Hannah’s Bosnia – A Return to the Unexpected

First broadcast in March 2024, this candid village conversation explores cross-cultural travel, ćevapi debates, and what it really means to return to Bosnia, this time with the whole family in tow.

It’s a misty Sunday morning in the village, the firewood’s sorted for next winter, and the banana plant has, miraculously, survived.

In this special episode, first aired back in March 2024, I sit down outdoors with Hannah Thomas, a young German-American nurse who’s just wrapped up her second visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Joined this time by her father, brother, boyfriend, and younger brother, Hannah reflects on what it’s like to travel somewhere that’s not “on the list.”

We talk about ćevapi comparisons between Croatia and Bosnia (spoiler: Bosnia wins), what shocked her the first time she crossed the border, and how it feels to slow down, embrace ćejf, and soak in a country still unknown to many.

This is the first time a guest has agreed to chat right here, and it’s raw, real, and refreshingly honest.

We explore:

The contrasts between German and Bosnian culture through the eyes of a traveler in her twenties

Why slow travel in the Balkans might be the antidote to all-inclusive burnout

How Bosnia’s charm sneaks up on you, through smoky cafés, fruit markets, and unexpected kindness

So brew yourself something warm, find a quiet moment, and join us for a very human story about family, curiosity, and the power of returning.

Have you ever visited a country that completely changed your perspective, where your expectations didn’t match the reality?

If so, where was it… and would you go back?