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3/1/1991 - Katka by Dagmar Obereigner

INSTITUTEOFCURRENTWORLDAFFAIRS Pod Drinopolem Praha Czechoslovakia Tel March KATKA Peter Bird Martin Institute Current World Affairs W Wheelock St Hanover N H 03755 Dear Peter friends I tracked Katerna Vomlelova after I happened paper wrote English class Charles University Prague In mused about similarities differences between generation parents subject interested I written about She wondered whether generation would pursued feelings something finished something wrong She pointed pivotal events recent Czechoslovak history cycles Our parents could reproach grandparents events Communists power greatest fault their lives We could reproach parents events failure Prague Spring reforms greatest fault parents lives What children consider greatest fault lives We arrive answers these questions But course several conversations Katena share thoughts about Czechoslovakia political affected living democracy future Hers story person months before which turned history ailing socialist country under Soviet occupation Dagmar Obereigner Institute fellow studying political social change Eastern Europe focus Czechoslovakia Since Institute Current World Affairs Crane Rogers Foundation provided fellowships enable outstanding young adults outside United States write about international issues Endowed Charles R Crane Institute supgorted ibutions minded individuals foundations Katena blames She Czechoslovakia political system limited education development stifled confidence She played parents divorce which became final before Nov protest started known Velvet Revolution Both Katena parents members Communist Party Soviet invasion Her father ejected Party opposition subsequent occupation Her mother lower profile remained member until after political changes Although parents course their divorce complicated matter Katerlna thinks questioning parents weren doing fight system probably strong effect least father He began feeling something anything least omehow important maybe couldn easily mother lived where worked Czech Ministry Environment membership Party Katena mother Party membership economic reasons needed ahead She particularly active member But member bothered Kate I could never In addition disparity family Katena lived intellectual double She discussing politics having access banned literature From I little I these girlfriends Slovakia raised similar We really weekends parents country spend Friday Sunday reading these magazines heated discussions about When I seems funny these young ladies should occupy themselves problems Bu really seriously weighty discussions about A typical evening turned Voice America talked about situation We played cards during because Voice America overdone times Like typical child member Pioneer socialist youth group elementary school But school reputation among classmates dissident which Slovakia meant I doing anything I contact anyone But points surprised Because informed Katena teachers taught things school But quiet because parents taught mouth closed Because pragmatically somehow going study afford I Maybe wanted peace their Bec behavior peers think capable affecting major political change She still rejects notion revolution students could happened without groundwork dissident movement For example I things history I I really I maybe nervously banged moving around faces instructor I anything everybody We utterly apathetic Although comes possessing quiet dignity strength insists lacks confidence Maybe I I confident person Someone easily feelings somehow I react She always She blames school forced attend because father polit problems To attend university choose field which political background important She picked mathematics which particular interest A student until found herself being average terrible average sometimes below average Katerina until quite arrogant outspoken stopped speaking class She program study Charles University mathematical physical faculty Communist government She those beaten police during demonstration Nov shocked country action Accompanied father Katerna participating government protests years Initially afraid would thrown school By disenchanted She afraid being beaten father would protect She active revolutionary activity followed Nov already having contacts dissident community After first abroad invited England because involvement peace organization She crammed entrance exams applied newly founded Faculty Social Sciences She first sociology student there She still doesn raise offer answers questions knows material She acknowledges studying wants should secure pretty deeply rooted You I course Ihope I right I first semester behind still deeply rooted She younger classmates assertive arrogant which I think Katerna Katka friends family Ostrava Moravia After first grade moved arents lawyers older sister Banska Bystrica about Slovakia Her father Ji calls temporary emigration He persecuted political views ouster party because The family moved Prague after Katka finished school I think great experience living major parts country Moravia Slovakia Bohemia I think I capable being Slovak while taking those conditions Slovak while Czech again somehow reasonable compromise But lately Slovakia surge nationalism separatism surprising little So I anymore Last Friday school reunion I basically because I little scared She arguments disagreements caused today tensions between Czechs Slovaks She together former classmates again solved Katka celebrated birthday month party sparsely furnished apartment shares several friends including boyriend Bohdan We listened danced Western music salad drank Moravian siphoned bathtub One party guest sociology student received scholarship attend New School Social Research New York thinks Czechoslovaks generally disenchanted pessimistic today think better before political economic reforms She herself strike enthusiastic She about education school dismissed comments about young people freedom unprecedented opportunities bored arrogant No realize Their standard living dropped happen Not students course Katerlna She thinks things better quite Her standard living The crowns month about which phone receives parents doesn since prices began rising July It normal I store I check price bought I wanted Or going I myself because I couldn afford She doesn anymore And I I cheaply Like I butter things because I myself expensive I afford But somehow I terms I those grumbling English I light I God these awful problems One current problem Bohdan place The friend renting apartment giving trade But problem It general problem generation weighty problem solvable Kate noted As I before housing problem people especially young people My Czech friends apartments searched waited years One woman teacher lived university years Katerna social reality damage socialism I still unable stand think outside Czechoslovaks often refer being abroad people exist independently studying money They their apartment economically independent their families I haven opportunity It laughable years It financial matter apartment doesn exist doesn other people And because I remain dependent parents skews relations If I existed independent mature person together because I wanted together because I money their house something something completely different She difficult hopes situation improve private businesses restaurants shops Another casualty socialism Katerna lists general experience I think outside people experienced independent simply fewer problems She offers criticism often repeated about Czechoslovaks serious I think generation She recalled during recent party guests Holland Dutch started dance while Czechs around table trying solve problems She birthday party first lived apartment there parties people danced During typical evening people glued themselves floor bottle complained They constantly tried solve problems their personal problems their philosophical debates solve problems entire republic mankind these terrible things burdens It normal outside Friday somewhere I think pretty difficult U She under Communists missed terribly ability travel country She unsuccessfully applied permission several times Since abroad three times financed others She until afford travel style wants before takes another I stand Czechs known throughout Europe their sleeping their lunch For right enough I possibility I I wanted I could That gratifies gives peace She referring busloads Czechoslovaks descend major tourist destinations other countries people seldom merchants dismay spend money They coffee shops They outside boiled sandwiches brought because locally prohibitively expensive She misses cleaner purer people abroad It seems street nicer looser somehow really freer inside Here seems stupid someone I because I myself think I something Here everyone useful someone reason So those relationships completely clean Katerlna realizes quality Czechoslovak education might study abroad point She scared United States because would trips difficult She visit though taste lifestyle there She thinks becomes absorbed studies But during certain moments makes telephone calls She company known dissident months before revolution became their conversations being listened I really phone calls I having feeling someone listening I constantly watch myself For example I about people phone great because I still feeling someone hearing She doesn after finishes studies She insists ambition longer feels I something important She hopes future which I wouldn interested politics there would people I trust public people government would handle solving problems She hopes there standing lines unpleasant service consumer goods inadequate medical education She hopes there better access birth control awareness young people married because unplanned pregnancy She hopes someday people That probably never happen smile least I inside people I children would happy carefree healthily arrogant That wouldn scared rabbits That child raised start human being All Dagmar Received Hanover