Finishing a journey
Blunk reflects on her time spent abroad
Jamie Blunk For The Mirror
Issue date: 5/6/09 Section: Perspectives
It is hard to imagine that the school year is winding down to an end at Drury. To many this is a start to summer, but I am just beginning one of my classes here in Ljubljana. Tomorrow marks the first day of the Economics in Transition course. The scattered schedule at the University of Ljubljana is one of the many differences that I have encountered while on this study abroad experience.
As mentioned in an earlier article, the course work was slow to start over here for me. A mere two weeks after classes officially started at this faculty, I attended the first of my courses. Now that the end is nearing I am starting from scratch along with slowly trickling through the end of some other courses. In this computer reliant world it is hard not to notice others back in Springfield getting anxious for summertime-makes one realize the different world in which I am currently living.
Spring break is just nearing an end on this Sunday, May 3rd at 12:56pm. Students are beginning to arrive back in the dorms, music is beginning to play louder, and the parties are just beginning to reacquaint the Slovene students. Unlike Drury and the United States, the scheduling and holidays are tremendously different. This past week was composed of three national holidays!! This was convenient timing for the university's spring break, but served as new experiences for all the foreign students.
National holidays in Slovenia are treated in a completely different manner than in the States. Everything and I mean everything is closed! Much to my friends' and my dismay we found it hard to eat during this time period. We didn't think that ever grocery store along with the restaurants would all be closed, but they sure were. So the 24 hour kebab stands and McDonalds composed our dining selection.
Traveling was popular during this much desired break. Unfortunately the buses and trains new that as well-the prices escalated drastically for the week. What normally would have cost 20€, was now priced around 40€. But oh well, it's just money, right? The only thing that interrupted our planned trip to Vienna, Austria was a shortage of nightly accommodations. So we took a day trip to Zagreb, Croatia instead. It was a lovely, relaxing spring break. Naps during the random, but persistent thunderstorms, concluded with a nice trip to the beautiful Croatian city.
School is in session again tomorrow as I watch what seems like everyone back home already preparing for finals and graduation. Glimpses of the end are just emerging into sight in Slovenia. A month and a half left in this gorgeous country, and then the trip home begins. All I will have left are the memories, souvenirs, and new Facebook contacts.
As mentioned in an earlier article, the course work was slow to start over here for me. A mere two weeks after classes officially started at this faculty, I attended the first of my courses. Now that the end is nearing I am starting from scratch along with slowly trickling through the end of some other courses. In this computer reliant world it is hard not to notice others back in Springfield getting anxious for summertime-makes one realize the different world in which I am currently living.
Spring break is just nearing an end on this Sunday, May 3rd at 12:56pm. Students are beginning to arrive back in the dorms, music is beginning to play louder, and the parties are just beginning to reacquaint the Slovene students. Unlike Drury and the United States, the scheduling and holidays are tremendously different. This past week was composed of three national holidays!! This was convenient timing for the university's spring break, but served as new experiences for all the foreign students.
National holidays in Slovenia are treated in a completely different manner than in the States. Everything and I mean everything is closed! Much to my friends' and my dismay we found it hard to eat during this time period. We didn't think that ever grocery store along with the restaurants would all be closed, but they sure were. So the 24 hour kebab stands and McDonalds composed our dining selection.
Traveling was popular during this much desired break. Unfortunately the buses and trains new that as well-the prices escalated drastically for the week. What normally would have cost 20€, was now priced around 40€. But oh well, it's just money, right? The only thing that interrupted our planned trip to Vienna, Austria was a shortage of nightly accommodations. So we took a day trip to Zagreb, Croatia instead. It was a lovely, relaxing spring break. Naps during the random, but persistent thunderstorms, concluded with a nice trip to the beautiful Croatian city.
School is in session again tomorrow as I watch what seems like everyone back home already preparing for finals and graduation. Glimpses of the end are just emerging into sight in Slovenia. A month and a half left in this gorgeous country, and then the trip home begins. All I will have left are the memories, souvenirs, and new Facebook contacts.
Article last update: 5/5/09 at 7:41 PM CST
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