Mladinska izmenjava
BLIŽNJICE

1. TAKO BLIZU, PA TAKO DALEČ

Daleč stran od mestnega hrupa, dima in naglice leži vas, ki se imenuje Bistrica ob Sotli. Na prvi pogled se zdi, da se v njej ne dogaja nič posebnega. Sredi vasi stoji občinska hiša, okoli nje pa gostilne in trgovine, šola in cerkev, zdravstveni dom in pošta, bloki in družinske hiše. Na hribih za vasjo so postavljeni kozolci in hrami, ki so tam že od kar obstaja svet. Dan je enak dnevu, mesec mesecu, leta pa minevajo, kot da jih sploh ne bi bilo. Naključen popotnik si lahko mimogrede ustvari mnenje, da je Bistrica samo še ena izmed neštetih slovenskih vasi, kjer se je že zdavnaj ustavil čas.
Ampak v resnici se ne bi mogel bolj zmotiti. Bistrica ob Sotli je vse prej kot to. V manj kot pol stoletja se je vas spremenila do neprepoznavnosti. Slamnato streho so zamenjali strešniki iz reklame, do vsake hiše vodi asfaltna cesta, na dvorišču je parkiran bleščeč avto, kozolec pa je samo še spomin na dobre stare čase. Pesem pod lipo je zamenjal radio, pogovor za mizo televizija, sprehod do soseda pa deskanje po spletu.
Na vsem lepem smo se znašli v krasnem novem svetu. Zakaj smo potem še kar naprej nezadovoljni? Zakaj smo osamljeni? Še nikoli si nismo bili tako blizu. Vsi govorimo isti jezik, vsi jemo isto hrano, vsi poslušamo isto glasbo in gledamo iste filme. Zakaj se nam potem tako pogosto zdi, da nas nihče ne razume?

2. BLIŽNJICE

Dvaindvajset ljudi divja za eno žogo, medtem pa nas sedem milijard sedi za televizijo in si grize nohte. Vsi sanjamo iste sanje in nihče od nas jih ne bo dosegel. Vsi nasedamo isti reklami. Medtem ko nam drugi servirajo tuje sanje, mi počasi pozabljamo na svoje.
Mogoče pa je Bistrica ob Sotli ravno zato pravi kraj za mladinsko izmenjavo. Daleč stran od mestnega hrupa, dima in naglice lahko za trenutek pozabimo na naše dolžnosti in se prepustimo svojim željam. Med izmenjavo se nam ponujajo najrazličnejše ustvarjalne delavnice in vsak od nas si lahko izbere tisto, ki ga najbolj zanima. Razlike med nami niso razlog za nesporazume, pač pa vzpodbuda za lažje in globlje razumevanje med nami.

Youth exchange
PATHS TO EACH OTHER

1. SO CLOSE YET SO FAR

Far away from the city noise, smoke and rush there lies a village, called Bistrica ob Sotli. At the first sight it seems like there's nothing going on there. In the centre of the village stands a municipality house and around it bars and drugstores, school and church, health centre and post office, blocks of flats and familly houses. On the hill around the village hayracks and small houses with vine cellars are situated since the beginning of the world. One day is same than the other, same with months, and years pass by like they'd never happen. Concidental traveler could easily create opinion that Bistrica is just another of the countless Slovene villages, where time stopped long ago.
But actually he coudn't be more wrong. Bistrica ob Sotli is far from that. In half a century it changed so much, it's unrecognizable. Tratched roof have been replaced with roofing tiles from comertials, asfalt road leads to every houlse, shiny car is parked on the courtyard, and the hayrack is just a reminder of good old times. Singing under the lime tree has been replaced by the radio, conversation behind a table by television, walk to the neighbour by internet surfing.
All of the sudden we found ourselves in the brave new world. But why are we still discontent? Why are we lonely? We have never been so close to eachother. We all speak same language, eat same food, listen to the same music and watch same movies. Why the do we so often feel like no one understands us?

2. PATHS TO EACHOTHER

Twenty-two people are running behind one ball while seven billions people is siting behind the television and biting their fingernails. We all dream same dream and no one will realise it. We're all falling for the same commertial. While others serve us foreign dreams, we're slowly forgetting our own.
Perhaps that's why Bistrica ob Sotli is and ideal place for youth exchange. Far from the city noise, smoke and rush we can for a moment forget about our duties and let ourselves be led by our desires. Participants of the exchange can join different crative workshops according to their interests. Differences between us are not a cause of missapprehentions - they are encouragenemt for easyer and deeper mutuall understanding.

About Slovene Organizers

Timetable (PDF)