If you walk along the Ljubljanica River in Ljubljana you might run into Fatima Zahra. Fatima comes from a tourist/fishing town in Morocco, lives in Domžale, but manages a small shop in Ljubljana. She came here after meeting a Slovenian on holiday in Morocco. They fell in love and now have a family in Slovenia:) Fatima loves the open markets - especially the locally produced cheese and butter! She calls on Slovenians to show more respect towards the elderly, and hopes to one day run the Ljubljana Marathon ;)

Fatima's music choice: Fehd Benchemsi - "Baba Mimoun". You can listen to the full song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwnZarzSvJE

You can also join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Land-of-Dreams-209819855839296/

Anzhelika says two things Slovenians take for granted are clean drinking water and safety. Anzhelika is from Ukraine and has a background in international relations. But we found her at the Museum of National Liberation in Maribor where she helps out organizing international projects and exhibitions.

As a matter of fact, she was also married inside the museum. Of course, to a Slovenian ;)

Anzhelika's music choice: Tina Karol - "Добрий вечір тобі, пане господарю / Good Evening To You, Mr. Host". You can listen to the full song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlgRbJl06pY

You can also join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Land-of-Dreams-209819855839296/

Zaher travelled almost a month across many countries to reach Slovenia. When the 23-year-old citizen of no country finally arrived in Slovenia in 2016, he asked from asylum. Zaher Amini was otherwise born in Iran as a refugee to parents from Afghanistan. He hasn't seen his parents since coming to Slovenia – that's eight years now… Today Zaher works in a restaurant in Hrpelje-Kozina, is almost fluent in Slovene, and hopes to one day work with animals in Slovenia.

Zaher's music choice: Dawood Sarkhosh - "Sarzamine Man". You can listen to the full song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdQP8-gHjxg

You can also join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Land-of-Dreams-209819855839296/

This week we meet, talk to, and take a walk with a young Georgian living in Velenje. Meet Leli Aronia Zajc, a promising photographer who came here for a study experience, but ended up marrying a Slovenian.

Leli has been living in Velenje for around two years now. The community is small but welcoming. She says Slovenians tend to keep a distance at first, but when they open their hearts Slovenia becomes the "best place to end up" :)

Leli's music choice: Makvala & Archil Chiklhadze - "Adolescence". You can listen to the full song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmybFWrFKiY

You can also join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Land-of-Dreams-209819855839296/

Mitchell is a carpenter from the US now living and working in the Bovec area. It took just one picture of Slovenia and a brief visit for him to decide to move here “forever”. He calls his new home heaven on earth... Today he fulfills his time with woodwork projects, hiking the Soča trail, and swimming in the river with his dog Franky. In addition, he eats good food and enjoys the hospitality and company of his Slovene friends. So, what more could one ask for?

Mitchell's music choice: Stick Figure - "Livin' It". You can listen to the full song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygQBpLTGewk

You can also join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Land-of-Dreams-209819855839296/

From the plateaus and mountains of Kyrgyzstan to Slovenia... In this episode we sit down to talk to Aigul Hakimova in Ljubljana! She arrived here 23 years ago to study anthropology. Today she helps other foreigners seeking international protection. She says solving the housing and language issues of refugees and migrants are key for better integration. Listen in to find out more about Kyrgyzstan, its music, and how Aigul lost her fear of big animals :)

Aigul's music choice: Ordo Sakhna - "Mash Botoy". You can listen to the full song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYplv7e2Xrs&list=OLAK5uy_kIsA6MZbM78XuroKKfJCy1zSftU8CO6fM&index=5

You can also join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Land-of-Dreams-209819855839296/

Bobby was born in Sweden, but today you can find him up in the Slovenian mountains. Together with his wife he takes care of the mountain hut at Žavcarjev Vrh – voted by hikers as the best mountain hut in Slovenia for 2024!

So how did he end up doing this job and why is life better in Slovenia compared to Sweden? We visited Bobby up in his mountain hut, where he also showed us around and talked about his Slovene roots ;)

Bobby's music choice: Freestyle - "Nära dig". You can listen to the full song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYGd14VgQSQ

You can also join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Land-of-Dreams-209819855839296/

Enjoy life, worry less, is Catia's advice. Catia is a Brazilian from Sao Paolo. She now lives in Velenje, which she says has accepted her with open arms. Catia has been in Slovenia for 18 years now. She came because of love and decided to stay in Slovenia despite a later divorce... To find out why she decided to stay and hear about some of the differences between life in Brazil and Slovenia, join us for a walk in the next "Land of Dreams" by the beautiful Velenje Lake ;)

Catia's music choice: Silence - "Skin". You can listen to the full song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkfZaRCIGzI

You can also join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Land-of-Dreams-209819855839296/

Blackberries. That's what he found in the westernmost village of Slovenia. And a breathtaking view of the mountains. And peace and quiet. And a playground on which to realize his dreams, and a Slovenian lady to share it all with. But the house… he says the house found him.

Meet Daniel, an American in Robidišče.

Daniel's music choice: Tony Bennett - "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". You can listen to the full song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ysw4svDmcxc

You can also join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Land-of-Dreams-209819855839296/

Today we talk to a French pastry chef in Ljubljana! Naser Gashi was born and raised in Kosovo, but went to school to become a pastry chef in Paris... Life eventually brought him to Slovenia after meeting his Slovene wife in Paris. Today Naser has his own company, a long list of clients, and works seven days a week… which he says is not difficult if you like your job :)

Naser's music choice: Nexhmije Pagarusha - "Baresha". You can listen to the full song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZCSQlnFU7s

You can also join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Land-of-Dreams-209819855839296/