Tell us a bit about yourself and why did you choose Zagreb for your new home?

I’m from Seattle, Washington, USA. I moved to Zagreb because after I visited Croatia for four weeks in September 2016, I had an immediate connection to it and wanted to live here. At the time, I thought I would try for just a year, but after I got married I knew for sure I’ll be here for a lot longer than that!

Image credit: Kaleigh Hendershot

Was it hard to move abroad and get used to living in a different country?

Moving was easy for me as I’ve always been kind of a free spirit. Getting used to living in a different country is another story. While I was in love with Croatia, daily life was so different. The US is faster-paced and service-based. It might sound silly, but something as simple as going to the grocery store is a whole different experience! Then there was going from driving everywhere, as I did back home, to taking trains, trams, buses, and walking everywhere in Zagreb! It’s so different, and I love that.

Is there something that surprised you when you've started living here or was hard to get used to?

Most recently, I’ve been adjusting to a different way of communicating. People in Croatia are much more direct and sometimes intense. I’ve adjusted though and now find myself able to speak my mind without hesitation. The weather has surprisingly been a tough one for me because of Južina- the change in barometric pressure before it rains - it affects me so much! We don’t have this in Seattle. I’m not used to it and, when the Južina comes, I feel sad and I want to sleep all day (if I can, I often do).

Culturally, I’ve learned Croatia is a hyper-social country. People are always together whether it be at coffee or drinks. I have learned that the US is extremely individualistic, and we tend to seek social interaction with strangers, but enjoy doing our own thing most of the time. Croatia, to me, is reverse: small talk with strangers is a bit weird, but in everyone’s personal time they are with close friends. I still love making conversation with anyone I can though - like the lady at the grocery store - it’s just something about my personality and culture I can’t get rid off!

What is your favorite thing about living in Zagreb and what don't you like about it?

My favorite thing about living in Zagreb is the cafe bar culture! I love that there are so many cafe bars and that it’s totally cool to sit for 2,3 hours, relax, and talk with friends. This is something that seems only Balkan culture (Croatia, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia) has and we definitely don’t have that in the States.

What I don’t like about Zagreb is the struggle that I see people facing. I wish the economic situation was better, not just for Zagreb but for all of Croatia, because I think this country is amazing and every Croatian deserves to be able to experience all that it has to offer. I noticed the financial situation within the first month of being here.

Have you learned to speak Croatian?

I took A1 Croatian language lessons during my first month I was here. It was one of the hardest, most challenging experiences I’ve ever had in my life. To learn another language- difficult. To learn Croatian? INSANE. The pronunciation came relatively easily for me (aside from Croatia’s ‘lj’ sound) but the grammatic is incredibly difficult. However, I still want to learn to be able to engage in conversations that take place around me. I’m planning to take the next course in the fall. Wish me luck!

Have you formed new friendships with locals since you've started living here? In your experience, how are Croatians towards foreigners? Are they interested, open or maybe cautious?

I continue to form new friendships every day. I do find, though, that making girlfriends is a lot harder here than in the US. Cautious is maybe the word I would use here. I’m pretty open whereas many Croatians are reserved. It’s all good though.

In my experience, Croatians in Zagreb are really open to foreigners! With me, they hear me speak and often ask where I’m from. They’re delighted when I say America and want to know how I ended up here. Croatians have always been warm and welcoming to me and it was one of the biggest enticing factors when I decided to move here.

I am blessed to have a friend who I met my first time in Croatia and her mom, who I call my “Croatian mama”, and my husband’s family. So, I feel right at home!

Except for your family, of course, what are the things that you miss the most about your home?

Food! I miss barbecue (American style) and certain items in the States that I could just never get here, like the special coffee that I used to get at a local cafe. I love coffee here, but sometimes I want iced espresso with creamer and a little bit of flavoring! I’ve found some similar stuff, but it’s just not the same.

I also miss the Seattle vibe a lot. Seattle is an open, chill city where you can be whoever you want. I really think Zagreb is moving in that direction, definitely compared to the coast, but I understand it’s still a conservative country.

Image credit: Kaleigh Hendershot

You have a blog and a YouTube channel where you talk about your life in Croatia. Can you tell us a bit about that?

I thought about starting a blog after getting married - when I knew I would officially be in Zagreb for a long time. I finally did, and I wanted to bring my story to the table, share what I love about Zagreb and Croatia, and introduce different travel options other than the coast. While I love Dalmatia, I also love that more and more people are coming to Zagreb and experiencing what Northern Croatia has to offer! North and South Croatia are so different from each other. It's almost like you're visiting two different countries! I hope I'll be able to share more of my travel experiences of Zagreb as the blog grows.

In the end, do you see yourself living in Zagreb forever?

I see ending up in Zagreb, yes. What will happen between now and the end of my life … I’m not sure. With the economic situation, it’s not completely impossible that we move to the States for a period of time. I can say though that if I had to choose, finances aside, I would choose Zagreb and Croatia.

Header image credit: D. Miloslavić, TZGZ

Author: Darija Ilić