Some say Slovenia is “Europe in Miniature.” Slovenia’s unique location and melting pot of cultures make it a bridge between East and West.

With its relatively new independence, Slovenia continues to develop its identity. Major influences stem both from its Slavic roots and its Western European neighbors. Although the language is Slavic, it is written using the Roman alphabet (most Slavic languages use Cyrillic). Each empire left its stamp on the architecture and food.

Slovenes are proud of their country and language. The language, in particular, enabled Slovenia to keep its national identity in the midst of foreign rulers, and has a long history. (The earliest preserved documents written in Slovene date to 1000 A.D.)

Wandering through Ljubljana (loo-blee-YA-na) or Maribor, one can see that Slovenes value cleanliness. Streets and parks are kept tidy and people take pride in having a clean home and garden.

At the outset, Slovenes seem distant but once they consider someone a friend, they are very warm and fiercely loyal. Slovenes enjoy meeting at local cafés but it takes a long time until you get invited to someone's home. When speaking, they maintain a certain distance. Although family sizes and living arrangements are changing, Slovenes still enjoy strong family ties. Many Slovenes are involved in outdoor sports year-round, from hiking and skiing to bicycling and walking.

Source: Slovenia CultureGram 2009