Understanding Modern Bosnia: Safety, Ethnic Diversity, and Daily Life

Welcome to A Baby Boomer in Bosnia, where I explore the fascinating culture, history, and everyday life in Bosnia and Herzegovina, this heart-shaped, but much misunderstood country.

I’m David, your host, sharing stories, insights, and conversations from my life here in the north west of the country.

Whether you’re tuning in for the first time, I’m so glad you’re here.

You know how much I love sitting in my studio, gazing out the window as I piece together my thoughts. Well, this time, the view was all frosted over, a light dusting of snow, the kind that’s more charming in Christmas postcards than in real life.

Let me tell you, the novelty of snow really wears off when you’re out there with a shovel. I even reminisced about when I first arrived in Bosnia over 25 years ago, back when winters were properly harsh. It feels like a lifetime ago, training local radio staff to read travel news while my daughter Natalie braved a snowy five-hour journey in a military Land Rover. Those were the days!

This episode is a bit of a mixed bag, part personal reflections, part response to a listener’s thought-provoking question.

Someone who goes by “Dollar Bill” asked me about life in Bosnia today. Do ethnic tensions still exist? Is it safe here? What’s it really like to live in a place so often associated with its troubled past?

Big questions, right? I answered them as honestly as I could, through my own lens, shaped by over two decades of living and working here.

We touch on everything: the lingering but largely non-violent ethnic prejudices, the return of displaced communities, and the surprising sense of safety, even for women walking alone at night.

I even shared a lovely little story about Tamara’s family and how, over a big table piled with food, people from all three ethnic groups were laughing and joking together – a moment that captured the quiet harmony you can find here if you know where to look.

There’s a lot in this episode: memories of the conflict, reflections on how far the country has come, and some practical insight for anyone curious about life in Bosnia today.

It’s safe, it’s welcoming, and it’s got its quirks, but that’s what makes it so special. Oh, and I might’ve slipped in a few stories about my residency process and the joys of flying budget airlines into Bosnia.

Thank you for tuning in to A Baby Boomer in Bosnia. I hope you enjoyed today’s episode and that it gave you a little more insight into life and culture here in this fascinating part of the world.

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast on your favourite podcatcher, so you never miss a new release. And, if you have a moment, a quick rating or review would mean the world. It really helps others discover the show.

Feel free to reach out with any questions, feedback, or ideas for future episodes.

Until next time, take care, and as always, Hvala for listening.

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