Volim Bosnu! // I Love Bosnia!

*Reflection by Global Kids Leader Leslie Cano

This is the first weekend (July 12-13th) with my host family. It’s been five days since I met them and I am already calling my host mother “mom”. I have a 15 year old sister named Ema and a 9 year old sister named Ena.  I am lucky because they have gone to the USA before for a total of 4 years in Tennessee, so they can speak English. Our mom sometimes has trouble speaking English, so Ema is always translating for us. Our dad often works so we normally see him for a while during breakfast and since it’s been raining these past few days, he picks us up at night, if we go out.

Today, July 12th, was family day so we all went out including GK Leader Francine Burns and Bosnian youth leader Uma. Our dad took us to a hidden waterfall. The path was downhill and since it recently rained, some areas were muddy. It was a challenge and Christina fell down at one point but the view was worth it. The waterfall was high and once we got there, we took off our shoes and put ONLY OUR FEET in the cold water. I think our exercise of the day was the walk back to the car. See, the walk to the waterfall was completely downhill and the pathway was steep so on the way back we were going uphill nonstop on the steep pathway. It was a nice workout.

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After the waterfall, we came back home and rested for a while. Then was the part I was waiting for… The Motorcycle Show! Every year people from different places gather in Sanski Most to ride their motorcycles together around town. So we went to the city and waited for the motorcycles to come.  We heard the engines running as the motorcycles all came together! Some were doing tricks, while others had their partners on their backs. Then I saw my dad with my mom pass by in their motorcycle and I yell out “THAT’S MY MOM!” It was a fun experience and to end the day we went to the motorcycle party, listened to some rock music and went home.

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It has only been one day of our weekend together and I have to say, I love my host family. They greeted me with open arms and we have gotten so close. I am loving being in BOSNIA!

*Leslie Cano was born in Manhattan and raised in Queens.  She is 16 years old and attends Long Island City High School in Queens.  Raised by a Mexican family, she speaks both English and Spanish fluently.  She has been involved with Global Kids for two years and participates in the following programs: Undesirable Elements and Greening Western Queens.  Leslie is passionate when it comes to the issues of environmental justice, educational justice and loves learning about new cultures while also sharing her culture.  She is in the Leadership class of her school and hopes to be a part of Student Governments as Senior Treasurer next year.  In the future, Leslie hopes to bring justice to her community through law and be able to make her parents citizens so that they can go back to Mexico and visit their families.
Jul 16, 2014
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