International Day of the Midwife 2016

Hello world!

Today was International Day of the Midwife (IDM), this year themed 'Women and Newborns: The Heart of Midwifery! In Ljublana, it didn't went unnoticed, as we, midwifery students, occupied the central square near the famous Triple Bridge. Apart from stands with information, there was a 2 kilometer Midwifery Run to bring our beautiful profession into the limelight.

'I am a midwife, this is what I do'

The above is the slogan used for this year's IDM social media campaign (#IDM2016), inviting midwives from across the globe to share a photo and some words about what they do to give women and newborns the best possible care. Talking to some of my fellow students, I noticed how differently the role of a midwife is worked out from country to country. For me, used to the Belgian context, Slovenian midwifes have a  rather independent role. Although home births are not an established here, midwives are the ones who guide the low risk labours in a clinical setting and conduct the deliveries. Some fellow students from Estonia, on the other hand, told me that they considered Slovenian midwives to be less independent than their Estionian counterparts and their role to be rather limited. It illustrates that the position of the midwife is still subject of debate and too often under pressure. Personally, I think that the encounter with a midwife differs in character from one with a gynecologist or a doula. That is why I would advocate for an own, independent role of midwives. In Slovenian, they aren't called babica, also the word for (wise) grandmother, for nothing. All women should be enabled to draw from that well.

"May the wise midwives of today
leave their special mark
in the hearts of women
with their knowledge, respect,
loving kindness and warmth
so very much needed
by the birthing women,
as well as their children
longing to find themselves
earthside,
breathing with lungs fully
for the very first time.

May they be there
with their loving support
when couples become families
and when families expand -
changing the world
one mother, one baby, one family
at the time.
Wishing all the very best
to all the midwives of this world
on this International Day of the Midwife!"

Ksenija Malia Leban

Slovenian surprises...

A quick guide to Slovenia in some surprises...

1. The toilets

No, seriously. In Ljubljana, even the toilets are a source of amazement. They don't just do 'male' and 'female' at the Pritlice; a third, 'genderneutral' option is also provided. My good old curiousity led me to have look inside... only to be amazed again, this time by a lovely handwritten proverb.

2. The climate

No, I don't dislike snow. In fact, I like the view of an old city covered in a spotless white veil. But ten centimetres of snow falling in the midst of spring...? I couldn't help but feeling somewhat sad about the branches and blossom giving way under a weight that shouldn't be there.

3. Lolita

Talk about sweet surprises! I had already put patisserie Lolita on my to do-list early on in my internship. After passing by numerous times, I recently decided to take action, and that proved to be a great idea. On the friendly waiter's advice, I decided to have this 'Mangolita' monocake to go with my coffee... and boy, a good choice it was. It was exquisite!

4. Koper

During my previous trip to Slovenia, I visited the lovely coastal towns of Isola and Piran. Some weeks ago, I decided to complete this trinity, so on my day off, I headed for Koper by bus. Windy as it was, it was good to stroll around the city and see the Adriatic again. Though the palm trees and the old city center weren't lacking, I must admit that Koper has a less romantic feel to it than Isola and Piran. Still, sipping coffee to the sound of a whispering sea makes for a fine day out!

5. Skuhna

Who would have thought that I would get a taste of my beloved Nigeria right here in Ljubljana? You can take that quite literally, as I am referring to the Nigerian dish I had at Skuhna, a restaurant where migrants from Africa, South America and Asia prepare food according to their various culinary traditions. A lovely social initiative that allows the cooks to integrate while you travel by using your tastebuds. 

6. Wise words for the good life

There is at least one restaurant in Ljubljana that serves it meals with a side dish that nourishes the mind rather than the body. Its menu is also partly a scribbling pad, in which customers may leave a message. Between the soup and the salad I found one that seems to apply to the way many students approach their Erasmus exchange period.

7. Street view, classic style

What they can do, I can do, so eat your heart out, Google! ;-) Ljubljana offers all one needs for a nice classic style street view, and adds a modern twist to round it off.

8. Build to last?

You can't be in Ljubljana without stumbling upon the name 'Emona', or, as below, one of its variants. It refers to the Roman settlement of Emona, that was constructed in what is now Ljubljana in 14 AD, succeeding an earlier settlement. They did a good job, as the city of Emona outlasted the Roman empire itself by about two centuries... Present day Emonika is quite a different story. In fact, this huge project for a shopping, working, entertainment and-what-more center never really took off, and to date, construction still hasn't started. To be honest, this isn't all that bad, since Ljubljana can do without another symbol of modern trade. In the meanwhile, I'll happily stick to the kind of local, small scale trade that has proven its worth over the centuries.

9. @Home

Ah, the sweet scent of home, where, in my rare free time, I rest and plan new wanderings. Unless, that is, the rather whimsy April weather thwarts the plan. Yes, I know that (meteorological) beauty is often in the eye of the beholder, but let's be honest: beautiful spring sunrises AND dreary, wintery afternoons within one week in April...? As we say in Dutch: April doet wat hij wil ('April does as it pleases').