All right, well, welcome back to the All Things Croatia podcast, everybody.
We have a very special guest today, Mariela Steko two-time junior
European boxing champion who just won the gold medal at the 2023 European
Championship not too long ago, a few months ago.
She also models in Germany, along with some other passions of hers.
And today we're going to hear her story and learn a little bit more about her.
Mariela, thanks for coming on the podcast.
Thanks for having me.
Of course.
Yeah, really excited to have you.
I was just telling you off-camera that I saw your interview on the podcast
Inkubator, which is like the Croatian, in Croatian biggest podcast, I guess.
But they have a lot of athletes, they interview and stuff.
My Croatian is not so good, so it took me a while to get through the whole thing.
But I think I understood most of it.
So it was nice being there.
But really, you know that I live in Germany, so it's also not that easy
to always speak Croatian only.
So I really try hard to speak Croatian very well, but it's so difficult for me
because I'm still in school and I'm speaking German all the time.
So also not that easy, but I'm trying.
I'm sure.
Yeah.
I mean, I only speak English and I'm learning Croatian.
So you speak German, English, Croatian.
I mean, even one language is enough for me so I can imagine how hard it is,
you know, to learn more.
Yeah.
So you're near Munich then, right?
Or in Munich?
Yes, I actually, I was born in Munich and I live in Munich.
We have actually two sport, two gyms here in Munich, my family.
So we live here.
We've been here for a long time.
Well, yeah, on that note, can you tell us a little bit about sort of your family
and then, you know, you're growing up and everything like that?
So I actually have two younger sisters who are also boxing.
So we're keeping it in the family.
My dad was a boxer himself.
He was world champion in kickboxing and he actually also qualified for the Olympics
in 2000 in Sydney, but he broke his hand so he couldn't participate, unfortunately.
But we're very close as a family.
So with my mom, my sisters and my dad, we sort of, we have a very good bond, I'd say
as a family, we're all together and we kind of, me and my sister, we go everywhere together
to all the tournaments, to all the competitions, we train together.
So we kind of experience everything with each other.
That's really nice.
That's awesome.
I knew you had, I thought you only had one sister and I knew she boxed.
I didn't realize you have two sisters and the whole family is boxing.
That's awesome.
Everyone is boxing except for my mom.
She's the only one.
Yeah, she just watches or what?
Yeah, she just watches.
Sometimes it's hard for her to watch while I was fighting at the Europeans, you know,
there was a live stream.
So my own family was watching, even my grandma was just sitting in front of it, she'd be
praying all the time that everything would turn out good.
But yeah, like the big competitions she does watch, but like the smaller ones, we usually
tell her about them, but it's really difficult for her to see how we get punched in the face.
So that's not easy for her.
I'm sure.
Yeah.
My mom is the same way.
I don't, I just train boxing for fun.
You know, I'm not competing, but even just telling her, you know, I went to boxing today,
she like winces and yeah, she's always worried about me too.
You know, so, so is it your parents or grandparents talking, you know, Croatian
heritage wise from Tomislavgrad?
Yeah, my, uh, Aki, my parents were born in Tomislavgrad and then they came as sort of
during elementary school, I think during like for the first grade or third grade, they
came to Germany then to Munich.
And since then we've been here.
So it's also my parents.
Have you been back there ever?
To Croatia or to Tomislavgrad?
Well to Tomislavgrad.
I know.
Yeah.
I know recently we were in Zagreb.
Yeah, we go there every summer.
It's like our tradition because we travel a lot.
We've been to South Africa.
We've been to New York last Christmas.
So we like traveling a lot, but that's like our family tradition that we go there.
Every summer we go to Tomislavgrad, you know, back to our roots.
I think that's also nice to kind of know where you're from, know your culture.
That's awesome.
Yeah.
Probably a little bit different than going to New York, but it is, it is, you know,
people, it's, it's a different lifestyle over there.
You know, people still live in very small cities.
It's just different, also really different than Munich.
So yeah, we're used to it.
My family is from near Ljubuski, so I think not too far.
Okay.
I'm a friend.
She's from Ljubuski, so I know.
Really?
You know, there's a lot of, a lot of great Croatian athletes and boxers in particular
from Herzegovina in general.
Yeah, I know.
I know.
You know, I think also the Kovac brothers, the ones who used to play football, they're
also friends, both Ljubuski and Herzegovina.
Huh, very interesting.
I interviewed, I don't know how much you watch of like current boxing, you know,
professional boxing and in the past as well.
But I don't know if you know George Čuvolo or Juraj Čuvolo as he's known in Croatia.
His are actually from near Ljubuski as well.
And I interviewed his son and that was really cool to hear all the stories about, you
know, how he fought Muhammad Ali twice and, you know, all these stories about boxing and
about, you know, his Croatian roots.
That was a really cool interview.
Yeah.
Yeah, that's really cool.
Cause actually there are so many people, you know, so many famous ones that really
achieved great things in life and they just come from the small place.
Yeah.
Really awesome.
That's crazy.
So, so your dad is your coach.
What's that like for you with?
There are some good aspects.
They're also bad ones.
So actually most of the times it's actually really nice training with him because he
really understands me.
You know, he, it's not only my coach, but my dad, he knows what I'm like, my character.
And I think that's also why he can handle me very well also during training.
And he knows how to calm me down.
He knows how I feel in these certain moments.
And he also travels to with me everywhere.
When I go to the European championships somewhere completely different last time
it was in Armenia, I think it would be way harder to be there not knowing anybody.
So it's actually nice to always have him around, but I think for him, it's
difficult to be my dad, but at the same time, my coach, because he also gets very
emotional when I'm fighting.
It's also really difficult for him to watch that, but still he kind of needs to stay
calm so that I can concentrate.
Yeah. But I actually really enjoy him being my coach.
I think that if he, it's, it's this certain, I think I do boxing also because it's
something that only he himself can teach me.
It's actually something we get to spend so much time together, travel together.
And that's just a nice thing that we as father and daughter can do that.
Just the two of us together.
That's awesome.
Yeah.
Do your sisters train with you guys as well sometimes or most of the times or not at all?
I have, as I said, I have two younger sisters.
So the youngest one, she turned nine and the other one is 14.
So the 14 year old and I, Valeria, we train together actually almost every day.
Actually recently she, she's now training with the different people than I am and
now we're not training together anymore.
And it's so difficult for me because she is my trainings buddy.
We're always training together and you kind of motivate each other.
So actually almost always.
So it's, we always train together.
That's great that you have such a tight relationship with your family and you're
able to train together and everything.
You mentioned, you know, the European championships.
Can you tell us a little bit about that?
You know, first sort of just in general, the European championships,
and then how your fights ended up going.
So my first European championship was actually last year in Italy and it was still
this under 17 age class.
And so there were 15 and 16 year old girls and that was actually my first time competing
at the European and the second one.
So the ones this year, they were in Armenia, so a different age group.
So it was under 19.
So it was a different age group.
And so it was under 19, so 17 and 18 year old girls.
That was really difficult for me because last year the girls were, I was one of the
youngest ones at the Europeans this year and the girls were just way stronger.
You know, their punches, they had way more experience than the girls last year.
And actually also, there's always like one category, we have different weight
categories and there's always one category that's the strongest or where they're in.
I think mine was also this year pretty strong because there were a lot of girls that
already have been European champions in the past years.
So they actually moved up to mine or moved down.
So I had to fight a lot of strong girls.
But I like that. I like the challenge.
And I think that was also the nice thing about this Europeans.
And the first one was against a local girl from Armenia.
And I think that was the easiest fight, let's say like that, for the Europeans this year.
And it was good that my first fight was actually, the first fight is always the most
difficult one because you need to get used to that feeling, to that atmosphere.
And then the second one was against a girl from Romania.
She was also an European champion last year in that age.
In the weight category.
And she was really, it was really difficult to fight her because there are sometimes
certain types or certain styles of boxing that are just really difficult to fight against.
And she just went straight forward.
So for me, I had to, yeah, I went back all the time.
I had to move those, these three minutes constantly.
So that was really, really difficult.
And yeah, it took also a lot of willpower to really, to yeah, to fight against her
all throughout these three minutes while she was just walking forward and nonstopping.
And then the final fight was against a girl from Poland.
So she was also really, really good because I really saw how she also, how ambitious she was.
She also fought through on these three rounds.
She didn't give up. And also when the fight started, you know, we always have like a technique,
certain things that we figure out that work for each opponent and a certain, yeah, that I would do during that fight.
And the first round, she just fought completely different and I was shocked and it didn't work out at all.
And I lost the round.
And then I remember sitting during the break in the corner with my dad and he, we just needed to be ready.
We needed to figure out a completely different way of how I can actually fight with her in order to win that bout still.
And then the second and third round, I somehow managed it again and it turned out good.
But I'm still surprised that I actually stayed calm during this whole fight.
And then the last, and more than this, European was there at the end of each fight.
There's like, they would pronounce then or explain who, let's say, actually won the fight.
And sometimes when it's really tight, like my last fight, then there are two separate judges that would still kind of look whether all the other judges before scored well or whether there were any mistakes.
And sometimes even though the other judges earlier would confirm that you won, they can turn this whole decision around.
So I was standing there inside the ring waiting for five minutes, which felt like an eternity until they finally announced that I won.
So yeah, but I think after so tight bouts, you're actually even more proud of yourself that you still managed to win and achieve God.
Yeah, definitely. So it's three, three minute rounds then, right?
Yes, it's straight three minute rounds. So for me, it's always like one round has three minutes, but that can change.
So for the younger age groups, it's only like two minutes or one and a half.
And then the older you get, the longer the rounds get.
I see. And so you lost, you knew you lost that first round.
So you had to win the next two in order to win the fight.
That put a lot of pressure on you, I'm sure.
Yeah, exactly. Because you always know every move matters.
So every second, because in the end, this move can decide whether you win.
And it's so tight, really.
For me, I usually always want to win the first two rounds because then I'm safe.
And you need to win at least two rounds in order to win that whole fight.
And when you lost the first round, you know yourself that you need to win the last two ones.
And if something doesn't work out, you would lose the entire fight.
So yes, that's a lot of pressure.
Wow. And how did this girl come out fighting that was different than you had prepared for?
She was really calm herself. So she actually waited for me.
I'm used to girls being really aggressive, actually.
Yeah, because I'm always I'm trying to keep them in a long distance and move a lot.
And then for me, it's actually good if someone's really going forward, being very aggressive.
But she was waiting. So for me, that can be sometimes very frustrating.
If you see that the other person is always waiting, you don't know.
You're actually pretty nervous.
You want to, yeah, just that was really difficult because I was waiting for her to do something.
And then you do not have this tension in your legs or in your hands to react immediately to
the. Used to that.
And yeah.
Well, I'd heard in the other podcast that you said you sort of like to fight defensively.
Is that true?
Yes, that's great.
I figured that just out for myself that that works best for me because for me, boxing is not only
boxing or just punches.
It's a certain feeling that you have, certain emotions that you have when you're fighting.
I really enjoy that.
I always say I'm not good at drawing or not really a creative, but I'm creative when I'm boxing.
And I try to do different combinations.
And that's just when I feel best when I'm fighting defensively.
And I'm also pretty tall.
So I think that's also why it works very well for me because I have long arms and then I can keep
them on a distance.
Yeah. So it's like an art form for you more than just, you know, fighting someone, punching
someone.
It is.
I think there's there are endless options.
You know, there's so many different things that you can do.
And maybe for me, that works best when I'm fighting defensively for another person, it would be
the opposite way.
I think that does not only apply to this defensive style.
Are there any professional boxers that you had sort of modeled your own style?
Your style after or just that you're a fan of or you were a fan of growing up?
I always liked Muhammad Ali because it was just so revolutionary the way he fought.
I think that's so iconic.
He himself just as a person not only his style or the way he is boxing, but also for the boxers
nowadays, not only that defensive style that I like, I also like the way Canelo is fighting.
I think he's a great boxer or also Usyk.
So I think you just need to pick the best things from every boxer and then kind of
integrate that to your style.
What are your thoughts on Floyd Mayweather then as a defensive boxer?
I really like he's also sometimes when he he's not fighting always on a very long
distance, but like this half distance.
So it's not that close.
But and then he always keeps his hands down, but actually kind of protects his space with
his shoulder.
That's what I really like.
And I think he's I really like his style.
I try to imitate him sometimes as well when I'm fighting, but there's still a long way.
Yeah, that's tough.
So you use the shoulder roll in a fight.
Yeah, not in a fight that I haven't used it in a fight yet, but I'm trying nowadays
during the sparring sessions to practice so that it can.
Yeah, I can do that too.
Now, that's pretty cool.
Every time I try that when I like spar or just train, I just get punched in the face
because I can't time it right.
It's I don't practice enough.
Because you really need to see that punch, you know, what punch the other person would
do and also you have the right distance.
It can't be too far away, but then also not too close.
So yeah, it's really about the right time and the right feeling.
Definitely.
Yeah, I saw a picture of you after you won.
I think it was this past European Championships.
Maybe it was last year, though, but you had your Croatian socks on with the checkers.
Do you wear those just normally out in public or only when you fight?
No, only when I'm fighting.
But that's my lucky charm when I'm fighting because I thought, you know, we always have
like either these blue ones like the blue pants and the blue top or the red one.
So it's usually pretty boring because everybody looks the same.
So I wanted something that would represent Croatia and also show that I represent Croatia.
I think the socks are pretty fun.
I like them.
That's awesome.
So you chose to represent Croatia instead of Germany, right?
Is that a decision that you made or was that just that's how it
like that's just protocol?
Well, I guess so.
You were born in Germany, so you could have initially gotten Germany and you chose to
represent Croatia.
Why?
Yeah, I actually started fighting for Germany when I started with kickboxing and I kickboxing
only did for Germany.
And then when I moved or when I switched to boxing, I also first I started boxing for
Germany and then I started also competing at international tournaments, not only in
Germany and then they offered me to fight for Croatia and that's when I actually decided
to fight for Croatia.
So because my dad, he also fought for Croatia himself and it just felt right.
I mean, I still kind of feel like a Croatian more than I feel like a German.
I think it just it's the best feeling actually being there representing Croatia.
It just feels right for me in that moment.
That's awesome.
Yeah. Well, yeah, that's how, you know, us in the Diaspora, you know, we sort of have
two identities, the identity of, you know, where you're born and like me in the US, I'm
American, but as well, you know, you have the Croatian identity and for some reason
Croatians feel so strongly about that and about their heritage.
But it's sometimes so difficult because in Germany or in America, you're not a full
German or American, but you're also in Croatia.
You're not fully Croatian.
You're not fully Croatian, so you're always somewhere in between.
Yeah. Yeah.
There's never you're never really in the right spot.
I don't know. It's a hard feeling to put into words, but yeah, I know exactly what
you're talking about.
I wanted to ask a little about music.
Did you have an entrance song?
Did they let you guys have entrance songs, walkout songs?
No, actually not.
So they just usually choose a music and then they played for every fighter.
Usually like at those big competitions, like the Europeans, they have like an entry music,
but for other competitions, they don't.
But I'm always I'm always looking for song for cool songs.
So already for the future, that may be my entry songs.
I right now at the moment, I really like there's a song by Beyonce.
I think it's around the world.
So it's a bit like girl power.
And then there's another one by Unstoppable that I also like that kind of get me into
the right mood.
Okay.
Yeah.
Well, I had heard, I guess you say that on the podcast maybe, but I heard that you like
ACDC, which is my favorite band of all time.
Or maybe I mistranslated something you were saying.
No, I like ACDC.
I think a lot of boxers actually have songs from ACDC as their entry music.
So I maybe if I get to choose an entry song myself, I thought of choosing something
different, something new that people are not used to.
But I think those are also great songs that I like to listen to before a fight because
they actually kind of I get the right emotions or this feeling that I need for the fight
afterwards.
Do you listen to any Croatian music or any Croatian music that sort of pumps you up for
the fight?
Not before the fight actually, but so like in my everyday life, I like to listen to Croatian
music, you know, the classics like Oliver or Severina, but also like newer artists like
Vajas or different things.
Yeah.
It's not that I only listen to this one singer, but I actually, it depends on this song.
If I like a song, then I would listen to it and there are different artists that I
actually like.
Yeah, that's sort of the same with me.
I've got a friend made a big list on Spotify, so half the time the songs, I don't even know
the names or who it's by, but I just, you know, recognize the songs.
You know, you also said that when you hear the national anthem after you win, you know,
that's like one of the best feelings in the world.
Can you describe that?
Actually, every time in training when it's super hard and you actually do not worry when
I do not feel motivated or when I'm training for the Europeans and you know, your whole
body is aching and it's super difficult, then I always think of this moment because for me,
that's my biggest motivation.
That's really the best feeling because just standing on top of this staircase and
hearing the Croatian national anthem, that's just, I really get chills all over my body.
It's just such a nice moment and it always passes by so quickly, but I really enjoy that.
It's just for that one moment, you know, I'm a very pessimistic person or a very ambitious
person.
I'm very criticizing myself very often.
I'm always looking for the next challenge and that's this one moment where I get to
enjoy my success, where I really get to stand there and just listen to this anthem and really
appreciate this moment and enjoy it.
That's awesome.
Yeah, I get chills just from watching that happen.
I can only imagine being the person that won and is hearing that on the podium.
That's incredible.
So you're still 17, right?
You said the 17 to 18 is still in the same bracket, so next year you'll be fighting
in the same group that you are fighting now and then after that will be just every 19
years and older?
Yeah, actually after that it's a bit difficult or a bit complicated because you have this
under 22 age group, so there won't be people from 19 to 21.
But you can also already compete like with the other women with the open class, so where
there are people from 19 and even older, so up to 30 or even older.
Wow, okay.
And do you know yet what you'll do for that?
Well, you still have one more year of this group, so you don't have to think about that
now, I guess, right?
No, I think I'll do both.
I think that's actually a great opportunity because on one hand you still have this other
age group where you have people that are not that experienced, still very experienced,
but you can still kind of practice and then you have the other age group where you have
to sometimes fight against Olympic champions and that's I think really difficult, just
this switch from always fighting girls your age and then like girls or women way older,
so I think it's easier if you do both just to get used to that.
Wait, so what is the next Olympics?
Is that 20?
Is that next year or in two years?
Yeah, I think so 2024, yes.
2024, so you'll be eligible as an 18 year old, right?
Or no?
No, unfortunately not.
I will be able to fight because the qualification tournaments, they're already this year and
I'm still 17, so I couldn't compete unfortunately, but the next ones in 2028, I think they'll
be in a length, so yeah.
That's right, yeah.
Pretty cool.
So yeah, that's where I'm from in the US from LA, so yeah, I'm looking forward to that.
I'll have to go fly home for a couple of weeks or whatever and watch the Olympics there.
Well, let's talk about some of sort of your other passions and hobbies.
I know you're a model, you play the piano.
Can you talk a little about those?
So girls, I'd say boxing and school, that's something I take very serious.
I do take modeling and playing the piano also, they're serious, but those are just
my hobbies, so that's actually, those are things that I enjoy doing, but yeah, I'd say
when I play the piano, that's just something where I can relax, where I can let out, you
know, the emotions that I usually always have to keep under control when I'm fighting.
And modeling is just something very feminine and I always like being in front of the camera
and people actually also came up to me in Munich on the streets and actually from different
agencies and told me I should model and I should come to their agency.
So that's how I figured out that I could start modeling and nowadays I just really enjoy it.
Yesterday I've actually been also on a shoot the whole day, shooting with the German brand.
It's just fun, you know, trying to get some looks.
You also get to meet so many different people from different industries, that's also very,
very nice.
That's pretty cool.
Do you find similarities between that and boxing or is it just something completely
different for you?
It is different, but there are certain things that I've learned from boxing.
Certain things about myself also in modeling, when you go to shootings or to castings,
everyone is very, very nervous because you want to get that job.
And I'm used to that feeling and I know how to control it also throughout the competitions
and all of these situations that I have been in with boxing.
So I'd say that's also pretty good then for the modeling because I just know how to control
and how to get myself in the right mood.
I find it interesting, a little while ago you said when you play the piano, you can let
all your emotions out as opposed to when you're boxing and you can't.
And that's strange for me because I feel like it should be opposite.
When you're fighting, you can just punch out all your aggression or emotions or whatever.
And while you're playing the piano, you have to be calm and everything.
So it was interesting for me that you said that.
Yeah, it depends.
I'd say those are just different emotions.
And then playing the piano, it's really, yeah, I'm calmer, but also when boxing,
you just, when I started boxing, I was really aggressive.
But that's, I'd say that's very difficult throughout the fight because if you're only
being aggressive, then you can't really think about your next move.
You sometimes just really need to look and really think through everything that you'll do
within these three minutes.
So yeah, but still I feel like I can let my emotions out on boxing.
The emotions are just different than when playing the piano.
Hmm, yeah, that makes sense.
Do you have a favorite boxing movie?
I really like the Rocky movies.
It's a classic, but I really enjoy them.
I've always watched them with my dad growing up.
Like also the new Creed movies.
Yeah, I think so.
I've never actually watched, oh, I forgot the name.
There's a very famous boxing movie with a girl staring.
Million Dollar Baby.
Yeah, you've never seen that one?
No, I've never seen it, but actually I wanted to watch it.
I really have to.
Yeah, that's with Clint Eastwood and I forget the actress's name.
If I heard it, I would remember it.
But yeah, actually I've never seen it either to be honest, but I know it's a classic.
So I should probably watch that at some point.
Do you have a favorite of the Rockies?
Mine is always Mr. T.
I think that's the second one.
I like all of them.
I think, yeah, it changes, but I think all of them are so cool.
I really love them.
Yeah, those are classic movies.
Mariella, do you have any other sort of hobbies or anything else that you're doing?
Aside from boxing and piano and modeling, you're going to school.
What are you going to school for?
So actually in Germany, it's a different school system.
So right now it's called Gnazim.
So there after elementary school, you'd go to either the Gnazim or different schools.
And that's actually my last year.
So in April, I'll take my final exams and then I'm done, hopefully.
And afterwards I'm thinking about studying law.
So something completely different.
But I just think it's good to kind of have the base, you know, if it doesn't work out
with boxing or modeling or the other things that I can, that I just have something else
to rely on.
Very cool.
Yeah, very different from, you know, box.
Well, I guess any sort of degree maybe would be different than boxing, but pretty cool.
When you're in Croatia, when you go to Croatia for the summer or whenever,
what's your favorite thing to eat?
We have actually, we're usually in street because,
yeah, that's just our spot where we always go to as a family.
And there's a really good plate where they have really good ice cream.
So they make it themselves.
And I think it's called Pumparela and I really enjoy going there.
So that's my favorite food spot in Croatia.
But other than that, I think they have great meat.
I think all the Croatians they eat them are to meat, but also the fish and yeah, they
just really have great food because I think they also make a lot themselves.
It's just really different than also here in Germany.
And then we really enjoy being there.
It's just, everything just tastes completely different.
Yeah.
Which ice cream flavor do you get usually?
It's called Ksenino.
It's white chocolate with Nutella, but it's really good.
So it's freshly made every day.
And I think you can just taste that.
Wow.
Yeah.
I'll have to try that then this summer and go down to Split.
What was it called again?
There are actually two stores.
So they have one that is called Pumparela and the other one is called Emiliana.
Okay.
I'll have to write that down.
Good.
Nice shout out to those places.
I'll have to check those out this summer.
Marijela, as we sort of run out of time here, I just have one more question, two more questions,
I guess I'll have to ask you.
Before the last one, I'll just sort of ask any other sort of future plans or future things
you want to accomplish or do.
So actually next year there's the World Championship in Croatia in boxing.
So that's the next big goal for me.
So I actually really want to win the World Championship, especially as it's in Croatia.
So yeah, that's kind of the next goal that I'm working towards.
What month is that in?
It's in November.
So there's still a year, still some time.
Okay.
So you'll be training and working your way till that.
That's awesome.
Well, sort of last question and I want to thank you again so much for taking the time
to come here on the All Things Croatia podcast.
What to you makes Croatia so special?
I think us Croatians, it's just a certain, it's not even maybe also our history, but
it's just the feeling, you know, I think we as Croatians, we're very proud to be Croatians,
but also this Croatian community, even if I myself, I'm living in Germany and feel
like I'm part of this Croatian community, we're very proud to be Croatians.
Part of this Croatian community, we can see that also during these soccer games when like
people, Croatian people coming from everywhere to watch the Croatian players play, it's just
certain feeling that you love.
That's being part of this community, just being proud to be Croatian.
Incredible.
Yeah.
I know, I know there's a big Croatian community in Germany.
I know Frankfurt has a big one.
I guess in Munich as well, there's a large Croatian community.
Are you involved at all in any, I don't know, did they put on events or do you go to any
of the soccer games, football games, excuse me, where, you know, Croatians are playing?
That was my American English coming back.
Yeah, I'm actually really involved in that.
We have a Croatian community here in Munich because like the church organizes certain
events.
So also for the teens, they actually, there are certain meetings, it's called Frama in
Munich where all the Croatian or the younger people would go to and yeah, there are always
certain events and it's always nice because in, I don't know how it's in other cities,
but we in Munich, the Croatians, we know each other.
We're actually really connected.
That's awesome.
Yeah.
Well, Marijela, that's the end of the podcast.
I want to thank you again so much for coming on.
I don't know if you have, you know, maybe if you want people to follow you on social
media or did you also launch a YouTube channel recently?
I don't know if you want to shout any social media is out or places for people to follow
you on.
So I actually only have TikTok and Instagram, but I would really like if people would follow
me.
What's your username there?
Marijela Stikweber thing together in small, simple and easy.
Very simple. Yeah. I'll put that as well in the show notes so people can click on that
and find you if they wish.
Marijela, thank you again so much for coming on the podcast.
I really appreciate it and wish you the best of luck in the future and big things to come.
Thank you.