Cultural Encounters:
From the Sand to the Snow

March 22, 2007

Slovenia

After my wonderful weekend in Venice, I had the chance to go to Slovenia for a day. A history teacher in Klagenfurt asked all the international students if we wanted to go with his class to Slovenia. We had the chance to go to a former concentration camp on the way as well as to a beautiful waterfall hidden in the mountains. We left on Tuesday and came back on the same day around 7 pm. Unfortunately we did not have enough time to actually go to Italy, but we were able to see the mountains that divide Italy and Slovenia. We went to a small town called Kranjska Gora. This place is actually a ski resort and it is very famous for its competition. We went by bus to the top of a mountain where there is actually a restaurant with a beautiful view of the border with Italy but that day it was closed. Since January 2007, Slovenia is a new member in the European Union. The prices of things are listed in the old currency and in the new currency to help people understand the conversion. It was worthwhile seeing the landscape even though it was extremely cold. The view is indescribable, it is just breathtaking. The mountains and the snow give a feeling that you are at one of those places you see on TV. Austria is very well located and it is easy to go to other countries. I think I could not have asked to be at a better place that I am right now.

My roommate arrived the week after. She is also an exchange student who is from Chile and she will stay here for a year. She does not know German (she is in the first level) and her English is not very good, so we actually communicate in Spanish. She is a very nice girl.

Since I am not working here I have so much free time that feels weird. So I decided to take some gym classes. I am taking Problem Zone Intensive, Hip-Hop, Table Tennis and Mountain Bike classes. I think I am filling my time wisely!