<p>Have any of you parents had experiences with Slovenia that you’d like to share? I am looking at a summer school in July in Ljubljana and there are amazing testimonials from students all over the world. I have a bit of an adventurous flair in me but I’ve never been to Europe and am not well travelled at all, and most people i talk to have not even heard of this place. I found out about this program through my school’s study abroad website and it’s the testimonials about what a charming place it is and the novelty that i can go somewhere relatively unknown and exotic that is making me seriously consider it. Or else i would have been content with choosing a program in Germany or China or Singapore, all of which seems much more familiar and which my parents would much rather me do. Would Slovenia be too big a stretch for someone like me? </p>
<p>What did you think of the country? cultural/historical sites? food? people? is it safe?</p>
<p>I’ve been to Lake Bled on holiday. It’s like Austria but cheaper. A LOT less of a culture shock than going to China I imagine. Of your list of countries most similar to Germany.</p>
<p>Well, by accident, I saw Rick Steves Europe show about Slovenia last night. Looks pretty cool. He visited the mountains, where there are memorials to the horrible battles in WWI, and the bit of coast, with the pretty town of Piran, which has lots of Venetian touches. It’s also close to Trieste, which is pretty nice to visit (and is not far from Venice). </p>
<p>My D’s best foreign exchange friend is from Slovenia and he seems like a nice young European kid. He has been at her school since September and she drives him to school. He loves his country and has a lot of pride in it. It is a beautiful country and there are many English speakers there. I wish I could tell you more specifics, but I think it’s as good a country as any other on your list.</p>
<p>About five or six years ago when she was in middle school, DD went on a choir tour that included Slovenia as well as Croatia and Serbia. She was fortunate enough to stay with a family from the host choir. She liked Central Europe, but meals had more bread than she was used to. Singing is more popular in Central Europe and the Baltics than here! And no, going to Slovenia didn’t seem like too much of a stretch for any of the kids. Face it; you can go to Germany any time, and in fact you will probably change planes in Frankfurt on your way to Ljubljana. This would be an opportunity to explore an undiscovered (to Americans) gem.</p>
<p>FWIW, I believe my tiny Danby washing machine that heats up to 200 degrees(!) is a rebadged Gorenje from Slovenia.</p>
<p>Most of the former Yugoslavia is like a combination of Italy and Germany, but much less sophisticated. Don’t expect to see the latest fashions. On the other hand, it is beautiful and largely unspoiled by tourism. The food is good and hardy, but you’ll have to make an effort to get enough vegetables.</p>
<p>I spent a week in Ljubljana back when I was in college (in the 80’s) back when it was part of Yugoslavia. I loved it there - the people, food, etc. I was there in the winter though and it was freezing. I would love to go back someday. Even more amazing, were the small towns within a day trip away. My all-time favorite was a quaint ski town called Kranjska Gora. I hear it’s a beautiful place to visit in the summer as well. I realize it was many, many years ago I was there, but I would jump at the opportunity to return someday.</p>