The bonfire at Hidepark
changed everything
Bob was born in the USA, Detroit, Michigan. But he already has a second family in Nitra.
His wife Lenka is from this city.
You were born in the USA. How long have you lived in Nitra?
I’ve been living in Nitra for about a year.
Do you remember your first visit to this city? How did it affect you? What do you remember first?
Yes, I remember my first visit very well. We had a bonfire at Hidepark. I remember that everyone seemed very friendly and spoke much better English than I expected.
Where in the USA did you spend most of your life? Can you compare life overseas with life here in Nitra?
I was born and raised about an hour north of Detroit, Michigan. Of course it’s possible to compare life in the USA and life here. People in the USA are very similar to people in Slovakia. Both are very family oriented and most people I’ve met are extremely hard working in both places.
Is there anything in Nitra that you explicitly miss from the USA? And is there anything you discovered right here?
The thing I miss most by far, except my family, is pizza! And the thing that I found here that I love are the shopping carts because all 4 wheels turn. In the US, only the 2 wheels in the rear of the cart turn. (Laugh.)
You chose a woman from Slovakia as your wife. Have you ever imagined having a family in two different places in the world?
I never really imagined having family anywhere else except the USA, but after falling in love with Lenka and her family I can’t imagine not having family in both places.
Photo: Archive Lenka Smith
