In this episode of the Blorecast, James Blore sits down with his longtime friend Andy Billingham, a British bloke who has lived in Slovakia so long that he’s now officially Slovak.

They talk about:

• how Andy ended up in Slovakia not once, but twice
• his first impressions of Slovakia in 1983
• the places he's worked and the jobs he's done

This episode is audio-only, as James is experimenting with different formats, but don’t worry, video episodes will be back soon!

💬 Join the conversation:

Do you prefer short 5–10 minute episodes, or would you like to hear longer chats?

Do you listen on YouTube or via a podcast app?

What kind of content would you like to hear?

And if you’ve got questions for Andy, send them in — we’ll feature them in future episodes!

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🌍 About the Blorecast

The Blorecast is a podcast from The School of Blore in Košice, Slovakia. It’s about life, culture, language, and exams – all served up with a dose of humour and storytelling. Whether you’re learning English, preparing for Cambridge exams, or just curious about life in Slovakia, you’ll find something here.

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes!

⸻

📌 Find out more at: https://blore.sk/

📧 Contact: podcast@blore.sk

👍 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blore.sk

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bloresk

Our theme tune is Ode to Joy – Heavy Edition, written specially for us by the most excellent dafteaux: https://youtu.be/rU6nLowrtmE

The funky breakbeat drum loop is by Alexander, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License: http://www.orangefreesounds.com/vintage-drum-and-organ-beat-87-bpm/

How does a Brit become “a little bit Slovak”? In this first episode of the Blorecast, James Blore shares three Slovak habits he’s picked up over 27 years: taking shoes off indoors, eating big lunches, and learning the Slovak language.

Welcome to the first full episode of the Blorecast – a podcast for learners and teachers of English in Slovakia — and beyond! 🇸🇰🇬🇧

After a quick introduction to my journey to Slovakia in Episode 0, today I’m diving into three ways I’ve become “a little bit Slovak” over the past 27 years:

👞 Shoes – why wearing them indoors in the UK was normal, but in Slovakia it’s a huge no-no.

🥣 Lunch – how I shifted from British sandwiches and a big dinner to the Slovak two-course midday feast.

🗣️ Language – my ongoing attempt to master Slovak cases and sound less like a bumbling foreigner.

If you’ve lived abroad, you’ll know how certain habits slowly creep in – sometimes without you even noticing. But which ones stick, and which ones never will?

👉 I’d love to hear from you! What’s one local custom you’ve adopted, and what’s one you’ll never get used to? Share your stories in the comments.

⸻

🌍 About the Blorecast

The Blorecast is a podcast from The School of Blore in Košice, Slovakia. It’s about life, culture, language, and exams – all served up with a dose of humour and storytelling. Whether you’re learning English, preparing for Cambridge exams, or just curious about life in Slovakia, you’ll find something here.

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes!

⸻

📌 Find out more at: https://blore.sk/

📧 Contact: podcast@blore.sk

👍 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blore.sk

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bloresk

Our theme tune is Ode to Joy – Heavy Edition, written specially for us by the most excellent dafteaux: https://youtu.be/rU6nLowrtmE

The funky breakbeat drum loop is by Alexander, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License: http://www.orangefreesounds.com/vintage-drum-and-organ-beat-87-bpm/