Jessica Dunahoo- Adventure Awaits

This summer, Jessica Dunahoo took the leap and jumped on a plane to go study abroad in Slovenia. Jessica formed part of Governors State's "Education and Counseling Program". Below are two of the posts she made while abroad. To read and see more of Jessica's study abroad program be sure to check out her Blog.

Venice, Italy

May 18, 2018

Venice, or technically Venezia, is absolutely the most beautiful city we’ve seen on this trip. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely adore Ljubljana but there’s a charm to Venice that can’t be denied. The old cathedrals, ancient architecture, and tiny little shops make it obvious why this city has become such a huge tourist destination. We toured the city with our guides who provided us with helpful tips and hints such as where to find the best “walking pasta” and honestly it surpassed my expectations! The pasta and sauce from my Chicken Alfredo were fresh, tasty, and covered with mozzarella cheese...YUM! We adventured through St. Mark Square and many of the little shops before stopping for some gelato (there is literally a flavor for everyone, so many to choose from) and finishing the trip with a water taxi ride. I can’t wait to come back to this magical city!

Slovenia Schools

May 10, 2018

Today was a wonderful, fun, and fascinating day. We visited three very different schools in different parts of Slovenia, including a Kindergarten, Primary school, and University. The first school was Vodmat Kindergarten. My initial impression of the building reminded me of American KinderCare or Head Start, but our programs are definitely not as educationally advanced. The students included in the center were only between 1 and 6 years old, but they were all engaged in a variety of critical-thinking situations and project-based learning activities. Even the youngest children were actively attentive, listening, and enjoying the experiences. The classrooms were also different, in my opinion, from early-learning classrooms in the United States; Vodmat contained less manipulatives and more opportunities for active engagement with the physical environment. This school was absolutely wonderful and I personally wish that I were able to enroll my child in the program.

The second of of the day was the Biotechnical Educational Centre, a university in Slovenia. This university was absolutely beautiful, particularly the campus and surrounding homes. This vocational institution offers secondary and tertiary education programs including veterinary, technology, nutrition, environment, hospitality and tourism, and food (including baker, confectioner, and butcher). We were able to tour the kitchens and learn more about the experiences that these students are exposed to on a daily basis...it's wonderful! I love how many opportunities are available to these students who are pursuing their education. It's also amazing to me that all students are encouraged to further their education regardless of what profession they choose. 

The third school of our site visits was Livada Primary School. Although all of the schools were wonderful and impactful, Livada completely stood out from the rest. This school educates more than 340 students from 28 different countries who speak 18 various languages. The teachers, staff, and principal are all passionate about their work and the education of these students; although everyone is unique, they are all accepted and treated as equals. Many of the students have a low motivation for learning and no support or assistance from their parents, so the support of the teaching staff is vital to the success of individual students. The school also aids families by providing opportunities for children such as summer and winter camps, day trips, financial aid (when possible) and several meals for students who may otherwise not be fed breakfast or dinner. This amazing Primary institution has proven to me that kindness is still present in the world and there are still people working to make the world a more beautiful place.