Croatia

I'm kind of a spoiled volunteer.  I do try to work hard though and because of this and a bit of good luck, I have had incredible opportunities to travel with work.  This month, I had the chance to go to Croatia for 10 days.  It was an incredible trip as always.  This year is simply one-of-a-kind for a girl from Nebraska, living in Moldova.  What brought me to Croatia was an apparent training on entrepreneurship.  I wish I could say I learned a lot, was inspired to be an entrepreneur all the more, learned how to better train entrepreneurs, and understood even more, in the European context, the challenges and opportunities of entrepreneurship.  My expectations were not met by this training.  Maybe I've been too well educated and focused on entrepreneurship here that nothing seemed new.  Some of the activities we did were things I've already done with my students in Causeni (creating a fake business, utilizing SWOT Analysis,  working through a marketing plan, testing individual creativity, etc.).  I was hoping to come away with some more concrete information and tips for training young entrepreneurs but received very little.   So that was the disappointment of the trip.  The upside? The people and the culture! The participants who were at the training course were from many different parts of Europe, and it's always interesting and educational to be around those from different countries.  I also participated in the training with another young woman, Cristina, from Chisinau.  We didn't know each other all too well before the trip, but I can say now after spending a few solid days together, we know each other quite well and for that I'm quite thankful.  She's the type of Moldovan that gives me hope and comfort when thinking about the future of this country.  She's smart, forward-thinking, realistic, and action-oriented. To add to that, she always could make me smile and laugh at ourselves and at the situations in which we found ourselves.  

Cristina and I with a delicious cheese cake and espresso.  

Participants in the training through the European Commission's Youth in Action Programme (Lithuania, Macedonia, The Netherlands, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, & Turkey were represented)

Croatian culture reminded me a bit of Italy.  People appear to be a bit lazy (but Croats swear they aren't) because they love meeting for a coffee or two (which could last 2-3+ hours- a Croat told me that's truly normal).  They love delicious big meals with lots of meat, generally speaking.  They are becoming more well-known for their wines, and they like to end their evenings with perhaps a beer or two or three.  Fine food and beverages- I can get behind that.  What was also surprising is the number of English speakers.  From older adults to youth, most every native I encountered spoke some English, if not quite well.  I also found the people to be very warm and open to tourists.

We spent all but one day in Zagreb, the capital city.  We took a day trip to Plitvice National Park, a natural forest flowing with waterfalls and lakes.  This gorgeous place  is a top spot for tourists in Croatia and with good reason.  It brought me back to the time when I lived in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho, only more tourists.  The waters were still and serene and flowing from one lake to another. 

What I also enjoyed about my stay was meeting people spontaneously and learning this and that about the Balkan's and beyond.  For example, I learned through our new couchsurfing friend that Kosovo seems to share similar characteristics of life in Moldova: people working abroad, remittances sent back home, poor infrastructure, high unemployment, etc.  I was reminded how war and politics, intertwined with religion, can damage lives, change culture, and have lasting impacts on future generations.  I was reminded also how people are just people, and at the end of the day, we all just want to be treated as humans with respect, love, and care.  That's a possibility that we can all attain if we all wish.  Traveling always leaves one pondering...

We happened to have a nice afternoon coffee and meal with two World Bank employees, covering payments for development projects in Northern Africa and the Middle East.  We met a nice gentleman on our first bus ride from the airport into the city.  On the last full day we were there, we recognized his face on the street and ended up sitting down for coffee and then Italian food (why not?).  As I have always had an interest in development work and specifically through international institutions like the World Bank, I found myself in a perfect place to ask some questions.  What I came to find out is that my hesitations to follow the development work trail may be a good thing for me.  Although they reassured me there should be a place for me at the World Bank (after I get a master's degree), they also assured me that the first month will be greusome and that it's not like a 9-5 job.  They work moreso 7am until 7pm with their heads left foggy at the end of every day.  I told them about the World Bank economist I met in Moldova once, who honestly and bravely laid out the truth:  "The majority of development work fails."  As romantically pleasing as the notion of development work sounds to any peace-loving, warm-hearted person, this quote is going to stick with me for a while.  (even as a PCV in a small town in Moldova.)  Returning to the time with our new acquaintances, the two gentlemen were so kind, smart, and light-hearted.  It was a refreshing afternoon, and I learned a thing or two about their countries of origin as well (Tunisia and Lebanon).

For lack of time/words, I will leave you with a couple photos from the enchanting Plitvice National Park and return soon to inform you of other happenings in May before I left for Croatia.  There were many (including a computer crash).

Plitvice National Park

Streams of living water...  I want to jump in!