Slovenia is a country slightly smaller than the state of New Jersey. It is located in Central Europe by the eastern Alps, and borders the Adriatic Sea between Austria and Croatia. Although it may not be thought of by many, did you know that Colorado and Slovenia have an ongoing agreement in the State Partnership Program, an initiative of the National Guard?
The State Partnership Program agreement between Colorado and Slovenia began in 1991. It involves sixty-five foreign nations and the fifty states, including the District of Columbia and United States’ territories such as Guam. The agreement helps to strengthen domestic and foreign military understanding among nations and assists in building amicable government and civilian relations. At the state level, personal ties between the people of Colorado and Slovenia are encouraged, and to this end, linguistic and cultural understanding are important factors for success.
Slovenia, though a small country, offers much in terms of cultural insight. People from Slovenia view their homes as a reflection of who they are, so they make efforts to keep their homes clean and presentable. Americans and Slovenians will find it easy to greet one another, as a hand shake and a smile are accepted in both countries. if you want to give a gift, although the color of the wrapping paper does not particularly matter, the thought certainly does. In Slovenia, the thought truly is seen as more important than the item. An example of this type of thoughtful gift giving is to bring flowers and wine to someone’s home if you are invited to dinner, as they are small practical items that may improve the look of the home and contribute to the dinner.
Slovenian people prefer an indirect style of communication, which means they would rather talk around an issue instead of confronting the topic directly. This style of communication may present some challenges for Americans who are accustomed to saying what they mean. In this situation, it is important for people from both cultures to remember that mutual respect is gained through active listening and a willingness to learn rather than a desire to point out mistakes. People from the United States should remember that Slovenians will most certainly know more about our culture than we do about their own. Showing lively interest, talking quietly and respectfully, and engaging in topics of general interest are all positive steps toward mutual cultural understanding. Political and religious topics should be avoided. Even if your new Slovenian friend shares your same religion, cultural differences mean that he or she may feel less comfortable expressing this aspect of his or her life, or may hesitate to enter into a discussion about religion for other reasons.
Hold out your hand, smile, and say, “Pozdravljeni” (pose-drav-len-ee: hello)! A new friendship across both language and culture has just begun. Our militaries work together, now let’s extend the hand of friendship among domestic and international students, employees, and strangers both in America and abroad.
