My name is Luka Lee.  I was born in Toronto, Canada.  My father is first generation Chinese Canadian but my mom is a Croatian Bosnian refugee that came to Canada when she was 20 years old.  That makes me a second generation Canadian!

My mother's name is Lada, she was born in the 1970's in Sarajevo, Bosnia.  At that time Bosnia was part of a federation called Yugoslavia.  Her father was Croatian.  Croatia was also part of Yugoslavia.  That is why I say I am one half Croatian.

In the 1990's the federation broke up and a civil war began.  My mother's city, Sarajevo, was surrounded by the army and overnight the city was in siege, normal life ceased immediately.

How was life in Yugoslavia before the war?

Yugoslavia was a modern country.  Even though it was communist, it enjoyed many freedoms.   

Sarajevo even hosted the Winter Olympics in 1984! 

Lets take a look into a few characteristics of what was Yugoslavian culture...

RELIGION: Yugoslavia is where the East meets the West.  Over the centuries, the land that would be become Yugoslavia would be conquered by many different empires including the Romans, Ottomans and the Austro-Hungarians.  So their culture is a blend of different cultures.   So much so Yugoslavia had three main religions: Muslim, Orthodox and Catholics.

Yugoslavian music had everything.  Folk, rock, opera, classical.  

Sevdalinka is the traditional folk music.

Yugoslavian Fashion: heavily influenced by European design.  Italy, one of the world renowned fashion capitals of the world is just right across the Adriatic Sea from Yugoslavia.

Typical Yugoslavian favourite foods:

Chevapi (meat sausages)

Burek (cheese pie)

Fish

Lamb

Yugoslavia languages

Bosnian (ex. bread-hljeb)

Croatian (ex. bread-kruh)

Serbian (ex. bread-hleb)

All languages are similar and slavic based.   Yugoslavians wrote in both  Cyrillic script as well as the Latin alphabet, depending which group you identified with. 

Hint:  my name Luka is spelled with a 'k' as opposed to the more familiar Latin spelling of Luca.  That is because it is Slavic based.

what are typical sports activities in Yugoslavia:

Football 

Swimming

Baseketball

water Polo

tennis

Yugoslavia has many different types of architectural influences.  You can see a typical Catholic Church you would see in Italy or a Castle like in England or Mosque like in Turkey.

Yugoslavians love there coffee!

Coffee holds a special place In their culture.  the preparation and sharing is a cherished ritual to symbolize hospitality and community.

Yugoslavia has some of the most beautiful coasts in the world, it is nestled right beside the Adriatic Sea.  Who wouldn't want a coffee with this view...