Slovakia: Culture Shock?

I'd like to know what a vegetarian non-smoking germaphobic OCD
American anticipating a long-time stay in Slovakia should anticipate
in terms of dining, smoking, (food) marketplace, and accommodation
(hotel) habits in smaller cities such as Presov, Michalovce, Kosice,
etc.

Thank you.

ha scritto nel messaggio
oups.com...
I'd like to know what a vegetarian non-smoking germaphobic OCD
American anticipating a long-time stay in Slovakia should anticipate
in terms of dining, smoking, (food) marketplace, and accommodation
(hotel) habits in smaller cities such as Presov, Michalovce, Kosice,
etc.

Thank you.


Presov and Kosice are small modern towns.
Michalovce is a village.-

You will have no problems in Slovakia with food, hotels, smoking, and so on.
German language is not common in the places you mentioned ( near the
Ukrainian border.. )

I would say that there might be a lot of people that formerly emigrated to
Canada and USA or still have relatives there.-

the young will speak english.

besides. Slovak people are religous. tolerant. patient. and warm.

tile wrote:

ha scritto nel messaggio
oups.com...
I'd like to know what a vegetarian non-smoking germaphobic OCD
American anticipating a long-time stay in Slovakia should anticipate
in terms of dining, smoking, (food) marketplace, and accommodation
(hotel) habits in smaller cities such as Presov, Michalovce, Kosice,
etc.

Thank you.


Presov and Kosice are small modern towns.
Michalovce is a village.-

You will have no problems in Slovakia with food, hotels, smoking,

In Bratislava, it was difficult to find restaurants with separate
smoking sections. This wasn't too bad for us as we were able to dine
outside as it was summer, but it would have been a nightmare if we were
stuck indoors. However, on one occasion (at a nice restaurant) the chain
smoking outside forced us inside, as we were the only people indoors.
The Ibis had non-smoking rooms and a non-smoking area in their
restaurant, but I don't think you'd want to have dinner there- better
options. Being vegetarian wouldn't have been impossible, but it would
have severely limited the options where we dined. I imagine some
research would throw up veggie restaurants etc. though.

Are Presov, Michalovce and Kosice _so_ different in terms of smoking and
food? I'd doubt it, but would be interested to see what you think.

--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
David Horne- http://www.davidhorne.net
(don't email yahoo address) usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk

"David Horne, _the_ chancellor (*)" ha scritto nel
messaggio ...
tile wrote:

ha scritto nel messaggio
oups.com...
I'd like to know what a vegetarian non-smoking germaphobic OCD
American anticipating a long-time stay in Slovakia should anticipate
in terms of dining, smoking, (food) marketplace, and accommodation
(hotel) habits in smaller cities such as Presov, Michalovce, Kosice,
etc.

Thank you.


Presov and Kosice are small modern towns.
Michalovce is a village.-

You will have no problems in Slovakia with food, hotels, smoking,

In Bratislava, it was difficult to find restaurants with separate
smoking sections. This wasn't too bad for us as we were able to dine
outside as it was summer, but it would have been a nightmare if we were
stuck indoors. However, on one occasion (at a nice restaurant) the chain
smoking outside forced us inside, as we were the only people indoors.
The Ibis had non-smoking rooms and a non-smoking area in their
restaurant, but I don't think you'd want to have dinner there- better
options. Being vegetarian wouldn't have been impossible, but it would
have severely limited the options where we dined. I imagine some
research would throw up veggie restaurants etc. though.

Are Presov, Michalovce and Kosice _so_ different in terms of smoking and
food? I'd doubt it, but would be interested to see what you think.

--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
David Horne- http://www.davidhorne.net
(don't email yahoo address) usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk

I guess you will have the same problems. but being the towns small. maybe
people will be warm enough to find a solution. as to Michalovce. I have
never been there.. gut I guess the problems might be solved with a little
good will.

digitalr wrote:

I'd like to know what a vegetarian non-smoking germaphobic OCD
American anticipating a long-time stay in Slovakia should anticipate
in terms of dining, smoking, (food) marketplace, and accommodation
(hotel) habits in smaller cities such as Presov, Michalovce, Kosice,
etc.


Remember the beginning of the movie _Borat_, where Borat shows us his
native village? That is *exactly* what all of Slovakia is like...

--
Best
Greg

On 10 Apr 2007 03:35:06 -0700, wrote:

I'd like to know what a vegetarian non-smoking germaphobic OCD
American anticipating a long-time stay in Slovakia should anticipate
in terms of dining, smoking, (food) marketplace, and accommodation
(hotel) habits in smaller cities such as Presov, Michalovce, Kosice,
etc.

Thank you.

The culture shock for us was a hotel in the High Tatras,
near Stary Smokovec IIRC. Pleasant room, although a bit
basic, but it became clear that the staff worked on the
understanding that the guests should feel privileged to be
allowed to stay in the hotel.

Just one example. After check-in we were still awaiting a
room number to be allocated, some minor admin glitch had
occurred. No problem, we left our bags at the desk and
wandered into the dining room, sat down and studied the menu
for dinner.

The waiter bustled up and in gestures indicated that we
should change tables to another in the far corner. We
indicated our preference for the one we were at - but no, he
started shouting and gesturing. Eventually we realised he
was saying "room number". He knew it, we didn't, and
apparently that number sat at that table and nowhere else.
In an almost empty dining room. And absolutely no other
table was acceptable to him.

It got emptier. We walked out and found a nicer restaurant a
few blocks away with excellent food and a great friendly
atmosphere. Aussies don't usually respond well to silly
orders even in their own country:-)

During the rest of that evening and the following morning we
gradually realised that the place must have been a holiday
resort for the elite in the communist era, and that the
previous customers were quite happy to be ordered about -
told where and when to eat and what to do. It was very
similar to the atmosphere in RAAF Officer's messes from my
previous life.

We enjoyed the region, but only stayed one night.

Can't speak for "vegetarian non-smoking germaphobic" except
to say that I'm also non-smoking and careful about germs -
and survived. But don't even think of trying to convert the
locals to any of those traits.

Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: A Pause to Reflect
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/

Make credence recognised that on 10 Apr 2007 05:38:27 -0700, "Gregory
Morrow" has scripted:

digitalr wrote:

I'd like to know what a vegetarian non-smoking germaphobic OCD
American anticipating a long-time stay in Slovakia should anticipate
in terms of dining, smoking, (food) marketplace, and accommodation
(hotel) habits in smaller cities such as Presov, Michalovce, Kosice,
etc.


Remember the beginning of the movie _Borat_, where Borat shows us his
native village? That is *exactly* what all of Slovakia is like...

Except for Bratislava, which is really just an outer suburb of Vienna.
--
---
DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com
---
--

Make credence recognised that on 10 Apr 2007 03:35:06 -0700,
has scripted:

I'd like to know what a vegetarian non-smoking germaphobic OCD
American anticipating a long-time stay in Slovakia should anticipate
in terms of dining, smoking, (food) marketplace, and accommodation
(hotel) habits in smaller cities such as Presov, Michalovce, Kosice,
etc.

It's going to be difficult for you to be vegetarian, as all of the
vegetables are made of animals, many of whom smoke too. Both germs and
Germans are rampant too, covering both varieties of your phobia. OCD
Americans are advised to spend the entire stay sitting in a bath of
formaldehyde scrubbing the outer layer of America off.
--
---
DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com
---
--

"Alan S" ha scritto nel messaggio
...
On 10 Apr 2007 03:35:06 -0700, wrote:

I'd like to know what a vegetarian non-smoking germaphobic OCD
American anticipating a long-time stay in Slovakia should anticipate
in terms of dining, smoking, (food) marketplace, and accommodation
(hotel) habits in smaller cities such as Presov, Michalovce, Kosice,
etc.

Thank you.

The culture shock for us was a hotel in the High Tatras,
near Stary Smokovec IIRC. Pleasant room, although a bit
basic, but it became clear that the staff worked on the
understanding that the guests should feel privileged to be
allowed to stay in the hotel.

Just one example. After check-in we were still awaiting a
room number to be allocated, some minor admin glitch had
occurred. No problem, we left our bags at the desk and
wandered into the dining room, sat down and studied the menu
for dinner.

The waiter bustled up and in gestures indicated that we
should change tables to another in the far corner. We
indicated our preference for the one we were at - but no, he
started shouting and gesturing. Eventually we realised he
was saying "room number". He knew it, we didn't, and
apparently that number sat at that table and nowhere else.
In an almost empty dining room. And absolutely no other
table was acceptable to him.

It got emptier. We walked out and found a nicer restaurant a
few blocks away with excellent food and a great friendly
atmosphere. Aussies don't usually respond well to silly
orders even in their own country:-)

During the rest of that evening and the following morning we
gradually realised that the place must have been a holiday
resort for the elite in the communist era, and that the
previous customers were quite happy to be ordered about -
told where and when to eat and what to do. It was very
similar to the atmosphere in RAAF Officer's messes from my
previous life.

We enjoyed the region, but only stayed one night.

Can't speak for "vegetarian non-smoking germaphobic" except
to say that I'm also non-smoking and careful about germs -
and survived. But don't even think of trying to convert the
locals to any of those traits.

Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: A Pause to Reflect
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/

well. in the socialist times there were few people who could afford a hotel.
so. only groups of high ranking people ( naturally..depending on the class
of yr hotel )
were staying in Hotels. or foreigners..

the socialist attitude was always.. they pretend to pay us a salary and we
pretend we work to deserve it..

Of course. not everybody showed this attitude. there were also intelligent
people...

Most of the east of Slovakia had Heavy weapons industries. and most of all
the famous SEMYEX explosive industry..
so there was no luck of jobs .. and jobs were paid rather well compared to
other parts of the country.
who has been in Slovakia must remember nice homes scattered everywhere..
with gardens and small fields.

Practically.. everybody had a State job and its own fields.. somebody had
cows hens and pigs. and these were the reach people.

Most of the families had relatives in the USA and Canada.. and with luittle
money received from those states they had quite a small treasure.

In slovakia there is also a high concentration of Gypsies.
even if during the socialism they were obliged to live like all the other
people.

I have not seen Borat ( I want to ) but Slovakia is now
living in an economical boom. there are at least 3 cars factories and a lot
of industries from all European countries.
Maybe it depends on taxes. there is only a TAX level

19%..

a dream for most people living in other countries of the world ( By the way,
the Czech republic is planning to lower taxes to 14%.. )

"tile" kirjoitti
. ..


Most of the east of Slovakia had Heavy weapons industries. and most of
all the famous SEMYEX explosive industry..
so there was no luck of jobs .. and jobs were paid rather well compared to
semtex