A young Mexican man, José Carlos, traded his warm homeland for Sokobanja. He moved from Cancun to the spa town under Mount Ozren four years ago and stayed because of love.
Teodora and José, now both residents of Sokobanja, show that love can easily overcome cultural differences, language barriers, and a distance of 10,000 kilometers.
Their love story began in China, where they were working different jobs. However, due to the COVID-19 situation, they each returned to their home countries.
“At that time, I thought that if I had to go through a tough period, I wanted it to be with her, so I came to Serbia. After COVID, having gotten to know Serbia, its people, and the lifestyle here, I decided to stay,” said José Carlos.
“My family accepted him very well. As for my friends, he gets along with everyone, and he’s best friends with my brother. They’re just like two best buddies,” said Teodora Ristić.
“Serbia is a beautiful country with a rich history. When we visited some fortresses, I really wanted to learn more about all of it. I saw that Serbia holds an important place in history, with significant events and battles that happened here, and it’s amazing how this heritage is preserved,” said the Mexican.
His wife noted that he loves Serbia’s natural beauty and mountains because in the regions where he comes from, there’s no snow, and it’s always warm.
After four years in Sokobanja, José has adopted some of the local customs and habits.
“Mexicans don’t have slavas, and at first, he found it strange, but now he can’t wait to attend one,” said Teodora.
“Here in the family, everyone takes care of each other, just like in Mexico. The food is fantastic. I love that there’s a lot of meat and constant gatherings, big lunches with lots of guests. There’s always a reason to celebrate,” emphasized José Carlos, adding that he loves Serbia, rakija, and his wife.
Teodora and José make personalized gifts and decorations with a CNC machine. José is learning Serbian, but so far, he has only mastered the basics.
They work, travel, and plan to grow their family in their home in Sokobanja.
MORE TOPICS:
INTERVIEW, HUSA: How Džej (Jay) prevented bloodshed on Belgrade’s streets in the 1990s (VIDEO)
Source: Blic, Photo: Printscreen RTS