STYLE

nejvíc se mi tam asi líbí lidé, kteří jsou součástí té

komunity. Studenti jsou skvělí, a moji kolegové a kolegině velmi milí. Líbí se mi také, že je tam tolik lidí

z různých části světa a každý je jiný. Téměř každý

kout zeměkoule je ve škole reprezentován a to tvoří

určitou atmosféru, kterou jinde nenajdete.

Jak se dokážete starat o své děti, studovat na univerzitě a ještě k tomu učit?

No, stručně řečeno to ani moc dobře nezvládám,

aspoň ne tak dobře jak bych měl. Často musím

obětovat něco abych si udělal čas pro to, čemu v tu

dobu dávám prioritu (většinou je pro mě rodina

největší prioritou). Myslím si ale, že mám štěstí

v tom, že jsem člověk, který je rád velmi zaneprázdněn a trochu ve stresu, radši bych toho měl na práci

moc než málo.

Co vás dostalo do muziky, jako bubeníka, a vidíte

rozdíl mezi českým a dánským publikem?

Ani nevím jak to všechno začalo, prostě jsem vždycky měl hudbu rád. Něco na rytmu a beatu mě vždycky k muzice přitahovalo. Co se publika týče, abych

pravdu řekl, tak moc velký rozdíl nevidím, možná

jen že Češi mají větší náchylnost tancovat při koncertech po stolech, ale to taky může být pivem.

Danish teacher in Ostrava

Lasse Nielsen, is a musician, and teaches music and Theory of Knowledge at The Ostrava International

School. He moved here to the Czech Republic, from Denmark with his wife and has been living

here for many years now. He is also currently studying for a Ph.D in Philosophy at the University

of Olomouc. Here is what he has to say about his life here:

Where are you from exactly, how are the people of

that area, do you perhaps have any special memories

growing up in the area?

I’m from a small village in the middle of Jutland. It only

has about 700 inhabitants. I have very fond memories

of growing up there. It was wonderful when you were

a kid. All your friends lived close by and there was

always something to do. When I became a teenager,

however, It became incredibly boring.

What is your opinion on current Denmark? (in

regards to the people, etc.)?

The Danish people are very nice and often very

hospitable. However, I do find Denmark a bit

xenophobic these days. The very harsh view on

immigration by some Danes makes me sad for

my country. That being said, I do still miss my

countrymen from time to time, and I probably

always will.

Why did you decide to come to the Czech Republic,

what is your story?

I came to the Czech Republic for the same reason

as a lot of foolish young men-- because of a woman.

I met my wife in my university dorm. She was living

on the floor above me. We met in the dorm bar. She

didn’t really like me in the beginning. I think she was

hoping to meet some tall strong Danish Viking but

instead, this small nerdy guy was paying attention to

her. Eventually, I wore her down and two years later

I was in Ostrava. I didn’t have many reservations

about leaving Denmark, except for the fact that I

would miss my family. I really like it in Ostrava. There

is a certain raw charm about it. It seems more real

than many other places I’ve been to.

How is your life The Ostrava International School?

I am very happy at The Ostrava International School.

I really like the people there. The students are great

and the colleagues are very nice. What I love the

most about the school is the fact that there are so

many different people there. Almost every corner

of the world is represented there, and that breeds a

certain atmosphere that you just don’t find in your

average office building.

How is your life in Ostrava/ the region, how are

you involved with people here?

I enjoy my life a lot here in Ostrava. I find the people

very open and nice. As my Czech is getting better I

can feel people being more at ease with speaking to

me. In the beginning, some people would be very

apprehensive about speaking to me because they

feared I would speak to them in English. Now that

I am more comfortable speaking Czech, I feel like

people are more willing to engage in conversation

with me, even if they have to use the occasional

English word.

As a drummer, what got you into music, and do you

see a difference in a Danish and Czech audience?

I don’t know how it started but I think I always liked

music. There has always been something special

about rhythm and beat that made me addicted to

music.

As for the audience, I don’t notice much difference,

to be honest. The Czechs may be a bit more carefree

when it comes to dancing on the table at concerts.

But then again, that may just be all the beer.

How do you manage having children, teaching,

studying at the university and playing music?

The short answer is that I don’t manage it very well,

or at least not as well as I should. I often find that I

have to sacrifice something in order to make time

for something else. Whatever takes priority gets the

most time (often that’s the family).

I think I am lucky in that I am one of those people

who likes being busy and slightly stressed. I would

rather have too much to do than too little.

Full name:

Lasse Nielsen

Age:

31

Nationality:

Danish

Hobbies and interests:

Drums, reading,

writing,

and philosophy.

Favorite place in the

Moravian-Silesian region:

Castle in Hradec

nad Moravicí

Favorite Czech food:

Segedínský guláš

Text:

Adam Koneval

Student of The

Ostrava International

School,

IB programme

Foto:

www.is-ostrava.cz

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