The Final Round-Up

I’m writing this post sitting on my bed in America, a full week and then some after leaving Bosnia and Herzegovina. I’m sorry for the delay, but it took a while for me to fully realize that my time in my lovely adoptive country was over and that I was set to return to my old life in the States. So here I am, let me give you the highlights reel.

Monday June 16, 2014: The Airports:

This was not a fun day. I woke up and looked over at my empty room and my packed up bags and sat on my bed thinking “How did I end up here? I felt like it was August yesterday.” I walked downstairs to say a final goodbye to my host father who wouldn’t be able to make it to the airport due to work and my host brother. My host mother told me that she’d have to meet me at the airport because she too had a work emergency.  I spent the rest of the morning walking around the house and dreading the moment when the shuttle bus rattled down my street.

Checking in was a breeze thankfully. I somehow managed to fit my Bosnian life into two checked bags under the weight limit and a backpack so I had plenty of time before going through security to hang out with my host mother. We both just blubbered like idiots, and took a bunch of photos in which we’re both red and blotchy, but I’m happy to have them.

After the hard part was over. The YES Abroad had a full day of travelling ahead of us, but it was relatively painless and we got to Washington D.C. all in one piece and ready for bed.

Tuesday June 17, 2014: Final Goodbyes and First Hellos

State Department day! The YES Abroaders dressed up and met with some of the American Councils D.C. Staff before heading over to give a presentation to the Department of Citizen Exchanges at the State Department. Our presentation was about our experiences in Bosnia and Herzegovina and what we learned from them. It went pretty well if I do say so myself.

It was then that a grand reunion occurred. No, not the reunion between me and my beloved family that I hadn’t seen in 10 months, no, no, no, no, not that. I’m talking about the reunion between me, and the Mexican grill restaurant chain, Chipotle. And what a glorious reunion it was.

After Chipotle came another airport, except this time we weren’t saying goodbye to our host families we were saying goodbye to some of the best friends we’ve encountered. I had a flight in a totally separate terminal from the other YES Abroaders so I didn’t really have much time to say any goodbyes, which actually ended up being nice because I don’t think I had any more brutal goodbyes left in me.

Then came the fun part! I took a 40 minute flight back to NYC and during the descent the plane flew low over Manhattan so that I could see all of my favorite attractions before saying a big hello to my family. At the La Guardia baggage claim I frantically searched for my family and 30 minutes after I landed and a payphone call later we reunited! My younger brother and sister made me signs to welcome me home.

Wednesday June 18, 2014: Graduation

You know you’ve had a busy week when graduating high school doesn’t even come close to being the most exciting thing you’ve done since Monday. My last day of school was fun, I mostly walked around and said hello to old teachers and friends. Graduation was fun too, but to be honest I was still in a haze as to what language I should be speaking and what country I was in so the whole ceremony was a bit of a blur.

Well, I guess this is where we leave each other; yet another big goodbye. Thanks for virtually joining me on all of my adventures and reading all of my nonsensical rambling. Hvala puno.

Signing off,

Emma

Lukomir

Recently the YES Abroad crew took our final group trip to a place called Lukomir. Lukomir is Bosnia's most remote and highest elevated village. Its situated at an alitude of 1,495 meters on the Bjelašnica mountain. It is so remote, that during World War II, residents of Lukomir were not even aware there was a war going on, let alone that Bosnia was being affected by it.

The drive to get there was adventure enough. First, we drove into the ski resort populated part of Bjelašnica mountain and then we got off the asphalt and onto a dirt road that just took us up and up through the woods. The next leg of the journey took us out of the woods and into one of the most beautiful, serene, and isolating landscapes I’ve ever encountered. All you could see in front of and behind you were mountains and rocks and this one tiny gravel road that you were travelling on. It felt very “Lord of the Rings”. Our only travel companions outside of our group were the throngs of sheep that local shepherds herded across the landscape.

After about an hour of driving on the tiny, isolated, gravel road we finally came upon the village of Lukomir. This idyllic village looks like something out of a fairytales. There were only about 60 houses in total that were made with clay and stone with thatched, tin, or wooden roofs. We passed the rest of the day walking around and hiking up to a nearby hill to see the stećci (ancient gravestones that are all over Bosnia, and Croatia) and to get a better view of the town. It was an unbelievably gorgeous and very relaxing Sunday. All in all it was the perfect note to end our year of cultural excursions on.

Mindless Rambling

It is a rare occurrence that you can pinpoint, down to the date and time, the moment when your life will dramatically change. It is an even rarer occurrence when you can predict it down to a flight number. This is the strange reality I live in now.

My time in Bosnia is dwindling down and honestly I'm heartbroken. Don't get me wrong, I'm excited to see my family and friends back in the USA, but I just wish I could do so without having to leave all of my Bosnian friends and family. Exchange creates this situation where in the beginning of the year you are forced to say goodbye to dear family and friends you couldn't imagine living without to go meet friends and family you will love to the end of the year where you are forced to say goodbye to your new dear family and friends you can't imagine living without to return to your old friends and family. It's kind of poetic, but mostly just depressing.

There is a silver lining to all of this though, my reluctance to say goodbye is evidence that this whole experience, both the ups and downs, has been nothing but rewarding. If it hasn't been so, I'd be ready to get on the plane right now. But the fact is that I am most certainly not, and even seeing planes fly over Sarajevo is a sinking reminder of my upcoming departure.

I don't want to be such a downer though, my last month here hasn't just been me feeling sorry for myself, I've gotten to do some lovely things! The weather is finally springy which means that all of the cafes have laid out their outdoor seating and people stay up chatting on porches in the evening warmth. So in conclusion, I'm very, very sad to go, but I am very, very thankful I got the chance to come. It's hard to believe I'll ever have a better year then this one.