Board 2016: Veronika

Get to know Veronika Bendzelova who handles international affairs on the board.

1. Favorite childhood memory?
I don´t have any specific memory. The place I was growing up is in the middle of mountains, so I spend my childhood exploring the forests, picking mushrooms and berries on summers, saving “abandoned” bird chicks fallen from the nest 🙂 We were always outside playing, making shelters in woods, building “igloos” in winter. We didn´t have a car, and bus was going 3 times a day. Sometimes there was so much snow that I couldn´t get to school 🙂

When we wanted to watch a TV on Saturday morning, me and my sister had to install the antenna- The signal was strong enough only at certain spots, so I had to go out and set the antenna stick somewhere in the back yard while my sister was yelling at me from inside if the picture has turned on 😀 I had awesome childhood thanks to my parents who decided to live in countryside despite the difficulties.

2. Your favorite place in the world?
My parent´s place in Slovakia. It´s traditional wooden house with a real furnace and heated bathtub. There is no signal, no internet connection and the silence is disturbed only by the birds singing. In order to prepare my breakfast, I have to chop some wood to make fire. The water comes right from artesian well and the air is so fresh and crispy. When it gets dark out there you can see thousands of stars on the sky. There is only one such a place in the world 🙂

3. Favorite song of all time? 
Since it would be unfair to pick one song here is the list, make your pick 😉

1. Led Zeppelin – Stairway to Heaven
2. Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
3. Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
4. U2 – With Or Without You
5. Michael Jackson – Billie Jean

4. Your dream job as a child?
I remember I had hard time deciding what do I become when I grow up. I even made a list of possible professions such as architect, or garden designer. Zoo keeper was also on that list. Then I got a great idea of becoming movie producer. I started to work on the scenario and send out invitations for the casting 😀 And that´s about how far I got.

5. What are the 3 things you would take with you on a deserted island?
Bear Grylls, machete and wet suit so I can go diving while he takes care of food 😛

6. What is the funniest thing you’ve said as a child?
I don´t remember saying anything funny..

7. Where is your dream place to travel?
I can´t pick only one! I always wanted to see Machu Picchu and Peruvian Altiplano with lake Titicaca. Then Grand Canyon in Arizona and Great lakes of Canada. Also, Tibetan temples and Himalaya. The last but not least is Cambodia and Malaysia. As I am writing this I am checking how to get to Kathmandu 🙂

8. What would you do if you won one million?
I would use the money to build a school for girls in Somalia first. Then buy hydroelectricity station in Norway and invest some money in gold. Get myself a smaller yacht that I can sail in summer, buy lot of booze for my friends..things like that 🙂

9. What is your favorite juice?
Fresh blend of carrot-beetroot-apple juice with hint of ginger first thing in the morning. This is the secret for a long happy life 😀

You can contact Veronika on:
veronika@asken.fi
045 327 4228