Living In Slovenia My Thoughts
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- Опубліковано 12 вер 2024
- Hey guys, I hope you are all doing well! Today I wanted to share my journey so far, living here in Slovenia as an expat from the UK. Mainly to reflect and share my experience as a foreigner. Make sure to leave a comment sharing your experiences here or in another country, I would love to read them! xox
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I've watched the video and read the comments.
Come on, guys, you can't be serious!
You can't move to a country permanently and think to get by with English in the long term.
That's also somewhat lazy.
Yes, languages are difficult. It takes a lot of work to become fluent. Very true.
But in most cases, you don't need to be perfect.
You need to know enough to take part in your new country's life, to listen to the news, to chat with neighbours and colleagues. If you make mistakes, if you have an accent... It's not too much of a problem.
On the other hand, expecting others to be always ready to accommodate you and speak English, just because...
That's not a nice attitude to have.
Remember that those people had to learn English. They put in the effort and English is not an easy language. They might be tired that day, or in a bad mood. Why should they always make the effort, unless they work as hotel receptionists?
Seriously. Even in those countries like the Netherlands or Scandinavia where EVERYONE seems to speak English better than the natives, you need to learn the language if you're there to stay.
Girl I feel you- I am a Slovenian that relocated to Germany. Had the same struggle with the language.
And don’t worry- a lot of younger people speak English in Slovenia, you just have to find them 😊
The struggle is real 😩 Yep I always look for the youngsters in the store, saves me time trying to gesture what I need 😂😊
pro trick : you can watch series on flixzone. Me and my gf have been using them for watching lots of of movies during the lockdown.
I’m a black American and I’m coming to Slovenia in about 5 months I’m ready to see what Slovenia has to offer! I’ll be there for a little over a week so many videos (including yours) sold me on the idea of visiting Slovenia it really does look like Heaven on Earth 😩 and it makes me very happy that you haven’t dealt with any racism
Hi. I'm very curious to know your experience as a POC. I'm thinking of relocating there from the States.
Hey,
What would you like to know?
My experience is different as I’m in Ljubljana for work and everyone speaks English...still want to learn the language but as you’ve said...it’s so hard!
Yup, the benefits of living In the city 😅 👍🏼😊
Hey Jo, I am from Slovenia, and I wouldn't say that most people don't speak English here. Even people who are in their 60s right now, had at least 4 years of English and at least some in secondary school. Younger than that, had English throughout both primary and secondary. I think they are mostly too shy and afraid they will make mistakes when speaking. :) But I would say in most cases they can understand you jyst fine- unless you speak with a Scottish accent! :D
Hey, thanks for sharing 😊, I agree they probs shy although I live outside of Celje, so it really does vary. Especially when I have to call the bank or administration offices, then it's a struggle. I do ask them in Slovene if they speak English and if not then if someone could help me. But it has happened just the other day calling the tax office (as one does) the lady spoke Slovene and I asked if she spoke English beforehand, she continued to reply in Slovene and I told her in Slovene I don't understand and then I said alright goodbye. Then all of a sudden she said she spoke a little English and actually she was really helpful and her English was great xd Also my Scottish accent went along time ago haha, I have more of a fast bham accent now 😊😁
Oh the phone is the worst, haha! I teach English, mostly adults, and for many, answering the phone and someone speaking English on the other side of the line?? The horror! 🤪 I've had ppl confess they just dodge calls when they see a foreign number on caller ID and there you go sneaking up on them calling from (I assume) a Slovenian number! Lol!
@@cybermom77 I know they probs like where did she come from xd I start off with Slovene and then BAM in English 😂 I guess they will remember me as their foreign customer for the day 😁
Lmfao the part where you talk about that plant 😂😂 please upload more frequently! Love your videos 🥰❤️
The Korean hair style awasome ! Loved it 😍💕
Hahahaha
My wife is also from UK living in Slovenia
Liked your video. I have visited Slovenia on work and absolutely loved the country. God bless you.
Jo beautee is back! 🎥 🇸🇮 🇬🇧.
Let's practice language. Riba, raca, rak 😁. My question would be what do you think about brexit, and what will happen in the future?
:D hehe, well now let's learn how to structure a sentence in the correct tense and context :p Hmm, honestly I preferred to stay in the EU as it would of made life easier travelling ( for my family to visit), but it's done now, so I can't argue with that. I just hope we are allowed to live with the same rights once we have our permanent residency. But who knows! How about you?
I have my basic "go to" sentences, and the rest I'm trying to memorize. 😌🤣 I agree tbh! But thank you for the welcome 😁👍🏼
@@Jo_thi That's hard 😁. I think brexit was a mistake, but time will tell. Great to see you back. 💯 🤫 😁
Interesting to hear. I went the other way, originally from Slovenia but moved to Manchester, lived here for 6 years now. I like the job opportunities. Travel is easier as is the bureaucracy. Nearly everything else is worse. Dirtier, much worse weather...but it is what it is 😊
Also I moved here because my (at the time) Brazilian wife couldn't get a job in Slovenia. While most Slovenians do have at least basic English, there's very little job opportunity based solely on the fact that you're a native English speaker
Best advice always from my big sis 👌🏼❤️
Thanks Sis
I had booked to visit Slovenia in June 2020, but now don't know when I will get there...
I'm Slovenian, lived in Ireland for 2 years and often felt lonely despite being fluent in English, sometimes you just don't go along very well with a particular country's mentality. E. g. I'm a basketball fan, but Irish only care about GAA and rugby😂. I constantly had a lack of common topics. If you miss more vivid, lively, English speaking, cosmopolitan surrounding, then Ljubljana is your best shot.
You mentioned Scotland, I've visited it in 2008 and felt in love with it. Wouldn't go back to Irl., but would definitely go to work and live in Scotland if there was an opportunity.
P.S. nothing against Ireland, it's a great country with lots of opportunities.
Hey, thank you for sharing. I agree that mentality could be a factor and tbh I have adapted to living in the countryside. It's mostly to do with familiarity, such as hearing someone speak English so I know what Is happening in my surroundings, or if someone speaks to me who doesn't know English I could understand ( I know that's to do with me learning Slovene, and I'm working on it 😁) Not to mention I miss the diversity in FOOD haha I'm a big foodie. But yes I do miss those things the most. I actually enjoy the peacefulness of the countryside now and feel safer than in crowded areas as I was used to. It's funny how we adapt. But I guess there is the expat loneliness that accures randomly, especially when it is family events and we are unable to see each other. But yes Scotland is wonderful, lots to see ☺️👍🏼
@@Jo_thi My coworker is Dutch (Netherlands), he is married to Slovenian and lives here for about 5 years now. He learnt a lot of words and simple (although grammatically incorrect) sentences. As virtually all Dutches, English is his second language. Maybe it's wrong but at our company we all speak English with him cuz that way the working process runs smoother. Maybe we should force him by speaking Slovenian to learn more. Tbh, I use this situation to maintain my English🙂. He has a wife that can learn him Slovenian after all😄.
Haha I am in the same boat, I know a variety of words but as they each have different variations depending on the situation my sentences sound funky! I mean family teaching for me doesn't help as everytime I do try to speak they say that's wrong it's this way I eventually get frustrated and say I'm not speaking lol it's better to have a teacher. But that's great your company accompany him like that I bet he appreciates it :)
@@Jo_thi Slovenian is indeed one of the most difficult languages to learn, even for other Slavic speakers it's not easy, yet alone for a non-Slavic speaker. Don't give up but at the same time don't be too harsh to yourself and a lot of our people don't keep in mind how hard and complex our language is. But it's good if they correct you, that's how you learn, just hope they don't do it in rude or mocking manner.
Thank you for understanding and yeah I appreciate correction, it's just dishearting if every sentence has 5 mistakes lol I know it's the challenge of learning so I will keep at it 😁
so cool the hear an oposite perspective, i moved from slovenia to the uk five years ago
How do you find living there? :)
@@Jo_thi i’m loving it, i’m in a semi-rural town in south wales, very much similar to my hometown. felt like it since the moment i landed in cardiff the first time. the only thing i CANNOT deal with, is constant wind and the ever-changing weather
Oh awesome, I have family in Wales and it's truly beautiful there 😊
Really grateful for your VLOG - it makes explaining things to my mum so much easier! Brit-Asians.
Awwh that is sweet, appreciate it 😊👍🏼
Točno to kar si povedala je bistvo. Najprej moreš z samim seboj biti v dobrem razmerju. Ko si... je vse easy 😉
yuppppp :D
I'm new here. What about education in Slovenia?
I've had the opposite experience, being from Slovenia and moving to Scotland to study for three years :) Now I live in Denmark and definitely can relate to the struggle. Must be really difficult learning Slovenian though! Good luck with everything
Slovenija je 🔝💯💪🏼 biser sredi evrope ☺
JO GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY! MY WIFE AND I LIVE IN VANCOUVER WASHINGTON USA ,WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY OF YOUR SHOWS LATELY AND WONDERING IF YOU STILL MAKE VIDEOS! SO ANYWAY HAPPY NEW YEAR 2022 FROM DENNIS AND MONA YOU SPEAK BETTER ENGLISH THAN A LOT OF AMERICANS
Haha awhh thank you so much! I'm just enjoying motherhood atm but will be back some day 😅 Wishing you and your family an awesome new year 😁🎉✨👌🏼
Are you one of those Americans that do not know that English language actually originates from England?
I'm Slovenian and yes I agree with you about learning the language. we also travel outside our country and we try to learn a few basic words from that country it's not that hard it's just simple respect that you can give to people in their country. It is easier to make friends that way, no one will force you to speak perfectly maybe if you try to get a job it's better to know it closer to perfectly as you can ( and speak English, German, Italian, Croatian). and I dont know any 40 years old man and junger, that dont speak English. old people usually do not speak English that was a different time and system they had in 1960. I'm 1987 and I had English and German in my school from grade 4 to 8. but older people had Yugoslavia and they speak the Yugoslavian language. I can say we appreciate everyone so much more! trying to speak our language because we know it's hard and we had to learn it + a couple more Languages. and when you say 5 times fast (u pikčasti kletki je pikčasta ptička) you are one of 1% Slovenian you can say it with no mistake everyone will love you even more because everybody else will break their tung on in I'm pro at it I can say it 50 times with no mistake it's a joke and soo true at the same time 🤣🙃
Thank you for sharing! I will learn the phrase as a party trick 😅 As for the language I know it is my responsibility to learn it as I live here. However the language discrimination I felt has been in medical settings or the admin centre’s. They either cut the phone off or pass the phone around or become rude. I personally feel in those settings people should know English. I do live in Celje so maybe it is different here.
@@Jo_thi yes, you can imagine even for us who speak Slovenian, there is a lot of passing the line to sam one else, I have the same experience, so dont worry it is not you! there are lazy people working in those spots and jobs,... I believe that every country have the same problems not only Slovenija
@markokorosec174 Thank you for your understanding ☺️ Just like in any country there will be rude people and kind 🙏🏽
@@Jo_thi 100% aggre 🙂 that is why I invested and stopped working also bad pay Jobs Here expensive Life in Slovenia for the Paycheck we get at the end of a month, + a lot of coworkers really lazy I need to work for them as well, so I quit a job and start investing, now I have 10x time bigger income + I dont work, I rader enjoy every day. 🤫😂
@markokorosec174 Well that is amazing! I wish you all the best and hope you enjoy ☺️👌
are you in touch with Mariah Dolenc, another girl who moved to slovenia from US i believe? she also has youtube channel.
Actually I'm not but I do watch her videos :)
Hello from Slovenia, nice tips!
Thanks for your honest opinion!
One more tip: when you speak English to Slovenians, try to reduce British accent as much as possible and avoid British slang or Cockney and this kind of...🙂. Try to pronounce the words with the most clear articulation possible, avoid idioms, try to speak "global simple English", rather American than British since that's an English variety they're used of the most (Hollywood)🙂
I agree, I also speak slowly as I am naturally a fast speaker 😅
The place is beautiful indeed, sucks the life out of you in taxes - equivalent to Belgium for example, housing prices in LJ as if you are in Manhattan - but you are not - other than that a closed economy like in ex-Yu, more modernised of course - absolute lack of FDI, like in Slovakia for example where there are yahoos and service centres and generally big companies.
Everyone speaks English. Simply. No issue here.
Bruahhh....closed economy to Ex Yugo ,Down there are almost poor and are not comparable to Slovenia economy at all!!!.. Slovenia is closed economy to Italy or Spain and for instance wages are higher in Slovenia now than in Italy .... for example a waiter earns from 1400 EUR upwards ... in Trieste 1400 EUR you can dream of them, not to mention southern Italy you earn a pittance .... the roles have reversed ... once Italy had much higher salaries unfortunately this is no longer the case .... and I can testify as I live on the border between Italy and Slovenia....BTW in Slovenia are very well educated and almost everyone speaks English, Younger population almost perfect...let me tell you Greece and Portugal for instance they can hide with everything compared with Slovenia, economy as well....
A more fitting title would be Living in -rural- Slovenia
Slovenija is a nice Mini EU State :D its a little mix of Italian/Croatian/Hungarian & German Austrian Culture
my advice (as a Slovenian which has been speaking the language from birth or what ever) learn the alphabet and by learn in mean waking in the middle of the night and knowing it, and then just use the sound from the alphabet (each letter) into the words so for example dog wich in slovenian is pes look how each letter is pronounced and then put them together but the e's are a bit weird sometimes so..... Hope this was usefull.
Hey it doesn't make sense as a foreigner
@@DeepakSharma-kw3pq mb
Slovenia got border with Italy...you said 3 hours to ,Italy which is not correct...
And Hungary & Austria is the next Borders after Croatia haha!
Interesting Slovenia county 😊😊
I'm really sorry but hearing how you and your friends have no idea what or where Slovenia is really cringey and and sad. I mean, you're from the UK and you don't even guys know the member states of the EU, you were part of, for the most of your lives?
Don't be sorry. I guess Slovenia doesn't come up in conversations in day to day life. Majority of the time if anyone around me spoke about holiday's it was mainly to Croatia or Italy. Not to mention Slovenia Is such a small country making it a hidden gem :)
I'm also rubbish at geography 😅
Don't worry these days, a lot of us Slovenians know English well. I am Slovene, American born and raised here in Slovenia and I know many American, Slovenian people here. So don't worry a lot about the language :).
What kind of job do you do in Slovenia? Do you need to use Slovenian for it or is it English-only? Also yeah Slovenian banks are a big pain, if you want an easier bank you can open a free account with N26 online ☺
@Maks haha yo
What app do you use to learn? I found it so hard to find anything useful for Slovene.
Hey I used to use Sloline :)
How are black people treated in Slovenia???
Hey!! I am from Slovenia but mz boyfriend is from Germany. He is trying to learn my language and I would love to know which app you are using for learning Slovene. :)
Hey, I actually write Slovene games online and it's usually the first one in the search. Or you can download the Ling app which is also really good, but you have to pay for the pro version :)
So beautiful.What is your name
Thank you :) You can call me Jo :D
@@Jo_thi thanks jo D
Do we get. Part time job in Slovenia as English speaking
I say you very nice and i like boolywood movie .
i find it a bit odd that you claim we mostly don't speak english. almost everyone i know, myself included, are fluent in at least 2 foreign languages. thanks for sharing your experience tho. don't worry with documents because a lot of times it's confusing and hard even for us. there's a lot of people who aren't able to correctly fill in a form for, say, welfare, scholarship, you name it. banksters are jerks to everyone, no matter the language barrier :) welcome here and may your love last
Hey so I never actually said everyone. I'm aware in the capital most people speak English. I live outside Celje and many people I have encountered do not speak English. It's majority of the time older people working in the offices, such as the upravna enota. If I go to the bank, the post office even the grocery store I have to search for someone who speaks English, or take my husband for more official things. This is just my experience, and thanks for the welcome. 😊👍🏼
@@Jo_thi While it's true that most of the young people could do some English, there's quite rare to find a 40+ old person fluent in English. We like to believe we're a nation of polyglots but that's not the case really.
I honestly don't expect the older generation to be fluent but I am sure they could speak better English than my Slovene xd or at least show some compassion when I ask if they could speak a little. For example I went with my daughter to her doctors routine check up, the women who can speak English decided not to at that moment and went on giving me a list of what my daughter could eat and other bits and bobs. I asked if she could translate some parts I couldn't figure out and she flat out said No and another mother stepped in to translate. I mean there is a time and place to teach me Slovene just not then - _-
@@Jo_thi i feel you and from what you described to simply stumbled upon some shitbags. this happened to me a lot in the czech republic, a lot. go there to see what level of jerks exist in this world. regarding the older generation speaking better english than your slovenian, i can't agree. i mean i don't know your slovenian enough to judge, however i can say something for sure. back in the day the people learned english which didn't even exist, it wasn't like today. that's one. it was bad to know languages since you quickly got under suspicion of being a spy or something. keep in mind we were and for the most part still are a socialist craphole. close to nobody needed english a few decades ago, so those over 50 don't know it and it's ok. even not so long ago, when i was in high school, most of the teachers weren't able to say 3 intelligent sentences outside of the curriculum, they knew shit of the language. they only knew what was prescribed t oteach to prepare for the bac exams. that's it. it was here like it still is today in much bigger countries, say, italy, spain, where there's lots of people who have never been outside or if they go they can somehow survive with their own languages. things are changing tho both there and here.
@@Jo_thi Yeah, that was just rude, no excuses.
people not speaking english doesnt make sense...as everyone I know, speaks 2 or 3 languages....
EDIT: Ok I had seen you are from Celje...(Wich is smaller town with mostly migrants from former yugoslavian countries..Bosniaks/serbs) , so now it make a bit more sense...they hardlly speak slovenian, as everyone in slovenia understands their language, so they use it everywhere, even when in a bank etc..
I mainly mean the elderly that work at places, such as the bank or the stores. Not all people ofc. 😊
SLAVA YUGOSLAVIJA!
Seveda pa se moraš naučiti slovensko 😉☺
Most people under 45 can speak English.
Yes, but it's different outside of the capital :)
The most people in West Slovenija speak English/Italian/Croatian & in East Slovenija more Hungarian & German Austrian haha!
POZDRAV IZ SLOVENIJA I BALKANIJA