One of the reasons why I chose to do my ESC volunteering in Bratislava, Slovakia apart from the specific project was to experience living in a different Slavic country. Especially one that I have only had the opportunity of visiting shortly as a child and that, given how often it gets confused with Slovenia, I should probably know more about than I do.
Slovenia and Slovakia are objectively quite similar, both are Slavic countries which only became independent in the 90’s, both share borders with Austria and Hungary, the only difference between their flags are the coats of arms and the languages are close enough that with a little bit of effort from both sides we can hold a basic conversation. It is easy to understand why some people cannot tell the two countries apart.
But as a Slovenian living in Slovakia you quickly learn there are some differences and similarities that make all the difference. Being able to understand and subsequently learn Slovak fast and without bigger complications is certainly a perk but making sure that you don’t call a kid ‘otrok’ which in Slovenian means ‘child’ but in Slovak means ‘slave’ does make the first weeks a bit more tricky, particularly when you work with children a couple of times a week in your volunteering.
There are also many similarities between the capital cities: blocks of flats in Bratislava that would certainly not look out of place in Ljubljana, a mix of old and new architecture, a pedestrian zone in the centre, a nice hill right in the city… But the river is too wide, the bridges over it too long, the pedestrian zone too small and the public transport too efficient with its “električka”.
All in all, in many ways, both good and bad, it feels like being at home but with all the furniture just a couple centimetres to the left.
Text: Živa Jamnik
Fotka: Cirkuskus
Živa je dobrovoľníčkou programu Európskej komisie Európsky zbor solidarity na dobrovoľníckom projekte v organizácii Cirkuskus. Projekt bol podporený Európskou komisiou z programu Európsky zbor solidarity.
