Sergej was walking along the seafront in Herceg Novi, breathing in the salty air of the Adriatic Sea. His steps echoed softly on the stone pavement, while his gaze was fixed far away, beyond the horizon, where the dark sky merged with the smooth surface of the sea. He had been living in Montenegro for several years, but he increasingly asked himself: how could he, a man who grew up among the cold winds of Russia, apply his intellect and experience as an IT specialist to improve this country?
"Montenegro... an amazing place. Proud mountains and a warm sea, but how much it lacks modern technologies and structures that would take it to a new level," he mused to himself, glancing at people leisurely strolling along the shore. It seemed they enjoyed every moment, but Sergej could see a silence and a certain stagnation behind it.
He mentally transported himself to Luxembourg. That small city-state — an example of how even a small nation can become the center of the financial world. In his mind, Sergej imagined the glass skyscrapers glistening in the morning sun, millions of transactions taking place every second, like blood flowing through the veins of the global economy.
"That's where I could thrive," he thought. "I would create a platform for secure financial operations. Clean infrastructure, transparency, reliability — that would bring Montenegro success in the modern world. And here, we could open the door for startups, attracting smart people from all over the world. Turning Herceg Novi into an IT hub... But not like Luxembourg. Montenegro is not the center of Europe. Its path is different."
Sergej's thoughts shifted to Slovenia — a country he had been admiringly studying in recent months. There, among the green forests and quiet valleys, Slovenia had found a balance between nature and development. He imagined how he could create a project that would combine ecology and technology. For example, an app for sustainable tourism, helping people carefully use resources while respecting nature. In Slovenia, everything seemed to be in its place: nature, economy, and people. A country where everything was seemingly built for life in harmony with the world.
"But what about Montenegro?" he asked himself, returning to reality. Gentle waves were hitting the shore, and in the distance, the mountains were already visible, like guardians of this land. "Mountains, sea, clean air — that's its greatest treasure. Something unique could be created here, blending the beauty of nature and intellectual possibilities. If only people began to think globally, like in Slovenia. After all, they are also Slavs; they understand the importance of tradition and peace."
He stopped, turned towards the sea, and closed his eyes for a moment. Before his inner vision appeared images of ancient Slavic tribes, who had lived on the Balkans for millennia. They were wise; they knew how important peace was and how crucial it was to find balance with nature and oneself.
"Maybe that’s the way," Sergej reflected. "To take intellect, the ability to think globally, and combine it with what already exists here. Warm sea, mountains, light. Not to build skyscrapers, but networks. Technological networks that will enrich both people and nature."
He opened his eyes and smiled. "Peace and light in the soul — that is balance. As the ancient Slavs knew: 'Where there is light in the soul, there is peace; where there is peace, there is strength for ages. In harmony with the earth and sky, man finds power, and a nation finds its future.'"
Sergej felt that he had found the answer. His place was here, among the mountains and the sea, and his mission was not just to bring in technology, but to help Montenegro find its path to peace and harmony while preserving its soul.
A Russian in the Balkans
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