As a child struggling to survive in war-torn Bosnia, Ermin (Mujak) Mujkic could never have imagined that one day he would celebrate his 17th birthday and also graduate from high school on a peaceful, sun-drenched island where no bombs have ever fallen, or grenades been lobbed in anger.

Yet that is exactly what he has done, thanks to the Rotary student exchange programme.

Mujak has thoroughly enjoyed his time in Bermuda, and admits that he leaves tomorrow with mixed emotions, but he is anxious to press on with securing his academic future.

He plans to study international management and telecommunications, and more than anything else he wants to gain his degree at a US university because he feels it will be more acceptable than one from the very respectable Sarajevo University, should he ever want to work in America.

Three US universities have indicated they would accept him, but the stumbling block is finance.

"The situation in Bosnia is pretty bad so I don't have the heart to ask my parents for $20,000 because I know they don't have it," he says. "I want to go to university in the US so badly."

If there is one thing that is immediately apparent about this forthright young man, it is that he is bright, a clear thinker, and far older than his years. War, he says, has made him that way.

"When the war started I was in primary school from eight to 13. I never had a childhood, it's as simple as that. Sometimes for seven months I was in a basement and couldn't go outside.

"I was desensitised and learned all life's most important lessons before I was 16. What people learn throughout their lives I learned in a few years. Because of that I am more mature for my years. I had to think like a grown-up. If I thought like a kid I probably wouldn't be here now."

In fact, 10,000 children lost their lives in Sarajevo alone, and while he draws a veil over the details, Mujak admits that the statistic includes some of his friends.

"Things were a thousand times worse than you have seen on TV," he says. "There was no water, no electricity. We didn't have water for three months, nor electricity for ten months.

"Everything was destroyed. A kilo (2.2 lbs.) of sugar or coffee cost well over US$60. We couldn't buy it because nobody had any money."

While life was constantly fraught with danger, the indomitable spirit of the Bosnians prevailed and now life goes on. The last thing Mujak wants anyone to believe is that his countrymen are a bunch of rubble-dwelling peasants wallowing in self-pity.

"Bosnians are really a patriotic people and they love their country," he says proudly. "When Sarajevo announced it was applying for the 2010 Olympics, there was a national holiday. After the last Olympics there, everything was destroyed.

"We would rebuild everything but there are no funds so that is why there are a lot of ruins.

"Sarajevo is probably one of the most beautiful towns, but it will take years and years - maybe generations - until Bosnia's pre-war prosperity returns. It is going to take a lot of sacrifice but I know we are going to accomplish that."

Born just after the Sarajevo Olympics, Mujak was raised by loving parents who are both professionals, and later he was joined by his sister, Ajla, who is now 15.

Reflecting on their lives both during and after the war, he is filled with admiration for his parents' courage and adaptability.

"My dad has an economics degree and he is also the manager of a company that does surveying. He also works in the Institute for Town Planning," he says.

"He is really a smart guy. I don't think I ever said it to him, but I am so proud of him because he works so hard. In another country he would probably rich.

"There is no money in Bosnia, but I respect the way he has taught himself things, and how he manages. I hope I will have even ten percent of what he has in the future. During the war he was in the Bosnian army, and we were always worried about him."

Mujak is equally proud of his mother. "She graduated from law school, and was working in a big pharmaceutical company, where she was in charge of her section," he says.

"She worked throughout the war, but when it came to food she was a genius. I was pretty picky about food, and I couldn't eat some things because I developed allergies.

"Sometimes she made me food that was different from the rest of the family. I cannot explain how she kept the family going. She was an Iron Lady, definitely."

As the oldest child, Mujak took care of his sister and looked out for her safety while his parents were not at home, yet despite everything he excelled at his studies.

"I was always a straight-a student, even though I could only go to school when it was possible," he says. "The first few years you couldn't go, but stayed in the basement. When the war eased you went to school."

What makes his Bosnian academic achievements even more impressive is the arduous academic curriculum he was required to fulfil.

"School was hard with a capital H," he says in his excellent English. "Bosnian children have to learn Czech, English, Arabic and Bosnian.

"They have to take English from Grade I, and in high school they can learn whatever language they want, plus Bosnian and English. After the war there were 15 subjects I had to pass at the end of the year. Every single one of them, from age ten. If you failed three you had to repeat the year."

Noting that there are many misconceptions in this part of the world about the Bosnian war, Mujak insists it was neither a religious nor a civil war, but "just aggression" by the Yugoslav army towards his country following the break-up of the former Yugoslavia.

"Bosnia is a multi-ethnic country, whose religious make-up is predominantly Muslim, but also includes the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox religions. When you throw a grenade, it doesn't know whether you are Catholic or Muslim. In Bosnia there is ignorance you can't really see.

"In school we are taught about every religion and it is a really interesting subject. In my opinion, that is what kids everywhere should learn. That is where you lower your ignorance level," he says.

Referring to September 11, the young Muslim is deeply sympathetic. "We feel for all those victims every day. I heard some Christians say, `We should kill all Muslims'. Osama Bin Laden can't be called a Muslim because both the Bible and Koran say, `Don't kill'. Wars are made through ignorance. If we got rid of ignorance the world would be a happy place."

Through a conversation between his father and a fellow Rotarian in Sarajevo, Mujak learned of the Rotary Exchange Programme, and was successfully interviewed by one of its US representatives.

At first he was destined to go to America, but then received a call from Bermuda Pembroke Rotarian Mr. Walter Saul inviting him to Bermuda, and he happily accepted.

"I knew where Bermuda was but I didn't know a lot about it," he says.

"On the internet you can find out more things about Johnny Barnes than you can about the Island, but Mr. Saul sent me brochures and helped me to learn where I was coming to."

The Bosnian teenager arrived in Bermuda on September 10 last year, and in the interim has stayed with a number of Rotary families. At first he was enrolled in CedarBridge Academy, but because of the added school year, he would not graduate in 2002 so he transferred to Warwick Academy to complete his senior year.

Looking back on his time at both schools, he says: "I loved CedarBridge. It was the wickedest school on the Island! It reminded me of home. I liked the kids.

"I don't have any prejudices. They are black, so what? We are all the same. The kids came from normal families and they were really friendly. It was quite a place.

"There was a different type of kids at Warwick Academy but it was beautiful. I took all the science subjects plus philosophy. The woman in charge of the Sixth Form, Maggie McCorkell was on my case. She believed in me and wanted me to do my best. I am going to miss her."

In fact, Mujak admits he is going to miss many things about his Bermuda stay, among them his closest friends, fellow Rotary exchange and Warwick Academy student, Marcelo DeSouza from Brazil, Bruno Texeira and his mother, and Thomas Edwards, son of his current host family, Gary and Glenda Edwards.

"We boys became so close. I always wanted a brother, now I have one younger and two older ones," he says.

While he is no stranger to beautiful beaches, there being many along the Adriatic Coast, Mujak says Bermuda's are "a different kind of beautiful".

"They are really pretty, and full of girls, which makes them more attractive. Southern Europeans are big charmers, and I love girls. There would be something wrong with me if I didn't!" he laughs.

At six foot four inches tall, Mujak is also a keen basketball player whose uncle once played on the Yugoslav Olympic team. In Bermuda, he played on the Warwick Academy team, and was also introduced to tennis. He lists swimming, soccer, handball, and volleyball as his other sporting activities.

Inevitably the question arises: Will he find it difficult to settle back in Bosnia after a year living the Bermuda lifestyle? Mujak's response makes it clear that, despite the ravages of war, his compatriots are a savvy people who are hip to technology, fashion, and the world around them.

"Kids in Bosnia compete to have the best computers. A lot of my friends set up computers. That is how we are. Even if people are poor, technology is cheap. Cell phones - my God, everybody has them. Bosnia is close to the east and the west. We were always technically advanced.

"As far as Bosnian medicine goes, I think it is more advanced than in Bermuda. That is because the doctors had war experience and had to improvise. Today they go all over the world with `Doctors without Borders'. Before the war, there were many foreigners, including Americans, studying medicine there.

When it comes to travel, Bosnians traditionally study their destination before they arrive so that they are well versed sightseers."

Asked to sum up his Bermuda experience, the Rotary exchange student says: "Bermuda is beautiful. I have met so many nice people here. I know I am going to stay friends with some of them for life, and that makes me feel better because I am getting a little bit tense about leaving, but you can't imagine how much I am looking forward to seeing my family again.

"I would like to thank all the families and all the people who have hosted me. It was a wonderful experience."