Melissa Hahn is currently completing a Master of Arts degree in Intercultural Relations from the University of the Pacific, in conjunction with the Intercultural Communication Institute (ICI). We thank her for her contribution as a guest writer in this edition of AFS Intercultural Link.
At the end of October, a classmate and I travelled to Slovenia for the Young SIETAR (YS) 2011 Congress. As Master of Arts students in the Intercultural Relations program at the University of the Pacific in conjunction with the Intercultural Communication Institute (USA), the YS Congress intrigued us because it offered a chance to learn about our field through a European lens and to interact with students from around the world.
Flying from the US to Europe is no small (or cheap) task, so we made the most of the journey by exploring both Vienna and Budapest before taking the train to Ljubljana. Our conference began at Celica, a former Austro-Hungarian and Yugoslavian prison turned youth hostel. The setting was an artistic invitation to modern Slovenia: creative, colorful, and playful in the way it put a new spin on its difficult past. After a social evening, we began the next morning with getting-to-know-you activities at the city’s Ethnographic Museum. Next, we divided into teams to complete a scavenger hunt designed to introduce us simultaneously to the city’s history and landscape as well as to Slovenian culture. It also helped us break through our comfort zones to talk to real Slovenes – and to each other.
That afternoon, a bus took us north to Planica, the Olympic Training Center and home to the second highest ski jump in Europe. Nestled in beautiful Triglav National Park, the location was stunning. Many of us opted to participate in a scenic hike; my group walked through fluttering golden and red leaves, and across a hill dotted by traditional Slovenian hay stacks to arrive at the source of the Sava River. Breathing in the fragrant fresh air as I stared down into a completely clear blue pond, I realized that the hike was a window into the Slovenian spirit. One of our local hosts explained that Slovenes cherish the outdoors, a healthy environment, and an active life shared with friends. We were not simply going on a walk, but were, for a short while, living a Slovenian moment.
