Am I turning into something else?

[Anja]

I do not know about you but recently I noticed a problem in communication with people in Croatia.
It is not my friends, not my family, they know me inside out and the bond is still there.
It is the new people I meet.
It looks like they believe they live the worst possible life,
everything abroad is better for them..
They compalin about their leaders ( like UK leaders ar better?), they compain about their life ( and the quality of their life is 100 times better then 80% people around me have in UK)
They seem to be very well informed, they can tell you the Roman emperiors or talk to you about the constellation or David Beckham's night life if you wake them up in the middle of night, they are clever people but they do not realize their own luck.
Are they blind?
Or am I wrong?
Seems to me they do not respect what they have, or they do not know it..
I feel like a foreigner in my own country, am I turning into something else, a New Born British?
Hope not but even worse, I am something in between.
Forgive me for bothering you, I just wanted to know -is it only me?

[poppy]

For God's sake,get a life!!!

[Ante]

....think that i know what you mean Anja.

My relatives were/are the same.....although most of them are at the eastern end of Slavonija (near Osijek).

I think that it simply has to do with the overall boredom, and lower level of disposable money that most Croats now have (as compared to during the Yuge days).

I have often heard them say that they were able to at least go down to the coast or to neighbouring countries back then, but now with the "privatisation" of the companies that they work for, they are many times lucky to simply get their monthly pay. Also in the old days they could take from/manipulate the system. Unfortunately nowadays, the system is taking from them in a somewhat never-ending spiralling manner.

I cannot blame them for their whinging. It's no secret how the overall masses of Croatian citizens are screwed by their politicians. The system is not set up in a way so that the harder you work, the more you can get out of it.....Let's face it, privatisation of companies in Croatia simply meant that the politicians could spread the wealth of the country amongst themselves, and then keep a stranglehold on it. It will take at least a couple of generations for these problems to sort themselves out.

It is somewhat of a shame, as I was in Spain just a week ago, and I thought to myself, why aren't Croatians as happy or relaxed as the Spaniards. It's probably because, as you say - they are intelligent people, AND they know that they deserve much better in life than what they have. They can see the potential that their country and manner of living has, but probably feel that they will never be able to realise it as they simply have no control of what goes on. Afterall the pollies are a law unto themselves. It's easier in a western country like UK or Australia (where i was born and bred). The overall system has been set up in a different way for many, many years. It is possible in these countries to make some cash and then enjoy it. Even when the pollies are still up to the same old crap that they do everywhere else.

I do think that as time goes on, the Croatian people will realise how it is done in the western world......
keep changing the balance of power at the elections.....
Mass strikes hitting the right services at the right time...
Hopefully by the time that Croatians do finally feel happy within themselves and their country; half of it will not have been sold off to foreign ownership.

[Peter]

I'm certainly aware that a lot of people I talk to in Croatia see the UK in rather idealised terms. It's all a bit like those travel programmes that show markets in Africa but without the smell, that anyone who has been there knows is almost overpowering and a significant element! It is a false picture. They hear of the good side but not the squalor of places like Kilburn and Brixton. Anyone used to the lack of litter in Zagreb and the streets washed every night, would be horrified if they saw the filth in London.
There is a kind of perception of an England that disappeared 50 years ago overlaid with hyped up nonsense like the Beckhams.
Croatia is a vastly better environment than in the UK.
Yes, wages are low, exacerbated by high taxation, but that is inevitable with the costs incurred during the war.
There is nothing I can buy in London that I cannot get in Zagreb, often significantly cheaper. I can go into the city without spending an hour trying to find somewhere to park my car. When I find somewhere, I don't get ripped off with K&C and Westminster style parking charges.
Anyone who has lived in Central London, as I did for 25 years, would find Zagreb fantastic.
I think some of the problem is that, for many people, Croatia has gone through a low, during and just after the war. Reduced living standards and income inevitably upset people and made them hanker for the brighter lights. There is a sort of time lag. Things are much better now, but it seems to take time for people to aknowledge this.

[Mira]

I agree with what Ante said but we also need to remember that people hate change. Also, many people in Croatia still cannot accept the fact that they can influence things. Looking at some of my friends, they will work for a company which pays badly if it pay at all rather than take a risk on a new idea and try to do it alone. Spirit of enterprise and entrepreneurship is lucking which I am sure will come with time.

Slavonija is one of the worst part of Croatia for unemployment and the economy is in a pretty bad shape. There are many new business opportunities and each time I talk to my friends about it they always come back with same old excuses, yes but what if it fails!

I think it is all about the state on mind and perception of risk and a little bit of the ‘grass looks greener on the other side’ which we know is not true.

[marko]

Will the person named as Poppy leave Anja alone ?

Why don't you get a life and give out a proper name like Anja ?

A girl has put a post here and you are insulting her.

Get lost !

[Poppy]

Dont tell me to get lost.I was only expressing my opinion just like you are.And it doesnt matter if I dont leave my reall name ,its not like you know me anyway.I m not the regural on this forum but I do read few topics every once in a while and it' s always the same people bringing up topics that dont matter to anyone,instead of something useful that might actually help someone.I didnt mean to insult Anja,I apologise if I did,but I do wonder what people like her do all day.I work all day and barely have time to check my emails everyday,let alone sit ant waste my time on stupid thing like bringing up topics like " .....am I turning into New Born British??"

And I do have a life ,a very god one indeed.

[MN]

Pity you can't spell though you tosser

[marko]

Since when has it been any of your business to poke into other peoples' private lives and ask how some of us have time to chat and post messages ?

The virtue of life is to make it as easy as possible, not as hard as possible.

I like Anja's attitude and can sympathise with her totally. Life in this place is not easy. London is a very lonely place, indeed.


It is tough to meet people here and getting to know them is all but impossible unless you share the same interests. It is frustrating, of course. This forum is one of very few places where most of us can express what we really feel.

[bili d kid Bang BAng]

Peter is talking rubbish ! It is hight time we talk from objective point of view. Although, i work in this country and have a reasonable salary, i do experience Croatia as expensive as England. The only difference my salary is (I am Croat and do not hide my salary info) £1650 and for the same job they get £400. Average salary is porbably £300. What do you do here PETER!? Why dont you go home forever. As far as i am concerned i would use my youth to earn more money and not to live in completely corrupted and poor country like Croatia. Of course, once i am loaded it is nice to be there.As simple as that. Peter chiil out mate and do not talk rubbish anymnore People in Cro are angry and fed up and that kind of slave mentality still unfortunately exist. Strike revolution and to get rid of mafia forever. UF if i have power!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!