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Meet the Gypsies : SJ of Chasing the Donkey
SJ is an Australian expat who lives in Croatia. SJ travels Croatia and is your guide to the best of Croatian travel, food and culture. Plus she shares stories about her life in rural Croatia as her family builds their dream home.
1. Who are you? Where are you from? Where are you now?
Drago mi je (that’s Croatian for nice to meet you). I am SJ, and I packed up my very typical Australian life in May 2013 and shifted it along with my Croatian Husband and Son to rebuild the old house we inherited in Croatia & make it our home.
2. What’s your packing strategy? Heavy or light packer? Suitcase or backpacker?
I pack what I need when I travel, inc. the kitchen sink. No kidding when we spent 9 months travelling Europe, I shipped a full bag ahead of me to my base location. No way can I not have all of my luxuries.
3. How do you afford your travels? Budget traveler or lean more towards luxury?
Hard work. Seriously, we both worked our tails off. Saved and saved, and now my hubby works away more than he is home so we can live this life.
4. If you could go anywhere tomorrow, where would you go?
I think Morocco, it’s very high up on my bucket list.
5. Is there anywhere you won’t travel to and why?
Gosh, I really cant think of anywhere specific. But I’d avoid any countries or places in conflict, I am far too much of a scardy cat for that.
6. You’re from Australia, but you and your family moved to Croatia last year. What’s the one thing you miss most about Australia and the one thing you love most about Croatia?
It’s so cliche and I say it over and over, but it’s so true. I miss family and friends. My life here is so much better in so many ways, and if I had them close it would be complete paradise. As for Croatia, I love lots of things. The food is really good – and I am loving learning to cook new things here.
7. What’s one thing about living in Croatia that has surprised you?
How poorly people park and how reckless they drive. It’s like no one knows how to park IN the lines.
8. What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve eaten?
I am so boring, I just eat regular food. Although Mr. CtD has eaten balut.
9. You have a great Croatia specific bucket list. Planning on crossing any of those off this year?
Yes Ma’am. We have so many plans this year, I am struggling to find the time to schedule them all in. I want to go back to Plitvitce Lakes, and I also busting to visit a few Island that I have not yet been to like Brac.
10. Tell us a little bit about your Croatia dream house that y’all are in the works of planning.
It’s an enormous house, we wanted a big house to accommodate guests to come and stay. So far we’ve been waiting 8 months for a permit to start building, so right now they are just plans on a piece of paper. But we hope to knock down the old house and start the new project before Easter this year and have it completed within a year. Until then, we stay with family and enjoy free meals and good company.
11. Most importantly, where to next?
With Mr. CtD coming and going so much, we try to book in a little Croatian get away or visit a new place each 6 weeks. Plus this Summer we are also taking a trip to Tuscany to meet friends there. It’ll be our first time to wine country with the little guy, so we are taking along my mother in law to help.
Hi! I'm the Founder and Editor-in-Chief at Wild Hearted.
I'm also a freelance writer. You can see my published work here.
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Want to know more? Here's my full bio.
I'm also a freelance writer. You can see my published work here.
You can also reach out to me on Instagram and TikTok.
Want to know more? Here's my full bio.
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Oh I just love getting to know Miss SJ a little better! That house is going to be gorgeous. What a lovely dream to live out. Have a ball in Tuscany. Great interview, Ashley 🙂
Thanks Erin! 🙂
Thanks thanks for having us Ashley, your series is always fun to read to get to know the people behind the blog. I’m off to share this now. xx
Anytime SJ! 🙂
Great interview…living in Croatia really would be a dream…
I know…doesn’t it make you a tiny bit jealous :p
Love your “meet the gypsies” series! Great interview and love the accompanying pictures!
Thanks so much Katrina!
I love reading these posts and getting to know everyone better! SJ, so fun to hear about your adventure moving to Croatia and I completely understand you missing your family and friends. My husband and I move around for his work and although our family and friends are still in the same state it’s hard to get to everyone as much as we’d like. I miss them all! Exciting to hear about your new house and hoping that your permit comes through very soon.
Fantastic interview and it was great getting to know you a little bit better aside from reading your blog!
Thanks Lauren!
Great interview guys and it’s great to get to know some more intricate details about people in the travel blogging world. Keep up the great interview series Ashley!
Thanks Chris!
Love your interview SJ 🙂
Great interview with SJ!! It is great getting to know other bloggers and their stories!! What a beautiful future house…I hope you can start building soon!