Bosnia and Herzegovina

People in Bosnia are often very direct and honest in communication, sharing their opinions, wishes and criticism in open discussions about daily issues. Bosnian people are very friendly, and welcoming with a unique sense of humor. Relationships between parents and children are mostly based on mutual trust even though parents have the final say in many decisions. If you show responsibility and maturity, you might be allowed to make many decisions yourself.

You probably will be hosted in a small town or a rural area of Bosnia. Many people live with their extended family and it’s common for grandparents to care for children while parents work. Your host family will be happy to help you find activities in town, including sports, music and similar activities, which are a good way to meet people and make friends. A handshake or a kiss on the cheek followed by a simple “hello” are the greeting signs to welcome you in your new community.

You will likely attend a gymnasium, which is a typical high school. School runs from Monday through Friday, usually in two shifts: one week you will have classes from 8 am to 2 pm, the other from 2 pm to 8 pm. The class size varies from 20 to 30 students. Some schools have clubs for music, sports, art and drama which are mostly held on Saturdays. You may also get a chance to participate in a one-day or one-weekend school trips within the country or to the neighbouring countries.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has three official languages: Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian. That may sound like a lot to memorize—but don’t worry, once you learn one of these languages, you can basically understand them all. You’ll also want to take advantage of the intensive language courses provided in the first two months of your stay.

Bosnian food is related to Turkish, Greek, and other former Ottoman and Mediterranean cuisines. Most families say Prijatno (enjoy your meal) before they start eating. Typical dishes include ćevapi (grilled, minced meat), pita (a pie stuffed with meat, potato, cheese, spinach or pumpkin), dolma (vegetables stuffed with meat and rice), and baklava (a pastry with sugar syrup) for dessert. Meals also commonly contain beef, lamb and potatoes, and lots of coffee and tea are consumed during the day.