Alumni Now: Once a student, now a teacher
2008 Lakeland College graduate, Dino Mujakovic, becomes an American citizen and is now a teacher at Oak Creek West Middle School
Sandy Sternitzky
Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: Features
"Transportation is different, too," Dino said. "Cars are not the main way of transportation and getting from one place to another is rather quickly done with public transportations, such as the bus, subway, or train.
"Life in Europe wasn't so fast-paced either," he explained. "People took their time, spent more time together, and seemed to enjoy life more."
The culture shock had a major effect on Dino when he came to America. "We were lectured on it, but I didn't take it seriously," he said. "Sadly, I did experience it, and it led to a three month depression and a 60 pound weight gain. But my main goal was to learn English, as I had no major prior knowledge about it."
Dino was placed in Sheboygan's South High's English Language Learner (ELL) department and learned the language quickly. After about three months, he was finally able to talk comfortably with other students at school.
Over a year passed before Dino got over his culture shock and he became accustomed to practically everything in America. "I had also lost most of my weight and was back to normal," he said.
In a way, Dino probably feels a little guilty about living in America, "My parents would have never left Bosnia if it wasn't for me. They gave up everything they knew and a life that was familiar and no matter how bad the situations were, it was still a life surrounded by relatives and comfort. No matter how messed up Bosnia was, it is still their country with their family there. It was and is very hard for my mom as almost all of her family is still there.
"My dad was lucky since my aunt (his sister) and his parents, my grandparents, also moved over here with us. I know and respect everything they have done and to this day I see them wishing they were not living here but they knew they had to do what had to be done. Since they did such a major sacrifice for me I tried my best to show them it was worth it. After eight years they are pretty much used to it all now, just as I am as well."
"Life in Europe wasn't so fast-paced either," he explained. "People took their time, spent more time together, and seemed to enjoy life more."
The culture shock had a major effect on Dino when he came to America. "We were lectured on it, but I didn't take it seriously," he said. "Sadly, I did experience it, and it led to a three month depression and a 60 pound weight gain. But my main goal was to learn English, as I had no major prior knowledge about it."
Dino was placed in Sheboygan's South High's English Language Learner (ELL) department and learned the language quickly. After about three months, he was finally able to talk comfortably with other students at school.
Over a year passed before Dino got over his culture shock and he became accustomed to practically everything in America. "I had also lost most of my weight and was back to normal," he said.
In a way, Dino probably feels a little guilty about living in America, "My parents would have never left Bosnia if it wasn't for me. They gave up everything they knew and a life that was familiar and no matter how bad the situations were, it was still a life surrounded by relatives and comfort. No matter how messed up Bosnia was, it is still their country with their family there. It was and is very hard for my mom as almost all of her family is still there.
"My dad was lucky since my aunt (his sister) and his parents, my grandparents, also moved over here with us. I know and respect everything they have done and to this day I see them wishing they were not living here but they knew they had to do what had to be done. Since they did such a major sacrifice for me I tried my best to show them it was worth it. After eight years they are pretty much used to it all now, just as I am as well."
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