Youth Leadership Spring 2013: Welcome
Three students from Bosnia and Herzegovina reflect on their experiences during their first week in Seattle. Last week, we welcomed a group of 18 students and three teachers from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Seattle. Over the next three weeks, they'll participate in a Youth Leadership Program with FIUTS, learning about leadership skills, community service, and civic engagement. When they return to Bosnia, they'll put these new skills to work, developing and leading projects that benefit their communities in Jacje, Bijeljina, and Mostar.
We'll be posting blog entries from a few of the students each week. Today's blog, with entries by Ehvan, Leijla, and Aldina, describes thoughts and impressions during the first few days in Seattle.
"New Experiences" - by Ehvan Građanin
Evhan Gradanin
On Saturday, April, 20 we had an amazing boat trip to Blake Island near Seattle. There is an Indian village on this island. Its name is Tillicum Village. There we had a welcome lunch, and I ate very delicious salmon for the first time in my life. The group of Indian people in traditional costumes danced for us. That dance reflected their everyday life: hunting, fishing, and rituals. I was really impressed with their wooden masks and each of those masks represented different animal. The best part of their show was this man who was talking about the spiritual world, which is unique for Native Americans tribes. Their show made me think about the other world,and the life after death, so I was thinking about it the rest of the day.
After our trip to Tillicum Village, we went to the University of Washington and there we had to give a presentation and talk about our country Bosnia and Herzegovina. On one side, we were happy because finally we were able to meet our host families, but on the other side we were nervous because we had to represent our country in the best way, but everything went well. The best part of was the moment when I met my host. He is a great name, and his name is Kaifu Lam. I was really surprised because he made a welcome party for us and he made cookies for us. That night we went to a Japanese restaurant and for first time in my life I tried Japanese food and I learnt how to use chopsticks.
The next day we had a free day with our new families. I spent a great time with my host. We went to buy food in warehouse Costco. After that we went to Green Lake with a bike, and for me it was the best part of the day.
"When Dreams Come True" - by Lejla Kasum
Lejla Kasum with D’ Anna family, her hosts in Seattle
Ok. Here something that really made me happy these last few days. Actually I'm not so sure if that was happiness or something else that we can't just explain or understand, all you can do is feel it. It was probably one of most important moments till now. Actually it was maybe 30 minutes, but, you know, it was just like one moment.
Lelja with Alison, FIUTS Manager of Education Programs
We were driving from the airport to Whidbey Island. I was tired a lot, really, because, after 24 hours of traveling, I was 9000 km far away from home, and I didn't know if I was dreaming or if that was the real world, a real experience. My mind was somewhere in Bosnia, still was in the place where I left, and my body was here, in Seattle, in one big car. It was powerful to look through the car's windows in all the light, buildings and roads, trying to figure where you are actually.
I was trying to find my mind and transport it from home to a new home. And it's still a moment for crying, because of happiness, because of dreams. You don't know what is happening to you, because it`s really hard to explain the moment when you realized that your dreams just coming true...and after all, you still don't know is that just a dream or a real world.
"How" - by Aldina Puce
Aldina Puce
This is my 5th day in Seattle.. I’m still not aware that I’m here, that I’m actually living the dream I once had...you know before I grew up and figured some things out. This is a great opportunity for all of us and we have to appreciate it. It will definitely open some new doors for us, put up some new, bright perspective and refresh dreams and ideas we still have, but somewhere along our path, we forgot about them.
Once I refresh those dreams and ideas, I’m hoping that this program will help me realize them in action. Because, I’ve learned a lot these past few days, but there is something that I just can’t stop thinking about. It’s the word "HOW" and all the things it can make. They taught me today that it creates governments and countries, it involves civic engagement and communication, it can move the whole community on a different level. All that with just one simple word... this is inspiring.
All I need to do, all we need to do is restore the faith in the dreams we once dreamed, discover what is our "HOW" and the world will be a better place. Simple as that...
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The Youth Leadership Program with Bosnia and Herzegovina is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State. Learn more here, and click here for details on how to host a participating student or teacher for a homestay during the next program this Fall.