote his book "In Search of Lost City" Aleksandar Obradovic has changed our relationship. As I mentioned before that it is very difficult to be alone, I told him suggested that he meet with her friend. His answer was that if he chose to be with someone, that'll be me. Of course I was stunned and I received more as a joke. This was followed by the departure by a document in Visegrad, the place where it used to build a hydropower plant. It was an opportunity to talk about serious things, because we do then constantly joking around like paradise. On the way back, with lunch is proposed to try living together, which meant my trip to New Caledonia. It was for me a shock,Said Zdravko.

He explains that someone who lived alone 14 years after the death of her husband, does not bring such a decision easily.

"Acquires the bachelor habits, comfort, do what you like, you have your friends, hiking. Then Momo stated reasons why they should be together and get married if we see that we can together. Time there was a lot to think about, because it was left a little to his return. For my decision were crucial two things. The first was that I looked at him as a man and not as a friend and was one plus for the decision. Another thing was that I fit his character, we had a lot in common. I decided to take chances. I Momirova and my children have accepted the decision we made and I embarked on an adventure. Arrival at the Pacific island of 18,000 km away was like coming into a postcard with tourist brochures of exotic countries. Life together, Relaxing atmosphere has led to develop and love that resulted exotic wedding. And here lasts and nice to us together. It's still nicer in two ", Simple and honest story of Zdravko "your side" common story in the second marriage.

And her husband Momir Knezevic on closing journalist's remark that he was a resident of the world and the question of where she fits in, a positive response to the declared and presented as a citizen of the world, and it belongs where it is currently the house, which, he says with a laugh, apparently quite a traveling .

"From February 1 last year when I started retirement life, Zdravko and I plan to spend six months a year in the South Pacific (New Caledonia and Australia), and six months in Europe, based in Sarajevo in conjunction with London," he says at the end of the conversation Sarajevans Momir Knezevic, a graduate engineer with 40 years of professional experience in multidisciplinary projects in the construction and telecommunications in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Libya, Malta, Australia and New Caledonia. These projects include the construction of dams, hydroelectric power plants, water supply systems and reservoirs, metallurgical processing plants, tunnels, roads, bridges, hotels, hospitals, stadiums and telecommunications wire line and wireless networks.

• 7 Jan, 2018
• 2327 views