Today’s cultural feature of Slovakia is little, nothing earth shattering. Their children’s board books are often hinged together accordion style. The book looks normal when it is closed, but when you get to the back you keep turning the ‘page’ until the back of the front page. They make for good farm fences.
When I first came to Slovakia, I worked as an English teacher. I was literally learning about my native tongue while preparing for a class. Present perfect tense? What the heck is that?
Anyway, I remember getting my first assignments back from my Slovak students, written in cursive. It was in English, but I couldn’t read it.
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As an ex-pat, it’s easy for me to be completely confused about what everybody else takes for granted.
Take, for example, the large metal red and white box at the end of the schoolyard. When we first moved here, I asked my husband what it was for. “To hold water for the firefighters,” he replied, and then we got distracted by something else.
I thought of various reasons why that box would be there and occasionally saw a firetruck go into the schoolyard, but didn’t pursue what exactly it was all about. Was there an underground cistern or source of water? Did they need to keep extra water by the school for safety? SIX years later, I finally know. Click to continue reading
I’m the sort of person who loves tradition. I romanticize the good ol’ days, all the while fully embracing the power of the internet.
But sometimes, there are traditions I’m not so sure about, like the whipping and water-dousing of girls on Easter in Slovakia. Click to continue reading
A few weekends ago (I’m a rather behind), there was a little fair in our village, Vitanie Jari (Welcoming Spring). Children from the local preschools sang and danced in traditional costume, a few farm animals were available to pet, and local crafts people displayed their wares.
I am not naturally inclined to approach strangers and talk to them, but for the interest of my readers and in the interest of promoting Slovak culture I interviewed a few of the artisans. There were a few more tables, but wailing toddlers cut my journalist foray short.
One common element that struck me amoung all the crafts was that of patience. Crafting these works of beauty takes time, focus, and care, rather rare commodities in today’s instantaneous age. My favourite, though, is the last one! Click to continue reading
Since I first saw this woman, I’ve wanted to photograph her. I originally noticed her because she is one of the few women in my husband’s hometown who still wears traditional dress to church. I was also captivated by her pleasant and peaceful demeanor. You know when you meet someone and they have that light in their eyes? She is one of them. Click to continue reading