Returnees from Dublin to Mostar

Financial reasons, proximity and support of family, more practical upbringing of children, and a lower crime rate are some of the reasons why the Raič family returned from Dublin to Mostar, joining a sort of trend in which more and more families decide to return after several years of living in the West, and their children enroll in local schools in BiH, RTV HB reports.

"My wife Kristina and I set a deadline for making the decision to return or stay before our older daughter started school, so that we wouldn't have to transfer her from one school system to another, which are linguistically different. A year ago, our second daughter was born, which certainly 'eased' the decision to return," said Robert Raič.

Financial security and better conditions for raising children

He emphasized that the desire to return was always present, but since having children, their own desires are always last on the list of priorities. The financial factor also played a major role in making the decision.

As he explained, they spent a large part of the family budget in Ireland on renting a larger apartment and kindergarten, which are among the most expensive in Europe, while in Mostar they recently managed to buy an apartment—something that would have taken them a long time in Ireland.

"Our region is, in our opinion, safer and more practical for raising children. Family and friends also told us that the situation in BiH has significantly improved in many aspects compared to the earlier period. The support of family and friends was one of the deciding factors for our return, as well as the fact that our older daughter was sad every time we went back to Dublin after annual leave," Robert added.

Upon return, some time was needed for adjustment, especially for the older daughter due to the transition to a different language area. However, as Raič pointed out, she adjusted very quickly because she is bilingual.

His wife Kristina is just starting her job search, given that their younger daughter has turned one and will be enrolled in nursery. Raič expressed confidence that organizing family obligations will be simpler than it was in Ireland.

Since his employer does not allow full-time remote work, Robert will continue working in Dublin for a short while longer, where he has been working as a data analyst for three years. He will use this period to complete the renovation and furnishing of the apartment in Mostar, while simultaneously looking for a suitable job in Herzegovina.

Comparing life in Ireland and BiH, Raič points out that life in BiH is safer for them due to the proximity of family and friends, a resolved housing situation, a lower crime rate, and generally a society that is always ready to help.

"The children are very happy in Mostar. The older daughter likes both kindergarten and school, she goes to training sessions, and she has many more opportunities to socialize with children in her free time than was the case in Ireland, where it mostly came down to kindergarten and birthdays," he explained.

Hectic life and expensive everyday living are a thing of the past

"Some things that we considered banal in BiH, we began to appreciate greatly, such as easier planning of social gatherings, the sun, coffee, the sea, rivers, swimming pools, mountains... Also, we won't miss 'wasting time' in transit or the hectic lifestyle. Likewise, we never liked the materialism that prevails there. Everything is somehow measured in money and profit, there is almost no sentimentality, which is not the case here," he said.

However, there are also things they will miss, such as the sense of privacy they had in Ireland. According to him, they will also miss the convenience of traveling because Dublin Airport is located quite close to the city center where they lived, allowing them to visit numerous places at affordable flight prices.

The Raič family also has a list of things they would like BiH to adopt from the Irish system.

"Those are, first and foremost, a more functional administration and much less unnecessary bureaucracy. In Ireland, we managed to complete most of our obligations online. I would also add better business opportunities, greater respect from employers toward workers, greater transparency of institutions, and the fact that almost everything is paid by card," Raič stated.

They experienced the Irish as helpful, social, and communicative people, but one of the things they certainly will not miss is the large number of homeless people on the streets of Dublin.

"That is a devastating image for one of the richest European nations and a consequence of a serious housing crisis," he said.

To families considering a change of environment, Raič would advise them to think carefully about all options and weigh what is best for their children. He believes that every family situation should be viewed individually because there is no universal solution that fits everyone, but he believes that with a good plan and will, everything can be achieved.

"One should not idealize life in BiH nor close one's eyes to the problems, but one should also not underestimate the possibility that a good life can be built here," is the opinion of Robert, who believes that no departure or return should be considered a failure because each brings great and useful experience that should serve as a foundation for the future.