'I ditched the UK to move abroad - there's one thing nobody talks about expat life'

Countless Brits have imagined what life might be like if they abandoned the UK for a life abroad. One woman who turned that dream into reality discovered the experience brought unexpected twists and devastating difficulties.

Maria Randall, originally from London, had been enjoying an impromptu three-day break with her husband when they took the bold step to leave Britain behind for the sunshine-drenched shores of Croatia. A mere three weeks later, accompanied by their dog, the pair embarked on a one-way flight during the summer of 2023, brimming with anticipation for their fresh start on the Adriatic coastline.

However, the enormity of the life-changing relocation soon became apparent, leaving Maria feeling swamped and utterly overwhelmed.

"I was exhausted," the 54-year-old told creatorzine.com. "People imagine moving abroad is exciting and glamorous, but I felt strangely numb. Everything had happened so quickly that I had barely had time to process it. I was excited, scared and wondering whether I had completely lost my mind."

Maria's initial solo venture to the local supermarket even reduced her to tears after becoming disoriented when Google Maps failed and feeling disheartened upon reaching her destination. Regrettably, matters failed to improve.

"I did not recognise any of the products on the shelves," she recalled. "Something as simple as buying food suddenly felt difficult."

Feeling both stressed and hungry, Maria unwittingly picked up a cereal bar while browsing the aisles, only to encounter an irate resident. "A man started shouting at me in Croatian, and I burst into tears," Maria said.

"Later, I realised he worked for the supermarket and probably thought I was trying to steal the cereal bar before paying for it.

"Looking back now, it is funny. At the time, I wanted to get on a plane and go home. Coming from Britain, I was used to quieter and more reserved interactions. I genuinely thought people were arguing all the time. It took me a while to realise that what sounded aggressive to me was often just a normal conversation."

As the pair started to establish themselves in their fresh Croatian surroundings, their cherished dog tragically passed away soon after the relocation. "Everything still felt unfamiliar and unsettled, and suddenly I was dealing with the loss of a much-loved family member as well," she said.

Heartbreak struck once more when Maria lost her younger brother and mum, all within an 18-month span. She revealed: "Nobody really talks about that side of living abroad. People see the sea, the sunshine and the photographs, but they do not see what it feels like when major family events happen hundreds of miles away."

Beyond the family bereavements, Maria, who suffers from severe lactose intolerance, encountered her own medical emergencies and was rushed to hospital following a dairy contamination incident. "Being in an ambulance and then a hospital environment where I struggled to understand what was happening around me was one of the most frightening experiences I have had since moving here", she disclosed.

Despite the obstacles and difficulties she encountered, the tide began to turn. "I began to understand the culture. I started to appreciate the people," Maria said.

"I made friends, many of them fellow expats who understood exactly what it was like to start again in a new country."

Maria even found herself embarking on an unexpected entrepreneurial venture, establishing her very own boat tour company, Island Discovery. She explained: "It started as a conversation, then somehow I had a boat, then a website, then a skipper, then our first guest."

Maria's skipper, Pasko, is someone she had originally met on a boat trip shortly after her arrival in Croatia. "We stayed in touch, and when I launched Island Discovery, he was the first person I asked to join me", she said. "Today I joke that he is my Croatian son."

Maria has now firmly settled into life in the stunning coastal town of Podstrana near Split, keeping herself occupied running boat tours along the breathtaking Croatian coastline. Her deep affection for the Adriatic Sea is a significant part of what kept her going through the trials she faced.

"There is something magical about the Adriatic," she said. "The colour of the water still amazes me, and some mornings when I am walking my Jack Russell, Sid, along the coastline, I spot dolphins in the distance. Those moments never get old."

While she misses aspects of the UK, including Wagamama and "a proper Chinese takeaway", Croatia has undoubtedly become their home. "It is where I have built a business, it is where I have made friendships, it is where I walk Sid every morning," Maria shared.

Today, she feels that many people underestimate the challenges of relocating overseas. She also observed that Croatia has transformed considerably in recent years, with elevated rents, increasing food and dining costs, and a "huge amount of development taking place".

"Everywhere I look, there are new apartment blocks, villas and construction projects appearing," she said. "Personally, I think Croatia has changed significantly since joining the EU and later adopting the euro, although that's just my observation."

Nevertheless, it's the location where Maria "rediscovered" herself and now considers home. "When I moved here, I thought I knew exactly who I was. What I did not expect was to spend my fifties learning about websites, social media, marketing, accounting, boating and how to build a business from scratch," she explained.

"I realised I was tougher than I thought. I learned not to let other people dictate my mood. I learned to laugh at myself when things go wrong. Looking back, I do not think Croatia simply changed where I live. I think it changed who I am."

Looking back, Maria said: "If I could give one piece of advice to the version of myself boarding that Croatia Airlines flight in July 2023, it would simply be, 'buckle up, it will be one hell of a ride'."

Nevertheless, it's the location where Maria "rediscovered" herself and now considers home. "When I moved here, I thought I knew exactly who I was. What I did not expect was to spend my fifties learning about websites, social media, marketing, accounting, boating and how to build a business from scratch," she explained.

"I realised I was tougher than I thought. I learned not to let other people dictate my mood. I learned to laugh at myself when things go wrong. Looking back, I do not think Croatia simply changed where I live. I think it changed who I am."

Looking back, Maria said: "If I could give one piece of advice to the version of myself boarding that Croatia Airlines flight in July 2023, it would simply be, 'buckle up, it will be one hell of a ride'."

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