Don’t be offended if freshman volleyball player Katarina Raicevic forgets to say thank you.
It’s only one of the countless adjustments she has had to make since traveling almost 6,000 miles from Belgrade, Serbia, to Baton Rouge.
The distance was a small factor to consider for Raicevic, who could not pass up the opportunity to combine a college education with her passion for volleyball — a chance most student-athletes take for granted.
“That opportunity to have school and volleyball at the same time is amazing,” Raicevic said. “In Europe, you either go club or go to school. Here you have a scholarship and then playing volleyball at the same time. It’s amazing and a really good experience for me.”
Cultural differences abound in the move from Serbia to the United States. Raicevic said one of the most drastic changes has been communication.
“It’s a big adjustment from Serbian language to English,” Raicevic said. “I only learned English in high school, and I never had an opportunity to speak English.”
The changes don’t stop at culture. The major differences between the European style of volleyball and the traditional American style has manifested itself to Raicevic in the first month of her time at LSU. 
Raicevic said she’s had to learn how to do things considered routine for American volleyball players like calling for the ball and communicating rotations with teammates.
“In Serbia, we don’t do that,” Raicevic said. “Volleyball in Europe is so simple — we just play on the outside, the right side and in the middle, but here, people are moving around all the time.”
The sheer volume and quality of practice equipment has also made quite the impression on Raicevic.
“All the facilities we have is a little bit crazy for me,” Raicevic said. “In Serbia, we only have 10 balls at practice. I came here and we have all of this stuff to help me.”
Raicevic said that all of the new experiences have helped her progression as a player and she’s excited to continue taking advantage of what LSU volleyball has to offer.
The coaches have been taking special care to make sure the Serbian’s transition is as seamless as possible, said Raicevic.
“She has come along a whole lot faster than I thought,” LSU coach Fran Flory said at media day in August. “She’s pretty close now, and we are pretty excited about what she can add.”
Despite all the differences she’s been experiencing, Raicevic takes pride in blazing a path for future European volleyball players to make the trip to the United States.
“All these people around me make it easier to play,” Raicevic said. “I see how I’m getting better and better in volleyball because of the school.”
The language barrier wasn’t enough to keep her from feeling the hospitality and kindness that the South is known for.
Raicevic is eager to join in on the tradition — just help her along.
“People here, I think especially in Louisiana are more like ‘Thank you’ and ‘You’re welcome,’” Raicevic said. “Sometimes I forget to say those things so people have to remind me.”