Day 64: Passion of Life in Bosnia & Herzegovina

(Him: Charlie)(Him: Charlie)

I have not had much desire to write in the last little while, even after a fantastic trip in Croatia’s beautiful cities and islands. However, here in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), after just 3 day of visit, the urge has burst out. So I am actually going to blog about BiH first.

The urge to write about Bosnia mostly came from the host of our guesthouse, the Taso family. Jo and I have been deeply touched by this couple’s passion for life.

A quick history of BiH – BiH has been a country that comprises three main ethnicities – Bosnian Croats (mainly Catholics), Bosnian Serbs (mainly Orthodox), and Bosniak (mainly Muslim). As history has repeatedly demonstrated, when you have strong presence of multiple religions at one place, you are asking for trouble, to say the least. And trouble indeed. From 1992 to 1995, the Bosnian War broke out, where the three ethnicities expelled and persecuted each other. Here in Mostar, a city built in the valley, was reduced to rubble after all the battles, siege, and heavy shelling. Even to this date, relics of destroyed buildings or buildings full of bullet holes can still be seen everywhere.

Fast forward 17 years, the Taso family, having lived through the horrifying war, has long been back to normal life. They both have a well respected job – regional manager of bank and psychology teacher, and they recently had a new addition to the family, baby boy Omar. You would think this couple have their hands full with their jobs, the baby and the guesthouse? Think again! On top of all that, they have plans to expand the guesthouse and they even help out their family farm – literally work like there is no tomorrow.

Sometimes our conversation touched the subject of the war. It is obvious to us that they would downplay the hardship they endured and even joked about it. Everyone knows it must be hell going through those 4 sorrow years and they have definitely not forgotten about it, but they chose to joke about it and even dismiss it, because they have chosen to focus on the future instead. They have to chosen to seize every possible opportunity for a better tomorrow. To me, that’s the passion of life that everyone should pursue!