I can relate to a lot of what you say, although I'm older (now 64). I failed the 11+ and that made me the dunce of the family as both parents and my older brother had passed. Nobody seemed to have any confidence in my ability to ever amount to much until I started work as a lab technician in an engineering factory. My boss there initially required me to do 3 evenings a week at college for the first 2 years. He then gave me day release so college was now one day and one evening a week. After 4 years of that he persuaded the firm to sponsor me to do a degree course in materials technology. He had been the first person to see any potential in me to achieve anything. I'm British but now living in Croatia.

Sharing takes courage...kudos to you. I'm glad you've found your special place where you are free to be yourself. Super important. My childhood was different than yours but l made some poor choices. We all do. But we have no regrets about leaving Canada for Croatia! Definitely where we want/need to be, though some family members and friends don't understand, not even a bit. They think we're selfish but we feel it's necessary for our mental health. So many have dreams and most don't pursue them. We pushed and pushed and pushed...we must still go through the arduous residency process each time but to us sanity is priceless and worth sacrifices! We experience reverse culture shock when we must return to Canada, a very difficult and painful thing. When we're here we don't miss Canada but when in Canada we're desperate to get back here. Home. Brilliant. Thank you.

Hi mate, I’m glad you’ve found your happiness and I honestly hope you’re happy. Hopefully you enjoyed your time with us all in the start for us at college, and was a relief after high school. You was & are a great bloke. Keep well 😗

Good for you. You be you, 100%. Left the UK (Scottish) 14 years ago. Used to return twice a year, then once a year, now it's been a few years. Living smack bang in middle of Europe, a fraternity with common lifestyle and outlook I could never imagined growing up in the UK. The 9-5 rinse and repeat I had in the UK fills me with horror now.

That's a helluva video, Dusane! Props to you man! As you said, you have a family now. That is your main thing in life now. Nick

I think that all of us in the diaspora grow up with the feeling that we don't belong where we were raised. Something is off and even as a small child, we feel it. It's only going back to Croatia when we feel that we are finally with our clan, our people. It's literally palpable. That feeling when my plane touches down on Croatian soil, I exhale and breathe a sigh of relief. Everything that you shared about the UK, your feelings, I have the same about the US. I am so glad that you had the courage to make the move and become your authentic self. It's too much work and stress to be anything but. You're one of the fortunate ones who has figured it out. Most people spend their entire lives walking through life as chameleons. You're right, if certain people don't like your authentic self, so be it. You be you - 100%. Many of us in the diaspora are following right there behind you, returning to Croatia. I hope to meet you in person in Cro in the future, have a coffee, be our authentic selves and share laughter at our respective journeys. I;m up in Istra. I do get down to Zadar. In the meantime, I look forward to more of your videos. Pozz i sve najbolje.

Community is almost dead here in the UK. You still find good people, and people trying, but they feel more and more like the rarity. It's all about what you can get, not who you can be.

I can absolutely relate to what you are sharing. living in Prague for past 17 years did not make me feel it is my home...moreover, I don't feel happy there...im under the constant anxiety feeling this is not a right place for me. I have made decision to move to Zadar a year ago, now my transfer with my job has been approved and it is finally happening....your videos are very useful as my son is Serbian, born and brought up in Prague, I have lot of doubts around how he will be treated at school....

Thank you for sharing your story I have to say that I it really resonated with me as I could relate to many things. I left Croatia when I was 11 and was also bullied and felt alone in high school and didn't have any confidence in myself. My escape was also video games and sports as they made me forget about my troubles. Thankfully I had a great time during college and found some good friends and latter meet my wife. I am more confident now but also feel like life in Canada is not what I want for my future, so I am trying to convince my wife to move/retire to Croatia. She likes vacationing there but isn't sure about staying there permanently, but wants to give it a try living and working from there for a month or two as we can work remotely. Love your videos and keep up the great content.

Dusan, you were deeply hurt as a child the hurt within is the issue. It matters not where you choose to reside. Most people have similar experiences to you and it has nothing to do with you. Being bullied , being putdown, being treated unfairly being called awful names. In general it is the immaturity and ignorance of humanity and that applies to our own family members. Ignorance is the root cause of most awful behavior. I hope it helps you to know that you are Noble Being and Nobility is your inherent reality. Free yourself from attachments to names and negativity. Be of service to all...

First of all hvala ti for sharing your personal story. When I started watching your videos I would never expect that you went through all this shit. As a matter of fact, I thought that you were very confident guy, but I think you grew out of your old personality, and that can only be seen as a compliment. I had a very good childhood and still have some old friends from back then, but your right about the train and people jump on and off along the way, even with family (in my situation). Sometimes I wish I could live my childhoods time forever, I was more happy with myself and the world then I’m today. You live your life now how you like to live it and your doing more then ok. The past is the past, you’re still young (younger then me 😊) and you’re gonna achieve a lot in live in Hrvatska Dusan. Pozdrav

Another great Video Dušan. I too feel that where I was raised is basically toxic! Not to mention the belly of Babylon. I am truly excited that Croatia feels like family to you and your family!

Great Video, I can certainly relate to what you are saying. Hope to get to Croatia next year. You live your life to make you happy not everyone else. Regards from Australia

You'd be insane to return back here.

Thank you for this video. We have a lot more in common than I thought. Keep being you & i’m going to try and start being me 👍🏼 Giving my best regards as a 21 y/o in the U.S who also has family from Croatia

Sretno i super odluka. Obozavan gledati tvoji video jer me podsjecaju na moje djetinstvo .moja familja je iz Benkovca ❤

Pozdrav Dušan you are Great leave the past behind we only have one life to live you have a beautiful family now that some people can only dream about it you can't count on friends here today gone tomorrow wishing you all the best in life be happy be in peace.🙏💤🍁

I just found your channel. I am your new subscriber. Love your channel!

Great video Dušane

Ti si dobar momak, želim ti sreću u Hrvatskoj! Pozdrav iz Zg!

You weren't weak you were in touch with your emotions more so than the average jerk, I mean guy. WoW Woot!

Maybe you're struggling with confidence, but you'll gett there. Your new environment is helpful. Sretno i uzivaj u Hrvatskoj, dobar si ti, uspeces.

I also get mad at some of the decisions I've made when I was young but they did help me get where I'm today. Trying to live a debt free and free life! Can't get anywhere without failing unfortunately.

Good video wow man so much stress in Life we get😊

Would love yo try abroad. Somewhere. No skillset. 45yrs. Small mortgage, still a mortgage though. Corporate life with it's bull.

Sometimes putting distance between our blood family is the healthiest move. I know it has been for me. Negative people are living vampires to be around.

great video mate, yeah it is true i have never felt home here and especially never fitting in with the majority but the minority always end up leading and innovating anyway.

Perception creates reality you live in, one way or the other eventually. Btw, Loktar'Ogar. :D

You remind me of what Jorgelina Cardoso went through in Manchester. Mind you, her hubby was a footballer on a £3million a year contract at Man Utd. In her words: I didn't like it at all... I can tell you. People are all weird. You walk around and you don't know if they're going to kill you. The food is disgusting. The women look like porcelain. Angel and I were in Madrid, at the best team in the world, perfect food, perfect weather, everything was perfect. And then came United's proposal....

Yeah

What a stupid title 😂