Journalist Iva Hanzen, three years after moving from Zagreb to Sveti Ivan Zelina, debunks myths about idyllic rural life. In a candid video, she shared five things proving that life in the countryside is far from easy.
Journalist Iva Hanzen left Zagreb three years ago, citing burnout syndrome as the main reason. She sold her apartment, paid off her loan, and bought a property near Sveti Ivan Zelina. Since then, she regularly shares her experiences on social media, but in her latest Instagram post, she decided to show the less glamorous side of rural life.
In the video she posted, Hanzen highlighted five specific things that, as she says, prove that life in the countryside is anything but easy. "When I moved from Zagreb to the countryside, people were horrified. Three years later, the countryside is a leading trend, not because everyone suddenly realized they want to milk cows and build straw houses, but because the countryside is presented as an easygoing lifestyle," Hanzen said in the video.
The first thing she pointed out relates to infrastructure and the harsh conditions she faced upon arrival. "First and foremost, the countryside is a heavy cross to bear. For example, I deliberately bought a property without water, with three houses that need enormous renovation, and a 2,000-square-meter plot that is very hard to mow," she recounted. She added that she only got water, and thus a bathroom, after a year and a half of living on the property.
The renovation process is still ongoing, and of the three houses, only one is near completion after three years of work. "In the city, I was just a journalist, but here I'm a journalist, a construction worker, a gardener, and everything else-just not a woman lying in the grass all day," Hanzen said, adding that she still doesn't know how to put the string on the lawnmower.
As the second thing, Hanzen noted that the countryside is not for a woman who is alone, emphasizing the importance of living in a community. "Here you understand why people live in a community. Among other things, because some things you can't physically do alone," she explained. She particularly highlighted the issue of safety, revealing a frightening experience. "Last summer, two guys tried to break into my house, so it was a totally terrifying situation," she said.
The third thing she brought up concerns the very nature of today's countryside. "The countryside no longer exists," Hanzen said, attacking romantic notions of a solidary rural community. "They say, 'turn to your neighbors.' Which neighbors? That image is long gone. Moreover, almost no one is engaged in livestock farming or agriculture anymore, and getting these local products is nearly impossible," she added.
The fourth misconception she debunked relates to finances. "Life in the countryside is not free. Yes, you produce a lot of things, but you don't produce everything-for example, hygiene products, and you don't produce utilities unless you're off-grid, which is extremely expensive," Hanzen emphasized.
Finally, she said that the rural idyll is actually just an illusion. "Ultimately, life in the countryside is just a backdrop. So, if you want a new experience, new skills, a new adventure that will knock your socks off, go to the countryside, but keep in mind: the countryside is just a backdrop. People in the city are tired and therefore think the countryside is the opposite, but that opposite is only visual," she concluded.
Hanzen has previously spoken about her move, appearing on HRT's show "Nedjeljom u 2," where she said: "I think it's important to emphasize that the countryside is not for everyone. It's not the ultimate solution to all our problems."
