Author Gabriela Gerhart to Hold Book Presentation at Slavnost

Gabriela’s teacher walked in and said to the class, “Well, you are all going to have to relearn history the real history. Everything I’ve been teaching you is a lie. Everything you’ve learned about communism your entire life has been a lie.”

This is how Gabriela learned about the fall of communism in Central Europe in 1989. She was completely devastated to learn that everything her entire life was built upon proved to be a lie. As a young teen, she didn’t understand the tremendous hardship her parents endured under the regime. She had been groomed to believe that communism was superior to everything else. She even had goals to be an “army girl” a leader in the communist party. But now what was she to do? It would be years before she would understand her newfound freedom, so at the time she decided to take advantage of the opportunity to freely travel which was previously not permitted.

On the outside, she lived a life of spontaneity and adventure. On the inside, her true journey to freedom was only beginning. After college and backpacking through the south of France, Gabriela took a year to work as an au pair in America. With both a pediatric nursing degree and a physical therapy degree, she was in high demand in the and had a guaranteed job U.S., waiting for her back home in Republic. Little did she Czech that one night, while out know town with a friend, a on the meeting with a stranger chance change the trajectory for would her life forever. “Come with you want to enjoy your me if life” said the man as he got up from the bar and walked to the The two girls looked at valet. each other and dashed out as his Porsche pulled up and the door for them to get in. opened

Gabriela’s life was radically changed after the fall of communism, and after falling in love in America, and with America because freedom is the adventure of a lifetime.

Meet author Gabriela Gerhart at the Texas Czech Heritage & Cultural Center’s annual Slavnost this Sunday, May 15 for a book signing and 2 p.m. presentation. The Slavnost begins at 10:30 a.m. with the Tribute and 25th anniversary Ceremony, meal served at 11:30 a.m. and music from 11:30 a.m. uintil 4 p.m. by the Czechaholics.

TCHCC is located at 250 W. Fairgrounds Rd. in La Grange. For more information, visit www.gabrielager

For more information, visit www.gabrielagerhart.com.