Women Of The World: Croatia Part 2

(From top Left to bottom Left clockwise: 1.Osijek via via-tours; 2. Dubrovnik by Sandro Mancuso;  3. Plitvice in snow by blagi;  4. Zagorje;  5. Varaždin by jamsklee kite; 6. Split via fesb-hr; 7. Krk by been around.)

LIFE IN CROATIA

(Continuation of Women Of The World: Croatia Part 1)

LOLA: How possible is it to lead a good life in Croatia? (Let’s define ‘good’ as a regular middle class life: opportunity to find a satisfying job that pays enough to cover expenses, being able to go on vacation, send kids to school, etc.)
MISS SNJEŽANA: A good life in that context sounds very SciFi. If you do not have parents who will help you buy an apartment/home, it is questionable that you will ever be able to afford it. If you are lucky to find a job paying $1,000/mo, more than 1/4 goes on food&hygiene, and you don’t need to follow a diet on this budget. Another 1/4 goes to utilities, and more than 1/4 goes to rent. Finally, there are transportation expenses, public transport mainly as you have to be rich to drive a car. One liter of gas is $1 (Lola’s note: about $4/gallon). The rest you can spend on a pair of jeans, and an occasional outing at McDonald’s.

LOLA: What annual salary would provide for a good living?
MISS SNJEŽANA: $20,000 sounds realistic for a couple to live a normal life. A single person would need twice as much as they cannot get loans easily. (Lola’s Note: $20,000 after taxes.)

LOLA: Do other cities or towns in Croatia offer opportunities for a good life?
MISS SNJEŽANA: I ran away from one of those cities, and my answer is no. Exceptions are to be congratulated; those exceptions are people in the tourism, or people who do not miss the city at all. This is a small group of people as everything is centralized in Zagreb. Of course some have good luck to live in the country and do farming as they prefer this type of life, but even in this instance it’s hard to start from scratch.

LOLA: You’ve somewhat covered this before but what are the opportunities for home ownership?
MISS SNJEŽANA: One sq meter of real estate is $1,750-$2,700. Not doable for a regular person. This recession has brought down prices, but it is harder to obtain loans now, so in effect nothing changed. Parents generally leave apartments to, or buy apartments for their children if they are able to do so. Other people rent. Most cannot afford an apartment.

LOLA: How did the two decade old change in the socioeconomic system affect the country and people?
MISS SNJEŽANA: One can still sense communist way of thinking. Croatians are not motivated employees. They look for ways to work less, and if possible find someone else to do their job masked under ‘team work’. Cheating is widespread in schools and on exams. Diploma is a valued source, instead of the knowledge, so everyone is running after that.

The country is filled with uneducated rich, (who under no circumstance fall under the category of intellectuals), but they own properties and businesses they bought for $1 because they were in the right place during privatization. The population is becoming illiterate – I mean proper diction, proper writing, and such. Even the TV anchors do not speak proper Croatian literary language, which is shameful, while the language experts cannot agree about simple rules. Natal rate is low, and it’s hard to see a child on the street. Kindergartens are full to capacity, some schools work in three shifts, yet others are completely empty. Everything is expensive. We import everything, and buy because we are in the ‘want’ of everything.

The car is a status symbol, as is an apartment. For some, name brands are a status symbol. It is full of contradictions: you wonder how are shopping centers full, how everyone has enough to look exquisite, get their hair, nails and make-up done, and are out and about.  Yet others are marginalized, hidden in their own poverty, and do not know whether they will pull out from this. There are a lot of humanitarian projects: generally it is the citizens funding what the state should be responsible for. Outer appearances are important, and the insides are rotting.

LOLA: What positive trends have you noticed in the past ten years?
MISS SNJEŽANA: We are slowly on the way to become a part of the European Union. Very slowly. We brought the Internet into everyday life, and everyone has a cell phone, (some more than one), and a land line. This is a positive byproduct of selling the only telecommunications company to foreigners. A lot of new shopping centers opened, and there is no need to travel outside the country for certain goods anymore.

LOLA: How do you think will EU influence the country, and contentment with life?
MISS SNJEŽANA: Admittance into the EU is our only option for survival and normalization. Some citizens are afraid of becoming slaves coming into the union, but this is the result lack of  basic economics’ knowledge. Some are afraid that they will have to start to work at last, (most government workers), while some are excited their talents are finally going to pay off.

LOLA: How can a country change for better: by people and a new awareness, by changing political structure, or something entirely else?
MISS SNJEŽANA: There is a proverb that people have a leadership they deserve. If people and their consciousness changed, political structures, and the rest would change as well. In Croatia they made it illegal to picket in front of government facilities, and this is why there are no demonstrations. Not even college students want to demonstrate and get on the streets. It was the High School students that organized latest demonstrations, and won the right to extend state examination dates. Younger generations could potentially change a lot of things.

LOLA: How do the elderly, and minority groups live?
MISS SNJEŽANA: I’m surprised they are still alive. However it is great that one of our Big Brother winners was Romani, and that Romas and Muslims have a representative in the parliament. Seventeen Roma attend universities in Zagreb. As far as the elderly, only those who earned their pensions in the West live with dignity.

FASHION

LOLA: Is fashion important to you?
MISS SNJEŽANA: I am not “overwhelmed” with fashion in the sense that I do not follow trends, but I like to dress well. If I could afford it, I would definitely invest in a few quality items.

LOLA: You have 500 Euros, and an hour at the mall, what items do you pick up first?
MISS SNJEŽANA: I like the classic look that is always in. I love monochromatic clothing, and minimalism. I would buy black pumps, one cocktail dress, a Guess bag, & Chanel shades. I think that would cover it.

LOLA: Most women in Croatia are always so put together and beautiful. What is the secret? Are there rituals, or do people expect one to look good?
MISS SNJEŽANA: As I mentioned outer appearance is important.   People are not relaxed due to other peoples’ opinions regarding their look.  Although I would not agree that others expect you to look great, people are often envious. I think that the secret in the everlasting beauty that prevails in the Balkans is connected with primitivism, as the dream of many women is to marry rich. Therefore they are brought up in the spirit of always looking good if they are to win over, and keep the man.

LOLA: Any suggestions for cosmetics?
MISS SNJEŽANA: Prepared cosmetics: natural olive oil with a drop of lemon juice is the law for skin! Everything else poisons more than helps, but marketing experts always excite us with another item. Decorative cosmetics: Chanel and Shiseido.

LOLA: Favorite designers?
MISS SNJEŽANA: Armani, Lagerfeld, Ferre, Valentino (I like all of them very much).

LOLA: Favorite Croatian designer?
MISS SNJEŽANA: I dislike them all very much.  I couldn’t really say as they plagiarize each other.

LOLA: Who is your fashion icon and why?
MISS SNJEŽANA: I don’t have one. Why? I don’t need a leader in that sense.

HOT THEMES

LOLA: What do people do in their free time?
MISS SNJEŽANA: They hang around coffee shops, and go shopping.

LOLA: Hanging out…
MISS SNJEŽANA: Younger ones go out in groups, but they tend to separate after they find partners. There are no rules though.

LOLA: When do people start dating?
MISS SNJEŽANA: Starting in High School, at perhaps 16. At least that was the trend in ‘my time’.

LOLA:  What about sex?
MISS SNJEŽANA: One recent study suggested that on average 17 is the age boys get intimately involved, and 18 for girls. But I am a skeptical. I think it’s earlier.

LOLA: Is sex discussed between friends/family?
MISS SNJEŽANA: Depends which friend. As far as parents, they’d rather not think about it. It took long to introduce sexual education in schools. Church influence is strong. As of recently even the shops were closed on Sundays.

LOLA:  What is the average marrying age?
MISS SNJEŽANA: When the girl gets pregnant.   People with college education tend to get married later. Some couples date for years, some marry after one, it all depends.

LOLA: What are the weddings like?
MISS SNJEŽANA: A lot of pomposity so others see how much was spent, or to show families’ prosperity.  All the guests sound car horns of kitschy decorated cars as the bride and groom are sent on their way. It is a very primitive custom of ‘father selling his daughter to groom who offers most’ type, and the groom of course seems like he’s offering most – awful! Of course there are exceptions for those that want a private, tasteful wedding.

LOLA: How is divorce looked upon?
MISS SNJEŽANA: Divorces are more common nowadays, but not as common as in the US. Although the environment is somewhat conservative, I didn’t notice any prejudices against the divorcees in society, (except by the Church).

LOLA: Tell us about your relationship!
MISS SNJEŽANA: My boyfriend and I have been together for two years, and living together for that long as well. We met on the internet.

LOLA: Five best things about your partner are…
MISS SNJEŽANA: He is exactly like me. Just kidding.   He is very cultured, perhaps even too much for these spaces. He is dependable, responsible (you can really rely on him). He is incredibly intelligent.  He has a great sense of humor, and he is fun.  He practices equality with me, (it is normal for him as a man to cook and clean).

LOLA: Anything you’d like to change?
MISS SNJEŽANA: He is very temperamental and can get upset about simple things. I’d like for him not to get so stressed out over little things.

THE FUTURE & MISS SNJEŽANA’S RECOMMENDATIONS

LOLA: Where do you see the future of the country?
MISS SNJEŽANA: In the EU.

LOLA: Closing thoughts?
MISS SNJEŽANA: I answered the questions in the most honest way I could as I do want to translate the most realistic picture possible. It stands that some things were more depressing – I tried to soften them, but I believe that many peoples around the world are seeing similar phenomena with variations from culture to culture. Everything is relative here: there is a Balkan influence, and that of the Western Europe, but the Balkan influence is stronger. I did not mean to insult anyone, and I deeply apologize to those who many find this hurtful.

Lola’s Notes:
Again, I am grateful to Snježana for an open dialogue. The situation in Croatia is shared by many if not most of the countries in transition. Big upheaval happens during time of big changes and they are most felt in lives of regular people.  It is my hope that by taking a look at ourselves and others we can inspire progressive ideas & solutions for living, while being thankful and take note of those things that are working well.

Tags: Interview(s), WOW