Rotary group from Czech and Slovak republics visit YDR
On May 6, five members of a Rotary District 7390 group study exchange from the Czech and Slovak republics visited the York Daily Record/York Sunday News and MediaOnePa. The team members, who are involved in journalism and public relations in their home countries, met with YDR staffers to learn about American journalism.
Here’s a brief Q & A:
Q: What is the purpose of your visit to York?
Jakub Charvat, Czech Republic, manager of a town newspaper: He said there were two main reasons for the visit: Vocational and cultural. Most of the group members are interested in the media. But they also wanted to learn more about American culture.
Lucia Drevicka, Slovak Republic, editor of a regional newspaper: She said the vocational experience was a motivating factor for her visit, but she was also interested in learning about American education.
Q: What is the most surprising thing you’ve learned during your visit?
Hana Fialova, Czech Republic, Rotarian, team leader: She said the group was surprised by the lack of fences between residential properties in many communities. “In our country we have a saying, good fences make good neighbors, and you stick to it.”
She also said the group was surprised by how many people fly the flag, which is unusual in the Czech Republic — perhaps a relic of the communist era when people were forced to fly the flag.
Erik Simonak, Slovak Republic, radio news reporter: “Open spaces!”
Q: What do you think of York?
Lucia Drevicka: “I like the countryside and the hills. It makes us feel at home.”
Q: What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned during your visit?
Lucia Drevicka: She said Americans’ emphasis on community volunteerism and involvement in service clubs such as Rotary was impressive and should be emulated in her home country.
Below is an audio recording of our discussion: