My parents came to Canada in 1995 from a war torn country that doesn’t exist anymore, Yugoslavia. The civil war that caused the country's breakdown started in 1992, my parent’s last year of high school. At the time they were both living in their home city, Sarajevo (capital of Bosnia) and as Serbs were targeted and forced to leave.

 Sarajevo became one of the roughest warzones and battlegrounds. Luckily, my parents managed to leave their family homes in time and met in 1993 at university in another Bosnian city, Banja Luka.

Soon after they moved to Belgrade (capital of Serbia) in an effort to escape war and poverty that Bosnia was enwrapped in. It was in Belgrade they heard about a Canadian immigration program and applied in hope for a better life overseas. They were in their mid 20s and wanted to get a proper education and better future which was not possible in Serbia at the time due to the war, still going on in the neighbouring Bosnia, unemployment and inflation.

As soon as they got the acceptance from Canada’s immigration program they got married and started to learn all about Canadian culture and society.

 While saddened to leave their families, afraid of how they are going to fit in the new culture and learn a new language they embraced the opportunity for a fresh start in a new reality.

The destination of their future life was Toronto, Ontario.

The immigration settlement program helped them with airfares, monthly allowances, temporary housing  and provided support in everything else. They landed at Pearson on June 21, 1995. My parents considered themselves lucky to have everything so organized and taken care of.

Once they settled in their first apartment they started to plan for the future. It was hard and challenging getting into college studies, borrowing money for education and working part-time jobs to have enough for food, clothes and bills. They were living in a community where a lot of other Serbs were living and met new friends as well as reconnected with some old ones from their hometown. These friendships helped them overcome nostalgia for their country and families they left behind.

The view from my parents first apartment in Canada

The first Raptors game ( or any professional sports game) my parents ever attended.

Characteristics of our culture include:

1. Christmas special baked bread with money and Yule log 

2. Easter egg breaking for breakfast

3. Eastern Orthodox church (religious beliefs)

4. Celebration of a saint day (Slava)

5. Folklore music and wardrobe

6. 2 alphabets: Latin and Cyrillic

7. Etiquette (eye contact when shaking hands)

8. Alcoholic drink called “rakija” made from fruits most common plums