Final Words and Thoughts

Months have passed since the 2014 GSE Team from District 6980 bought some very special shoes in Zlín. Today, the team - and their footwear - are back in Central Florida. While this year's Group Study Exchange Trip is over, the memories of that incredible journey live on.

Given that the final days of the trip were the most whirliest of whirlwinds, the team was unable to write about the rest of their experience.  Upon their return to the USA, the team presented their GSE experience to a number of Rotary Clubs throughout Central Florida. Yet, the task to put it in writing was harder to manage.

At last - and after only a few from me - Team Leader "Mamma Geri” has penned the final stages of the 2014 GSE Team’s journey in Czech Republic and Slovakia. Read on to take in her poignant reflections on this remarkable experience.

ZLIN (continued)

Each host family and Rotarian seemed to focus on offering us something special every minute of our five-day stay in Zlín.  We sampled delicious food and delightful beverages.  We watch local artists and craftsmen at work.   We toured museums, a tire manufacturing and a semiconductor plant, and the Tomáš Baťa Foundation and University.  We attended the grand opening of the 54th International Film Festival for Children and Youth and rode in multi-million dollar antique cars.  And just when we thought we had seen it all, we enjoyed a breathtaking display of art and religious artifacts in the gorgeous basilica at the Velehrad Monastery.

OSTRAVA

Our senses filled, we poured ourselves and an ever-growing number of suitcases into two European cars and headed to Ostrava, an industrial city in the northeast part of the Czech Republic, about 15 miles from the Polish border.  En route, we stopped at the small city of Příbor to tour the birthplace of Sigmund Freud and to rest on his famous couch.  

Our time in Ostrava was a little harder for us as we knew this stop would be our last and therefore, the GSE experience would come to an end.  We made the most of our final four days, however, exploring the city from many different angles and heights.  We traveled to the depth of the once-active Alexander coal mine and to the height of the once mighty Vítkovice Mining complex.  High above the city at the top of the new Town Hall Tower, we looked for miles in all directions, spying Poland in the far distance.  

Very late on our last day in Ostrava – after touring the Radegast Brewery, hiking up Mount Radhošť to see the Albin Polasek statue of Radegast (old god of Slavic mythology, pictured below), speaking to a Rotary Club, and touring an antique car museum, we packed and repacked our suitcases, bid our hosts a teary farewell, and boarded a train for Prague, arriving at 4 a.m.  

We had no idea how we would get the five of us and 18 pieces of luggage from the train station across town to the airport.  But once again - Rotarians to the rescue.  District 2240’s GSE coordinator, George, and host mom Jana met us as the train pulled in,  helped us drag our luggage off of the train quickly, and carted us to the airport, waiting with us until it was time to board our plane.  Former District Governor, Martin Timr, had driven the 100 miles from his home in České Budějovice (our first stop) to say good-bye as well.  We were truly touched.

REFLECTIONS ON OUR GSE EXPERIENCE

I have had a very difficult time finishing our blog, in part I believe, because I do not want to bring closure to 28 of the most incredulous days of my life.  I have hundreds of thoughts and impressions as the team leader, as a Rotarian, and as an American, and a summary seems so shallow and practically impossible. However, I would like to offer three reflections that will stay with us always:

The generosity of all those who welcomed, hosted, chauffeured, arranged for, and totally embraced five “unknowns” from Central Florida overwhelmed us.  We were treated with the utmost of graciousness, kindness, cheerfulness, and selflessness, greater than any we had ever witnessed.  For that we are eternally grateful and humble.

The appreciation of freedom that began in 1989 after the Velvet Revolution, which ended 41 years of Soviet rule, opened our eyes and hearts. We listened to tragic stories of oppression, fear, and suppression.  Joyfully (and tearfully) we heard amazing descriptions of what it was like for the Czechs and Slovaks to travel across neighboring borders without fear of death or imprisonment, to listen to a free media without looking over one’s shoulder, and to speak opening and honestly about retribution.  It was good for us to be reminded about freedom and life-long liberties that seem so common to us.

Our experience truly confirmed the very basic fact that most people around the world seek basically the same thing:  good health, the love of family, decent shelter, enough to eat, the opportunity to learn and earn, a chance to laugh, friendships – and peace.  This fact is at the heart of GSE and of Rotary.  International understanding and friendship will only strengthen the human spirit and resolve and hopefully impact  - for the better – the future of this world.

On behalf of one of the best GSE teams ever, I want to thank District 6980 for believing in us and for supporting us.  From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank District 2240 for embracing us.  

We are grateful – and changed forever.

Geri Evans, APR, Fellow PRSA
Team Leader
Rotarian – The Rotary Club of Orange County East Winter Park

The City Baťa Built

Our departure from Slovakia was bittersweet: bitter because we were sad to leave the beauty of the people and the places we visited, and sweet because we already knew the Czech people would embrace us with open arms.

After stopping for lunch in Zilina, Slovakia, we continued on to another “Z”:
Zlín, Czech Republic.

This unique city provided fascinating places for us to visit and explore.

Located in southeastern Moravia, Zlín is a busy city of about 100,000 people and was established in the early 1300s. Yet, for all the history, the city is famed for one of its more “recent” inhabitants: Tomáš Baťa.


Baťa opened a shoe factory in 1894, and the history of Zlín – as well as fashion-forward footwear – were forever changed. The city grew rapidly under the ingenuity, hard work, and visionary thinking of Tomáš Baťa, as he worked toward creating of the world's largest shoe empire by the mid-20th century.

Beginning with the Tomáš Baťa Villa, which now houses the Bata Foundation and the headquarters of Czech Junior Achievement, we were amazed at the genius of a man who had just 3 years of formal education. Employee benefits included low cost housing, healthcare, maternity leave, schooling for their children, recreation centers, gardens and green space, and profit-sharing. To make this happen, Tomáš Baťa built the institutions needed for these benefits and thus Zlín is "the city Baťa built."

Of course, there is much much more to say about our time in Zlín, but for now we’ll just stick with this pair of shoes for this part of the story. We may have bought a pair or two...

Paradise Found in Spišská Nová Ves

REFLECTIONS FROM GERI:

As we leave eastern Slovakia, we are struck with the beauty of the area, the generosity of the Rotarians, and the special memories and mementoes we have from our four days and five nights in Spišská Nová Ves (SNV), a city of 40,000 residents who love their country, religion, families, music, good food, nice vino and delicious pivo. This is where the snow-capped Tatra Mountains hold court over the horizon and the Slovenský raj National Park hides hiking trails that follow rushing streams to magnificent waterfalls. This is where few American tourists come, and it’s where we experienced history five times the age of our own country.

Our first day's schedule listed, "A meeting with the mayor." Little did we know that the tall doors of historic Town Hall would swing open on our behalf and that we would be escorted one by one down the red-carpeted center aisle to our seats of honor in the front, as a pianist gave a gorgeous rendition of “Let It Be.” The royal treatment continued with a private serenade of Slovakian songs, a beautiful version of "Memories," a speech by the mayor, and the opportunity to sign the city’s enormous guest book. A tour of the seven clock bell tower after the formal welcome had us walking up 155 narrow steps, which is not easy in a pencil skirt and nylons! Lunch in the lower level of the courthouse reminded us of the value of freedom, as the place where we sat had been a prison during the Communist occupation. Finally, our visits to the theatre and national television studios were a fascinating end to a spectacular day.

Our adventure here in SNV continued with opportunities to be part of so many different things. From castles to churches, from traditional food and dance, to sharing our story with students in a bi-lingual college prep school – we were exposed to so much, and we loved it all! We have danced and laughed and learned and hugged. The small but mighty Rotary Club in Spišská Nová Ves is an amazing group of generous people who have enriched our lives.

Once again, it is tough to say goodbye.

[Ed. Note: While Geri enjoyed some well-deserved R&R in SNV one day, the 'fab four' - Alanna, Shannon, Ed, and Justin - set off to explore the forested wonders of Slovenský raj, which literally translates to Slovak Paradise. I have a feeling that being out in the woods really gave them much joy and soul-restoration. My hunch is founded upon the fact that they were so delighted by the natural world they found themselves in that they called me before it was even 6am my time to share their joy with my sleepy self. And with views like the one on the right, I don't blame them! Truly, they must have found a piece of paradise in Slovakia.]

Sunshine in Slovakia

The day after the District Conference Gala in Prague (5/18), we packed up our bags to move on to the next phase of our journey - traveling through Slovakia. Leaving the Czech Republic behind and crossing the border into its sister country was uneventful, but little did we know how much Slovakia would capture our hearts. 

Slovakia is simply beautiful. Gorgeous countryside, generous people, delicious wine/beer/food and fantastic weather!

As soon as our team crossed the border into Slovakia, we had sunshine for the first time in days. You can imagine how happy each of us felt to see and feel the sun again… after all, we are Floridians! :)

For a few days, Nitra became our new home. Nitra is one of the oldest towns in Slovakia and the country’s agricultural capital. Upon our arrival, we were greeted very warmly by Sandy, the incoming President of Rotary Club Nitra-Harmony. Our first night kicked-off with some entertainment by Rotarian Mario and his very talented a cappella group, followed by fun times at the local Irish pub – the only one in town.

Every day was packed with enlightening vocational experiences, traditional Slovak meals, much pivo and vino consumption, and even more laughter. We had great team time as we ate breakfast together each morning at MediaHaus, a multipurpose facility that is managed by a local Rotarian. Our vocational time was well spent and very informative; we had many conversations with government officials, attorneys, law professors, and notaries in both Nitra and Bratislava. Additionally, we toured Minitube, a biotech production facility that manufactures plastic products used for artificial insemination of domesticated animals (yes, many jokes were cracked), because a local Rotarian works there as the Director of Sales for Central Europe.

We thoroughly enjoyed presenting to both clubs (Nitra and Nitra-Harmony) and meeting their members - very friendly, personable, hard-working people who were excited to host us and learn about our backgrounds and GSE journey thus far.

Nitra is less than one hour away from the Slovak capital of Bratislava. On Tuesday, May 20, we spent the day enjoying the sights in Slovakia's capital city with some members from District 2240.

Our last full day is one I (Alanna) will always remember fondly. Sandy took us to the tiny township of Oponice where we visited the Château Appony, which holds a magnificent collection of old texts in their beautiful library. The collection was started in 1774 by Count Apponyi and today holds over 17,000 books with over 400 original 1st editions.  We learned a lot about the various events and resulting devastation that occurred in the region over the course of history. Our team was deeply touched and moved after hearing the personal story of our guide who has dedicated his life to the reconstruction and restoration of this truly amazing literary collection.

The later part of the day concluded with a lovely serene experience at Topoľčianky Park. That night, we ate a delicious Italian meal of spaghetti prepared by Sandy’s husband at their lovely home with picturesque views of town. We drank plenty of vino, took pictures, shared laughter and made wonderful memories. It was an amazing night with new friends that we will cherish forever. Shakespeare’s words couldn't be truer about our time in Nitra: Parting is such sweet sorrow.

For a great website that offers a beautiful overview of Slovakia, go to http://slovakia.travel/

You can more about the city of Nitra and the surrounding areas on the city's webpage: http://www.nitra.eu/.  

[Ed. Note: This post is a joint effort by Alanna, Hailey, and Justin.]

Prague

Prague is a sprawling city with such an intriguing and varied history of events you would think were scripted for a television mini-series. Although the weather was a little cool and overcast during our visit, we did not let that squash our enjoyment of the capital of the Czech Republic. 

Our first full day in Prague was one of our "vocational" days, where the team split up to have more individualized experiences directed toward our professions or interests. As an accountant, I had the opportunity to meet with the head audit partner of a large international accounting firm. I found it interesting to compare and contrast my experiences as a CPA in Orlando to that of one in the Czech Republic (and in case you were wondering, there are more similarities than differences).

After my morning meeting, I met a distinguished Rotarian from one of the Prague Rotary clubs for lunch. For over an hour, I sat glued to my chair, captivated by the incredible modern history of the country told through personal stories of this deep-thinking gentlemen. WWII, a communist regime, a bloodless revolution, a division of two countries, and the continued progression of a modern nation. I was riveted by the highs and lows (and some very low lows) of the country's recent past. Before we had arrived in the country, our GSE team had done some research about Czech history, but hearing it first hand from one who lived and struggled through those events is quite another experience - both moving and powerful. In only the first week of being in this country, I find myself more appreciative of the many freedoms I can so easily take for granted at home in the United States. (I have a feeling this will be a common theme throughout our experience, for both myself and the other members of the team.)

The rest of the afternoon was free for exploring and absorbing the city. The team regathered with our Rotarian hosts for dinner downtown and then headed to the Municipal Theatre for a Prague Spring Music Festival concert in the famed Smetana Hall known for its art nouveau design and architecture. From fantastic balcony seats, we listened to works by Janáček and Dvorák and were awed by a world-premier piece specifically commissioned for the music festival and composed by a living Czech composer, Adam Skoumal, whose piece featured an incredible virtuoso violin performance!

The next morning, we met a friendly English-speaking guide "under the tail" in Wenceslas Square and spent the majority of the day on a guided tour of the city's staple attractions: Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, and the Astronomical Clock. The evening marked the beginning of the annual Rotary District Conference, so we made our way via tram outside of the city to a monastery which houses a rustic (and rowdy) pub/restaurant known for its locally brewed beer. Here we toasted "Na zdraví!" with Rotarians from all over the District, made friends while practicing our Czech and Slovak phrases, and met future hosts for later stages of our trip.

Saturday, May 17th was the big day of the District Conference and when we gave our presentation to the District. After our part, we watched the artistic and moving documentary of the District 2240 GSE team's experiences and reflections from their month in a Central Florida last October. It is really well done and you can view it here: http://vimeo.com/95851825#at=0. Finally, we celebrated in the evening with a fun-filled Gala, and I sure am glad I brought a suit to match the special occasion!

The following morning, our team loaded up in two cars of Rotarians from Nitra, and we began the 4-hour journey to Slovakia for the next stop on our two-country tour!

-Justin

The Municipal Theatre

Smetana Hall

The famed John Lennon wall where Czech youth and communist party members engaged in a back-and-forth graffiti war following Lennon's assassination in 1980 -- another example of the nation's struggle for freedom

Prague is centrally located in the Czech Republic (which is roughly the size of South Carolina), a 3.5 hour drive anywhere in the country

Discovering The Wild West in Central Europe

As one can imagine, the last two days have continued on pace with the first three. Tuesday was our second day in České Krumlov, and it was just as enchanting as the first. We enjoyed a private tour of the castle and its incredible Baroque Theatre, lunch at the local Eggenberg Brewery, a meeting with the mayor of České Krumlov, and a short interview with a reporter from a local weekly publication. In the evening, we had our first official gathering with the local Rotary clubs and shared our presentation about District 6980 and our professions.

On Wednesday morning, we headed south to Vyšší Brod, which is located 5km from the Austrian border in the Šumava mountains. There we toured the historic Cistercian monastery, an impressive Gothic compound which houses a 70,000-volume library dating back to 13th century. After having lunch in Vyšší Brod, we headed back to České Krumlov to collect our belongings and head directly to Prague to spend the evening with our new host families.

Over the course of these adventures, we have spent much time with the local Rotarians as they have  chauffeured us from the different towns and places-of-interest. In addition to the breathtaking countryside, one unexpected highlight has been the music we've heard while traveling in our hosts' cars. Although I am not a regular purveyor of classical music, there is something that just seems right about driving through the green and yellow Bohemian countryside listening to Antonin Dvořák and Bedřich Smetana, two of the country's most renowned composers, who happened to be a favorite of Alanna's host father in České  Budějovice.
Classical music is an esteemed art form in the Czech Republic, and it is still very much a popular genre. Yet, it's certainly not the only genre we've been exposed to...

I was caught by surprise when my  host father cranked up the soundtrack from the 1960s German-made Western movie based on German author Karl May's adventures of Old Shatterhand and Winnetou. Who would have thought that we would be transported to the American Wild West while traversing through Southern Bohemia!?!? It was certainly an unexpected experience. Yet, for this cowboy at heart, it was quite an enjoyable one!

-Justin

The Vyšší Brod Monastery

We have experienced the flavor of the Czech's South!

A Good Kind of Whirlwind

Kolotoč zážitků.  

That's what the first 72 hours since arriving in the Czech Republic have been: a whirlwind. As soon as we landed in Prague on Saturday, we were graciously greeted by a group of Rotarians and family waving the American and Czech flags, who then piled our luggage into two cars, and immediately chauffeured us 150km to the town of České Budějovice, the capital of Southen Bohemia. Upon arrival, we were escorted to our homestay families for dinner and then had time to rest and deal with any side effects of jet lag. However, when arriving in a new country one feels energized and our team, invited by one of our hosts, decided that instead of resting, we should go to our first Czech pub to have a cultural experience! Why not?

The second day involved a trip to the historic Bohemian town of Hluboká nad Vltavou, where we toured the grandiose Hluboká Chateau (one of many castles previously owned by the famous Scwarzenberg family), visited the hilltop Townshend International School, an innovative international boarding school named after George Townshend, an Irish writer and philosopher, which overlooks Hluboká and the beautiful surrounding valley, and then returned to České Budějovice for a private tour of the Budvar Brewery, the maker of the original Budweiser beer from the Brew Master himself (a local Rotarian). We then rendezvoused with other members of the České Budějovice Rotary club for a traditional Czech dinner of goulash, seasoned pork, and dumplings in a historic local pub, which served a special, unfiltered version of the Czech Budweiser lager!

Day three began with a private tour of the regional headquarters and radio station for the national Czech Radio (think NPR) and then a scenic drive 25km to the UNESCO World Heritage town of České Krumlov, a picturesque town interwoven with the curving Vlatava River carefully guarded by the second largest castle in the country. After lunch in a quaint pub (see a pattern?), we enjoyed private tours of the city, the expansive castle garden, and the photo atelier of Josef Siedel, a famous Czech photographer from the early twentieth century. The day concluded with a lively dinner with Rotarians from České Krumlov at a rustic pub known for cooking its meats over an open fire in the middle of pub for all to enjoy!

It's been a good kind of whirlwind.

Incredible people. Incredible country. More to come. 

-Justin

České Krumlov 

Budvar Brewery

Meet The Team of 2014

Ahoj friends of Rotary and welcome to the GSE blog!

Jmenuji se Hailey Domeck, and I'm the Alternate member of this year’s Group Study Exchange (GSE) Team from Rotary District 6980. I will be serving the GSE Team from Central Florida as an Editor in Chief of our blog.

While the Fab Five are packing 50 lbs. of their belongings and gifts to take overseas, wrapping up their duties at their respective places of employment, and saying fond farewells to family and friends, I'd like to give our readership a brief introduction to this stellar group of people.

Meet Geri Evans - Team Leader and Rotarian

A natural mother figure and experienced professional, Geri is a woman with a kind-hearted countenance that shows her deep compassion for all she encounters. She is the wife of 43 years to Lee (a retired Air Force officer), the mother of two sons, and grandmother of four. Her professional career is as varied as the number of places she’s lived over the years – 9 states to be precise! – ranging from university professor to the CEO of her own company, Evans PR Group. Geri has been a Rotarian for 12 years now and was a former club President. The GSE Team is beyond blessed to have such a caring, well-rounded trip leader, and we are thankful for her leadership!

Meet Shannon Berube

Before stepping foot in Europe, Shannon has already proven to be an valuable team member. Over the past few months, Shannon has used her creative and professional skills to produce all of the GSE Team’s printed and digital materials. Her diligence and service to the team speaks loud and clear that this Florida girl – born and raised – is dedicated to getting the job done. Shannon works in Information Technology and has experience in the marketing and restaurant industries. However, this gal is not all work and no play. Shannon loves concerts, vintage car shows, and even skydiving. She has a passion for photography, and she’ll offer us snapshots of the many adventures that await the team.

Meet Alanna Buono

How can so much sunshine and warmth come from someone so tiny? Maybe it’s the Italian blood in her or her Floridian charm. One smile from Alanna will bring light to your darkest day; her laughter will beat the blues away. Yet, don’t let Alanna’s bubbly personality and little frame fool you – she’s not afraid of taking on a challenge (that’s definitely the Italian part). Alanna is an avid runner, hiker and traveler, and her exposure to the world’s diversity have only aided in her work as a Recruiting Consultant. I bet the Rotary members of District 2240 will love her so much that they will try to recruit Alanna to stay!

Meet Justin Domeck

I could say a lot about Justin, because I’ve known him the longest. In fact, I’m married to him! But here are my unbiased facts about him: Justin has called the Sunshine State home for over 20 years. He’s studied and lived in Chile and Turkey, and his passion to know other cultures and their languages set him apart from most CPAs (Certified Public Accountants). Justin loves playing sand volleyball almost as much as he loves me, and he’s a great son, brother, husband and friend. He will be missed by many – me most of all – but I have no doubt that he will be embraced by new friends before long.

Meet Ed Fore

Another Florida native, Ed is the team’s legal professional, having graduated Cum Laude from law school in 2013. Practicing real estate law may be what Ed does now, but let me tell you what he is – Southern. The suit and tie exterior is exactly contrary to the outfit required for his greatest hobby: alligator hunting. Yep, Ed actually goes out in a boat in the dark of night and wrestles gators into his boat. I’m not kidding you. Our GSE Team has a Certified Gator Hunter. I’m sure he will roll his eyes while reading this, because I harp on it so much. But seriously, Ed, gator hunting is much more interesting than your latest racquetball score.

Side Note: Our first GSE team meeting was March 5. So, we’ve only had two months to begin the process of getting to know one another. Taking an intense trip to Europe will certainly solidify the bonds of friendship that are wrapping around our collective heart. I expect each team member’s personality to shine through as they recount their experience for all of us back on the home front.

Special Thanks: We are all grateful to the sponsoring Rotary Clubs of District 6980 for this incredible professional and personal opportunity of a lifetime. We are indebted to you and your generosity.

Hodně štěstí!  Wishing you all the best from Central Florida,
Hailey
Editor in Chief