This summer, 11 Students and two faculty members traveled to Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia to learn about the 20th-century history of the countries formerly known as Yugoslavia and begin to unravel the complex reverberations of Conflict. Please enjoy this final blog post below from all of the students at they share their final reflections on their last evening of their Dubrovnik Day where they were asked to reflect on:
- One thing you will remember forever
- one thing you need to write down before you forget – be descriptive!!
- a list you would tell a friend planning to travel here to pack in their actual or emotional suitcase…
Griffin ’26: 1: one thing I will remember forever after this trip is the importance of balance and harmony and how they come together to foster community. We learned many perspectives heard many opinions and had to reconcile with all of this and it just made you think if people could give a little bit in order to move forward, as hard as it may be, then the there community would be better for it in the future. I will also remember how everyone is human and it’s hard to move forward. These people are looking for answers just as much as we are.
2: something I want to write down about this trip is how much it impressed me. This region is nothing short of stunning and I’m really glad I was able to experience it because it’s not somewhere I would have imagined myself visiting outside of the CSGC trip. The coast, the hills, the cities and the different cultures that create a mosaic within them come together to create an experience I hope I can have again at some point
3: a list I would recommend to a friend for this trip)
- More shirts than you think you need
- Extra deodorant
- Humble and respectful attitude
- Attitude of a student wanting to learn
- Genuine curiosity
- Empathy for the people you encounter
- Sunglasses and hat
- Prepare to be appreciative
Ava ’26:
- After this trip, something I will remember forever is the importance of hearing everyone’s voice, whether or not you agree with it. I think that the Yugoslav war is a perfect representation of why this is important. Their war began due to the loss of their primary voice, Tito. After his death, people and communities wanted individual power, freedom, and an arena to voice their own opinions. Focusing on the benefit of themselves, people didn’t want to see every perspective and hear every voice. As a result, countless lives were lost. Today, the nations remain at a crossroad. So, as this trip comes to an end, one thing I will forever take with me is to be open to others’ voices and opinions as they have the power to change the past, present, and future.
- One thing I want to write down before I forget is a reminder to return to Dubrovnik when I am older. We spent the first half of the last day exploring the massive old town; there wasn’t nearly enough time to shop in all the stores, try every single cuisine in all the cool restaurants, or buy every single fresh fruit at the market. Also, I saw a lot of things that made me think of my mom. One day, I want to return with her and show her all the monuments, architectural buildings, and shops to buy a cappuccino.
- A JOURNAL, a sleeping mask as well as a sleeping pillow, flips flops, and a phone that is not a max capacity so you can actually take pictures of all the things you want to.
Anthony ’26:
- One thing from this trip that I will remember forever is the lunch that we had with the Bosniak family of Srebrenica. Their hospitality and kindness despite the language barrier really struck me. They told us that if we were ever to return to Bosnia that we would always be welcome in their home whether we were alone or with a group. Their positivity and lack of hate towards the Serbs despite being so closely affected by the Srebrenica genocide surprised me. Spending time at this family’s home was an eye-opening experience that I won’t soon forget.
- One thing that I need to write down before I forget is the impact that tourism can have on a country. Each city we travelled to our tour guides seemed almost as if they were making a pitch for us to come again. They avoided saying negative things if possible, in hope that we would leave with a positive outlook on the country and go home to America with good things to say. The effect of tourism on the economy was evident between Bosnia and Croatia. Average wages as well as the prices of food were essentially doubled in Croatia. Croatia’s long and beautiful coast brings an immense amount of money from tourism into the country that Bosnia does not have. This wealth allows Croatia to almost disconnect from the other Southern Slavic countries which is evident in their involvement in the EU which Bosnia is not a part of. Money helps Croatia to move on from the past more easily than Bosnia can.
- -Ears
Joanna ’26:
- As our tour guide Arna said, whether it be by music, food, or blood, the Serb, Bosniak, and Croat population were all Southern Slavics who once lived in peace and harmony. Therefore, one thing I will remember from this trip is the impact war and ideological divisions can have on one ethnicity. Through exploring old towns, listening to stories, and learning about governmental structures, we have received various perspectives regarding hopes for change, but also the obstacles people face to achieve that goal. However, one thing I am very surprised about is the generosity individuals have to put down past grudges. Though the parents and siblings of Melisa and Senad, a Bosniak family, were killed due to the conflict at Srebrenica, they do not retain hatred towards their Serbian neighbors even if there is not much love. Though Melica, a Bosnian-Serb, disagree with the Srebenica genocide statement, she is open for letting her kids interact with Bosniak children. I feel like the hug Arna and Melica had really symbolizes the attitude of reconciliation between the two groups.
- One thing I need to write down before I forget is the names of each one of our tour guides. All of them led with passion, enthusiasm, and a willingness to share their own history, perspective, and story. Listening to them share these knowledge while walking through the actual roads is what allowed me to immerse myself into the history and be emotionally connected. Touring also showed us that architectures are literal physical collections and records of a city’s changes, not just simply popular destinations or tourist attractions. Arna, for example, showed how the old town of Sarajevo contained Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, Socialist Yugoslav architecture, and post-war reconstructions. I have realized the power tourism has as a mechanism for stories to be told, history to be not forgotten, and word to be spread.
- List—
- Journal
- An open mind
- Curiosity (asking questions to answer the curiosity)
- Respect
- Camera
- Portable Charger
- Earpods
- Suitable clothing that matches the weather
- Understanding
- Listening to Stories
Eleanor ’26:
- One thing that I will remember forever from this trip is the lunch we had with Melisa and Senad in Bosnia. It was really interesting to see how people live here and it was fascinating to hear how even though Senad’s father and brother were killed in the massacre at Srebrenica, he still wanted his kids to be able to interact and have relationships with the other Serbian children instead of building resentment towards them.
- Something that I need to write down before I forget is how essentially every tour guide that we got to meet was extremely passionate about their own history and story. They each could talk forever about the endless experiences and stories that they have. They also all mentioned that they do tours so that they can spread this story all across the world so it isn’t forgotten.
- list
- empathy
- an open mind for different perspectives
- patience
- questions
- socks
- more clothes in general
Luca ’26:
- One thing that I will forever remember from this trip is the Srebrenica memorial and the lunch that we had afterward with a local Bosniak family. They were so welcoming, kind, and hospitable, but the tragedy that happened to them in the 90s seemed impossible to move on from. They offered a very somber, serious perspective, one that took a lot of strength but did not leave much room for hope in the future.
- Something that I need to write down before I forget is how every tour guide that we had thanked us for touring their city and their country, perhaps expressing even more gratitude for us than we could have expressed for them. They are so passionate about their homes, and that was very clear as they led us around the country and described the history to us. These countries (especially B+H), rely heavily on tourism for their economy, and our tour guides on this trip were clearly expressing a real fear that people would stop being interested and willing to come to the Balkans to learn about their history. I think the worst thing that can happen to a region/country is becoming irrelevant or not having your history told, and the people here desperately want to continue telling theirs.
- Emotionally, empathy, compassion, kindness, patience, understanding, genuine interest and question asking. As for physical, enough underwear and socks.
Travis ’26:
- One thing I will remember forever from this trip is the huge difference in perspective we saw between different people we talked to. We saw this especially with the Srebrenica massacres. where a Bosnian Serb woman we met compared the evidence used to identify what happened in the town as a genocide to propaganda. The day before, we had met a Bosnian family, some of whose relatives had been killed during the war. They seemed to still hold a lot of hostility towards the Serbs because of what had happened in Srebrenica, and would definitely call the massacres a genocide. So seeing these differences in opinion was really interesting because the evidence didn’t seem as polarizing as it ended up being to us.
- One thing I need to write down before I forget is how much tourism shaped whatever town or village we were in. I was thinking about how a lot of the towns here were different from cities back home, and I realized that everywhere you went, even in less popular destinations, you could easily find gifts and souvenirs from each place either in shops or just out in the open. Back home, souvenirs aren’t anywhere near as available when you visit a city- only in New York or D.C. seemed to have a similar number of souvenirs for tourists just readily available on the streets. This helped me realize just how invaluable tourism was to each region we visited, as some of our tour guides touched on. Our guide in Mostar, Arnela, told us that there is little work available in the town for people besides in one factory or in the city’s administration, so a lot of people end up working in tourism. All of our guides encouraged us to bring our families and tell people about our visits so that more people would visit the region and help spark change.
- A water bottle, more t-shirts, sunglasses, sandals, and bug spray. In your emotional suitcase, bring questions, sensitivity, and curiosity.
Tim ’27:
- I will forever remember the lunch and conversation at Melica’s family restaurant in the Republic of Srpska. We had just visited the Srebrenica Genocide memorial the day prior, witnessing the tragedy that unfolded and hearing accounts from survivors. Melica, however, adamantly referred to the memorial as “propaganda”, disagreed with the definition of genocide, and recounted different “truths” about the war. The conversation provided a shocking and insightful outlook into how historical narratives differ based on an individual’s background, especially when these different stories are compared to facts. But by observing Arna’s limited reaction during this conversation, and witnessing her hug with Melica at the end, I caught a glimpse of what reconciliation might look like. The history has already been written. Some facts are undeniable. The thousands of lives should continue to be commemorated, and the horrific events ought not to be erased from our memory. But it is up to us to carry this information and, with our best ability, move forward to create a more positive future.
- I could feel a strong sense of passion in the voices of everyone we talked to. Arna, our guide for the longest period, had lived through the war herself. She expressed nostalgia for the former Yugoslavia under Tito, comparing its greatness to the United States. Simultaneously, she also displayed sorrow towards the war and annoyance at the current government’s inability to make changes. Arnel, our youngest guide (Just a few years older than I), was a volunteer at the Srebrenica memorial. He shared immense details about all facets of the genocide, from the number of casualties (8,372 and counting) to the events that unfolded each day from the first week to July 1995 to the end of the month. In his voice, there was both certainty of the information and a hope for the future. I couldn’t imagine what it must feel like to talk about this story every day and not fall into dread or despair. There were many other influential guides and figures, and because they had lived through the history themselves, their stories were equally important as the destinations. Their words and determined attitude made me feel a sense of duty, and multiple guides mentioned that us, as privileged foreign travellers, were the hope for their country’s change.
- Packing list:
- Portable charger
- Euros
- Water bottle
- Swimming gear
- Empathy
- Respect for different opinions
- Curiosity for knowledge
- Open mindedness
- Headphones for bus rides
Albert ’26:
Mostar bridge: bridge for common identity
Broken during war
Rebuilt after giving parts of its original structure up
As we walked through the old town of Mostar, the space expanded as the Stari Most gradually revealed itself—its polished stone slabs arching above the shimmering Neretva River. It was an image that etched itself permanently into my memory. Beneath this beauty, however, lingered the truth: the original bridge had been destroyed in 1993. Yet, through efforts from 2001 to 2004, dedicated divers plunged into the cold currents of the river to salvage fragments of history, knowing full well that not every piece could return to its former place. Some original stones were inevitably lost, replaced instead by newer, modern, materials.
Much like the reconstructed bridge, the reconciliation between different ethnic groups after the war required a delicate act of rebuilding—and the courage needed to give up. Arna, our guide, is a proud Bosnian that was deeply affected by the Yugoslav wars. Likewise, Melica, a Bosnian-Serb woman, lost relatives to the same conflict. Even though thirty years ago, they belonged to opposing sides. Today, they are still carrying differing perspectives. Yet, at the end of our shared meal, they chose to hug each other for a short moment.
By giving up parts of their inherited pain—the narratives that justified their anger—they also let go of the rationale for hatred. Just as some stones of the original bridge could not be recovered, not all memory and experiences are meant to be underscored. Letting go is essential for fostering new connections.
List:
- Two phones
- Powerbank
- Headphones
- Music
- Swimwear
- Euros
- Realistic expectations
Anaïs ’26:
- One thing I will remember forever is the hug between Arna and Melissa after our lunch at Jahorina. Like Ms. R-L and the rest of our group, I was very surprised to see two people, of different heritages and with such different opinions, displaying their friendship through a hug. Although I have to admit disagreeing a little with the view Melissa had provided about what occurred at Srebenica, seeing Arna’s composure and ability to hear out someone else’s perspective inspired me to do the same.
- I want to describe our experience at the concentration camp, Jasenovac. Upon arriving, I instantly noticed the beautiful, serene landscape that was such a striking contrast to the horrible and endless deaths that occurred over 4 years. As our guide described the specific places within the camp, I was shocked by how brutally men and women were tortured and executed in direct contact.
- I would tell a friend to pack an open mindset and perspective when preparing for this trip. Not knowing much about the history in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, I left for this trip wondering about the new information I would learn and the people I would meet. During our home cooked lunch with Melica and her family, I could really see how the conflict directly affected their everyday lives as they described how the future of their country was very uncertain. It was important to allow myself to understand and sympathize will all the various perspectives throughout the trip. Some other things I would recommend bringing are more socks, some pens to journal with and a willingness to explore new, unfamiliar places and get to know a different group of classmates.
Lyla ’26:
I’ll remember Arna’s for her country to be reunited with peace and love for one another– to not look back at the past, but to look toward the future with hope and conversations. She always spoke with such care and intentionality to the remembrance of all sides of people who were lost or lost someone in the war. She emphasized that the people here are all of Slavic blood– being the same no matter nationality or religion.
- Speaking with Diana, Kiki, Inez, Arnean, Melisa & Senad, Melisća, Arna, Anela, Nikola, and Amela, it’s clear that people have a message they want the youth to understand: peace and understanding. I think the most important thing that I am going to take with me is the perspective of people around here about themselves, their neighbors, and their people. Arna talked a lot about people who viewed themselves as a nation under Tito– as great as America! She described her fellow countrymen with such devotion and honor to be a Bosnian. Arna embodied peace. I came to learn that the pride people once had here has vanished. It’s still present in the form of patriotism and surviving the war, but with more concern of teaching the lesson of preventing a war over identity and religion.
- Travel Wise:
- More socks and underwear
- Hand sanitizer
- Tissues
- Baby Wipes / Hand wipes
Emotional Preparation:
- Open mind
- Be prepared to cry– and take time to understand why you want to cry or are crying.
- Shake hands and hug the people you meet– you might not see them again.
- Appreciate the stories