(source: Hej, Ty!)
Welcome back Slovak Roots fans!
It is time for another edition of our Slovak Roots newsletter, dedicated to the community of people with ties to Slovakia.
Here's a fun fact: Did you know that athletes from Australia travel all the way to Šamorín in south-western Slovakia? In this newest instalment of the newsletter, you'll find the reason they travel so far. Hint: It's got something to do with water—and you can experience it too.
You will also learn about another iconic picture of American history with a Slovak immigrant in it (maybe), and you'll get to meet Jennifer Shevock, whose family is a bit of an exception to the rule when it comes to being interested in obtaining Slovak citizenship.
Slovak in an iconic American photo
One could argue that Slovaks have a knack for getting immortalised in iconic pictures of American history. For example, not long ago it was discovered that Michael Strank is one of the soldiers raising the US flag on Iwo Jima in 1945.
Lunch atop a Skyscraper, another iconic picture that has found its way into many households in the form of a poster, is another example. Gustáv Popovič, the first man from the right, sent it home in the early 1930s with a message for his wife.
The iconic photo Lunch atop a Skyscraper. Slovak Gustáv Popovič is said to be first from the right. (source: WIKIMEDIA/CC)
An opportunity to get closer
In the series of interviews with people seeking Slovak citizenship, many of them seem to have one thing in common: they are usually the only one in their family so interested in their heritage that they decide to go out of their way to apply for Slovak citizenship.
Enter Jennifer Shevock, who grew up in northern Pennsylvania, but now lives in northern California. When she learned that Slovakia changed the law and granted citizenship by descent, she called her brother and they started the process together.
“My brother Ron and I are very close; I told him that we need to do this and he immediately agreed,” she tells The Slovak Spectator, adding that now both have succeeded in getting the Slovak Living Abroad certificate. Even the rest of the family is showing some interest.
Jen Shevock. (source: Archive of J. S.)
A land shaped by water
Our colleague Jozef Ryník travelled to Žitný Ostrov, or Rye Island, set in one of Slovakia’s most fertile regions.
"Bordered by the Danube and Little Danube rivers, it is a land shaped by water, with springs and underground sources scattered throughout. In recent years, local entrepreneurs have begun tapping into the river island’s geothermal resources to develop a tourism industry centred on hot springs and wellness," he writes in his account of doing so has shaped the area.
For example, not long ago the X-Bionic Sports Centre near Šamorín hosted the World Junior Swimming Championships, with approximately 400 athletes staying there.
We also have a travel guide with lots of tips on what to see and visit in the area.
A 50-metre swimming pool at the X-Bionic Sphere. (source: SME/Jozef Ryník)
A selection of feature stories published by The Slovak Spectator that we recommend reading:
In addition to winemaking, the town of Modra near Bratislava is known for its traditional majolica pottery, something you may have seen on shelves or walls as a decoration in Slovak households. Recently, the company Modranska has started to draw on the tradition, but gives its pottery products a contemporary, minimalist twist.
Its collection comprises more than 4,000 species and subspecies of plants, while the site includes a complex of greenhouses spanning a total area of 3,500 square metres. The Košice Botanical Garden is, without question, the largest in Slovakia. This year, it celebrates its 75th anniversary.
Cyril and Methodius are important figures in Slovak history and are witnessing a resurgence in popularity, invoked most often by politicians. A historian speaks about their relevance to people in Slovakia today and the myths surrounding them.
Spanning 770 kilometres, Slovakia’s SNP Trail is an immersive experience, one that gives you the opportunity to test your limits. Give a listen to Peter Kvačkay, a computer programmer, who hiked it and shared his experience on the Spectacular Slovakia podcast.
In an interview, deputy director of UNICEF’s Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia reflects on the outcomes of their work with Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia, the winding down of its emergency response programme, and how short-term interventions evolved into more sustainable support integrated into national systems.
Her journey began as a young girl in Kenosha, Wisconsin, during the height of the Cold War with an immigrant grandmother who had a foreign sounding name and a heavy accent to go with it. It intrigued her so much that as a child she thought her grandmother was a spy.
Separated by the Atlantic Ocean and approximately 7,500 kilometres, the two cities of Banská Bystrica in Slovakia and Charleston in West Virginia are not the first places that spring to mind when thinking of city cousins. But here we are.
Two years have passed since James Monroe Števko first spoke about his hopes of becoming a Slovak citizen. The response was unbelievable. People were, and still are, reaching out to him from every corner, both Americans asking for help or advice and Slovaks fascinated with his journey and wishing him luck.
A grassroots network of informal civic hubs known as “Slovak Cafés” is taking shape across Europe, driven by concern over recent political developments in Slovakia. Inspired by an earlier initiative in Prague, these self-organised communities have sprung up in cities including Brno, London, Paris, Kraków and Amsterdam.
After eight years and 150 games, Craig Ramsay departs as a national hero with an Olympic bronze and a lasting legacy. He taught Slovak ice hockey players to not be afraid of big teams.
Would you like to share your story with us? Did you enjoy the newsletter? I would love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: matus.beno@spectator.sk or spectator@spectator.sk.
