Safe Area Goražde: The War in Eastern Bosnia, 1992-1995

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of graphic violence, death, religious discrimination, sexual harassment, and substance use.

Sacco and Edin visit some young women, referred to as the “Silly Girls.” The women laugh, and Sacco learns of the girls’ boy troubles. Kimeta’s boyfriend was wounded and taken to Ireland to recover. Though she considers them to still be together, he has a new girlfriend in Ireland. Kimeta’s sister, Sabina, has no intention of marrying soon but keeps leaving to search for her boyfriend. When he joins the group, he tells Sacco that he is a refugee from Višegrad whose family was killed by Serbs.

The girls ask Sacco if Americans know about Goražde and if he believes that there will be peace. They worry about the spring, when armies begin marching. Nudjejma tells Sacco about how her house was burned down in 1992. Kimeta uses polished stones to look into the future and tells Nudjejma that she will soon find love. When Sacco tells the girls that he is leaving but will return to Goražde in a few weeks, they ask for jeans.