Three Stories, Three Continents, Three Paths to the Same Country: Returnees Share Their Experiences

The experiences of Croatian returnees and the opportunities Croatia offers for integration and employment were at the heart of the “Croatia Connects” conference in Šibenik. Representatives of government institutions, the business community and Croatian returnees came together for the event, where the Ministry of Demography and Immigration and the Croatian Employment Service also signed an agreement.

For Denis Rubić, Germany was where he grew up, pursued his education and built his career. It was his home for many years, but he says he has no regrets about returning to his roots and building a successful business in Croatia.

“For those of us who grew up in Germany or elsewhere in the diaspora, perhaps we had a different perspective on Croatia. We stayed closely connected through Catholic programs, folklore, Croatian clubs and other activities, and that’s how a strong bond with our homeland developed.

“Then, for family reasons, things fell into place and I decided to go back to where my father and mother came from, as we would say. It was much harder to hear my parents asking why I had left a great job in Germany, where I had really good conditions. But I told myself: if people here can make it work, I’m not stupid — I can succeed too.”

And he says he has no regrets.

Neither does John Gašparac, who returned from Canada. Thousands of miles away, Canada offered him professional security, but he decided to take a chance on an opportunity in Croatia. His original plan was to stay for two years. He ended up staying for 30.

“After six months, I could already see there was a lot of potential for a career. But when I first arrived, it was an adventure — let’s see how it goes. We didn’t have to stay; I could always go back. That was always somewhere in the back of my mind.

“The hardest part was those first six months. It wasn’t really about the finances or whether you could get by — that was fine. It was more that, mentally, you had given up everything you had known up to that point.”

From Bolivia to Croatia

Juan Diego Mercado Tomianovic made a similar decision six years ago, leaving Bolivia for Croatia. He traced his family roots to Senj and chose to move in search of a better future for himself and his family.

“For me and my family, it was a big step. It took a lot of determination, but security was also a major factor.

“When we arrived, we saw children walking to school and going places on their own. That simply doesn’t happen in South America.”

Adapting to a new country also meant learning the language.

“For me, the hardest part was learning Croatian. When we applied for Croatian citizenship, we had to know the language. But how can you learn Croatian when there is no one there to teach you?”

Building a new life

Security, a sense of belonging and opportunities for professional development were among the reasons these returnees chose Croatia.

But returning also means navigating a new system and rebuilding social and professional networks. For many, the process of integration can be just as important as the decision to return.

Gašparac says Croatia has made significant progress in helping newcomers settle in, while there is still room for further improvement.

“It has made a lot of progress when it comes to integration, and of course it can do even more. But there is help with the language, and Croatia offers potential for a career and other opportunities that you may not find in some other countries.”

For these three returnees, the journey back to Croatia began on three different continents and followed three very different paths. What they share is the decision to make Croatia not only the country of their roots, but the place where they want to build their future.