Iz dnevnika jednog Bosanca — Kanada

From the Diary of a Bosnian — Canada

Introduction

In honor of today's World Cup clash between Bosnia and Canada, we are dropping the tactics and picking up the snow shovels.

The text you are about to read is written in Croatian (and translated to English) and tells the story of a Bosnian immigrant who moved to Canada. Through a diary format, it brilliantly captures the Balkan sense of humor, mentality, and emotional extremes — from wide-eyed admiration to complete winter-induced despair.

It is a humorous yet painfully honest portrayal of cultural expectations colliding with Canadian reality. Snow becomes more than weather; it becomes a psychological turning point. What begins as a dream of mountains and postcard landscapes slowly turns into a battle with shovels, salt, and the relentless snowplow.

If you have ever dreamed of starting a new life abroad — especially somewhere “beautiful and peaceful” — you may recognize more of yourself in these lines than you expect.

12. 08. (Aug 12)

Uselili smo se u našu novu kuću u Kanadi.Tako sam uzbuđen. Ovdje je tako lijepo. Planine su prekrasne. Jedva ih čekam vidjeti prekrivene snijegom.

We moved into our new house in Canada. I am so excited. It's so beautiful here. The mountains are magnificent. I can’t wait to see them covered in snow.

14. 10. (Oct 14)

Kanada.

To je najljepša zemlja na svijetu. Lišće je poprimilo sve one divne nijanse žute i narančaste boje.Vozio sam kroz prirodu i vidio nekoliko jelena.Tako su graciozni. To su najljepše životinje na svijetu. Ovo mora da je raj. Volim Kanadu.

Canada.

It is the most beautiful country in the world. The leaves have taken on all those wonderful shades of yellow and orange. I drove through the countryside and saw a few deer. They are so graceful. They are the most beautiful animals in the world. This must be paradise. I love Canada.

11. 11. (Nov 11)

Dan sjećanja (kanadski državni praznik). Lov na jelene uskoro počinje. Ne mogu zamisliti da netko može ubiti tako divnu životinju. Nadam se da će uskoro pasti snijeg. Tako je divno.

Remembrance Day (Canadian national holiday). Deer hunting season will begin soon. I can’t imagine anyone killing such a beautiful animal. I hope it will snow soon. It's so wonderful.

02. 12. (Dec 2)

Noćas je pao prvi snijeg. Ustao sam i vidio sve prekriveno bijelim pokrivačem. Izgleda kao najljepša razglednica. Izašli smo van, očistili stepenice i prilazni put, a onda se grudali (ja sam pobijedio). Kad je prošla ralica, morali smo ponovno očistiti ulaz. Koja divna zemlja.Volim Kanadu.

The first snow fell last night. I woke up and saw everything covered in a white blanket. It looks like the most beautiful postcard. We went outside, cleared the steps and driveway, and then had a snowball fight (I won). When the snowplow passed, we had to clear the entrance again. What a wonderful country. I love Canada.

12. 12. (Dec 12)

Noćas opet snijeg. Opet prošla ralica i zatrpala ulaz. Ovdje je zaista prekrasno.

Snow again last night. The snowplow passed again and blocked the entrance. It's truly beautiful here.

19. 12. (Dec 19)

Noćas opet snijeg. Nisam mogao izvesti auto da idem na posao. Ovdje je zaista divno, samo sam malo umoran od lopatanja. Opet prokleta ralica.

Snow again last night. I couldn’t get the car out to go to work. It's really wonderful here, I’m just a little tired of shoveling. That damn snowplow again.

22. 12. (Dec 22)

Ovo bijelo sranje opet je padalo cijelu noć. Dobio sam žuljeve od lopatanja i bole me leđa. Ovaj majmun s ralicom kao da se krije iza ugla i samo čeka da ja očistim ispred ulaza. Kreten.

This white crap fell all night again. I got blisters from shoveling, and my back hurts. That idiot with the snowplow seems to hide around the corner just waiting for me to clear the entrance. Jerk.

25. 12. (Dec 25)

Sretan prokleti i usrani Božić. Još malo usranog snijega. Ako mi ikad dođe pod ruku ovaj idiot što vozi ralicu, ubit ću ga. Majku im, zašto ne posipaju više soli po cesti da se prije otopi.

Merry damn miserable Christmas. More of this damn snow. If I ever get my hands on the idiot driving the snowplow, I’ll kill him. Why the hell don’t they put more salt on the roads so it melts faster?

27. 12. (Dec 27)

Noćas opet snijeg. Ne izlazim već tri dana osim što čistim snijeg kad god prođe ralica. Ne mogu nikamo ići, auto se zaglavio u brdu snijega ispred ulaza, a i hladno je. Kažu da će noćas pasti novih 30 cm tog sranja.

Snow again last night. I haven’t gone out for three days except to clear snow whenever the snowplow passes. I can’t go anywhere, the car is stuck in a pile of snow in front of the entrance, and it’s freezing. They say another 30 cm of this crap will fall tonight.

28. 12. (Dec 28)

Prognoza je bila loša. Palo je pola metra. Ako ovako nastavi, neće se otopiti do ljeta. Ralica se zaglavila i taj kreten došao je k meni tražiti lopatu. Rekao sam mu da sam već slomio šest lopata čisteći to sranje koje je on nabacao i zamalo da mu je nisam razbio o glavu.

The forecast was wrong. Half a meter fell. If this continues, it won’t melt until summer. The snowplow got stuck, and that jerk came to ask me for a shovel. I told him I had already broken six shovels clearing the mess he piled up, and I almost broke one over his head.

04. 01. (Jan 4)

Napokon sam izašao iz kuće. Otišao sam do trgovine kupiti nešto hrane i na povratku autom udario jelena. 3000 dolara štete na autu.Te proklete nemani treba pobiti. Posvuda ih ima. Zašto ih lovci nisu pobili najesen…

I finally left the house. I went to the store to buy some food, and on the way back, I hit a deer with my car. $3,000 in damage. Those damn beasts should be killed. They’re everywhere. Why didn’t the hunters kill them in the fall…

03. 05. (May 3)

Odvezao sam auto kod mehaničara. Nevjerojatno koliko je zahrđao od proklete soli koju posipaju posvuda.

I took the car to the mechanic. Unbelievable how much it has rusted from the damn salt they spread everywhere.

10. 05. (May 10)

Selim na Floridu. Ne mogu zamisliti kako netko normalan može živjeti u toj prokletoj Kanadi.

I’m moving to Florida. I can’t imagine how any normal person can live in that damn Canada.