Slovakia vs 'Western' Culture (Part 2)

Erik is a university graduate from Slovakia who is currently living in London. In the second part of a mini-series, (part one is here) he reacts to an article about the differences between Slovakian and 'Western' life:

Family Lunch in Slovakia

Quote: "In Slovakia a nicer meal is often eaten for Sunday lunch than what would be eaten during the rest of the week. The family might even all sit together at one time at the table."

Slovakia is a predominantly Christian country, and keeping the family together is still entrenched in the subconscious of the society. Although the old-school church goers are slowly dying out, or are being institutionalised in the retirement homes, it is not too bad to join our loved ones for a couple of hours, enjoy a meal and discuss the things we can't get down to during the busy week. As the five star chef Gordon Ramsay says in one of his books I recently came across; the gathering at a joint meal can actually take place on any day. Just make sure that you spend some with your family and that no one leaves until everyone has finished their meat.

TheTraffic in Bratislava

Quote: "The tight traffic in Bratislava shows that the city was not ready for the current influx of cars."

Actually, this is true. Many of my friends who study or work in Bratislava complain about the traffic which is often slowed down by the delays and diversions. Moreover, traffic accidents from Gagarinova (a street in Bratislava) are reported on the Slovak radio almost every day. In the past, there have been plans to dig an underground railway time after time, but have been repeatedly turned down by the magistrates. Such an investment would devour a lot of money and time, plus during construction the traffic would temporarily become even more chaotic.

For me, in comparison with other ‘villages' in Slovakia, Bratislava most reminds of the cities in western Europe, but even the locals won't call it a ‘city'. Previously, I did not like it, but during one week in June I went there three times and it was not so bad. Actually, I am developing a kind of passion for the city. It was the atmosphere under the Michalska Brana (one of the fortified gates) with its open terrace restaurants and cobbled streets. I think I need a change, I've been living in the same place for too long.

The Easiest Solutions are the Best.

Quote: "It sort of reminds me of the thousands of dollars of taxpayer money NASA spent on developing a pen that could write in outer space, upside down, and never leak. The Soviets told their cosmonauts to just use pencils."

The author was paraphrasing the saying that the easiest solutions are often the most efficient ones. This reminds me of the situation at the Bratislava airport. It is approximately 50 metres to walk from the boarding gate to the airplane. But you have to get on a bus which circumnavigates the jet on a 200 metre journey, dropping you at the same place you could have walked to. Maybe you would actually catch your shuttle bus if you didn't have to wait for all the passengers to get on the bus and undergo the ‘airport sightseeing'. Well, the easiest solutions are often the most efficient ones. (Actually, after reading this my smart brother told me that the pencil wouldn't work either because the graphite chips might damage the sensitive machinery in the space ship).

Social Care- Where?

Quote: "I've seen a random elderly man or woman brutally fall and then pick themselves up, dust themselves off and get right on the next bus, so they could go home to nurse their wounds."

He saw them but ignored it, I shall add. Well, the health care in Slovakia is not amongst the best ranked in the world, even if it is free. I advise you: do not postpone a visit to your doctor until you are standing on your last leg. It is best you give a few months notice to your GP that you are going to be ill, to give him time to contact the specialist, have the special medication delivered and (most importantly) make the invoice payable. Apply this same procedure with lawyers, police and most other institutions.

Read more posts by Erik here.

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