Are you considering participating in the Studium
Carpato-Ruthenorum International Summer School for Rusyn Language and Culture?
You may have questions about what the experience is going to offer, what it
will be like to live for three weeks in Prešov, what the dorm and the cafeteria
food are like, what a typical day offers, what the class sessions will be, what
excursions are planned. In the course of two blog texts, we’ll offer some
helpful information based on last summer’s experience and on what is in the
works for this coming summer.
Prešov is a small
but bustling city, typical for Central Europe with a large main square built on
“Main Street” (“Hlavná ulica”) and surrounded by beautiful historical buildings
and busy with people shopping, strolling, heading to work or home. An
informational souvenir shop right on the square offers free small maps, which
last summer’s participants discovered and found useful in identifying streets
and sites in the city center, and your Studium organizers will point out this
shop on a walking tour of the city early in your stay. The TESCO department
store, also located nearby on Hlavná ulica offers all kinds of goods, including
groceries, clothes, toiletries, and souvenirs. 
ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF ST. ALEXANDER NEVSKY
On the main square is the striking Roman Catholic Cathedral of St.
Nicholas, and just down Hlavná ulica within easy walking distance is the Greek
Catholic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Not far from this is the Orthodox
Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky, and tucked into the Old Town near the square
is the Orthodox Jewish Synagogue. On the street you may hear Slovak, Hungarian,
and Rusyn spoken. In Prešov, one quickly begins to understand the wonderfully
multicultural nature of eastern Slovakia. And don’t overlook the little side
street called Florian Street because here you’ll find the amazing “Croatia” ice
cream shop with its shop window open onto the pedestrian-only walkway. You’ll
visit there more than once. After ice cream, just cross the street to enjoy a
steaming coffee or a cold beer on the outdoor patio and enjoy people-watching.
From your university dorm to the main square is a comfortable walk of about 10
minutes—and there is sufficient free time built into the busy Studium schedule
for you to enjoy all of this.
GREEK CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST
Just across the street from your dorm is perhaps the most beloved
and most frequently visited spot for Studium participants—the Ballada coffee
shop. This is a cozy place, with an intimate feel both downstairs and upstairs,
its walls lined with bookshelves filled with books, including books about
Carpatho-Rusyns. Or sit outside in late afternoon or into the evening and relax
with new friends over coffee, tea, or the ubiquitous icy beer. Wireless
Internet there also draws students with their laptops. Next to the Ballada is a
small grocery store with the basic necessities such as milk, yogurt, juices,
fruit, chocolate, and some baked goods, and yet another shop with school
supplies. At the university’s main building, you’ll find a small shop with
university-related souvenirs, including T-shirts, mugs, caps, and other
memorabilia.
In the next piece, we’ll describe the dorm, the cafeteria and what is on the docket for this coming summer’s classes and excursions.
The Carpatho-Rusyn Society is a
non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to manifesting Carpatho-Rusyn
culture in the United States and supporting Rusyn culture in the Homeland in
east central Europe. It works to educate Rusyns and non-Rusyns about
Rusyn culture and history, and to support the development of Rusyn culture on
both sides of the Atlantic. As a membership organization, it boasts
over 1,800 members worldwide who support the organization's work through their
annual contributions of dues as well as voluntary contributions to funds that
support Rusyn cultural development abroad as well as humanitarian aid for Rusyn
communities in Europe. For more information, please visit www.c-rs.org Carpatho-Rusyn Society 915
Dickson Street Munhall, PA 15120-1929
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