strawberries, dragons & muesli.
podcasts on dopamine, poems you didn't realise you knew, and costume design.
Photo by David Fartek on Unsplash
A bit too much going on at this end, and struggling a little bit to feel grounded.
The main headline is that I have just moved to Ljubljana, Slovenia, for the exchange (and final) semester of my masters degree in Human Rights.
I came at it with mixed feelings: it wasn't really where I planned or expected to go when I applied to the programme. But as I got more information about the department during my first semester, it did really seem like the best fit topic-wise. In the end, although I didn’t think this was the right thing for me, it turns out to be just exactly perfect.
And this is why:
It is a very ‘easy’ city - clean, organised, modern, lots of English spoken. This is perfect for such a short space of time where my focus needs to be more on my thesis and courses than doing a full cultural integration. (Although I am trying to learn some phrases in Slovene, and have been trying the local cuisine, chatting to locals.)
Pretty town, cute cafes (also cafes where you can use your laptop, which is not so common in Italy), and good vintage shops. I like that it has the balkan flavour, but mixed with something closer to towns in the Alps (Switzerland, Austria, Northern Italy), with a slight Copenhagen vibe? But smaller?
The uni is very modern, accessible, progressive in terms of teaching methods, has courses which are PERFECT for me (International conflict management, visual anthropology, media courses), and is not too big. I feel I am a person and not just a number, and one of my classes has on average about 7-8 students present. I love the faculty library which feels serene and I somehow have managed to focus better on my reading far better than I ever did in Venice. There are views of the mountains (alps?) from the library, and there are very very good student discounts for food.
It is reachable to my home in Rome by bus and train (where I can study/work on the train too).
Perhaps at another life stage, Greece or Spain or Cyprus would have been perfect for me, but right now I think this is just right. I am not in the mood for big parties at the moment (there’s always time for that!), and am looking for calm and creativity. I would highly highly recommend Ljubljana for a weekend break or for going to study.
Here are some of the things I’ve been discovering about Ljubljana. I realise these are rather superficial for now, but I have only just arrived -
Great Museli and ‘Mountain Tea’
Dragons everywhere (Ljubljana has the ‘Dragon bridge’, so the little tourist shops have cute little dragon themed things)
Strawberry things - they seem very into strawberries: strawberry juice, chocolate covered strawberries etc.
Pink buildings. I especially like Vurnik House (which I understand is now a bank?), and the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation.
Had Slovenian food for the first time at Slovenska Hiša (Slovenian House?), and it was very cute! I especially liked Čompe (cottage cheese grilled on potatoes).
Other stuff -
Little new things in my life include this waistcoat / jacket / vest, a new (gold/bronze/pink) laptop, and feeling more serene in general. Indyx - got obsessed after Anna off of the Anna Edit recommended it. (It’s basically an app to catalogue your clothes, a way to slightly stop over shopping (?) and really look at what you have and how you could combine it with different items).
Recommendations
Film
C’e’ Ancora Domani (There’s still tomorrow)
I’m slightly late to the party on this one (at least compared to the Italian audience), but I saw this film in Rome at the historic Cinema Madison, and it was so great to watch this film about Rome, in Rome, in Roman dialect, surrounded by people from Rome.
It’s gorgeous. In black and white, it uses humour and dance to deal skilfully with some of the most profound themes, and on many layers. There is very clever use of modern music which brings us closer to the narrative set in post-war working class Rome. Absolutely deserves every single award is has received and some. One of the best films I’ve seen in recent years, and had the power to make me cry without resorting to an ‘extreme’ such as a death or violence, but through the sheer poignance of a relationship and what it means to be a woman participating in society. It is the ultimate story of a woman, of women, saving themselves.
Podcasts / Radio
I love her podcast and manner, and this was incredibly sweet. I had no idea that the Arctic Monkeys song ‘I wanna be yours’ uses John Cooper Clark’s poem of the same name.
I sent this to several people and everyone seemed to love it (life changing some said). Trying my best to take his tips on board, such as not to looking at my phone first thing in the morning, and getting a dose of sun first instead.
I love the way Lauren Laverne presents, and this interview reminded me of what it is to be truly creative, carefree, people-smart, and also ambitious but in a kind way. Powell has had a really interesting journey.
Until the next time.
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