Bajram

Though the actual celebration of Bajram happened about a month ago, I figured better late than never!
To celebrate this Muslim holiday I traveled with my host family to their home town, Tuzla. Over the course of the two days we spent there we visited almost all of their family living in the city, and with each visit we feasted on traditional home made food. The children are given money from all the older family members, and a lamb is sacrificed and shared with all the close relatives and friends of the family.

Hajmo Bosno, Bosno, Hajmo Hercegovino!

For the first time in Bosnian football history, the country's team is going to Brazil to play in the world cup tournament. On Tuesday the streets of almost every town were filled with fireworks, and people shouting "idemo u Brazil, idemo u brazil!!" The entire county celebrated this amazing achievement, I have never been a part of such enthusiasm!

Celebrations in Sarajevo after the game!

http://www.sigma.ba/novosti/video-ovo-je-video-o-bosni-i-hercegovini-i-nasim-zmajevima-zbog-kojeg-cete-se-najeziti/

Players after the game.

Home Sweet Home

Before I arrived to Sarajevo, almost two months ago, I heard "exchange is not a year in your life, but a life in a year" at first I did not understand the meaning of this, but over the last six weeks this phrase's meaning has become quite clear. Stepping off the plain I was a new born baby, completely depended on the kindness and generosity of the people around me. I had no idea how the speak the language, in fact the only thing I did know was I would be living with a family, who looked very nice in all the pictures I had seen, somewhere in Sarajevo.  Luckily I was surrounded by caring people who were more than happy to make the transition into my new life easy and painless. Now I like to consider my self a toddler. I can find my way around the city and with my limited bosnian vocabulary, a lot of hand gestures and some english I am able to communicate with the people around me. And like most small children I long for the day when I am grown up and able to live my life in this country like a native citizen, but for now I am very happy with where I am in my "exchange life." 

For the first time since I arrived I feel at home in Sarajevo, I  realized this when I came home from a week long trip with t my school to Spain, France and Italy. It was amazing, I saw places in Europe I have always wanted to see, but by the end of the week and especially by the end of the 18 hour bus ride home I was more than happy to be back in Sarajevo. Walking into my flat, seeing my family, and finally sleeping in my own bed was comforting, and relaxing, just like coming home to my house back in the states. 

čao, čao!! 

                                                  

Pictures, Finally!

zuto tabija over looking Sarajevo

The beginning of the river that runs through Sarajevo 

I love the parks here :) 

If I could take them all home, I would. 

Down Town

Down Town

Eternal Fire

Bosnians love their bread! 

Down Town

BBI Center

Mountain surrounding Sarajevo 

Škola

I did it, I made it through my first week of Bosnian High School! I have to admit being introduced in front of the entire class was a little nerve wracking, but I made it to my seat without stumbling over my nervous feet. The first day was very short, just one forty-five minute class in which we received our schedules and learned a little about our up coming excursion to Spain with short stops in Italy and France. As I expected High School here is a lot different than at home. Each grade is separated into different tracks; mathematics, science, social sciences and languages and within the tacks there are different classes. Each class has the same pre determined schedule and most of the teachers come to our class room instead of the students going to the teacher's room. As a teacher enters the room we are expected to stand up until they reach the front of the room, a simple sign of respect for our educators. School is attended in shifts, a morning and an evening alternating each week, second shift is by far the best, getting used to waking up at 10:00 on a school day will take no time at all!

In class I do not understand enough to gather what any of my teachers are saying. At times I can understand a few words and get the gist of what is being said, but mostly I write notes on subjects I look forward to understanding in a few months. I do recognized more words now, but it can get a little boring just sitting and listening for six hours at a time, however I always have breaks in between classes to look forward to. During this time I try and talk to my classmates, all of which are very kind to me. They help me with my pronunciation and learning more words, practice, practice, practice all the time!

Fifteen Minutes of Fame

Along with the first day of school came T.V and radio interviews,
much filming of me and the two other American Inbound students interacting in our new school, and more pictures than I could count!  It was all very exciting, here are the results of my short lived fame :)

Shown on Bosnian News:
http://www.tv1.ba/vijesti/bosna-i-hercegovina/dogadjaji/12035-ucenice-iz-sad-za-nastavak-skolovanja-odabrale-bih.html

Radio Interview:
http://www.radiosarajevo.ba/novost/123983/nocache

American Inbounds 

One Week Gone Already!

 I cannot believe how fast time is flying by already, it seems like just yesterday I was driving into the city for the very first time. Everything I am surrounded by is new to me, the people, the city, the food and most of all the language. I have learned to rely heavily on a polite smile and a nod as my most successful form of communication. This has proven to work quite nicely, but I cannot wait until I can converse with the people around me in Bosnian. With everything so new and unfamiliar there comes a sense of adventure and excitement, but during the down times when my mind is not busy absorbing the world around me I crave some form of familiarity. During these times spending time with my Rotary friends here in Sarajevo is so appreciated, no one understands the emotions of an exchange student better than another exchange student. I have not quite settled into day to day life, but it's happening slowly.

Every morning my host mom or the house keeper (I don't really know what to call her, she seems to be more part of the family than hired help) makes me breakfast before language class. The food here has been delicious. A lot of potatoes, beans and bread with cheese. My family has been so amazing about my vegetarian needs, preparing all sorts of traditional dishes without the meat. It is always interesting coming home to a freshly prepared meal, everything smells so different I never know what to expect. 

The city is huge compared to my home town, I have been toured around most of it, but I still cannot find my way to most things! Cafés and restaurants line the streets, people sipping coffee and smoking spill out over into the sidewalk. The buildings are all so different. Some still showing ware from the war stand next to newly constructed buildings. In the older parts of town structures from the Ottoman and Austro Hungarian are still in use.
So far the language has been the hardest for me. I understand a few words here and there, but talking to people outside my family still poses as a challenge. Yesterday I was able to ask my host mom where my brother was in bosnian (Gdje je Edin) a small feat, but still a step in the right direction! School starts in about a week and I am hoping being forced to use my little bit of Bosnian as my only source of communication will help speed along the process! 

Touchdown!

The first thing I saw as the plane descended into Sarajevo International Airport was the red roof tops of the houses speckling the sides of the big rolling mountains. This, as you can imagine, was a comforting sight after a long day of travel; I had finally made it. It had been almost twelve hours since I left Boston and I couldn't be happier to be in my new home. I walked next to a fellow exchange student as I entered the airport, it had been a total surprise that we met in the terminal of one of our connecting flights. Despite her company I felt a little nervous about meeting my new family and starting a new life. It turns out my nerves were unnecessary, my host family and the members of the Sarajevo Rotary Club are kind and wonderful people! My emotions had been a swirl on my journey over; bursts of confidence then surges of doubt, and teary eyes as I thought back to the goodbyes I had just said. Though I expect these mixed up feelings will be within me for a few more days or weeks I know now that despite everything it's going to be worth it. It will definitely take a while to get used to seeing stray dogs everywhere, and hearing cars zoom past late at night blasting music, but right now I'm so tired I don't think anything will keep me from sleep!

Goodnight from Sarajevo :)

The End of the Beginning

The date has been set! I leave my New England home for the Sarajevo on August 17th.The time is flying by, so many people to say goodbye to, bags to pack, and I can't stop thinking about everything that is waiting for me at the end of my long over night flight. As I anxiously await my departure I can't help but feel both nervous and excited. Nervous to leave everything I am familiar with to start a life in a new place where I am a stranger to the people, culture and language, but excited to see how my year as an exchange student will unfold.

With the little communication I have had with my host mother and my rotary club in Sarajevo I learned I will have three host brothers, seventeen, fifteen and four. There will only be six of us living in the house for a short while as my oldest host brother will be departing for America shortly after I arrive. I believe I will start school at Prva Gimnazija (the First Grammar School) sometime in late August. 

That's all for now :) 

The next time you hear from me I will be writing from my new home in Sarajevo! 

The Very Beginning

Starting sometime in August between the 15th and 22nd I will begin my year as a Rotary exchange student in the beautiful country of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The country's capitol city, Sarajevo, will become my new home for the duration of my exchange. Throughout my time away I will use this blog as a documentation of my experiences; I have no idea what to expect, how different living there will be from my home in New Hampshire, if I will ever learn the language, or if I will l grow accustom to their cuisine... being a vegetarian may make things a little tricky! Going away as an exchange student has always been an aspiration of mine; I am so excited to embark on this incredible journey and explore a new part of the world. I hope you enjoy my story!
To all the dedicated Rotarians who have made this exchange possible, I will never be able to thank you enough for allowing me this incredible opportunity. And to my friends and family, thank you for your constant support :)

Bosnian Flag