When Melissa and Owen faced the reality of Ljubljana's housing prices, they decided to look elsewhere. Today they're the proud owners of a property in Celje. At first glance, they say Celje is more friendly than Ljubljana. But Melissa, originally from China, says arriving in Slovenia and Europe for the first time was a culture shock. She met Owen, originally from the UK, in China. And after 10 years in Beijing they decided it was time for a change... Melissa's music choice: S+C+A+R+R - "The Rest Of My Days". You can listen to the full song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPiao5BKtBo You can also join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Land-of-Dreams-209819855839296/
Peter Kamien is a German who has been here long enough to know a thing or two about Slovenes. And although critical at times, he says he would never leave Slovenia. He met his Slovene wife while working in marketing, and then went on to be a writer, translator, and even an advisor in the presidential campaign! Peter also runs the biggest German travel blog about Slovenia, organizes the monthly Deutsches Sprachcafé Ljubljana events, and gives advice to Germans interested in moving to Slovenia. The interview features music by Johann Sebastian Bach (middle song - Badinerie), Johannes Brahms, The Avsenik Brothers Ensemble, and Oleksii Kalyna ("Winter Romance" from Pixabay) You can also join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Land-of-Dreams-209819855839296/
If you walk along the Ljubljanica River in Ljubljana you might run into Fatima Zahra. Fatima comes from a tourist/fishing town in Morocco, lives in Domžale, but manages a small shop in Ljubljana. She came here after meeting a Slovenian on holiday in Morocco. They fell in love and now have a family in Slovenia:) Fatima loves the open markets - especially the locally produced cheese and butter! She calls on Slovenians to show more respect towards the elderly, and hopes to one day run the Ljubljana Marathon ;) Fatima's music choice: Fehd Benchemsi - "Baba Mimoun". You can listen to the full song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwnZarzSvJE You can also join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Land-of-Dreams-209819855839296/
Anzhelika says two things Slovenians take for granted are clean drinking water and safety. Anzhelika is from Ukraine and has a background in international relations. But we found her at the Museum of National Liberation in Maribor where she helps out organizing international projects and exhibitions. As a matter of fact, she was also married inside the museum. Of course, to a Slovenian ;) Anzhelika's music choice: Tina Karol - "Добрий вечір тобі, пане господарю / Good Evening To You, Mr. Host". You can listen to the full song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlgRbJl06pY You can also join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Land-of-Dreams-209819855839296/
Zaher travelled almost a month across many countries to reach Slovenia. When the 23-year-old citizen of no country finally arrived in Slovenia in 2016, he asked from asylum. Zaher Amini was otherwise born in Iran as a refugee to parents from Afghanistan. He hasn't seen his parents since coming to Slovenia – that's eight years now… Today Zaher works in a restaurant in Hrpelje-Kozina, is almost fluent in Slovene, and hopes to one day work with animals in Slovenia. Zaher's music choice: Dawood Sarkhosh - "Sarzamine Man". You can listen to the full song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdQP8-gHjxg You can also join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Land-of-Dreams-209819855839296/
The agency Moody's reaffirms Slovenia's rating as A3 - US and Iran holding talks in Oman on a nuclear deal - British government bans visitors from bringing meat or dairy products to the UK - Gabon votes in first presidential elections since coup in 2023 - LA Lakers beat Houston Rockets, with Dončič scoring 39 points.
Mitchell is a carpenter from the US now living and working in the Bovec area. It took just one picture of Slovenia and a brief visit for him to decide to move here “forever”. He calls his new home heaven on earth... Today he fulfills his time with woodwork projects, hiking the Soča trail, and swimming in the river with his dog Franky. In addition, he eats good food and enjoys the hospitality and company of his Slovene friends. So, what more could one ask for? Mitchell's music choice: Stick Figure - "Livin' It". You can listen to the full song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygQBpLTGewk You can also join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Land-of-Dreams-209819855839296/
This week we meet, talk to, and take a walk with a young Georgian living in Velenje. Meet Leli Aronia Zajc, a promising photographer who came here for a study experience, but ended up marrying a Slovenian. Leli has been living in Velenje for around two years now. The community is small but welcoming. She says Slovenians tend to keep a distance at first, but when they open their hearts Slovenia becomes the "best place to end up" :) Leli's music choice: Makvala & Archil Chiklhadze - "Adolescence". You can listen to the full song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmybFWrFKiY You can also join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Land-of-Dreams-209819855839296/
Meet Carina Miller, a German student who took a leap of adventure and swapped the familiar streets of her hometown for Ljubljana studying applied statistics. She’s loving the organized study system in Slovenia and the chance to connect with so many young people from across the EU. Get ready to hear her story, as she takes us behind the scenes of her semester in Slovenia. Carina chose to play the song "99 Luftballons" by Nena.
From the plateaus and mountains of Kyrgyzstan to Slovenia... In this episode we sit down to talk to Aigul Hakimova in Ljubljana! She arrived here 23 years ago to study anthropology. Today she helps other foreigners seeking international protection. She says solving the housing and language issues of refugees and migrants are key for better integration. Listen in to find out more about Kyrgyzstan, its music, and how Aigul lost her fear of big animals :) Aigul's music choice: Ordo Sakhna - "Mash Botoy". You can listen to the full song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYplv7e2Xrs&list=OLAK5uy_kIsA6MZbM78XuroKKfJCy1zSftU8CO6fM&index=5 You can also join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Land-of-Dreams-209819855839296/
Bobby was born in Sweden, but today you can find him up in the Slovenian mountains. Together with his wife he takes care of the mountain hut at Žavcarjev Vrh – voted by hikers as the best mountain hut in Slovenia for 2024! So how did he end up doing this job and why is life better in Slovenia compared to Sweden? We visited Bobby up in his mountain hut, where he also showed us around and talked about his Slovene roots ;) Bobby's music choice: Freestyle - "Nära dig". You can listen to the full song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYGd14VgQSQ You can also join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Land-of-Dreams-209819855839296/
Enjoy life, worry less, is Catia's advice. Catia is a Brazilian from Sao Paolo. She now lives in Velenje, which she says has accepted her with open arms. Catia has been in Slovenia for 18 years now. She came because of love and decided to stay in Slovenia despite a later divorce... To find out why she decided to stay and hear about some of the differences between life in Brazil and Slovenia, join us for a walk in the next "Land of Dreams" by the beautiful Velenje Lake ;) Catia's music choice: Silence - "Skin". You can listen to the full song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkfZaRCIGzI You can also join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Land-of-Dreams-209819855839296/
