Openness is an Issue Valerio Fabbri
Valerio Fabbri is an Italian national who moved to Slovenia in 2013. He is a public relations and communications professional with expertise and track record in strategic communications projects and journalism, focusing on the Eurasian region. Q How long have you lived in Slovenia and how would you position the country within the EU? A I have been living in Ljubljana since December 2013, though I first visited the country in the summer of 2005. The capital has dramatically improved, the mayor has done an incredible job, and overall city infrastructure is pretty decent. As for the country, in my opinion Slovenia is an epitome for Central Europe, a pure theoretical definition for me until I moved here. Besides, the Balkan whiff gives the country a charming touch.
Frankly speaking I don’t think society is open enough, and I don’t think it Q What is your experience with is because I am a foreigner. our society, is it open enough? It is funny to see the reactions A Frankly speaking I don’t think society is open enough, and I don’t think it is because when I say this to my Slovenian I am a foreigner. It is funny to see the prijateljem (friends): sometimes reactions when I say this to my Slovenian prijateljem (friends): sometimes the listener the listener gets offended, but gets offended, but oftentimes s/he oftentimes s/he criticizes criticizes someone else, as if society is not by them as well. In my opinion, the someone else, as if society is done issue of openness is problematic from a not done by them as well. professional point of view rather than from
Q What are your current projects in Slovenia?
A I work in the P.R. and communication sphere with my beloved s.p. (selfemployed). Everybody says that it is impossible to work or find a job in Slovenia, but I disagree. Well, of course it is not a cakewalk nor are there as many opportunities as there would be in, say, London, but that’s not the point. The point is that if you have talent, ideas, competencies, and the most crucial assets of all, id est the will to work hard and go the extra mile, well, even in Slovenia you can work well, perhaps better than elsewhere exactly because of its size. Another big project of mine related to Slovenia is running the Ljubljana marathon. I am halfway there: picking up running as a hobby is something I could imagine doing only here!! <<
a social point of view. Different people bring different experiences, expertise and ideas, and not necessarily what comes from outside or abroad is negative. But I noticed that the society is closed even among villages, cities or regions per se – and to me it is striking to realize how many city councils there are for a population smaller than Rome, which is where I was born.
The Slovenia Times – Special Edition
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