Croatia is home away from home. Since my first visit at the age of two, I have been back more times than I can remember.
Visiting Croatia stirs up many memories of reconnecting with family, crystal clear waters, donkey rides, prosciutto, and more prosciutto. My fondest memory in life is in the village with my grandma and auntie for a year at the age of 5.
My baba and tetka were my second mums who fed me endlessly and didn’t cut my hair. I forgot how to speak English and came home chubby with long curls. I also gained the nickname ‘porky’.
Returning to the motherland in 2018 was a special one, as I spent a few weeks alone with my mum and dad.
My parents left Croatia in 1967 in search of a new home for the family and life they dreamt of. Their journey to Australia started when they went to Austria to watch an ice skating show as part of a group tour. My uncle and his wife joined them, and while in Austria, they all seized the opportunity to flee.
After spending 2 months in a Vienna camp, they were granted the opportunity to call Canada or Australia home. The rest is history.
Proud of my Croatian heritage, proud of Croatia and proud of my parents.