Mersad Sejmenovic

Abstract:

Mersad Sejmenovic was born in the town of Cerska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in 1982. He talks about his family, some of which live near him in Carlisle, PA, and some of which still live in Bosnia. He speaks about his work for several different distribution companies, and how he enjoys doing construction and working on vehicles in his spare time. His memories include immigrating to America, and what he thought of the country both before and after arriving. Mersad also discussed the beginning of the war in his hometown of Cerska and losing his mother. They moved to Srebrenica later, living there for two years under protection of the United Nations. Serb forces eventually came into the town, and his family was forced to flee through Potočari. Sadly, he was separated from his father and brother, but he met his brother 30 days later. His father’s body was identified and properly buried in 2012. In 2007, Mersad returned to Bosnia to see his old home and village. He talks about adjusting to new cultures, and the role of the Bosnian community. He ends by speaking about his family; his wife and two daughters, and the life lessons he teaches them, learned from both life in Bosnia and immigrating to the US.

Keywords: Cerska, Vlasenica, Jasenica, Srebrenica, Carlisle, Bosnia, Immigration, Refugees, Bosniaks Islamic Cultural Center

Timestamp Summary:

01:19- His family

02:59- Moving to Carlisle

03:34- Career

05:19- Hobbies currently

06:28- Immigrating to America

07:54- Living in Jasenica

09:00- First impressions of America

11:47- Start of the war

13:53- Living in Srebrenica

16:14- Perception of the UN, the attack on Srebrenica

19:13- Fleeing Potočari

22:43- Returning to Bosnia

27:45- Bosnian community

30:35- Hobbies as a child

32:03- His parents occupations

32:56- Describing Cerska

36:51- Identity as a child

38:20- Lessons from his parents, teaching his daughters

45:39- Meeting his wife

48:28- Immigration and the US

Transcript

Drew Murdough  00:01

It is currently 3:07 pm on Saturday, April 9 2022. I am here right now, this is Drew Murdough recording for the Cumberland, Cumberland County Historical Society, Bosnians in America Project, and I'm currently here with Mersad Sejmenovic.

Mersad Sejmenovic  00:21

That would be correct.

Drew Murdough  00:22

How are you doing?

Mersad Sejmenovic  00:23

Good. How about you, sir? 

Drew Murdough  00:25

I'm doing well. I'm doing well. So before we begin, I just want to let you know that this is being audio and visually recorded. Do I have your consent to record this?

Mersad Sejmenovic  00:35

Yes.

Drew Murdough  00:36

Perfect. Perfect. Thank you very much. So to start off, would you please tell us your name and how to spell it?

Mersad Sejmenovic  00:45

My name is Mersad, and you spell M E R S A D. And the last name Sejmenovic, which is spelled S E J M E N O V I C.

Drew Murdough  00:59

So where were you born?

Mersad Sejmenovic  01:00

I was born in 1982, February 25 1982. I was born in Bosnia, the village called Cerska, it was the eastern side of the Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Drew Murdough  01:13

Okay, so in the East. Whenever you were born, do you have any family with you at the time?

Mersad Sejmenovic  01:19

Well, when I was born, yes, I had my older brother, the oldest brother, he's handicapped, he was born normal. But then in the age, he became handicapped, he couldn't move. So I have another two brothers one that lives here with me. And I have another brother that lives in Switzerland. I have one more sister, which she's here with me. My father, my mom and my grandma. And I have uncles to one side, but that was the part of the house that we live in.

Drew Murdough  01:49

Okay, so you lived with all of those members in in...

Mersad Sejmenovic  01:53

My family, my my father, mom and grandma and my brothers and sister. But [my] uncles house, it was like [a] townhouse, they were just the next door, which is uncle and his family.

Drew Murdough  02:06

Can you tell me your siblings names?

Mersad Sejmenovic  02:10

What is the..

Drew Murdough  02:11

Your brothers and sisters.

Mersad Sejmenovic  02:13

My brother, the oldest Alija Sejmenovic, which also he's going to have interview. I don't know with who. My brother Mirzet Sejmenovic, the one that lives in Switzerland. My sister Mersida Sejmenovic. She lives in Chambersburg. And my oldest brother, the one I said he's the handicapped. He lives in Bosnia, which is the place where they take care of him. We also have financing [from] here. And then we feel like he's really comfortable over there.

Drew Murdough  02:51

So obviously, we're not in Bosnia right now. We're currently in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. So when did.. when did you first come to Carlisle?

Mersad Sejmenovic  02:59

When I, that was the 2002 in June or July. I'm not sure now. But I know in 2002 we arrived, we arrived to New York. And then we have to sleep over because the I guess the flight was canceled. And then we arrived to Harrisburg the next day. Then we arrived to Carlisle in 2002. Since 2002, I live in Carlisle and I didn't change the town.

Drew Murdough  03:29

Perfect. Have you always worked for DHL because I know we were talking beforehand about...

Mersad Sejmenovic  03:34

Well first when I arrived, there was the organization they call AMICA that helped us really to find a job and then replace. [My] uncle was the one that actually took us over and we live for almost a month within our uncle house. The one day he came on 1998 He arrived before us here but then that was the week in 2002. Then we live in house and then the organization helped us to find the apartment. And we were only three blocks away from them. So and then my first job was the I worked for Arnold Logistics there was the I never worked before I was always in the school and then working night shift can it was hard for me to adjust the life and also adjust the shift and then I worked for three months and as soon as the better opportunity and I started learning more language, I transferred to work for Exel that um was called Exel but then in 2006 became DHL supply chain because they bought the Exel.

Drew Murdough  04:46

How do you... how do... you how do you like working for DHL?

Mersad Sejmenovic  04:48

Well, I like it a lot so that's why I've been working with them for 19 years now. Well and my primary career will end with them. But you know when we find that we as a Bosnian, and when you arrive, we focus on on, you know, one place. And we always tried to do the best we can, even with company, community, with anything that we can we always try to do the best we can.

Drew Murdough  05:15

Whenever you're not working with DHL, like what are some things that you enjoy doing?

Mersad Sejmenovic  05:19

Well, there's other stuff that I do on the side, which is the constructions. I do good constructions. There's a hobby, also, I try to do as much as I can with my kids to spend time. There's a little one I have, she's only four years [old]. And then there is an older one, she's 12 years [old]. And of course, they.. they're [my] daughters, and then they're spoiled by me. And, of course, I have to spend time with them too. But also, the side job that I do is also constructions that I'm really good with. I enjoy doing it. Also fixing cars, some of the cars, you know, anything that, you know, like I'm looking into it to, you know, to know more and learn more, and it's a great country that you have opportunity to to learn anything you want. Anything is possible if you're just looking for it.

Drew Murdough  06:12

Absolutely. So... you said that you first arrived in the United States in 2002?

Mersad Sejmenovic  06:20

That would be correct.

Drew Murdough  06:22

 Did you come straight from Bosnia to the United States? Or, how did your family end up coming to New York and then to Carlisle?

Mersad Sejmenovic  06:28

Well, that was the.. First of all, being in Bosnia, moving from your home, then the Eastern Bosnia was already occupied, it was occupied by Serbs and our homes, they were destroyed. We had no place to live. We were living in central Bosnia, which was the safe place. And then of course, we were living in somebody else's house, the which was the people, that you know, probably moved from there. So and then living there, you really don't feel comfortable that you don't feel like that's your home because you're missing your house. And then the United States started with programs, bringing the refugees to the United States, but then we were all going to the school. And then from the school, you know, like okay, how about the next year? How about next year? We were extending, and when it became the last year of, you know, like, United States was stopping bringing the refugees, like 2000 was the end of the refugees. So we weren't in the last program. Then we have to go and live in Croatia, and from Croatia doing all the programs that's needed to fulfill and from Croatia, we arrived to... to [the] United States.

Drew Murdough  07:51

You said you lived in a town in central Bosnia. Do you remember the name of that?

Mersad Sejmenovic  07:54

That was the between Tuzla and Srebrenik there was the place called Jasenica. And we lived there for a couple of years and then had been going to school, the middle school and high school and also college, I started there from this place, and then there were some, some of the places you really have to walk far away to get to the bus station. And then from bus station going into the school. It was sometimes it was hard, but you know, I managed to get done.

Drew Murdough  08:28

Can you spell the name of that town again? What was it?

Mersad Sejmenovic  08:31

Srebrenica

Drew Murdough  08:33

Jasenica, I believe

Mersad Sejmenovic  08:34

Jasenica; J A S E N I C A.

Drew Murdough  08:47

Jasenica. Okay.

Mersad Sejmenovic  08:47

Yes.

Drew Murdough  08:48

Thank... Thank you. That'll help me a lot. So, before you ever came to the United States, what were some of your impressions about like, the country itself? What did you think about its people?

Mersad Sejmenovic  09:00

Well, the first of all, I was in school. So also [at] the time there was no electricity that much, we lost electricity. As a kid, I was only nine years [old]. So the only thing I knew [was] Tom and Jerry that time I was growing up. So I knew Tom and Jerry a lot. But then, when I started, war started, and then everything I became over here to the central [Bosnia] where it was safe. And I started my middle school. But when I started high school, then I started learning more. And then through the computer about the United States. And of course, everybody was dreamed to leave because when I watched the movies, I watched the New York, Hollywood, that was the most famous places on the movies. So I knew only those things, but also I know how great [the] country was. So I knew that so it's [a] really democratic country. And then there's so many opportunities, just because... I that's all I knew. But then when I arrived I didn't know that much language, I honestly when I was so afraid if somebody, if I walk out, somebody will ask me, I would be just like, you know, like frozen, I would be like, I don't know what to say. And then those the two months, it was really hard to adjust to the life. It was really hard. It's just because of the language, nothing else but the culture. Then later on, of course, by living every single day, every single day [in the country], I learned the culture, I learned the language and I feel so much [more] comfortable now. And just in three years, I felt like I was already like, home. After five years, I went to Bosnia. I went, that's it was [my] first time to visit the Bosnia. But then I took almost like 20 days. But then after 15 days, it started being like, I really miss Carlisle. Like, honestly, I felt because I know I have home. I have a family here. And then there was nobody back in Bosnia. Everything that I left is not the same after five years. I went so after coming back I really, like, I enjoy and Carlisle it's really the... the place the Pennsylvania as a whole consider it. The globally it's like Bosnia and the weather and everything. It's pretty much similar. We couldn't adjust to the hot weather like..

Drew Murdough  11:29

What year was it that you said that you returned to Bosnia?

Mersad Sejmenovic  11:32

2007... 2007 I went first time to visit the Bosnia and visit some places and visit my mother. And uh...

Drew Murdough  11:45

Would you be willing to tell me about that?

Mersad Sejmenovic  11:47

Uh... yeah, when the war started in 1991, and 1992, my mom was pregnant. And [at] that time, I was only nine years old. And, of course, war started, then nobody, we were just in a circle around the enemies. And there was no help to help her during the pregnancy. She, she was, she bleed a lot. And she passed away and also the child passed away that year. And of course, after moving from... we lost our place, that was the only place that was to escape [to]. It was Srebrenica, we were moving from our, our village to... pretty much everybody because the war started [getting] worse. And then they [Serbs] were occupying our place. So we moved to the safe place the call center inside and we lived there for two years in Srebrenica. As a child, I grew up there.

Drew Murdough  12:57

So whenever you grew up in Srebrenica, when was it that... was that time that you were living in Jasenica? Or was that...

Mersad Sejmenovic  13:07

No no Jasenica was the place that I lived [in] after the war. So I lived there after the war. But during the war, my place was called Cerska, which was the the part of the Vlasenica, Vlasenica was the town. And I lived before the war there. And it was, I went to school there, and it was so nice. So my childhood was so nice. But after the war hit, you know, it was probably the worst childhood that I could dream about. Then just moving from one spot to another from one spot to another, just looking for space, you know, safe space.

Drew Murdough  13:47

So you said you were in Srebrenica for two years.

Mersad Sejmenovic  13:50

Yes, I lived there.

Drew Murdough  13:52

From when to when?

Mersad Sejmenovic  13:54

Because that was the only place safe that was [protected] by the UN. The UN was saving because there was 1000, 1000 people living there because all the Eastern, pretty much Bosnia came to one town to live there. And me as a child, 10 years old. Coming nothing, knowing nothing just following my, my dad, and pretty much all the family. We were walking from our place to Srebrenica. Now I really don't know the distance, but it was a lot of walking. It was a lot of walking, and I know my dad has to carry also my, my older brother, the one that I said [was] handicap. I know it was a hard time. So when we arrived to Srebrenica the kind of, we were living in the school for, I think seven days or something. Then one place become available, one room which that house it was the house on top, but also the store was this place underneath. But then that store, they convert in 1 2 3 4 5 rooms. So, and then every everybody or every family, like had four or five people living in one single room and happens that we got the darkest room, even during the day, that room was dark. So every time you try to walk in you like (motions hands in front of himself) you get to touch something to see where you're going in. So I lived there for two years and then also I went to school there, so because they had the school open, but it was hard, it was hard, no food, you know, and then of course the help was coming from the UN and from everybody else, right into Srebrenica, and they were sharing to people I think weekly. You know, the flour and everything that is needed to survive.

Drew Murdough  16:01

What was, so we talked a lot in class about [Bosnian] perception of the United Nations. What was the, what was the attitude towards the UN while they were there?

Mersad Sejmenovic 16:14

Well, I honestly as a kid that I seen him as a, as a protectors, you know, somebody that really protected us. I felt so safe, you know, and then also that was my impression as a kid so I really, you know, see them as that and every time they pass it by I would be like, you know (waves), say hi and that's all I could say [at] that time in English you know, it was like hi because we learned, because they were speaking English, but also they were speaking German and some people that knew, they learned German back in school I guess they could translate but every time they would pass in by town all the kids would be outside and waving to them (waves) and then of course they were so you know, nice to us but then become later 1995, you know, and then really when Serbs you know like occupied and started, you know occupied in Srebrenica and so then we started moving, I remember I uh... that was the last day I see my dad, you know, and then everybody started running and panicking because it happens so quick, you know, and then you start you think that you [are] safe but, obviously you're not and then when people start panicking in brings more fear, more everything, and as a child I know my grandma just grabbed us out of the house in the morning. We, uh, said goodbye to our father and my, uh, not the oldest brother but next to oldest which is Alija. He went with my brother over the, over the mountains to, to walk to the safe place so and then we took the walk to Potočari, and of course that was the UN station not far away from us, where we live. It's like a mile away and we started going in there but they said no you gotta go for, you gotta go to Potočari where [there] is the main location of the UN was. So we were walking down there and of course there was those three nights are probably the worst nights in my life.

Drew Murdough  18:33

Whenever, when you were there those three nights, uh, who with you from your family like was with you.

Mersad Sejmenovic 18:42

(Voice breaking) It was my...

Drew Murdough 18:47

If you want, we can we can pause the recording if you'd like.

Mersad Sejmenovic 18:49

(Softly) Yes.

Drew Murdough 18:52

Ok.

[Video cuts out, begins new segmen]>

Drew Murdough 18:52

All right, it's currently 3;27 and we're continuing with the interview with Mersad. Um, so I wanted to go back to Carlisle if you're okay with that.

Mersad Sejmenovic 19:05

That's perfectly fine. But I was gonna just finish if you want me..

Drew Murdough  19:08

Oh, if you feel comfortable finishing with that please do.

Mersad Sejmenovic 19:13

Yeah yeah I'll finish um. The night we arrived there was the first night I had my brother Mirzet, who was only a year older, two years older than me. And my sister, uh, she was the youngest among of us and my grandma. So really we arrived there also my, my other family my cousin Elvir, his two sisters and his mother. And also there was my other uncle's wife with her two daughters and one son. So one night, so we, we really slept on the ground on asphalt and you could see so much panic, so much crying, so many people there like I never seen in my life as a child, you know. And the second day, um, Serbs were arriving more and more closer to.. You could hear... That's why my emotions, you know, screaming, crying because they were killing that not far away... from us. People already, some of the men they [Serbs] were pulling out and let's hearing stories from the people that are just seeing what's happening in, in Potočari. That second day, me and my grandma and my brothers and sisters (softly), when we finally left the Potočari, on our way... we were seeing people (voice breaking) men and all the people just on the street, you know, just whatever they doing with them and also full of fields with people, but then I didn't know anything of that till I after that, you know, after years and years, you know, nobody came and... We knew that genocide happened and you know, so many killings and my father was killed to and... Luckily my brother, he survived. He came after 30 days of walking... But when he when he arrived, his face was so white. Like you couldn't even recognize him. (Stops talking for 6 seconds)

Mersad Sejmenovic 21:49

Finally after 2012, um, we got the news that my father was found in a grave. It was the third one, they were moving from one spot to another and they, they couldn't find the one of the foot and everything else they find, and we buried him in 2012. Finally then my heart was fulfilled in knowing then, I know where my father's buried.

Drew Murdough  22:33

So, whenever you returned to Bosnia, have you returned, you returned once was it? Or have you returned...

Mersad Sejmenovic 22:43

2007 I returned, um. When I returned, I went to Sarajevo. And I spent seven days right in Sarajevo. But then I decided to go and visit the places where I came from. But... it was hard to see. It was all destroyed. It was all the weeds, everything, nothing look as, as I remember as a child, because so many years, and [the] weeds grow so big, and I couldn't even get to the house where I used to live. I took some pictures and when I came back, but it's not the same, and I didn't feel, I know I love that place. But it, I don't feel safe to live there anymore. And I know this is my house, I know where I'm protected. And I know when I'm gonna raise my kids. And this is the place where I choose.

Drew Murdough  23:48

Were you alone whenever you returned or were you with other people?

Mersad Sejmenovic 23:48

I took other people with me too, because just I didn't feel safe. I didn't know what's going on and what is back there. So I took my aunt and her son with me. So they were driving, so I took the ride with them. It's only three, almost four hours away from Sarajevo to get to the Cerska.

Drew Murdough  24:12

Were, uh, your aunt and her son, were they already, were they living in Sarajevo or did they come with you from America?

Mersad Sejmenovic 24:19

No. They, they are they still in Sarajevo. They still live in Sarajevo. They never uh... But they also, uh, they are from the Cerska too, my aunt is. And we lived, she lived with us in [thr] same village, but since she got married, she only got not far away. It's from like Carlisle to Mechanicsburg that's how far it was. But then, yeah, she raised her kids. She also lost her husband, but she got two daughters and one son and they still uh, one son he's in Sarajevo with her right now. The other, one daughter is in Sweden and the other one in Germany.

Drew Murdough  24:59

So very, very spread out.

Mersad Sejmenovic 25:04

Yes.

Drew Murdough 25:04

And that's the one thing that you've been telling me about your family is that you're all very, like, spread out.

Mersad Sejmenovic 25:09

Yeah.

Drew Murdough 25:09

But you all seem still very close together.

Mersad Sejmenovic 25:13

Yes.

Drew Murdough 25:13

I've noticed that, uh, because we went to the Independence Day celebration that you guys hosted, which was absolutely amazing. And the one thing I noticed was just how, like, warm and welcoming just Bosnian culture is. Whenever you first came to Carlisle, was, was there like a difference? Like, was there any sort of cultural differences? Noticing?

Mersad Sejmenovic 25:37

Uh, yes, that was the adjusting the life and culture. Yeah, it was the different, you know, the one, you know, think you get the, you know, used to your life, but then there's something else, you know, then you have to fit the culture that is currently, you know, every country you go [to], there's different culture. But for us, it wasn't, you know, bad to adjust. You know, it's like, we just try, because we like to communicate with, with the people, and then our neighbor, we start going to get with them and then, and that's how I learned the culture, but you know, just seeing what they do. Or, you know, I was afraid to do something, you know, I don't know if there is their culture or know something, you know, but I always ask my neighbor, but then that's how I learned a lot by just talking to my neighbors. Because back in Bosnia, I know my, my father, teach me always be nice to your neighbors. Be as your family. And then pretty much, I always I'm so happy that I always have good neighbors around and my, now she, my neighbor, she lost her husband when we moved to the house. But since then, we were always there together. And she's so kind and I always tell my kids [to] make sure they check on her. You know, just because she's older. And she's, she's really nice and kind. And that's what my part of the life is to teach kids to be kind, to be righteous, and love, no matter who they are. You know, I only see good and bad people, there is no difference. There's only good and bad. I said don't be around bad ones. But the good ones, always be around.

Drew Murdough 27:19

Absolutely.

Mersad Sejmenovic 27:19

There is no...

Drew Murdough 27:22

So you mentioned about, kind of like, coming from Bosnia you had that sense of community and, you found that sense of community in your neighbors and, and stuff like that. But, whenever you first came here, how big was the um, the Bosnian community in this area? Because I know now we have the cultural center. But how big was it back then before?

Mersad Sejmenovic 27:45

Well, for us, it was easier for, for my generation. When I came in, there was already some of the Bosnian families, they came in 1995. You know, because the war and then 1997, 1998. The family, that when we arrived to Carlisle, we had our uncle, we had, I had my cousin and his two sisters. And all three of them really speak good language. For us, it was, it was smooth, because anywhere we need to go, any appointments, anything that is needed for the paperwork for the green card or something like that. He'll go with us to fill the forms and everything. But the generations before us, they were struggling to fit the, like my cousin [Elvir] says, you know, when he walks into school, he didn't know not a single word to say. But then he'll take the dictionary and stand in the hallway to tell somebody “stop” (raises hand), you know, to ask him and then he'll look through the dictionary by time he finds a word they're already gone. So then that was the hard time for them to adjust. For me, the only thing that was hard, you know, if I go to work, but whatever it is, you know, there was some Bosnians that work for Arnold Logistical  already and they knew some Bosnians, and they could translate for us. The only thing I was afraid [of] if somebody will ask me something and then you know, I would not understand, I would be like, you know, just staring at them and then or say okay, okay, but pretend like I understand but then walk away. And then I don't know what he said.

Drew Murdough  29:31

Yeah, it definitely is a challenge for anyone in a, living in a place where you're not speaking your native tongue. Um.

Mersad Sejmenovic  29:39

Yeah I mean, I learned German from eight years in school, but I could only know how to read and to write. But to speak, I couldn't speak. Because you know, you're in Bosnia, you live there, and then you're constantly talking Bosnian. But if you really want to learn somebody else's language, you can go to that country, stay there, and learn the language of the, of the country, you know, and then you'll learn much quicker than just through the school.

Drew Murdough  30:13

Absolutely. (Long pause) So, kind of, I want to swing back kind of more to into the past. So you told me about, kind of like some things that you like to do now, as an adult. How has that changed, when you were a child, when you lived in Bosnia, what were some activities that you, that you liked to do as a kid?

Mersad Sejmenovic 30:35

Um, as a kid, number one in Europe is the soccer, which is called football. So that was the main thing for me, going to the school, after school, just getting on my bike and just searching for the, the place where we're going to play the soccer. So that was my main activity, but also the bike was something, you know, I enjoyed riding the bike. So much. But I know when I started my learning, you know, the, the bike, you know8, somebody gave me the bigger bike, and my pants got the tightened against the [chain]. And then I fell, I know, I got scratched [on] my arms, everything and then I started hating the bike then, but then later, I find myself comfortable. And then, you know, learning again, and that was most the two activities that I did, be on biking, playing soccer a lot. But also I love the school, the school was number one to get my homework done, then help my parents as much as possible. But then later on, when I lost my parents, my grandma was with us. But then to help [my] Grandma as much as I can, you know, pretty much everything cooking, she did, but you know, washing clothes and everything, that we did ourselves. We couldn't have grandma do it all, everything.

Drew Murdough  31:58

I never asked earlier, but I wanted to ask, what did your parents do for a living? What were their occupations?

Mersad Sejmenovic  32:03 

My father was also [a] construction guy. He was the lead for, for the construction. He worked, I don't know how many years. But my mom was just [at] the home with us. And pretty much you just take care of... We had a little just a farm which was one cow, a couple sheeps, chickens. It's like normal. Just, you know, that's pretty much we helped mom with all that stuff. But [my] dad most of times he worked in Hungary and Serbia. Those are the two countries that he worked in as I remember.

Drew Murdough 32:45  

You said that um, your family had like a small little farm. Was your hometown, was that more farmland or was it more like industrial factories?

Mersad Sejmenovic  32:56

Um no, it was more like farmland. It's like the Newville town where you have a, you have [an] ambulance, you have the school. It's just the small town that, where we live and the they have the villages around, you know, and I lived close to the town where I pretty much grew up there. You know, the you have a school, you have [an] ambulance, you have the stores and stuff like that. It's just a small town. But if you, if you're gonna want to go to bigger cities, then you gotta take the bus.

Drew Murdough  33:30

Did you do that a lot as a kid? Did your family like to travel either like inside Bosnia or internationally?

Mersad Sejmenovic  33:35

Um, no. I mean, as I remember, maybe they did when I was [little] but the only thing I remember. We were walking from my mom's house, my mom mom [grandma's] house, you know, and then if they wanna visit that we will take a walk, it's like, not far away, but you know, just, you know, nobody... Use the cars and [at] the time my dad didn't have no car. You know, he was just using the bus to go to work and then they were working a month and then monthly he'll come back home for a week. So I guess that's how was the setup [at] the time in Yugoslavia.

Drew Murdough  34:29

I am kind of curious though. When we were talking about your childhood, one of the things that uh, one of the things that we read a lot about is how before the war, how there wasn't a lot of divide between people who are, who were Bosniaks and Croats and Serbs. So growing up, did you, did you have any friends, like in the neighborhood? Were all your friends Bosniak? Was there just a mix of friends? Kind of like what was that like?

Mersad Sejmenovic  34:54

Um, the whole pretty much the town was all the Bosnians there, where I grew up. But my teacher was the Serb and his wife also. And then they lived in apartments, that was the apartment building for teachers. And one of them was named Dragan. And his wife was Persida.  And I was the one and my mom, my dad, they were asking, who can afford every morning to bring him [Dragan] two glasses of milk. So I was the one to really bring them [milk] every morning. And they were paying. So I was bringing mom for those two glass[es] that I would just leave in front of the door. But as a kid, I never knew that something exists that ever they hate the anything like that, you know, I was [a] kid, I was loving everybody. I was teaching to be, you know, loving everybody, respect everybody, no matter who they are. Respect elders. So as a 10 years [old] child I'd never knew. But later on, I learned through the history just looking you know, history kind of it's repeating. But I don't know how where's that all hatred coming from? And being like loving each other, respecting each other, and then just the hate came from somewhere. You know? You know. The, the politics are the one that they are controlling, I believe the country and then it's easy to just put the hatred between people and then create a conflict or something like that. But...

Drew Murdough  36:32  

Regarding that, growing up um, I'm not sure if you thought about this, since you were only like eight, nine at the time. But growing up, did you identify yourself as Bosnian? Did you identify yourself as Bosniak? Did you identify yourself as Yugoslav? Like, what was, if someone asked you like, oh, are you like, where are you from? Like, what was...

Mersad Sejmenovic  36:51 

Well, [at] that time I really honestly didn't know. I know, I was raised as a Muslim. And I was taught, you know, Islam and culture. But you know, Bosniaks, you know, I know they existed, but I didn't know, you know, like, oh, you know. But I've seen people ask me, if I go to school, I don't see no difference. You know, I thought they all say, you know, I didn't see no, ok he is the Christian, he is the Muslim, he is the you know. They were all [the] same to me, you know, and as a child, you know, they said the child is pure. And then, you know, I didn't see no difference, honestly, [at] that time I didn't see, I, even going just to, you know, like, there was the, if we have to go to the hospital. It was kind of maybe half hour driving from us. But, you know, just hearing from the people, they grow up in Yugoslavia. You know, they said it was good, you know, the people that are older and they never knew. They were always sitting together. And all that came from somewhere. I don't know how but...

Drew Murdough  38:01

You said that, so growing up... So your whole life you have practiced Islam. Um has, how important that was in your life change over the course of your life? So, uh, did you become more devout in your faith as you grew older, as you went through life? How did that change?

Mersad Sejmenovic  38:20

Um, the teaching? I know my, my parents are really humble. And for me, really, when I started learning more about Islam, but I became even more humble, you know, and, like, now the more I read, the more I you know, like, I find myself and I know my parents, what they [were] trying to teach me then. And it's like, now I'm trying to tell my kids the same way. You know, they were so kind. You know, my mom, especially my mom. She would be like, Okay, kids, you guys will come back, you know, like, she will, like, beat us. But then she'll come in and just give us hugs and kisses. And she'll forget everything what we did. But you know, and that was the something that I do remember, and I'm trying to implement to my kids as much as I can. And I tell them just anybody that you see, just give them [a] hug. That's pretty much it, you smile, open so many doors, you know, and then, you know, and happiness and everything. You know, and always be good no matter what, no matter what life brings you. Always stay positive, always stay happy. That's one thing, you know, if you struggle in the life, you know, it's gonna kill you and your stress will kill you. You know, it will hurt you inside and outside. But happiness, nobody can take away from you.

Drew Murdough  39:50

Absolutely. Absolutely. Can you um, I don't remember if I asked, what are your daughter's names again?

Mersad Sejmenovic  39:54

Um older one, Fatima. That was also my mother's name. So I give her [that name] and my youngest, she's Amina. She choose, her sister choose that name and I said, okay.

Drew Murdough  40:13

Those are both really beautiful names.

Mersad Sejmenovic 40:15

Thank you. Thank you.

Drew Murdough 40:17

So both Fatima and Amina, they've both grown up in Carlisle their entire lives?

Mersad Sejmenovic  40:24

Yes uh, they were born here, uh they were born in Carlisle hospital. Um, every time we pass in by, they show each other oh, we were born here! You know, and I'm so happy for them because I can see how happy [they] are, you know, just seeing them every day. It's not something, they're going through what I go through. But I also tried to teach my older one, which she can understand. She speaks Bosnian. But the youngest one, not yet. Um, and I tried to teach her the culture. And also I tried to teach her what I survived, but in a language that she can understand, you know, something that she can understand now, but then later on when she become much even older than she can ask more questions. I will be more than happy to teach her everything. What happened back in Bosnia, and what happened to me and so she doesn't forget.

Drew Murdough  41:26 

Yeah, absolutely. So you, you want to make sure that your daughters still have some sort of like,

Mersad Sejmenovic 41:31

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Drew Murdough 41:31

...Bosnian identity, remember where they came from, remember where their father came from.

Mersad Sejmenovic  41:36

Yes. I mean, something that I'm trying [to do], so I'm really trying, and when we talk in the house, we tried to speak as much as possible Bosnian to them. So they said, hearing, you know, when you hear stuff, you know, like, you'll start, your brain will start memorizing some of the words that you [are] hearing. So that's how my older one learn, by just hearing, like, oh I hear that word before. And then she'll ask what it means, then we'll explain in English what it means.

Drew Murdough  42:10  

So, obviously, you know, what you've experienced, where you grew up. A lot of that affects, you know, how, what you want to teach your daughters, you know, what you told me about happiness, always been kind to everybody, obviously, you seem to have taken, um, lessons kind of from that. What, what exactly would you say has been like, the biggest impact of your life, both, whether in Bosnia or through the lessons of coming to America and assimilating into a new culture. How does that affect your day to day life? How does that um, how is that like, change the person that you are? How does that define your day to day actions today?

Mersad Sejmenovic  42:56  

Um, back in Bosnia, I know when during the war, and then war from the start and the stop in 1995. And of course, I was living in a safe place. So I went to school. Of course, my high school, I was one of the teenagers that I had a really good life. I have so many friends. And I was always with the, I'm so thankful to God that I was always on the good side of people. Always, somehow always meeting the good people and being around the good people. And that's something that really probably, God helped me, to teach me to stay even I grew up with the parents, with no parents, but I was always around the people that really guide me, you know, and show me the guidance and all the guidance that I went and became, you know, even older. It came on my mind, you know, everything they told me like, oh, that was the reason why they told me [that], you know why they guide me to be you know, never be around the bad people and I always say, okay I'm not gonna be, you know, I was always a I don't want to be, you know, if somebody's drinking, I don't want to be around the drinking people, because then later I know, if they [are] drinking then they're gonna start a fight, they're gonna do this, they're gonna do this, you know, all that kind of stuff, I was so thankful that I, I was away from it. And that's why I'm trying to also, all that stuff that somebody guide me to tell my also the kids same guidance, you know, teaching the good things. And if you repeat them every day, one day they will remember, same as I remember. But this is the place where they really have good opportunity, and [a] good life to live. But also, they don't have to be uh, you know, so just to be cool. You know, we, let's fit [in] to somebody who's really bad. No, look, you be good, that person will come to you. And then that also be the person will change. And then they also wants to be good. Because everybody wants to be good. Everybody wants to be, see good. I said goodness, always win no matter what. Oh, goodness, always win. So stay good, stay positive, stay happy. That's one thing in life and one person, if you change one person's life to good, that's the reward for anybody, anybody in life that, you know. And me to raise them like that, I'm so happy.

Drew Murdough  45:21

Absolutely. Actually, on that topic, I did want to ask, ask you about, you said about surrounding yourself with good people. Um and, you know, to that I wanted to ask you probably about, to you the best person you could have ever met your wife, Melina. How did you guys meet? I was kind of curious about that.

Mersad Sejmenovic  45:39

Um, you see as Bosnians we, as soon as we get to one place, we tried to get together, like get the community together. And that's how we started when everybody started in 2002. You know, more families came and then everybody started hearing about the Carlisle some of the states they started arriving here. But then also we said, how about we get somewhere and you know, buy the place so we can get together. And then in 2007, we bought this place. And that was not only five years after, because we wanted to kind of get together and get kids together and you know, talk and then share the, the, the food, you know, because the food is one thing. So then I started visiting other places, which is in Philadelphia, New Jersey, and other places. And that's how we get together because there's another community in Philadelphia, there's New Jersey, there's places and then they said; oh, I'm single, you know, and then they said; oh, there's one girl, you know, we're gonna meet you. And I said do it, no problem, just give me the number so and then I will give her a call. And that was it. I give her a call. And three months after I got married.

Drew Murdough 46:52

Wow!

Mersad Sejmenovic 46:53

Yep. And then that's how we started life, and pretty much just visiting community uh, that's how we met. Just moving from one place to another.

Drew Murdough 47:04

So was she in Philadelphia? What area was she in in Philadelphia?

Mersad Sejmenovic  47:06

She was right in the town in Allegheny, Allegheny Street. I think that was the street that calls

Drew Murdough 47:13

Allegheny Street.

Mersad Sejmenovic 47:13

Yeah. And she, when she came to United States, she was only five years old.

Drew Murdough 47:19

Okay.

Mersad Sejmenovic 47:20

So, but then also uh, it was funny. When I started talking to her, then she was making some Bosnian words, like, half English half Bosnian, you know, like, same as the kids are doing right now. They mix half half. And then they create the one simple word that is like mixed with English and Bosnian, you know. But that's how we started life. We got married in 2008. And our first daughter was born in 2009, August 31.

Drew Murdough  47:56

Absolutely. So, so obviously um, you've been telling me about all of these, you know, amazing things that have happened since you've been in the United States. You know, you met your wife, had two daughters. You know, you've had a great life here in Carlisle. So overall, do you feel that with the United States in regards to like opportunities, refugees, like how do you feel? Do you think the United States does a good job with that? Do you think the United States um, is, sometimes struggles with dealing with refugees from other places? Like what do you, how do you feel about that?

Mersad Sejmenovic  48:28 

I mean, there's, I know any job is [a] struggle. Of course then I know administration will probably struggle because there's so many, so many people go through that every refugee when [they] comes they have to go through, but in also I'm so thankful they [are] doing it. I am so thankful that the all these people that [are] coming, they're not coming just, just like that they [are] looking for good luck...

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Mersad Sejmenovic 48:53

...and peace, you know, and this is the place where they come. But then I know also I feel that for the family, they also through the administration, they have to go deal with the people that come and then. And of course, when they ask them questions, they have to ask them probably two or three times because they don't understand. And I do understand because I seen it, you know, and me myself and I was going to interview, I was like, can you repeat, can you repeat so I can get the, you know, answers. But I do apologize for everything, you know, for those people [for] that. But they were kind, you know, they were patient, you know, one thing that you know, you know, just be patient, and then God will reward you somewhere. But I'm, I think this is the best thing that you know, USA can do and bring in the refugees. And also the when um, when they come, they build also the country, they they work, they are workers, and then that's pretty much it. And I'm so thankful that I'm here, and I live my life, like everybody else.

Drew Murdough 49:55

So I did want to ask you um, you know, I know we've been jumping over a lot of different places, but I was curious, just is there anything that we haven't talked about that you feel is very, very important to share? Any um, any experiences, any thoughts, any um like opinions, on anything revolving it?

Mersad Sejmenovic 50:12

Um, this is the one thing I would say. Uh, when we arrived here, and then we started community also, we started um, meeting more people, more people. And we started with the Dickinson College, I'm so thankful there's a good people in there, too. You see, there's a professor that, he's one of those kind people that also wants to, you know, learn about other people. And also, there's so many people, there's a mayor that he's really [good], you know, a lot of people are, and we welcome anybody. And that's why I said, you know, usually we make [a] welcoming here for anybody, but since it's Ramadan, and, you know, but I am so thankful that we are going through uh this program. That we can teach generations and generations, the reason why we came here, but then also to know our life, but also now [our] life that we live, it's totally different from what we lived. And I'm so thankful to anybody that is supporting this uh program. And I wanna thank you, all of you and professors, especially, one big thing to...

Drew Murdough  51:21

I appreciate it. Um, that pretty much sums up my questions, but I just wanted to say,um like, thank you for being so open and honest with us about your story. It really means a lot. And I really, really hope that it serves just as a lesson for a lot of people, not only just what you went through, but also just through the history of Bosnia, through just, all the amazing things that you and the community here have contributed to Carlisle and you know, as someone who is a, a local to the area, I couldn't be more proud to have you join basically my family in this area. So thank you.

Mersad Sejmenovic 51:54

Thank you. Thank you so much. I appreciate that. Thank you, all of you.

Drew Murdough 51:58

Of course. Alright, it's currently four o'clock on the dot. So, Meron you wanna hit it?