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| Slowik, his wife and their first child (Photo courtesy of Ondrej Slowik/ via Thanh Nien) |
Slowik was born and raised in the Czech Republic. He spent his childhood playing with a Vietnamese girl – his neighbor – who he found very beautiful and well-nurtured. The fond memories with the little Vietnamese girl instilled a sense of affection towards Vietnamese people and culture.
“I will marry a Vietnamese girl and move there”, 17-year-old Slowik told his mother.
Slowik traveled to Vietnam for the first time in 2010. He started a two-year-course at the Vietnamese studies Department at Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities. In 2015, he returned to Vietnam and worked as a lecturer teaching Czech in Ho Chi Minh city. The young expat could never know he would meet his destiny, now his wife, in a foreign country.
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| (Photo courtesy of Ondrej Slowik/ via Thanh Nien) |
“It was love at first sight”, Slowik smiled while recalling his first encounter with Tran Thi Hoang Mai, a Vietnamese designer. As their love grew, Slowik popped the question and got a “yes” from his girlfriend. The couple married, had their first child in 2017 and just welcomed their second child last month.
“My wish to find a Vietnamese life partner has come true”, Slowik was quoted by Thanh Nien.
The Czech man was a good husband and father. He’s willing to roll up the sleeves and share housework with his wife after work. Other than that, he spends his free time playing with his kids.
Asked about what happiness was, the Czech husband stopped for a moment and said “For me, doing drugs, wine or beer are just temporary happiness. It’s not worth compromising our health on those things. Long-term happiness is surely our family, the moments we spent with our spouse and children. That’s the things I’m pursuing”.
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| Their second child was born last month (Photo courtesy of Ondrej Slowik/ via Thanh Nien) |
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| (Photo courtesy of Ondrej Slowik/ via Thanh Nien) |
