After surpassing my three-month mark since leaving Canada for Split, Croatia, I’m reflecting on the surprising ease of this transition. The high tourist season has made the adjustment feel like an extended vacation, while I gradually build a new network and adapt to local customs. Embracing cultural integration is crucial, as simply carrying over my Toronto habits doesn’t always work in Split. This journey has also highlighted a significant shift from a chaotic past to a more serene lifestyle, prompting a reevaluation of my relationship with stress and tranquility. As I navigate this new chapter, blending my Canadian background with Croatian life remains a key focus, balancing personal identity with the evolving experience of living abroad.

“Walking out of my Toronto apartment for the last time felt as if I was saying goodbye to who I once was, leaving that woman behind; the version that had carried me through life, helped me survive, succeed, and challenge me.”