An International Travel Duo – Part 1

This time we're presenting to you Tjaša and Hugo. She's Slovene and he's French. Let's start with basics. Who are Tjaša and Hugo? How did you two meet and so on? Tell us your story.

Tjaša: I'm Tjaša. I studied English and French. At the end of my studies I went to do an Erasmus internship in France where we met by coincidence. There was a Halloween party. He wore a costume, I didn't. I approached him and started talking to him in French. He answered me in English. At first, I planned to stay in France for five months, but I got a job there. Therefore, I stayed there for two years.

Hugo: I never thought I would be in Slovenia. She was convincing me for two years to come here. Well, now I'm here. I wanted to live in southern France and surf there. A change of plans. Tjaša doesn't like to surf that much, but hopefully she’ll change her mind eventually.

What can't you travel without?

Tjaša: I always have my notebook with me. To scribble in interesting things that happened to me along the way, and anecdotes and stories of people I met. Of course, also basic stuff like the phone charger and the mobile phone. Also, I always have to check the country a bit before visiting – its culture, language, sights, and food.

I’m more of a planning type, while Hugo is more spontaneous and doesn't think so much in advance. It seems to be a great combination for travelling for such a pair. I want my mind to be on our journey, so I know what's happening around me as well as inside me. His motive is more to relax and unwind. He loves exploring as well.

Hugo: I really don't have a lot of stuff with me when I travel. I don’t need it and I'm more flexible that way.

If you could swim with dolphins or go shark diving, which one would you pick?

Tjaša: Let's say diving with the sharks. We saw them in Cancun in Mexico, too. Whale sharks. They aren’t dangerous, which is ok, because otherwise we would have to be in a cage and observe them from there. Swimming in water with plankton which glows in water was an amazing experience. The ability of such organisms to glow is called bioluminescence. It’s an amazing phenomenon to wonder at in darkness.

Hugo: Both sound good to me. Maybe riding a dolphin while being surrounded by sharks. Dolphins at first glance seem beautiful and sharks look scary.

You are both based in Slovenia for now. But, I’m just curious… Tjaša, I assume you’ve already been to France? What are your thoughts about France? What are the things we can learn from the people there and maybe implement here in Slovenia?

Tjaša: we should slow down a bit, appreciate the friendships we have, drink a glass of wine together, not save money all the time... The French know how to enjoy life. All Slovenes would do is work and work. Sometimes we can't seem to appreciate the small things. It's true that we don't eat smelly cheese as much as the French do, though, ha-ha.

In the past, I think I didn't take the time for relaxation. I felt guilty if I bought myself something nice. The French also have manners at the table, whilst we, Slovenes, not so much. In France, it's quite easy to go out in the evening with friends and have fun. In Slovenia it takes ages before we even agree on whether we'll go out together, and where, and when and so on. Furthermore, people in France also drink alcohol during the week, after work when they meet, while in Slovenia, people are not so fond of it. Their biggest excuse is going to work the next day.

Also, when Hugo started working in a company here in Slovenia, he introduced himself, and greeted each of his co-workers in his department, and shook hands with them. It's nice to feel welcome in the beginning, don't you think?

Also, people in Slovenia don't throw parties so often, but in France they do. Food, wine and champagne are served there. When living and working in France, I was surrounded by people from all walks of life, and from different countries. All were quite open minded.

Hugo: The Slovenes are straightforward. They also like to gossip. That’s the same as in France.

This one is directed more at Hugo… What do you like the most in Tjaša’s homeland, and are you not so fond of? What food from your home country do you miss the most? Does Tjaša perhaps try to make it for you?

Tjaša: We both miss the food. Dinner is the most important meal in France. In my country, we don't have the habit of drinking a glass of wine at dinner. Also, Dijon mustard. Coincidentally, Hugo is also from the town of Dijon.

He also misses going to the market. Like a bigger one. The one here in Ljubljana is quite small and there’s not so much to choose from. Then he also misses French bakeries. You really can't compare them with ours. There’s a greater array of things that you can buy there. On Sunday mornings, we usually went on a hunt for some fresh baked baguettes and sausages. Of course, when we were still living in France, I missed Slovenian food a lot.

Hugo: I like the mountains here. In France, they're somehow different to me. Though, to Tjaša they are the same. I like the Soča river and Mt. Velika Baba, which I find interesting. I'm not such a fan of Slovene food, though you do have good desserts. You also pay less attention to food when you eat than we do, hence you enjoy it less, I would say.

I miss French wine and cheese. There isn’t so much to choose from in Slovenia when it comes to wine and cheese. You also tend to put red wine in the fridge which is unacceptable to me. As a consequence, you don't get to feel its true taste when you drink it. In France, we eat melted cheese, too. Of all the types of cheese, I love Comté the most. It develops a strong smell and an amazing taste as it ages. Other than that, I miss my family and friends as well. Now we get to spend our holidays in France. When we were living in France, it was the other way around.

How do your families see your relationship?

Tjaša: My mom doesn't speak English nor French, so it's hard for her to speak so much to Hugo. He speaks English here and at his work because he works in an international company. Him being French is simply a bonus. He just seems more interesting to people. When we visit my hometown (Murska Sobota), he tends to be a bit lost 'cause he doesn't understand a single word of the dialect. But then again, even the majority of Slovenes have a hard time understanding it, ha-ha.

As for cultural differences… We get some comments now and then, and we can read people’s expressions and see when they’re not treating us equally. Stereotypes, I guess.

In Mexico, they asked us where we’re from. After he said he was from France and I was from Slovenia, they were all so thrilled about the fact that he was from France. First, they thought of Paris, which they seem to think of simply as “wow”. And when it came to Slovenia, I could read it on their faces that they didn't know where Slovenia was and that maybe it had something to do with Russia.

Hugo: When my mom saw that I wanted to go to Slovenia, she hoped I would be fine here. She was scared I wouldn't find work here. She misses me, too, but she accepted my decision.

To be continued…