Danish teacher in Ostrava

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.

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:

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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