News

2008.0326

The Country of Love Featured during Event

By Joanna Tung Campus Reporter Slovenia was featured and introduced at the International Lounge today, while the Office of International Affairs resumed its weekly introduction of different countries. Jovanovic Ljiljana, a Slovenian student who is now studying at the Mandarin Training Center, described her motherland as “a country of love.” "See?  The four letters ‘l-o-v-e’ are spelled in the name of our country,” Ljiljana said.  “We are the country of love.” She said that most Slovenian people would enjoy drinking and all kinds of homemade food, especially bread. "The title of our national anthem actually means ‘cheers.’  Now you can imagine how much my countrymen love to drink,” Ljiljana said. In addition, Ljiljana mentioned that three languages are used in Solvenia – Slovenian, Italian and Hungarian.  Although English is also used at more and more calsses at school, foreign students will still feel frustrated outside the classrooms if they do not speak local languages. English major freshman Hsieh Pei-yu (謝佩諭), who participated in the activity, echoed Ljiljana’s remarks.  She said she would be more than happy to visit the country but she will not consider herself as an international student there. "Language will be a big obstacle for me,” she said. Meanwhile, Neza Lostrek and Matic Kavcic,, another two Slovenian students who are also studying at the Mandarin Training Center, taught participants at the scene a Slovenian song and showed some Slovenian dancing as well. Slovenia used to be a part of Yugoslavia but became independent on June 25, 1991.  She is a neighbor country of Italy, Austria, Hungry and Croatia.  The country joined the European Union (EU) and currently possesses the 2008 presidency of EU Council.