V srdce, ja mam staru turu

It was a bit like coming home to my second family. At the end of my stay in Austria, I was able to squeeze in an overnighter in the village where I did my Peace Corps service nearly 8 years ago. Stara Tura is a small town situated in the Carpathians in the western part of Slovakia, and there live some people that remain incredibly precious and loved by me.


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My trip was not premeditated or well-planned, but I arrived to see the colleagues and friends that I could manage to find. Waiting for me at the train station was the best friend that I had during my two and a half year stay in Stara Tura. A smiling face and warm heart, she graciously invited me back into her home and life. Preoccupied during the train ride from Vienna about my Slovak language skills, I found it simple to ease back into our bantering routine of walks, coffee, and meals. I was welcomed so completely at her home, disturbing any routine she might have had. I felt like a long-lost daughter as we began to catch up on what had been missed in our letters over the last four years. She cooked for me and fussed over the cold I was beginning to catch. A true friend, she listened as well as talked as we celebrated and sympathized over new developments in our lives. Not to continue sounding cliché, but it was timeless, as I guess any good friendship should be.

From Slovakia 07

During my visit, I realized how beautiful the town is and the nice collective that I had at the schools where I worked while I was there. Remembered as I reunited with a couple of close colleagues, we reminisced together (amazingly enough, po slovensky!). I was reminded that for those of us that wander, we leave second and third and fourth homes scattered here and there. Somehow, for me, I am always surprised and grateful at the blessing it is to keep coming to those homes. I guess that we leave a bit of ourselves behind and, at the same time, a bit of each place and people is planted within us. I still marvel when I rediscover the places where my heart belongs.