One year already ...

1 May 2008. Today is one year already I've been staying in Slovenia. Can't believe time went so fast. People says 'If you feel time goes so fast, means you are having a good time'. Well, many things happened during a year here, bad and good things. In general, I am having a good time mostly ... been doing some trip around Slovenia, and even abroad, eventhough just some closer countries. At least, I got some nice memories to see other countries and culture. It was very difficult for me first time I got here. Worried what I am going to survive ... living in a strange country where everything is totally different. After a while, slowly I managed to adapt, step by step ... with the people, the environment, the rules, the culture and the foods. Slovenian people in general are nice and very welcome with the foreigner. So far I haven't got any bad experience with them. Eventhough I still get 'the look' from them. I guess my physical look is unsual for them since not so many asian live here, especially in the town I live. I only see few chinese. Sometimes when I meet some kids, they look me with curious look ... not like an adult, they stare at me curiously like I am an alien :-) And when I smile at them, they give their adorable smile. very cute!! :-) For me living in Slovenia is like living in a modern village. The country is so small, yet well organized. The nature is clean and fresh. The country is surrounded by hills and mountains. Just like in the village, where everything is green and fresh. For me is a big change since I grew in big town like Surabaya where all around is just skycrapers, houses, and traffic jam was a daily view. Means high pollution, no fresh air.
As the law and rules here, it's pretty strict here since the goverment want to have everything in order. I spent a year to take care all the papers I need, from residence permit, diploma, health insurance, and working permit. Luckily there's no 'money' talk. You only pay what you need to pay. No 'tip' or 'uang lelah'. Especially no 'special' price if your spouse is a foreigner. All you've got to do is fulfill all the requirents. So if you intend to live here, prepare yourself to deal with all the birocracies or they will kick you out :-)
Culture ... ehm it's definately different than Indonesia. Can't explain one by one. Small example, it's rude to point something or someone. While in Indonesia, when I want to make sure, sometimes I use my hand to point thing what we are talking about :-) Or, on birthday, they always sing, but not a birthday song, but traditional or national songs. They sing all along during the celebration.
The foods, first time I had problem to adapt because I never used to with western meal. I had digestion problem in my first week. Now, alhamdulillah I already found some Indonesia spices, also some friends I knew from internet kindly sent me some Indonesian spices that I don't find them here. I cook mostly Indonesian dishes, but sometimes I also make western meal so that won't be bored. Luckily i have a husband that not so picky with the foods, as long as no chillies :-) Some Slovenian dishes are delicious, but mostly their specialities are made from pork. And I can't eat or cook it at home.
My only problem after a year here is the language. I can say it's my biggest problem. And since 2 months ago, my father in law teach me because I don't take any course. Sometimes its frustruated me beacuse it's so diffucult to learn. I know lot of words, yet I still can't speak. I only understand a little when people are talking. Because I don't know the language, it's hard for me to get a job. Only time will tell when I will be able to speak fluently. I wish I live in a place where english is the language ...


Pic source : http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/cey0036l.jpg

Spring is already here ...

Some pictures taken from garden in Bresno. Now everything is blooming and colourful ... new life begins as a sign that spring is here ... It's beautiful !!

Finally my working permit is on hand

21 April 2008. Finally I got my personal working permit. Yet I got the copy instead of the original one since they somehow lost it when they sent it via post. And instead of sending it with registered post, they sent it by normal post. And when it got lost they don't know how to trace it. Very stupid and irresponsibility!! It pissed us off because for this permit we paid tax for 74 euro and we got nothing!!! When Grega asked them to send the duplicate, they sent copy instaed. I mean it wasn't our fault that they lost it, and they should give me the original instead copy with some note 'copy is the same as the original'!!!

pic source : http://www.anyworkanywhere.com/maps/gm_slovenia.gif

Grand Opening Bali Massage Centre - Zreče

19 April 2008. Last weekend, we were invited to grand opening Bali massage center in Zreče. The owner is Grega's friend from high school, Mitja. We somehow helped him to take care the papers for the Balinese massage girls. I was happy that I finally met them, Wayan and Kadek. I don't know their complete name :-) We chat a lot. They told me how its so diffucult for them to adjust with the situation, especially with the time difference and the foods. They can't sleep or eat anything, especially Wayan. She said she barely eat anything and when they wanted to make rice, turn out they cooked it with too much water and become bubur instead :-) Poor girls! Living abroad is really hard indeed for the first time. Especially you can easily can get a meal in warung outside your house in Indonesia, cheap and good :-) So I told them how to cook rice properly without using a rice cooker (most indonesians have it in their home). I really admire them ... they are willing to come so far just to make a better life ... leaving all the loved ones. Back home, Wayan is a housewife with 2 children, 8 y.o girl and 4 y.o baby boy. Her husband is a policeman in Sukawati. She said she wanted to go out from her village cause somehow she feels sick with everyone there who are so envie and always have gossips. And also do magic. Whataver her family do, they always talk about it behind her. Never appreciate it. That's why she wanted to prove them that she can do better than their think. While Kadek, she has to leave her family and her boyfriend. Im sure its really hard to make a decision to leave our loved ones. I just hope they will enjoy staying in Slovenia. I told them if they miss Indonesian foods, they can come to our house and I will cook for them :-)
Anyway, as for the Bali Massage Center, it is located in Zreče, close to ski resort, Rogla. Very strategic place for this kind of business cause lot of people going there for some holidays, especially during the winter. Also there is a big thermal spa near. Here's the address

BALI BATU Masažni salon Cestna na Roglo 4c Zreče -Slovenia

As for the price, it's quite competitive since here massage and spa treatment, especially like Thai or Indian is expensive. At least for 60 minutes massage you need to pay 40 euro. With that price we can actually get 2 or 3 times massage in Bali :-)
You can click the price list picture to make it bigger.

Going out to the seaside ... PORTOROŽ

5 April 2008. Our next destination after Izola was next town, Portorož. It was my second time here. Too bad the weather was not so good. During the summer, this place pack with tourist, laying down in the beach for sunbathing. This town is one of main tourist place in Slovenia. Lot of hotels and if you want to try your luck you can go to casinos as well :-D Some people said its like French Riviera (Code D'Azur), only in small version :-)
Portorož (Portorose in Italian, mean "Port of Roses"), but it has been labeled Portobeton ("Port of Concrete") by Slovenian wags, is a coastal town in Slovenia and one of the country's largest tourist areas. Belonging to the Municipality of Piran and inhabited by 3,000 people, Portorož is home to a marina, casino, and numerous sporting facilities. There is also a small international airport in nearby Sečovlje.

Going out to the seaside ... IZOLA

5 April 2008.

Last weekend we went on trip to seaside town of Slovenia, Izola and Portorož. I never been to Izola before, so when Grega asked where I wanted to go I said somewhere warmer, cause this town is close to the sea and the weather so much warmer than other part of Slovenia. But I was wrong. When we were there, weather was a bit unfriendly, the wind blowed and made it even colder. So we didnt stay too long there, just walked around the sea and pier, then did a bit walk through old part of the town.When the weather is good, warm and sunny, this place is really perfect for biking, rollerblading, or just walking.

Izola (Italian: Isola or Isola d'Istria) is an ancient mediterranean town with a lively history on the Slovenian coast. a town, It is situated in southwestern Slovenia on the coast of the Adriatic Sea.Originally an island in the northern Adriatic (hence the name, which comes from the Italian for "island"), it was first settled by the Romans, who built a port at Haliaetum, on Simons Bay, to the southwest of the present city.During the Middle Ages, it was controlled by the Venetian Republic.Its economic base was seriously hurt when Trieste (Trst in Slovene) became the premier port in the region and a plague struck in the 16th century.During the French occupation in the early 19th century, the city walls were torn down and used to fill in the channel that separated the island of Izola from the mainland. It also managed by Austria-Hungary (1797-1805 and 1814-1918), Italy (1918-1947), Free Territory of Trieste (1947-1954) and Jugoslavia (1954-1991).

The island was inhabited in the first century and was later connected to the mainland with a stone bridge. Izola use to be known as a city of the rebels. It has declared independence in 1253 and became a city with the proper laws and authority for a short period. In the 13th and 14th century there were also some "city wars" with the two neighbours Piran and Koper. In 1820 the termal spring was discovered and so the first steps toward tourism started. Later the fishing industry began to flourish, as the first fishing factory along the coast of adriatic was built. The city was sorrounded by a wall until 19th century, when it was pulled down and the material used to cover the sea between the island and the mainland.

The fishing tradition is nowadays still present in Izola's tourist programmes and cuisine. The local specialities include olive oil and home made vine. Positioned on the northern part of the Istra peninsula and having its own Marina the city remains one of the leading centers of nautical tourism.

No more cold ...

Now its not about the weather ... but about the refrigerator. Yup!! from now on I dont need to deal with cold stuff out from our old refrigerator since we have a new one, with better setting temperature and also more spacious ... enough space to put all stuffs inside :-) We got Electrolux with quite good price ... its not too cheap yet not so expensive as well.Good thing we got additional Merkur card as wedding gift. Eventhough we still need to pay quite a lot :-D
The old friedge actually is still working, but problem is everything got frozen inside. The setting for the temperature seemed not working. Everytime I wanted to cook, I had to take out vegetables or meat at least 1 hour before so that my hands won't freeze :-) Once I put tofu and when I wanted to cook it, it turn out like ice rock :-D
With this new one, we have more space to store a lot of goods. I like it because it has saparate compartments. The fridge for freezing goods is down while the upper part is for everyday stuffs. The important thing is now all goods will store normally.