Hi everybody!
How are the people in Slovenia? This is a frequent question I hear everytime I come back for a visit back home. Thus, after having been in contact with the Slovenes for a while, I have put together a few descriptions which are typical for Slovenian lifestyle.
I know that this is too general and doesn’t necessarily apply to everybody. I wrote this with my best intentions without wanting to offend anyone. Please read this with a pinch of salt and humour 🙂
- Slovenes love hiking.
Unlike a lot of other nations, Slovenes don’t spend their Sunday afternoons by lying on the couch and watching TV but they go for a hike to their beautiful mountains – all of them! I tried to follow this a few time but, honestly, I suck at hiking… It feels kinda strange to see a 70-year old lady and 3-year old child being faster than you.
2. A lot of Slovenes wear hiking shoes all the time.
The Slovene passion for hiking has also transformed into their wardrobe, when hiking shoes have become a universal piece of attire for a lot of people 🙂
3. Slovenes are very patriotic and love their country.
Period.
4. Pizza and coffee are a religion here.
Slovene pizza is, in my humble opinion, a good competitor to the Italian one – it’s just delicious! And drinking coffee outside, even when the temperature is close to zero, is quite common thing here.
5. Family is very important in Slovenia.
Slavic nations are known for being more family-orientated compared to the Western world. But from what I have seen so far, Slovenia is a winner in this. Slovenes are very closely bound with their family members, both with the closest one as well as with broad family. Also, vast majority of young people live in their parents’ house until they build their own house or buy an appartment. Living in rented places when you are young is quite rare here.
6. Slovenes run.
Besides hiking, the second most popular sport is running. You can see poeple run everywhere and anytime! Respect!
7. Slovenes are lifetime students.
In Slovenia, it is nothing unusual to be a fulltime student also at the age of, say, 30. The university system works a little different here and it would be for another looong post to explain this.
8. Christmas is not a big deal in Slovenia. But Christmas decorations are!
If you come from a country where Christmas is the most important holiday and all life stops to celebrate it, Slovenia could be a little shock for you. Surprisingly, this otherwise Christian nation doesn’t really worry about Christmas. On the first sight it doesn’t look like that though because Slovenian cities put up loads of lights during Christmas time and their decorations are very orginal and beautiful.
9. Slovenci jamrajo – Slovenes complain.
To be fair – not only for Slovenes but also for Slovaks and Czechs complaining about work, politics, boss, other people, weather, anything is a national hobby.
10. Slovenes are easy-going and relaxed people.
Although this is very relative and depends on what countries we are looking at, Slovenes seem to me a little more relaxed people compared to my homeland country of Slovakia. They do not make too much stress out of everything, they don’t live to work, they smile, they enjoy nature and live a peaceful and easy life 🙂
Do you agree? Or you have a different exprience? Let me know!
xxPetra
Slovakia in sLOVEnia 
As a Slovenian, I was very happy to read this: “10. Slovenes are easy-going and relaxed people.”
Obviously other people see us differently, I never thought we are relaxed (it somewhat doesnt’t fit with “9. Slovenci jamrajo – Slovenes complain”). But, I’m happy if you see this way!
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