First Day of Class

Who says I am not intimidating?

PS. Anyone want to start a Lawrence polka band?

Whoa, I am a slacker...

Hi! Ok... to all of my devoted followers... I am so sorry about the delay in writing. This has been a crazy full month, and things are not slowing down even though they must... my train out of Slovenia leaves in 3 days.

However, some things that were too good to not wait:
1. Pomegranite here is called "grenade apple" in a direct translation
2. I have a French friend who I just realized has saved my email address name not as Nicole, but as amerka
3. Speed bumps are called "lying policemen" and electric fences are "electric shephards" (which is an awesome image, if you picture it)
4. People think that I have a good voice here
5. The translation of breathing fire (which I know, because I learned it at pharm camp and will be doing at the next roommate talent show) is actually "puking fire".

...if only that was what puking really was... I would look forward to the stomach flu so much.

See you soon!

Which cone is more dangerous?!

Votes, please.

Zakaj ne?

My friend Jure looking in awe at the apple crisp Sarah made on "America Day"

Hands down, favorite picture of Tilen and myself, in front of a beautiful old mill. We, clearly, are straight up gangsta.
Wait... does Santa live in Ljubljana?!
Yes Rachel, it's happening.
?

Evo Friends...

I had a dream a few weeks ago that it was the night before pharmacy camp (yes, I am going to an international pharmacy camp for 8 days... because, why not?) and I was really sad because everything was moving too fast. Much to my relief, I woke up, ate breakfast, and told Tilen about it. He responded (not too sensitivitely) that it would soon be a reality.

He was right. I feel time slipping out of my fingers again. On Friday morning I leave for a small village to the East, where I will be learning about allergies.

Kind of.


So I love microbiology... its certalinly no secret that I love learning, and that all of biology fascinates me, but micro is the top. Bacteria, viruses, the immune system... all of those microscopic treasure chests of information... ah, wonderful. The camp's topic is allergies- GREAT! I love learning about allergies! They sent us a schedule and every day seems so interesting.

Sunday:
Arrive
"Making the bitter" (don't know what this means... ah, when translations go wrong)
Dinner
Intro to allergies

Saturday:
Breakfast
"Drugs and allergies"
"Children allergies"
"Pollen"
Lunch
"Nutritive Allergies"
Dinner
Visiting the wine cellar... (for micro, of course)

Sunday and Monday look about the same, but then Tuesday things start to get a little strange...

Tuesday:
Breakfast
Fieldtrip to castle
Lunch
Beach Volleyball
Traditional Dinner
Party

And alas, the day that will make me a new woman...

Wednesday:
Breakfast
Workshop: options = archery, paintball, FIRETHROWING (guess what I will be doing...)
2nd Workshop: options = archery, paintball, FIRETHROWING
Lunch
3rd Workshop: options = archery, paintball, FIRETHROWING
Picnic
Party

I will be sure to bring everything I learn to the next roommate talent show.

Celebrating 4th of July, Slovene Style

Ah... the Fourth of July... the day where we celebrate the birth of our own country by eating jell-o salad decorated like an American flag and watch children AND adults blow things up, safely. The day where only restaurant employees have to work, but nobody comes in because everyone is making sure their neighborhood does not burn down completely. The day where everyone damages their ear drums a little bit, and sings songs like "This land is our land".

For the second time now, I celebrated the 4th of July in Europe. First time, went to an army base, rode on rollercoasters, and ate corn on the cobb and candy apples... nothing could be more American!

This year, Sarah Murphy and I attempted to throw an "American Day" party. We sort of succeeded... with eating American dessert (improvised with homeade quasi-brown sugar) and singing the national anthem. We also listened to Elton John (realized that he may have not been the right choice, but it seemed to fit), drank bad beer (no offense, Slovenia), and ate 7 layer bean dip.

About 7 layer bean dip...
We thought nothing could get more 4th-of-July than this. In fact, it was Roman's special wish, as he remembered it from my dad's pigroast. However, this was no easy task. We had to begin with making refried beans, because you cannot buy them here (not really difficult, mash up some pintos, add oil and onions... fry). We then had to remember what the 7 layers were... beans, guac, salsa, lettuce, olives, tomatoes, onions, cheese (8 layer dip?), and then attempted, fruitlessly, to find yellow cheese. Everyone here thinks that they eat yellow cheese, but they don't. They eat white cheese, and they refuse to accept that it is not yellow. Tilen was there for the assembly process, to which I am sure he thought it was the most disgusting food ever, because 7 layer bean dip is really just taking all of the gross-looking foods and putting them together to make an incredible combination of flavors. After making it, transporting it to the cottage in the woods, and opening it, we then had to defend its name to everyone. Why is it called 7 layer bean dip?! Only one layer is beans!
-Well, the beans are the most important layer
Why not 7 layer cheese dip?!
-That would be something different. And this isn't even cheddar cheese... it should be yellow.
It is yellow cheese!
-No sir, that cheese is white.

Later in the evening, we took the leftover food home and invited some friends over for dessert and coffee. The best part was definitely Sarah burning the coffee. I was hoping we could light some things on fire, but she gave us the legit, home smell without having to sacrifice something that we might need later.

All in all, I would say that American Day was a success. We had all of the essentials:
1. Overeating
2. Burning
3. Red, White, and Blue (Sarah and I both wore handkerchiefs around our necks)
4. Drinking
5. Fun

Thanks Slovenia, for letting us bring a little bit of home here.