AHS-2017-00-00-A

Interviewer

Nadija Rizvanovic

Date of Interview

Spring 1-1-2017

Interview Location

St. Louis, MO

Length of Interview

1900-01-02

Date of Birth

2023

Gender

Male

Religion and/or Ethnicity

Muslim

Description

Grew up and born in the city of Janja on the Drina River, Enjoyed a carefree childhood that consisted of being out all day form sunrise to sunset, Played many different games and had friends that were almost all Bosnian Muslim as the city of Janja was Bosnian Muslim dominant, At the outbreak of war noticed that there was a small amount of Serbians living in the city but the war was the first time anyone spoke about religion, One night during the winter at the age of 10 family was smuggled out of the country across the Drina River and into Serbia, Attempted to make their way to Germany but delayed and stopped multiple times until eventually being able to cross into Germany, Stayed in Germany for a total of 7 years learning the language and completed high in that country, Forced to leave Germany after German government revoked their residency permit, Describing leaving Germany as harder than leaving Janja as 17 year old he know what was happening but leaving Janja as a 10 year old was seen as only a temporary adventure, After arriving the United States attending classes at the international institute for English for three months and then enrolled at St. Louis Community College at Forrest Park, Continued English education until fluent and eventually transferred to UMSL , After which attended law school at SLU and post-graduation passed the Bar Exam and became a United States citizen, Remembers in the early time in St. Louis as a time where Bosnians were more social and the community was more active holding events every week that most Bosnians attended, The social aspects of the community are now diminished and would like to see a revival of that sociability, After working at a law firm opened his own firm with partner in 2010 and is still working with 70 to 80 percent of clients being Bosnian, Visits Bosnia often and always visits Janja a city that went from a population of 12,000 to now about 5,000, Has a desire to get more involved in helping with the economic and social problems but life happens and you get caught up in other things, Believes that being Bosnian Americans being making a positive impact on your environment

Keywords

Janja, Germany, St. Louis, Education, Melting Pot, Business, Americanization

Pre-War Residence

Janja

Wartime Residence

Janja,Cologne

First Country of Residence

Germany

First US Residence

St. Louis, MO

Document Type

Oral History

Collection

Affton High School

Digital Format

MP4

Digital Publisher

Center for Bosnian Studies

City

St. Louis, MO

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In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted.