Pre Split

Two weeks in Split have come and gone. It reminds me of not that long ago when I was anxiously awaiting to arrive here and when I was trying to imagine how my life would change. It also makes me think back even further. It reminds me of a time when I was eager to travel the world and determined to live and work in Europe. Well, IM HERE!

Everyday, as I walk along the uneven stone sidewalks, Im reminded of my recent journeys. As I am becoming into adulthood, I have made many major life changing decisions. I spent time living in Santa Barbara, San Diego, San Francisco and New York City. I have danced in theaters all around the US. Now, I am living in Split, Croaita. These were all goals that I set for myself. These were cities that I wanted to dance in and most definitely wanted to live in. So how did I do it? I HAVE NO IDEA! I wish I had some amazing words of wisdom to share and inspire you with. I just have stories. 

I was born and raised in Southern California. California is home to me but I was never content with just staying in my comfort zone. I was always curious to know what else was out there. As I grew older, I slowly started to move farther from home. My first apartment was in San Diego. Just a short two hour drive from my parents, I was far enough to feel independent and learn how to live on my own. Then, I moved to Santa Barbara. When I turned 19, I was really eager to get out of my shell and try to find out more about myself. I felt like San Francisco was the right city for me to do that in. I did a weeklong audition round throughout San Francisco and landed myself a job with Company C Contemporary Ballet. That company did really wonderful things for my dancing and after three years, I felt ready to step up my game. As beneficial as San Francisco was to my personal growth, I knew New York City would take me even farther. I decided to do something out of character, be adventurous and move to NYC without a job. This would be my first time without a contract. New York then served as my connection to the ballet company in Split. I never thought about living in Croatia necessarily but I knew that I HAD to live in Europe at some point in my life. This was my opportunity to get me there and with a secure job. Its been truly wonderful.

So you see, my journey has been directed by my own goals. I saw where my life was going and I took it there. 

Here are some pictures that I took within Diocletian's Palace. 

Under the Croatian Sun

Yesterday, I realized something very important about Split. As I was in a rush to leave the villas and run some errands on my ONE DAY OFF, I landed in town only to realize that all the shops and restaurants were closed. Instead, I spent the day sitting under the sun and watched all the people passing by. 

Looking at the empty town made me think about why a whole city would shut down for a day. Europeans have the mentality of working really hard when they are working and then completely relaxing when they are not. Well, I must say that I have seen the same server at the cafe, same bus driver, and same vendors working all day everyday. Sunday is their day. Sunday is the day they can spend with their loved ones or sitting by the poolside solo. Its a day for them to have to themselves and do as they wish. Well, since I am living as one of them now, I decided to put all my errands aside and just sit under the sun and enjoy my day. Its really important to have the moments to sit back and look at life differently. In America, its so easy to get stuck up on superficial fascinations but when you take a break from all of that, you realize that there is so much more to life. THERE ARE SUNDAYS! 

So from here on out, my Sundays will be Scott days. A day for me to rest my feet, email my loved ones and of course... BLOG! 

Old Town Split

A Letter to Split

To the city I now call home, the Croatian man on the bus with an Australian accent, the same bus driver every hour of everyday, and the security guard at the front gate,

You all have contributed a wonderful memory to my life. Without even knowing or trying, you have supplied me with stories that will be apart of me forever. Its those memories that make my time here spectacular.  

Split, you are truly original and authentic. Its wonderful how man and time hasn’t changed you. Every crack, stain and shutter makes for the most beautiful environment. For that, your beauty is timeless. Its amazing how architecture hundreds of years ago was so much more artful and grand than it is today. The point of history books are to learn from our past. Well, with todays technology and ancient buildings, todays architecture doesn’t come close to matching with your beautiful villas and palaces. 

The Croat on the bus with an Australian accent, you honestly made my day when you walked past a group of three Americans and said hello. That one-second and one effort to make us feel welcome really helped. Talking to you on the bus, learning some more Croatian and hearing your stories of your family in Australia couldn’t have made for a better bus ride. I hope we will run into each other more. 

The only bus driver I ever see driving, I don’t understand ONE word you’re saying. You must understand how I feel because you don’t understand ONE word Im saying either. However, you have seen me run for the bus several times now and has waited for me every time. You also let me ride for free once due to frustration of not understanding my English. The best part of it all is that seeing you has become apart of my usual day here. When Im running for the bus, I know that you will be the driver and that we will have an unspoken recognition for each other. 

The security guard at the front gates of Dalmacija, I don’t understand how you work 24/7 but I appreciate that you do. I also like that you always greet me with a smile. Its very welcoming to leave in the morning and come home in the evening to someone who is always excited to see me. You were probably the first person to know my name here and the first person to ask how I was doing. Its also fun to teach you English and to learn the correct pronunciations for the few words I know in Croatian. Hvala! 

So as you see, you all have gone on about your business just as you have everyday before I came but your sincerity has charmed me. Thank you for inviting me in. 

Dobrar dan (good day)!

An American in Split

If you ever get to opportunity to walk through Diocletian’s Palace, you must take it and bring your camera along with you. As an American, its not often you see a castle that doesn’t have Mickey Mouse faces plastered all over it. Well, I have been through the Palace here three days in a row and it still gets more and more magical every time. On my trip yesterday, I happen to bring my camera along with me. That means YOU’RE IN LUCK! Of course, I will have to share my explorations with you. Before I do that though, I must explain a little bit about the history. 

Just behind the main strip called The Riva, lays Diocletian’s Palace. Within in the palace walls, you will find a labyrinth that is 30,000sq meter. It is easy to get lost in the maze but entertaining nonetheless.The Palace was built in the sixth century for Emperor Diocletian. After his retirement in AD 614, refugees swarmed in and started building homes for themselves and families within the palace walls. Today, the walls are 7 feet thick and has become one of the MUST SEE attractions of Split. Trust me, you must see it! 

The pictures don’t quite capture the grandiose of the whole palace. Also, the palace is huge and I didn’t walk around the whole area with my camera. I guess more pictures will have to come! In the meantime, these pictures were taken right at the entrance of the Palace. 

As for my Croatian, I started to have little conversations with some locals. I have learned that the smallest effort to learn their language goes along way with them. They really get flattered by it and it brings a smile to their faces. I also learned that smiling doesn’t come natural to most Croatians. You can’t get offended by it... it is just their nature! 

So as I leave all my friends and family for today, I must give you another word. Bog, moje ime je Scott (bohg moh yeh ih yeh): Hi, my name is Scott! 

Split Personality

Another day, another ballet class and another Croatian word learned. Im getting use to the customs of Split. Its as if I have taken on the persona of my fellow Croatian friends. 


As I said in a past blog, its very endearing to hear the locals try and gather the English words they know and strike up a conversation with me. I was asked the other day "are you old?" Of course, they were just asking how old I am but it was very sweet that they are making the effort to talk to me. 


Again, I find myself sitting in the area downtown called The Riva. Its just outside the Diocletian Palace. In the historic palace, you will find venders selling art and other little nicknacks while The Beach Boys and the soundtrack to Grease are playing on the speakers in the background. If you continue past all the old columns, you will hit the farmer's market. I spent about 20 minutes walking around there and bought enough food for the next couple of days. I spent a total of 40 kunas (or $8) on the whole purchase. 


After walking home, my American friends and I walked down to the Vila Dalmejica's private beach. Its truly spectacular to see land that hasn't been touched by man and to get the opportunity to enjoy it. Here are some pictures of the section of the beach that we went to. 

Of course, after all this play, it was off to work. This mornings ballet class went better for me. I still don't understand much Croatian so Im not able to get too personal with the fellow dancers. Im just glad that they speak enough English to communicate the little that we have. 

Dovidenja (goodbye)!

Time to Split

In Split, I have no sense of time and in no need to rush. Croatians will wonder the streets whether on a mission or not and say "bog" (hello) to friends passing by. With bread shops on nearly every corner, you can find many Croatians taking some time out of their days to stop and eat a delicious pastry and beer. I have found myself guilty of that as well!


As foreign as I may be here in Split, where Im most at home is in the ballet studio. We had our first ballet class today. It was a great feeling to be back in the studio and working hard again. Ballet was the purpose for coming to Europe and is the common interest with my new friends. Its always interesting to enter a new company and see how they communicate and work with each other. The ballet master spoke little English but in ballet, there is a universal vocabulary that is understood everywhere. 


Im becoming more and more at home here. I have left the hustle and bustle of New York City for the calm and serene surroundings of Split. I have noticed that I have little to stress about, more inspired to write and tend to enjoy Croatian cuisine. Thats not what I expected but I am pleased with it nonetheless. Who knows, maybe there will be a movies about my life!?!

The National Croatian Opera House

On walk to town

So as I end this blog posting, I will leave leave you with a Croatian word. "Hvala" means thank you!

Time to split!

Downtown Split

The Vilas

View from the Vilas

A Split Second in Paradise

Paradise: heaven as the ultimate abode of the just. That would be the best and only way to explain my new home. 

I entered this country with grandiose and romantic ideas of what it would be like. Just as New York City was for me, living in Split is much different than it would appear from movies and pictures. There have only been a couple familiarities thus far- McDonalds and Dean Martin’s Thats Amore playing on the radio. For an outsider like myself, it would seem impossible to be able to adapt to European living. 

My new residence is called Vila Dalmacija. It was previously lived in by the President of Split, so you can imagine the grander of the scenery around. With it being LITERALLY on the water, it sets up a picturesque surrounding thats fit for a movie set. Everything here, for lack of a better word, is old. You step inside the Vila and just feel the history of the place and think about past tenants and their stories. All the broken shutters and cracks on the walls really make you wonder how they got there and the purpose for it still being there. I have much more exploring to do.

I also did some walking around the downtown area today. Its just a quick walk away but a huge change in pace. Its a small metropolis filled with bustling cars, pedestrians and shops. Of course, no restaurant is without an outdoor seating area. If the weather is in your favor, you can enjoy an inexpensive piece of thin crust pizza and soda for the price of 20 kunas (or $4). Thats exactly what this new local did today. Sitting outside overlooking the ocean and taking advantage of the free local wifi, poses for a perfect afternoon.

So far, there haven’t been any huge language barriers. Its actually very endearing to hear their efforts in speaking English and hear what combination of words they decide to use. Sometimes it even works in your favor. For instance, the bus driver told me the fare was 20 kunas and after handing him the exact amount, he gave me 10 kunas back. You can’t complain about that. I have also been surprised with how welcoming people are and how interested they are to talk with me. Its refreshing. 

Stepping off the plane and landing in Split was a huge culture shock for this American. It is going to take A LOT of getting use to. At the end of the day though, I can handle a few changes in appliances, get use to open living concept, and learn to appreciate the uneven roads.

Leaving the place I have proudly called home for 23 years

For some, leaving their comfort zone and everything familiar is a challenge. For others, change is welcome and strongly sought out for. Well, I definitely feel like I pertain to both situations. America has been my home for the last 23 years and to think that I will be leaving it is both exciting and scary. 

On one hand, I will be experiencing a new way of living and being exposed to ballet through a different set of eyes. Its nearly every dancers dream to be able to dance in Europe as it is so much more appreciated there than it is here.  I also feel like its important to know about the world I am living in and learn about other ways of living. How is one suppose to learn about life without living it to its fullest?

On the other hand, I BARELY speak English correctly!!! I will never be able to learn Croatian... or any other language for that matter. Its frightening to think that I will be entering my new home as a fish out of water. I will have to start fresh. I will have to enter the country with open eyes and be able to adapt to fashion, culture and language. Who knows, maybe Europe will embrace my short shorts!?!

So here I go. I leave Newark Liberty Airport tomorrow at 6:35pm. At 6:35, my life will no longer be familiar and I will no longer be that Scott that everybody has known. My life will change... and for the better!