Elvisa Dedic Shares Exciting and Memorable Aspects of her Vacation to Bosnia, her Motherland

We sat down with Elvisa Dedic to ask her some questions about her trip.

Hi Elvisa, How was your trip to Bosnia?

My trip to Bosnia was amazing and so refreshing. It was so nice to visit my home country because it brought back so many childhood memories. I visited the city I was born in which is Bihac, and where I used to walk up and down the rivers when I was little, and I have never felt so much peace.

The beauty, the magic, the people, the animals & the sounds of my city in Bosnia made me feel complete again. I came to America when I was only 11 years old, and I have not been back in Bosnia for 10 years. It really helped me to remember where I came from and helped me to be more grounded. 

My mother was shot during the war while she was pregnant with me but she survived and I remember the war in Bosnia when I was a little girl. My parents combined have 17 brothers and sisters, so I have a huge family and they were all so welcoming.

As soon as I arrived my family was waiting for me and there were so many tears of joy. Bosnia fills my heart and soul, while America is helping me to fulfill my dreams and leading me to success. Returning back to my roots was the most remarkable feeling in the world for me. 

What fun or memorable things did you do?

Every day when I woke up, I would drink traditional homemade Bosnian Coffee with my family. After that, I would go help my aunt milk the cows and goats, pick the eggs from the chickens, and help clean up the farm. I remember doing all of this when I was a little girl in Bosnia.

I also spend time learning how to cook our traditional homemade meals the way we do them back home and that meant a lot to me because there is no better place to learn how to cook your food than your own country from your family. 

On some days my cousins would put a Hijab on me, and we went to the mosque to pray. It was so beautiful to watch my cousins praying because I know that takes a lot of dedication to learn and memorize all of those prayers. I was so impressed and inspired.

Not only are they beautiful on the outside, but they are also even more beautiful on the inside and their souls are so pure. They hold such high moral standards and values for themselves and that was so beautiful to see because in America a lot of things have changed. 

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Elvisa Dedic Shares Exciting and Memorable Aspects of her Vacation to Bosnia, her Motherland

One thing I truly enjoyed was hearing the Hodza (Imam) calling for prayers 5 times daily outside of my window or simply walking around town. Not only that, I heard many bells from churches. All religions were respected in Bosnia and that means a lot to me. 

Another thing that I really enjoyed seeing is how weddings are celebrated over there. Weddings in Bosnia are serious, lol. The whole town celebrates and there are 50+ cars following the bride & groom honking their horns all over town and waving their flags around when someone is getting married. Some people even shoot their guns in the air as a celebration and tradition. I will definitely be getting married in Bosnia.

Also, the streets are very safe in Bosnia. That was something that stood out to me because in America I can’t just get up and walk the streets because it’s dangerous, especially for women. In Bosnia, I and my cousins walked up and down the city all day.

I felt so safe and comfortable. Not to mention the nature in Bosnia is BREATHTAKING. I was blown away because it looked like it was from a fairytale, especially the waterfalls. I love nature because it helps restore my mental energy, helps to reduce my stress, inspires my creativity levels, and so much more. I felt more grounded in the earth and the best part was that I was in my own country. 🙂 

Can you describe any positive things related to your trip?

One thing a lot of people don’t know is that I have never met my real father. After 27 years, I finally got a chance to meet him this year in Bosnia. That’s a feeling that I can’t put into words. It was one of the most important and beautiful days of my life. I had a million questions and I finally got the answers I needed after so many years. 

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Elvisa Dedic Shares Exciting and Memorable Aspects of her Vacation to Bosnia, her Motherland

To meet the other part of me had me feeling very emotional because I’ve always known one part my whole life. I can finally say that I feel at peace now. We are exactly alike and he’s super proud of the woman that I have become here in America. I will continue to build a relationship with my father. 

Did you consume fresh Naturals on your tour? How was it?

Everything I ate and drank in Bosnia was natural and homemade. I would go to the garden with my family and pick fruits and vegetables for me to eat later. Tomatoes, corn, potatoes, cucumbers, spinach, berries, strawberries, raspberries, grapes, peaches, plums, you name it. These made me feel so refreshed on the inside and it was so fun picking these from the garden with my family:) 

Would you like to mention anything specific that you have in your mind regarding the trip? 

I would like to mention that if anyone goes to another country when they are young, I strongly encourage them to go back home. Family is everything. No money or success in the world can give you the feeling of being with your family.

Spend time with them, create memories that will last a lifetime, and take many photos of all of the special little moments, because it’s the little things that you will later realize were the big things. Now I finally understand when they say home is where the heart is  💕

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