Women Passionate About Their Dreams

Women Passionate About Their Dreams is a group of women who have dreams and fight everyday to fulfill them. I came across their group on Facebook, the founder Sasha read this blog and asked me to organize a meeting for the group members who probably have never met in person before. And here we go: Wednesday 29th April we are meeting in Kontakt cafè in Bratislava Old Town at 6pm. Join us if you are a passionate woman with dreams! :)

We have a logo!

Here is 'Sharing is Caring Bratislava' logo, what do you think?

Social streets

Social streets: this is how they call them now, while in the 70s and 80s they were a common reality in Italy almost everywhere! Anyway, social streets represent how SHARING IS CARING principles work in our everyday life. Please have a look here when you have time!

Free 'admission'

Yesterday I went out with a mission to fulfil clear in my mind: to find a place where to organize the first SHARING IS CARING meeting here in Bratislava. I came back rather disappointed since I realized that if I need a place that can host about 20 people, some tables and a flipchart/board, I have to pay for that. :( I don't want to ask the participants to pay, not even a euro. The whole idea of SHARING IS CARING is the lack of money involved. The Italian word for it is 'gratuità', but I'm struggling finding an English equivalent. It means: people who are willing to share their time, knowledge, experience and expertise should not be required to pay an admission fee. I would like to held this meeting in a cafe/pub, so at least they will pay for their drinks! I want this point to be clear: I don't want to make any money from my idea. I just want to create a community, where mutual help will replace money and create relationships. I am not a dreamer, but I am an idealistic, I've always been! :) So, if you know any place, hotels, hostels, cafe, pubs, restaurants where I can rent a small meeting room for a decent price, please let me know. If you have a place that you would like to share, that will be even better! :)

Funnylicious

Funnylicious is the name of a group of improv theatre performers living and performing here in Bratislava. They are from different countries, this is why they use English as a common language to perform. How does improv theatre work? Well, there's no script but a series of 'games' aimed to develop a meaningful, funny, plot from scratch. It's difficult to explain, so if you happen to be in Bratislava next 20th April why don't you come and see one of their live performance? It will be held at GINGER CAFE' GALERY, whose entrance is NOT on Rajska street but on the back! The show starts at 8:30, but be sure to be there earlier to secure a seat. Free admission, so feel free to invite as many friends as you want. I attended 3 or 4 training sessions with Funnylicious team and I loved them! Here's the link to the event on Facebook (with detailed directions): https://www.facebook.com/events/788816587862909/ See you there!!!

Deliberate carelessness and disorganization in Bratislava (3)

The following is the best example ever of what Slovaks ARE NOT ABLE TO DO! Some days ago I came across an event on facebook organized by a group of artists called AMT. That's about 4 days of cultural events, among which a film and an art exhibition. The description of the art exhibition ends with the words 'We can’t guarantee that really something happen finally.' It's clearly understandable that you can't guarantee the positive outcome of sth, but this sounds as you are already telling people: well, why should you show up if we don't know what to do??? Personally, I find it CRAZY!!!! Anyway, a friend of mine wanted to take part and exhibit three small paintings, so yesterday we went to the venue and we could barely find it. Again, the directions were no existing. Moreover, the venue is in a building, with no information at all outside. Nothing. Who is so crazy to exhibit their works in an unknown place???? what for?????? When I joined the FUNNYLICIOUS workshop the first time I had the same problem. I looked for the address on facebook, found the building, but nothing outside could give me even the smallest hint that a theatre improv workshop was going to be held inside. There were some stickers on the door advertising a massage centre, though! Why was that? No idea!!! Maybe there's a law in Slovakia that does not allow event organizers to stick a piece of paper outside a building saying 'Hey! If you're looking for XYZ ring this bell, we're on the uptenth floor' or sth like that. Maybe there's a law that prevents from giving out contact numbers. Or another one that says 'if you organize sth you have to advertise it on facebook, no matter if you really want exertnal people to join you or not'. I'm surprised, disappointed and frustrated because I find this attitude really CARELESS, but this WILL NOT STOP ME FROM ORGANIZING MY EVENT SOON!!! :) stay tuned! ;)

Deliberate carelessness and disorganization in Bratislava (2)

I myself have been an active members of the Couch Surfing community since 2006. I have hosted and been hosted, showed people around, given tips on what to see and why, organized and participated in Couch Surfing meeting in Poland, Italy and Bulgaria. When I arrived in Bratislava I thought: 'let's join the local CS community, it's going to be fun for sure!' Well, after a couple of months since I first arrived here in January, I decided to join the CS meeting held on a brand new restaurant-pub right on the Danube river. On the facebook page of the event it was written that Miro, the organizer, had reserved 30 seats in the pub for the event, that started at 7pm. I arrived at around 8pm. No CS signs, no flags, no large groups of people, apart from a family reunion, nothing. I asked the waiters in English, but they had no idea. Someone reserved 30 seats (not 3, 30!!!!) and no one seemed to knwo about that. I tried to call Miro's number, but the phone was off. Miro told me then that I had another Miro's number, this is why I couldn't reach him. I decided to give CS Bratislava a second chance, but I cannot help to remind here how things should be done if you CARE and if you really arrange these events to meet new people and make friends. In Sofia they put a COUCH SURFING flag on a table, so it was clear who and what to search for once entered the pub. In Bari we do things this way: Simone, the ambassador and main organizer of the monthly Couch Surfer meetings in Bari (Italy) looks for and books a venue, big enough to host at least 100 people. Then he sends out the invitation on CS and on facebook. The invitations always contains a detailed map of the location and, at least, one contact number. Then, he sets himself on the door of the pub and personally welcomes all newcomers with a smile and a handshake. It's not difficult, he does things this way because he likes it and it definitely pays off. Oh, and the participants pay only for their drinks, nothing else! Again, I do not understand why those who feel like organizing group events finalized to share, know new people and make new friends are so careless and superficial. That's not fair and does not give a good image of what they represent, being it a travellers or language lovers community.