Sunday (Day 9): I started off my morning with a cup of traditional Bosnian coffee. I felt like I had to mention the coffee in Bosnia for anyone reading who does not know of this drink. Coffee in Bosnia is prepared differently than in the United States (and every other country I have yet been to). It is also really strong! Usually, caffeine doesn’t affect me that much, but every time I have had coffee here, I have felt a little jittery haha. I spent a few hours at the cafe catching up on some work and reading the book that I bought a few weeks ago in Northern Ireland.
In the evening, my friend and I decided to go watch the new Barbie movie. I have always enjoyed going to the movie theater, but watching a movie in a foreign country is a truly special experience. Not only is it an activity that makes me feel less homesick, it is also so interesting to see people of different cultural backgrounds responding and reacting to American movies! Barbie was such a highly anticipated film in the United States, so my friend and I were extremely surprised to see so many Bosnian girls and women decked out in pink from head to toe as we waited in line to buy snacks at the movie theater.
I won’t spoil the movie, but I will say that it was surprisingly moving. I don’t think anyone at the theater was expecting Barbie to leave an emotional impact, but we all fell silent during certain scenes as we collectively processed the message of the film. Overall, I had a wonderful evening and even got to try a traditional meat platter for dinner!
Monday (Day 10): Today, I had the opportunity to accompany the study abroad group in Sarajevo on a day trip to Mostar (another city further South in Bosnia)! I woke up early in the morning and called a taxi to the old town, where the study abroad group’s hotel was located. We all crammed together into a van that just fit us and began our road trip!
Around 30 minutes into our drive, we got to stop and enjoy the view of a beautiful lake at one of the most serene and charming cafes I’ve ever seen. When we arrived in Mostar, one of the professors at the University of Sarajevo explained the history of the famous landmark, the Mostar Bridge; it was really nice to get some historical context about the area before we walked into the old town. As you can see from the pictures that I have attached below, this is an absolutely breathtaking place that I am so happy I got to see! The bridge, the river underneath, and the small waterfalls all around reminded me of a scene from the movie, Jumanji!
We had some free time to explore the area, so I decided to take a quick boat ride underneath the bridge across the river. This was the most fun experience 😁 On our way back, we ate lunch at a restaurant, and a small waterfall was located right next to our seats! I also learned how to debone a fish!
Here are 3 things I am extra grateful for today:
- Getting to meet and spend time with members of the study abroad group
- Having the chance to see all of these amazing places in Bosnia
- Learning more about the history of this country!
Thanks for reading 💛