1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,240 All right, welcome back to the podcast, everyone. 2 00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:04,360 On this episode, we're gonna hear from the creators 3 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:07,460 of the popular Let's Learn Croatian podcast, 4 00:00:07,460 --> 00:00:10,600 Uncle Mike, Tony D, and DJ Moe. 5 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:11,960 Living in Southern California, 6 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:14,240 we're gonna hear about their Croatian connection 7 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:17,560 and the story behind the Let's Learn Croatian podcast. 8 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:21,040 Guys, thanks for coming on the All Things Croatia podcast. 9 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:21,880 Hey, thanks for having us. 10 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:23,400 Yeah, thank you for having us so much. 11 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:24,320 Yeah, of course. 12 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:27,060 Excited to do a little sort of cross promotion here. 13 00:00:27,060 --> 00:00:30,800 I think you guys are the first rival podcast I've had on. 14 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:33,120 Oh, yeah, we're all teammates here. 15 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:34,460 Let's hope we're teammates. 16 00:00:34,460 --> 00:00:35,300 Thank you, thank you, thank you. 17 00:00:35,300 --> 00:00:37,520 I'm totally kidding, totally kidding. 18 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:39,560 Love what you guys are doing. 19 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:41,080 The Croatian language is so tough. 20 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:43,620 I mean, I literally came, moved to Croatia 21 00:00:43,620 --> 00:00:46,500 just to learn Croatian. Wow. 22 00:00:46,500 --> 00:00:48,360 So, I'm excited to learn a little bit more 23 00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:49,920 about what you guys are doing. 24 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:51,280 But sort of before you get into that, 25 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:53,440 can you tell us a little bit about yourselves 26 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:54,940 and your Croatian background? 27 00:00:54,940 --> 00:00:55,940 Yeah, I'll go first. 28 00:00:55,940 --> 00:00:56,940 I'm Uncle Mike. 29 00:00:56,940 --> 00:00:59,300 Yeah, my parents were both born and raised 30 00:00:59,300 --> 00:01:01,940 in former Yugoslavia, which is now Croatia, 31 00:01:01,940 --> 00:01:05,460 and they moved here to the States when they were younger. 32 00:01:05,460 --> 00:01:07,820 I'm a first generation born here, 33 00:01:07,820 --> 00:01:10,140 grew up around Croatians mostly, 34 00:01:10,140 --> 00:01:11,780 learned how to speak Croatian 35 00:01:11,780 --> 00:01:13,020 before I learned how to speak English. 36 00:01:13,020 --> 00:01:17,380 So, kindergarten was a scary first day of learning English. 37 00:01:17,380 --> 00:01:19,820 So, Croatian was a big part of my life. 38 00:01:19,820 --> 00:01:22,300 A lot of family, a lot of friends 39 00:01:22,300 --> 00:01:24,020 kind of growing up in that environment. 40 00:01:24,020 --> 00:01:27,660 And yeah, go to Croatia as much as I can. 41 00:01:27,660 --> 00:01:29,380 I still have some aunts and uncles over there, 42 00:01:29,380 --> 00:01:31,020 some cousins, extended family. 43 00:01:31,020 --> 00:01:33,220 So yeah, definitely a big part of my life. 44 00:01:34,620 --> 00:01:35,860 Awesome, awesome. 45 00:01:35,860 --> 00:01:37,180 Well, I'm not Croatian. 46 00:01:37,180 --> 00:01:38,180 Yes. 47 00:01:38,180 --> 00:01:39,580 I grew up in this town, 48 00:01:39,580 --> 00:01:43,700 in this town being an offshoot of Los Angeles, California 49 00:01:43,700 --> 00:01:44,860 called San Pedro, 50 00:01:44,860 --> 00:01:47,140 and essentially the huge Croatian population. 51 00:01:47,140 --> 00:01:48,500 So, I went going to public schools 52 00:01:48,500 --> 00:01:49,900 and having all my friends being a mixture 53 00:01:49,900 --> 00:01:50,900 of a lot of people, 54 00:01:50,900 --> 00:01:52,780 but the majority of them being Croatian. 55 00:01:52,780 --> 00:01:54,260 I met this guy. 56 00:01:54,260 --> 00:01:56,020 I also married a Croatian. 57 00:01:56,020 --> 00:01:57,020 There you go. 58 00:01:57,020 --> 00:01:59,220 So, I'm definitely in the mix and in the family now. 59 00:01:59,220 --> 00:02:01,300 I got jumped in, so to speak. 60 00:02:01,300 --> 00:02:02,940 So, so far so good. 61 00:02:02,940 --> 00:02:04,900 I've been hearing about Croatia most of my life 62 00:02:04,900 --> 00:02:06,300 from a lot of my friends. 63 00:02:06,300 --> 00:02:09,300 I got to meet their parents and their beautiful people 64 00:02:09,300 --> 00:02:11,100 and all their family, extended families. 65 00:02:11,100 --> 00:02:13,820 And I've been hearing about Croatia for a very long time. 66 00:02:13,820 --> 00:02:16,260 So, I was finally happy to see it in person 67 00:02:16,260 --> 00:02:17,380 a couple of years ago. 68 00:02:17,380 --> 00:02:19,220 So, yeah. 69 00:02:19,900 --> 00:02:22,580 Well, I think I'm the furthest away from Croatia 70 00:02:22,580 --> 00:02:24,780 or the furthest away from it all. 71 00:02:24,780 --> 00:02:27,780 I actually met these gentlemen a long time ago 72 00:02:27,780 --> 00:02:32,300 and that was my first introduction to Croatian, 73 00:02:32,300 --> 00:02:36,820 the culture, the language, the food, everything then. 74 00:02:36,820 --> 00:02:39,380 And then with this podcast here, 75 00:02:39,380 --> 00:02:42,460 and I did, was born here in Southern California, 76 00:02:43,500 --> 00:02:47,420 but had nothing to do with the language and culture 77 00:02:47,420 --> 00:02:51,820 and idea of Croatia or Croatians themselves 78 00:02:51,820 --> 00:02:53,740 until Uncle Mike here. 79 00:02:54,580 --> 00:02:58,420 But that's my character as well as being real life, 80 00:02:58,420 --> 00:03:00,420 Tony D on the podcast. 81 00:03:00,420 --> 00:03:03,580 I get to learn everything and mess it all up. 82 00:03:03,580 --> 00:03:06,180 Yeah. 83 00:03:06,180 --> 00:03:08,660 Yeah, a new learner, definitely a fresh learner, 84 00:03:08,660 --> 00:03:10,780 fresh learner, no background to it, right Tony? 85 00:03:10,780 --> 00:03:11,620 Not at all. 86 00:03:11,620 --> 00:03:12,460 Yeah. 87 00:03:12,460 --> 00:03:14,260 Well, I mean, it's super helpful, especially, 88 00:03:14,260 --> 00:03:15,660 I mean, cause if you teach Croatian 89 00:03:15,660 --> 00:03:17,900 and you're around Croatian and do you, 90 00:03:17,900 --> 00:03:20,220 the things are obvious for someone who's just learning, 91 00:03:20,220 --> 00:03:21,980 it's definitely helpful to have someone 92 00:03:21,980 --> 00:03:24,540 ask those kinds of questions during the podcast 93 00:03:24,540 --> 00:03:26,060 and things like that. 94 00:03:26,060 --> 00:03:28,060 You mentioned, you guys are in San Pedro 95 00:03:28,060 --> 00:03:31,540 and of course there's a huge Croatian population over there 96 00:03:31,540 --> 00:03:35,060 before the podcast or aside from the podcast 97 00:03:35,060 --> 00:03:37,220 and even current stuff, were you guys, 98 00:03:37,220 --> 00:03:40,260 or are you guys involved at all in the community over there? 99 00:03:41,660 --> 00:03:42,980 Me personally, no. 100 00:03:42,980 --> 00:03:45,580 I mean, I've definitely have some family, 101 00:03:45,580 --> 00:03:48,260 some distant friends, like there's a Croatian hall 102 00:03:48,260 --> 00:03:52,540 on 9th street and it's actually between Gaffi and Grand 103 00:03:52,540 --> 00:03:54,620 on 9th street, it's actually a, 104 00:03:54,620 --> 00:03:56,540 this is called Croatian Place or Croatian Way, 105 00:03:56,540 --> 00:03:59,380 it's dedicated to where the hall that was built there. 106 00:03:59,380 --> 00:04:01,180 A lot of Croatians will have their festas there, 107 00:04:01,180 --> 00:04:04,060 whether it's Independence Day or it's Komiska Noć 108 00:04:04,060 --> 00:04:07,420 or I think they have lunches every Wednesday 109 00:04:07,420 --> 00:04:09,100 where a lot of the diaspora will come through, 110 00:04:09,100 --> 00:04:11,380 whether it's the older generation, younger generation. 111 00:04:11,380 --> 00:04:13,700 I'm personally not super connected to it, 112 00:04:13,700 --> 00:04:16,500 besides the friends, close friends and family I have, 113 00:04:16,500 --> 00:04:19,460 but Moses, have you ever been to Croatian hall? 114 00:04:19,460 --> 00:04:20,300 Yeah, I've been there. 115 00:04:20,300 --> 00:04:22,500 Yeah, so a place I pass by, 116 00:04:22,500 --> 00:04:24,820 but I personally don't dabble too much. 117 00:04:24,820 --> 00:04:28,260 Yeah, my biggest connection is this podcast and my family. 118 00:04:29,540 --> 00:04:31,540 That's kind of where, as far as it goes, 119 00:04:32,740 --> 00:04:34,940 as far as the podcast concerned, we definitely- 120 00:04:34,940 --> 00:04:35,980 Oh, the World Cup thing. 121 00:04:35,980 --> 00:04:37,100 Oh yeah. 122 00:04:37,100 --> 00:04:38,500 They had a whole block party. 123 00:04:38,500 --> 00:04:39,340 Yeah, they did. 124 00:04:39,340 --> 00:04:40,380 Massive down there. 125 00:04:40,380 --> 00:04:41,860 Yeah, that was a wrap. 126 00:04:41,860 --> 00:04:43,780 I'm sure it was crazy over there. 127 00:04:43,780 --> 00:04:45,420 Yeah. 128 00:04:45,420 --> 00:04:46,420 That's awesome. 129 00:04:46,420 --> 00:04:48,060 I mean, you mentioned the podcast again, 130 00:04:48,060 --> 00:04:50,100 and that's sort of what we're on here 131 00:04:50,100 --> 00:04:52,420 to talk about the Let's Learn Croatia podcast. 132 00:04:52,420 --> 00:04:53,580 When did you guys start that 133 00:04:53,580 --> 00:04:55,860 and how did that sort of come about? 134 00:04:57,580 --> 00:05:02,460 Story goes, it was my wife and I and my kids, 135 00:05:02,460 --> 00:05:03,740 because I got two kids, 136 00:05:03,740 --> 00:05:05,660 we were gonna head out to Croatia for the first, 137 00:05:05,660 --> 00:05:07,020 my first time, their first time. 138 00:05:07,020 --> 00:05:10,300 So basically my wife was gonna introduce me to the family, 139 00:05:10,300 --> 00:05:11,420 what have you, this is after we're married, 140 00:05:11,420 --> 00:05:12,860 obviously with kids now. 141 00:05:12,860 --> 00:05:15,700 And so this guy, Uncle Mike here, 142 00:05:15,700 --> 00:05:17,340 he's out of the blue, just hits me up, 143 00:05:17,340 --> 00:05:18,820 he's like, hey, you're going in a month or so, 144 00:05:18,820 --> 00:05:21,380 you should check out these lessons I did with Tony, 145 00:05:21,380 --> 00:05:23,700 like years ago for his own niece and nephew, 146 00:05:23,700 --> 00:05:24,700 for their own trips. 147 00:05:24,700 --> 00:05:26,860 And so this is the old content he's given me, 148 00:05:26,860 --> 00:05:29,580 and he only gave me, I think, three audio files. 149 00:05:29,580 --> 00:05:32,020 Yeah, well, it was only three lessons that Tony and I did, 150 00:05:32,020 --> 00:05:34,580 just very, very basic, hello, good morning, 151 00:05:34,580 --> 00:05:37,180 good afternoon, good evening, thank you, please, 152 00:05:37,180 --> 00:05:38,580 just super, super simple stuff. 153 00:05:38,580 --> 00:05:42,220 And, you know, like kind of experimenting with microphones 154 00:05:42,220 --> 00:05:43,740 and that was all it was. 155 00:05:43,740 --> 00:05:44,820 And then- It's been great. 156 00:05:44,820 --> 00:05:48,220 If you're going to Croatia here, you know, and then- 157 00:05:48,220 --> 00:05:51,260 This may help you, like you may be able to find a bathroom 158 00:05:51,260 --> 00:05:54,460 or like you may be able to say hello and good night, 159 00:05:54,460 --> 00:05:56,420 you know, that's super simple stuff. 160 00:05:56,420 --> 00:05:58,620 And for me, I was like, I heard it and I was like, 161 00:05:58,620 --> 00:06:02,060 well, this is super helpful, but it's very, very small. 162 00:06:02,060 --> 00:06:04,780 Like, and there wasn't enough for me to kind of like, 163 00:06:04,780 --> 00:06:07,820 fully like, like once I said, don't run down to somebody 164 00:06:07,820 --> 00:06:09,220 and they hit me back with something else, 165 00:06:09,220 --> 00:06:10,460 I was like, screwed. 166 00:06:10,460 --> 00:06:11,300 Yeah. 167 00:06:11,300 --> 00:06:13,500 I was like, where do I go with this? 168 00:06:13,500 --> 00:06:16,140 Not only am I disappointing them, I look dumb, 169 00:06:16,140 --> 00:06:17,940 I can't be able to go any further than that. 170 00:06:17,940 --> 00:06:18,780 Yeah. 171 00:06:18,780 --> 00:06:19,700 And so I asked for more. 172 00:06:19,700 --> 00:06:22,460 And so I, after a while I demanded more 173 00:06:22,460 --> 00:06:23,900 because it took a lot of arm twisting 174 00:06:23,900 --> 00:06:25,660 for this guy here, Uncle Mike. 175 00:06:25,660 --> 00:06:28,020 Tunnel beat was definitely a bit more like, yeah, I'm down. 176 00:06:28,020 --> 00:06:28,860 Yeah. You know? 177 00:06:28,860 --> 00:06:29,980 Anything to hang out with these guys. 178 00:06:29,980 --> 00:06:30,980 So- Yeah. 179 00:06:30,980 --> 00:06:33,620 So by the way, we've all known each other for 20 years. 180 00:06:33,620 --> 00:06:37,220 So it's just another opportunity for us to hang out. 181 00:06:37,220 --> 00:06:38,900 But that's kind of where the podcast came from 182 00:06:38,900 --> 00:06:40,900 is the inception of like, I want to learn more. 183 00:06:40,900 --> 00:06:42,460 I want my kids to know more. 184 00:06:42,460 --> 00:06:44,060 And obviously living in this community, 185 00:06:44,060 --> 00:06:45,540 we know a lot of people in the same boat. 186 00:06:45,540 --> 00:06:47,220 Their kids have not heard enough of it, 187 00:06:47,220 --> 00:06:48,740 don't get exposure to it. 188 00:06:48,740 --> 00:06:50,740 And we want to continue to do that for them, 189 00:06:50,740 --> 00:06:54,140 especially in a roundabout way where it's easy to absorb 190 00:06:55,060 --> 00:06:56,260 and open to all. 191 00:06:56,260 --> 00:06:57,100 And that's the biggest thing. 192 00:06:57,100 --> 00:06:59,500 I don't want a lot of podcasts out there. 193 00:06:59,500 --> 00:07:01,380 People, there are a lot of language out there 194 00:07:01,380 --> 00:07:03,780 that is not fitting for a child to listen to, in my opinion. 195 00:07:03,780 --> 00:07:04,620 Yeah. 196 00:07:04,620 --> 00:07:06,180 So we wanted to keep it as clean as possible. 197 00:07:06,180 --> 00:07:09,140 Like I want a parent driving their kids to school 198 00:07:09,140 --> 00:07:11,260 and they could turn it on and not worry that 199 00:07:11,260 --> 00:07:13,060 uncle Mike's going to drop an F-bomb 200 00:07:13,060 --> 00:07:15,180 or I'm going to say something really negative. 201 00:07:15,180 --> 00:07:18,020 You know, if we're not doing that on this podcast, 202 00:07:18,020 --> 00:07:20,020 you just want to make it open to all. 203 00:07:20,020 --> 00:07:22,220 So a lot of positivity and everything through learning. 204 00:07:22,220 --> 00:07:23,060 Yeah. 205 00:07:23,060 --> 00:07:25,940 Did those lessons help at all when you went to Croatia? 206 00:07:25,940 --> 00:07:26,740 Yes, they did. 207 00:07:26,740 --> 00:07:27,580 Yes, they did. 208 00:07:27,580 --> 00:07:31,180 I will say that I still get to a point where I can't get passed. 209 00:07:31,180 --> 00:07:33,300 You know, there is that speed bump that I hit 210 00:07:33,300 --> 00:07:34,700 and sometimes they can't get over it. 211 00:07:34,700 --> 00:07:35,540 Sometimes they can. 212 00:07:35,540 --> 00:07:39,060 And a lot of times it was just information that I knew 213 00:07:39,060 --> 00:07:41,780 that I didn't have available in my brain at that very second. 214 00:07:41,780 --> 00:07:43,580 I remember the first, like my last visit, 215 00:07:43,580 --> 00:07:46,620 because I've gone three times now, my last visit, my aunt's, 216 00:07:46,620 --> 00:07:51,060 no, no, my wife's uncle, he was telling me, he was like, 217 00:07:51,060 --> 00:07:52,900 he's like, oh, you came, you know, I was like, 218 00:07:52,900 --> 00:07:54,660 I'm not going to repeat it for you because I'll butcher it. 219 00:07:54,660 --> 00:07:56,220 But he's like, oh, you came and it's so hot. 220 00:07:56,220 --> 00:07:57,660 Did you bring the sun with you? 221 00:07:57,660 --> 00:08:00,980 And I was like, Sun Chen, Sun Chen, Sun Chen. 222 00:08:00,980 --> 00:08:02,460 That's all I could do in my mind. 223 00:08:02,460 --> 00:08:03,900 I'm like, what is he talking about? 224 00:08:03,900 --> 00:08:05,780 And it just, I couldn't connect it. 225 00:08:05,780 --> 00:08:08,380 I just got off a plane and I felt really bad. 226 00:08:08,380 --> 00:08:10,580 But I got the most of up until that point. 227 00:08:10,580 --> 00:08:13,100 And I was like, man, it's sunny, duh. 228 00:08:13,100 --> 00:08:14,060 Yeah. 229 00:08:14,060 --> 00:08:17,340 You know, for me personally, I find it's a lot easier to, 230 00:08:17,340 --> 00:08:19,980 oh, sorry, I find it's a lot easier to understand 231 00:08:19,980 --> 00:08:23,220 when someone is talking to someone else that I'm with, 232 00:08:23,220 --> 00:08:24,300 I'm listening to them talk, 233 00:08:24,300 --> 00:08:26,140 but then when someone's talking to me directly, 234 00:08:26,140 --> 00:08:29,940 I feel like I process slower or I free up a bit. 235 00:08:29,940 --> 00:08:32,300 Is it because you have it in another language prior 236 00:08:32,300 --> 00:08:34,180 and then you have to transpose it in your mind? 237 00:08:34,180 --> 00:08:35,260 Well, yeah, yeah, that's it. 238 00:08:35,260 --> 00:08:36,780 Yeah, it's not automatic enough yet. 239 00:08:36,780 --> 00:08:38,300 Yeah, yeah, I'm with you. 240 00:08:38,300 --> 00:08:42,340 Yeah, well, so from the original audio clips, 241 00:08:42,340 --> 00:08:44,300 so you guys, that wasn't with puppets 242 00:08:44,300 --> 00:08:45,620 or anything at that point, or was it? 243 00:08:45,620 --> 00:08:46,900 No, no. 244 00:08:46,900 --> 00:08:51,100 So I think I did a few lessons for my nieces and nephews. 245 00:08:51,100 --> 00:08:53,180 I might've been close to 10 years ago, 246 00:08:53,180 --> 00:08:56,260 and then kind of handed them out to whoever needed them. 247 00:08:56,260 --> 00:08:59,700 And then in fall of, I think you went summer of 2019, 248 00:08:59,700 --> 00:09:02,580 then we started the podcast in the fall of 2019. 249 00:09:02,580 --> 00:09:04,340 And then as we've kind of been going with it 250 00:09:04,340 --> 00:09:06,500 and let's give it a try, and then someone's like, 251 00:09:06,500 --> 00:09:08,900 hey, how about a YouTube with puppets? 252 00:09:08,900 --> 00:09:10,260 Because we were like, not really crazy. 253 00:09:10,260 --> 00:09:12,100 I wasn't crazy about putting, let's say, 254 00:09:12,100 --> 00:09:14,500 my face to it right away. 255 00:09:14,500 --> 00:09:16,500 And the puppets with our YouTube channel 256 00:09:16,500 --> 00:09:19,700 is like a fun way for kids to see language being spoken. 257 00:09:19,700 --> 00:09:24,420 And it's more of, my personal thing is our audience 258 00:09:24,420 --> 00:09:26,540 is our Moses's children. 259 00:09:26,540 --> 00:09:29,420 And whoever gets, everyone's gonna get the most out of that. 260 00:09:29,420 --> 00:09:32,420 Because if you're gonna do like simple conversation 261 00:09:32,420 --> 00:09:34,700 for children, it'll definitely translate for everyone 262 00:09:34,700 --> 00:09:35,700 as well, adults too. 263 00:09:35,700 --> 00:09:37,100 So. 264 00:09:37,100 --> 00:09:38,020 Myself especially. 265 00:09:38,020 --> 00:09:39,620 And Tony's included in that, yeah. 266 00:09:39,620 --> 00:09:40,460 And Tony Beats. 267 00:09:40,460 --> 00:09:41,300 Yeah, yeah. 268 00:09:41,300 --> 00:09:44,180 Well, it's a great visual way 269 00:09:44,180 --> 00:09:45,900 because you see the words spelled out. 270 00:09:45,900 --> 00:09:48,420 And obviously they don't sound exactly the way they look, 271 00:09:48,420 --> 00:09:51,260 but you kind of get the understanding. 272 00:09:51,260 --> 00:09:54,060 And especially where things are silent 273 00:09:54,060 --> 00:09:56,060 or where things have a little hat on it, 274 00:09:56,060 --> 00:09:57,180 and it's weird. 275 00:09:57,180 --> 00:09:58,020 Yeah. 276 00:09:58,020 --> 00:09:59,420 It makes sense. 277 00:09:59,420 --> 00:10:01,740 Yeah, definitely being able to visualize 278 00:10:01,740 --> 00:10:03,700 the words that you're seeing. 279 00:10:03,700 --> 00:10:05,620 Well, I mean, you guys have a pretty big audience 280 00:10:05,620 --> 00:10:06,460 on YouTube. 281 00:10:06,460 --> 00:10:08,940 You have like 4,000 and something followers, 282 00:10:08,940 --> 00:10:10,780 I think on YouTube. 283 00:10:10,780 --> 00:10:14,020 You guys are also, what you released as audio as well 284 00:10:14,020 --> 00:10:17,540 on Spotify and Apple podcasts and those sort of things. 285 00:10:17,540 --> 00:10:18,380 Correct, yes. 286 00:10:18,380 --> 00:10:20,140 Yeah, so we do a podcast twice a month. 287 00:10:20,140 --> 00:10:22,740 We try to do, we started the YouTube channel 288 00:10:22,740 --> 00:10:23,740 maybe a year after. 289 00:10:23,740 --> 00:10:26,100 So we're trying to steadily playing catch up 290 00:10:26,100 --> 00:10:28,180 with just, let's say the YouTube channel 291 00:10:28,180 --> 00:10:30,660 is just the lesson portion of our podcast. 292 00:10:30,660 --> 00:10:34,020 So the podcast is gonna have our mail bag 293 00:10:34,020 --> 00:10:35,180 of people that write to us. 294 00:10:35,180 --> 00:10:36,580 We'll do a lesson portion. 295 00:10:36,580 --> 00:10:38,500 DJ Mo does a super slavka report, 296 00:10:38,500 --> 00:10:40,420 kind of a cultural report, 297 00:10:40,420 --> 00:10:43,060 a bunch of goofy dad jokes mixed in there. 298 00:10:43,060 --> 00:10:45,620 And so the YouTube was a little bit more refined 299 00:10:45,620 --> 00:10:47,420 on just the lesson section. 300 00:10:47,420 --> 00:10:48,540 So I see. 301 00:10:48,540 --> 00:10:50,620 So for like cultural report, 302 00:10:50,620 --> 00:10:53,980 that's about Croatia things going on over there or? 303 00:10:53,980 --> 00:10:57,460 Yeah, it's essentially a report on, 304 00:10:57,460 --> 00:10:58,580 super slavka report. 305 00:10:58,580 --> 00:11:01,180 It's basically anything that I find interesting 306 00:11:01,180 --> 00:11:04,060 that is connected to Croatian in some shape or form, 307 00:11:04,060 --> 00:11:05,700 whether it be sciency, 308 00:11:05,700 --> 00:11:08,620 whether it be history based kind of stuff. 309 00:11:08,620 --> 00:11:10,260 The hikes that you were talking about? 310 00:11:10,260 --> 00:11:12,620 Even trails that have gone on and things of that nature 311 00:11:12,620 --> 00:11:14,540 that I think are interesting that someone 312 00:11:14,540 --> 00:11:17,980 that may not know too much as a kid, 313 00:11:17,980 --> 00:11:19,860 would go, oh, that's cool. 314 00:11:19,860 --> 00:11:23,180 Cause there's so many things Croatia's been, 315 00:11:23,180 --> 00:11:24,340 touched upon by many, 316 00:11:25,540 --> 00:11:28,500 I would say empires over the years, right? 317 00:11:28,500 --> 00:11:30,580 You got your Byzantines, your Romans, the Greeks, 318 00:11:30,580 --> 00:11:33,060 and it goes way back and there's so much history there. 319 00:11:33,060 --> 00:11:34,980 And there's a little bit of a story for each one. 320 00:11:34,980 --> 00:11:38,540 And you just gotta pick one out and they're all amazing. 321 00:11:38,540 --> 00:11:40,260 So I always find them super interesting. 322 00:11:40,260 --> 00:11:42,220 So I try to make them as interesting for everybody else 323 00:11:42,220 --> 00:11:44,820 and just really report on something that caught my eye, 324 00:11:44,820 --> 00:11:45,980 but I think would catch somebody else 325 00:11:45,980 --> 00:11:46,820 if they heard about it. 326 00:11:46,820 --> 00:11:50,340 Me too, that ghost story trail thing. 327 00:11:50,340 --> 00:11:51,180 Oh yeah. 328 00:11:51,180 --> 00:11:53,020 That stuck in my brain. 329 00:11:53,020 --> 00:11:56,420 The underwater aqueduct river thing, 330 00:11:56,420 --> 00:11:57,420 it's stuck in my brain. 331 00:11:57,420 --> 00:11:58,620 I mean, there's so much cool stuff 332 00:11:58,620 --> 00:12:00,340 that I've never been to Croatia. 333 00:12:00,340 --> 00:12:04,060 So that's obviously like ultimately my trip, 334 00:12:04,060 --> 00:12:06,260 my dream trip. 335 00:12:06,260 --> 00:12:09,060 Because of all the things that I've heard in the, 336 00:12:09,060 --> 00:12:10,740 super sloth report, 337 00:12:10,740 --> 00:12:14,380 I have a huge list that I probably never leave 338 00:12:14,380 --> 00:12:16,660 so I can complete all of that. 339 00:12:16,660 --> 00:12:19,060 But yeah, also food, also sports. 340 00:12:19,060 --> 00:12:21,420 We just talked about the 98 World Cup team 341 00:12:21,420 --> 00:12:22,460 in our last episode. 342 00:12:22,460 --> 00:12:26,380 So yeah, everything and anything, Croatian. 343 00:12:26,380 --> 00:12:29,660 Artists, sculptors, musicians, big time, everything. 344 00:12:29,660 --> 00:12:32,380 Okay, so if you only want the language lessons, 345 00:12:32,380 --> 00:12:34,860 you can go on YouTube for that and watch the puppet show. 346 00:12:34,860 --> 00:12:37,340 But if you want the whole thing, culture, music, 347 00:12:37,340 --> 00:12:38,780 a little bit about everything, 348 00:12:38,780 --> 00:12:40,460 the full podcast is available. 349 00:12:40,460 --> 00:12:42,420 Yeah, yeah, most definitely. 350 00:12:42,420 --> 00:12:44,580 Awesome, well, I'll let you guys shout that out right now 351 00:12:44,580 --> 00:12:47,060 before I forget where you can sort of find 352 00:12:47,060 --> 00:12:48,300 what the YouTube handle is, 353 00:12:48,300 --> 00:12:49,500 where you can find the podcast, 354 00:12:49,500 --> 00:12:51,780 any other sort of social medias. 355 00:12:51,780 --> 00:12:52,620 Sure thing, yeah. 356 00:12:52,620 --> 00:12:56,420 YouTube is basically anywhere you go and find your, 357 00:12:56,420 --> 00:12:59,500 I'm sorry, podcast is either iTunes, Spotify, 358 00:12:59,500 --> 00:13:02,420 Apple Play, whatever it is, but it's Let's Learn Croatian. 359 00:13:02,420 --> 00:13:04,060 That's our podcast name, right? 360 00:13:04,060 --> 00:13:05,740 So that's kind of all up there. 361 00:13:05,740 --> 00:13:08,860 We have a website called let'slearncroatian.com. 362 00:13:08,860 --> 00:13:11,700 Facebook is LLC pod. 363 00:13:11,700 --> 00:13:13,940 Instagram also LLC pod. 364 00:13:13,940 --> 00:13:16,060 YouTube channel is another, it's Let's Learn Croatian 365 00:13:16,060 --> 00:13:17,980 and you'll see our little lessons and you'll see, 366 00:13:17,980 --> 00:13:19,620 as you see in the video here, 367 00:13:19,620 --> 00:13:22,580 if whoever's watching the video, we have three puppets. 368 00:13:22,580 --> 00:13:27,260 It'll have a nice subtitle mix there of all the lessons 369 00:13:27,260 --> 00:13:29,420 about the lesson sections that we do. 370 00:13:29,420 --> 00:13:30,340 Yeah. 371 00:13:30,340 --> 00:13:31,300 Awesome, awesome. 372 00:13:31,300 --> 00:13:34,420 And I'll drop links, of course, in the episode description 373 00:13:34,420 --> 00:13:37,260 so you guys can go and click on those as well. 374 00:13:37,260 --> 00:13:38,100 Excellent. 375 00:13:38,100 --> 00:13:41,780 Someone mentioned the report, or no, not the report, 376 00:13:41,780 --> 00:13:44,540 where you open fan mail or mail from- 377 00:13:44,540 --> 00:13:45,620 That's Tony, yeah. 378 00:13:45,620 --> 00:13:47,300 Yeah, well, can you talk a little, 379 00:13:47,300 --> 00:13:50,100 because I wanted to ask, how do you guys measure 380 00:13:50,100 --> 00:13:51,740 the success of the podcast? 381 00:13:51,740 --> 00:13:53,340 Or what makes it worth it for you guys? 382 00:13:53,340 --> 00:13:55,460 Do you hear from people saying, 383 00:13:55,460 --> 00:13:58,420 oh, I'm learning so much or thank you so much, 384 00:13:58,420 --> 00:13:59,260 this and this? 385 00:14:00,180 --> 00:14:04,620 I think the biggest, I guess, heartwarming, 386 00:14:04,620 --> 00:14:09,140 feel-good moments have been anyone learning. 387 00:14:09,140 --> 00:14:13,900 I mean, honestly, it's been an amazing sight to read. 388 00:14:13,900 --> 00:14:18,540 People from all around the world that stumble upon us 389 00:14:18,540 --> 00:14:21,020 that have been recommended to them, 390 00:14:21,020 --> 00:14:23,740 but it's all about family and history 391 00:14:23,740 --> 00:14:28,020 and being able to reconnect or connect further 392 00:14:28,020 --> 00:14:32,300 with family and whether it's their history, 393 00:14:32,300 --> 00:14:35,860 their lineage of being from Croatia, 394 00:14:35,860 --> 00:14:40,860 but now in Brazil or New Zealand or wherever. 395 00:14:40,940 --> 00:14:45,500 Canada, Argentina, Australia, Indonesia. 396 00:14:45,500 --> 00:14:49,500 Yeah, seriously, all over the world and in random places. 397 00:14:49,500 --> 00:14:53,300 Wherever they migrated from, hearing from them, 398 00:14:53,300 --> 00:14:58,300 at least being able to say, this has inspired us 399 00:14:58,340 --> 00:15:01,340 to learn more about our history, our heritage, 400 00:15:01,340 --> 00:15:02,900 our family lineage. 401 00:15:02,900 --> 00:15:04,460 And it's wonderful. 402 00:15:04,460 --> 00:15:07,700 It's wonderful to see where everyone has gone 403 00:15:07,700 --> 00:15:10,180 and migrated to. 404 00:15:10,180 --> 00:15:13,780 So then reel them back in and say, hey, remember Croatia? 405 00:15:13,780 --> 00:15:14,620 Remember family? 406 00:15:14,620 --> 00:15:17,580 Remember where we came from? 407 00:15:17,580 --> 00:15:18,700 And they share that with us. 408 00:15:18,700 --> 00:15:20,940 And that's really nice to see that. 409 00:15:20,940 --> 00:15:24,700 Even if it's their first episode or their 98th episode, 410 00:15:24,700 --> 00:15:26,740 they're still interacting with us and letting us know 411 00:15:26,740 --> 00:15:30,540 that they're still listening and it's inspiring. 412 00:15:30,540 --> 00:15:34,460 It's a really cool, that's success to us, definitely. 413 00:15:34,460 --> 00:15:37,140 Yeah, getting those kinds of emails are fun, definitely. 414 00:15:37,140 --> 00:15:37,980 Yeah, for sure. 415 00:15:37,980 --> 00:15:38,980 Yeah, that's an awesome feeling. 416 00:15:38,980 --> 00:15:40,540 I mean, I feel the same way, 417 00:15:40,540 --> 00:15:44,020 because that's the goal of this podcast as well, 418 00:15:44,020 --> 00:15:45,540 what I'm trying to do as well. 419 00:15:46,420 --> 00:15:48,100 But yeah, that's just the best feeling 420 00:15:48,100 --> 00:15:51,620 because I as well am trying to reconnect with my roots 421 00:15:51,620 --> 00:15:54,420 and become closer to the Croatian language, 422 00:15:54,420 --> 00:15:55,940 Croatian culture and all that. 423 00:15:55,940 --> 00:15:57,380 So yeah, really, it's heartwarming 424 00:15:57,380 --> 00:16:00,620 when you hear that others are going through the same thing 425 00:16:00,620 --> 00:16:01,700 because of what you're doing. 426 00:16:01,700 --> 00:16:02,540 Oh yeah. 427 00:16:02,540 --> 00:16:03,380 Yeah. 428 00:16:03,380 --> 00:16:07,580 It's great though that you're able to be so inspired 429 00:16:07,580 --> 00:16:10,460 to move there and be within it. 430 00:16:10,460 --> 00:16:11,460 That's a big step. 431 00:16:11,460 --> 00:16:12,580 That's a huge, big step. 432 00:16:12,580 --> 00:16:13,420 Yeah. 433 00:16:13,420 --> 00:16:14,260 Yeah, well it started smaller. 434 00:16:14,260 --> 00:16:15,300 It gets you experience all of that. 435 00:16:15,300 --> 00:16:16,140 Yeah. 436 00:16:16,140 --> 00:16:16,980 Yeah. 437 00:16:16,980 --> 00:16:17,820 How small? 438 00:16:17,820 --> 00:16:19,900 I was gonna come for three months originally. 439 00:16:19,900 --> 00:16:20,740 Okay. 440 00:16:20,740 --> 00:16:21,820 A three month language program. 441 00:16:21,820 --> 00:16:24,060 And now I've been here a little over two years. 442 00:16:24,060 --> 00:16:24,900 Oh wow. 443 00:16:24,900 --> 00:16:25,740 That's awesome. 444 00:16:25,740 --> 00:16:26,580 Yeah, awesome. 445 00:16:26,580 --> 00:16:27,420 Very cool. 446 00:16:27,420 --> 00:16:29,460 Just kept month by month, I kept extending 447 00:16:29,460 --> 00:16:31,620 and then all of a sudden now I'm here. 448 00:16:31,620 --> 00:16:33,060 Yeah, yeah, wow. 449 00:16:33,060 --> 00:16:34,700 But you're in Zagreb you said, right? 450 00:16:34,700 --> 00:16:35,820 Yeah, I'm in Zagreb. 451 00:16:35,820 --> 00:16:37,860 Yeah, I mean, it's super nice. 452 00:16:37,860 --> 00:16:40,540 In my opinion, the best sort of all-around, 453 00:16:40,540 --> 00:16:42,260 year-round city in Croatia. 454 00:16:42,260 --> 00:16:43,300 I see. 455 00:16:43,300 --> 00:16:44,780 Because the coast of course is beautiful. 456 00:16:44,780 --> 00:16:46,100 And of course during the summer, 457 00:16:46,100 --> 00:16:47,220 I'm gonna go down to the coast, 458 00:16:47,220 --> 00:16:48,940 but the winter and stuff, 459 00:16:48,940 --> 00:16:52,780 it's a little bit slow down there. 460 00:16:52,780 --> 00:16:53,620 The city's nice. 461 00:16:53,620 --> 00:16:54,460 Yeah, definitely. 462 00:16:54,460 --> 00:16:57,260 Which is nice too, but I don't know. 463 00:16:57,260 --> 00:16:58,820 For me, I'm used to being from LA. 464 00:16:58,820 --> 00:17:01,940 I'm sort of used to the city life a little bit more. 465 00:17:01,940 --> 00:17:04,340 So for me, Zagreb's a little closer to home. 466 00:17:06,380 --> 00:17:07,220 Beautiful. 467 00:17:07,220 --> 00:17:10,620 I believe that I'll get a video from you guys, right? 468 00:17:10,620 --> 00:17:13,940 That I'm attaching to the end of this podcast? 469 00:17:13,940 --> 00:17:14,780 Yeah. 470 00:17:14,780 --> 00:17:15,620 Yes. 471 00:17:15,620 --> 00:17:18,940 Just so I'll alert people right now who are listening, 472 00:17:18,940 --> 00:17:19,980 who will be listening, 473 00:17:19,980 --> 00:17:22,300 there's gonna be a video here at the end of this. 474 00:17:22,300 --> 00:17:24,940 And before we cut to that, 475 00:17:24,940 --> 00:17:29,180 I just got a couple sort of fun questions for you guys. 476 00:17:29,180 --> 00:17:30,020 Sure thing. 477 00:17:30,020 --> 00:17:30,940 Quick questions. 478 00:17:32,260 --> 00:17:35,500 One piece of advice you can give for learning Croatian. 479 00:17:37,300 --> 00:17:40,620 I'll do that is keep it simple. 480 00:17:40,620 --> 00:17:43,700 Cause I remember learning German in school, 481 00:17:43,700 --> 00:17:45,060 let's say college, 482 00:17:45,060 --> 00:17:48,460 and then going to Germany and only having like a very 483 00:17:48,460 --> 00:17:51,940 like book rooted conversational way of speaking. 484 00:17:51,940 --> 00:17:54,340 And I was looked at like I was like, who is this guy? 485 00:17:54,340 --> 00:17:56,660 You know, like talking like a professor to everybody, 486 00:17:56,660 --> 00:18:00,060 but Croatian, yeah, like learning a little bit of dialect, 487 00:18:00,060 --> 00:18:01,940 a little bit of slang is very, very helpful 488 00:18:01,940 --> 00:18:03,500 with connecting to people big time. 489 00:18:03,500 --> 00:18:04,580 Big time. 490 00:18:04,580 --> 00:18:05,420 I agree. 491 00:18:05,420 --> 00:18:06,380 Yeah, definitely agree. 492 00:18:07,700 --> 00:18:09,060 This is for all three of you. 493 00:18:09,060 --> 00:18:12,100 Favorite, well, I guess for two of you right now, 494 00:18:12,100 --> 00:18:14,220 favorite food when you're in Croatia. 495 00:18:14,220 --> 00:18:18,580 I believe that's Tony D who will soon soon go to the parade. 496 00:18:18,580 --> 00:18:19,420 Hopefully. 497 00:18:21,140 --> 00:18:22,940 Go ahead, DJ Mai got mine. 498 00:18:22,940 --> 00:18:24,060 Oh, go there. 499 00:18:24,060 --> 00:18:25,940 Well, I mean, whenever I go, 500 00:18:25,940 --> 00:18:28,460 I know I'm gonna have to have Burek. 501 00:18:28,460 --> 00:18:29,980 You know, so I'm gonna have to have Burek 502 00:18:29,980 --> 00:18:31,660 and I'm gonna have to have a Rajnici, right? 503 00:18:31,660 --> 00:18:34,060 So that's kind of the barbecue is that pork 504 00:18:34,060 --> 00:18:35,500 and then with French fries. 505 00:18:35,500 --> 00:18:36,700 And then for me over there, 506 00:18:36,700 --> 00:18:39,740 the big thing is the fresh vegetables and the fresh fruit. 507 00:18:39,740 --> 00:18:42,780 Such a different quality of food versus the stuff 508 00:18:42,780 --> 00:18:44,020 that we get in Southern California. 509 00:18:44,020 --> 00:18:46,180 That's coming from everywhere over there. 510 00:18:46,180 --> 00:18:47,780 That's such a different flavor 511 00:18:47,780 --> 00:18:51,100 where I feel like the freshness is I'm all in. 512 00:18:51,100 --> 00:18:52,180 I'm all in over there. 513 00:18:52,180 --> 00:18:53,020 Yeah. That's huge. 514 00:18:53,020 --> 00:18:55,140 That's an amazing treat. 515 00:18:55,140 --> 00:18:57,140 Is it that I joke about it. 516 00:18:57,140 --> 00:18:58,900 I'm like the farm to table thing is legit over there. 517 00:18:58,900 --> 00:19:00,340 Yeah. That's all they do. 518 00:19:00,340 --> 00:19:01,180 Yeah. Yeah. 519 00:19:01,180 --> 00:19:02,780 They just go in the garden with a couple of sheets, 520 00:19:02,780 --> 00:19:04,700 with a pair of shears and then bring something back 521 00:19:04,700 --> 00:19:06,540 and they cook it up. 522 00:19:06,540 --> 00:19:09,500 But for food wise, like I'm gonna reflect mainly 523 00:19:09,500 --> 00:19:11,980 on what like my wife's aunt and uncle make for us. 524 00:19:11,980 --> 00:19:14,780 A lot of times it's the salata pomodori. 525 00:19:14,780 --> 00:19:18,500 It's so amazing that the tomatoes are just like, 526 00:19:18,500 --> 00:19:19,340 this guy makes fun of me. 527 00:19:19,340 --> 00:19:20,380 He's like the only tomatoes that you know 528 00:19:20,380 --> 00:19:22,460 what he prior to going to Croatia was ketchup. 529 00:19:22,460 --> 00:19:24,300 And you know, he's not that far off. 530 00:19:26,300 --> 00:19:28,620 The pomodori over there are just phenomenal. 531 00:19:28,620 --> 00:19:31,420 And then also another thing that my family over there 532 00:19:31,420 --> 00:19:34,020 would make or will make or undo make is 533 00:19:34,020 --> 00:19:34,860 they go on tic pizza. 534 00:19:34,860 --> 00:19:37,180 There's like these little pancakes that are, 535 00:19:37,180 --> 00:19:38,020 they're like fried. 536 00:19:38,020 --> 00:19:38,860 What would you call them? 537 00:19:38,860 --> 00:19:39,700 Dreaded squawk. 538 00:19:39,700 --> 00:19:40,540 Dreaded squawk. 539 00:19:40,540 --> 00:19:41,380 Dreaded and fried. 540 00:19:41,380 --> 00:19:42,220 Dreaded and fried. 541 00:19:42,220 --> 00:19:43,420 Oh, it's so bonkers good. 542 00:19:43,420 --> 00:19:44,420 Oh my God. 543 00:19:44,420 --> 00:19:47,260 And then any of the wine that my, 544 00:19:47,260 --> 00:19:48,300 that they make over there too, 545 00:19:48,300 --> 00:19:49,620 that they're their homemade wine. 546 00:19:49,620 --> 00:19:50,980 Oh, so great. 547 00:19:50,980 --> 00:19:51,820 So good. 548 00:19:51,820 --> 00:19:52,660 Yeah. 549 00:19:52,660 --> 00:19:54,020 I feel everything just hits different over there. 550 00:19:54,020 --> 00:19:54,860 Everything really does. 551 00:19:54,860 --> 00:19:55,700 It really does. 552 00:19:55,700 --> 00:19:56,540 It really does. 553 00:19:58,580 --> 00:20:00,540 What, here's another one for the two of you. 554 00:20:00,540 --> 00:20:03,100 What makes Croatia so special? 555 00:20:03,100 --> 00:20:03,940 I mean, I guess all three. 556 00:20:03,940 --> 00:20:05,820 I mean, you're, Tony, you're involved, you know, 557 00:20:05,820 --> 00:20:07,020 in the culture too as well. 558 00:20:07,020 --> 00:20:10,020 And the diaspora over there in San Pedro. 559 00:20:10,020 --> 00:20:11,660 I mean, for you guys, what, you know, 560 00:20:11,660 --> 00:20:12,980 what makes it so special? 561 00:20:12,980 --> 00:20:15,100 You know, why are you guys doing what you're doing? 562 00:20:16,420 --> 00:20:18,980 Oh, I guess I could say what makes it special 563 00:20:18,980 --> 00:20:21,540 from the outside looking in 564 00:20:21,540 --> 00:20:24,980 is the dynamics of the culture. 565 00:20:24,980 --> 00:20:28,420 I know being a like Mexican heritage, 566 00:20:29,420 --> 00:20:31,380 there's culture there as well, 567 00:20:31,380 --> 00:20:33,180 but seeing like the overlap 568 00:20:33,180 --> 00:20:36,580 and then also seeing like the passion that everyone has. 569 00:20:36,580 --> 00:20:38,660 Plus there's just, there's so much 570 00:20:38,660 --> 00:20:42,220 in such a small space of a country. 571 00:20:42,220 --> 00:20:45,700 So seeing all of that in there, it's just exciting. 572 00:20:47,420 --> 00:20:51,300 I think for me, obviously it's family for me, you know, 573 00:20:51,300 --> 00:20:53,980 and there's a lot of memories from childhood, 574 00:20:53,980 --> 00:20:57,580 but one of the like the special things for me for Croatia, 575 00:20:57,580 --> 00:20:59,140 especially you probably could write with this, 576 00:20:59,140 --> 00:21:01,780 coming from Los Angeles and going over there, 577 00:21:01,780 --> 00:21:03,180 especially Dalmatian coast, 578 00:21:03,180 --> 00:21:07,020 just the speed of life is way slower. 579 00:21:07,020 --> 00:21:08,860 It's like every day is more appreciated 580 00:21:08,860 --> 00:21:11,060 versus kind of powering through the day 581 00:21:11,060 --> 00:21:12,980 and trying to accomplish as much as you can here 582 00:21:12,980 --> 00:21:14,060 in the States. 583 00:21:14,060 --> 00:21:17,980 So over there, I do respect that more where free time, 584 00:21:17,980 --> 00:21:21,540 you know, like social time is a little bit more cherished 585 00:21:21,540 --> 00:21:24,580 versus let's say here in the States, you know, 586 00:21:24,580 --> 00:21:26,260 like traffic jams. 587 00:21:26,260 --> 00:21:29,500 When the tourists hit hard in Croatia, it can be bad, 588 00:21:29,500 --> 00:21:32,980 but you know, LA traffic is just a lot more important 589 00:21:32,980 --> 00:21:34,420 in everyday part of life. 590 00:21:34,420 --> 00:21:36,620 So I do appreciate that so much 591 00:21:36,620 --> 00:21:39,500 of the slower lifestyle, definitely. 592 00:21:39,500 --> 00:21:42,180 Yeah, these two guys got some really good ones in there. 593 00:21:42,180 --> 00:21:43,620 The only thing I could connect with again 594 00:21:43,620 --> 00:21:45,060 is the family thing, you know, 595 00:21:45,060 --> 00:21:49,700 like I grew up similar to Tony, Mexican heritage, you know, 596 00:21:49,700 --> 00:21:50,820 I'd go to Mexico as a kid 597 00:21:50,820 --> 00:21:52,620 and I'd enjoy being with the family 598 00:21:52,620 --> 00:21:55,620 and really kind of pulling it all in, 599 00:21:55,620 --> 00:21:58,380 like all the sights, the sounds, the smells and everything. 600 00:21:58,380 --> 00:21:59,380 And then going to Croatia 601 00:21:59,380 --> 00:22:01,380 and just having that same mentality as a kid, 602 00:22:01,380 --> 00:22:03,220 like mindset, just soaking it all that in 603 00:22:03,220 --> 00:22:05,780 and just being part of it, like, oh wow, 604 00:22:05,780 --> 00:22:08,380 it's cleaner than where I go to. 605 00:22:08,380 --> 00:22:10,060 I went to Mexico City as a kid, 606 00:22:10,060 --> 00:22:12,460 my eyes would tear getting off the plane just from the smoke. 607 00:22:12,460 --> 00:22:14,540 So very different going to Croatia, 608 00:22:14,540 --> 00:22:17,140 but the beauty, the nature, I love it all. 609 00:22:17,140 --> 00:22:18,700 It's such a great, you know, visit. 610 00:22:18,700 --> 00:22:20,500 And there's parts of me that go, 611 00:22:20,500 --> 00:22:21,780 oh, this reminds me of Mexico. 612 00:22:21,780 --> 00:22:23,220 Oh, this reminds me of Mexico as a kid, you know, 613 00:22:23,220 --> 00:22:26,020 all these things, seeing my kids being, 614 00:22:26,020 --> 00:22:27,620 enjoying it the way I enjoy things 615 00:22:27,620 --> 00:22:29,380 and not like, you know, on my journey. 616 00:22:29,380 --> 00:22:31,220 So that's like me living through them a little bit. 617 00:22:31,220 --> 00:22:32,460 So that's also really special. 618 00:22:32,460 --> 00:22:33,380 Yeah. 619 00:22:33,380 --> 00:22:34,220 Awesome. 620 00:22:34,220 --> 00:22:35,660 Wow. Yeah. Great answers, you guys. 621 00:22:35,660 --> 00:22:36,660 That's awesome. 622 00:22:36,660 --> 00:22:39,740 Before I let you go, I've got one more question for you 623 00:22:39,740 --> 00:22:41,140 and then stay tuned everyone, 624 00:22:41,140 --> 00:22:41,980 because we're going to hit you 625 00:22:41,980 --> 00:22:44,580 with the video coming right after. 626 00:22:44,580 --> 00:22:49,100 But your favorite, no, artist, Croatian word, 627 00:22:49,100 --> 00:22:51,500 most difficult Croatian word or favorite? 628 00:22:52,580 --> 00:22:53,420 Your choice. 629 00:22:53,420 --> 00:22:55,860 Oh, Tony, I know what your favorite is. 630 00:22:59,140 --> 00:22:59,980 Kiki Riki. 631 00:22:59,980 --> 00:23:03,500 Well, I mean, obviously, I was thinking hardest. 632 00:23:03,500 --> 00:23:05,460 No, I mean, they're all hard to me, but. 633 00:23:06,580 --> 00:23:08,540 Kiki Riki for sure. 634 00:23:08,540 --> 00:23:10,500 It's a fun word to say. 635 00:23:10,500 --> 00:23:12,540 I mean, there's a lot of fun words 636 00:23:12,540 --> 00:23:15,980 that I've noticed in the language, but. 637 00:23:17,340 --> 00:23:18,820 Hard words you're probably not going to remember 638 00:23:18,820 --> 00:23:19,660 how to pronounce. 639 00:23:19,660 --> 00:23:23,220 I mean, they all just fly out of my brain. 640 00:23:24,180 --> 00:23:25,900 Yeah, there's a lot of tongue twisters 641 00:23:25,900 --> 00:23:28,900 and a lot of crazily spouted words 642 00:23:28,900 --> 00:23:31,780 that it's crazy. 643 00:23:31,780 --> 00:23:35,900 It's smordljivo, that's one of my favorite ones, stinky. 644 00:23:35,900 --> 00:23:37,660 Like they got the smordljivo marked 645 00:23:37,660 --> 00:23:39,420 and it's a bug called the stinky bug. 646 00:23:39,420 --> 00:23:41,940 Smordljivo, stinky, that's one of my favorites. 647 00:23:43,860 --> 00:23:46,420 I just like saying svarno for everything. 648 00:23:46,420 --> 00:23:48,780 Especially when like my in-laws are over at a house 649 00:23:48,780 --> 00:23:50,340 or I'm at their house and they're speaking to each other 650 00:23:50,340 --> 00:23:51,740 in Croatian and going way too fast 651 00:23:51,740 --> 00:23:54,580 with my ear to pick up and I'll always be like, svarno? 652 00:23:54,580 --> 00:23:57,460 And they both stop and look at each other like, 653 00:23:57,460 --> 00:23:58,820 did he catch all that? 654 00:23:58,820 --> 00:24:00,420 And then I walk away letting them know 655 00:24:00,420 --> 00:24:02,100 that maybe I didn't catch all that. 656 00:24:02,100 --> 00:24:03,820 I don't even know what they're talking about, 657 00:24:03,820 --> 00:24:04,900 to be honest sometimes. 658 00:24:04,900 --> 00:24:07,060 So I'll let that pass, but svarno's a good one. 659 00:24:07,060 --> 00:24:07,900 Yeah. 660 00:24:07,900 --> 00:24:08,740 Moje too. 661 00:24:08,740 --> 00:24:09,580 Moje actually helps a lot. 662 00:24:09,580 --> 00:24:10,500 And I say da a lot now. 663 00:24:10,500 --> 00:24:11,940 That's in all my vernacular. 664 00:24:11,940 --> 00:24:13,140 I text people da and they're like, 665 00:24:13,140 --> 00:24:14,180 what are you talking about? 666 00:24:14,180 --> 00:24:15,300 I like to say cekaj. 667 00:24:15,300 --> 00:24:16,140 Cekaj, cekaj. 668 00:24:16,140 --> 00:24:16,980 Cekaj. 669 00:24:16,980 --> 00:24:17,820 Cekaj. 670 00:24:17,820 --> 00:24:19,260 Cekaj is a good one. 671 00:24:19,260 --> 00:24:21,420 I think moje over here is the word that I use 672 00:24:21,420 --> 00:24:22,340 like most frequently. 673 00:24:22,340 --> 00:24:24,340 Like for any other svarmoje, half the time 674 00:24:24,340 --> 00:24:25,940 I don't even know what they're offering. 675 00:24:25,940 --> 00:24:29,580 I think I know what moje is. 676 00:24:29,580 --> 00:24:30,780 Yeah, it's impolite to say no. 677 00:24:30,780 --> 00:24:32,540 So moje kind of covers it all. 678 00:24:32,540 --> 00:24:33,380 Yep. 679 00:24:33,380 --> 00:24:36,340 That was over one time I was at the like cafeteria 680 00:24:36,340 --> 00:24:38,140 over here at the University of Zagreb 681 00:24:38,140 --> 00:24:40,180 and I asked the lady, you know, what are, 682 00:24:40,180 --> 00:24:41,980 I thought they looked like big steaks. 683 00:24:41,980 --> 00:24:43,220 And I was like in the back of the line 684 00:24:43,220 --> 00:24:45,220 and no one was taking them off the rack. 685 00:24:45,220 --> 00:24:46,580 And so by the time I get there, 686 00:24:46,580 --> 00:24:48,340 by the time I get there, they're still there. 687 00:24:48,340 --> 00:24:49,820 I asked the lady in Croatian and you know, 688 00:24:49,820 --> 00:24:50,940 I was like, štaj ovo? 689 00:24:50,940 --> 00:24:51,780 Like, what is this? 690 00:24:51,780 --> 00:24:53,300 I didn't understand what she said. 691 00:24:53,300 --> 00:24:54,860 So I was just like, oh, moje moje. 692 00:24:54,860 --> 00:24:57,780 And I took this and then I looked on the receipt 693 00:24:57,780 --> 00:24:59,540 and I like Google translated what it was 694 00:24:59,540 --> 00:25:00,540 and it was liver. 695 00:25:01,500 --> 00:25:02,340 That's why. 696 00:25:02,340 --> 00:25:05,060 I had three huge like juicy liver steaks 697 00:25:05,060 --> 00:25:05,900 and I couldn't eat it. 698 00:25:05,900 --> 00:25:06,740 It was just. 699 00:25:06,740 --> 00:25:10,220 No, that one I could never cross over to either. 700 00:25:10,220 --> 00:25:11,620 Yeah, liver, no way. 701 00:25:11,620 --> 00:25:12,460 Pass. 702 00:25:12,460 --> 00:25:13,300 Yeah, yeah. 703 00:25:13,300 --> 00:25:14,660 Yeah, a lot for me. 704 00:25:14,660 --> 00:25:17,100 But you guys, I really appreciate you taking the time 705 00:25:17,100 --> 00:25:17,920 to come on here. 706 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:19,020 It's really awesome what you guys are doing 707 00:25:19,020 --> 00:25:21,220 for the community, for the Croatian language 708 00:25:21,220 --> 00:25:23,100 and helping people, you know, like myself 709 00:25:23,100 --> 00:25:26,220 and like yourselves learn and stay, you know, 710 00:25:26,220 --> 00:25:29,460 in tune with their Croatian culture and heritage. 711 00:25:29,460 --> 00:25:31,140 We'll hit the video right now, 712 00:25:31,140 --> 00:25:33,020 but I just wanna, you know, thank you guys again 713 00:25:33,020 --> 00:25:35,020 for coming on the podcast. 714 00:25:35,020 --> 00:25:36,840 Puno Hvala, Samko, Puno Hvala. 715 00:25:36,840 --> 00:25:37,680 Puno Hvala. 716 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:38,520 Thank you. 717 00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:39,600 Yeah, Hvala Vama. 718 00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:40,940 Či, deti šat! 719 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:44,460 ["Follow Us"] 720 00:25:44,460 --> 00:25:47,040 ["Follow Us"] 721 00:25:50,980 --> 00:25:54,020 So let's get things going with the lesson here. 722 00:25:54,020 --> 00:25:55,640 So at the beginning of the show, 723 00:25:55,640 --> 00:25:59,180 you heard three goofballs yell something loud, right? 724 00:25:59,180 --> 00:26:03,140 It was, and what you heard, you heard tri, četri, sad. 725 00:26:03,140 --> 00:26:05,500 So it's a really cool little thing where, 726 00:26:05,500 --> 00:26:07,900 in English, at least in American English, 727 00:26:07,900 --> 00:26:11,300 we say either ready, set, go, 728 00:26:11,300 --> 00:26:13,700 or we say one, two, three. 729 00:26:13,700 --> 00:26:17,860 But in Croatian, they say three, four, now. 730 00:26:17,860 --> 00:26:18,700 Go, go! 731 00:26:21,340 --> 00:26:24,180 Don't forget to hit subscribe. 732 00:26:24,180 --> 00:26:47,180 And smash that like button.