Well, it does keep on getting better! I awoke from a great nights sleep in my king size comfort bed and saw what to my wondering eyes but yes, blue sky! It was the beginning of a great day.
The driver picked me up at about 9:30 and took me to school (Berlitz). Damon is the name of the guy who offered to take me to the exhibition. We went with his British friend Chris(?) and a guy Mark who’s lived all over (the world) walked with us on his way to the barber.
The exhibition? “Reflections of Scotland 🏴” was a nice overall visual impression of the country land. Another teacher Robin was the photographer. Apparently he’s here to study wolves in conservation and has yet to see a wolf after two years.
After the show, the guys took me all around town. We waded through ice and snow piled up all over. Still dump trucks are trying to remove all the snow. Crazy!
The town was much nicer today with the sun (sunko) making an appearance. It greatly positively affected my mood and spirits too. Everything looked nice and life today was very fine and good again.
Went into Saint Elizabeth’s (church). They showed me the post (office), shopping stores Tesco (used to be Kmart in England🏴 ), and the other store I forget. Saw my favorite store DM (from Germany 🇩🇪) and Eduscho Café (Austrian).
We lunched at Bomba, a real nice atmosphere place where we all had Glühwein and I had tofu with mushrooms 🍄 (good!). Now I’m watching Güte Zeite Schlechte Zeiten again.
Back at school Berlitz I talked to Christine(?). She was telling me all the differences about being raised first 15 years of her life under Socialism and knowing it was really bad, but not being able to complain or quarrel with teachers who would report them. Very interesting some things she said. May be a possible article even.
Also talking with Bibiana over the apartment situation. Flats were first 30,000 SK, then rose to 700,000 SK, and some over 1 million SK even. Mortgage is not here yet (in Slovakia). The interest rate to buy a house is 25%. Wages rose once, while prices increased 3-4 times.
My flat comes to 4500 SK, or about $115 a month. The rental agency also takes a fee of one month’s rent. Landlady is stating (in the paperwork) that I pat only 1500 SK a month, so she doesn’t have to pay so much taxes. I will sign contract for one year, however Bibiana says I can get out whenever I want without a penalty.
Tomorrow I move in
All the old buildings from earlier times are in disrepair, due to neglect during Communism times, when they built only socialism style block, ugly, grey housing. The old buildings were let to ruin or given to the Gypsies who ran them wild by setting fires and selling radiators as scrap metal, using wood to burn fires.
The current mayor of Kosice- who was running for president- has a campaign to rebuild and shape up the old town. During the elections this month, the one independent tv station was taken off the air (off the record, of course). People however rose to complain.
So many interesting things and situations here.
Back at luxury Hotel Bankov with the heated marble floors, I dined on mixed salad, Slovakian strong garlic 🧄 soup (with peas, potatoes, croutons), Slovakian red wine, and a crepes Silvia. Mmm leckor (delicious).
This is an excerpt from my Košice Journal, documenting my exodus from a (relatively happy) bustling life in beautiful San Diego, to (voluntarily) take a post teaching English in the newly independent eastern capital of Slovakia during a very cold winter 1999.
