Slovenia: A Sad Departure
John Simpson
As I sit in the department library looking out at the lush green mountains, the last few students are putting the finishing touches on their designs next door in the studio. I suspect all will be done by noon. Their drawings will then join the others already completed yesterday now on display in the corridor of the building. With that, we wrap up the formal class portion of the program, move out of the university, and prepare to depart Ljubljana. All the drawings will be digitally photographed and the images posted here, while the actual drawings remain temporarily in Slovenia to enable the production of a brochure documenting both the Tr?ič and Ljubljana projects.
I think everyone is sad about our pending departure for Budapest, Vienna, and Prague early Monday morning, albeit to visit such fabulous cities. Ljubljana and Slovenia are very special places that (re)captured our hearts. As more images are posted here, perhaps you can gain some small sense of what we mean.
Today, one group of students who completed their designs yesterday (perhaps in a bit of a rush) went back to lay on the beach at Piran while another two joined two Slovene students on a trip to Lake Bohinj. Tonight a group goes to see the new Harry Potter movie; most, though, will make a last visit to their favorite pubs and cafes along the riverfront in the Old Town. This past week, some went to the opera to see/hear Aida and others went to the fabulous indoor water park to cool off from the 90 degree plus temperatures. Tomorrow we have our final in-country excursion, ending in a banquet dinner at a winery restuarant on the vineyard hilltop overlooking Hungary. And Sunday we have a picnic with our faculty and student hosts. Davor and the Gazvoda family string band promise to entertain with music performed on his new Martin backbackers guitar given him by the group as a thankyou as well as his prized guitar and the 'box' drum. He might even wear the 'tasteful' Buckeye-Hawaiian shirt (now too small for his stately girth) given him for his birthday. We promise to post images of this.
So, I write this farewell note from Ljubljana and Slovenia early since I may not have good access to a computer until return to the New World. But keep checking the web site over the next two weeks as more images of our adventures are added.
The program has flown by and the richness of the experience has been indescribable, despite the usual bumps along the way. I'm sure we've all been changed in the process.
[Editor's Note: a gallery of photos from Croatia and the Alps went up late yesterday, which can be seen here. There will hopefully be another photo gallery posted later today or Monday. And remember, you can always read any postings you may have missed via the Slovenia program page]
This article is part of an ongoing series of updates from the Slovenia study abroad program. For more information about this program, and a list of all the updates, please visit the Slovenia program page.
Posted: 7/20/2007 8:24:29 AM