Thinking of Emigrating? Why the Grass is Greener in Croatia

Two of the first videos I did were 8 Reasons Croatia is the Best Place to Live in Europe, and 10 Things Croatia Does Better than Anywhere Else. Both were very popular (and you can find them in the first comments), and both attracted a lot of comment, some complimentary, some critical.
Having read the comments, I decided to offer a free presentation to any school or university faculty in Croatia in destinations that I would be visiting called "Thinking of Emigrating? Why the Grass is Greener in Croatia." Perhaps, after 20 years here and having travelled to 96 countries and lived in ten, I had a slightly different perspective that students might be interested in hearing.
I have done several presentations on the topic since I made the offer, the most recent of which was at the FER Faculty of Engineering in Zagreb recently, who were kind enough to record the presentation so that it could be watched more widely. Here it is, in full.

[@tour80]

It took me almost 25 years to visit Croatia after my last visit in 1997...and all I can think of now is when I can move my family there. Certainly planning to do so in the next few years and just like all others that return, we have our reasons.

[@PaulBradbury]

Good luck with the move

[@Lucas-wn5wm]

my croat friend tells me to consider to move to Croatia too and im from Singapore (chinese). im now looking in the data science field in Croatia@@PaulBradbury

[@Lucas-wn5wm]

im in Croatia right now (vacation)

[@djubar1975]

dude...thank you so much...I am croatian and you give me totally new perspective...every croatian should see this video...regards from vukovar

[@PaulBradbury]

Haha, thanks very much and glad you enjoyed. Feel free to share so more see it

[@francine895]

Dear Paul your comments and statements really make me happy.Lot of people left Croatia-"Neighbors grass is allways greener".

[@PaulBradbury]

Haha thanks. Well, Croatia certainly has its problems, but it doesn't hurt to reflect on the good things occasionally.

[@libertas5552]

I know about 10 second-generation Croats from the Toronto area who have permanently moved to Croatia. None of them are doing remote work. I hope to join them shortly.

[@PaulBradbury]

We interviewed a few of them in this returnee series kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3XZmnR-fNqnqcU

[@ghatt20]

Spent 5 weeks this past summer in Croatia, visiting my daughters boyfriends parents. What a beautiful country and loved our time in Zagreb, Slavonski Brod, Vir, Pula and Primošten. It was fun embracing the difference between Dallas,TX and Croatia. Cant wait to get back to get another full plate of chivapcici and cold beer. Your advise and talks are very informative. All ready planning our emigrating game plan. Not sure of the spelling but glad my bottle of homemade Rakia made it back with us.

[@PaulBradbury]

Great. It is a fab place to be.

[@kakudmi]

You have just described envy. When you cannot be content with other people's happiness. When you feel good upon other's failure. When you feel justified being envious.

[@maricamarkovic3305]

Ja sam Hrvatica i bila sam 50 godina u Germani i vratila se prije 5 godina za Hrvatsku i uživam kao u raju. Kažite svima ljudima cijeloga svijeta dođite u Hrvatsku ovo je raj na zemlji cijeli svijet je dobro došlo u Hrvatsku ❤❤❤❤❤

[@importedvixen]

Ha ha pa sto ste bili 50 godina u Njemackoj ako vam je u HR tako lijepo? Lako sad sa Njemackom penzijom uzivat u HR.. to se moze svagdje.. mogli ste i na Bali i na Kanarske otoke isto tako

[@Seaborn-ne1vp]

Kako to da se niste vratili u HR prije 20 godina? Pa HR je raj na zemlji kako kažete, znači "nije u šoldima sve". Ili ipak je ?

[@charplenz]

Great video and information. We plan to visit next week!

[@PaulBradbury]

Enjoy and let us know how it went

[@badWolf2033]

Thank you Paul, u make so much sense! A random guy from Slavonija living abroad. BTW walking in the rain is the best, no ur not strange😂😇

[@PaulBradbury]

haha

[@user-xj3ve7wt8k]

Great video.

[@PaulBradbury]

Thanks!

[@ZombiesJourney]

I'm craving to go on adventure and start my life abroad. I will certainly go to Croatia soon. Your videos helped to convince me to give Croatia a try !

[@PaulBradbury]

There is no time like the present

[@kristijanveza8086]

The Best statement👌

[@Photostoryhr]

Hallo Paul, it is always a pleasure to listen to you. I hope you don't mind me asking, are you fluent in Croatian?

[@PaulBradbury]

Not fluent but i do interviews in Croatian for example

[@stefanvvv]

I love Croatia for vacation and hope I buy vacation home there one day. Nice talk, but please repeat questions from the audience because it is not possible to hear them.

[@PaulBradbury]

Too late for that. We werent planning on questions and only had the one mic.

[@peterpositive660]

​@@PaulBradbury Hi Paul, what about medical support there for normal aging healthy in 60s and early 70s, still working..

[@Mis-AdventureCH]

had a golden opportunity during the war to get my domovnica, but was afraid of the us state department and didn't collect the various service papers I could have. Young and dumb. Good luck ever getting back now. 😪 Spot on witht he cafe complaining culture, LOL. Some things never changed. Everywhere I looked I saw opportunity. Endless, boundless opportunity.

[@PaulBradbury]

It is never too late...

[@Mis-AdventureCH]

@@PaulBradbury Getting old, but I must admit, that abandoned village near Petrinja piqued my interest. What a great place for a Regenerative agriculture / art colony / educational workshop project.

[@panzer8as]

we discussed briefly about this issue of young people leaving croatia and i was left with a feeling that you will never understand it, but you sir just changed my mind, it happens rarely :) thank you

[@PaulBradbury]

Haha amazing. I thought changing minds online was impossible.

[@soksb3766]

It is a privilege to be born and die in the same house is someone's old thought that has a lot of truth in it.

[@PaulBradbury]

Unless you are born in Manchester..

[@soksb3766]

​@@PaulBradburyI haven't been to Manchester but I have been to Chester. I had a great time with the locals in an Irish pub. Also, in the past I've fantasized about what kind of energy the city that gave birth to The Smiths has? But everything has its time. I would like to see all that, but I completely agree with you and I wouldn't change Croatia for anything. But that's my country... Even if I were forced to leave it, I believe I would choose Bosnia or Serbia, no matter how problematic our relations are. Greetings from Krk

[@sylvainmathias6195]

Hello. Did you do a video about education? Especially in the mindset of immigrating with a yound child

[@samuelsmith4194]

Really good but what’s the bit about being “an alcoholic” in Croatia vs Norway?! Anyone who drinks alcohol is an alcoholic? I have spent a fair amount of time in England so I’m aware that this isn’t an English colloquialism.

[@PaulBradbury]

the fact you will drink anyway. You could go to Albania and pay 2 euro or be in Norway and pay 10. He chooses the more expensive lifestyle because he prefers it and feels is it worth the money.

[@Virendra.2893]

Hi sir i need a job in crotia, I'm from India I'm graduate

[@peterpositive660]

Thank you Paul. Interesting. 71, married, considering emigrating from England, UK. Can I work, online support?

[@PaulBradbury]

It is possible, but a lot harder thanks to our friend Brexit

[@LeonKovacic4345]

im a croat living in switzerland, 14 yo. i really wanna move to croatia in the near future, switzerland is overrated and isnt mine.

[@PaulBradbury]

What is stopping you?

[@LeonKovacic4345]

im under the age of 18@@PaulBradbury

[@thelotusdancer1]

Let's not talk about how good it is; too many people want to move there now. I am going to an island where we have a family home, and want it to stay quiet!

[@PaulBradbury]

Haha, there are some spots I don't mention

[@ViajesYrecuerdos-lv8uc]

Wow. How long did it take you to learn Croatian?

[@PaulBradbury]

Haha, a lifetime, and longer - will get there one day...

[@ViajesYrecuerdos-lv8uc]

@@PaulBradbury I heard it helps to speak Italian in Croatia if you don't speak Croatian

[@bvonm9557]

not really but it could help you a bit in the parts of Istria since it was under constant attacks from Italians trough the centuries and that part of Croatia has assimilated word of Italian language, the only language that could help you to communicate trough Croatia is definitely English and after it German since a lot of have life in Germany as well . Italian only in some parts of Istria, mostly area around Italian border @@ViajesYrecuerdos-lv8uc

[@runawaytechgal1467]

My husband and I are very interested in speaking with you or anyone who can help us navigate purchasing property and moving to Istria.

[@PaulBradbury]

Please email me on [e-mail] Subject Buying Property

[@damjandabo]

The best thing about emigrating from Croatia is getting the most of how great Croatia is for vacations. If you don’t live in Croatia, all daily problems don’t bother you, and you can enjoy it fully.

[@PaulBradbury]

Haha. Or work on the mindset, come to terms with the frustrations, and enjoy 52 weeks of the year, not 2.

[@damjandabo]

@@PaulBradbury Only 2 weeks? More like 10 weeks :D

[@cghj6599]

C'mon Man, now brits going to invade croatia, not so cool.

[@importedvixen]

No worries. They won’t Brits like sandy beeches and Fish’n chips so Spain will still be no 1 for them .. Brits generally don’t like Eastern Europe and Eastern Europeans ..

[@womynchick]

i moved to Croatia and left very disappointed. The paperwork, the treatment of people telling me to go back home when I was looking for work, the locals trying to rip me off or steal from me… no thanks! I will not put money into their economy. It is NOT the best place in Europe! I call the country plagued by PTSD! The younger population has left due to its dysfunctional ways and they wont return unless it’s to visit family. If you dont understand Croatian, you dont know what they say behind your back. As ling as you have a good amount of money, Croatia sucks you dry financially. Myself and my friends who moved there, both of us having Dual citizenship lasted 15 and 18 months . I he negativity and the self preservation(some due to the economy or to the survivalists barely getting by and can only take care of themselves) drains on you. I love to be around positivity. The problem with some of the wealthy is the corruption… that includes the politicians, police, love interests, etc

[@SuperGeronimo1975]

Your montly inkom is???...check what is for yong family futur!!...