Let us introduce ourselves

What are the new EU states really like? Ten representatives, now living in Ireland, tell Rosita Boland about the good and bad…

What are the new EU states really like? Ten representatives, now living in Ireland, tell Rosita Boland about the good and bad things, and give a flavour of their national passions

Slovenia

Name: Duan Doljak

Best thing about your country: We are very proud of our language. In the thousands of years, nobody took it away from us and we are very protective of it

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What you don't like about your country:  Nothing

National dish: A special cake made with sour cream, that you usually find only in people's houses; you can't buy it

National passion:  Skiing and ice-hockey

Your country summed up: Forward-looking

Slovakia

Name: Ján Galbavý

Best thing about your country:  The people. They are simple and open

What you don't like about your country: Our people are missing courage. The younger people maybe have enough, but the middle-aged and older do not have enough courage

National dish:  A very special sheep's cheese, prepared with noodles and bacon

National passion:  Ice-hockey. We won the 2002 World Championships

Your country summed up:  Cultural and historical

Estonia

Name: Karmen Laus

Best thing about your country:  The people, because they are open to new challenges

What you don't like about your country: The weather. In winter, it's very snowy, very cold and very dark

National dish: For Christmas, black blood sausages. And potatoes with pork and sour cabbage

National passion: Singing. We have big singing folk festivals with up to 30,000 people taking part

Your country summed up: Good-humoured

Cyprus

Name: Toulla Efthymiou

Best thing about your country:  Joining the EU, because it will make people more aware of the problems we have been having for the last 30 years

What you don't like about your country: The conflict with Turkey, but hopefully now people will go back to their homes and live happily as before

National dish: Moussaka

National passion:  Being Greek. Our flag and our language

Your country summed up:  Welcoming

Lithuania

Name: Dima Kopilevic

Best thing about your country:  Swimming in the lakes in summer and taking the berries from the wild

What you don't like about your country: Long winters starting in November

National dish: Cold beetroot soup with sour cream. And mashed potatoes with dumplings stuffed with pork or beef

National passion: If you ask a man - basketball. If you ask a woman - clothes

Your country summed up: Independent

Hungary

Name: Maria Kelemen

Best thing about your country: The people. They have a fantastic sense of humour. Even though they were occupied, they have survived and made the best in every situation; they have kept their identity and it wasn't easy

What you don't like about your country: The snobbery of the nouveau riche

National dish: Gulyás, a beef stew with paprika. Every family makes it in a different way

National passion:  At the moment - money. Before - new books, new theatre, and being excited about ideas and politics

Your country summed up:  The most lovely country but I couldn't live there again

Latvia

Name: Egita Feldberga

Best thing about your country:  The beautiful beaches and the amber that we call 'tears of the pine tree'

What you don't like about your country:  At the moment, in the countryside, people are depressed because of the lack of work. Most of the work is in Riga

National dish: A sweet and sour bread, between black and white, that you can't get here. And potatoes, pork and sauerkraut

National passion: Dance and singing. Every year, there is a national song and dance competition for a week in Riga

Your country summed up: Developing

Malta

Name: Richard Muscat

Best thing about your country:  The historic temples, such as Hagar Qim, which date back 7,000 years and are our real pride. And the sunshine

What you don't like about your country: We don't like discipline too much; we like to stay easy and be free

National dish: Stewed rabbit in sauce in winter, served with pasta, usually spaghetti. Lambuku, a white fish, in summer

National passion: Fiestas - festivals: every town and village makes a week-long festival every year. And hunting for ducks is also a national passion

Your country summed up: A gem

Czech Republic

Name: Miroslav Vilímek

Best thing about your country: The price of beer, because you can have two beers for €1. And that our revolution was peaceful: we found a solution without violence

What you don't like about your country: We don't know how to enjoy life. All the time we are in stress and want to fix things today, right this minute. In Ireland, I learn the meaning of tomorrow

National dish: Nedlo-vepro-zelo - a bread boiled in water and served with sauerkraut and pork. Potato salad and carp at Christmas

National passion: Music. There is a saying that every Czech person is a musician

Your country summed up: Smiling

Poland

Name: Krystyna Pycinska-Taylor

Best thing about your country: Patriotism

What you don't like about your country: The lack of tolerance in general. And Radio Maryja, a radio station run by a priest that is very right-wing, very anti-European, and about which there is something sinister

National dish: Stew based on sauerkraut with pork and sausage, and beetroot soup made with extract of dried mushroom

National passion: In the past, we all liked talking about dollars. Now we are passionate about trying to get a better future. And when the Pope comes to Poland, for those blessed days, we have a big passion for him

Your country summed up: Hopeful