Destinacija - Adria Airways

ADRIA PassengerYou are enamoured with life. Everyone can feel it – everyone whoknows you or who is walking your new path with you. That was howthe film entitled Walking on Water came to be made.I was approached by director Marko Bratuš and producer Jani Sever, who wereinspired by my story to make a film about my life after the occurrence fouryears ago; they called it Walking on Water. They wanted to show the worldhow I face new challenges and maybe make an example for other people goingthrough a trying time in their lives.I said to myself that even if Ihelp one person to take his orher first steps, we will havesucceeded – but in the end, weachieved so much more. The filmhas been raising awareness ofthe fact that blind and partiallysighted people can enjoy thesame quality of life as sightedpeople. Moreover, the film hashad a positive effect on otherpeople, giving them renewedrespect for their own lives.I took the film crew along to meet many of my business partners and friends inMalaga, Berlin, Split, Paris and Milan. The film was released in June and has alsobeen broadcast on Slovenian TV.You achieved international success as a model and you continueto run a modelling agency today. What did it feel like to meet yourfriends and acquaintances in Paris and Milan and, for the first time,not be able to see them?It was emotional, relaxing and inspiring. It was my first visit to Paris since I lost mysight; with the help of my friends' descriptions, I was able to envisage the majesticarchitecture, bridges, palaces and the hustle and bustle of mysterious streets. Thepicture was complete when I sensed the smell of the city in the wind and shookthe hands of my friends. Even though it had been a long time since I had last metwith them, it felt like we had worked together just recently. After talking to me, myfriends said they could hardly believe that I really couldn't see, because I seemedcompletely the same as before, with the same energy and facial expressions.Have images, touches and smells taken on a new meaning for you?My sense of smell is much stronger now and my sense of touch is indispensable.I have grown to dislike intense scents such as perfumes. I prefer to focus onthe real scent of a person – it is more genuine and helps me to form a mentalimage. If there is anything I miss, it is images. Sitting in a cafe and watchingother people, their clothes, their behaviour. I also miss non-verbal communication– things that didn't need to be said and could be understood with a singleglance. Now I have to envisage all of it through words and conversations,44