Introduction

Slovakia is a Central European country approximately the size of West Virginia. It is the geographic center of Europe, specifically at Krahule hill, near Kremnica. The following countries border Slovakia: Austria to the southwest, Hungary to the south, the Ukraine to the east, Poland to the north, and the Czech Republic to the west. The Danube River runs along the southern border of the country, and the Beskids and High Tatras mountain chains run along the northern border. Slovakia has everything a tourist/citizen would desire, from city life to country life! Hiking, mountian climbing, opera, ballet, spas/thermal baths, spelunking, museums! Slovakia has a rich history, surviving invasions by the Huns, the Ottomans, the Nazis, and the Communists. Czechoslovakia gained its independence in 1989 through the Velvet Revolution, which

is significant because the communist regime was overthrown and a democratic government was introduced with no blood being shed. Slovakia finally gained its independence, and Czechoslovakia was divided into the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic in the Velvet Divorce of 1992. Indonesia should take heed of this lesson! An excellent site that reviews the history (and anything else you need to know about Slovakia!) is www.slovakia.org.

It is a beautiful country and I am thrilled to be here. Every day is an adventure, and through this on-line journal, I will write about life in Slovakia, my travels thought Europe (and anyplace else I might fancy!) and will relate stories told by my colleagues about life before "The Velvet Revolution." It is truly fascinating to speak with people who lived under a government we have only read about. Every day I feel as though I am walking through a history book--truly an amazing experience, and one that makes me appreciate all the histories that make us who we are, as America is the "melting pot," "quilt," "pizza," or "tossed salad," and each of us has a rich history dating from before America (as we know it) even existed! People ask me why I chose Slovakia for the Fulbright grant. My father's family is from what has been at one time or another Poland, the Ukraine, and Russia (during any given year, the borders might have changed!). I was interested in coming to this part of the world (I chose Romania, Slovakia, or Hungary) to perhaps do some geneological research. So, if anyone is reading this an knows anything about the name "Werpachowski," please e-mail me!!!

and so the journal (and journey!) begins . . .

Odysseus Leaves Troy (or, Dorothy in the Tornado!)

12 August 1999
Mary Beth and I met my mother and Judy for lunch in Savannah. My mother wanted to see me before I left, but it was best that she didn't go to the airport with me; otherwise I might never have gotten on the plane--leaving the going away party my parents had for me a few days before in Florida, with my relatives in attendance, was difficult enough! One is supposed to check two suitcases and have a maximum of two carry on bags, but I tried to smuggle a third carry on, a small canvas bag of books. Mary Beth waited with me to make sure that I got on the plane with all my carry ons, otherwise she would have to mail all those books to me! I tried to be suave and hide it under my coat, but I think they just let me slide by . . .

ARRIVAL

I will update this page approximately every two weeks. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please e-mail me at: jmw_hhhs@yahoo.com