Hello from Maribor, Slovenia! After my third week in Austria as part of the Comparative Healthcare in Graz program, we came to Slovenia for our fourth and final week. Time is flying fast, and I’m sad this wonderful experience is almost over.

Although we are primarily based in Maribor for the week, we took a two-day bus excursion to explore other parts of the country. First, we visited a nursing home in Poljčane, where we met some of the sweetest residents and learned about the care of older adults. This nursing home emphasized healthy food and outdoor activities for residents, along with arts and crafts to maintain fine motor skills.

Then, we went to another small town called Slovenske Konjice to visit a beekeeping farm. I learned that Slovenia is often referred to as the beekeeping capital of the world! We got to sample many different types of honey, all of which were delicious. We even tried fresh cherries and carrots straight from this family-owned farm.

After many more delicious local meals, treats, and activities, we continued to the capital of Ljubljana for an overnight stay. The city still had the same charming, small-town vibe as Maribor, but it was definitely more dense in terms of population and tourists. Our main activities here were a walking tour of the city and a funicular up to Ljubljana Castle.

The next day might have been my favorite of this whole trip! We started the day at the Ljubljana Community Health Center, where we participated in virtual reality CPR workshops and simulations. After that, we visited the Postojna Caves. This cave system was incredible- especially the train leading into the caves that felt somewhat like a thrill ride! We also got to see the rare “baby dragon” species, also known as the olm, in its natural habitat. After that, I sent some postcards from the world’s only underground post office.

The highlight of the day was our next visit: Lake Bled. This gorgeous lake is situated in the Alps in the small town of Bled. We started our visit on a wooden boat called a pletna, which dates back to the late 1500s. After the boat trip to the central island and back, we got to jump in the lake and swim! The water was crystal clear and appeared as a beautiful cerulean color at the surface. I had the best time ever at the lake, and it got even better after trying the famous Original Bled Cream Cake!

Now, I have another day or two in Maribor before returning home. I look forward to reflecting on my overall global experience in a few days!