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Sergei's
parents are both Bosnian nationals but his mother was of Serbian
descent and his father of Croatian descent. His mother was Serbian
Orthodox and his father was Catholic.
It is his father's religion that Sergei is referring to as both
the children are Catholic. The family were no longer regarded simply
as Bosnian when the war began.
Sergei writes......
The
yard of my grandparents; green grass, plums, pears and a dog which
was always playing around my legs jumping happily around. These
are all parts of my happy childhood!
My grandfather (dad’s father) with whom I’ve spent many nice days
was a big part of it. He always drove me around and made swings
for me. In summer we enjoyed swimming in the small river called
Vrbanja, which is next to our house.
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Uprooted
by the troubles:
Sergie's experience is typical of many refugees
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We
all lived together; our houses next door to each other like one
big house. And I remember the field where I used to play football
with my grandpa.
I was very close to my grandpa – in many ways he was like a dad.
I also remember my grandma. She cooked me my favourite food.
Walking with my parents through the streets of my city, full of
green flowers and trees. The playground within the castle in the
city centre and walking beside the big green, cold and fast river
Vrbar. All these things I remember so clearly. Happy innocent faces
of the passers by.
HAPPY TIMES!!!
All these are shadows of memories from my happy childhood. Suddenly
all this vanished. WHY? I DON’T KNOW!
Someone had declared a dirty war and destroyed all those nice things
of mine. At the age of 5 this was like a cruel joke.
STUPID REASONS!
Suddenly we all became different and we couldn’t live together anymore.
People started to leave their homes and so did I.
I went on a long trip with my family looking for a new life and
hoping that we could bring back those happy days.
The
trip took us through many dreadful years and the happy days haven’t
really returned. We were happy but only for very short periods of
time. Still we are a people without homes and settled life. Passengers
forever.
Faith brought me to the UK. It was fortunate that I got here. The
hope for new life was coming to me again. I hope that it’s the end
of the trip.
These are some of my memories about my country which I had to leave.
WHY? I DON’T KNOW! STUPID REASONS!
Someone started a stupid game. In that game I was discriminated
against because of having a different religion which was not acceptable
anywhere. My mixed nationality and my religion made me homeless.
No one could accept me. My wish is that this game stops not only
in my country but in the whole
wide world.
A world
without discriminationand
equality for all!!
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