FBU-2015-07-24

Date of Interview

Summer 7-24-2015

Interview Location

St. Louis, MO

Length of Interview

87:54

Date of Birth

1986

Gender

Female

Religion and/or Ethnicity

Catholic

Description

Born in Banja Luka to Catholic parents although many mixed marriages in extended family. Only vague prewar memories. Memories of the beginning of the war consist of discrimination by Serb classmates in school, hearing gunshots and explosions, and realizing that her neighbors began disappearing. She was aware that her neighbors were being murdered or taken to concentration camps, and that her new neighbors were Serb fighters from more rural parts of Bosnia. Father faced harassment and was arrested by local police multiple times but managed to evade the front lines and the camps. Family was sustained by aid and assistance from Serbian friends until they were able to flee. Fled to Rijeka in 1993 and lived there for 6 years. Came to St. Louis in 1999, where she faced prejudice by locals in Catholic schools until transferring to public schools. Learned English quickly and assisted parents with navigating life in the US. Received Bachelors from Saint Louis University and a Masters degree from Oxford. Works as a community tutor. Believes that war was not due to ethnic hatred but a result of politics, and that another war is likely to happen.

Keywords

Banja Luka, Rijeka, Croatia, St. Louis, Catholic, Mehlville, South County, Saint Louis University, transgenerational trauma, Oxford University, Serbian

Pre-War Residence

Banja Luka

Wartime Residence

Banja Luka

First Country of Residence

Croatia

First US Residence

St. Louis, MO

Document Type

Oral History

Collection

Fontbonne University

Digital Format

MP3

Digital Publisher

Center for Bosnian Studies

City

St. Louis, MO

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