5 things I dislike about Slovakia
I really love my home country, don’t take me wrong. I love the nature, all the trees, lakes, rivers, Slovak language, relatively cheap prices of many things. I love that I can really express everything I want without looking for a word for it.
However, there must be also something I don’t like so much. Not living in Slovakia for 10 years says it all. I do come back a couple of times a year, always. Sometimes I go to my home town more often than my old friends who now live in the capital Bratislava.
But still, I have been avoiding living in Slovakia because of a bunch of things, and it’s not only my big urge to explore the world and other cultures.
There’s 5 things I dislike in Slovakia:
5. Unhealthy food
Slovak cuisine is amazing, trust me. Cabbage rolls, pirohy, halusky … I could eat those meals every single day. But they are all unhealthy. White flour and cheese are usually the main ingredients. Dairy is not healthy and white flour even less. And there’s very few vegetarian/vegan restaurants around Slovakia. I really miss those! And if I say that I don’t like meat or want a meal without white flour, I am treated like someone from Star Wars.
tasty but unhealthy halusky in Slovakia
4. Smoking
I am probably the smallest fan of smoking on Earth! With my chronic sinus infection I have already difficulties breathing and when the bars/restaurants/caffeterias are full of smoke, I am choking. If in countries like Spain or Italy where everyone smokes they could prohibit smoking in these places, I cannot wait to this happen in Slovakia finally too. I cannot stand when my hair and clothes smell like ashtray! Smoking allowed in bars is one of the reasons why I don’t go out so often when in my home country.
3. Too much alcohol
When meeting new people on the road, we almost always get to the topic of me not drinking alcohol. You would need to see their faces when I say that me, a person from Slovakia, does not drink alcohol at all and it’s been years. The truth is, that even abroad people know we drink way too much in Slovakia. I don’t say I’m strictly against alcohol but there should be a limit. Getting wasted all the time is not cool and I don’t really see the point of it.
2. No beach
Unfortunately, in case you did not know the basic facts about Slovakia, my country is located in Central Europe which means we have no sea and no beach :( I know we wouldn’t have such a beautiful nature and most probably the mountains we have now if we were on the coast, but just having a beach might make me stay in Slovakia for longer. I wish!
I should be grateful for this beauty at least :)
hiking Slovak Paradise mountains
1. Negativity
This is the biggest problem for me in Slovakia. I lived here for 18 years, then another 5 years in Czech republic where the mentality is similar. The first time when I realized there was something wrong about the way people here think was at the University at a Spanish lesson.
Our teacher, a native from Southern Spain, once came to the class all angry. It was the first time ever I saw her not smiling. She said she was walking on the street and each time she met someone she knew, they all replied to her ”How are you?” question with something negative telling her all the bad things that happened in the past 5 years in just 1 sentence. She was right. In Spain people always reply ”I’m fine, I’m great…” and it shows a lot. It even helps the way you feel then.
Then, later on in Mexico I also realized another thing. We were traveling around Veracruz, Puebla and Cholula for a week with a German guy and our Mexican local friend (2 out of many cool people I met in Mexico by accident, or destiny?) and with the German friend we always complained about something. It was too hot, we were too thirsty, then it was too cloudy, the food was too spicy etc. Just always something. Our Mexican friend Arturo got pissed one day and told us the truth that hurt ”Fucking Europeans, always complaining” and he was more right than ever.
For 18 years negative attitude of people around me in Slovakia had been forming my attitude too. But then, for 10 years living abroad and traveling I have been trying to change it.
Each time I come back to Slovakia I need to fight with the negative attitude again. Over and over again.
Aw, and I am not mentioning people talking bullshit without knowing the truth because I think people talk no matter where you go.
These are the 5 things I dislike the most in Slovakia. Anyway, the reasons to visit Slovakia are still plenty more and like I said just recently, I am going to spend a few months in Slovakia now.
Mary
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I have an exchange student from Slovokia and it is killing me to find something he likes to eat. All he wants to watch are Marvel movies. His family consists of architects and a dentist. Can anyone give me advice on a 16 year old Slovakian boy?
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Sorry to hear that. Well, teenagers. I guess the best is to ask him directly :)
Šimon
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I agree only with the negativity.
Unhealthy food? It is our traditional food. The food of our ancestors and they eat what they have. We doesn’t eat pirohy or halusky every day just only in rare occasion.
Smoking on public places in Slovakia is forbidden for many years.
Drinking too much alcohol? I agree, but no one force you to drink if you won’t. It’s just the other tradition in Slovakia to welcome someone with alcohol.
No beaches? We’ve got beaches but no sea :D However we have many artificial beaches on lakes, rivers and other places. Also we have a many thermal spring with therapeutic effects.
Frank
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Hi Alexandra – always love your posts. I was curious to read this one because we are currently in the Czech Republic where, as you say, people usually have a glum exterior similar to that in Slovakia. They definitely don’t smile and can be quite surly. I read an interesting book on the Czech character that I reviewed and found quite interesting: https://bbqboy.net/a-review-xenophobes-guide-czechs/
We’ve met some nice people though too and I wonder if Czechs/Slovaks (in general) just present a surly exterior that isn’t necessarily a reflection of how they are; we’ve had people give us their seats on the bus for us, help us get metro tickets…You can compare to an American who’ll be the friendliest guy on earth but when it really comes down won’t help you out when you need help. Different nationalities put on a different front but often times the interior is quite similar.
Like you I love Mexicans and most Latino cultures. And your friend Arturo is right, not just about Europeans but most people in the west. Maybe we just have it all too easy which makes it boring – we need something to complain about.
Great post!
Frank (bbqboy)
Ps. Would love your feedback on my post. Curious how Slovaks feel about the Czechs.
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Hey Frank, thanks for your honest comment. Well, it’s never easy to generalize, right? I just wish all people would be more positive and not fake. Negativity brings you down and being fake doesn’t get you anywhere, so whats the point for these two qualities? :) I’m gonna check out your post and let you know my thoughts ;)
mm
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You say this is not nationality thing but still you put all Slovakians into one sack. You must have lived in one hell of a place to based your experience that people are unhappy. Well, let me tell you “People living in Slovakia do smile too”.
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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I never said people do not smile in Slovakia, after all, I am from there and spent 18 years there and since then spend a few weeks/months still there every year. But every single person who travels will realize that if you compare the nationalities, then the Slovaks are less happy, smile less and complain more. And if you don’t think so, then just go to countries like Central America or Mexico, for example.
tomas
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I believe and I see people changed in Slovakia. They are very nice. I had similiar opinion but more often I am coming home I see how nice people are in Slovakia. Slovakians help you no problem as well . I am not living in Slovakia last 11 years but i see big improve in people behaviour. You can not expect people smiling all the time especially if you know how much money they make in Slovakia.
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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I so know what you mean, Tomas ;) I’ve been abroad for almost 13 years and try to understand the people back home but they are still more negative than my fave Latinos.
mm
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I wouldn’t call it negativity. I think people are more honest the way they feel and don’t pretend to act around others like in some other countries. You say that people ask in Spain, The U.S. or other countries “How are you?” but to tell the truth mostly they do not care for the answer. If you ask in Slovakia someone “How are you?” then they really want to know and they listen.
Slovakian people went through some rough times and they have to work hard for their living. They are humble people and even though, they might have some different approach to some things than others, it is that what makes their culture unique. Whether in other countries culture just disappeared.
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Well, I do agree with some things you said but not with all. People in other parts of the world do care about you, this is not a nationality thing, the answer is though. No one wants to hear just the bad things that have happened to you, not even in Slovakia, and not even if like you say, people care about you. There’s other countries where have to work way harder to make living than in Slovakia, yet they are still smiling and happy every single day. This is what I am talking about.
jareso
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We have many beaches here in Slovakia, such as beaches of large dams, those are quite vast and with beautiful nature too, but I understand that real sea or ocean is something completely different.
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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I don’t count lake beaches the same as sea beaches though, unfortunately.
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Comment@ flipnomad:
Much agreed, we should be positive, productive and happy :)
flipnomad
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good for you to fight back the negativity around you! staying negative most of the times is F**** exhausting and not to mention unproductive :-)
safe travels Alex
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Comment@ Franca:
True, more and more people become positive which is a good sign :)
Franca
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Negativity isn’t good! I’m pretty sure not every Slovakian is the same way, isn’t it? You managed to fight it and you did pretty well! :)
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Comment@ A:
Well, maybe me too :D
Bella
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Hey, negativity is what we humans do best. What’s better when waiting for a late bus, finding your favourite store closed, or coming to terms with a different culture and a different country, than moaning and having a good grumble.
I’m English and complaining to each other is what we do best.
That said, I applaud you’re positivity and agree with you about the points you’ve raised about your country, although I’ve only visited once, and then as a real tourist ;)
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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The worst thing is that negativity brings even more negativity.
Crazy sexy fun traveler
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Comment@ Lukas Cech:
Thank God for us, young positive Slovaks :)
Lukas Cech
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You hit it right on the head with the negativity. There´s always something to complain about and there´s not point trying to change it. — is the general attitude :)
Hopefully this is more of a hangover from the old communist era and young people see things more positive.
Hey, I know a bunch of great people from Slovakia who travel the world, that´s a good start ;).
Crazy sexy fun traveler
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Comment@ Hogga:
Well, that is the right comparison :D
Hogga
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lol @ treated like someone from Star Wars
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Comment@ Adam Pervez | HappinessPlunge.com:
Much agreed, Adam! Let’s show the others that it is possible to be positive :)
Adam Pervez | HappinessPlunge.com
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Great post! I noticed the same thing a couple weeks ago when I left 3 months of being around happy, positive people in Cyprus and landed in Hungary. I realized that the smiles were gone, people seemed to be much ruder to strangers, and there was just lots of negativity and despair in the air. It’s not impossible to maintain personal happiness when surrounded by unhappy people, but it’s much harder. I think by noticing that everyone else is negative, you’ve already transcended the negativity. You just have to keep the fuel going on the positivity fire within yourself! :)