US Ambassador to Slovakia, Adam Sterling (source: TASR)
Barbecuing, playing classic movies and talking to the people. This is how the US Embassy in Slovakia plans to spend slightly more than two weeks in August to promote the mutual friendship and relationship between the US and Slovakia and the important historical milestones they share this year.
US diplomats and embassy employees will visit a total of 26 towns and villages during 17 days as part of the unique caravan roadshow.
“Me and my colleagues are really looking forward to the regions because we would like to know what people are doing for their living, what worries them and where they see solutions,” said US Ambassador to Slovakia Adam Sterling, as quoted in the press release.
When will the caravan come to your town?
See the route and the dates here.
The roadshow will kick off in Brezová pod Bradlom on August 13 and end in Banská Bystrica on August 29, when the country celebrates SNP Day. The route partially copies the Path of the Heroes of the Slovak National Uprising.
What to expect
The US Embassy tried to pick smaller towns and villages that US diplomats probably haven't visited before, said the embassy’s spokesperson Griffin Rozell.
The main idea is to tell people the story of friendship between the two countries, which started 100 years ago by signing the Pittsburgh Agreement, and to remind people of the fact that Slovakia belongs to the western and transatlantic community and democracies, Rozell explained.
“This is an important story to tell,” he added.
As part of the programme, the inhabitants of the visited towns and villages will be able to visit the exhibition documenting the mutual relations, enter a competition and learn more about the programmes the US Embassy administers in Slovakia, like Work and Travel. During the evenings, the embassy will screen films featuring Hollywood stars with Slovak roots, as well as documentaries about Michael Strank, a man who raised the flag at Iwo Jima island, and Free to Rock.
The embassy will also screen interviews with successful Slovaks whose lives have been affected by travelling to the US.
The embassy employees also plan to learn more about the opinions of people living in the regions and their opinion on America.
Rozell is not worried that people will not be interested in coming, despite the ongoing holiday season.
“The summer is a good time to do it,” he told The Slovak Spectator. “It’s a good time for us to get out of the embassy and see the rest of this beautiful country.”
(source: Courtesy of the US Embassy in Slovakia)
The route
August 13 at 20:00: Brezová pod Bradlom, screening of Free to Rock documentary
August 14 at 11:00: Myjava
August 14 at 20:00: Trenčianske Teplice, screening of Free to Rock documentary
August 15 at 11:00: Ilava
August 15 at 20:00: Bytča, screening of Free to Rock documentary
August 16 at 11:00: Nitrianske Pravno
August 16 at 19:30: Handlová, screening of Roman Holiday
August 17 at 11:00: Žiar nad Hronom
August 17 at 20:00: Kremnica, screening of film about Michael Strank
August 18 at 11:00: Turčianske Teplice
August 18 at 19:30: Zvolen, screening of Some Like It Hot
August 20 at 20:00: Polomka, screening of film about Michael Strank
August 21 at 11:00: Dobšiná
August 21 at 20:00: Rožňava, screening of Free to Rock documentary
August 22 at 11:00: Sečovce
August 22 at 19:30: Trebišov, screening of The Magnificent Seven
August 23 at 11:00: Sobrance
August 23 at 19:30: Snina, screening of The Sting
August 24 at 11:00: Vranov nad Topľou
August 24 at 20:00: Stropkov, screening of Free to Rock documentary
August 25 at 11:00: Svidník
August 25 at 20:00: Bardejov, screening of Free to Rock documentary
August 27 at 11:00: Lipany
August 27 at 20:00: Sabinov, screening of Free to Rock documentary
August 28 at 11:00: Stará Ľubovňa
August 29 at 11:50: SNP Museum in Banská Bystrica
August 29 at 19:00: concert of pop-rock band of the US Air Force, Touch N’ Go (in Banská Bystrica)
