Slovakia
All posts from Slovakia
SK = CS - CZ
Posted 1 Jun 2008:Before disintegrating into Czech Republic and Slovakia, the combined state of Czechoslovakia existed for almost one century. Born in 1918 at the end of World War I, it finally surrendered to separatist pressures in 1993, shortly after the fall of communism. Most young Czechs and Slovaks are at peace with the current situation of living in two separate states who maintain friendly relations between each other.... Read more
Slovak television
Posted 2 Jun 2008:Like all European countries, Slovakia saw a rapid increase in number of television channels since the early 1990s. Satellite dishes were prohibited under communism and their introduction in the market led to a real rush once they did become available. In the following years, the deployment of cable networks made satellite dishes redundant. The same is now happening to TV itself: internet is taking over.... Read more
What`s new?
Posted 3 Jun 2008:Finding some locals to help me read a local newspaper is not always easy. Whenever successful, such discussions are often a source of valuable information about the state of the country. Armed with the Slovak Daily `Dennik SME`, I try to find out what is going on in Slovakia these days with the help of Barbara (22), Marian (28) and Anastasia (25).... Read more
L`enfance perdue?
Posted 4 Jun 2008:Out of all subjects I covered during the last ten months, the articles that in some way or another related to the EU were invariably the most boring. People are generally dissatisfied with politics, and whatever happens in Brussels is even futher away from their daily lives. One subject that always gets people to talk is childhood memories. Here`s the Slovakian edition:... Read more
Border issues
Posted 5 Jun 2008:Once upon a time, inhabitants of Bratislava were known for their speaking three languages fluently: German, Hungarian and Slovak. Bratislava has a range of international and historical names, including Preslavasburch, Pre?porok (Slovak), Posonium or Istropolis (Latin), Pressburg (German) and Pozsony (Hungarian). The city was only finally baptised Bratislava when the first Czechoslovak Republic was created in the early 20th century. Little of the international image of Bratislava survived the communist era, but recovery is on the way.... Read more
Film fun
Posted 6 Jun 2008:Three hundred and ten articles about culture and none of them has dealt with films.. Time to cast my ignorance about films aside, and ask a bunch of young Slovak about their preferences when it comes to projections on the wide screen.... Read more
Favourite spots
Posted 7 Jun 2008:Each and every country in Europe is extensively covered in guidebooks. Slovakia is no exception to that rule, but who can give better advice than the Slovaks themselves? Which places in their country do they like to visit, and which areas would they rather avoid?... Read more
Never bored
Posted 8 Jun 2008:After money, abortion, euthanasia, psychological or physical disabilities, sex and/or deviant sexual preferences and immigration issues, I think have come across another topic that qualifies as a taboo in big parts of Europe: doing nothing. The Greeks seem to be the only ones in the European Union to collectively accept and even praise the activity of being idle. Slovakians are located on the other end of the range. Along with most of their fellow Europeans, they prefer to fill up their spare time working on hobbies, meeting friends and visiting relatives.... Read more
Beer and more
Posted 9 Jun 2008:Beer is a magic word in Slovakia as much as it is in Czech Republic. Few social gatherings in Slovakia go by without anybody yielding to the fresh-bitter taste of a decent pint of beer. More so than in Czech Republic, the Slovak taste for alcoholic drinks extends into the `stronger` direction. Slovaks are proud of their Borovicka, Hruskovica and Slivovica, only to mention a few. Question of the day: What habits and preferences do Slovaks have when it comes to drinking?... Read more
Quattro Stagioni
Posted 10 Jun 2008:Located far away from the any sea or ocean, Slovakia has a continental climate with daytime temperatures in the East of the country varying between -10 degrees in winter to over 30 degrees in summer. I managed to plan my way around the cold of Northern Europe and the heat of Southern Europe, but may be facing quite some hot weather for the remaining couple of weeks in Central Europe. Today`s question: how much does the course of the seasons influence daily life in Eastern Slovakia?... Read more
Hungarians and Roma
Posted 11 Jun 2008:Some voices in Slovakian polities want Slovakia for the Slovakians: a situation that is quite far from current day reality. Slovakia has a wealth of minorities, of whom Hungarians and Roma make up the biggest share. How do they seen by the Slovakians and how well do they integrate? Here`s a quick round-up of randomly collected opinions from Kosice.... Read more
Living in nature
Posted 12 Jun 2008:Four days in the city, three days in the forest. Such is a regular week in the life of Milka (22). She combines her psychology studies with a part time job as tourist guide in one of Slovakia`s numerous caves. I meet her on a quiet day and take the opportunity to ask her about life in the forest. ... Read more
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