A Youth Leadership Program homestay host visits his students and their families in Bosnia: "Now I can no longer imagine traveling without staying with a local."

Guest post by Kaifu Dennis Lam, FIUTS homestay host

A year ago, I never thought about being this closely connected to Bosnians - and I never imagined myself to ever share the same space and time with people who have lived through the part of human history that was shown in TV news every day when I was in 3rd grade.

It all started when I responded to a FIUTS email request in January 2012 to host Bosnian high school students for a Youth Leadership Program funded by US Department of State, Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs. I hosted four kids in 2012: Marko, Hajrudin, Ismar, and Feđa.

Participants in the Fall 2012 Youth Leadership Program with Bosnia and Herzegovina at Seattle Center

I shared with them my experience growing up in Hong Kong, studying in UW and working at Boeing. I also shared with them my traveling and couchsurfing experience (couchsurfing.org). I love traveling, and I totally understand how these kids would like to make the best use of their time to experience Seattle and the United States. Besides visiting the standard Seattle attractions like Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, Kerry Park and Gas Works Park, we also went to, among other places, Portland for an excursion/shopping trip, the Boeing factory in Everett to see my office, and Capitol Hill to experience an alternative scene that is not common in Bosnia.

During my winter break in December 2012, I visited Marko in Orašje, Feda and Hajrudin in Sarajevo, and Ismar in Bihać. The visit was an eye opening experience and I had a great time staying with each family. The homemade Patcheansa (BBQ Pigling), homemade Golatche (sweet cakes/biscuits), and homemade BBQ Una fish are some of the best dishes that I have ever had. But what made this trip a special one was that, once the families got to know me better, they opened up and shared with me their life stories.

Kaifu (second from right) with Ismar's family in Bihać

With Marko's family in Orašje

I experienced Christmas with a Croatian family in Orasje and New Year countdown at the very heart of Sarajevo. I also visited some unspoiled natural and historical beauty near Bihać. Without the host families' generosity, I would have experienced none of these.

Ostrožac Castle near Bihać

Sarajevo

Now I can no longer imagine traveling without staying with a local anymore. Hosting helps hosts get the travel experience without leaving their home: It helps hosts learn about the history and culture of the travelers, and it helps travelers understand the real local life. Hosting also helps hosts re-discover their own cities and helps travelers create a cultural frame of reference of what they accept to be the norm in their home country.

One of many delicious meals prepared by Kaifu's host families in Bosnia

During my entire three-week trip in the Christmas break (2 weeks in Bosnia, 1 week in Austria and Italy), I stayed in a hotel only for one night in Venice. Traveling this way might be cheaper. But more importantly, it gives me an opportunity to live like a local and force myself out of my comfort zone. It makes me aware of the fact that my way of life as an American, or HongKonger, is only one way of life, but not THE way of life.

I’m lucky enough to be living not only to survive, but living to experience human stories in this four dimensional world.