Fluent Fiction - Croatian: Nervous Beginnings: Marko's Journey to Confidence in Dubrovnik
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.org/nervous-beginnings-markos-journey-to-confidence-in-dubrovnik

Story Transcript:

Hr: Ivana je stajala na Stradunu, glavnoj ulici starog grada Dubrovnika.
En: Ivana was standing on Stradun, the main street of the old city of Dubrovnik.

Hr: Oko nje su se turisti gurali, tražeći mjesto za najbolju fotografiju.
En: Tourists were jostling around her, looking for the best spot for a photo.

Hr: Marko ju je promatrao.
En: Marko was watching her.

Hr: Bio je novi u poslu, i nervoza mu se vidjela na licu.
En: He was new to the job, and his nervousness was evident on his face.

Hr: "Bok, Marko," rekla je Ivana s osmijehom.
En: "Hi, Marko," Ivana said with a smile.

Hr: "Spremni za početak?"
En: "Ready to start?"

Hr: "Da, mislim da jesam," odgovorio je Marko, iako nije bio potpuno siguran.
En: "Yes, I think I am," replied Marko, although he wasn't entirely sure.

Hr: Ivana je počela turu, pričajući o povijesti grada.
En: Ivana began the tour, talking about the history of the city.

Hr: "Dubrovnik je poznat po svojim impresivnim zidovima.
En: "Dubrovnik is known for its impressive walls.

Hr: Izgrađeni su u 13. stoljeću."
En: They were built in the 13th century."

Hr: Marko je pomno slušao.
En: Marko listened attentively.

Hr: Htio je naučiti sve što je mogao.
En: He wanted to learn everything he could.

Hr: Nakon nekoliko minuta, Ivana mu je predala riječ.
En: After a few minutes, Ivana handed it over to him.

Hr: "Sada će Marko preuzeti."
En: "Now Marko will take over."

Hr: Marko je nervozno zagrizao usnu.
En: Marko nervously bit his lip.

Hr: Pogledao je grupu turista.
En: He looked at the group of tourists.

Hr: "Ovdje, s desne strane, možemo vidjeti... hm..."
En: "Here, on the right side, we can see... um..."

Hr: Ivana je osjetila njegovu nesigurnost.
En: Ivana sensed his uncertainty.

Hr: Prišla mu je bliže i tiho rekla:
En: She came closer to him and whispered,

Hr: "To je Knežev dvor."
En: "That's the Rector's Palace."

Hr: "Knežev dvor," ponovio je Marko glasnije.
En: "The Rector's Palace," Marko repeated louder.

Hr: "Ovo je bio dom rektora Republike Dubrovnik."
En: "This was the home of the rector of the Republic of Dubrovnik."

Hr: Grupa je pažljivo slušala, ali Marko je osjećao pritisak.
En: The group listened attentively, but Marko felt the pressure.

Hr: Koliko još činjenica je morao zapamtiti?
En: How many more facts did he have to remember?

Hr: Ivana je primijetila njegovu nelagodu i odlučila mu pomoći.
En: Ivana noticed his discomfort and decided to help him.

Hr: "Marko, možeš li pričati o franjevačkom samostanu?"
En: "Marko, can you talk about the Franciscan Monastery?"

Hr: Marko je kimnuo glavom.
En: Marko nodded.

Hr: Bio je zahvalan na smjeru.
En: He was grateful for the direction.

Hr: Počeo je objašnjavati povijest samostana, ali onda je zaboravio važnu činjenicu.
En: He started explaining the history of the monastery but then forgot an important fact.

Hr: Turisti su počeli šaptati među sobom, gubeći interes.
En: The tourists began whispering among themselves, losing interest.

Hr: Ivana je brzo preuzela.
En: Ivana quickly took over.

Hr: "Franjevački samostan također ima jednu od najstarijih ljekarni na svijetu, otvorenu 1317. godine."
En: "The Franciscan Monastery also has one of the oldest pharmacies in the world, opened in 1317."

Hr: Grupa se ponovno zainteresirala.
En: The group was interested again.

Hr: Nakon ture, Ivana je povukla Marka u stranu.
En: After the tour, Ivana pulled Marko aside.

Hr: "Marko, razumijem da si nervozan.
En: "Marko, I understand that you're nervous.

Hr: Ali moraš vjerovati u sebe."
En: But you have to believe in yourself."

Hr: Marko je uzdahnuo.
En: Marko sighed.

Hr: "Teško je.
En: "It's hard.

Hr: Bojim se da ću sve pokvariti."
En: I'm afraid I'll mess everything up."

Hr: Ivana je stavila ruku na njegovu rame.
En: Ivana put a hand on his shoulder.

Hr: "Svi smo mi jednom bili novi.
En: "We were all new once.

Hr: Bit ću tu da ti pomognem."
En: I'll be here to help you."

Hr: Marko se nasmiješio.
En: Marko smiled.

Hr: "Hvala ti, Ivana.
En: "Thank you, Ivana.

Hr: Pokušat ću biti bolji."
En: I'll try to be better."

Hr: I tako su nastavili.
En: And so they continued.

Hr: Ivana je postala strpljivija, a Marko sigurniji.
En: Ivana became more patient, and Marko more confident.

Hr: Svaki dan je postajao bolji vodič.
En: Every day he became a better guide.

Hr: Turisti su uživali, a stari grad Dubrovnik blistao je u svojoj ljepoti.
En: Tourists enjoyed themselves, and the old city of Dubrovnik shone in its beauty.

Hr: Na kraju, Ivana i Marko su stajali na zidinama grada, gledajući more.
En: In the end, Ivana and Marko stood on the city walls, looking at the sea.

Hr: "Bio si odličan danas," rekla je Ivana.
En: "You were great today," Ivana said.

Hr: "Hvala ti," rekao je Marko.
En: "Thank you," Marko replied.

Hr: Ne bih mogao bez tvoje pomoći."
En: "I couldn't have done it without your help."

Hr: Oboje su se nasmijali, znajući da je prijateljstvo koje su stvorili jednako vrijedno kao i povijest grada koju su dijelili.
En: They both laughed, knowing that the friendship they had built was as valuable as the history of the city they shared.


Vocabulary Words:

• jostling: gurali
• nervousness: nervoza
• evident: vidjela
• attentively: pomno
• uncertainty: nesigurnost
• whispered: tiho rekla
• rector: rektor
• discomfort: nelagoda
• mess up: pokvariti
• confidence: sigurnost
• historical: povijest
• trepidation: drhtanje
• impressive: impresivnim
• monastery: samostan
• pharmacy: ljekarna
• valuable: vrijedno
• approached: prišla
• guided tour: tura
• shone: blistao
• main street: glavna ulica
• entrusting: predati riječ
• forgot: zaboravio
• sighed: uzdahnuo
• listening: slušanje
• rector's palace: Knežev dvor
• built: izgrađeni
• impressive walls: impresivni zidovi
• sensed: osjetila
• among themselves: među sobom
• shortly: brzo