Advantages and disadvantages of living in Bosnia and Herzegovina from the perspective of Swiss Laura Meier
When was the first time you met someone from Bosnia and Herzegovina? When/ how/ where was your first encounter with people from Bosnia and Herzegovina?
When I was in primary school, I had some classmates from Ex-Yugoslav countries. When I think back to that time (in the nineties), I realize that I didn't know exactly where my classmates came from. In High school I had a friend from Bosnia. But we did not talk much about the origin of his parents.
Then after my studies, I applied for an Internship at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. I applied for the position primarily because I was interested in Swiss foreign politics. It was a coincidence that in the end I worked a lot on Southeastern Europe. The more I read about the region, the more questions I had. And I knew I wanted to travel to this region, to find answers to my questions.
First visit and first impression of Bosnia and Herzegovina?
From the very beginning, it was clear to me that my journey should start in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I remember so well when I landed in early January in Sarajevo. It was a cold and grey winter day, there were a lot of snow and a certain scent in the air. A scent that I will never forget.
At the airport, the father of my landlady picked me up. With his warm glance, he reminded me of my grandfather. With his car, he took me on a first tour around the city. I was lucky he spoke a little bit of German. So, we drove into town and he started to explain to me lots of little details about the city. I already found some answers to my questions, and at the same time, a lot of other questions appeared. During my first three months stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina I had the chance to discover the country, the beautiful landscape, the mountains, the rivers, the different towns, and the life in Bosnia and Herzegovina. But most of all, I had the opportunity to talk to so many great and inspiring people. And what touched me the most, was the warmth and openness that the people had towards me and my questions. After three months with wonderful memories in my head, I got on the plane back to Switzerland. But I already knew that I really want to return. And I did that, faster than I thought. After four months I was back in Sarajevo. And that may sound strange for you now, but at this moment I felt at home again.
As an outsider, in your opinion what is the biggest disadvantage of life in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Living almost one year in Sarajevo I realized once again how comfortable my life in Switzerland is, and how privileged I am. A simple example: when I decided to come to Bosnia and Herzegovina, I didn’t have to apply for a visa, pay for it and maybe risk that I might not even be allowed to enter in the territory. Based on the conversations that I had with the people and my own experience I could name many disadvantages of life in Bosnia and Herzegovina. But what worries me the most is the lack of perspective for young people. It made me so sad to learn that the main goal of so many great young people is to leave the country. Leave the country where they were born and which they love so much.
And the biggest advantage?
When I lived in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it was much easier for me to live in the moment. To be able to focus on the now, appreciate the moment and not to think about what comes next. The time in Bosnia and Herzegovina has brought a calm into my life. The people in Bosnia and Herzegovina learn me to take time for the things I’m doing, especially to take time for social contacts, for eating and having a coffee together. For me these are one of many advantages of living in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
What was your most impactful experience?
It is difficult to name the most impactful experience. There are so many. But one crucial experience was the chance to meet many different women from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina and talk to them. Talk about life in Bosnia and Herzegovina, about their life, their wishes and their tireless effort for society. I never met so many great and strong women. And when at the end of the conversation, full of new impressions, I asked the women what I can do to support them, they laughed and told me that the best thing is if I talk about them, about Bosnia and Herzegovina and that I share my enthusiasm for the country. And that's what till today I am trying to do.
Where do you see the opportunities for cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Switzerland based on your experience?
I think there are several opportunities for cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Switzerland. The idea that I like the most is to bring people together and share experiences and stories. Many people from ex-Yugoslavia live in Switzerland, but as my own experience shows, Swiss people often know very little about them, their origins and the cultural wealth from the countries where they came from. Bringing people together and share experiences, create new creative ways for cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Switzerland. A cooperation that is and, from my point of view, should more be bidirectional.
What is your message for Bosnia and Herzegovina people in Switzerland?
Challenge the Swiss people by entering into a dialogue. As I already mentioned above, I have the feeling knowledge about Bosnia and Herzegovina and the whole Ex-Yugoslav countries is still very limited here. But there is so much to see, discover, understand and learn. And what I have seen by myself knowledge about other countries leads to suddenly seeing its own country from a completely different perspective. Take some distance from your own reality from time to time is very important, I think.
Coming back from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Switzerland I tried, and I am still trying to carry on the attitude towards life that I had in Bosnia and Herzegovina. But hey, it is very difficult for me. Maybe you have some hints? Either way, I share the opinion of my Bosnian friend, who uses to say, “Swiss people should use a bit more time for Kafana”.