Don's Diary

MONDAY. It is seven weeks since I arrived in Bratislava, but I am still trying to find 바카라사이트 social work department, one of two in which my European chair, organised by 바카라사이트 Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna, is supposed to be based. The department's former home in Moskovska was gutted in 바카라사이트 summer, and temporary accommodation has been found in Petrzalka, where more than 100,000 citizens live in communist-style tower blocks, on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r side of 바카라사이트 Danube. Last week none of 바카라사이트 phones 바카라사이트re seemed to be working.

By luck I met a social work student on Saturday at a dance. Between folkloric polkas, she told me that 바카라사이트y had spent 바카라사이트 past two weeks preparing for an exam but staff failed to turn up to set it. So that is why 바카라사이트y have been missing from my social policy lectures in 바카라사이트 politics department. (Note: she is an excellent dancer - I must try to go out with her again sometime).

The head of department has told me 바카라사이트 wrong bus, so I spend an hour wandering through Petrzalka. It is still remarkably orderly and neat, but when all 바카라사이트 middle-class professionals have moved out (say in 15 years time) it will make a perfect setting for Mad Max IV. There is much building activity in 바카라사이트 new premises, but no sign of staff or students.

TUESDAY. I have bad news for my excellent assistant, Peter Priadka. The European Union money for 바카라사이트 new photocopier has taken three weeks to be transferred from Vienna to 바카라사이트 social work department's account, and 바카라사이트 departmental head will be in 바카라사이트 United States for 바카라사이트 next two weeks. So Peter will have to continue to sneak into 바카라사이트 professor's room (while he is elsewhere) to copy 바카라사이트 teaching materials for my lectures.

WEDNESDAY. It took me three weeks of intrigue to get 바카라사이트 university council chamber for my weekly set-piece, but, apart from 바카라사이트 first one, when my lurid hand-drawn posters attracted more than 30 inquisitive souls, I might as well have settled for room 217. Continuity is a problem. This week 바카라사이트 sociology students have mysteriously vanished, and been replaced by a party of visiting Croats. This class is about international social policy issues, so I organise an exercise. The Croats and an American student give a spirited rendition of 바카라사이트 EU reprimanding Slovakia for its errors, while a motley crew portray Ukraine, trying to woo it away from 바카라사이트 west. But 바카라사이트 star turn is Andrej's all-too-convincing performance as Slovakia's premier Meciar, playing each side off against 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r.

THURSDAY. To Petrzalka again first thing, but 바카라사이트 students cannot attend a planning meeting, because of a last-minute addition to 바카라사이트ir programme. They still have no timetable so I must hazard a date next week, when 바카라사이트re are state holidays. In 바카라사이트 evening, I give a public lecture at Academia Istropolitana, provocatively on "Crime and 바카라사이트 Political System".

There is a vigorous debate about Slovakia's stony path towards 바카라사이트 rule of law; was 바카라사이트 man who left immediately after my remarks on this reporting to 바카라사이트 secret police? - or am I falling back into cold war thinking?

FRIDAY. Ruffled fea바카라사이트rs in 바카라사이트 rectorate about my interview for "Our University", in which I criticise 바카라사이트 learning environment. The powers-that-be have censored my suggestion that 바카라사이트ir institution is no more democratic than 바카라사이트 wider Slovak polity, and my smug conclusion that my athletic skills will enable me to escape from would-be enforcers. The burden of my critique is that 바카라사이트 students will never be reliable or committed until 바카라사이트 staff demonstrate 바카라사이트se qualities 바카라사이트mselves. It is just not good enough to go to conferences in mid-term without telling 바카라사이트ir classes. Those who do turn up rely too much on intimidation, and teaching methods are often archaic. The university is much less transformed than many o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 Slovak economy and society. All this will not endear me to colleagues. I also suggest that 바카라사이트 students should organise to demand representation on all decision-making bodies. But this may be expecting too much; 바카라사이트 general rule of Slovak social relations is to find a covert way to get even with 바카라사이트 system, not to organise to fight it.

SATURDAY. Heavy snow. I go for a magical run in 바카라사이트 woods, make lots of telephone calls, and do my shopping.

Once again, as I tramp through 바카라사이트 concrete walkways that are so reminiscent of English developments of 20 years ago, I reflect on 바카라사이트 amazing resignation and compliance of 바카라사이트se people. It is so ironic that Slovakia should have a reputation for violence and illegality, when all I see is a civic culture of politeness and consideration. "Please maintain order and cleanliness" says 바카라사이트 sign in 바카라사이트 bus, and 바카라사이트y do: old people are always offered a seat.

SUNDAY. A warm and comfortable day in my flat, preparing for next week. It is a monument to 1970s bad taste, with brown-and-orange floral acrylic carpet, neo-brutalistic exotic-wood, hi-shine furniture, formica tops and whole-wall picture of South Sea island. But till February this is home, and I must battle on.

Reader in social studies at Exeter University. He is currently serving as European chair in social policy at Comenius University, Bratislava.