Lessons Learned
The future of Zagreb Life
Thank you for following my other Substack, Zagreb Life.
If you read my latest post, you know that I am moving to The City That Kept Returning (Belgrade, Serbia). My move date is rapidly approaching.
I have a few reflections about the 22 months I’ve lived in Zagreb, Croatia, including lessons learned and things I wished I had done differently.
Growing up in the United States, it was instilled in me that it was the greatest country in the world. After having lived in Croatia and traveled to a number of others, I must disagree. Each country has its successes and challenges, and the United States is no exception. A few of the things Croatia and other European countries do better include two biggies: access to and more affordable healthcare and work-life balance. These are the two of the primary reasons I am staying in Europe.
People are more alike than different. I believe I mentioned this in a previous post. Ultimately, regardless of ethnicity, culture, government, and history, we all want the same things: peace, happiness, good health, enough work and/or income to live comfortably and enjoy life, and fulfilling companionships/relationships with family, friends, and/or significant others. How we go about achieving these is where the cultural, familial, historic, and governmental differences come into play.
I wish I had learned more Croatian. I know basic words, more by reading and listening, rather that speaking. I was not forced—nor did I force myself—to learn Croatian because the majority of people speak English, especially in Zagreb and also in the wine, food, and hospitality industries.
The city of Zagreb is a wonderful base for exploring much of Europe. I asked AI to help me put all of my travels these last 22 months into a spreadsheet—including press trips and business and personal travel—both around Europe and to/from the U.S.—beginning with my arrival in Zagreb in October 2024. The result was 43 trips! All of these were by bus, plane, and train except for one press trip which required a rental car due to its remote location.
I am sad about departing Zagreb and uprooting myself, just as the roots were starting to take hold. I also do not like being forced to leave. There is a feeling of helplessness. I have even greater empathy for immigrants in the United States and elsewhere who have been and/or are being forced to do the same.
However, I am also excited for my future, taking with me the lessons learned while living in Zagreb. My residency in Belgrade allows me to live in the broader region I have learned to love. I am registered as a self-employed person/entrepreneur, which allows me to work—something I could not do as a digital nomad in Croatia. The combined temporary work/residency permit will allow me to live in Serbia for one to three years, which is renewable, or I can apply for permanent residency after three years.
I also plan to try to learn more Serbian, which will help me throughout the region.