I have started to write this blog because I wanted to debate some topics. I am not Slovak, I observe some things here (good and bad) and I write about them. There is a theory in psychology saying that there is a big difference between how you perceive yourself and how others perceive you. Many Slovaks I met are very interested in how foreigners perceive their country. They are visibly pleased when visitors talk about beautiful mountains, beautiful women, good food and so on. But when foreigners talk about poor quality of services, rude policemen, bureaucracy, corruption, sad people on the street then some Slovaks are quickly to reply:” Do you think that in America/England/Germany etc is better?” I know that 45 years of socialism/communism left its marks on the mentality of many people but as I’ve already said, this regime fell 16 years ago (Thursday by the way is November 17).
Well, does it really help you to compare yourselves with somebody/someone of lower quality or somebody of better quality? Progress means competing with the best and trying to improve yourselves. That’s true for everybody on this planet no matter the country of origin.
Some Slovaks would like foreigners to speak perfect Slovak (a language spoken by some 5.5 million people in the world and which is not taught anywhere else except Slovakia-sorry to disappoint you but not even the Czechs are interested and their children don’t understand Slovak anymore). Some Slovaks would like foreigners to perfectly know the history of this country (and even perfectly agree with the nationalist interpretation of this history). Some Slovaks would like foreigners to perfectly know the geography of Slovakia and something about its culture. Fair enough I may say.
But some Slovaks are jumping to their ceilings when foreigners ask them to improve. I will not debate the knowledge of foreign languages in Slovakia because there were already many articles written on this topic and I have my own experience.
Maybe the time has come for many Slovaks to understand that criticism brings benefits. If somebody keeps on telling you what it doesn’t work in your country and she or he is still here, it means that person cares. Those who mumbled a lot but didn’t really care, have already left the country. I am not talking about tourists who come and go and experience this country for only few days. I am talking about foreigners who live here.
I have been a bit disappointed that many readers who reacted to my “articles”, have debated so much the language used and not the ideas. Yes, it could be a sort of defence mechanism on their side (“Who a hell is she to criticize my country/people/me when she doesn’t even know proper Slovak?”---ok, internet offers anonimity for those chating or reacting to blogs while the blog’s author has there a photo and assumes responsibility (joj, zodpovednost’-ina citliva tema na uzemie SR) for the content of the blog, and I can’t really correct your Slovak as I don’t speak it well myself).
If somebody comes to my country, which is six times larger than Slovakia and has five times more people but whose language is not international (despite the fact that it is spoken in a smaller neighbouring country too), and tries to tell me something in my language I am really impressed. I tend to think that person had some special connection to my country even if she or he tries to mumble something in my language only to please me. If they know something about my country I am really, really impressed, even if I may not like what they tell me they know. The most effective way to fight against “stereotypes” used in connection to your country is to fight against those stereotypes you develop about the others. For example instead of repeating the communist slogan that X started a defamation campaign against Slovakia and attack X for his or her own weakness, you better try to look into the matter which was the subject of discontent and correct the mistakes (if any). This will make you stronger, not attacking the criticizer.
I have travelled around the world and no matter where I am I keep my eyes and ears open. I try to improve myself but also to push others to improve. Change is difficult everywhere but in some places it is badly needed. Such places include my country and your country.
Some of you may be surprised that there are people in my native country (and not only) who are very interested in learning from your experience.
That’s why I think that Slovaks should open themselves to the world, including to criticism coming from others. I tell the same to “my people” (in my native country).
PS: You have no idea how much this blog has helped me to improve my Slovak.
