Born in Czechoslovakia, raised and living in the Czech Republic - that's how history goes...
I've devoted much of my life to languages. English has become my bread and butter and I keep struggling with German, Dutch and French. And I mustn't forget Slovak. And Russian. Much has been forgotten but I can at least read the Cyrillic. I can also write my name in Japanese but I wouldn't bet my life that I always get it right. And Roma, my latest eccentricity. I can count to ten, say a few survival phrases but it makes me feel like a king. Well, a queen. Not bad.
No matter how ironic it may sound, foreign languages have taught me to appreciate the beauty of my mother tongue. Czech IS difficult, you know? I've also learnt to respect and admire those who are real masters of written or spoken word. That's why my heart fell for the beat generation, Jim Morrison, Patti Smith, Karel Capek, Salman Rushdie, Sylvia Plath. And many, many others who have opened up whole new worlds for me.
THANK YOU ALL!
