Why Saskia made learning Croatian a lifelong promise

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Saskia’s journey from family whispers to confident Croatian

Saskia first heard Croatian as a child, whenever her mother and grandparents chatted in what felt like a secret code. Determined not to be left out, she made a bold vow: one day, she would learn the language herself. That promise stayed with her through the years, growing stronger every time she caught snippets of conversation she couldn’t fully grasp.

Originally from Germany’s Rhineland-Palatinate region, Saskia works full-time in government as an industrial worker, balancing her daily responsibilities with a drive to study. Though her schedule is busy, she’s kept that childhood pledge close to her heart – patiently waiting for the right moment to dive into Croatian.

Theatre, work, and weekend studies

Stepping away from language learning for a while didn’t mean life went quiet for Saskia. Outside of work, she discovered a passion for acting, joining a small village theatre troupe performing comedies in local dialect. She loves that it brings people of all ages together for a bit of fun on stage, year after year.

Between rehearsals and performing on weekends, Saskia also studies Business Economics at a local faculty. Although juggling work, studies, and theatre can be overwhelming at times, she finds genuine satisfaction in her creative pursuits. It’s a welcome contrast to her industrial role and sets the stage for a well-rounded life.

Discovering the structure in grammar

For Saskia, grammar holds a special fascination. She admits languages don’t come naturally to her the way numbers do, yet the logical side of Croatian – those structured rules and seven cases – clicks perfectly with her analytical mindset. Once she recognised the patterns, she realised that learning Croatian could be approached much like solving a puzzle.

The breakthrough came when she found a course whose instructors could switch between German and Croatian. That clarity, coupled with her classmates’ friendly spirit, made it far easier to grasp unfamiliar concepts. Laughter and camaraderie proved as vital as memorising vocabulary or mastering grammar tables.

Family roots and shared traditions

Saskia’s grandmother hails from the region near Tuhlj, while her grandfather is from Zagreb. Though they settled in Germany in the 1960s, they maintained Croatian at home, passing on the culture in small but significant ways. Saskia spent many summers visiting relatives, surrounded by the language’s gentle rhythms, even if she didn’t fully comprehend every word.

Those early experiences shaped her sense of belonging. Now, as she pieces together more complex sentences, each new expression bridges the gap between generations. She loves calling her grandparents and surprising them with snippets of fluent Croatian – turning what once felt like secret conversations into an open family bond.

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Where passion meets the future

Whether it’s driving down to visit relatives or daydreaming about a possible retirement by the Adriatic Sea, Saskia imagines Croatia will always be a part of her life. The taste of burek, the sweetness of ice cream, and the warmth of family gatherings remind her why she fell in love with the country in the first place.

Meanwhile, she continues expanding her Croatian knowledge one structured lesson at a time. Whenever challenges arise, Saskia relies on her maths-like approach: she breaks the language down into manageable parts, then weaves them together to communicate. Bit by bit, her childhood promise comes closer to full bloom.

Saskia’s story shows how personal resolve, a supportive learning environment, and a spark of curiosity can turn a childhood dream into a thriving linguistic journey. Her connection to Croatia is deeply rooted in family bonds – and with every new phrase she masters, that bond grows even stronger.