POKLJUKA

Pokljuka

a painted rendition

It seemed a bit harsh to send the kids off to VERBA'S "Zimske (language camp at) Pokljuka" for a week, alone, only three weeks after arrival in a country that speaks well, you know, the language that makes even easy, hard. But we did.

The country shut down this week for "winter holiday,"
and skiing seemed like a natural activity choice, in a country that despite its small New Jersey-like size, has over 30 ski slopes, and lots of snow.

The camp brochure, like the building sign for the language school, had no English, thus provided little information. The little animated skiiers were reassuring though in that they were exclaiming excitedly, and surely, at least one of them was yelling "English", though it wasn't entirely clear given words like "Smucanje" and "Zabava". But even so, certainly someone at the camp would be speaking English.

7:00 am, February 15.
Meeting the bus for Pokljuka,

and an unfortunate last minute translation of the VERBA camp brochure.

"Mom, I got google to translate the VERBA website. You know those little skiers on the brochure?, They aren't really talking about English, their bubble blurby things say "Croatian and Spanish, Italian"
Really?
Yes, really.

No French?

"Nope"
"Is there ENGLISH?"

"I think the Anglescina means English, but I 'm not sure,

Do you think we're going to learn Croatian?"

oh, and listen to this: it says"

"The highlight of the ski events will be held on Friday, which will turn eagerly anticipated game, even earlier, on Thursday evening, but is awaiting tekmovalke young athletes and solemnly draw starting numbers."

and then it has these quotes from last years campers.

Natlalje says, " I liked the most when we jump on skis and have a march with torches"

Alen says, "Takooooooo fun, teachers face, I most enjoyed the wedding."

(a wedding?, really?)

and Metka said " I was skiing very much, especially enjoy when I drive the lift, I can not wait until next year".

(Now, if you want to check this out for yourself, just google Verba, Ljubljana

, and click on that little animated skiier brochure on the right.

And oh, be sure you have your google translator on.)

Drive the lift, the ski lift? and march with torches? a wedding?

I was getting worried. Could it be that those animated little skiiers weren't telling the whole story?

The bus was in a parking lot with 40 Slovenian children ages 7 to 14 saying lots of Slovenian words and smiling to their parents. Primozu (pronounced Primosh) the camp director, introduced himself and said,

"Hello, you are so kind to send your children with us. I wvant to ask yvu. You do not mind if we speak Slovene with yvour children do you? They can learn Slovene? yes? It will be good for them, yes? ".

Now, I think it is safe to say, that if one's mother is not Slovenian, he or she will never, ever, be able to learn Slovene.

When Slovenians talk to you, they have this endearing habit of looking straight into your right eye.
And so, at that point, I had no choice other than to look Primoz straight in his right eye and say, "Okay, Okay, yes, yes, I am sure they won't mind at all".

And really, even if they do, they won't be able to tell you.

.