Emil Medić 27th July 2026

I first met Emil when I had hitched from Delijas in Bosnia and Herzegovina to Visegrad, on the look out for a place to cross into Serbia.  I was standing at the crossroads, literally between Republika Srpska and two routes to Serbia.  I kept walking then this deep voice called out to me, as I was standing taking in the astounding beauty of Dobrun.  I felt a sense of fate.

​

'Hello!', shouted Emil. Surprised to find an American accent in this remote place, after hitching in four vehicles where nobody spoke English.  I turned and smiled and saw this beautiful and lonely guy, sitting in the freezing cold, outside his house, drinking, and clearly pretty pissed.  He offered me a drink but I don't drink.  I asked him what he was doing out here on this lonely place, all alone.  He told me he had just left America and that he had plans to develop his land to turn it into an eco-village.  He needed help!  I spent the night, went back the next day to Delijas asylum/refugee camp, and never forgot this gentleman.  He gave a total stranger his bed and slept on the couch. 

This was around April 2025.  Just over a year ago.  I met Jasmine and Alan around about the same time.  I will be honest, I could not believe my luck, meeting such kind people in such a beautiful place shortly after escaping the torture I experienced in Switzerland. 

But, I was struck by how troubled Emil was, given his most fortunate and beautiful surroundings and his absolutely loving and supportive family and friends.  Few people are so fortunate to be surrounded by so much love.  

Emil let me stay in the camp until Switzerland gave up my passport, which they did four months later.

Emil gave me that!  My freedom!

This is how I remember Emil.  Always half shaven, always looking tall and fit,  and when sober, extremely kind and quiet.  The 'wild man'.

You can tell a lot from looking into someone's eyes and he had the kindest eyes.  I wrote to Emil and asked if I could take up the offer to come and help him with his eco project. There were a lot of difficulties, but I ended up spending about four months living between Emil's house and his sister's house next door.  Looking after the chickens, meeting all his neighbours, family and friends.  The memories and the impressions will last forever.  

The chickens drove him crazy and especially the cockerel, which he loved and hated in equal measure.  The glimpses I saw of Emil, when I could see his true nature, showed me a man who had a lot of good luck and bad luck. A beautiful funny, clever, kind and gentle man, hidden.

I felt we were at the same point in our lives in many ways, except I had no alcohol problems and he had no accommodation problems.  It seemed at the time that we would be able to help each other. 

But, drink is a killer. 

For those who become addicted, it destroys the mind and it depletes the character of even the kindest souls.  It is difficult to see who they really are when under the influence and it is devastating for the people around who have to watch someone as beautiful and kind by nature, disappear and slowly be destroyed, day by day. 

As a mother, I don't think I could watch this and deal with the helplessness of watching my child be destroyed.

Alcohol doesn't just destroy the person, it torments and punishes those who love that person.  

​

I left Dobrun around August 2025 and went to Hungary, then Turkey, then India and then Sri Lanka.  I had always planned to meet Emil again, somewhere else.  Somewhere he could be free from anything causing him pain and suffering.  One day I had plans to invite him to beautiful Sri Lanka, to meet the beautiful people and experience the calmness and beauty here.  If only time and fate had allowed us to meet again, who knows what could have happened. 

​

It was a dream I had. 

​

Of Emil and I meeting, on more equal ground.  Getting to know each other without distractions, and building something.  Maybe it was a dream just on my part, but it was something I always had at the back of my mind.  Something I kept to myself, so as not to give Emil false hope, or be laughed at.

 

  I loved Emil.

​

So, it is with a lot of sadness and disappointment that I will never get to see this beautiful man again.  Arguing with me.  Looking at me with those beautiful eyes.  Asking me to hug him, and feeling his long, slender arms around me again.  

Emil was strong even when he was suffering. 

A true hero, who never forgot who the enemy was and always with a great sense of humour and fight.

I can't believe Emil is gone. 

It was only a year ago since I left.  

It doesn't make sense.

But, I hope where ever he is and what ever mischief he is causing, he will see the love everyone had for him now.

He was deeply loved by close friends and strangers.

Rest in peace beautiful Emil.

I will always love you.