Utica, NY — home of chicken riggies, halfmoons, greens, the best pizza in the world, and home to me! I might be biased though, seeing as I spent 14 years of my life there. But seriously, if you ever go to Upstate NY, you MUST go eat in Utica. What I also loved about Utica was the diversity of people, it seemed like a plethora of nationalities and races were represented in the Utica community, including Bosnians.
Where I’m From: Gorazde, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Current Hometown: Gorazde, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Favorite Balkan Song: “Himna Generacija” by Dubioza Kolektiv
Favorite Balkan Dish: Milky Palacinke in Sarajevo, Doner (is that even considered Balkan now?), Argeta and warm kifle…all of those.
Bosanska kahva, nature, fresh air, “ćejf,” and family; isn’t that basically what we all think of when we think about Bosnia? Are you wondering what living in Bosnia is actually like?
Being on vacation in Bosnia and living in Bosnia are two totally different experiences.
After many years of the American lifestyle, I decided I wanted to study abroad in BiH because I felt a little out of touch with that important part of my life and a month of vacationing there every few years just wasn’t enough. There wasn’t a study-abroad program; I decided to make a life choice by actually moving back with my family.
There are a few phases that one goes through when moving to a new place. The honeymoon phase is when everything is new and interesting; the culture, the people, the traditions, the priorities…everything. However, there were many challenges to overcome. The language was a big one for me; the slang and phrases people use take some time to get used to. For example, the word “jašta” can be used to agree OR disagree on something depending on the context, lol! I think a whole book can be written explaining that word and the ways it can be used.
I chose to study at the American University in Bosnia and Herzegovina (AUBiH) and signed up for the Graphic and Multimedia Design program.
In Uni, I had the pleasure of working with so many great professors. Working with the late Anur Hadziomerspahic opened my eyes to new ways of designing and understanding the world. His impact on the graphic design world is so important because he is the first artist from BiH to present his art at the central exhibition of the Venice Biennale. He was a genius in his work and I will forever be thankful for the 4 years I was lucky enough to work with him. Professor Anur and Professor Dejan Vekic saw my potential and inspired me to take my photography to the next level continually. By teaching me the basics of photography, equipment, lenses, and editing, they allowed me to take a more creative approach in my photography.
I lived between cities Sarajevo and Gorazde. I was born in Gorazde in 1993, right in the middle of the war. In Sarajevo, I lived independently in an apartment. While in Gorazde, I lived with my late brother, I visited him just about every weekend. Being alone, especially being in relatively new places, can be intimidating. However, I think anyone that studies away from home probably has a similar experience. After a couple of years, our parents moved back as well. They were always nostalgic about moving back to their home.
After graduating with my Bachelors, I started to see some of the real problems rooted in the history of BiH. Needless to say, the effects of the war are still visible, more than 20 years later, mainly in the political sector of the country.
Honestly, I do not know if there is some way to fix the situation in BiH. The only thing I think that can help is time; time that will help weed out the corrupted and selfish people leading the country.
Education is a prevalent issue in BiH because you can literally buy a diploma! Can you believe that? Yeah, me either.
At one point, I wanted to open a photography studio and was told by state workers that I needed a high-school photography diploma, to which I asked, “How do I go about doing that when I have already graduated with a Bachelor’s in a similar field?” To which said state workers responded with, “You can go buy one.”
Needless to say, I am not opening a photography studio. I personally do not see the point of a piece of paper unless you have the education, experiences, and knowledge to back it up. In order to work in certain positions, certain diplomas are required. With this information, you can definitely conclude, unfortunately, uneducated people in power are running this beautiful country.
There are also complications with nationalism and religion hindering the progress of BiH. It seems as though older generations, understandably with their history, do not support other nationalities and religions in BiH. In the meantime, younger generations, are conflicted by listening to older generations and just wanting to move forward with the times. Until many years pass and until the effects of the war are not so prevalent, I can’t see that there will be many positive changes regarding nationalism, religionism, and politics, unfortunately.
Of course, not everything is negative here; the endless beauty of nature in Bosnia really allows me to find peace and inspiration for the creation of my photos. Going for long walks and exploring different parts of my neighborhood allow me to appreciate the slower-paced lifestyle.
You can go from city lights and the city life to walking by the Drina River and nature in just a few minutes. This lifestyle lets you absorb all the “little things in life.”
Focusing on the positive is always the better route to take in life, I love that Balkan Bred is focusing on some of the good things Bosnia has to offer, definitely including but not limited to: kahva, palacinke, and Dino Merlin.
Life, both the good and the bad parts, as cliche as it sounds, is really what you make out of it.
Dzejna plans on continuing to capture all these magical moments behind the lens with her photography. We hope to shoot with her next time we’re in Bosnia.
Connect with Dzejna: Instagram | YouTube
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