Shooting at the US Embassy

Written 10/28:

            After a wonderful Skype conversation with Ross, I returned home to some unpleasant news.  I am a little fuzzy on the details still, but it sounds like a man shot a guard, or several guards, in front of the US Embassy.  I am not sure whether anyone was killed, and certainly I am hoping for the best.  I don’t know whether the shooter was arrested or killed at the scene.  I also don’t know his motives, and why he was targeting the US Embassy.

            My friend Ivana’s mother works at the embassy.  When I first heard the news, I worried about her, as well as the two other Embassy workers who I’ve met these past few weeks.  I was very relieved to hear that everyone is okay, though it sounds like my friend’s mother was at the scene of the shooting.

            Some of my other friends were trapped downtown all day, since the area around the embassy went on lockdown.  They finally made it home around 10pm.

            I am a little bit surprised by the news.  I know that there are some anti-American sentiments everywhere in the world.  One afternoon, as I rode the tram chatting with Sara, a young man sat behind us and said, “Fucking Americans”.  However, that was the only time I’ve encountered any hostility.  It seems like most Bosnians are very friendly towards Americans, and that there have been few recent incidents of terrorism or violence here.

            I went down to my friend Admir’s apartment so that he could translate the news for me.  Not many details were being released, but it was interesting to hear Admir’s perspective on the events.  He told me that there are some “terrorists” in Bosnia, and that “they are not Bosnian”.  He explained that during the war many records were destroyed, so after the war, you basically just had to give your word that you were Bosnian to get a Bosnian passport.  So, according to him, there are some people who are not Bosnians who hold a Bosnian passport.  Some may be supporting terrorism, but it is difficult to deport them because they have a passport. 

Of course, please don’t assume what I’ve shared above to be fact, since the information is coming to me from word-of-mouth, and perhaps with some ideas lost in translation.  However, it is quite interesting to hear a Bosnian citizen’s concerns and perspective about terrorism.

I really hope that what happened today will remain an isolated incident.  I am constantly inspired by how quickly the country is recovering from the war, and by the Bosnian people’s open-minded attitudes.  Right here, right now, Muslims and Christians, Bosnians, Serbs, Croats, and foreigners, are living side-by-side in peace.  I constantly hear from my Bosnian friends about how much they admire America, and I sometimes forget to tell them about how much I admire their country.  I really miss my home, but I do not miss how Americans (including myself) can be suspicious, rude, and anxious.  I hope that by living here for one year, I will become more like my Bosnian friends and colleagues: friendly, welcoming, and patient.

            I guess I should close this post by letting you know that I still feel safe at my home in Otes, and that I will try to update soon when I know more information about the Embassy attacks.  So, please, don’t worry!

Update:  The shooting did not escalate into anything more.  Thankfully, no one was killed.  One guard and the shooter were injured, and, of course, the shooter is in jail.  Everything seems back to normal and I still feel very safe here.