The positives of euro observed and experienced during the first two months with euro as an official currency in Slovakia:
Socialising and making friends with foreigners. The first inhabitant of Brussels whom I talked to (a nice good-looking young man with slightly curly fair hair, hazel eyes, electrifying smile, and captivating voice… oh…) was a subway-ticket seller. I paid with a coin and as soon as he spotted “Slovensko” (Slovak expression for “Slovakia”) on it, he smiled at me and said: “Well, Slovakia? I like Slovaks. Wait a second…” And, to my great surprise, he told me “good evening” in Slovak language.
Socialising and making friends with Slovaks. All the elderly customers asking you for help with paying in shops, shop-assistants telling you about their experiences with customers; people waiting at the dentist’s/at bus station/in queues, eager to chatter about anything but the weather…
Improving mathematical skills. Our conversion rate (1 € = 30,1260 Sk) has led us to become unbeatable by other nations in multiplying and dividing by 0.3, 3, 30…
Realising the value of money. Before, our most valuable coin had a value of 1/3 of euro and the least valuable one less than 0.02 euro—therefore many people considered coins to be unimportant and worthless, left change in the shops ad restaurants, and did not bother to look for a coin which had fallen on the ground. Now, our most valuable coin is six times more valuable—and people are suddenly very careful about how much to leave as a tip or what is that shiny metal thing lying in the snow…
Enriching vocabulary. It didn’t cost him a crown; he robbed me of the last crown; he didn’t have a single crown; when one is poor, every crown is good… We haven’t stopped using these and many other idioms. Moreover, now we use all of them with “euro” and “cent” as well…
Improving physical condition. Our purses and wallets have suddenly, due to all the coins being banknotes before, become much bigger and much heavier, and carrying them have become a real physical exercise. A physical exercise resulting in stronger muscles, healthier heart, obesity prevention, endorphins production, and we are all healthier, better-looking and happier…
Getting to know other cultures. It is not rare to receive foreign euro coins as a change. As soon as we find time to have a closer look at them, we can see all the symbols or famous places/buildings/persons of other nations… We can think about them, try to find out more about them, feel inspired to see them live…
These are just a few of all the pros; however, they are enough for you to understand a smile on common Slovak’s face—his/her life is now (almost) perfect…
(20 votes, average: 3.90 out of 5)
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:D. Amusing. Could you notice some fear among people before introducing Euro (higher prices, or so…)?
I’m sure this is something that every foreigner asks, but isn’t it really confusing that the word for “Slovak” is naturally read as “Slovenian”?
It definitely is. I have loads of fun with my Slovak friends who say that I’m Slovinka and I claim that I’m Slovenka (Slovak for them, Slovenian for me…). So, how to blame people for this confusion :)))), ajajaj
Radovana: it is stg like that, right :)?
Of course there was fear about euro - getting used to it, complications, higher prices… However, from my point of view, the change was smooth and without any bigger problems. As for prices, a lot of chains chose a (temporary) marketing strategy of prices even lower than before.
Tanja: yes, for us, you are “Slovinka” and I am “Slovenka”. Your language, “slovenski jezik/slovenščina” is “slovinský jazyk/slovinčina” in Slovak and ours is “slovenský jazyk/slovenčina”. Might be confusing for foreigners but I find this wonderful.
I also find it wonderful. And even better, when I visited Slovakia I communicated with no problems-thanks to Serbian/Croatian :D.
Your blog is very interresting for me, i will come back here..
Buy acai berry: Glad to hear I have made you interested, and of course I recommend coming back here. The more regular readers, the better.
Cool nickname, by the way…
I go along with you actually, I believe! Could that possibly be feasible to be able to have your site translated into Chinese? English is actually my 2nd language.