Title
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
Copyright Note
These oral histories are made available by the Center for Bosnian Studies for research, educational, scholarly, and/or creative purposes only. All uses should adhere to the principle of fair use established under Section 107 of Title 17 the 1976 Copyright Act. More on fair use is available here: https://www.copyright.gov/fair-use/.
Rights Statement
