In Vermont

The audio excerpts on this page reflect some of the many challenges that refugees displaced by the war in Bosnia faced as they built new lives in Vermont: culture shock, homesickness, discrimination, but also welcome, friendship, and safety. These recordings were in 2003 and 2005, but the process of building new lives in a new country is life-long.

1

"I can see that it wasn’t so bad to get along in America."
- Nada

3

"I go in the store and I go three time, in and out, and I didn’t know how to buy bread."
- Ramiz

5

"When you come in a strange country… you don’t know nothing. "
- Muho

7

"Long time he remember everything… now he says… I don’t want to remember."
- Slavojka

10

"Thanks to God I didn’t have any problems here after September 11. "
- Nedzad

2

"I know American from television, Hollywood movies, Manhattan, stuff like that."
- Ramiz

4

"Is this American or what?… was totally different than we expected."
- Emira

6

"I was amazed with a lot of people how welcoming they were. "
- Anonymous

8

"I miss my home. If I said I don’t miss it I would be liar."
- Muho

9

"Should I hate all Christians because Christians kicked me out of from the country?"
- Emira

11

"The worst part in my life will be forever I don’t know who I am anymore."
- Emira

12

"We are all in a way immigrants. Some of them are… senior, some of them are younger, like me."
- Anonymous