International garden party in a small Croatian village

The other day I was browsing the miraculous world of Facebook and my eye hit a release in the Expats in Split -group. It was about this happening that was planned to take place in the next day, 1st of May gathering that was to be arranged at a Dutch couple's house in the small inland village. How did I missed that even though it was apparently communicated for days now? Since I did not have any kind of plans for the day in question, I quickly asked if there still would be one seat available in the minivan going from Split to the venue. There was so suddenly I did have plans for the coming day.

The scenery in our destination consisted of mountains and lush green vegetation.

The next morning I jumped from the nearest bus stop to a small van with a nice international bunch of people allready in. Among them was a British lady who I had previously met in a joint walk in Marjan Park and actually she turned out to be the only person I knew before hand out of all the people joining to this gathering. We first drove the coastal road to Omiš and then followed the Cetina river towards the hinterland. Finally in the small village we were greeted by the host of the day and the other participants of this party. In our international group there were people at least from USA, UK,  Germany, Holland, Chile, Italy, Canada, Russia, Croatia and of course Finland through me. Perhaps others too, when talking to all the wonderfull people I did not allways check the country of origin. All in all, this overwhelming garden party was attended by over 30 people, from children to retired and everything in between. Surrounding nature was lush and green with a view to the mountains, there was good food (a special mention for that Indonesian peanut sauce, it sure was yammy) and a large variety of drinks to keep us refreshed. Above all, there was plenty of jolly good company. A couple of dogs circled among the people and in their cage chickens and a rooster followed the course of the events. The time flew as is does in merry occasions.

The quest house served as a venue to our merry gathering.

Our international community consists mostly of people who for one reason or another have decided to stay here in Croatia and more exactly around Split area a bit longer than 1-2 weeks of vacation. There are some local reinforcements in the gang also, usually they are the reason (= spouse) for the expats to be here. It was so interesting to hear stories from different people regarding how they have ended up here. There surely was a lot of shared experiences related to the difficult language and the Croatian bureaucracy. In the latter case, I was congratulated when I told my own story about getting a temporary stay permit. We received it in one day after only spending about 20 min at the counter in police station. No one asked any "interview questions" or demanded any extra papers with stamps or to translate documents into Croatian (some of our papers were even in Finnish). Many EU citizens have spent much more time and energy on this issue not to mention those from outside of EU, then the stories go wild to say the least. Altogether, this kind of peer support is important and useful. Previously I found an excellent and skilled masseuse after asking for recommendations from this group. Sometimes people coming from abroad can provide a little more objective assessment as regards for example some services. Depends on the matter when it´s best to ask advice or recommendation from a trusted local or from a trusted group of expats.

Our Dutch hosts have settled in a small mountain village, they have build a house for them selves and in the garden there was also this quest house which was now the center of our party. They enjoy the life in a peaceful and unspoilt village in the middle of the mountains. Although the place is seemingly quite remote at the end of small narrow mountain road, it is about 15 minutes away from the Omiš beach town were you can go get some more hustle and bustle if wanting to do so. Rather perfect, I would say. The same thing could be said about the whole day we had yesterday. The weather was just superb, the fruit trees gave a nice shade and a cozy atmosphere entwined us all. Rather perfect, I would say.

Encounter with locals

I usually have 1-2 hour walk everyday with Tiuku and so did we yesterday also. As we were walking down the village road an elderly couple approached us on the street. As it often happens, they also started to speak something to Tiuku. That something sounded like baby talk and at least term small dog was mentioned in it. Tiuku stopped politely to listen with the tail waving and as often happens when the movement stops, her hind legs started to shake slightly.

This shaking makes people generally think that the dog is either cold or scared. Being cold is a pretty funny idea especially in the summer heat and with moderately hairy dog. But of course, you never know. Terriers shake, often it is said that it's kind of being prepared shake, a way to stay warm and ready for example to go after a rat at any time without danger of ruptures or other damage. When Tiuku was younger she also had that kind of shake, a bit different than the one she is having now. According to several opinions I have received from vets and other professionals this is due to an old age and aging of the nervous system. It doesn´t affect on her movement and it does not seem to bother the dog any way.

From the dog's physiology, we go back to the elderly couple. When they saw the vibration in the legs, they were wondering if there was something wrong with her? I assured them that there is no problem. I told the dog is just old, 13.5 years already and that´s why she is shaking a bit. And now comes the most important thing: all this conversation happened in the local language, no English or any other language was used. However, my dialect hopelessly revealed them that I´m not local so they were eager to know where I'm from. The knowledge of me coming from Finland gave them a very positive reaction and they very much praised my language skills. They asked if I live here and I said I have been in the country for 1.5 years. They seemed very happy and with the big smile they reiterated that it was so great that I had learned the language so well. It seemed to be a big thing for them. We continued in our own ways with happy smile.

In the name of honesty, the level of my Croat language is still very much at the point of beginner basics. But yes, it is quite surprising how well I understood yesterday and I was able to understandably communicate back. However, the greatest joy came from the encounter itself. Its genuineness and warmth, the interest and positive feedback shown by totally unknown people. I smiled all the way home and even after that. And this was not the only time something like this happened in here. Once after a few minutes of conversation (that time in English) with a complete stranger I surprisingly was given a bunch of oranges straight from the tree. At the beach I often meet an elderly lady, with whom we are having discussions in Croat and with the power of body language in very good spirit. And many other joyful moments with different people.

All these encounters has one thing in common. I have never experienced a negative attitude because of my foreign background. Usually the opposite. Often at first people seem to think I´m local, especially during the winter season when there are no tourists here and more so if there is a dog with me. When it turns out I do not necessarily speak so fluently in the local language and if the language skills of the opposite party are not the strongest area of ​​expertise, then with a smile they will spin some words in English or maybe German or at least there is a lot of vivid body language if they have something to say. And I'm trying to understand and be understood.

Hope that today you will meet someone completely unknown, create contact and get a great feeling about that.

Year in Croatia: living life to the fullest

It was a little over year ago when we drove across Europe to the Adriatic Sea. We became emigrants, expatriates and immigrants.

The past 12 months has given us tremendously, so many new things and experiences. I just watched the pictures I have taken over the year and they made me smile several times when remembering all those moments. There are sunny walks on the new trails by the beach in Murter, our Christmas atmosphere a year ago, the festive atmosphere of the February carnival, wild asparagus last spring, collecting sea shells from the beach, a great sailing trip in the spring winds, trips to the nearby islands and southern coast all the way to Montenegro, the visits of the loved ones here, the concert road trip to Pula, wonderful evenings on the terrace under the vine, turquoise sea, ancient fortresses, all the wonderful flavours. Most recently, our visit to Zagreb to celebrate the 100th anniversary of independent Finland at the Embassy party. And much more.

It hasn´t been just moments of smile. I've chopped rock hard firewood with nearly handleless ax, encountered several meters of poisonous worms, trembled in freezing temperatures in the chilling embrace of bura wind. I have been afraid of losing our home and even for my own safety while the summer forest fires raged, cleaned the terrace due to the ash that came from the sky after the forest fires. I have got out of bed well before six in the morning in order to be able go out for the walk with the dog before the sun appears to the sky during the worst heat wave.

I have encountered people. People who have met us with open arms and sometimes welcomed us into their lives as well. Sometimes even in astonishing ways. Helpfulness and genuine warm harted attitude have impressed me, over and over again. When a neighbor's old man waits for us on his driveway in the darkening night as we return from our two hour walk just to give me a bag full of mandarin and pomegranate or when our landlady pops in with the bowl of hot freshly cooked shrimps. Or when the fishermen on the beach are greeting me happily and smiling at a funny little dog who is so excited about the fishing. Or when our local friend comes from her home village with vegetables grown by her mother and with a big chunk of cheese. Or when in a small Austrian village one night we are creating friendships that will make us return again and again. Or when the small hence close-knit Finnish community here understands the joy of getting some liver casserole as a present from Finland and also confirmed that the Croatian word really is one and the same for both cranberries and lingonberries.

The year has taught, demanded and rewarded. It has made me laugh and cry.

Day after tomorrow we will begin our road trip to Finland, it´s going to be our longest visit there so far: one and a half months with travel. What are we waiting for? Getting to sauna for sure, seeing the people we love, both family and friends. Hopefully a bit of fun in winter wonderland. Of course some of the good tastes we have not been getting here at least so often. Campfire in the forest with some good things to eat and drink, the atmosphere of the traditional outdoor sauna and from sauna to have a break from the gentle heat to chilly outside under the starry sky. Visiting Vuokatti area in the more northern part of Finland. After all that it is good to return home, back here on the Adriatic coast. Cause here our home is. At least for now.