By McKenzie Lynn Tozan

Welcome & Dobro Došli

“Mediterranean & Me”  on Substack

I remember the very first time I watched Julie & Julia starring Meryl Streep & Amy Adams, I was so taken by Meryl’s portrayal of Julia Child’s excitement upon entering her Parisian home for the first time. She elegantly twirls her way through the space, ending up in a beautiful, classy, & just so Parisian bedroom with fluffy floral prints.

And then Julia happily flops down on her bed, only to discover that she’s much too tall for her, her feet dangling off the end of the bed.

After living in coastal Croatia for 3 years, I realize that living as an expat, mom of 3 bilingual kids, & freelance writer is a lot like sleeping with feet hanging off of the bed.

The situation is imperfect… but that bedroom is still stunning.

I’ve dealt with culture shock, bureaucracy, language learning troubles, food sensitivities, undiagnosed conditions, family estrangement, & staggering social anxiety… but I’ve lived on a beautiful coast, experienced healing springs & mudbaths, taken up hiking & bike trailing, & started a literary magazine, too. To use a cliché, there can’t be dark without light; there can’t be immersion without some cultural adjustment, & there can’t be beautiful beds without feet dangling off of them (well, maybe you’ve got me there).