Saying farewell

It’s hard to say goodbye to colleagues. It’s harder still to say farewell to friends.

We will board an airplane in the early hours of Wednesday to return home after six weeks in Slovenia. The Fulbright Specialist Program gave me so many gifts: The chance to renew my love of teaching, the chance to serve where I know I'm needed, the chance to explore a truly remarkable country and culture…

… And the chance to meet people who will forever be in my heart.

The Fulbright Program inserts professors from U.S. universities into the academic lives of colleges and universities around the world. My opportunity was to work at the University of Ljubljana, the flagship university in Slovenia.

The students were incredible. Bright, as journalists should be, but also talented. We are often frustrated trying to help the public make sense of 50 sort-of united states. They will go into a profession where news comes in dozens of languages and even more cultures.

The University of Missouri, from which I retired in 2017, counts its journalism professors by the score. The University of Ljubljana counts them on one hand. While other professors in the Fakulteta za družbene vede teach the linguistics and literacy theory and knowledge courses, the professional aspects of journalism are taught by four very competent, very collegial and very busy professors. Jernej Amon Prodnik chairs the department and teaches both the introductory reporting class and journalism history. Igor Vorbič is the video journalism specialist and also oversees the streaming news program. Melita Poler Kovačič teaches the crucial ethics classes. Marko Milosavljević is the lead in teaching reporting and editing. And of course, they all cover for each other while also teaching graduate classes and performing important academic research.

Knowledgeable, supportive, enthusiastic … none of those adequately describe this crew of journalist-scholars. Even "colleagues" falls short. They are a great group of folks to be around.

And there were so many others who helped us live here rather than just visit.  Ali Zerdan, the editor, and Tadeja Jelovšek, the judge. Technologist Dejan Gajšek and his wine-making parents. Literacy campaigner Sonja Merljak.  Tech writer Lenart Kucic. Sound guru Martin Jelovšek, and Maša Kolenbrand, my university paperwork guide. And, of course, all the folks at the U.S. Embassy – Jean Leady, Brian Street and Ivanka Ponikvar.

But Marko, oh Marko. As my host and mentor, you made this month-and-a-half a true lifetime event. Marko trusted me with his students, which is an honor no professor treats lightly. But he also quickly became my friend. We shared endless little cups of Slovenian espresso talking shop, but he also shared his family. I can’t adequately tell you how much Cecile and I enjoyed being with Maja and little Maša. Of course, what grandfather wouldn’t lose his heart to a beautiful 4-year-old who doesn’t care at all that you can’t understand what she is saying?

Places. That’s what we usually associate with our travels. Slovenia provided no end of beautiful photos to fill my scrapbook. But this trip was really about people. And what people I met! Old Senator Fulbright would be proud. Face-to-face travel makes memories – and peace.