Being from Former Yugoslavia
About Marija Vujoviĉ
Still in 2021, saying that you're a former Yoguslavian seems bizarre. At my age, Marija had already gone through war, alongside her siblings, my mom and my uncle. The breakup of Yugoslavia has had an effect on my family and still does today. My aunt had the courage to talk about this today. Even though her perspective at the time was coming from a lost 12 year old hoping that everything was going to be okay, “she still remembers a lot”.
What's it like growing up in Yugoslavia?
“It was beautiful to grow up in old Yugoslavia. Although I was only 12 and I can't remember everything, my childhood memories are very lively. Among them is that there were not many cars on the streets, rather just children playing outside. The air used to be clearer than it is now. My family wasn't rich at all but I will never forget family meals sitting all together, sharing everything we have and turning reality into joy and happy moments. It was a very strange feeling when you have to stay focused and motivated, study hard and believe in a better future although the reality around you doesn't give you any hope.
How did you feel when you realized your country was at war?
“I was just twelve years old. I don't remember much, just sequences and media informing about crises, war zones, deaths, refugees fleeing their homes, lands, everything they had. ”.
Military planes were soaring in the sky and all colorful childhood memories turned gray. My family and I were living in fear not knowing what to expect. I would always get scared when I would hear sirens reminding us of going to the shelters. I was afraid I was gonna have to evacuate my country. It was an anxious and hard time for young generations to grow up. All of the sudden republics came up with an idea of separation fighting for their own territory. Also religions such as Muslims, Catholics, orthodox all started conflicts with one another having each their own side of the story.``
“Fight hard for your education to make a good life for yourself and to help out your family.”
- Marija Vujoviĉ
Would you have preferred for your country to stay as Yugoslavia or rather Montenegro?
“Yugoslavia was really a great and prosperous country with a lot of opportunities, versatile landscapes, different cultures, roots and historical heritage. Definitely it would have been a dream living in unity and harmony, nations and religions all together like during the Tito time. “School system was good and education was at a high level. We had to read a lot, mostly Russian classics, writing in cyrillic and learning Russian or English as two main foreign languages. And I assume it would have been easier with traveling restrictions' '.
How do you feel about Montenegro?
“I love my country, I am proud of everything we do, we are and we have. Our nature is intact and pure as we don't have any developed industry and we make the most money through tourism and tourists coming from abroad. Great landscapes, beaches, mountains, clear water lakes, mild winters and warm long summers, amazing Mediterranean food. Our politicians should focus more on their people than on their own benefits, look for more investments, build better roads, infrastructure, hotels, amenities, and promote our treasures. And young generations should focus on education and hard work because that’s the only way to make any success for yourself and your country.
“ I can't remember the exact moment when the war had started, I just remember realizing I wasn't a child anymore”.
