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MY STORY
On September 1, 1989 I
got on the bus heading for Banska Bystrica to start the process of
"getting knowledge for my future profession" at the Pedagogical
Faculty of Banska Bystrica.
At that time Banska
Bystrica had only two faculties-Pedagogical Faculty and Faculty of
Economics. The University was created only later. I passed the exams and I
was accepted to study at the first one. In September 1989 I started
studying Russian language and music. Russian language was the only foreign
language that you could study here at that time. I was very well prepared
(thanks to my teachers) and I could already speak Russian fluently then. I
knew "everything" about history of Soviet Union, according to
photographs I could tell which city they were taken in, I could recognize
each sight, statue, and monument and I knew in which part of the country
of the city they were situated. Maybe even today if I tried, I could
name all of the 14 kinds of fish living in "Ochotske more"
(sea). Though I had never been in former Soviet Union, I had more
knowledge about the country than its inhabitants themselves.
This excitement of mine
didn't last very long-from September till November 1989. Things changed in
my country, as you all know. We had this "Velvet
revolution" here in November. We stopped building socialism,
"iron walls" were destroyed and the way west was opened.
Only music was left from
my two major subjects because the Russian language stopped being important
for us-all of a sudden. We (students) were given an offer to change our
first major (Russian) into some other subject (history was at the top of
the list). But that would be a catastrophe for me! I thought. History had
never been my favorite, I never liked it-and now it should become my
future profession? Oh, no, I’d rather wait one year and then choose
something more pleasant. But I was lucky! We managed to convince the
"right" people that it would certainly be good to teach some
other foreign language at the faculty. And this was a big chance for those
of us who had at least basis of English language. We had to sit for
another entrance exam in January and then, in just one semester, we had to
learn as much as it is normally planned for the whole school year.
In a couple of weeks the
first British lecturers appeared-and later on-the Americans. I was really
immersed by American English, more than British English, I don't know
why. Well, my grandmother was born in the USA and though she doesn't speak
English, in our family we talk about it like about a great adventure.
Maybe this fact also played its part. And so, full of enthusiasm I started
studying English. Of course, I can’t forget about my second major-music.
I think studying was quite easy for me because both English and music were
at the same time my hobby (and still are). I never did things just because
I had to, I did them because I liked them.
When I was in the second
year, a new American lecturer-Steve, university professor from Kansas City
appeared in Banská Bystrica. He was my "spiritual father, brother,
friend." He liked watching me improving my English. He took me
everywhere with him-movies, parties where foreign lecturers used to meet
pubs and restaurants. He though me how to-not only speak but also think in
American way. He liked making fun of his friend when he'd introduce me as
an American lecturer and they were supposed to guess which corner of the
USA I came from. My accent was an American mixture-a bit of this, a bit of
that; I could also use some black expressions. Steve encouraged me a lot,
he taught me how to believe in myself. He stayed in Banská Bystrica until
I finished the university, now he's back home. I'll visit him in the
summer if my dream comes true and I finally go to the USA.
As I've already
mentioned, there were only two faculties in Banska Bystrica at the time I
began studying here. After some time they started thinking about creating
the university and they realized their plans. University of Matej Bel (UMB)
was established in 1993 and at the present time it has seven faculties:
Pedagogical Faculty (PF), Faculty of Human Sciences (FHS), Faculty of
Natural Sciences (FNS), Faculty of Economics (EF), Law Faculty (LF),
Faculty of Political Sciences (FPS) and Faculty of Finance (FF). The first
three of them prepare students for the profession of a teacher and they
originate from the old pedagogical faculty. Priority of the EF has always
been studying economics and tourism. The other faculties are new; they
were established only 2 years ago. LF specializes in diplomacy, FPS in
international relations. Main specialization of the FF is finance, banking
and investments. Now there are altogether 6325 students at the UMB-56
foreign students, 410 teachers (153 external teachers). I think it
wouldn't be a lie to say that quality of education is and always was
high. The graduates from our school can use their knowledge and do well in
life even if the competition is very strong. A lot of Slovak young people
study abroad-it wouldn’t be possible without really good basis of
knowledge given in school. We also have foreign students in Banska
Bystrica-especially at the EF. Many other young people who are interested
in studying here are still coming to Banska Bystrica.
Five years ago-an
artistic school-Conservatory of Music was created in this town and there
are plans to establish the Faculty of Arts (FA) very soon. So far, there
is only one school of this kind in Slovakia-in the capital
city-Bratislava.
I had always thought my
profession would be connected with music. And now-I teach English. I teach
future lawyers and diplomats at the LF. Beside this I also accepted the
offer to teach several classes at the Conservatory. This way I can always
be in a close contact with music. Students at this school are future
teachers of music or future artists. I'll tell you about a funny
thing-there is a Canadian guy who came to teach English and French at this
school. After one year of teaching he became a student and now he studies
clarinet. Anything is possible...
I've lived in Banska
Bystrica for 8 years already. The town changes every year. Old shabby
houses are getting new image. They’ve been restored and repainted. Each
building has got different color shade. In front of the buildings there
are old-fashioned street lamps. Small lights have also been built into the
sidewalks in the square. The square of Banska BYSTRICA is now a
pedestrian zone and when you walk through the town, you have to go up and
down the hill all the time. In winter you may very well sledge down the
square and at the end you'd already have a pretty good speed. The main
floors of the buildings have changed into shops but the old style has been
preserved. Each building has a big old wooden gate and "under"
these gates there are shops and small firms, companies and agencies. There
are many shops, side by side, and in between them there are pubs,
restaurants, wine cellars, Italian "pizzerias," French
baker's... In the summer owners of these restaurants put tables and
chairs out in he street and these are never left empty. The square is
always full of pigeons; they are so meek that you have to watch your steps
if you don’t want to step on a pigeon.
The old architecture is
very interesting for foreigners, especially for those from across the
Ocean. Front side of the houses decorated with ornaments, narrow streets,
high church towers-that's the old town. There are large neighborhoods at
the suburbs of Banska Bystrica, and to live there is not so pleasant.
Families are put into "large boxes"-apartment buildings, all the
same, and nothing original or special. But the inhabitants shouldn't
complain! At least they have a place to live in. Problems with housing are
major! I know it very well because I myself have been trying to find a
"roof above my head"-as we say-for several years already. No
success. I live in a student dormitory in a small room for which I pay
more than my mother does for the whole apartment.
Young people don't have
an easy life. They can't get married, have babies and family life just
because they don't have a place to live in. Most young families live
with their parents, in 2-3 room apartments and their chance of becoming
independent of their parents is very small. Apartments are very expensive.
For example a 2-room apartment would cost in US dollars at least
12.000.00. You can compare this with a monthly income of a young
teacher-approximately US$170.00, $50 for accommodation and I don't have
to say more. Last week I saw an advertisement in the newspaper, a 3 room
apartment in Bratislava, approximately US$110.000.00. Well, I wouldn't
like to finish like this, it sounds very pessimistic, though that's the
reality. First I wanted to leave this part out, but then I thought, it's
true so why not say that? We have this saying-a man gets used to
everything, even to gallows... There is another one, which says: Things
are never so bad that they couldn't get worse. The important things in
life are good health, optimism, faith, and good will for work, aren't
they?
But let's turn to some
"happier tune." I'll describe a working day of a young English
teacher, so that you could imagine our style of living.
I wake up at 6 a.m., at 7
o'clock I already start teaching at the Conservatory. I teach 2-3
classes, run to the Law Faculty where I have 3-4 classes or lectures. Then
I prepare things for the next day-I think of some new exercises and tasks
for my students, prepare tests, type them on a computer, print ... read a
lot of different textbooks. I run upstairs to the 4th floor (I live in the
same building where I teach), tidy up; open the windows, eat something, go
back to my office on the 1st floor, and teach 2 or 3 more classes.
Sometimes students come to consult some problems with me. Then in the late
afternoon I go to town, Faculty of Economics, Faculty of Natural Science
where they have Internet, have a look at my Email messages, write back. If
I have time, I go shopping, I buy something. In the evening I meet
"my children"-which is a children’s folk group Maticarik,
we practice, or-sometimes-we have a performance. Later on in the evening I
go to another folk group practice (Hronka) where I play viola in a folk
band. I have performances with Hronka quite often, too. Besides, I meet my
friends-I take them everywhere with me-or they take me. We go to opera
performances, movies, parties, and discos-or we simply go to the pub to
have a drink, beer, and pizza. I like meeting new people, I know more
people in Banska Bystrica than in my hometown Detva. When I have free
time, I study. I learn new "law" expressions in English, or I
improve my Portuguese. Right now I'm translating TV documentaries from
Portuguese into Slovak for Slovak TV. Some weeks ago I told myself that I
was not busy enough and I decided to study Greek. I'd like to visit
Greece where I was invited and I don't want to be surprised by anything
there. I was in Italy in February-visiting the great carnival of Venice. I
didn't even have to wear a mask, my mom says that I'm a mask myself.
You could ask-how could I travel so much with my monthly income? Oh, I can
manage! For example: 4 days in Venice cost me US$40.00, that was travel
expenses, accommodation and basic food. How much did I spend there? I'd
better not count! For "activities" like this I earn money giving
private lessons of English. Of course, this is not a regular income but
there are many chances of this kind.
Anyway, we are very
modest people. We certainly won't get sick because of eating too much
and-if we can't have something, we simply don’t need it.
Dear friends, I don't
know what Vlado is going to say when I send him such a long story, maybe
he will recommend me to start my own newsletter.
I don't know when I
write again, I'll be away from Slovakia in the summer. If I get to the
USA, I'll let you know about my experiences. Who knows, I might meet
some of you? I want to visit Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Kansas and Texas.
This traveling will be enabled and partly sponsored by my former teacher
and friend Steve. I'll spend some time in the family of Mr. William
Dzurko in Glassport, PA and I plan on visiting my distant relatives in New
Jersey and Delaware. If you give me your phone numbers, I'll try to call
you.
Best wishes to all of
you,
Yours
Dana.
Dana Hodulova
A. Bernolaka 2
962 12 Detva
Slovakia
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BACK TO PEOPLE STORIES
Published in the
Slovak Heritage Live newsletter Volume 5, No. 2, Summer 1997
Copyright © Vladimir Linder 1997
3804 Yale
Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5C 1P6
The above article and photographs may not be copied, reproduced,
republished, or redistributed by any means including electronic, without
the express written permission of Vladimir
Linder. All rights reserved.
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