Local lawyer Stephen Schuck spent a year studying law in Croatia, and shared some of his experiences and observations during a talk to the Weyburn Rotary Club.
The son of Rotary member Tom and Marilyn Schuck, Stephen grew up in Weyburn, and took a year during his university studies to spend a year at the University of Zagreb, taking international law while learning about and experiencing the local culture of Croatia.
Stephen never had the opportunity to go on a Rotary student exchange when he attended high school, so when the opportunity came up to study law in Croatia, he filled out the application to go. Almost all of his classes were in English, said Schuck, which he found helpful as Croatian is a difficult language. He did try learning the language, and was able to learn about the country through his Croatian girlfriend and her family.
Noting that Croatia was part of the former Yugoslavia, and was under Communism rule with dictator Tito, he sought to find out what it was like at that time. “They won their independence in 1991, which is an interesting piece of history,” he said, noting the BBC had an excellent documentary series detailing the struggle for Croatia’s independence.
Schuck learned while he was there that as part of the European Union, students in Europe could study there and receive a stipend to help pay for their education. “They encourage the integration of European nations and they foster unity in Europe.”
Schuck held up a passport-sized index that included his photo, and noted his classes were kept track of in this book — but he also noted they didn’t have their schedule of classes on line, and to find where a given class was, he had to ask around to find out which classroom it was in.
“Organization wasn’t a strong suit of the university, but I enjoyed the classes.” Some of what he studied included European trade law, the World Trade Organization and international criminal law.
Schuck had a peek into how these laws worked as an important decision was handed down at that time regarding a general convicted of war crimes, as he was accused of ethnic cleansing, but who was considered a national hero in Croatia. He was sentenced to 24 years in prison, but was then released as he appealed the conviction. The lawyer who handled the general’s appeal visited the university, and Schuck had an opportunity to talk with him.
As he found out, it wasn’t so much an instance of ethnic cleansing as it was the interpretation of how military and non-military targets were hit by shells. This issue was big in Croatia, especially on Independence Day, “with church bells all ringing throughout the country,” said Stephen. “It was a really unique experience.”
He added that he could see the feelings of Croatians for this general “who saved them”.
Tied into all this was Croatia’s bid to join the European Union, a bid that was blocked by the Netherlands unless this general was arrested and charged with war crimes.
Schuck noted about 66 per cent of Croatians voted yes to joining the EU. On the country itself, Schuck said, “I would recommend you go there and experience it. It’s one of the most beautiful areas to go see.”
Some of the destinations to visit include Dubrovnik, and the city of Split located in Dalmatia, the gateway to the islands off the Croatian coast. Schuck spent Christmas at Split.
“When you go there, the temperature will be like Vancouver. I look forward to eating a fish feast, and drinking locally-made wine and olive oil,” he said.
One of the Rotarians asked if he felt safe in Croatia, Schuck said he did, noting they are very honest there, and a person doesn’t have to worry about having things stolen there.
Asked how he found learning about international criminal law, he admitted it wasn’t always useful or applicable to here in Canada, but added it was a good experience to learn about it, and the credits he earned for his year there were transferable to his law degree here.
One of the pluses of being in Croatia or travelling there is the cost of living is relatively low there, and noted the drive along the coast is very beautiful, “unless you’re with my dad,” he quipped.
