From the Pacific to the Adriatic: How one Canadian-Croatian student found her rhythm in Dubrovnik

Nikolina Švorinić

For many young people in the diaspora community, Croatia is a place of vivid stories told by grandparents or a beautiful destination reserved for summer vacations. But for Nikolina Švorinić, a native of Vancouver, Canada, a bold decision to study abroad has turned the country into her everyday reality.

Nikolina has just completed her first year studying Hospitality and Tourism Management at the RIT Croatia campus in Dubrovnik, and we sat down with her to talk about her transition from the Canadian West Coast, the realities of adjusting to a new culture, and why she believes more diaspora youth should take the leap.

Shifting Gears: Vancouver to Dubrovnik

Coming from Vancouver, a city celebrated for its stunning natural backdrop but defined by a fast-paced, North American rhythm, moving to the historic streets of Dubrovnik was a massive lifestyle shift. While Nikolina admits she is still getting used to the peak intensity of the Mediterranean summer heat, the change in her daily environment was immediate.

“Although living here for a year now has helped me get adjusted to the heat, I do find it to be too much at times,” she notes. Back home, a typical day might involve navigating the SkyTrain or managing a lengthy commute. In Dubrovnik, her routine is beautifully simplified. “My commute is a small walk to the bus stop and a 7-minute bus ride in a packed bus,” Nikolina shares.

She offers a practical insider tip for incoming students: “Especially during the season, one thing to know about the buses is that they will be late, so it is very helpful to download the Libertas app to track them.”

The proximity to the sea has also completely rewritten how she spends her downtime. While West Coast outdoor adventures often require extensive planning and heavy gear, Dubrovnik offers natural beauty as a daily backdrop.

“Even though I have gone on only a handful of hikes, I cannot say they are my favorite, but the ocean being so easily accessible makes enjoying the natural beauty of Dalmatia so much easier,” she explains.

Embracing the Art of Pomalo

The transition to a “take it easy” mindset has been a fascinating journey for Nikolina, who admits she is still finding her footing with the local pace.

“I still struggle with this philosophy because I am an anxious person by default, and so I find myself being told still by work and school colleagues ‘pomalo,'” she confesses candidly. Despite the initial adjustment, she has deeply embraced the local coffee culture. “I have gotten used to the hour-long coffees, and it is something I look forward to a lot now,” she says.

For her, the dynamic of using her free time this way has completely replaced mindless screen time: “I haven’t found myself at the beach every week but more the coffee shops, but the dynamic of using my free time like this to me is a lot more productive than just doom scrolling.” The habit has stuck so firmly that when she returns to Vancouver, she finds herself trying to recreate that exact café atmosphere at her local JJ Bean coffee shop, though she laughs that “it’s never the same.”

Safety and a Deeply Personal Support System

Nikolina Švorinić and fellow students in front of RIT Croatia campus in Dubrovnik

For diaspora parents, sending a child across the world to study comes with natural anxieties regarding safety and logistics. Nikolina’s experience highlights just how reassuring the environment in Dubrovnik truly is, granting her a level of independence that feels entirely new.

“I have enjoyed the freedom of the safety here in Dubrovnik by taking late-night walks when I can’t sleep, and most locals think I am crazy for this, but the difference is huge,” Nikolina says. “My parents still don’t believe the safety and think it is just like back home.”

Beyond the safety of the streets, the tight-knit community at RIT Croatia provides a vital safety net. Moving across the world involves paperwork, and two weeks into her first semester, a bureaucratic hiccup occurred when the local registry misplaced her birth certificate, putting her school year in jeopardy.

Nikolina recalls how overwhelming that moment was: “I obviously started crying, and Luči from the Admissions Office became my shoulder to lean on and fought for me.”

Thanks to the swift, deeply personal care from staff members like Luči and Ivan from the Admissions Office, whom she calls “the best if you need anything,” the issue was resolved smoothly. “I have nothing but great words to say about RIT Croatia staff,” Nikolina emphasizes.

“They are so welcoming and easy to talk to. The best moment is when you find yourself sitting next to their table at a coffee shop and have usually very fun conversations.”

A Living Laboratory for Hospitality Students

Nikolina Švorinić at the First Year Orientation Day

Choosing RIT Croatia wasn’t just about reconnecting with her roots; it was a strategic choice for her future career. Studying Hospitality and Tourism Management in a world-renowned destination like Dubrovnik provides an unparalleled advantage.

“This is a very helpful aspect while studying Hospitality and Tourism Management,” Nikolina explains. “It helps you not only learn about the Croatian tourism dynamic but all of the Mediterranean.”

Because RIT Croatia awards a fully accredited American degree, the academic structure felt familiar and secure. “This does make things a little more familiar and easier to get in the flow of college,” she notes. While the academic style required some effort initially, she adjusted quickly. “It was at first because of the workload, but once you adjusted it was perfectly fine later.”

Meeting people on campus also proved incredibly easy. “It’s very easy to make friends when you get here and most are friendly, and it helps if you know the language a little,” she shares.

From Visitor to Local

The true turning point of Nikolina’s year came when she realized she was no longer looking at Croatia through the lens of a tourist. The realization hit her during a trip to visit family and friends in Zadar. “This is funny because it was when I visited Zadar to see my friends and family, all to tell me that I have a Dubrovnik accent when speaking,” she laughs.

Her Advice to the Diaspora Community

For any young Croatian-Canadian or Croatian-American sitting at home, weighing the options, and wondering if they should take the plunge and study at RIT Croatia, Nikolina’s message is simple and definitive:

“DO IT!!! I have had the best year of my life with ups and downs definitely, but what is life if it were all ups, boring,” she says. “I have met some of my closest friends and have never regretted doing this move.”