First, I would like to apologize to anyone reading for the delay in my blog posts! I have been keeping track of everything that I have been doing and everything that has been happening to me on Notion, so please prepare yourself for an influx of posts updating you on the last few weeks of my travels 🙂
Monday (Day 3): I began my day with 2 interviews for my research project. The first interview was with a project coordinator for Wings of Hope, and the second interview was with a psychotherapist in training at the same organization. I learned a lot about psychotherapy through these interviews. Specifically, the second interviewee explained the rigorous education and training that psychotherapists are required to complete in Bosnia to obtain and hold their license. I think compared to the other countries where I have conducted my research, it seems the most challenging to become a psychotherapist and continue practicing psychotherapy in Bosnia.
Next, I came back to the apartment to take a nap. Bosnia is really hot, and the sun here is brutal. Although there is no siesta in this country like there was in Greece, I decided that I needed to take a little break indoors before heading out to explore more of the city! As I am travelling more and more, I am slowly but surely realizing how important my health and energy level is for appreciating and fully taking in a new environment.
I met up with a friend I had met at Maja’s barbecue on Sunday, and we walked to Baščaršija (the old town) together! The walk was almost an hour long in the scorching heat, but it was a really nice and refreshing experience to get to explore Sarajevo with a friend rather than by myself as I had mostly done in my previous countries. For dinner, we had stuffed vegetables at a place Professor Locke recommended, and the food was delicious and fairly affordable!
Tuesday (Day 4): Today, I was given the opportunity to interview a psychotherapist at Wings of Hope who works with children and adolescents. I had an insightful conversation with my interviewee! She told me about how it is especially challenging to approach and work with transgenerational trauma in children because she not only has to think about the child but about the child’s parents throughout the therapeutic process.
I think at this point, I am also beginning to draw comparisons between interview subjects from different countries. For example, my interview today reminded me a lot about the conversation I had in Buenos Aires with the psychologist who specializes in neonatal trauma. Even though each conversation and setting was significantly different from the other, it was really interesting to hear about how parents are being integrated and involved in trauma treatment for minors on a global scale.
Following my interview, I went grocery shopping, and had dinner with my new friend in the city center!
Thanks for reading 💛