Review Hel Jaroslava, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Slovakia

Hel Jaroslava, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Slovakia

In general, the first week you think “how can I survive, how to study, they don’t like me here, I can go home right away and not embarrass myself,” but then you even start to get high from these thoughts and it becomes interesting what will happen next.

All these travels around the country, beauty, views, everything new, the desire to see everything, to go to other countries, to find a common language with people, to prove to yourself that you are strong and everything will work out for me – this is a bewitching goal for me.

Language: Slovak grammar is very easy to learn, but it is difficult to speak due to the lack of the necessary vocabulary, it is important to be more often in the society of Slovaks and talk to them.

Accommodation: we have a good dormitory, everything is there, all the facilities (compared to Ukrainian hostels, paradise). I live with a Kiev girl and a girl from Kazakhstan, therefore I do not learn the language with such success as the others, but at work it all comes up. The hostel is located near one of the university buildings.

Studying: after sleepless nights and spent nerves in Ukrainian college, at the university it was too unusual that you are not so loaded, a little homework and the lessons are much easier and more exciting. The teachers are good, understanding, they send everything by mail, they treat us better than I expected, they even know Russian and can tell us something or explain, our classmates are also good guys, but you feel lower than them because of their stories that they studied English abroad or lived there, where many have been, but I think we still have everything ahead. In principle, there are no problems with studying, except for the realization that it is generally not clear how the session will go and what awaits us. We have classes for one week from Tuesday to Friday, the second week from Monday to Friday, it only changes that you go one Monday, the second you don’t, the schedule is the same, it’s not hard.

The subjects are all familiar to me, I studied half at the university in Frankivsk, so, for the most part, I study languages, they teach in English, but more often they switch to Slovak, but Slovak is even easier for me, which I won’t say about English, I am far from their level.

Prices: almost the same, something is cheaper, something is more expensive.

As for the attitude of Slovaks towards Ukrainians, I can say that it is divided into two types: either they ignore your presence, or they are very kind to you while communicating. I did not notice any dislike for the Ukrainians, almost everyone reacted to us in a friendly manner.

Job: I started looking for work as soon as I arrived, I have been working for a month, maybe more in Bratislava. I wash the dishes for 3.50 euro/hour, working shift 8.30 hours, I clean in restaurants and hostels, they pay more at night – 3.80 or 4, depending on the place.

I think that when I will know the language well, I will try to find a job in my specialty because there are many vacancies, yet there is no point in finding a job because I don’t know the language.