Life in Ljubljana, Slovenia: A Chat with My Slovene Roommate

Background:
Liling is a new international student from China who has been in Slovenia for four and a half months for her anthropology fieldwork and will stay until September. Filip is a native Slovenian.
Purpose of the Conversation: They aim to share their experiences of living in Slovenia, acknowledging that many people might not know much about the country.

Famous Slovenians:
Melania Trump, the former First Lady of the US, is from Slovenia.
The basketball player Luka Dončić is also a famous Slovenian.

Food in Slovenia:
Liling notes that she can find food similar to what she eats in China and South Africa, though imported items might be pricier.
There are various supermarkets like Mercator (considered one of the most expensive), Spar (more affordable and internationally known), Lidl, and the Slovenian-origin supermarket Tuš.
BTC is a large supermarket center where almost anything can be found.
Fresh produce, meat, cheese, and milk are readily available at markets.

Language in Slovenia:
Slovenian is the official language.
Many Slovenian words are derived from or adapted from English, such as "supermarket".
Staff in places like banks and SIM card providers usually have someone who speaks English and can switch languages or call a colleague for help.
Older individuals or those in certain roles (e.g., at a butcher shop in Spar) may not speak English.
Learning specific Slovenian words like "zasabo" (take away) is helpful.
Liling uses Google Translate for face-to-face conversations, though it may require careful pronunciation.
For academic lectures in Slovenian, Liling records and translates them later for better accuracy (eg. NotebookML).

University Courses:
Many university courses in Slovenia are taught in Slovenian, limiting options for international students.
Even in English or other language-specific courses, professors or local students might occasionally use Slovenian.
There are diverse courses available for international students, but the language is a limiting factor.

Clothes and Weather:
Clothing can be easily bought from shopping centers like BTC.
There are also street marketplaces and secondhand shops.
Slovenia is mentioned as possibly having a high number of shopping centers per person.
While prices might be a bit high, there are many good mountaineering clothes and gear stores throughout Slovenia.

Accommodation:
The period since the pandemic has been a bad time for renting in Slovenia due to skyrocketing prices and inflation.
International students in dorms sometimes share rooms (two beds per room, four people sharing a common area and kitchen).
International students often pay significantly more for dorm rooms than local students (almost double). Even Chinese students might pay less than other international students.
Erasmus subsidies might not cover the full cost difference35 .
Students who cannot get dorm rooms face high private rental costs, ranging from €400 to €1200 per month, depending on location.
Campus areas are central, leading to higher prices for nearby accommodation.

Transportation:
Ljubljana has a very good bus system, costing around €1.20-€1.30 per ride.
A single ticket allows for unlimited bus transfers within 1.5 hours of purchase.
The bus system is well-designed with good connections, and delays can be tracked via Google Maps.
Public bicycle rental is available for a very cheap annual fee (€3), but bikes must be returned within one hour to avoid extra charges.
Users need to be aware of the locations of bicycle parking stations, potentially through a phone app.
It is important to pay attention to bicycle lanes when walking or cycling, and drivers are expected to be polite to pedestrians and cyclists.

People in Ljubljana (Welcoming Nature):
Filip believes Slovenians are welcoming towards tourists and foreigners.
People in smaller towns and villages are often considered more open and willing to engage with tourists.
Historical invasions, such as by the Turkish, might have influenced past attitudes towards foreigners, but globalization has shifted beliefs.
Slovenia's independence and integration into the EU have contributed to a more open attitude.
Personal interactions and mutual respect are key to forming positive relationships.
Hospitality varies between individuals.

Weekend Activities:
Hiking and mountaineering are popular activities, especially in the northern regions with alpine terrain.
Skiing is a popular winter activity.
The ski resort Planica is well-known and used for competitions.
Slovenia has notable skiers like Nika Prevc and her brother.
Many Slovenians, especially students, go back home to spend weekends with their families, reflecting a strong family connection. This might lead to a quieter city on weekends.
There are many hiking organizations and places to visit.
Sports like cycling, hiking, mountaineering, and climbing are significant hobbies in Slovenia, with individuals competing at high levels.

[lilingyan]

大家好，我是

本期内容提要：
* Melania Trump 和篮球巨星 Luka
* Mercator、Spar、Lidl、Tuš 以及 BTC
* Google NotebookML）来进行课后、讲座的理解。
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*
* Erasmus €400 到 €1200 不等。
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* 人与人之间的交往与友好程度
Filip
* Nika Prevc 及其家族，以及如 Planica 这样的国际滑雪赛场地。
* 如果大家有其他感兴趣的问题，欢迎留言提问。