We received the invitation from the Minister and did come from all over the world. We did not mind a day hot as in hell, as 4 July was in Ljubljana, at Novi trg that organisers intended for numerous stands placed in the shadow of trees along the Ljubljanica River. The stands had sufficient place for the representation of national handiwork, cuisine, different handmade master pieces and important characteristics from the area they come from. Our stand was also there. The event "Welcome Home" always gather numerous fellow countrymen from abroad. It is the sixth time that our association takes part at the event and we wish to show our fellow countrymen and passers-by something new. This time we presented multicultural wealth of us, Slovenians from the Republic of Srpska in BiH and three most numerous peoples with whom we share the area where we live in the new homeland in unity and full of understanding. In the area of Banja Luka there are seventeen national minorities, out of whom thirteen have been registered and we hope that in the future we will also have a motive to present not only our cultural heritage but also theirs.
Triglav, coronation and strudel (cake) are the symbols of Slovenia. We presented all three things in the central part of the stand but we did not forget our identity. We also did not forget our mother tongue. We proved that in the afternoon performance of our pupils of supply teaching lessons of Slovenian who prepared their performance in beautiful Slovenian.
Despite the hot day, we were accompanied by representatives of Emigrant Association of Slovenia and representatives of the Office for Slovenians Abroad, who also supported the "Welcome Home 2012" event. Minister for Slovenians Abroad Mrs. Ljudmila Novak spent a good part of the afternoon in socialising with fellow countrymen, spoke to us, stopped at the stands and asked how we lived in the new homeland and what our plans for the future were.
The programme finished in the evening by a closing speech of Mrs. Novak and Mayor of Ljubljana Mr. Jankovića.
Gatherings, filled with emotions, memories, good wishes and firm promises that we will meet in the future surely incited a sense of satisfaction in each of us for being a part of our motherland.
Nataša Kajmaković
