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Behind the Scenes of Expat Life: What It Is Really Like to be a Digital Nomad in Croatia

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First things first! What is an expat? An expat, which is the abbreviation for expatriate, is someone who lives outside of their native country or country of citizenship for an extended period of time. Some examples of expats may be digital nomads (people who have a job that allows them to work remotely from anywhere in the world), retirees living abroad, students studying in a foreign country, or someone who must physically relocate to a different country for their job. Of course, there are so many other scenarios where someone could be an expat, but my guess is, if you are reading this blog, it is likely that you are considering moving to a new country for one reason or another, or, you are curious about the lifestyle because you already know someone who did.

Lets move to Croatia!

Our story and why we are expats:

My husband and I left our native United States (Michigan, to be exact) in August 2022 to be digital nomads in Split, Croatia. My husband works as a web-developer (he created this website!) and I own my own photography company, Through MI Lens, which specializes in landscape and travel photography. However, this was not always our story. Prior to becoming expats, we both worked jobs that were stressful, exhausting, and not what either one of us saw ourselves doing until retirement age. When the unfortunate covid-19 pandemic shook the world in 2020, it made us think about how truly precious our lives are and we decided to pursue something that would give us a more relaxed lifestyle and the ability to truly enjoy one of our true passions: traveling!

How did we choose Croatia?

Boarding the plane to Europe!

It took a lot of trial and error, but we eventually settled on Croatia for a plethora of reasons. Although we had never visited Croatia in our previous travels, the photos we saw online were enough for us to want to hop on a plane that second. We also knew that we wanted to live somewhere warm and near the sea. Sorry Michigan, but your winters can be too brutal for us sometimes! We had also read that Croatia has landed on the list of safest European countries several times in a row, so that was a huge bonus. However, the most important reason we chose Croatia was because we qualified for their Digital Nomad Residency Permit.

Requirements of Croatia’s Digital Nomad Residency Permit:

As of right now, the basic things that are required when applying for the Croatian Digital Nomad Residency Permit are that you make a minimum monthly amount of €2,539, which is proven through paystubs and bank records, proof that you have not been convicted of any criminal offenses (for US citizens, this is an FBI identity history summary check, which also has to be apostilled), copy of valid travel document (passport), proof of health insurance valid in Croatia, and a letter from your employer stating that you have permission to work remotely from Croatia. Additionally, you have to provide proof of accommodation (a lease agreement) that will be valid during your residency.

The Croatian Flag

Because this can all be overwhelming, we sought out the assistance of Sara from Expat in Croatia, who was immensely helpful during a 30-minute consultation zoom call. She answered all of our questions with ease and professionalism. Once we arrived in Croatia we met with an attorney, Ivan Rađa, who helped us submit our documents to the MUP (police). He also kept us updated on our application status and answering all of our abundant that we had throughout the process.

We submitted our applications together at the end of October 2022. My application for residency was quickly approved by December 2022, but unfortunately Andy’s did not get approved until March 2023. Luckily, we were both able to remain in Croatia while the applications were being processed. Our residency permits are valid for one year from date of acceptance. If you’d like additional information about the Croatia Digital Nomad Residency program, you can check it out here.

There are plenty of other countries that also offer similar residency programs. Some of the most popular ones in Europe include Portugal, Spain, Malta, Greece, and Hungary. They all have their own list of requirements, which vary slightly.

What we sacrificed for our new lifestyle:

Leaving our house in Michigan with everything we moved to Europe with.

When it was finally time to make the move, we knew there would be a lot of sacrifices that had to be made. We sold our home, which was the first home we ever purchased. This was a big one. We both loved that house and we had created a lot of memories there. Plus, we lived in a city that was walkable and Otto, our pup, had a lovely (grassy) yard that he loved to play in. Otto made the journey with us too. Check out our post about moving aboard with a large dog. We considered the option of renting our house out, but we ultimately made the decision to sell it. We also sold our vehicles and our beloved boat. We had a garage sale and made many trips to donation centers to rid ourselves of the things we no longer needed.

Luckily we have a family member who was gracious enough to allow us to use her house to store some essentials that we did not want to part with. But, all of those materialistic things don’t compare to missing out on time spent with family and loved ones. Being an expat means having to miss important life events (weddings, babies being born, birthdays, and family gatherings). I find myself missing even the few times a month I would see my close friends for dinner and just catching up with them. In our case, I also gave up my 10+ year career, which was overdue anyways, but still a major life adjustment on top of all of the others.

Culture shock!

Adjusting to a new culture can be overwhelming. In the past, when we have vacationed in different destinations, we always felt like we were immersed in local cultures. We were wrong. Not that it is not possible when you are visiting somewhere for a short time, but when you live somewhere, that is when the true immersion begins.

1- Language

One of the biggest culture shocks is if you move somewhere that does not speak your native language. In our case, English is widely spoken in Croatia, but it is not the primary language and Croatian is a very difficult language to learn. In our time here we have learned basic words (hvala, molim, dobar dan, bok, dovidgenia, pse, & pivo to name a few), but if we run into someone who does not speak English, Google Translate becomes our best friend. And, even if someone is willing to speak English to accommodate you, there is a sense of guilt that looms because we are in their country, yet they are the ones adjusting for our benefit.

2- Stores/brands

Another hard adjustment was the change in stores and specific brands that we are used to. Sure, we knew some of this ahead of time, but did you know that there isn’t Kraft Mac & Cheese in Croatia? Or that Croatia does not have a single Starbucks or Target? I’ll admit, I actually did Google “Are there Targets in Croatia?” before we moved. This was a hard day when I learned that the answer was no, but has made Target runs extra special when I have returned to the states to visit.

We also had to learn which grocery stores were the best (and cheapest), which brands of certain products are the best and which to avoid, and where do I go if I need to find __(insert item here)__. Sometimes this can be fun and we have actually found several things (and stores) that we will miss whenever we leave Croatia, but at first, it can be intimidating.

3- Food

I am a foodie. I admit it. And coming from the United States there is a lot of diversity in food and restaurants. If I want ramen, I was usually able to find ramen within a reasonable distance. Same goes for most other types of foods. Call us Americans spoiled I guess, but the lack of food diversity in Split, Croatia was probably one of the hardest adjustments. Even when it came to wanting to cook meals in our apartment, I struggled to find ingredients that were easily located in the US.

One thing I still cannot get over is that I could not find minced garlic ANYWHERE! I ended up having to make my own, which was fine and actually turned out pretty yummy, but mind-blowing nonetheless. After having been in Croatia for a year, we are finally starting to appreciate Croatian cuisine and have learned to avoid the restaurants in the touristy areas and to venture to more local neighborhoods for better flavor and quality.

4- Pace of life

Here in Croatia, most everything is chill and relaxed, which is a vast contrast to the way we were used to living in the United States. Things are so chill in Croatia that there is even a word in the Croatian language for this particular lifestyle: pomalo. It is a word that we have come to love and appreciate and a mentality that we are getting better at adopting.

In the United States, it feels like from a young age we are groomed to constantly be busy, working, going to school, etc. and taking the time to “stop and smell the flowers” is not really something that many people do. Here in Croatia, people seem grateful for every day, they take time to catch up with friends (sometimes for hours) at cafés, and go for daily strolls along the sea. The only time we notice that people are not pomalo is when they are driving, because if you don’t put your car in gear and start going the second the light turns green, you’re bound to get honked at. And sometimes the horn will blare for a solid 10 seconds. We get a laugh out of that on a regular basis.

The only negative to this laid-back lifestyle is in the event that you need something urgent taken care of. Air conditioner stopped working when it is 100°F? Someone might come fix it next week. Stuff like this can be frustrating, but as long as you can go with the flow, you’ll be fine and there have been many times we’ve laughed about situations like this later on.

Navigating homesickness

Homesickness is something that I have always been prone to. Back in my early 20’s, I was a broke recent-college graduate who moved to Denver, Colorado on a whim. Back then I experienced homesickness, but luckily home was a short 3-hour plane ride away. When I get homesick in Croatia for my family and friends in Michigan, I have no choice but to tough it out.

Luckily, I speak to my mom almost every day and my other friends and family on a regular basis, which helps. I have also been back to visit Michigan a few times since we moved to Croatia. One thing that I have found helpful is doing things to keep my mind occupied elsewhere or embracing something that reminds myself of home. Remember how I mentioned that Croatia does not sell Kraft Mac & Cheese?

Well, that is one of my comfort foods, so when someone comes to visit, I ask them to bring a box or two. When I return to Michigan for a visit, I stock up. That way when I feel homesick, I can make myself a box (yes, I eat the whole box) and it makes me feel slightly better.

Creating a community

Luckily, in most big cities, you will find an expat population from all around the world. And if you find yourself in a city where you are unsure if there is an expat community, just Google it! Or utilize social media to search for expat groups. In Split, there are weekly meetups for expats to gather, network, and get to know each other. In addition to the weekly scheduled meetup, people will also randomly organize beach outings, hikes, and karaoke nights. Going to these meetups can be especially helpful if you are traveling solo. We have met some incredible people at these meetups. Additionally, we belong to social media groups and WhatsApp chats where people share valuable information, recommendations for things like doctors or hair salons, and just general funny banter. These groups are also extremely helpful to be a part of and they make you feel a little less “crazy” knowing that there are so many others out there living a similar lifestyle.

Benefits of being an expat

1-Seeing so many cool places

Stunning waterfalls at the Krka National Park in Lozovac, Croatia

It goes without saying that if you are living an expat lifestyle that you probably like traveling to some degree. One of the biggest perks of being an expat is the opportunity to travel to places you may not have ever gone. We have been able to take easy weekend trips to amazing places like Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovnia and Lake Bled, Slovenia!

Would Andy & I have ever traveled to Croatia for a vacation from the United States? Yes, we definitely would, but we would have chosen to stay in the heavy touristy areas (rightfully so – they are touristy for a reason!) and would have likely missed out on seeing some of the areas that are more traditionally Croatian.

Those areas where the food is better, the beaches are less crowded, and where the locals make you feel right at home. Some of our favorite places in Croatia are places we have accidentally stumbled upon and we probably would not have seen if we were tourists. Additionally, big European cities that were once on our “maybe one day we’ll get there” list are places we can go for the weekend and explore and check off on our bucket list.

2- Personal Growth

Although being an expat can be difficult, it has really taught us a lot about life. It sounds cliché, I know, and I am certainly not claiming to be an expert on the meaning of life after living abroad for a year, but it really makes you pause and think about the things that truly matter. And it gives a lot of time to reflect on who we are as people. It has made us courageous to a whole new level.

We had no idea when we sold all our stuff and moved halfway around the world if it was even going to be something we enjoyed, but we decided that the risk was worth the reward, and here we are. It has also forced us to think in different ways regarding our professional growth. I mean, this blog may not be in existence if we were not living the lifestyle we are living, so we are grateful for that.

3- Strengthened relationships

Even though some friends and family might not understand the expat lifestyle, those who make an effort to understand it (and your choices) can actually result in strengthened relationships. Luckily, we have amazing family and friends, so we have experienced this with quite a few people. Also, with Andy and I, we had a solid marriage prior to moving to Europe. But if you can get through such a stressful and major life transition together, your bond will only continue to get stronger. We are both thankful for this.

4- Cultural enrichment

Embracing living in another culture is difficult and takes some time to adjust to. I would say that we became more comfortable with everything (culture, food, and our new lifestyle) around 6-8 months after we arrived in Croatia. Yes, it did take us that long, but we feel relatively acclimated to Croatian culture now (not everything, but close!) and it is something that we both have begun to cherish.

The pomalo attitude, the café culture, their enthusiasm for holidays (and fireworks!), and their general appreciation for life are aspects of Croatian culture that we will carry with us for the rest of our lives. As a side note, I was never a big coffee drinker before moving to Croatia, with the exception of a doctored-up Starbucks drink on my weekly Target runs. But, now, I love coffee! And I do not drink it just to get a caffeine buzz or to help me wake up. I drink it because it tastes good! I have come to enjoy the flavor of what good coffee tastes like. Thank you, Croatia!

Closing Thoughts

This blog has covered a lot of topics, both positive and negative. There are also a lot of other things we could discuss, but maybe those things will be for another blog on another day. We do not claim to be expert expats and we know that we both have so much more to learn. We are looking forward to being expats in our next destination to see how it compares to being an expat in Croatia. Being current expats, we are amid one of the most important chapters in our lives, which we remind ourselves of every day. We know that when we are 85 years old, we will reminisce about the years we spent living in Europe, traveling around, and seeing the world together.

Have questions or your own expat experiences to share? Add them in the comments! We would love to hear from you!

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Emily

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