This is more of a "No worries, I am still alive" post than an "I have tons interesting to tell the world" type of post BUT here I am, back in Prague for a little while. My next trip isn't for another week and a half or so but it's the one I'm most looking forward to (Vienna with Sean) so I'll definitely let everyone know how it goes! That aside, it's all quiet on the Central European front. The week, since Diep left, has been pretty much classes and very chill nights with my friends/my homework. Today I don't have classes but I'm choosing to stay in and get some things done. I also just wanted a break from constantly going and seeing things. Especially last weekend was pretty exhausting! So, sorry for the terribly uninteresting post but just wanted to let everyone know that life here is fine and going.
9 days until Sean gets here.
79 days until I'm back in the USA.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Berlin Photos
Brandenburg Gate
Protestant Cathedral (didn't catch the name, sorry!)
One remaining piece of the Berlin Wall
View into the Reichstag from the Glass DomeAuf Wiedersehen Berlin!
I just finished an awesome yet exhausting weekend in Berlin (with another day to go in Prague showing Diep around). We leave for the Czech Republic tomorrow at 6:35 AM! We’ve seen and done tons since we’ve been here and I must say I am absolutely fascinated by this city. Berlin is so interesting when you think of all the things that have happened here in the 20th century alone! I wish I could relate all the awesome stories I’ve heard since I’ve been here.
Berlin isn’t a particularly beautiful city, to be sure. But there ARE tons of statues and buildings that stick out among the harsh landscape that are simply gorgeous. My favorite was a protestant cathedral on Museum Island. Surprisingly, it was only just built in 1904 but was made to look much older. Mission accomplished, I guess. It looks like it’s stood for centuries. A lot of Berlin is like that, though. Not necessarily newer than you’d think but a lot is surprising. We went in the Catholic Cathedral , St. Hedwig, to find a completely modern interior to this ancient building. We were walking through Babelplatz and looked down to find we were standing atop an empty room lined with bookshelves. It turns out that it is a memorial to where Nazi Socialist students burned 20,000 books one day.
Another thing Berlin is, however, is funny. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve laughed on this trip after finding out little snippets of information. My favorite is the following: Ampelman is the guy that illuminates on crosswalks telling you when or when not to talk. He wears a little hat and is quite cute. He’s also a leftover from socialism but the people of Germany were convinced the children paid more attention to the traffic signal when this cute little fellow was there. Okay, fair enough I guess. They all over what was Eastern Berlin. Their obsession with traffic laws and children doesn’t end there, however. It doesn’t matter how clear the street is or what time of day it is. In Berlin, you simply do not cross unless the signal says you can. If you do, it is very common that someone will yell, “Die kinder!” which means “The Children!” – basically pointing out that you are a jerk and setting a bad example for the children of Berlin. It is less common but does happen that instead someone will yell “Child Murderer!” This, I think, is hilarious. Other funny things about the city include a possibly gay king, “soldiers” at Checkpoint Charlie actually being strippers at night, French beer of the strawberry or green apple variety, and a series of debates to name a certain museum that finally ended after , literally, months with them officially naming it THE MUSEUM.
Also, I fell into another garden today. Not sure why this keeps happening. I’m kind of clumsy but seriously? Oh, and another story to add to the series of unfortunate events I have encountered since abroad… As I was walking with Diep along a street last night, a snow drift from above gives way. Apparently, there was a pool of water behind this drift on the roof. I was completely dowsed in icy water, literally drenched, in the middle of freezing Berlin. Diep was barely touched. We were not even a foot from each other. How this happens to me, I have no clue. Needless to say, we returned to the hostel so I could change and rent a blowdryer for my hair.
Things I did for the first time while in Berlin:
Berlin isn’t a particularly beautiful city, to be sure. But there ARE tons of statues and buildings that stick out among the harsh landscape that are simply gorgeous. My favorite was a protestant cathedral on Museum Island. Surprisingly, it was only just built in 1904 but was made to look much older. Mission accomplished, I guess. It looks like it’s stood for centuries. A lot of Berlin is like that, though. Not necessarily newer than you’d think but a lot is surprising. We went in the Catholic Cathedral , St. Hedwig, to find a completely modern interior to this ancient building. We were walking through Babelplatz and looked down to find we were standing atop an empty room lined with bookshelves. It turns out that it is a memorial to where Nazi Socialist students burned 20,000 books one day.
Another thing Berlin is, however, is funny. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve laughed on this trip after finding out little snippets of information. My favorite is the following: Ampelman is the guy that illuminates on crosswalks telling you when or when not to talk. He wears a little hat and is quite cute. He’s also a leftover from socialism but the people of Germany were convinced the children paid more attention to the traffic signal when this cute little fellow was there. Okay, fair enough I guess. They all over what was Eastern Berlin. Their obsession with traffic laws and children doesn’t end there, however. It doesn’t matter how clear the street is or what time of day it is. In Berlin, you simply do not cross unless the signal says you can. If you do, it is very common that someone will yell, “Die kinder!” which means “The Children!” – basically pointing out that you are a jerk and setting a bad example for the children of Berlin. It is less common but does happen that instead someone will yell “Child Murderer!” This, I think, is hilarious. Other funny things about the city include a possibly gay king, “soldiers” at Checkpoint Charlie actually being strippers at night, French beer of the strawberry or green apple variety, and a series of debates to name a certain museum that finally ended after , literally, months with them officially naming it THE MUSEUM.
Also, I fell into another garden today. Not sure why this keeps happening. I’m kind of clumsy but seriously? Oh, and another story to add to the series of unfortunate events I have encountered since abroad… As I was walking with Diep along a street last night, a snow drift from above gives way. Apparently, there was a pool of water behind this drift on the roof. I was completely dowsed in icy water, literally drenched, in the middle of freezing Berlin. Diep was barely touched. We were not even a foot from each other. How this happens to me, I have no clue. Needless to say, we returned to the hostel so I could change and rent a blowdryer for my hair.
Things I did for the first time while in Berlin:
- walked on a frozen lake
- had strawberry beer (it was delicious but made me feel overly girly)
- stayed in a hostel (turns out, it’s not that bad)
- actually had my hair freeze outside (from the water from the roof)
- ate bratwurst
- walked all the way to the top of the German Parliament’s (Reichstag) glass dome
- touched the Berlin Wall (and straddled the line where it once stood thus being in both East and West Germany at the same time)
- saw a man masturbating (we ran into him in the middle of the day, in the snow, in Tiergarten… soooo creepy and he seemed not the least bit bothered by us)
- walked over Hitler’s grave (some people actually danced or peed over it!)
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Just Some Things...
Ellen was here for the weekend. It was really refreshing to have her around. It was also the perfect excuse to finally see all those things in Prague a tourist is supposed to see! We wandered through Prague Castle, the Toy Museum (they had an entire floor of Barbies!), Mala Strana, and Old Town. We even tried to hit the Jewish Quarter/Ghetto but as two roaming Catholics found out, you cannot tour synagogues and cemeteries on a Saturday. Oops. Ellen really liked the city and gave me a fresh pair of eyes to see it through. Prague really is a beautiful city, as a far as urban centers go...
We also ate at Bohemia Bagel twice as a sidestep from European culture. No worries, though. Ellen got her first taste of Czech food and is one of about 5 non-Czech persons who actually likes Czech food. Czech food, in case you were wondering, is principally a concoction of carbs and red meat. There are bread dumplings and potato dumplings, potato pancakes, goulash in bread bowls, and pork with heavy brown gravy. They also have a main dish which is actually fried cheese. Literally, a block of cheese dipped in a fryer and then served with french fries (without ketchup). Vegetables are hard to come by and a salad is impossible to find. You can buy fruit from the markets but that's about it. In restaurants, it is nonexistant. Which begs the question, "Why aren't there any fat Czech people?" I especially do not understand this because they make delicious deserts everywhere including the overabundant pastry shops and also have a wide array of delicious chocolates for sale at convenient stores. I, for one, need to figure out the Czech people's miraculous secret pretty soon. Otherwise, the summer is going to a bleak one sans bikini wearing.
This weekend, it's off to Berlin. After a hockey opera (yes, you read correctly), I am meeting up with her tonight. We leave tomorrow morning and I will tomorrow night have my first hostel experience. Wish me luck!
We also ate at Bohemia Bagel twice as a sidestep from European culture. No worries, though. Ellen got her first taste of Czech food and is one of about 5 non-Czech persons who actually likes Czech food. Czech food, in case you were wondering, is principally a concoction of carbs and red meat. There are bread dumplings and potato dumplings, potato pancakes, goulash in bread bowls, and pork with heavy brown gravy. They also have a main dish which is actually fried cheese. Literally, a block of cheese dipped in a fryer and then served with french fries (without ketchup). Vegetables are hard to come by and a salad is impossible to find. You can buy fruit from the markets but that's about it. In restaurants, it is nonexistant. Which begs the question, "Why aren't there any fat Czech people?" I especially do not understand this because they make delicious deserts everywhere including the overabundant pastry shops and also have a wide array of delicious chocolates for sale at convenient stores. I, for one, need to figure out the Czech people's miraculous secret pretty soon. Otherwise, the summer is going to a bleak one sans bikini wearing.
This weekend, it's off to Berlin. After a hockey opera (yes, you read correctly), I am meeting up with her tonight. We leave tomorrow morning and I will tomorrow night have my first hostel experience. Wish me luck!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Home Sweet Home
*Jan Hus overlooking Old Town Square
Things are still going okay in Prague. I went to the doctor today and am supposed to take a week off school to rest. No worries, I still have too much Georgetown in me to miss that much school without being deathly ill. That aside, it was really nice to be at the doctor's office because it was an International (American) one and therefore reminded me of home. Before my doctor's visit, I went to lunch with my friend Melinda. We went to a place called Bohemia Bagel which has menus entirely in proper English, free ketchup, free coke refills, and everything else I previously took for granted in the typical fast food place of the USA. It was delightful. Not to say that I don't appreciate the quirks of the Czech Republic. I do. Sort of. I just miss the familiarity and friendliness of home. Yes, there's a lot to be said about stepping out of your comfort zone and learning about new cultures but at the same time, it's nice to feel a little less detached in this foreign metropolis.
It was a good day, even with the doctor's visit. The sun was out (this is a rarity and, no, you cannot actually see the sun... just the sunshine) and I didn't have school and got to talk to a couple of friends from home. Ellen is also coming for a visit tomorrow which gives me a good excuse to simply be a tourist in Prague. It'll also be nice to have someone around on Valentine's Day- my first holiday sans my loved ones. Then next weekend, off to Berlin!
Friday, February 6, 2009
What Happens in Prague...
Typical abroad experience in Prague includes (I imagine) seeing nice buildings, meeting Czech people, etc. You know, the normal things you go abroad for. MY abroad experience has taken a bit different of a path- one that would make Robert Frost proud. So two nights ago, I find myself in a very very creepy tower (think Scooby Doo tv shows) drinking tea in such a fashion as would lead one to think I was doing a new type of drug. After the tea shop closes, my group is taken on a tour of this creepy tower. Very cool. Unique. Somewhat scary. There was also a random Easter Island head statue outside the tower and a door that was simply labeled "Experimental Archeology". Nice.
Today had hopes of being a more mundane sort of day. We had our Czech final exam this morning. No, I am not fluent. Yes, we had a final after two weeks. Anyway, we were then scheduled a scavenger hut to be constructed by our individual teachers. My and Shelby's teacher is named Radka (although we have a less pleasant name for that we use on occassion... like today). Our tasks were (a) to find a certain park (b) go to "Peacock Hill" to see what's at the top of the hill and find out why it is named such and (c) find out what famous person lives on a certain street in this same area. She sends us walking across the bridge trains go across that is old and rusty. Shelby and I know this is going to go badly by the end of this first, shady leg of our journey. We stop into KFC, get directions, and are on our way to this mysterios park. Takes a while but we get there, no big problems. Then we see Peacock Hill which is devoid of peacock and actually a small mountain. We begin our climb. It is muddy. Long story short, Shelby ends up literally sliding down the mountain side in the mud. The climb is nearly impossible. When we do finally make it to the top of Peacock Hill, there are no peacocks and we are tired, sweaty, and muddy. Lovely. At least we get a great view of Prague though, yes? ... No. We are now on the top of this nearly deserted mountain, the park is long since gone and all the that is left in front of us are plains, a few buildings more towards town, and a black forest of desolution. Wonderful view (not).
So we leave. Screw the third task. That was just painful. We go to Radka's flat, where she insisted we meet her. She makes us come upstairs. This is our middle aged teacher. This is weird. She asks us to take a seat and then goes about getting water, etc. for her guests. She is thrilled we are there. We want to go home. Then we realize that the one magazine on the coffee table in front of us is called "Reflex". The cover is a naked woman's chest and lots of marijuana leaves. Now we really want to go. Before we make our big escape, though, we have to report what we have found. Turns out Radka has no idea why the mountain is called Peacock Hil and is a little confused why we climbed all the way to the top as we were originally asked to do. Thanks Radka. Final bit of information: famous guy who lives on that street is the house near the top of this mountain thing. He is a famous pop singer whose name I still do not know. Nonetheless, we apparently trespassed on his property.
The End. Love you too, Prague.
Today had hopes of being a more mundane sort of day. We had our Czech final exam this morning. No, I am not fluent. Yes, we had a final after two weeks. Anyway, we were then scheduled a scavenger hut to be constructed by our individual teachers. My and Shelby's teacher is named Radka (although we have a less pleasant name for that we use on occassion... like today). Our tasks were (a) to find a certain park (b) go to "Peacock Hill" to see what's at the top of the hill and find out why it is named such and (c) find out what famous person lives on a certain street in this same area. She sends us walking across the bridge trains go across that is old and rusty. Shelby and I know this is going to go badly by the end of this first, shady leg of our journey. We stop into KFC, get directions, and are on our way to this mysterios park. Takes a while but we get there, no big problems. Then we see Peacock Hill which is devoid of peacock and actually a small mountain. We begin our climb. It is muddy. Long story short, Shelby ends up literally sliding down the mountain side in the mud. The climb is nearly impossible. When we do finally make it to the top of Peacock Hill, there are no peacocks and we are tired, sweaty, and muddy. Lovely. At least we get a great view of Prague though, yes? ... No. We are now on the top of this nearly deserted mountain, the park is long since gone and all the that is left in front of us are plains, a few buildings more towards town, and a black forest of desolution. Wonderful view (not).
So we leave. Screw the third task. That was just painful. We go to Radka's flat, where she insisted we meet her. She makes us come upstairs. This is our middle aged teacher. This is weird. She asks us to take a seat and then goes about getting water, etc. for her guests. She is thrilled we are there. We want to go home. Then we realize that the one magazine on the coffee table in front of us is called "Reflex". The cover is a naked woman's chest and lots of marijuana leaves. Now we really want to go. Before we make our big escape, though, we have to report what we have found. Turns out Radka has no idea why the mountain is called Peacock Hil and is a little confused why we climbed all the way to the top as we were originally asked to do. Thanks Radka. Final bit of information: famous guy who lives on that street is the house near the top of this mountain thing. He is a famous pop singer whose name I still do not know. Nonetheless, we apparently trespassed on his property.
The End. Love you too, Prague.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Yet Another
So many people I know have gone abroad or are currently abroad and failed at this whole blogging thing. They either forget or don't have time. I, on the other hand, blog like no one's business and probably bore you all to tears. Sorry. Once I actually have schoolwork, I may actually calm down... (emphasis on maybe). That being said, I have things to share so here goes.
I have become more accustomed and appreciative of Prague. Things I thus far have come to especially like about this city and the nation of which it is a part...
I have become more accustomed and appreciative of Prague. Things I thus far have come to especially like about this city and the nation of which it is a part...
- The hundreds of puppies that are in this city- well taken care of by their owners despite lack of distinct breed. I even saw one that looked just like Lilly though with about a tenth of her enthusiasm. The dogs here are amazingly well behaved and calm... they don't even need leashes.
- The hundreds of statues and beautiful buildings everywhere.
- Efficient public transportation... always on time, always quick, and easy to figure out. Also available 24/7.
- The abundance of people who speak English at least partially. Otherwise, I am pretty sure I would still be unable to buy food or send mail.
- The little reminders of communism everywhere. It's like being in an alternate reality, almost. Not to say that communism is good or anything. It's just interesting. A different way of doing things that I'm glad I'm gaining exposure to.
- On that note, the different way Czech people think of history. If you ever doubted that we as Americans have learned a very Amerocentric version of history, just ask someone from Prague what went down between the years of 1900 and 2000. You will be hard pressed to find a single person who will say that they (a) were ever actually part of Germany (b) were freed by Soviets in WWII (c) had a single real Nazi among their ranks during WWII (d) ever thought it was a good idea to be Communist over the near 40 years they actually were or (e) split from Slovakia for anything to do with ethnicity (it was purely a matter of governmental styles is the official story here).
- The really inexpensive food. 6 dollars can buy you a full meal with beverage. Full meal meaning actual, non-fastfood. Also, no tipping. Maybe 25 cents if you're feeling generous.
- Did I mention the puppies? I really really like the puppies.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)