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Forums | International Friendships and Intercultural Learning | Questions to Bosnia Herzegovina (from 1è

Author	Topic
bdieu	Posted - 7 April 2003 15:38 1 - What kind of government do you have in your country? 2 - What are the predominant religions in your country? 3 - What language do you speak and what languages do you learn at school? 4 - What are the main activities for young people in their spare time? 5 - How has the war affected you and what do you think about this war? 6 - What are the most important celebrations in your country and what do they represent? 7 - What images make you feel most uncomfortable when people talk about your country? 8 - What kind of life do you lead? What are the main characteristics of your culture? 9 - What are the main cultural heritage sites in your country? 10 - How old is the average population? 11 - What the typical food in your country and are there special dates when you eat special food? What are they? 12 - What kind of music do you listen to? Who are the youth idols in your country? 13 - What is the architecture like in your country? What kind of buildings do most of the people live in? 14 - What are your life conditions? What are the main difficulties you face? 15 - What are the best things about your country? why? 16 - Are Human rights respected in your country? Edited by - bdieu on 7-4-2003 15:39:43
Creativity Team	Posted - 16 April 2003 17:5 3 - What language do you speak and what languages do you learn at school? We learn different languages in different schools. Bosnian and English language are obligatory for all students from the 5th grade in primary school through secondary school and at some universities. In some schools French or German are also taught. There are few schools in which Arabic is obligatory (like the high school that we attended). All of us (The Creativity Team members) speak English fluently, one speaks German fluently, one understands Spanish and we all know a bit of Arabic.
Creativity Team	Posted - 16 April 2003 17:15 13 - What is the architecture like in your country? What kind of buildings do most of the people live in? THE ARCHITECTURE AND NATIONAL HERITAGE OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA On the territory of Bosnia-Herzegovina many archaeological emplacements from all historical periods were found. The first drawings of Palaeolithic men are ca. 10.000 years old, but there also very important emplacements in Butmir near Sarajevo which is famous for its vases, ceramic figures etc. Considering the fact that the territory of Bosnia-Herzegovina was an integral part of West Roman Empire and that it was also under the influence of Byzantine culture, there is a remarkable diversity in ways of living, architecture and in the cultural heritage at all. Many of the monuments from the pre-Ottoman period were destroyed in wars, but some of them were lost because of the non-resistant material they were made of. Wood was used much more than stone. A kind of monuments which can not be found anywhere else are tombstones or originally called "stecci". These are tombstones built in the Middle Ages with different inscriptions, ornaments and symbols. Fortifications and strongholds built are another kind of monuments. After the Ottomans had come, a wide range of buildings were put up, especially bridges which were built by Dalmatian stonemasons as well as by Islamic architects like Hajrudin. He built the noted bridge in Mostar. The bridge over Drina in Visegrad is an additional masterpiece which was built on the wish of Mehmed pasa Sokolovic. During the Ottoman period mosques, clock-towers, libraries, motels (hanovi) and other edifices were put up. Characteristic traces from this time are narrow trade quarters like Bascarsija in Sarajevo. Another part of the national heritage are Roman-Catholic monasteries with their libraries, galleries, museums and frescos. The Austrian-Hungarians brought us some of their cultural elements and today we still have building from this period. The architecture of Bosnia-Herzegovina is a unique mixture of East and West due to the influence of the above-mentioned regions. That is why you can find here at one place so many different styles: Byzanthine, Islamic, Neoclassical, Neobaroque, Neogothic, Neomoorish, Neorenaissance, Necromantic, Neoromanesque, Modern etc. Nevertheless, this country has developed its own style. Unfortunately, a great deal of the rich national heritage was destroyed during the war, and now it has to be reconstructed and protected by UNESCO. In Bosnia-Herzegovina one can enjoy the beauty of nature, too. There are three national parks, mountains, rivers and waterfalls.
Creativity Team	Posted - 16 April 2003 17:33 REPLY TO QUESTION 2:Since the majority of the Bosnian popultaion are Bosniaks, the Croats and Serbs are present in a minor number. The predominant religion is Islam. Catholicism is mostly present among Croatian inhabitants, while Orthodoxy is the religion of Serbs. Judaists' community is very small, their religion is mostly present through historical moments and sinagogues that are not so vivid as they used to be in the past. REPLY TO QUESTION 5: The war in Bosnia (1992-1996) has taken away, deadened and darkended a certain period of life to every person of any generation who survived the war. To us concretely, as memebers of The Creativity Team - to those of us who had been here in Bosnia during the war - the natural need of a 7-8 - year - old child to play, have fun and be happy was restricted and we were turned to other things - the things that adults usually take care of. So, our maturity was precipitated. The war undoubtedly left deep psychial impact on us but it made us more serious, responsible and ambitious than other individuals of our age in the world. We are of those who stayed in this country even after the war, who are aware of its present crisis in law system and economy, short who, nevertheless, put their efforts and hopes in the remains of the general emmigration. Iraq is obviously going to be in a similar situation after the current war with the American and British nation. The theory of president Bush that he will take care at the country, rebuild, renew it or re-whatever after the war, is just another empty lie that badly covers his subtle interests. He will "bring light in the lives of the Iraqi people" - it is just that extinguishing the light of their lives completely is a very strange way of doing it, isn't it? He will "free them from Saddam's bad regime" and since he came he has brought nothing but misery and poverty and God knows what other misfortunes will appear in the near future. It is just as it had been in Bosnia - Iraqi civillians desperately weep for help, but who cares - no demonstration will help. REPLY TO QUESTION 12: generally, Bosnian youth follow the current music trends - mostly electronic, rock and pop-music. However, the domestic pop and folk music is very widespread. All of us in the Creativity Team listen to rock, and some of us like etno and reggae, too. We personally dislike naming our prefered or favourite music artists "idols" simply because of this term implies the idea of deity and worship and we worship God only. However, this doesn't mean that we don't have our favourite musical artist, it is merely that we find that naming them "idols" identifies them with God and it is absurd to give divine features to any human being whatever he did or was.
Creativity Team	Posted - 13 May 2003 22:21 6 - What are the most important celebrations in your country and what do they represent? The two most important holidays of Muslims are two Eids. The First Eid is after the month Ramadan. During that month we fast and it helps us in purifying our souls, clearing our body and mind. People seem to be more satisfied, happier and one can feel more harmony. After that we celebrate the day of Eid with our families and friends. Baklava is a cake not to miss! The second day is marked by going out to the graveyards (‘mezarje’) to show that we did not forget the people we cared about but who are dead. This way we are aware of the fact that we do not know when our time will come. Later we go out and enjoy the rest of this glorious day in a decorated town with our friends. Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated in a similarily, although it has its own characteristics.

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