September Newsletter - Kristin in Slovakia

Arriving and Settling into Slovakia

Life in Vel'ky Slavkov

After spending the first three weeks in orientation and language training, I finally arrived at my placement. My placement is located in Vel'ky Slavkov, a small village in the Tatras Mountains in the northern central part of Slovakia. Every day when I walk outside I am still amazed at the gorgeous mountain view that greets me. The village has about one thousand people located in it so everyone knows everybody else. I definitely stand out as the outsider in the village but mostly in a good way. I have found that the middle school girls in town really enjoy talking to me because I'm somebody different and I'm from America. Even though I don't understand most of what they are saying, they enjoy entertaining me with their wild gestures, hip-hop dancing, repeated known words, and lots of laughter. This makes even a simple trip to the center or bus stop an adventure.
I am living in Myln, which used to be a penzion (hotel) and is now rented by the center. This is where the Gurkas family, my host family, and the other workers for the center are living. I have my own room which is very nice with a little sitting area and then two beds and cabinets and shelves. I also have my own bathroom which is located down the hallway. There is a giant living room located on the first floor which is used for everything from youth group meetings, Bible studies, and Sunday morning worship to a practice area for the praise and worship band and the girls dance team. There is also a large kitchen and dining room on the bottom floor where lunches are served for the boys at the center, the workers, and anyone else who shows up.
My host family, the Gurkas, are a family of six. There are four children – Sarah age 6, Kristina age 8, Edward age 12, and David age 13. The family knows a little English and I know a couple of words in Slovak, but often we use my dictionary and hand gestures to communicate. Despite the language barriers, time spent with them is very enjoyable and they are a very welcoming family. The first night that I was there Sarah excitedly told her parents that now she had two sisters named Kristinka (what she calls both of us), one big and one small. They have definitely helped me to feel at home here.
The Gurkas are in charge of the center which currently houses about twenty boys. The center is a half-way house for these boys who are mostly ages 18-25. When the boys are forced to leave the children's home at eighteen most of them do not have anywhere to live or a job to provide money. A lot of them are also dealing with problems from their childhood and addictions. The center is a place where they can come and live. The workers here help them find jobs, provide counseling and Bible studies, go with them to the dentist and doctor, provide activities for them, make sure chores are done, are there for the boys to talk to about problems, and much more. I have just arrived so I am not yet sure about the details of my job but it seems like I will be doing some cleaning around Myln, working with my host mom in the kitchen, visiting the boys a couple of evenings a week with the workers, attending activities, and possibly helping to teach English to the boys and others in the community.
One distinct difference between the cultures is the food. Oftentimes it hasn't been so much the food itself, as much as when it is eaten. My breakfasts here have often been bread with salami and peppers, or butter and jam. On occasion I am served hot dogs or tuna fish sandwiches for breakfast. Lunch is the big meal of the day here. Usually it consists of some kind of soup and then a main course. Almost every meal here contains bread with it and if there isn't bread there are either potatoes, pasta, or rice instead. The people here definitely are not conscious about eating too many carbohydrates! Also, sometimes, there is served a sweet lunch which either consists of hot vanilla pudding with bread or jam filled dumplings in butter sauce and covered with powdered cocoa. Dinners, then, are usually similar to breakfast with bread and then either butter, pate or canned meat spread, or cheese, and vegetables, usually peppers and tomatoes. I have also experienced having French fries as the main course of dinner, not the side dish! My favorite traditional meal that I have had so far was knedla (a cross between a dumpling and potato bread) served with pork goulash (meat, cabbage, and vegetables in a red sauce). I have been keeping an open mind and trying all of the food put before me, and have even discovered some pleasant surprises such as a love of peppers and that I now get excited when the main meal has fresh vegetables in it, no matter what they are.
One of my favorite things about here is the Christian community that I am placed in. Every weekday morning the workers here get together before work starts and sing praise songs and have a short Bible study. I have found that it is a wonderful way to start the day. I really enjoy learning the songs, all sung in Slovak, and it is a good way to practice my sight reading of the language. The same type of thing occurs a couple of evenings throughout the week, as well as a youth group that meets Saturday evenings and a worship service on Sunday mornings. I am definitely aware of their love for God and it is evident that He is at work in this place. God crosses all language barriers and cultures. He is the same God here in Slovakia as He is at home. I am thankful that He has called me to this place.