11/06/2026
Od Dunaja späť k rieke Tennessee 🌊🇺🇸
Austin prišiel na Slovensko z americkej Alabamy a v Bratislave strávil niekoľko rokov - v meste, ktoré si podľa vlastných slov úplne zamiloval.
Pracoval najmä manuálne - maľoval, pomáhal pri rekonštrukciách a na stavbách. Na Slovensko však prišiel práve v čase, keď svet zasiahla pandémia COVID-19. Z pôvodne krátkeho pobytu sa tak postupne stala oveľa dlhšia životná etapa.
Práve počas tohto obdobia objavil Migračné informačné centrum (MIC), ktoré mu pomohlo zorientovať sa v neustále sa meniacich opatreniach a pravidlách pre cudzincov. O niekoľko rokov neskôr, keď sa opäť ocitol v náročnej situácii, obrátil sa na IOM znovu - tentoraz prostredníctvom programu Asistované dobrovoľné návraty a reintegrácie (AVRR).
Bratislavu spoznával najmä pešo 🚶♂️. Ulice, zákutia, architektúra aj celková atmosféra mesta sa mu dostali pod kožu. Veľa času trávil pri Dunaji 🌊, ktorý mu pripomínal domov a čiastočne nahrádzal rieky, lesy a potoky – najmä jeho obľúbenú rieku Tennessee.
Obľúbil si aj slovenskú kuchyňu 🍲. Bryndzové pirohy a kapustnica sa rýchlo zaradili medzi jeho najobľúbenejšie jedlá a s úsmevom hovorí, že dobre pripravená kačica 🦆 dokáže pokojne konkurovať tradičnému americkému moriakovi ku Dňu vďakyvzdania.
Najviac mu však chýbal pocit domova - nielen príroda, ale aj ľudia. Ten zvláštny pocit blízkosti a spolupatričnosti, ktorý môžete cítiť aj voči úplne neznámym ľuďom.
Dnes je už späť v Birminghame, USA, kde trávi prvé týždne so svojou mamou a postupne sa opäť zžíva s každodenným životom doma. Teší sa na čas strávený so sestrou, bratmi, synovcami a neterami. V budúcnosti by rád dokončil strednú školu, ďalej sa vzdelával a s podporou reintegračnej pomoci od IOM Slovensko rozvíjal aj svoje IT zručnosti 💻. A možno si opäť nájde čas aj na svoje staré záľuby - hru na gitare 🎸 a kartové kúzla 🃏.
Austin opisuje podporu od IOM v rôznych obdobiach svojho života ako niečo, čo preňho malo skutočnú hodnotu.
🔗 Viac informácií: www.avr.iom.sk
🇪🇺 Spolufinancované Európskou úniou
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From the Danube Back to the Tennessee River 🌊🇺🇸
Austin came to Slovakia from Alabama, USA, and spent several years building a life in Bratislava – a city he says he truly fell in love with.
Originally working manual jobs such as painting, renovations and construction, Austin arrived in Slovakia just as the COVID-19 pandemic unexpectedly changed everything. What was meant to be a shorter stay gradually turned into a much longer chapter of his life.
During that uncertain period, he discovered IOM’s Migration Information Centre (MIC), which became an important source of information for foreigners trying to navigate emergency measures and changing conditions in Slovakia. Years later, when he found himself in a difficult situation again, he turned to IOM once more – this time for support through the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programme.
Austin spent years exploring Bratislava on foot 🚶♂️, getting to know the city street by street and developing a deep connection to its atmosphere, architecture and rhythm of life. He often walked by the Danube 🌊, which reminded him of home and became his quiet substitute for the rivers, forests and streams he missed from Alabama – especially the Tennessee River, his favourite place back home.
He also discovered a love for Slovak food 🍲. Bryndzové pirohy and kapustnica quickly became favourites, and he jokes that a well-prepared duck can absolutely compete with an American Thanksgiving turkey 🦆.
What he missed most, however, was the closeness of home – not only nature, but also people. That familiar feeling of connection, even with strangers.
Back in Birmingham, Austin is spending his first weeks with his mother while settling back in and reconnecting with his sister, brothers, nephews and nieces. He hopes to finish high school, further develop his skills, possibly improve his IT knowledge 💻 with reintegration assistance from IOM Slovakia, and build a more stable future. And maybe, finally, pick up his old hobbies again: guitar 🎸 and card magic 🃏.
Austin describes IOM’s support during different moments of his life as something genuinely valuable.
🔗 More info: www.avr.iom.sk
🇪🇺 Co-funded by the European Union
