Škoda

23 June, 2006. 1.55pm. Trnava, Slovakia.

For some time now I have had a small obsession with old Škodas. Škodas were just about the only vehicle affordable or available to Czechoslovaks (other than the Russian Lada) under Communism, and since they were so widespread (and apparently easy to repair) there are still thousands of them on the road today. Today Škodas are produced with many of the same parts as Volkswagons, and thus they share certain aesthetic similarities. Today more than 40% of all new cars sold in Slovakia are Škodas. When Kevin was here in April we rented a 2006 Škoda Fabia (their cheapest car), which I was very impressed with. But it's not the new Škodas that I am so obessessed with, as the old ones. By far the most common car on the road in Slovakia still has to be the Škoda 120 or Škoda 105 (they look almost identical, their differences being in the engine). Old 105's and 120's are cheap to buy and it's becoming common that young men buy them and fix them up. But nonetheless, there are still tonnes of old original 120's and 105's out there, and I've taken to photographing them.... ("škoda," by the way, literally means "it's a pity," but it's also a family name and the car was named after its originator). Here are a few examples....

Last Week of Classes (Already!)

23 June, 2006. 12.48pm. Trnava, Slovakia.

This was the last week of classes at Obchodna Akademia (already!). On Tuesday final marks were submitted, and ever since teachers and students alike have been killing time (often playing cards, reading, or quietly chatting). The atmosphere is a little strange. Why students and teachers have to come to school after final marks have been submitted is beyond me, but that's the way things are done here. I suppose this was probably the case when I was a student as well, but I never knew about it. Here, the students know better than anyone when their marks are submitted and they lobby their teachers up until the last minute for the best possible mark. Rather than asking a month or two in advance about where they stand in terms of marks, students ask a day or two before. So rather than do extra work, or work harder, they simply do their best to be nice and beg for better marks! (This sometimes includes outright bribes, although nothing serious--I received strawberries and chocolate, but the students in question were in no danger of getting a poor mark anyway...). Next week I will go on a school trip with some students to the theatre on Monday, and from Tuesday to Thursday I will be in the High Tatras with the 1E class and two teachers. I've been told to prepare for no sleep.

And speaking of sleep, I've been suffering with a really annoying cold now for more than 2 weeks. It's the strangest thing. I can't recall ever being sick in June before--especially when the weather is 35 degrees outside! So I hope to lie low this weekend and be in tip-top shape for next week's activities....

Two Weekends Ago: Lubina u Frantov

14 June, 2006. 1.15pm. Trnava, Slovakia

Jana and her cousin in the Biely Karpaty mountains.

Remains of Cachtice Castle, near Nove Mesto nad Vahom.

Two weekends ago I visited my friend and old student (from Modra), Jana P., in beautiful Lubina u Frantov. This small village is located in western Slovakia, north of Trnava and just south of Trencin, nearing the border with the Czech Republic in the Biely Karpaty mountains. The scenery here is quite breathtaking. While the High Tatras are beautiful, I would much sooner return to the Biely Karpaty--here there are practically no tourists or big hotels (and big prices).

I arrived, by train, in Nove Mesto nad Vahom at about 4pm. Jana greeted me at the train station with her parents and we proceeded to visit the nearby ruins of Cachtice castle. This castle was home to the storied "Blood Countess," Alžbeta Báthory. See:
http://slovakheritage.org/Castles/cachtice.htm
After an hour or so, hiking around the ruins and taking some pictures, we proceeded to anothter nearby castle ruin, Beckov. Slovakia is dotted with literally hundreds of castle ruins and reconstructions. It is my quest to one day visit all of these castles, especially the ruins, which I find most interesting.

On Saturday Jana and I hiked through the hills a little with her cousin, and in the afternoon we went on a very nice bike ride. I quite simply fell in love with the region of Slovakia.

At the train station in Nove Mesto nad Vahom, just before my departure, we were approached by a young Australian traveller (who heard us speaking English). Turns out, Melissa (the Australian) was in Slovakia for only a day doing some family research and filming a documentary. I said good-bye to Jana and travelled with Melissa on the train. On the way I convinced her to stay in Trnava for the evening so as to get a better perspective on Slovakia. She agreed, and we met my friends Silvia and Zuzi for bryndzove (sheep cheese) pizza (mmm, my favourite!) in the centre of town. Melissa's visit was an unexpected surprise, but it was fun to show another foreigner around Trnava...

A Proud Graduate of...

9 June, 2006. 10.51am. Trnava, Slovakia.

I learned something interesting this week from a colleague. Slovakia's best known pornography star, Ashley Taylor, is a graduate of Obchodna Akademia in Trnava, where I work! She graduated in 1998. Although her name wasn't "Ashley Taylor" at the time, I found her graduation photo and class picture hanging on the wall.... She's been in the news a lot here lately because she recently appeared in Playboy and it was revealed that she was a former girlfriend of Jan Novotný, the star of Nevesta pre milionára (the Slovak version of Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire--yes, all the worst of reality TV is exported worldwide, sadly, with shockingly similar plot lines and "scandals"). Here's an article about it (in Slovak) with a series of pictures (including photos of Ms. Taylor without glossy photo touch-ups!): http://www.bleskovky.sk/cl/15/112400/Milionar-Novotny-Pravda-o-mojom-vztahu-s-pornohereckou

I asked my colleagues here about her as a student and almost no one remembers her. One of my colleagues was a student at the school at the same time and she says that as a student Ms. Taylor was almost invisible, so it was a big shock when she used her business and economic skills (learned here, at this very school) in the pornography business....

Untold Stories (Until Now): Part Two

7 June, 2006. 8.20am. Trnava, Slovakia.

My goodness, the 7th of June already.... Only three more weeks of school! And maybe it's just as well because it has recently come to my attention that two nasty rumours about yours truly have been circulating amongst some students. Not my students, mind you, but other students at the school.

The first is that I am "having a relationship" with a girl in the 3C class. I don't teach 3C, but I do know one of the students in this class. You can see her picture, right here on this very blog. Livia (the student in question) was on the bus trip to Prague with her Aunt (and another teacher from this school, by the way), so ever since we have been friendly. Nothing more. About three weeks ago a vicious and angry student from 4C (a class that I do teach) witnessed Livia and I innocently walking down the street (in broad daylight, on a Saturday afternoon). Well, within a week this ever-so-lovely 4C student had devised a story that Livia and I were "holding hands" and that there was "something between" us (I learned this from Livia, by the way, who was also shocked and worried about the damage that this kind of story can create). Luckily I heard this story before the student in 4C completed her studies (the last two weeks have been Maturita exams, a time when graduating students write their "school leaving" exams--once they finish the exams, they are set free from school a month earlier than non-graduating students), so I confronted her about her vicious little rumour. Of course, she had nothing to say, and only starred at the ground when I spoke with her. I also spoke to several of the teachers (none of whom had heard the rumour)--most just laughed and said that no one would believe it anyway; others said this is not surprising coming from the student in question. So I was only momentarily worried. This kind of thing in North America can finish a teacher's career, of course, and although it's not considered a big problem over here, it was the principle of the matter. This student (who started the rumour) was only out-to-get me. She clearly never liked me from the very start. Worse, she started the rumour after I had submitted my marks for her class.

The second rumour is even more far-fetched. Apparently a number of students (that I don't teach) think I am part of a "dark religious sect"--or in other words, a devil worshiper! My goodness! There's no need to say more....

Teaching Opportunities

5 June, 2006. 4.35pm. Trnava, Slovakia.

As I'll be departing (sadly) from Trnava this summer, I am now in the midst of trying to find a suitable replacement to "teach" conversation classes at Obchodna Akademia (Business Academy). So, if you, or someone you know, is interested in a foreign teaching experience (or maybe you're already here in Slovakia and you're looking for a new job), here's some information...

Obchodna Akademia is a state-funded secondary school specialising in economics and business education. However, the students go to this school largely for reasons of language instruction. O.A. offers bilingual classes in German and English, so by the time the students graduate they have a good grasp of at least one second language. All students (traditionally mainly girls) are tested for their language abilities before being offered acceptance at the school. New, just last year, was the English language bilingual option, so there will be an increase in the number of students who have an interest in speaking English. Teaching the bilingual English classes is always a joy because these students choose to learn English (unlike other classes and other schools where students have to take some English classes). The pay is average for Slovak language teachers, but the school in my case found me a really affordable place to live so your expenses are not high. The school terms run from late August until the end of June. O.A. would prefer a teacher for the full extent of the school year, so as to maintain continuity.

In addition, I am also teaching at a private language school on the side, called CLIP Centrum. Again, pay is average, but here you will teach a wide range of students--from children to professional adults. They're speaking abilities also vary, but all have requested classes with a "native speaker," so their interest level is usually quite high.

So, if you're looking for a life-changing experience, and you'd like to explore one of Europe's last hidden gems (and Slovakia truly is a gem), then drop me a line and I'll be happy to answer your questions and pass on your name to my current employers....