Taking care the work permit

24 January 2008. After a week I got my diploma, today we went to Ljubljana to take care the working permit. Not as the diploma that we can take care by post, for this one we need to give all the requirements personally. And before we went there, first we stopped by to Indonesian consulate cause i need to report myself. I actually already fax them my passport 2 months after arrived, but since i need them to give the stamp on it so i have to go there personally. Finally we could meet Mr. Arne Mislej - honarary consul ( you need to syncronize time before you meet him because he is busy and mostly not in the office :-)) and got the stamp. One thing solved! feel relieve ...

Now as for the working permit, the process lasts approximately one month but can take more time if you do not obtain all the necessary documentation. Once you send your application with all the relevant documents, the Slovenian Employment Office has officially a maximum of 60 days to process it. The employment and work of foreigners in Slovenia is strictly regulated and employment is only possible on the basis of a work permit. A work permit usually lasts for one year and afterwards you may renew it according to the same conditions in which you applied.

There are three types of work permits in total and they are categorized as follows;
(1) Permit for Employment,
(2) Personal Work Permit and
(3) Permit for Work. The most common is the Permit for Employment.
A Permit for Employment is issued at the request of an employer and allows the foreigner to work at that particular employer only. There is basically one major obstacle with this type of work permit, and that is any unemployed Slovenian citizen has priority over a foreigner. However, an unemployed Slovene’s qualifications must be equal to or higher than the foreigner’s. So, the current situation on the labour market is a very important issue when dealing with this type of work permit. In special cases, foreigners can apply for a Personal Work Permit. This type of work permit allows a foreigner to practice or seek any work with the same conditions as a Slovene citizen. Those looking to reunite with family or seeking self employment can apply. Also refugees, foreigners who have been employed for 5 years by the same employer in Slovenia, foreigners whose parents were Slovenian citizens, and permanent residence holders can also apply. The work permit is normally issued for 3 years; however, permanent residence holders receive permanent work permits. Finally, a Permit for Work is issued for foreign managers, workers of foreign companies who are practising some activities in Slovenia, for seasonal work of foreigners and so on. With this type of work permit, foreign companies can also provide services with so called seconded (or posted) employees, where an employee from a foreign company can work at a Slovenia company for a maximum of 3 months. This applies to foreign companies which are located in countries that do not have free access to the Slovenian labour market, that do not have a subsidiary located in Slovenia and also do not own at least 51 percent of the shares in any company currently located in Slovenia. For some activities which last a short time (including foreign artists, urgent services, foreigners who participate at exhibitions and fairs, etc.) foreigners do not need a work permit but must report the activity to the Slovenian Employment Office. One of the many misconceptions about work permits is that all EU citizens can work in Slovenia without a work permit, which is totally false. Only citizens of new EU member countries (Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Cyprus and Malta) and citizens of Ireland, the United Kingdom and Sweden have free access to the Slovenian labour market and are therefore not required to apply for a work permit. As mentioned already, work permits can be complicated so take the time to do proper research prior to applying, but if you do not have time to do that then hire someone competent who can. The information provided is for reference only and cannot be taken as advice. Individual rules and regulations apply to each person and country nationals. (source:http://www.sloveniatimes.com/en)

And since I am the family of Slovenian citizen, i can either apply for personal work permit and permit for work. Yet, for personal work permit, as the new law I should live here for certain years before i can apply. So today we took care for the most common is Permit for Employment. As the requirements are copy of my verified diploma, copy of passport, copy of marriage certificate, and filling the form. It cost around 72 euro, and you need to pay in advance via bank transfer. Its expensive indeed. But if you want to work legally then you MUST pay it!!
Still we had unpleasent experience we took care of it. As we already knew, here all the goverment office usually has the official hours when you can and can not to take care something. You cant just go and give them the documents. They wont take it if the time is not approprieate. And as we already checked from their site, today is suppose their official hour. But when we got there, the receptionist lady said that today they dont have the official hours for foreigner who want to take care the permit. But we can give the documents to the lady inside until someone who in charge will take it. So we went there and met her. And when Grega asked her what actually we need to give her (he actually already knew it, but he only wanted to make sure if we get her the right documents), she said that she doesnt know and will take whataver he gave ... WTF!! I mean as the person who work in Slovenian Employment Office, she should know about the law and stuff. At least if she doesnt know, she can check or call the person who familiar with it. Not giving the ignorance answer like that.Especially we already paid so much for this. As a public service you should give your best service. Good thing we already check through internet before.

Pic source :http://www.fit-for-europe.info/uploads/164/figure_work.gif

My Diploma verified

16 January 2008. Finally after almost 6 months waiting, we got the news from the Slovenian Education Ministry that my diploma is verified. So within a week i will get it because they will send it via post from Ljubljana. After this ... another document is waiting to take care ... a working permit. Why ? cause for this permit, one of the requirement is the diploma certificate that i got from university in Surabaya should be verified first by the Slovenian goverment. So guys ... when you plan to live in Slovenia ... be well prepare to do all the papers stuff :-)

Pic source :http://school.discoveryeducation.com/clipart/images/diploma.gif

New Year Party - Hotel Paka

1 January 2008. A day after the new year, we went to New Year party at Paka hotel, Velenje. This is an annual event, coordinated by the hotel management. They had dinner and the dance. Of course its not free of charge :-) I think around 20 euro per person. And you need to pay extra for the baverages. And talk about the foods, the appetizer is Salmon served with njoki and basil sauce. Delicious and very mediteran taste. The main course is veil, chicken with some other side dishes. I cant remember the names :-). For dessert is chocolate cakes. I think the foods are okay. At least i can eat them all, no pork included :-)
Actually the main reason we came here is we want to practise our dance lesson, yet too bad the hall for dancing is not so big. It's too small for all guests to dance there. You barely can move without stepping other's feet. So we only did the dance for 2 songs then we gave up and prefer to sit and watched them bumping into other :-)

New Year's Eve Dinner

31 December 2007. This evening we have New year dinner together with Grega's family. It is first time i have a dinner to celebrate new year.Also first time i am having it far away from my family. Well when i was in Surabaya we usually did some barbeque together with the family. We bought chicken and fishes (ikan bakar) then we made the barbeque in our yard ... and move the TV close so we still can watch some new year shows while we were barbequing. Then we started eating it at midnight, exactly when the year change :-) So we had to hold on not to eat first ... ehm how i miss it!! Especially ikan bakar :-D Ah yes few days before we did some shopping for new year gift. Again, another thing that i never did before. We never had this exchanging gift for new year. And here we have to get presents for the whole family. Yes! let say new year bonus from the company will be gone soon by the time you entered the store :-D
But this moment is the moment to share the joy and happines with others. So ... i guess ni complain :-D And we will gather all the presents under the new year tree in Velenje.

Anyway, similiar as we did ... only different style, hihihi ... this evening my father in law make a roast turkey and other traditional meal. The turkey is quite big one so each of us got big slices ... Its so yummy so i can eat them all eventhough i usually eat so little. I like also the side dish, called mlinci ... very tasty. Orang jawa bilang gurih deh pokoknya :-) After having the dinner, of course the moment we are all waiting for!! eng ing eng .....!!! YES! Time for Dedek Mras (New Year's Santa) to distribute the presents!!!Yippiiii!!!! :-D I got more presents than the others Grega's got 'envy' about it, hehehe ... I got a pair of slipper, accessoris, thick shocks, a wok, cosmetic (face treatment), parfume. Oh iya aku juga dapat duit lho dari mertua, hehehe ... Happy deh pokoknya :-)
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!!

Trip to Italy (Gorizia, Trieste, Aquileia )

28-29 December 2007. This weekend we went to Italy for 2 days. First we went Gorizia (Slovenia : Gorica), a small town at the foot of the Alps, in northeastern Italy, on the border with Slovenia. It is the capital of the Province of Gorizia, and is a local center of tourism, industry, and commerce.
In Slovenian, Gorica means "little hill." The city is located at the confluence of the valleys of Isonzo and Vipacco rivers. It lies in a plain overlooked by the Collio hills, which are renowned for the production of outstanding wines. Being sheltered from the north by a mountain ridge, Gorizia is not touched by the cold winds coming from there. And although the Bora can blow from the east, the city still retains a mild climate.
Originally a watchtower or a prehistoric castle, Gorizia soon became a little village near the fords of the river Isonzo. It was not far from one of the most important Roman travelways linking Aquileia and Emona (Ljubljana). The name of Gorizia was for the first time recorded in a document dated AD April 28, 1001: "Villa quae Sclavorum lingua vocatur Goriza " ("The village, known in the language of the Slavs as Goriza"). This stated the donation of the castle and village of Gorizia made by Emperor Otto III to Patriarch Giovanni II and to Count Verihen Eppenstein of Friuli. The Eppensteins were succedeed by the Palatine counts of Bavaria.
One of the main attraction in this town its old castle, built within the Middle Ages walls, was once the seat of the administrative and judiciary power of the county. It is divided into the Corte dei Lanzi (with foundings of a high tower demolished in the 16th century), the Palazzetto dei Conti (13th century) and the Palazzetto Veneto. The Lanzi were the armed guards, the term being an Italian form of Landsknecht. The palatine chapel, entitled to Saint Bartholomew houses canvases of the Venetian school of painting and traces of Renaissance frescoes. There is also a Museum of the Goritian Middle Ages.
In this town, you can also find some shops. Grega said it used to be more shops back then and they used to shop here cause his grandmother lives in Nova Gorica (Slo), the town next to Gorizia. But now most of shops are closed. I actually plan to get some shoes here since i cant find a pump with smallest number for my small feet in Slovenia. But we didnt find anything.

Second day, we went to Trieste. The main attraction in this town is The two castles. The older castle, dating back to the eleventh century, is in ruins, while the newer castle is inhabited to this day and can be visited by tourists, it is known as Castello di Duinno.
The new castle of Duino is approximately dated to about the year 1400, when the family Wallsee commanded the construction of a strong fortress. Over time, the Wallsee family disappeared and the castle, after having been used as a prison, became the residence of the Luogar and Hofer. At the end of the 19th century it became the property of the Prince Alexander of Thurn and Taxis. It remains with the family to this day with his grandson Prince Carlo Alessandro della Torre e Tasso, Duke of Castel Duino the current owner. The castle has been opened to the public as a museum and park.
This place is very popular among famous people. They spent some time to stay here. Numerous the renowned guest : Elizabent of Austria (Sisi), The Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, Johann Strauss, and most important of all, the hermetic poet Reiner Maria Rilke who composed the first two of the famous Duino Elegies while staying at the castle.
This castle also has a bunker which was constructed in 1943 by the Organization TODT for the German Navy to defend the naval base of Sistiana againts a pissible allied attack.Used as air-raid shelter before it was armoured with a cannon by the Germans, it was transformed after the war (1945 - 1954 ) by the British into a fuel store. The bunker was opened to the public by the Princess Della Torre e Tasso in March 2006 to witness these years.
This castle is really different than other castles i've been visited. It's interesting to me since it has sea as the view, plus the weather is quite warm during the winter time. The owner offcourse has their own beach. Must be comfortable to live here, especially during summer :-) No wonder many famous people like to spend some time here for relax or to get inspiration for their work.

After visited Duino castle, we went to Miramare Castle, its a 19th century castle, built for Austrian Archduke Maximilian and his wife, Charlotte of Belgium, later Emperor Maximilian I and Empress Charlotte of Mexico. The castle is situated on the Gulf of Trieste near Trieste, northeastern Italy. Construction took place from 1856 to 1860 to a design by Carl Junker on the orders of Archduke Maximilian. The castle's grounds include an extensive (22 hectares) cliff and seashore park designed by the Archduke. The grounds were completely re-landscaped to feature numerous tropical species of trees and plants. Its very beautiful castle with sea as the view. Unfortunately we didnt check what they have inside since we run out of time because we still need to go to see some other place.

As our last destination before heading back home is Aquileia, its an ancient Roman city in what is now Italy, at the head of the Adriatic at the edge of the lagoons, about 10 km from the sea, on the river Natiso (modern Natisone), the course of which has changed somewhat since Roman times.
Aquileia was founded as a colony by the Romans in 180/181 BC along the Natissa River, on land south of the Julian Alps but about 8 miles north of the lagoons. Apparently named from a indigenous world Akylis, the colony served as a frontier fortress at the north-east corner of transpadane Italy and was intended to protect the Veneti, faithful Roman allies, during the Illyrian Wars and act as a butress to check the advance of other warlike people, such as the hostile tribes of Carni and Istri. In fact, Aquileia was founded on a site not far from where Gaulish invaders had attempted to settle in 183 BC.
Aquileia was connected by road with Bononia (Bologna) probably in 173 BC; and subsequently with Genua (Genova) in 148 BC by the Via Postumia, which ran through Cremona, Bedriacum and Altinum, joining the first-mentioned road at Concordia, while the construction of the Via Popilia from Rimini to Ad Portum near Altinum in 132 BC improved the communications still further.
Here you will find some archeology work where they are digging some sites to find more ruins. There are a port (used to be the major port), roman's houses, roman's forum, archelogical roads. Very interesting sites!!
Other main sight besides the ruin is the Cathedral, Basilica of Aquileia. Its one of the most important edifices of Christianity. It is a flat-roofed basilica erected by Patriarch Poppo in 1031 on the site of an earlier church, and rebuilt about 1379 in the Gothic style by Patriarch Marquad.
The façade, in Romanesque-Gothic style, is connected by a portico to the Church of the Pagans, and the remains of the 5th century Baptistry. The interior has a nave and two aisles, with a noteworthy mosaic pavement from the 4th century. The wooden ceiling is from 1526, while the fresco decoration belongs to various ages: from the 4th century in the St. Peter's chapel of the apse area; from the 11th century in the apse itself; from the 12th century in the so-called "Crypt of the Frescoes", under the presbytery, with a cycle depicting the origins of Christianity in Aquileia and the history of St. Hermagoras, first bishop of the city.