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
POSITIV ǀ 2/2018 77