Fluent Fiction - Slovenian: From Ballots to Bonds: A Father and Son's Election Day Journey
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.org/from-ballots-to-bonds-a-father-and-sons-election-day-journey

Story Transcript:

Sl: Topel vetrič je zibal javorjeve liste, ki so kot zlati konfeti poplesavali po tleh pred vaško dvorano.
En: A warm breeze swayed the javorjeve leaves, which danced like golden confetti on the ground in front of the village hall.

Sl: Luka je s stisnjeno roko držal roko svojega sina Tomaža, ki je skakljal po poti.
En: Luka tightly held the hand of his son, Tomaž, who was skipping along the path.

Sl: Oba sta imela na obrazih pečat svežega jesenskega zraka.
En: Both had the freshness of autumn air on their faces.

Sl: Dišalo je po vlažnem gozdu in pečenih kostanjih.
En: The scent of damp forest and roasted chestnuts filled the air.

Sl: "Prva lekcija, Tomaž, je, da volilni dan ni le domena odraslih.
En: "The first lesson, Tomaž, is that election day isn't just the domain of adults.

Sl: To je čas za družino, ko se učimo o pomembnih stvareh," je začel razlagati Luka, ko sta stopila v notranjost dvorane.
En: It's a time for family to learn about important things," Luka began explaining as they stepped inside the hall.

Sl: V dvorani je bilo prijetno toplo.
En: Inside, it was pleasantly warm.

Sl: Ljudje so se mirno vrstili, pozdravljali znane obraze in izkazovali svoj glas.
En: People calmly queued, greeted familiar faces, and cast their votes.

Sl: Prostora ni bilo veliko, a je imel prijetno vzdušje, polno pričakovanj.
En: There wasn't much space, but it had a comfortable atmosphere filled with anticipation.

Sl: "Tukaj glasujemo, razumeš?
En: "This is where we vote, understand?

Sl: Tako povemo, kaj si želimo," je Luka nadaljeval s tišjim glasom, medtem ko sta se pomikala proti volilni kabini.
En: This is how we express what we want," Luka continued in a quieter voice as they moved toward the voting booth.

Sl: Tomaž je zvedavo ogledoval okrog sebe.
En: Tomaž curiously looked around.

Sl: Spraševal se je, zakaj je to tako pomembno.
En: He wondered why this was so important.

Sl: "In kaj če ne glasuješ?
En: "And what if you don't vote?"

Sl: " je vprašal, nazadnje z zanimanjem.
En: he asked with interest.

Sl: "Če ne glasujemo, drugi odločajo namesto nas," je odgovoril Luka.
En: "If we don't vote, others decide for us," Luka answered.

Sl: Te besede so se mu zdele pomembne.
En: These words seemed important to him.

Sl: "Zato je pomembno sodelovati.
En: "That's why it's important to participate."

Sl: "Ko sta prišla do volilne kabine, je Luka nekoliko okleval.
En: When they reached the voting booth, Luka hesitated a bit.

Sl: Spomnil se je, kako bi Maja, njegova bivša žena, imela drugačen pristop.
En: He remembered how Maja, his ex-wife, would have had a different approach.

Sl: Njen glas in njene politične debate so mu zvenele v ušesih.
En: Her voice and political debates echoed in his mind.

Sl: Ampak zdelo se mu je pomembno biti pošten in neposreden.
En: But he felt it was important to be honest and straightforward.

Sl: "Tomaž, pomembno je, da razumeš, da vsi mislijo drugače.
En: "Tomaž, it's important to understand that everyone thinks differently.

Sl: To je v redu," je rekel, medtem ko je upogibal listni papir, na katerem je bila njegova izbira.
En: That's okay," he said as he folded the ballot paper with his choice.

Sl: "A to ne pomeni, da ne moremo spoštovati mnenja drug drugega.
En: "But that doesn't mean we can't respect each other's opinions."

Sl: "Ko je oddal glas, je Luka s ponosom pogledal sina.
En: After he cast his vote, Luka looked at his son with pride.

Sl: Ta je z zanimanjem opazoval vse okoli sebe in se mu nasmehnil.
En: He observed everything around him with interest and smiled.

Sl: Ko sta zapustila dvorano, je Tomaž stisnil očetovo roko malo močneje.
En: As they left the hall, Tomaž squeezed his father's hand a little tighter.

Sl: "Luka, lahko mi poveš več o tem?
En: "Luka, can you tell me more about this?"

Sl: " je vprašal, njegove oči so bile polne radovednosti.
En: he asked, his eyes full of curiosity.

Sl: Luka je zadihal svež zrak.
En: Luka breathed in the fresh air.

Sl: Občutil je nekakšen mir.
En: He felt a sort of peace.

Sl: Končno je imel občutek, da bo lahko vodil Tomaža skozi pomembne življenjske odločitve, ne glede na razlike, ki bi jih Maja lahko imela.
En: Finally, he had the feeling that he could guide Tomaž through important life decisions, regardless of the differences Maja might have.

Sl: "Tomaž, poskusil ti bom razložiti čim več," je rekel z nasmehom, medtem ko sta hodila skozi vrtinec rumenega in rdečega listja proti domu.
En: "Tomaž, I'll try to explain as much as I can," he said with a smile as they walked through the swirl of yellow and red leaves toward home.

Sl: Njegovo srce je bilo polno samozavesti, vedoč, da bo vedno znal najti prave besede za svojega sina.
En: His heart was full of confidence, knowing he would always be able to find the right words for his son.


Vocabulary Words:

• breeze: vetrič
• swayed: zibal
• leaves: liste
• danced: poplesavali
• confetti: konfeti
• hall: dvorano
• roasted: pečenih
• domain: domena
• explain: razlagati
• queued: vrstili
• anticipated: pričakovanje
• voting booth: volilna kabina
• hesitated: okleval
• debates: debate
• straightforward: neposreden
• respect: spoštovanje
• curiously: zvedavo
• participate: sodelovati
• differences: razlike
• guide: voditi
• confidence: samozavest
• election: volilni
• choice: izbira
• express: povemo
• anticipated: pričakovanje
• important: pomembno
• observe: opazovati
• curiosity: radovednost
• peace: mir
• decisions: odločitve