Samir Bektas-Medeni
I have lived for 27 years in Bosnia and 28 in Denmark. Look at my home: There is an old Bosnian coat of arms and in the corner a Danish flag. So, is my home Danish or Bosnian, or both? I can't say that I feel more Bosnian than Danish. I feel more Danish. I feel welcome here.
When you live here, work here, pay taxes here and vote here, you must feel at home here. It's also logic. My colleagues also say that they would consider me a bornholmer if I had children with a Bornholm woman.
I still have my mother and my aunt in Bosnia. That's it, because my generation is gone. If I met someone on the street in Bosnia, we would have nothing in common. What should I talk to them about? I have more in common with you. It's logic. I can’t be bothered to watch TV from Bosnia. The economy is bad, corruption is widespread and politicians argue. But I talk with my mother every day.
Our life and our future lie here. Should you then sit and moan and watch TV from Syria, Eritrea or Bosnia? No. There should be no differences between refugees and Danes. I know some people carry a lot in their baggage, but you should learn the language in 1-2 years and go out into the world and get by. When you treat people as poor things, they become just that.
When the weather is good, I go out and photograph. I still do, even though I have lived on Bornholm for many years. Thousands of places on Bornholm are still undiscovered, and I continue to discover Bornholm. It gives me joy in life.
55 / male / single / service worker on Bornholmslinjen / Rønne / from Bosnia / came to Denmark in 1991 / residence permit in 1995 / Danish citizen in 2001