Category: family life

tatra banka

I just have to comment on the banking system here in Bratislava.

We had to open an account with a local bank here, that bank would be Tatra  Banka. It is a fairly large national bank and they have branches located here the way they have StarBucks in Seattle, they are EVERYWHERE!

First, it took us 3 hours to open an account, yes 3!  To say that this bank takes security seriously is a gross understatement. I signed my signature two different ways and they actually noticed and almost didn’t approve a transfer of funds to my landlord.

Next, we opened our account in branch A, located pretty far from home. So we had them send the credit card to another location, B, closer to home. When I was told to go to branch B to pick up the card, I went to branch C, because I didn’t realize that there were 3 (3!), branches within blocks of one another. So I went to branch C, was told to go to branch B, but saw branch D first, was then told to go to branch B. Didn’t see the door to branch B since it was hidden (I swear it was like a secret passageway, no sign or anything) and went back to D. I saw that D was closed. Went to branch E the next day with the landlord, but they said my signature card wasn’t on file yet so I still couldn’t move funds. The next day, landlord and I went back to branch D (since I thought this was where to go), but then realized it wasn’t a branch but just some office of the bank. Went back to branch B, my landlord found the secret door, but we went upstairs to floor 1 (since ground floor is 0), and then rang some random, unmarked doorbell to where the personal banker was that had my credit card. We were now in Hogwarts. Who knew!?

So this banker gives me my credit card. I need this card to use internet banking. Mind you, you can’t just log in to use their internet banking, you have to actually apply, with a separate application, to use their internet banking feature. This new card I am given is the first step in accessing my Tatra Banka account. First, I log on using a 7-digit user name and then enter a 16-alphanumeric code for my password. Then I insert the new credit card into this little calculator thingy they gave me when I opened the account. This piece of hardware and credit card give a new code that you then have to enter. Only I couldn’t get this far because I keep getting an error on the calculator thingy. But I still have about 5 other passwords and PINS and authentication codes to enter before I can actually get to my account online.

Are you people serious?!

SK update

Some days are great, when all it takes is figuring out a new bus route to feel elated about living here. Some days are really hard, when all it takes is very soggy shoes to condemn all that is Slovak. Then there are other circumstances beyond my control that whittle their way in to it all. I also very much underestimated the spirit of having Sammie around. When the reality hit that we can’t bring her over, I’ve been really sad ever since. I feel like a terrible owner and the house just isn’t the same without her silent presence in the corner. Also difficult, is the loss of Fede.   Every night before I go to bed, I watch Skye sleep and for some reason this brings it all back and I immediately picture our dark living room in SLC once again. I don’t know if I can ever live there again.

Overall though, it is getting better, the more acquainted we become with the city. The cold, snowy weather dampens the explorer inclinations. Without Skye we could probably do a little more, but we’ll get around to it eventually. The weekdays are spent trying to settle in to a routine with work chaos for us both and being home-bound with the weather. I always loved the snow and the freshness it brought with it, but that was before I had to walk in it everyday. I can tell Skye is also eager to be out and about, so it won’t be long now before we are able to venture to the Old City (Stare Mesto) for just a few hours to get away. I really want to see the inside of some of these ancient, impressive cathedrals and castles. I mean, there aren’t any of these anywhere in the states. None. But here they populate the landscape everywhere. I love it!  They have these deep, heavy roots that loom all around and it is impossible to ignore their existence. Even when they will start to become part of the background scenery, which they will, they will always serve as a reminder of the past with just a passing eye.

On another note, here is one of our many, many, many, many, many, many moments waiting for the bus. Sorry for the poor quality, it was taken with my phone.

google earth fun

For those that have Google Earth, here are some coordinates to play around with. For those that don’t have it, but want the free software get it here.

Svetla 12 – Home
48° 9′ 3.80″ N
17° 5′ 4.48″ E

Work – GG office (my office)
48° 10′ 7.39″ N
17° 4′ 11.32″ E

EGL (Cameron + students)
48° 10′ 4.93″ N
17° 4′ 23.88″ E

St. Martin’s Cathedral (in previous post, pics)
48° 8′ 31.08″ N
17° 6′ 16.41″ E

Tesco (think Wal-Mart)
48° 10′ 37.19″ N
17° 3′ 53.53″ E

To give you an idea of scale, to take the bus from Home to Tesco, is about a 5-10 minute bus ride, or similarly, taking the U campus shuttle to research park.

You can also take those Lat/Longs, run them through the converter here, and use the decimal degree (D.dd) values in Google Maps.

downtown bratislava

Another picturesque street scene

Saturday Cameron took us to downtown Bratislava, in the pedestrian only zone, and then we went to the mall, Aupark, across the Danube. It was a chilly but sunny day, but it was so nice to get out and about finally. I read a few historical things about Slovakia before the move, but it is entirely different to then come here and actually see thousand year old churches and structures;  to be where another countries history took place, such as WWII or the Russian occupation, where it actually happened; to walk down these cobble streets, it makes you wonder who else has walked this path and under what conditions. It is very impressive and it made me feel more a part of our world and long history. I felt unimportant and small, humbled even, but very grateful to experience a tiny piece of another rich history, which really is my history too, since we all reside on one planet.

(more pictures after the break)  Continue reading “downtown bratislava”

slovakia

so now that we’ve been here for a week, I guess we can tell you a bit about what it’s like here and what’s different from home…

we’ll start with the drivers. the drivers here are CRAZY, it’s like nobody looks out for anybody or anything when they get behind the wheel of a car, or anywhere with a lot of people for that matter, we were in the mall today, and were standing in front of the elevator with a stroller, and people would just walk in front of us to get on the elevator until it was so full that we had to wait for the next one. the drivers are the same way, I’ve seen three almost accidents already from people being stupid and not looking when backing up, or pulling into traffic, or turning, or whatever…   people are just very aggressive when it comes to getting where they are going.

Continue reading “slovakia”

stress

i don’t think it’s possible to overestimate the amount of stress that moving to the other side of the planet can cause. to start off with, we weren’t ready to move. we hadn’t packed all of our stuff in time to move. luckily our friends and family helped us out tremendously there. we had WAY too many bags to be traveling on a plane with, both checked and carry on. when we finally got to our final destination of Vienna after two slightly horrible flights, and a lay over that totally drained me, we had to pack all of our stuff into a single car, and Chels sat on my lap for the hour drive to our apartment.

Continue reading “stress”

so we made it… barely.

fscn2009
(this is just our carry on stuff, and I’m carting some too!)

We were still moving and cleaning the house on the morning we were supposed to leave. In this haste, I thought I packed stuff I needed only to find out once I got here that I didn’t. Benjam and Co. were still making trips to the storage about 2 hours before we needed to leave to the airport and at the end, anything was being tossed into any box just to get rid of it. We never would have made it out without the help of our families and friends over the last few weeks, and are forever in gratitude.

Continue reading “so we made it…  barely.”

El Fede

Amber stayed over the night she got the call. She had been getting reports all day about what was going on with Fede and the accident. The chilling, high-pitched cry that woke me up will haunt me for years to come, I have no doubt. The room was barely lit and when I heard her crying his name, it felt like I could see the mountain top through the darkness. The room was cold and empty and his lingering presence in this world was fading. The room felt extremely heavy and time stopped.   Ever since that night, I have been afraid of the dark and her shriek that lies within.

I am saddened that the world will go on without him and the fact that he will no longer be a part of our lives. But the biggest tragedy is watching and feeling Amber go through her loss. What she must be feeling without her other half,  her best friend. What lost future she is mourning. Every little detail of her daily life that will remind her of him and bring the ache flooding back. Wondering how she will survive without him.

It is all so horribly sad and tragic.

thanksgiving-08-064

Fede touched many people’s lives, and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Federico Campanini

March 26th, 1977 — January 8th, 2009

thanksgiving ’08

Usually most holidays are all the same, a good time, but nothing to write about. For some reason this year’s Thanksgiving was really nice. At my family’s holiday parties, it seems like someone is usually in a rotten mood and it will spoil the whole day. This year, everyone was in a great mood, no one was in a rush to run off and my mom was a little ambitious planning something extra that, while we all waited for her, we just hung out and enjoyed each others company with no gang-up-on-someone-and-make-fun-of-them sessions. For whatever reason we hadn’t celebrated Nate, Jami and Benjam’s birthdays this year. So my mom decorated each of the basement bedrooms in a party theme unique for each person, with gifts, decorations and desserts to boot. Instead of everyone poking fun at mom, we all just went with it, sarcasm and all, and had a really fun time.

(Pics after the break)

Continue reading “thanksgiving ’08”