The Romano writer Michal Šamko did not have an easy childhood. His parents and siblings came from Svidník in Northeastern Slovakia, but he was born in Jičín, Czech Republic. “Gypsy filth,” they shouted at him in elementary school, where he was the only Rom among 23 children in their class. The biggest punishment for his classmates was to be made to sit next to him. Michal Šamko was determined to achieve something in life, and in the end he succeeded.

• Báli sa, že má blchy a nechceli pri ňom sedieť. Michal Šamko spolužiakom ukázal, že sa v ňom mýlili. In: Dobre Noviny. https://www.dobrenoviny.sk/c/223692/bali-sa-ze-ma-blchy-a-nechceli-pri-nom-sediet-michal-samko-spoluziakom-ukazal-ze-sa-v-nom-mylili