Located on the boundary between Western and Eastern Europe, Slovenia seems always to be at the crossroads of significant historical events—from world wars and the Cold War to the more recent immigration from the Middle East. Slovenia was the first former communist country to hold the presidency of the European Union. Yet while history is important, it is the literature and language that unify the two million Slovenes who live there. Boulevards and statues in the capital, Ljubljana, are named for writers, not generals or presidents.
This abroad focuses on the written stories and reflections of a people who have spent all but their last 25 years under the rule of the Roman Empire, Napoleon, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the short-lived communist country of Yugoslavia. Slovenia seceded from Yugoslavia and declared independence in 1991. We will learn about the people and their cultural history through modern and contemporary literature.
Through short stories, essays, and novels—as well as conversations and visits to sites significant to Slovene literature—students will explore the literary and cultural path of the Slovene people from the time of their arrival in the Balkans to present day. On a side trip to neighboring Croatia we will explore that peoples’ not-so-different path as part of Yugoslavia as a comparison study.
Program Staff
This program will be directed by faculty, Ellen Sprague, MFA, MA, and accompanied by residential community educator (RCE) Nicole Gervais.
Ellen is an assistant professor of writing in the Center for Teaching and Learning. She has a master of fine arts in writing (creative nonfiction and translation) and a master’s degree in French. It was during her MFA program that she first went to Slovenia and was smitten by the landscape and story of the people. As a Principia student she traveled on two abroads: one to France and another, focusing on music and art history, to Paris, Munich, and Vienna. She teaches academic writing courses each semester and has taught Intro to Creative Nonfiction for three FYE programs. Prior to teaching, she was a writer and photographer for Principia.
Nicole Gervais is the deputy director of Principia College soccer and works with both the men’s and women’s teams. She has coached all kinds of teams, from preschool through college, both boys and girls. Outside of Principia, she coaches middle and high school girls’ soccer and softball in southern California while working full time for Trader Joe’s. As a Principia student, she traveled on a 3-week Principia field program to Hawaii as a history minor learning about the culture and effects of World War II, specifically the attack on Pearl Harbor. She was also able to travel to Europe twice with the women’s soccer program—Germany, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, and Sweden. Her favorite thing to do is make people smile and to laugh.
Ellen and Nicole are both class-taught Christian Scientists.