So I've been in California for a week now and I have to say that it is such an odd feeling being back in the states after being gone for a year. I think what is most interesting are the things that I have had to readjust to. The readjustment began the moment I got off the plane; no more Croatian and no more hearing English with an accent.
My younger brother picked me up from the airport. It was so good to see him after a year. He has changed a lot and it was nice talking to him on our drive back to Sacramento. Of course, the drive itself was interesting. I didn't realize how long it had been since I had driven on a road with multiple lanes. I seriously freaked out. I kept yelling at my brother to watch the road and anytime a car came near us, I yelled, "Car!" Which only scared the shit out of my brother. I was holding on to the handles and glove box for dear life. At one point my brother told me to just push the seat back and get some rest, but I couldn't do it. I was too freaked out. Imagine the worst back seat driver you've ever driven with and multiply that by ten. That's how bad I was. I was fine after a day, but man was I scared.
Once I started driving, I kept having to remember which law goes with which country. It was like a little game show going on in my head. Can I turn on red or do I have to wait? In Croatia, you can't turn on a red, in California you can. Do my headlights have to be on at all times?
There have been simple things that I had to readjust to as well. I was at the store with my sister and actually asked her if we could get everything we need or did we have to go to another store to get the rest of the ingredients. Of course we can get everything we need at one store! This is America! Are things open past 8pm? Yes. Are they open on Sundays? Yes.
And then of course, the food. I have spent the last week enjoying food that I can't get in Dubrovnik. I had Mongolian BBQ, In n Out Burger, Jack's Urban Eats, Recess Peanut Butter Cups, M&Ms...all of which have been delicious. I allowed myself the first week to indulge in that stuff, now I'm back to my regular diet. I know that if I'm not careful, instead of a one way ticket back to Croatia, it will be straight to fat camp for me. What can I say, I'm about to be 30, I have to be more careful these days.
I have surprised myself at things that I do, that I never even thought of. I was standing in line and totally forgot that people here like their personal space. So as I was waiting in line I walked up and stood really close to the person in front of me. She moved up so I moved up. It took me a couple of minutes and a dirty look to remember where I was and take a step back. Then there's the whole crossing the street thing. In Croatia, a pedestrian will stop traffic crossing the street. They don't care if there is no cross walk, they will cross and expect you to stop. I kept wanting to do that here, but, as I was reminded, that's not how it works here. Cars aren't expected to stop just because you want to cross the street.
Finally, the things that I never thought I'd miss, I actually do. I have made many comments on how the men in Croatia will just stop and stare as a woman walks by. It's hilarious and creepy all at the same time, yet I find myself missing that. I walk down the street here and no one is blatantly staring at me. awwww. There are no motorbikes here, no streets lined with cafe bars. People aren't sitting there, drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes all day. No cousin to see who offers me wine and Rakija the moment I sit down.
I knew that there would be things that I would have to adjust to but I didn't realize just how much. I am happy to be around my family and friends again. I love that I get to spend time with my siblings and be around for dinners and talks. It's a great feeling to know that I could get into my car and see my sister and brothers at anytime or any day. Yet, I also realize that I have changed a lot and I'm trying to fit the new me into an old life and it's not always easy. It feels like my heart is being pulled into two different directions: My love for my family and friends in California and my love for my life over in Croatia. It should be an interesting few months...
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Saturday, October 26, 2013
The Wedding
Last Saturday I went to my neighbor's wedding. I have never been to a full on Croatian wedding and I was overwhelmed by how, well, very different it is from American weddings. In fact, weddings in Croatia are in whole different world than the wedding in the United States.
Croatian weddings begin five days before the actual wedding itself. For an entire week before, people come over to give gifts and drink and celebrate with the bride and groom. There is food, drinking, and music that plays until the wee hours of the morning and then it starts all over the next day. The wedding day itself starts pretty early as there is a celebration as the bride moves her things into her soon-to-be husband's house. A giant Croatian flag is hung out in front of the family house as people come in to see the bride and begin the celebration. In most weddings in the United States the bride and groom wait to see each other until the ceremony begins. That is not the tradition here. The groom comes in with all of his friends and they all dance and celebrate together before the ceremony even begins.
As I was getting ready, my mom came in and said that they are getting ready to shoot off some guns and not to be alarmed. All I could do was laugh as I tried to picture that happening in America. When the guns went off, they weren't shot guns but machine guns. Everyone was cheering as the guns went off to announce the marriage of these two people. After that, we all got into our cars and began the long procession to the church. In Croatia, it is customary to honk your horns as you drive to let everyone know of the wedding.
At the church, there is more alcohol being passed around as the bride and groom are married and then another procession to the reception. As the bride and groom come out as husband and wife, flares go off and huge cheers and celebration. As the newlyweds come in for the reception, fireworks go off.
The reception itself lasts until 4 or 5 in the morning. We sit down and drink a little, then eat a little, then everyone dances for a bit and then back to eat again. The main course is served around midnight and cake around 1 or 2am. After that, it's just dancing, singing and drinking until your body can no longer take it.
It was one of the craziest weddings that I have ever been too, but it was absolutely beautiful. The bride looked gorgeous and the ceremony and reception were beautiful and elegant. To host over 300 people at a wedding as well as the week leading up to the wedding takes a lot of work. It was done flawlessly and I have to commend the bride, groom, and their families for making that wedding so utterly beautiful.
I'm not sure that I could ever have a wedding of that magnitude, but it sure was fun to be apart of it and experience something new.
Congratulations to Nikolina and Ivo.
Croatian weddings begin five days before the actual wedding itself. For an entire week before, people come over to give gifts and drink and celebrate with the bride and groom. There is food, drinking, and music that plays until the wee hours of the morning and then it starts all over the next day. The wedding day itself starts pretty early as there is a celebration as the bride moves her things into her soon-to-be husband's house. A giant Croatian flag is hung out in front of the family house as people come in to see the bride and begin the celebration. In most weddings in the United States the bride and groom wait to see each other until the ceremony begins. That is not the tradition here. The groom comes in with all of his friends and they all dance and celebrate together before the ceremony even begins.
As I was getting ready, my mom came in and said that they are getting ready to shoot off some guns and not to be alarmed. All I could do was laugh as I tried to picture that happening in America. When the guns went off, they weren't shot guns but machine guns. Everyone was cheering as the guns went off to announce the marriage of these two people. After that, we all got into our cars and began the long procession to the church. In Croatia, it is customary to honk your horns as you drive to let everyone know of the wedding.
At the church, there is more alcohol being passed around as the bride and groom are married and then another procession to the reception. As the bride and groom come out as husband and wife, flares go off and huge cheers and celebration. As the newlyweds come in for the reception, fireworks go off.
The reception itself lasts until 4 or 5 in the morning. We sit down and drink a little, then eat a little, then everyone dances for a bit and then back to eat again. The main course is served around midnight and cake around 1 or 2am. After that, it's just dancing, singing and drinking until your body can no longer take it.
It was one of the craziest weddings that I have ever been too, but it was absolutely beautiful. The bride looked gorgeous and the ceremony and reception were beautiful and elegant. To host over 300 people at a wedding as well as the week leading up to the wedding takes a lot of work. It was done flawlessly and I have to commend the bride, groom, and their families for making that wedding so utterly beautiful.
I'm not sure that I could ever have a wedding of that magnitude, but it sure was fun to be apart of it and experience something new.
Congratulations to Nikolina and Ivo.
Friday, October 18, 2013
Things I've learned while living in Croatia
Watching the sunset over Old Town Dubrovnik never gets old and it is perfectly acceptable to take a thousand pictures of the sunset from my balcony.
Walking through old town in October is way nicer than walking through it in July.
Parking is impossible
Expect your car to be hit, scratched or dented at least once a week.
The government of Dubrovnik meters parking 24 hours a day, however, if there is a public holiday, if it's raining, if it's cold, if it's after 10pm, you can just leave it and not bother paying the meter.
If you are woman and a man finds you attractive they will stare as you walk by.
If you stare back at them, it will surprise them.
Rakija cures everything.
It is perfectly acceptable to take prescribed meds with Rakija...
If you drink too much Rakija, it will erase your memory and you will wonder how you got home. Drink that shit responsibly people!
Cab drivers are assholes.
If you go to your friends house, be prepared to drink...even if its at 11am.
Don't mess with Croatian women, they will destroy you.
When it rains here, it usually involves lots of wind...your umbrella won't help you.
Croatian humor and American humor are very different...I don't get most of their jokes.
When needing official documents, passport, ID card, visas, etc., be prepared to be sent across town to get one sheet of paper signed, then to the Tisak for tax stamps, followed by a receipt from the bank before anything will be approved.
If you want to get things done faster, bribery always works.
People here don't give a shit if you're in a hurry.
Just because your apartment building has an association doesn't mean that they will ever fix the leak in the roof...in fact, don't expect them to fix anything...ever.
Croatians are not alcoholics. They are alcohol enthusiasts. Accept that you will quickly become an alcohol enthusiast upon arriving here.
Croatians know how to have a good time.
Croatians are some of the most loyal people I've ever met in my life.
Sitting at a cafe bar all day long drinking coffee and talking to friends is encouraged.
These are just a few of the things that I have learned while I have been here. There are times when I am frustrated by these people because I don't always understand their way of thinking, but I wouldn't change them for the world. They have taught me so much simply by just being themselves and that is priceless.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
One Week Left
It is my final week in Croatia before I head back to California. Hard to believe that I haven't stepped on American soil in over a year. I think back on my year here and memories flood my mind. I have had some of the best moments of my life here. I have also experienced a lot of firsts. I have made friends with some of the most amazing people that I have ever met. I managed to make a little life for myself here and I must admit that I am sad to be leaving.
As I reflect on the year, I think of all the crazy things I managed to get myself into. There was that conc....no wait, can't talk about that...Of course then there was that time in that one bar.....nope, won't talk about that either...Oh! How could I forget the night that I got hit by a giant wave...well, no need to go into details about that....ummmm...I guess as the saying goes, "what happens in Croatia, stays in Croatia." Let's just say it was a GREAT year. I have no regrets and I have experienced things that I am so glad that I got to experience.
Now, it's back to California for a little while...just until I can get myself over to my next adventure! While, I will miss Croatia immensely while I am away, I must say that I am looking forward to seeing all my old friends, my sister, my two brothers, and the rest of my family. And just because I won't be in Croatia, doesn't mean I won't be writing my blog anymore. I have no doubt that I will manage to get myself into plenty of interesting situations that will have to be written about.
As always, I am looking forward to the future!
As I reflect on the year, I think of all the crazy things I managed to get myself into. There was that conc....no wait, can't talk about that...Of course then there was that time in that one bar.....nope, won't talk about that either...Oh! How could I forget the night that I got hit by a giant wave...well, no need to go into details about that....ummmm...I guess as the saying goes, "what happens in Croatia, stays in Croatia." Let's just say it was a GREAT year. I have no regrets and I have experienced things that I am so glad that I got to experience.
Now, it's back to California for a little while...just until I can get myself over to my next adventure! While, I will miss Croatia immensely while I am away, I must say that I am looking forward to seeing all my old friends, my sister, my two brothers, and the rest of my family. And just because I won't be in Croatia, doesn't mean I won't be writing my blog anymore. I have no doubt that I will manage to get myself into plenty of interesting situations that will have to be written about.
As always, I am looking forward to the future!
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