Page 9 - Priorities #18 2002-April

Priory’s Links with Slovak Republic Now Include Ambassador Butora
Fifty years ago, the Priory’s founding monks fled Eastern Europe and communist repression. Ten years ago, the Russian empire collapsed, and those satellite countries were free to begin again.
In the Slovak Republic, between Hungary and the Czech Republic, a relocated Stanford grad working in Bardejov wanted the best and brightest of the local students to experience the American system. It would teach them
more about democracy and free market
economy than any books, he thought.
Three years ago, that Stanford grad, Art Breisky, reached out to a fraternity brother, Bob Simon, who approached Woodside Priory about taking a student for a year.
The Priory took two, then another, and this year, two more. Bob Simon became a friend of the school, then a member of the Board of Trustees.
Now it appears that the school’s small
investment in Slovakian youth will touch adults as well. The Slovak Republic will open a Northern California consulate this month, and the advance planning staff invited everyone involved in the Priory’s student program (including Peter Bodik and Julia Petrosova, the current students) to help in the planning.
In return, when the Ambassador and his wife arrive in the Bay Area in late April, they plan to visit at the school, meeting and talking with students and faculty.
Meanwhile, one of the Priory’s first students, Maria Ferencova, is a freshman majoring in economics at a top Czech university and looking at a business career in the travel industry (a great need in the Slovak Republic).
Zuzka Fedorkova, the other of the first two students, is a Stanford sophomore currently spending two quarters on the Berlin campus. She is an international relations major planning to focus on Eastern and Central European issues and work in that region. Alena, who was at the Priory in 2000-2001, is finishing her senior year at home. Peter and Julia will also take a senior year when they go back to Bardejov.
The unparalleled setting of the Hong Kong Country Club was the site of a tea hosted by Ignatius and Nallie Lam.
Taiwan and the Priory seem to have an affinity for each other, in that many of the Priory’s successful students originated on this small island. Ron Mak (’84), Mrs. Lee-May Chen (mother of Ian, ’05), and Jack Yu (father of Loren, ’04), are all a welcome sight during Al’s stopover here. After the TABS reception, Al squeezes in a tour of the National Museum and some serious souvenir shopping at the Merchandise Mart.
Finally, There’s Hong Kong
Another support system is waiting— the Lam family. Ignatius and Nallie Lam are parents of Alvin (’02) and Jason (‘01), a current undergraduate at Rensselaer PolytechnicInstitute. Onhisfirstevening,theytreat Al to his first taste of authentic Chinese cuisine, plus an extensive tour of the island, a trip up to Victoria Peak and an invaluable, in-depth explanation of cultural background.
At the TABS reception, Al is delighted by a chance meeting with Eugene Ho (’91).
At the spectacular tea hosted by the Lams at the Hong Kong Golf Club, Al greets guests with help from Lawrence and Nancy Choi, parents of Wayne (’99), a student at Boston University, and Stan
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Priory Trustee and Slovak program coordinator Bob Simon sat in as substitute grandparent with Julia Petrosova (seated, right) and Peter Bodik (not pictured) at Grandparents Day last fall. Every grandmother received a long-stemmed rose, and senior Angela Sibal (standing) helped with the deliveries.
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