Editor’s Note: This is the seventh in a series of 10 stories in celebration of International Week.

With her family centered around the culture, and Bosnian being the only language spoken at home, senior Merisa Gredelj is beyond proud of who she is and where she came from, and makes sure to include her culture in her everyday life.

“I go the Dzamija every Sunday, which is a school where you learn about religion and language. It definitely helps me keep intact with my culture,” Gredelj said.

A major factor in her love for Bosnia springs from the hardships the country as a whole has fought through. Her father grew up in Prijdor, and her mother in Kozarac, both cities in the northwestern part of Bosnia. However in 1995, they were forced to come to America due to the war.

“I’m proud to be Bosnian because people of the country have gone through so much in their lives. We survived a genocide, and still every time I go to Bosnia the people there are so happy and friendly and still get along with others,” she said.

Gredelj along with her family and friends have many traditions that root from Bosnia. For example, because most Bosnians are Muslim, they celebrate Eid which occurs 2 times a year, and fast during the month of Ramadan.

One of Gredelj’s favorite part about being Bosnian is the excellent food that it has to offer.

“My favorite dish would have to be Pita because there are so many types. You can have it with cheese, meat, spinach, pumpkin.. There are many variations,” Gredelj said.

Gredelj is thankful to have been brought up in a family that is proud of their roots because of all that it has taught her, and the things she will keep with her throughout her entire life.

“I believe that there are many things that define a person. But knowing where you are from and your roots are what makes up your history. Not knowing your cultural is like a piece of your identity missing,” she said.