Well - after 21 hours of traveling, I made it to Portland.
After spending a LONG day of cleaning and doing Robert's laundry (because I am the best girlfriend EVER - and because I was too jet-lagged to deal with much else), Robert and I had Japanese food and watched a really bad scary movie on the couch. I forgot how great life is when you get to lie on the couch with your favorite person in the world. :)
Today, I'm getting a MUCH needed haircut at a beauty school (pray for me). Then it's off to make my world-famous Chicken Parmesan for the cute lawyer - since he's in the midst of a big trial. . .
Anyways - we're going to Vancouver, B.C. and then to see my Aunt and Uncle on Orcas Island - so I'm not sure how much I will be around. But - I am super happy to be home and very, very, very happy to get to wake up to Roberts cold feet in the morning. :D I can't wait to see my buddies in about 10 days and to eat Flying Burrito. See you all soon!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
Last Post from Prague
Well - I'm sitting here, waiting for three things: 1) My toenail polish to dry (can't have Robert seeing me tomorrow with unpainted toes), 2) My last load of laundry to finish (keep your fingers crossed that it will dry by tomorrow morning), and 3) For online check-in to begin on British Airways. It is crucial that I get my seat assignment in the first minutes of being able to check in - I WANT seat 41D.
Anyways.
I had a great "last" day yesterday (today doesn't really count since it's all packing and running errands) with the Directors of the Burma Center who took me to Karlstejn castle as a thank you for my work this summer. We had a lovely tour and lunch, and I can say it was in saying goodbye to them that it really hit me that I am leaving. And, I was sad. I have really enjoyed traveling in Europe and all of the experiences that living here has afforded me. I'm so excited to come home to my friends and family, but it is still hard to say goodbye to this place. Though I don't think I could see myself living in Prague again, I do think I could easily take a job in Budapest, Vienna or Rome. I love the lifestyle, the people, the food, the respect for family, the public transportation, and the ability to experience a whole new set of customs, culture, and language with a train ride. This summer has left me with a strong desire to continue to explore the world.
Beyond this, the work I did this summer has really changed me. I am so proud of what I did for the Burma Center and seeing their reaction to the "Big Burma Project" really helped to put closure on whether or not I made the right decision for where to go for this IPSP. The director expressed to me yesterday that they were becoming pretty down - rejection of the project from some of the past sources, coupled with the difficult life of running a non-profit, was really wearing on them. However, after my presentation, they both were rejuvinated and are really excited to see where the project can go from here. I was floored. I had no idea they were feeling so down, and for most of the summer, I wasn't sure if the project I was doing was really what was needed in the long term. Spending the day with them yesterday and hearing this affirmation of my work, I, too, feel rejuvinated about service and can see a future in project management.
So, after visiting 6 countries, learning nearly no Czech, meeting 3 Ambassadors, getting lost in 12 cities, spending an INSANE amount of money, eating more Milka bars then any one person should, and learning some pretty invaluable life lessons, I'm making my way home. I cannot wait to see all of you.
My favorite pictures from the summer:
Anyways.
I had a great "last" day yesterday (today doesn't really count since it's all packing and running errands) with the Directors of the Burma Center who took me to Karlstejn castle as a thank you for my work this summer. We had a lovely tour and lunch, and I can say it was in saying goodbye to them that it really hit me that I am leaving. And, I was sad. I have really enjoyed traveling in Europe and all of the experiences that living here has afforded me. I'm so excited to come home to my friends and family, but it is still hard to say goodbye to this place. Though I don't think I could see myself living in Prague again, I do think I could easily take a job in Budapest, Vienna or Rome. I love the lifestyle, the people, the food, the respect for family, the public transportation, and the ability to experience a whole new set of customs, culture, and language with a train ride. This summer has left me with a strong desire to continue to explore the world.
Beyond this, the work I did this summer has really changed me. I am so proud of what I did for the Burma Center and seeing their reaction to the "Big Burma Project" really helped to put closure on whether or not I made the right decision for where to go for this IPSP. The director expressed to me yesterday that they were becoming pretty down - rejection of the project from some of the past sources, coupled with the difficult life of running a non-profit, was really wearing on them. However, after my presentation, they both were rejuvinated and are really excited to see where the project can go from here. I was floored. I had no idea they were feeling so down, and for most of the summer, I wasn't sure if the project I was doing was really what was needed in the long term. Spending the day with them yesterday and hearing this affirmation of my work, I, too, feel rejuvinated about service and can see a future in project management.
So, after visiting 6 countries, learning nearly no Czech, meeting 3 Ambassadors, getting lost in 12 cities, spending an INSANE amount of money, eating more Milka bars then any one person should, and learning some pretty invaluable life lessons, I'm making my way home. I cannot wait to see all of you.
My favorite pictures from the summer:
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Roaming Rome
I had a wonderful time in Rome, as evidenced by the pictures I took. Please excuse the 9 million pictures of Flat Stanley in front of the Fontana di Trevi - but it is one of my favorite places in the world.
Anyways.
I got in on Saturday night and headed to the hostel - the Village Roma. Having done my crazy research - I am a little obsessive compulsive - I knew that it was quite a trek out to the grounds, but I figured it was worth the extra commute to pay 20 bucks a night. The location sucked - there's no way to put it nicely, but for the price, it was a great place. There was a nice swimming pool and the "hostel" was really 3-person trailers with bunk beds and an ensuite bathroom. For the first two nights, no one showed, so I had the whole place to myself. On the third night, a girl named Lucy made it into the room, and we had a nice conversation about American politics - being from the UK, she was as enthusiastic as ever about Obama.
The first night, I ventured back into Rome and had a fantastic dinner, where I got quite the hook-up on the food, given that the waiter wanted to have drinks later - which I did not go to. . .but flirting for free appetizers, dessert and wine is always worth it. :) I then made my way down to see the Forum and Colisseum at night - both spectacular, as always.
The next day, I went to the Vatican because it was "Free Sunday." I have never, ever seen so many people waiting in line in my entire life - but it was worth the two hour wait to get in for free to see the Vatican Museum, Sistene Chapel, and St. Peter's. I've been to the Vatican before, but it never ceases to amaze me. Flat Stanley is also a great buddy for making friends, and I met several people from all over the world - from Australia to Saudi Arabia to Figi. It was pretty cool.
Flat and I then made our way to the Canadian Ambassador to Italy's villa, an amazing house Mussolini had built for his Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Ambassador and his wife had me in for dinner, and we had a wonderful conversation about our shared family histories, public service, and their experience in Rome. I can't say enough good things about Ambassador Himelfarb and his wife - they were incredibly kind and upbeat, and I hope that this visit was the first of many for me and my new friends. I especially enjoyed spending time with their dog, Guido, who helped show me around the grounds of the villa. The Ambassador's son, Jordan, has a great mp3 blog - www.saidthegramophone.com - which I highly recommend you check out. I'm hoping he might come visit us at the Clinton School to talk about the success of the blog, often listed on the top ten list of independent and music blogs in the world.
The next day, I went back to the Colisseum to see the inside, and progressed through Rome to see everything I could possibly see in a day. The pictures will speak for themselves, but let's just say that by 4 pm, I couldn't walk another step and made my way back to the hotel to relax by the pool, before heading out for more sightseeing that evening.
Finally, on Tuesday, I made it to the Villa Borghese for my alloted time for the viewing of the Correggio exhibit. Given that you have to make reservations in advance, I did not think I'd be able to go, but the Ambassador was kind enough to set it up for me, and I felt so lucky to get to see these amazing pieces of art. The exhibit included "The Education of Cupid," which I have always loved.
I also managed to make it to see "The Dark Knight" (a totally different type of art) because I couldn't take it anymore. It was great.
So after a week's worth of sun, cobblestone, art by all of the Ninja Turtles, gelato, lasagne, Italian men, dirty streets, and wine, I am completely and utterly exhausted. I have my final meeting and hand-off of the "Big Burma Project" tomorrow, packing to do, and I leave on Tuesday. I will definitely write one more time with my thoughts, and I may even blog a little from Portland and Vancouver. A big shout out to Amanda - I'm glad that we became friends this summer and that you were here to share these experiences with me - it would not have been the same without you! See you in New York!
As always, my love and thanks to everyone else. . .especially my mom for her help with the trip to Rome. I am so lucky to have such loving, supportive friends and family.
Anyways.
I got in on Saturday night and headed to the hostel - the Village Roma. Having done my crazy research - I am a little obsessive compulsive - I knew that it was quite a trek out to the grounds, but I figured it was worth the extra commute to pay 20 bucks a night. The location sucked - there's no way to put it nicely, but for the price, it was a great place. There was a nice swimming pool and the "hostel" was really 3-person trailers with bunk beds and an ensuite bathroom. For the first two nights, no one showed, so I had the whole place to myself. On the third night, a girl named Lucy made it into the room, and we had a nice conversation about American politics - being from the UK, she was as enthusiastic as ever about Obama.
The first night, I ventured back into Rome and had a fantastic dinner, where I got quite the hook-up on the food, given that the waiter wanted to have drinks later - which I did not go to. . .but flirting for free appetizers, dessert and wine is always worth it. :) I then made my way down to see the Forum and Colisseum at night - both spectacular, as always.
The next day, I went to the Vatican because it was "Free Sunday." I have never, ever seen so many people waiting in line in my entire life - but it was worth the two hour wait to get in for free to see the Vatican Museum, Sistene Chapel, and St. Peter's. I've been to the Vatican before, but it never ceases to amaze me. Flat Stanley is also a great buddy for making friends, and I met several people from all over the world - from Australia to Saudi Arabia to Figi. It was pretty cool.
Flat and I then made our way to the Canadian Ambassador to Italy's villa, an amazing house Mussolini had built for his Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Ambassador and his wife had me in for dinner, and we had a wonderful conversation about our shared family histories, public service, and their experience in Rome. I can't say enough good things about Ambassador Himelfarb and his wife - they were incredibly kind and upbeat, and I hope that this visit was the first of many for me and my new friends. I especially enjoyed spending time with their dog, Guido, who helped show me around the grounds of the villa. The Ambassador's son, Jordan, has a great mp3 blog - www.saidthegramophone.com - which I highly recommend you check out. I'm hoping he might come visit us at the Clinton School to talk about the success of the blog, often listed on the top ten list of independent and music blogs in the world.
The next day, I went back to the Colisseum to see the inside, and progressed through Rome to see everything I could possibly see in a day. The pictures will speak for themselves, but let's just say that by 4 pm, I couldn't walk another step and made my way back to the hotel to relax by the pool, before heading out for more sightseeing that evening.
Finally, on Tuesday, I made it to the Villa Borghese for my alloted time for the viewing of the Correggio exhibit. Given that you have to make reservations in advance, I did not think I'd be able to go, but the Ambassador was kind enough to set it up for me, and I felt so lucky to get to see these amazing pieces of art. The exhibit included "The Education of Cupid," which I have always loved.
I also managed to make it to see "The Dark Knight" (a totally different type of art) because I couldn't take it anymore. It was great.
So after a week's worth of sun, cobblestone, art by all of the Ninja Turtles, gelato, lasagne, Italian men, dirty streets, and wine, I am completely and utterly exhausted. I have my final meeting and hand-off of the "Big Burma Project" tomorrow, packing to do, and I leave on Tuesday. I will definitely write one more time with my thoughts, and I may even blog a little from Portland and Vancouver. A big shout out to Amanda - I'm glad that we became friends this summer and that you were here to share these experiences with me - it would not have been the same without you! See you in New York!
As always, my love and thanks to everyone else. . .especially my mom for her help with the trip to Rome. I am so lucky to have such loving, supportive friends and family.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Journey to the 16th Century
I have two tidbits to share from the weekend, and two new photo albums. . .
Saturday
I decided to head out to the end of a tram line to Bresnov monastery, where they are supposed to have a great restaurant with beer brewed on site, all run directly by the monks. Unfortunately, the restaurant was closed for a wedding, so I went on a tour of the monastery - all in Czech. The gardens were beautiful, the crypt was pretty awesome, but by the time I left, I was so hungry, I could have gnawed off my own arm. I hit up some (barely passible) Mexican food. There's a joke that Czechs bring their dogs with them to restaurants because they need a guide dog for the bland. Nothing has spice - ever.
From there, I headed out to the TV tower a few blocks away from where I work in Vinohrady. The TV tower is enormous (belongs to the same family of towers that can be seen in Shanghai, Mexico city, etc), but what makes it really special is an art installation called "Babies." These gigantic black iron babies are crawling up and down all over the sides. Bear with the zillion pictures I took - I was a little obsessed. I then went to the top of the tower - which had an unbelievable view of Prague, and saw a pretty crazy looking cemetery that I went in search of once I went back down to the ground.
Finding the cemetery quickly, due to its size, I saw that it was the Jewish Cemetery, which I had been wanting to visit. Given it was Saturday, the cemetery was closed, but I was able to take some pictures through the gate. You'll notice that all of the graves are right on top of one another - Hitler had required ALL of the Jews in the Czech Republic to be buried in this one cemetery, rather than in mass graves. Given that thousands died at Terezin (I'm going there this week - so I'll write more about that later), the gravestones are only a few inches apart. Hitler chose not to bury the Jews in mass graves because he planned to open a "Jewish Museum" in Prague to represent the "lost culture of the Jews." It was overwhelming, but I feel very lucky to have seen it before I leave Prague.
Sunday
Amanda and I went to Cesky Krumlov for the night. Cesky Krumlov is a TINY Czech village that exists between a U-shaped bend in the Vltava River. There is a huge, BEAUTIFUL castle and lots of little shops and cafes. We had a great tour of the castle - sorry, couldn't take pictures inside - ate at a great vegetarian restaurant, and finally bought our gift to the school. No telling. We had an interesting evening out with a few too many glasses of wine and some blood red shots at the Horror Bar -a gothic inspired locale with skeletons adoring the ceilings. The next morning, needless-to-say, we weren't doing so hot. So we went from cafe to cafe until it was time to go home. The town was absolutely beautiful and touristy - but it had a weird vibe. Maybe this was completely imagined by me, given that the movie Hostel was filmed there, so everything looked slightly familiar.
Anyways. Work is going so so well, and I am almost done. Christoph had me help him with some English terminology yesterday for his dissertation on Burmese media and diasporic interconnectivity. Interesting stuff. I have the rest of the week to finish out everything, send in my Clinton School paper, and burn off the "Big Burma" CD before I leave for Rome. I am so excited to make the most of the last two weeks, hand over the final product to the Burma Center, and get home to Robert.
Love you all - and a BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Grandpa.
Saturday
I decided to head out to the end of a tram line to Bresnov monastery, where they are supposed to have a great restaurant with beer brewed on site, all run directly by the monks. Unfortunately, the restaurant was closed for a wedding, so I went on a tour of the monastery - all in Czech. The gardens were beautiful, the crypt was pretty awesome, but by the time I left, I was so hungry, I could have gnawed off my own arm. I hit up some (barely passible) Mexican food. There's a joke that Czechs bring their dogs with them to restaurants because they need a guide dog for the bland. Nothing has spice - ever.
From there, I headed out to the TV tower a few blocks away from where I work in Vinohrady. The TV tower is enormous (belongs to the same family of towers that can be seen in Shanghai, Mexico city, etc), but what makes it really special is an art installation called "Babies." These gigantic black iron babies are crawling up and down all over the sides. Bear with the zillion pictures I took - I was a little obsessed. I then went to the top of the tower - which had an unbelievable view of Prague, and saw a pretty crazy looking cemetery that I went in search of once I went back down to the ground.
Finding the cemetery quickly, due to its size, I saw that it was the Jewish Cemetery, which I had been wanting to visit. Given it was Saturday, the cemetery was closed, but I was able to take some pictures through the gate. You'll notice that all of the graves are right on top of one another - Hitler had required ALL of the Jews in the Czech Republic to be buried in this one cemetery, rather than in mass graves. Given that thousands died at Terezin (I'm going there this week - so I'll write more about that later), the gravestones are only a few inches apart. Hitler chose not to bury the Jews in mass graves because he planned to open a "Jewish Museum" in Prague to represent the "lost culture of the Jews." It was overwhelming, but I feel very lucky to have seen it before I leave Prague.
Sunday
Amanda and I went to Cesky Krumlov for the night. Cesky Krumlov is a TINY Czech village that exists between a U-shaped bend in the Vltava River. There is a huge, BEAUTIFUL castle and lots of little shops and cafes. We had a great tour of the castle - sorry, couldn't take pictures inside - ate at a great vegetarian restaurant, and finally bought our gift to the school. No telling. We had an interesting evening out with a few too many glasses of wine and some blood red shots at the Horror Bar -a gothic inspired locale with skeletons adoring the ceilings. The next morning, needless-to-say, we weren't doing so hot. So we went from cafe to cafe until it was time to go home. The town was absolutely beautiful and touristy - but it had a weird vibe. Maybe this was completely imagined by me, given that the movie Hostel was filmed there, so everything looked slightly familiar.
Anyways. Work is going so so well, and I am almost done. Christoph had me help him with some English terminology yesterday for his dissertation on Burmese media and diasporic interconnectivity. Interesting stuff. I have the rest of the week to finish out everything, send in my Clinton School paper, and burn off the "Big Burma" CD before I leave for Rome. I am so excited to make the most of the last two weeks, hand over the final product to the Burma Center, and get home to Robert.
Love you all - and a BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Grandpa.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Skipped the beer, met a bear. . .
Hi all -
Well, besides the immense amount of writing I completed this week - "Big Burma Project" is in need of a few edits and it will be FINITO - I went to Plzen to visit my collegues from CEELI who are working at a "TEFL" school. For those of you who are anti-acronym, a TEFL school is a place where there are people a) learning English as a foreign language and b) learning how to teach English as a foreign language. Charles is on the administration of the school and has been working in Plzen for the past 18 summers. Julie, the project manager for CEELI and therefore my "boss" for the summer, is taking the TEFL course and teaching her own course on language for legal studies.
So, I took the hour bus, traversed Plzen, watched the course, met lots and lots of people from Memphis (Charles is a professor at the University of Memphis - so many of his students and collegues attend the course), and did a very small amount of site-seeing. Plzen is not the most beautiful city in the Czech Republic, but seeing the school and discussing my project with Julie was very useful.
I was supposed to go to the famous Plzen brewery the next morning, before Julie and I would leave to go back to Prague, however, beer and fermentation were not all that interesting to me at 9 am. So instead, I decided to go to another zoo. Not expecting a whole lot from the Plzen zoo, I was pleasantly surprised. . .especially when I got to get very up close and personal with some lemurs who left their enclosure and roamed around, one of them nearly hopping onto my back as I bent down to take another one's picture. It was pretty fun, I have to say. The last few pictures on the slideshow are from Amanda and my night out last night - we had the largest, most ridiculous drink you've ever seen - the pictures will prove it.
I have two weeks left here, some of which will be taken up by my ventures to Cesky Krumlov and Rome - so I'm trying to make the most of it. Pray for less rain - because I really need to do laundry and it hasn't stopped for several days. I'm meeting with Christoph and Sabe to make my final presentation to them regarding the work I've done and to hand over the CD-Roms with the work I've done. I have to say, I'm pretty proud of myself. I love curriculum writing and planning - so this project ended up being a great match. I could definitely see myself in the capacity of a project manager or on staff at a university. . .or maybe even back in the education system as a curriculum director. I'm excited to get started looking for a career, armed with the skills I learned this summer. Now, I just need a job. :)
Well, besides the immense amount of writing I completed this week - "Big Burma Project" is in need of a few edits and it will be FINITO - I went to Plzen to visit my collegues from CEELI who are working at a "TEFL" school. For those of you who are anti-acronym, a TEFL school is a place where there are people a) learning English as a foreign language and b) learning how to teach English as a foreign language. Charles is on the administration of the school and has been working in Plzen for the past 18 summers. Julie, the project manager for CEELI and therefore my "boss" for the summer, is taking the TEFL course and teaching her own course on language for legal studies.
So, I took the hour bus, traversed Plzen, watched the course, met lots and lots of people from Memphis (Charles is a professor at the University of Memphis - so many of his students and collegues attend the course), and did a very small amount of site-seeing. Plzen is not the most beautiful city in the Czech Republic, but seeing the school and discussing my project with Julie was very useful.
I was supposed to go to the famous Plzen brewery the next morning, before Julie and I would leave to go back to Prague, however, beer and fermentation were not all that interesting to me at 9 am. So instead, I decided to go to another zoo. Not expecting a whole lot from the Plzen zoo, I was pleasantly surprised. . .especially when I got to get very up close and personal with some lemurs who left their enclosure and roamed around, one of them nearly hopping onto my back as I bent down to take another one's picture. It was pretty fun, I have to say. The last few pictures on the slideshow are from Amanda and my night out last night - we had the largest, most ridiculous drink you've ever seen - the pictures will prove it.
I have two weeks left here, some of which will be taken up by my ventures to Cesky Krumlov and Rome - so I'm trying to make the most of it. Pray for less rain - because I really need to do laundry and it hasn't stopped for several days. I'm meeting with Christoph and Sabe to make my final presentation to them regarding the work I've done and to hand over the CD-Roms with the work I've done. I have to say, I'm pretty proud of myself. I love curriculum writing and planning - so this project ended up being a great match. I could definitely see myself in the capacity of a project manager or on staff at a university. . .or maybe even back in the education system as a curriculum director. I'm excited to get started looking for a career, armed with the skills I learned this summer. Now, I just need a job. :)
Monday, July 14, 2008
Bit by a pig, slipped on a slug, accosted by bats. . .
I have been wanting to go to the Prague Zoo for a while now. I am slightly obsessed with zoos and aquariums, and given that the Prague Zoo is the 6th best zoo in the world, according to Forbes Magazine, I was pretty excited.
So, Amanda and I braved the forecast of 80% chance of rain, paid our 100 czk (about 6 bucks) and entered the amazing world of the Prague Zoo.
First and foremost, it is a GREAT zoo. Very natural which I like - the animals had lots of room to run about, but they were totally accessible. I think there were probably only 3 or 4 exhibits that we had a hard time finding the animals.
I was beyond excited by the hippo exhibit - they are absolutely my favorite animal and this exhibit was the best I've ever seen. A family of three were moving, swimming, and lounging about, and we even caught pictures/video of one of the hippos yawning. Pretty cool.
I had three hilarious stories of the day though, as evidenced by my blog title, so here you go:
(1) I really did get bit by a pig. In the children's zoo area, there were pigs and goats that you could pet and feed. Humorously, Amanda and I had a long discussion about whether pigs could bite, and we decided it was unlikely. So, I made it my goal to feed the pig. The goats kept getting in the way and my indignation over this fact greatly humored the German tourists that were watching me attempt to feed the pig. I stuck my hand down there and a cute little pink porker gently ate some food off my hand, his little snout pretty cold and wet. His little black friend pushed his way past the huffy goats, trying to get some of the cereal. Unfortunately, he mistook my finger as a piece of cereal and fully chomped down on my pointer finger. If you have ever slammed your finger in a door, you now know what getting bit by a pig feels like. Pretty awesome. My hopping, teary-eyed cursing concerned the German tourists, who I think may have been concerned about botulism. Just kidding. Amanda on the other hand, thought this was absolutely hilarious, and we spent a good portion of the rest of the day recapping my idiocy as I bounced around screaming, "that damn pig bit me."
(2) Rain started in full-force when we'd made it through about a quarter of the zoo. When it rains in Prague, slugs follow. Lots of slugs. Slugs for miles. While walking down a path from the tiger exhibit, I managed to step, crush, and slip on a very large juicy slug, falling pretty hard to my knees. Now, given that Lukman, Russ, JD, and Tim have each seen me fall (hard) five or six times each - they will chalk this up to general Sara "lack-of-grace" and klutzy-ness. But I swear, it was entirely the slug's fault.
And finally (3) I am afraid of very few animals. I'm not fond of spiders, cockroaches or bugs in general - but I'll kill them without shrieking like a girl. I grew up with poisonous snakes and scorpions in my friends' backyards - so I like them and they interest me but leave them alone. The only true animal that freaks me out is the bat. They are dirty rats with wings, and the thought of one of them flying in my face or getting caught in my hair eeks me out. So, as we walked through the nocturnal area of the zoo, I prepared myself to see the big display of bats. Behind glass, I can look at them, though I generally feel a bit itchy and creeped out afterwards. As we rounded the corner, a small bird was fluttering back and forth across the ceiling and I felt really bad for it being stuck inside the exhibit. We looked at bushbabies and white tailed ferrets and laughed at these really cool springhares, which look sort of like a kangaroo and a bunny mated. Finally, I saw the bats, flying around in their cage, hanging from small branches and realized THERE WAS NO GLASS. Therefore, the small "bird" flying about 5 inches above my head was a BAT. Amanda said, "Wow, that thing flew really close to my head," and with that, I hightailed it out of there, shrilling saying "get me out, get me out" as Amanda again, laughed at my idiocy.
So - check out the pictures of our day at the zoo. Hope you all had a fabulous weekend!
So, Amanda and I braved the forecast of 80% chance of rain, paid our 100 czk (about 6 bucks) and entered the amazing world of the Prague Zoo.
First and foremost, it is a GREAT zoo. Very natural which I like - the animals had lots of room to run about, but they were totally accessible. I think there were probably only 3 or 4 exhibits that we had a hard time finding the animals.
I was beyond excited by the hippo exhibit - they are absolutely my favorite animal and this exhibit was the best I've ever seen. A family of three were moving, swimming, and lounging about, and we even caught pictures/video of one of the hippos yawning. Pretty cool.
I had three hilarious stories of the day though, as evidenced by my blog title, so here you go:
(1) I really did get bit by a pig. In the children's zoo area, there were pigs and goats that you could pet and feed. Humorously, Amanda and I had a long discussion about whether pigs could bite, and we decided it was unlikely. So, I made it my goal to feed the pig. The goats kept getting in the way and my indignation over this fact greatly humored the German tourists that were watching me attempt to feed the pig. I stuck my hand down there and a cute little pink porker gently ate some food off my hand, his little snout pretty cold and wet. His little black friend pushed his way past the huffy goats, trying to get some of the cereal. Unfortunately, he mistook my finger as a piece of cereal and fully chomped down on my pointer finger. If you have ever slammed your finger in a door, you now know what getting bit by a pig feels like. Pretty awesome. My hopping, teary-eyed cursing concerned the German tourists, who I think may have been concerned about botulism. Just kidding. Amanda on the other hand, thought this was absolutely hilarious, and we spent a good portion of the rest of the day recapping my idiocy as I bounced around screaming, "that damn pig bit me."
(2) Rain started in full-force when we'd made it through about a quarter of the zoo. When it rains in Prague, slugs follow. Lots of slugs. Slugs for miles. While walking down a path from the tiger exhibit, I managed to step, crush, and slip on a very large juicy slug, falling pretty hard to my knees. Now, given that Lukman, Russ, JD, and Tim have each seen me fall (hard) five or six times each - they will chalk this up to general Sara "lack-of-grace" and klutzy-ness. But I swear, it was entirely the slug's fault.
And finally (3) I am afraid of very few animals. I'm not fond of spiders, cockroaches or bugs in general - but I'll kill them without shrieking like a girl. I grew up with poisonous snakes and scorpions in my friends' backyards - so I like them and they interest me but leave them alone. The only true animal that freaks me out is the bat. They are dirty rats with wings, and the thought of one of them flying in my face or getting caught in my hair eeks me out. So, as we walked through the nocturnal area of the zoo, I prepared myself to see the big display of bats. Behind glass, I can look at them, though I generally feel a bit itchy and creeped out afterwards. As we rounded the corner, a small bird was fluttering back and forth across the ceiling and I felt really bad for it being stuck inside the exhibit. We looked at bushbabies and white tailed ferrets and laughed at these really cool springhares, which look sort of like a kangaroo and a bunny mated. Finally, I saw the bats, flying around in their cage, hanging from small branches and realized THERE WAS NO GLASS. Therefore, the small "bird" flying about 5 inches above my head was a BAT. Amanda said, "Wow, that thing flew really close to my head," and with that, I hightailed it out of there, shrilling saying "get me out, get me out" as Amanda again, laughed at my idiocy.
So - check out the pictures of our day at the zoo. Hope you all had a fabulous weekend!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Ranting and Raving
I just want to comment on the robbers that are the airline industry. Today, I tried to book my flight home from Portland to Little Rock. Good 'ol American Airlines came up as the cheapest (still UNBELIEVABLY expensive - I have never paid this much for a domestic flight so far in advance - a one way ticket is costing me more than what I paid this time last year for roundtrip), but as I was going to type in my credit card numbers, I remembered the whole "paying to take baggage" thing going on.
Because of the luggage I will have with me from this summer - the trip on AA would cost me $40 more than the published price - and that's if my luggage stays within the weight limit.
Who does this punish? Certainly not the weathier members of the frequent flyers clubs (a club which I belong to, but don't qualify as a platinum member or whatever you have to be). And it doesn't hurt business men and women who generally have everything for a two-day trip in their carry-on. No, it hurts the people who are already trying hard to afford a family vacation, make it to their sister's wedding, or just trying to get home after a wallet-busting summer abroad.
I'm also thinking this means that there will be a huge increase in WAY too large baggage trying to be shoved into the overhead bins, which I am also expecting will mean a delay getting on and off the plane, making me nervous to attempt a 45 minute connecting flight.
I think it sends a very special message about how these poor little corporations are dealing with oil issues and a rough economy - placing the burden, yet again, on those who can barely afford to fly in the first place. I think it also speaks to the lack of creativity among busineses to save money and improve customer service. Especially when you take into consideration that US Airways is going to start charging $2 a pop for water, soda, and coffee on their domestic flights in the next few months.
I want to see some of that American enterprising spirit! I want to see some logical thinking! Why tack on this cost to the American middle class? I assume that it is because if they charged people for carry-ons (which would make a LOT more sense), the corporations would be taking money from the very people that own their stock.
I have never, ever experienced this type of landslide in the economy, and truly thought (8 years ago), that I never would. From layoffs to debt, every single person I know is feeling the crunch of this economic crisis. And it's only going to get worse.
So, not to be a downer, but I'm thinking of changing all my American dollars into Euros. :) But for now, I paid $15 dollars more to take a Southwest flight instead. See how easy a little creativity is, American Airlines? You just lost my business.
Because of the luggage I will have with me from this summer - the trip on AA would cost me $40 more than the published price - and that's if my luggage stays within the weight limit.
Who does this punish? Certainly not the weathier members of the frequent flyers clubs (a club which I belong to, but don't qualify as a platinum member or whatever you have to be). And it doesn't hurt business men and women who generally have everything for a two-day trip in their carry-on. No, it hurts the people who are already trying hard to afford a family vacation, make it to their sister's wedding, or just trying to get home after a wallet-busting summer abroad.
I'm also thinking this means that there will be a huge increase in WAY too large baggage trying to be shoved into the overhead bins, which I am also expecting will mean a delay getting on and off the plane, making me nervous to attempt a 45 minute connecting flight.
I think it sends a very special message about how these poor little corporations are dealing with oil issues and a rough economy - placing the burden, yet again, on those who can barely afford to fly in the first place. I think it also speaks to the lack of creativity among busineses to save money and improve customer service. Especially when you take into consideration that US Airways is going to start charging $2 a pop for water, soda, and coffee on their domestic flights in the next few months.
I want to see some of that American enterprising spirit! I want to see some logical thinking! Why tack on this cost to the American middle class? I assume that it is because if they charged people for carry-ons (which would make a LOT more sense), the corporations would be taking money from the very people that own their stock.
I have never, ever experienced this type of landslide in the economy, and truly thought (8 years ago), that I never would. From layoffs to debt, every single person I know is feeling the crunch of this economic crisis. And it's only going to get worse.
So, not to be a downer, but I'm thinking of changing all my American dollars into Euros. :) But for now, I paid $15 dollars more to take a Southwest flight instead. See how easy a little creativity is, American Airlines? You just lost my business.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Flat Sara and the Ambassadors
Well, Flat Sara already had the opportunity to meet the American Ambassador to the Czech Republic and the Canadian Ambassador to the Czech Republic (no pictures of that one, however. . .Flat Sara was a bit tired and stayed home that day).
And now she gets to meet her third Ambassador of the summer. . .the Canadian Ambassador to Italy. . .who just happens to share the last name Himelfarb.
That's right. Randomly, during my time at the CEELI annual meeting, I was introduced to a nice man who knows Ambassador Himelfarb and who was quite curious if we were related. He asked me to e-mail the Ambassador, just to say hi.
Long story short - Ambassador Himelfarb said I should come to Rome where I could visit him and his wife.
So today, I booked my SkyEurope airfare, made my hostel reservations - at a place with a pool so I can veg out before I leave Europe - and Flat Sara will soon be on her way to pictures with the Spanish Steps, the Vatican, and the Fontana di Trevi. I've been to Rome before (I guess that 3rd coin in the Fountain worked), but I have to admit that I am really excited for a little heat, some gelato, and a language that I can understand a little bit. Not to mention a visit with a long-lost cousin, several times removed. :)
In other news - I have three more documents to finish for the Burma Center, and I will be done! I feel pretty good about the work I completed this summer, the amazing connections I've made, and I really feel that I made the most out of my time here, seeing almost everything I wanted to see (besides Poland - but that will have to be a trip of its own - and I think it would have been difficult emotionally, so it would be better to do when Robert or someone could go with me).
I feel really good right now, and am psyched for the next few weeks. I have to admit that I've been quite homesick the last two weeks or so - mainly, I think, because I have a LOT to do when I get home, and I'm always anxious when I don't know exactly what I'm doing next. I know that I am going to have to get a job right away, so that's been weighing heavily on my mind. Money will be an issue for one of the first times ever in my life (I've always worked so many hours - it's odd to be this close to just making ends meet). . .but things always work out in the end, and I'm sure something will work out for me - even if that "something" is Starbucks for a few months. :) So, this trip to Rome has reinvigorated my spirit. And I'm really psyched about everything I've gotten to do and try over the past two months. I feel really happy right now.
I hope everyone is having a great Thursday!
And now she gets to meet her third Ambassador of the summer. . .the Canadian Ambassador to Italy. . .who just happens to share the last name Himelfarb.
That's right. Randomly, during my time at the CEELI annual meeting, I was introduced to a nice man who knows Ambassador Himelfarb and who was quite curious if we were related. He asked me to e-mail the Ambassador, just to say hi.
Long story short - Ambassador Himelfarb said I should come to Rome where I could visit him and his wife.
So today, I booked my SkyEurope airfare, made my hostel reservations - at a place with a pool so I can veg out before I leave Europe - and Flat Sara will soon be on her way to pictures with the Spanish Steps, the Vatican, and the Fontana di Trevi. I've been to Rome before (I guess that 3rd coin in the Fountain worked), but I have to admit that I am really excited for a little heat, some gelato, and a language that I can understand a little bit. Not to mention a visit with a long-lost cousin, several times removed. :)
In other news - I have three more documents to finish for the Burma Center, and I will be done! I feel pretty good about the work I completed this summer, the amazing connections I've made, and I really feel that I made the most out of my time here, seeing almost everything I wanted to see (besides Poland - but that will have to be a trip of its own - and I think it would have been difficult emotionally, so it would be better to do when Robert or someone could go with me).
I feel really good right now, and am psyched for the next few weeks. I have to admit that I've been quite homesick the last two weeks or so - mainly, I think, because I have a LOT to do when I get home, and I'm always anxious when I don't know exactly what I'm doing next. I know that I am going to have to get a job right away, so that's been weighing heavily on my mind. Money will be an issue for one of the first times ever in my life (I've always worked so many hours - it's odd to be this close to just making ends meet). . .but things always work out in the end, and I'm sure something will work out for me - even if that "something" is Starbucks for a few months. :) So, this trip to Rome has reinvigorated my spirit. And I'm really psyched about everything I've gotten to do and try over the past two months. I feel really happy right now.
I hope everyone is having a great Thursday!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Playing tourist
I've been running around like a crazy person. After the CEELI Board Meeting and the final submission of the grant, I took a few days to head to Budapest and Vienna.
It was pretty awesome.
So Budapest first:
Our hostel was great - incredibly cheap, pretty clean, and very cool inside. Amanda and I went out in search of some scenery and definitely found it. . .Budapest is a BEAUTIFUL city. The Danube is smack between Buda and Pest, with Parliament on one side and the palace on the other. We checked out the Opera House and the Cable Bridge, before heading to a fun bar where we danced and hung out with the locals - watching many of them sing English songs with Hungarian accents. We were both surprised at how friendly everyone was, and how EVERYONE spoke English. Definitely a shock after our last few weeks in the CZ.
We got up early to do some sight seeing - checking out the churches in Buda, along with the Palace Labyrinth, a series of caves carved out under Buda by the hot springs that run under the city. Amanda went off to the Pride parade - definitely check out her blog to hear about that one - and I went off to explore the castle. A huge festival was going on inside, which was pretty cool - it's amazing to roam through a castle while medieval music is playing in the background and people dressed in period costume are eating sausages while sitting in the middle of the castle courtyard.
Amanda and I met back up on the bridge to do some souvenir shopping and ate the most amazing funnel cake/bread/donut thing I have ever had which they cook over spits and are hot and crispy and amazing. I have a picture somewhere on the slideshow. . .I was a happy camper. I highly recommend Budapest to anyone going to Europe - like CZ - Hungary is not on the Euro yet, and unlike CZ, this makes a significant difference. Stuff was slightly cheaper in Budapest than it would be in the US - I don't think we ate a single meal that cost me more than 10 dollars, and we bought some really great souvenirs. . .check out the picture of Amanda's new hat on the blog.
We left early the next day for Vienna, which we had heard mixed reviews about. . .however, once we arrived in Vienna we were super happy. It's a great city - extremely clean and efficient and we had no problem finding our hostel for the night. We did some major walking after checking in - taking a look at the Parliament building and other famous landmarks. We also ate the most ridiculous sundaes ever at a cafe.
The next day, we did some major sightseeing - including the opera house, the palaces, the butterfly house, etc. My pictures have captions, so you might get a better sense by checking them out. I was pretty unhappy about leaving Vienna - but I have to push through. If Robert ever states that he would like to move to Germany/Austria/Switzerland or some other exceptionally clean, friendly country - I'm on board. Just sign me up for my German lessons now. I love the anal retentive nature of the subway system, the swift apologies given for bumping in to someone, and the great energy efficiency - Vienna was so efficient that when there is no one on the escalators, they slow down to an almost stop, as to not use so much energy. Once someone steps on and trips a sensor, they go right back to normal. Ingenius.
In other news, I think I will be nearly done with my project in about a week and a half (I had very little to do these past few days, as the Burma Center directors are on vacation and I had finished everything they gave me to do), so I just have some loose ends to tie up and my Clinton School paper to write and then I will be totally finished - most likely with a week and a half to spare. I'm doing some little side projects for a few different people here in town, so that should keep me relatively occupied. I got a lot accomplished by working ridiculous hours the first month and a half, so I get to play grasshopper and enjoy myself a little bit more, now that the work is nearly complete.
Anyways - enjoy the pictures. For those interested in my schedule for the rest of the summer, here you go. . .any days not marked on here are workdays in Prague.
July 12-13: In Prague - Jewish quarter and Zoo
July 19-20: Cesky Krumlov
July 23-24: Plzen (to visit the language4law.com director and CEELI fellow and volunteer at his TEFL school)
July 30-August 2nd: Rome
August 5: Leave CZ - fly to London, Los Angeles, and Portland
August 9-11: Vancouver, BC
August 12-14: Orcas Islands, Washington
August 15: Leave Portland - Arrive in Little Rock. . .hopefully around 9 pm, I'll be having a margarita and a Flying Burrito quesadilla with my buddies! Can we plan this now, please? :)
It was pretty awesome.
So Budapest first:
Our hostel was great - incredibly cheap, pretty clean, and very cool inside. Amanda and I went out in search of some scenery and definitely found it. . .Budapest is a BEAUTIFUL city. The Danube is smack between Buda and Pest, with Parliament on one side and the palace on the other. We checked out the Opera House and the Cable Bridge, before heading to a fun bar where we danced and hung out with the locals - watching many of them sing English songs with Hungarian accents. We were both surprised at how friendly everyone was, and how EVERYONE spoke English. Definitely a shock after our last few weeks in the CZ.
We got up early to do some sight seeing - checking out the churches in Buda, along with the Palace Labyrinth, a series of caves carved out under Buda by the hot springs that run under the city. Amanda went off to the Pride parade - definitely check out her blog to hear about that one - and I went off to explore the castle. A huge festival was going on inside, which was pretty cool - it's amazing to roam through a castle while medieval music is playing in the background and people dressed in period costume are eating sausages while sitting in the middle of the castle courtyard.
Amanda and I met back up on the bridge to do some souvenir shopping and ate the most amazing funnel cake/bread/donut thing I have ever had which they cook over spits and are hot and crispy and amazing. I have a picture somewhere on the slideshow. . .I was a happy camper. I highly recommend Budapest to anyone going to Europe - like CZ - Hungary is not on the Euro yet, and unlike CZ, this makes a significant difference. Stuff was slightly cheaper in Budapest than it would be in the US - I don't think we ate a single meal that cost me more than 10 dollars, and we bought some really great souvenirs. . .check out the picture of Amanda's new hat on the blog.
We left early the next day for Vienna, which we had heard mixed reviews about. . .however, once we arrived in Vienna we were super happy. It's a great city - extremely clean and efficient and we had no problem finding our hostel for the night. We did some major walking after checking in - taking a look at the Parliament building and other famous landmarks. We also ate the most ridiculous sundaes ever at a cafe.
The next day, we did some major sightseeing - including the opera house, the palaces, the butterfly house, etc. My pictures have captions, so you might get a better sense by checking them out. I was pretty unhappy about leaving Vienna - but I have to push through. If Robert ever states that he would like to move to Germany/Austria/Switzerland or some other exceptionally clean, friendly country - I'm on board. Just sign me up for my German lessons now. I love the anal retentive nature of the subway system, the swift apologies given for bumping in to someone, and the great energy efficiency - Vienna was so efficient that when there is no one on the escalators, they slow down to an almost stop, as to not use so much energy. Once someone steps on and trips a sensor, they go right back to normal. Ingenius.
In other news, I think I will be nearly done with my project in about a week and a half (I had very little to do these past few days, as the Burma Center directors are on vacation and I had finished everything they gave me to do), so I just have some loose ends to tie up and my Clinton School paper to write and then I will be totally finished - most likely with a week and a half to spare. I'm doing some little side projects for a few different people here in town, so that should keep me relatively occupied. I got a lot accomplished by working ridiculous hours the first month and a half, so I get to play grasshopper and enjoy myself a little bit more, now that the work is nearly complete.
Anyways - enjoy the pictures. For those interested in my schedule for the rest of the summer, here you go. . .any days not marked on here are workdays in Prague.
July 12-13: In Prague - Jewish quarter and Zoo
July 19-20: Cesky Krumlov
July 23-24: Plzen (to visit the language4law.com director and CEELI fellow and volunteer at his TEFL school)
July 30-August 2nd: Rome
August 5: Leave CZ - fly to London, Los Angeles, and Portland
August 9-11: Vancouver, BC
August 12-14: Orcas Islands, Washington
August 15: Leave Portland - Arrive in Little Rock. . .hopefully around 9 pm, I'll be having a margarita and a Flying Burrito quesadilla with my buddies! Can we plan this now, please? :)
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Happier Brno Stories
Hi all -
So here is the rest of what happened in Brno.
* I visited the Capuchin Crypt where the bodies of nuns and monks were left after they died. The Crypt has such a specific air flow that the bodies naturally mummified. I was NOT supposed to take pictures, but as I was the only person in the place (soon to become a trend on the trip), I turned the flash off and tried to get some shots. My favorite mummy? The body of a nun who was supposedly buried alive. You will notice her in the shots because her hands are not crossed and her head is turned to the side. They think, because of her body postion, that she must not have been buried completely dead. Spooky.
* I went to Speilberk Castle which is really, really cool. It's a fortress and has a real moat, where there used to be bears living. It also houses a famous prison, which I took tons of pictures of (again, completely against the rules). I was totally alone for my ENTIRE tour of the castle and prison which took about 4 hours, so that was amazing. Being in a prison where the average lifespan of the prisoner was one month, by yourself, in the dark, was a pretty eerie experience. The prison was also about 20 degrees colder than it was outside - so I could only imagine what the place was like in the winter.
* Amanda and I went to a neat bar called H46 where we met Fido, the most gorgeous, wonderful waiter of all time. He kept us well-plied with alcohol (including my first taste of absynthe - not ever going to replace tequila in my cupboard), and generally entertained us for two nights in a row. We're hoping he will come and visit us in Prague.
That's about it. Brno was nice - people were super friendly, and we had a great time besides the incident at Pride (which you can watch film of here). We're both exhausted and feel pretty drained altogether.
So - check out the pictures. Tonight starts the festivities surrounding the CEELI board meeting, and though I am excited about it, I really, REALLY wish I wasn't having to go to a big networking, dress-up event tonight since all I want to do is lie in bed and sleep. But, as the Clinton School has taught us, I know I have to take advantage of every opportunity. So I will smile, talk up the school, and drink some nice red wine. :)
So here is the rest of what happened in Brno.
* I visited the Capuchin Crypt where the bodies of nuns and monks were left after they died. The Crypt has such a specific air flow that the bodies naturally mummified. I was NOT supposed to take pictures, but as I was the only person in the place (soon to become a trend on the trip), I turned the flash off and tried to get some shots. My favorite mummy? The body of a nun who was supposedly buried alive. You will notice her in the shots because her hands are not crossed and her head is turned to the side. They think, because of her body postion, that she must not have been buried completely dead. Spooky.
* I went to Speilberk Castle which is really, really cool. It's a fortress and has a real moat, where there used to be bears living. It also houses a famous prison, which I took tons of pictures of (again, completely against the rules). I was totally alone for my ENTIRE tour of the castle and prison which took about 4 hours, so that was amazing. Being in a prison where the average lifespan of the prisoner was one month, by yourself, in the dark, was a pretty eerie experience. The prison was also about 20 degrees colder than it was outside - so I could only imagine what the place was like in the winter.
* Amanda and I went to a neat bar called H46 where we met Fido, the most gorgeous, wonderful waiter of all time. He kept us well-plied with alcohol (including my first taste of absynthe - not ever going to replace tequila in my cupboard), and generally entertained us for two nights in a row. We're hoping he will come and visit us in Prague.
That's about it. Brno was nice - people were super friendly, and we had a great time besides the incident at Pride (which you can watch film of here). We're both exhausted and feel pretty drained altogether.
So - check out the pictures. Tonight starts the festivities surrounding the CEELI board meeting, and though I am excited about it, I really, REALLY wish I wasn't having to go to a big networking, dress-up event tonight since all I want to do is lie in bed and sleep. But, as the Clinton School has taught us, I know I have to take advantage of every opportunity. So I will smile, talk up the school, and drink some nice red wine. :)
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Give yourself a hug from me.
So, I'm in Moravia, in a town called Brno - the second largest in the Czech Republic. It's interesting and I will have lots of pictures to show once I am able to be in a place with a more consistent internet connection, but for now, I just want to write about what happened today so I can stop thinking about it for awhile. I have to apologize in advance because I know people will be upset about what Amanda and I witnessed today and the fact that we were even there - but truly - we didn't think it would get so out of hand.
So.
Amanda and I came down to Brno so that I could do some sightseeing and she could do some interviews with gay activists in the city. Brno also held their first pride parade ever, which is pretty exciting. Having been to prides in Phoenix, San Diego, and New York - I know them to be days filled with fun, music, laughter, rainbows, and drag queens - the greatest people on the face of the Earth. I have shared in watching people stand up for who they are and who they love. There have always been messengers of hate at these events - most notably, Reverend Phelps, the man himself, and his cronies at San Diego pride with their ever-so-clever God Hates Fags memorabilia. But, the love and joy of those celebrating their community always tuned out the messages of hate.
Amanda and I went down to the event around noon and joined the small handful of people who had gathered so far for the event. Pink triangles were handed out and rainbows were painted on faces. There was excitement in the air and police were on guard, as there had been threats from right-wing and neo-nazi organizations in the area. A man dressed as a monk walked through carrying a huge cross and another man preached to the crowd, but no one paid them much mind. Another group of "protesters" gathered nearby to pray for the "sinners" in the crowd, but again, things were peaceful. Music played and besides the fact that the crowd was small, it seemed much like a normal pride festival.
The program began with organizers getting on stage and talking to the crowd - this was all in Czech, so we didn't know what they were saying - but the gist seemed to be about equality and love. A pair of extremely handsome men stood near us holding two little boys - one with a tee shirt that said, "I get my muscles from my daddies" and the other's saying "I still have TWO parents." They were absolutely adorable and I couldn't get enough of them. A trio of drag queens got up on stage and performed, and Amanda and I were laughing and having a great time being part of this historic event that means so much to the community here.
And then things got crazy.
A bottle of water was thrown at the drag queens and people behind us started freaking out and pushing forward. Neo-nazis had attacked the group and were hitting and kicking people all around us. Amanda and I turned around to see the man behind us now on the ground being kicked mercilessly by a skinhead. Eggs were being pelted at people and Amanda and I began to run. We ducked behind a van when the sound of explosions started, something going off right near our feet, and we both thought that guns were being shot at the group. We ran as fast as we could down the street, not looking behind us to see if the others were following, Amanda tearing off her stickers and buttons as we went so we wouldn't be identified. We stayed down the street for awhile and joined others who had fled the event, all comparing notes and trying to calm down.
Eventually, we ventured back. I was concerned about the little boys and their daddies, but luckily they seem to have gotten out of there okay, though the two little boys were still crying as they navigated the crowd to leave. SWAT-type officers had taken posts at every street corner, so the square seemed much safer. We stayed a distance from the festivities, trying to recoup some of our previous elation at being in the CZ for this event. The drag queens went back on stage, which I thought was awesome and incredibly brave - though I should have known - some the toughest and most amazing people I have met in my brief lifetime like to put on wigs and sing Cher on Saturday nights. We saw skinheads being escorted in for processing and learned later that the explosions we heard were M-80 fireworks being chucked into the crowd.
Seeing the SWAT team, Amanda and I sucked it up and joined in the march down the street. Both GLBT and straight individuals marched together, shouting and smiling, flanked on both side by officers in full riot gear. The march was peaceful - only a few people booed or yelled anything that seemed negative - and we made it back to the square.
By this point, Amanda and I were tired and decided to stop in a cafe on our way home to grab a drink. As we waited in line, people started running through the square, and smoke was pouring into the cafe. Figuring out promptly that it was tear gas, Amanda and I ran up the stairs into a grocery store, but got a good dose of tear gas, which is a fun experience, let me tell you.
We made it home to the hotel where we are both resting now. There is a large party for pride tonight but we decided not to go, of course. We're going to go to the movies and try to forget, for a few moments, about all the hate in the world. I haven't been this sad about the world for a long time. Generally, I try to focus on how to make the world better, to work to end injustice or suffering, rather than trying to get bogged down in how terrible things are.
But, today, it's difficult.
I have watched my GLBT friends be disowned, hit with glass bottles, yelled at, told they were going to hell and failed to be served at restaurants. But I have never witnessed anything like what I witnessed today. Hate is so powerful that it is all-consuming. Today, there was no fear of arrest for these people, there was no conflict of conscience about harming another human being. Hate flowed through them until it poisoned everything about a day that I have always seen as a symbol of love. So, I'm asking you - give each other a hug today, share your love with the people closest to you - because the only way I can see to overcome the disgusting acts of violence I saw today is to love each other just a little bit more and not take anything for granted.
-------------------------------------P.S.--------------------------------------------
I wanted to add this - this blog is not a reflection on the Czech Republic. I have seen no other acts of violence in my time here and find Czech people very peaceful. What occured today is about hate in a particular segment of society. And having spent my entire senior year of college writing my thesis on women in white supremacy groups, I can say that these people exist in full force in the United States. The Czech people I know would be as disgusted with this behavior as I was and an event like this could have just as easily happened in Little Rock as it did in Brno. I know you all know this, but I just wanted to be clear.
So.
Amanda and I came down to Brno so that I could do some sightseeing and she could do some interviews with gay activists in the city. Brno also held their first pride parade ever, which is pretty exciting. Having been to prides in Phoenix, San Diego, and New York - I know them to be days filled with fun, music, laughter, rainbows, and drag queens - the greatest people on the face of the Earth. I have shared in watching people stand up for who they are and who they love. There have always been messengers of hate at these events - most notably, Reverend Phelps, the man himself, and his cronies at San Diego pride with their ever-so-clever God Hates Fags memorabilia. But, the love and joy of those celebrating their community always tuned out the messages of hate.
Amanda and I went down to the event around noon and joined the small handful of people who had gathered so far for the event. Pink triangles were handed out and rainbows were painted on faces. There was excitement in the air and police were on guard, as there had been threats from right-wing and neo-nazi organizations in the area. A man dressed as a monk walked through carrying a huge cross and another man preached to the crowd, but no one paid them much mind. Another group of "protesters" gathered nearby to pray for the "sinners" in the crowd, but again, things were peaceful. Music played and besides the fact that the crowd was small, it seemed much like a normal pride festival.
The program began with organizers getting on stage and talking to the crowd - this was all in Czech, so we didn't know what they were saying - but the gist seemed to be about equality and love. A pair of extremely handsome men stood near us holding two little boys - one with a tee shirt that said, "I get my muscles from my daddies" and the other's saying "I still have TWO parents." They were absolutely adorable and I couldn't get enough of them. A trio of drag queens got up on stage and performed, and Amanda and I were laughing and having a great time being part of this historic event that means so much to the community here.
And then things got crazy.
A bottle of water was thrown at the drag queens and people behind us started freaking out and pushing forward. Neo-nazis had attacked the group and were hitting and kicking people all around us. Amanda and I turned around to see the man behind us now on the ground being kicked mercilessly by a skinhead. Eggs were being pelted at people and Amanda and I began to run. We ducked behind a van when the sound of explosions started, something going off right near our feet, and we both thought that guns were being shot at the group. We ran as fast as we could down the street, not looking behind us to see if the others were following, Amanda tearing off her stickers and buttons as we went so we wouldn't be identified. We stayed down the street for awhile and joined others who had fled the event, all comparing notes and trying to calm down.
Eventually, we ventured back. I was concerned about the little boys and their daddies, but luckily they seem to have gotten out of there okay, though the two little boys were still crying as they navigated the crowd to leave. SWAT-type officers had taken posts at every street corner, so the square seemed much safer. We stayed a distance from the festivities, trying to recoup some of our previous elation at being in the CZ for this event. The drag queens went back on stage, which I thought was awesome and incredibly brave - though I should have known - some the toughest and most amazing people I have met in my brief lifetime like to put on wigs and sing Cher on Saturday nights. We saw skinheads being escorted in for processing and learned later that the explosions we heard were M-80 fireworks being chucked into the crowd.
Seeing the SWAT team, Amanda and I sucked it up and joined in the march down the street. Both GLBT and straight individuals marched together, shouting and smiling, flanked on both side by officers in full riot gear. The march was peaceful - only a few people booed or yelled anything that seemed negative - and we made it back to the square.
By this point, Amanda and I were tired and decided to stop in a cafe on our way home to grab a drink. As we waited in line, people started running through the square, and smoke was pouring into the cafe. Figuring out promptly that it was tear gas, Amanda and I ran up the stairs into a grocery store, but got a good dose of tear gas, which is a fun experience, let me tell you.
We made it home to the hotel where we are both resting now. There is a large party for pride tonight but we decided not to go, of course. We're going to go to the movies and try to forget, for a few moments, about all the hate in the world. I haven't been this sad about the world for a long time. Generally, I try to focus on how to make the world better, to work to end injustice or suffering, rather than trying to get bogged down in how terrible things are.
But, today, it's difficult.
I have watched my GLBT friends be disowned, hit with glass bottles, yelled at, told they were going to hell and failed to be served at restaurants. But I have never witnessed anything like what I witnessed today. Hate is so powerful that it is all-consuming. Today, there was no fear of arrest for these people, there was no conflict of conscience about harming another human being. Hate flowed through them until it poisoned everything about a day that I have always seen as a symbol of love. So, I'm asking you - give each other a hug today, share your love with the people closest to you - because the only way I can see to overcome the disgusting acts of violence I saw today is to love each other just a little bit more and not take anything for granted.
-------------------------------------P.S.--------------------------------------------
I wanted to add this - this blog is not a reflection on the Czech Republic. I have seen no other acts of violence in my time here and find Czech people very peaceful. What occured today is about hate in a particular segment of society. And having spent my entire senior year of college writing my thesis on women in white supremacy groups, I can say that these people exist in full force in the United States. The Czech people I know would be as disgusted with this behavior as I was and an event like this could have just as easily happened in Little Rock as it did in Brno. I know you all know this, but I just wanted to be clear.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Just a quickie
Hi all. I haven't disappeared off the face of the earth. I've just been sick. As in, stayed in bed all weekend sick. So, truly, there is nothing terribly exciting to report.
Prague is WAY busier than it was just a few weeks ago. Tourists are out in droves and transporation is pretty crazy. There was a strike here yesterday on the train and bus lines and at the hospitals - and given that no one knew it was going to happen, it caused some major issues for people and backed up the metros for a long time.
Amanda and I secured our ISIC cards and our tickets for Brno, Budapest, and Vienna for two weekend trips coming up. This was quite the fiasco today - ending with a margarita for Amanda and a mojito for me just to celebrate our ability to get it all done.
Work is going well - I'm estimating that I will have written over a hundred pages of documents this summer, which is good. It's nice to be back in the swing of writing, though sometimes I want to bash my head against a wall. I have the opportunity to attend CEELI's annual board meetings next week, so it will be me and a whole lot of (Republican) lawyers. Which is always fun, right? Actually, I'm most excited about the evening at the Ambassador's house, which is supposed to be absolutely gorgeous.
I can honestly say that I'm starting to get a bit homesick. The lack of smiles is really getting to me, as is the pushing, shoving, and impatience with my English that seems to be getting a little harder each day, especially as the city gets busier and busier. I miss Robert and am super excited to see him and travel to Canada. But, I keep reminding myself to live in the moment (I'm such a plan-ahead-er), and I think it will be good to be out of Prague for a couple of days. All of the places I've visited outside of the city center have been friendlier, and I think that's what I need right now - some relaxation in a pretty place, some good wine, and to play tourist for a weekend.
That's all I can think of for now. Hope things are well with all of you.
Prague is WAY busier than it was just a few weeks ago. Tourists are out in droves and transporation is pretty crazy. There was a strike here yesterday on the train and bus lines and at the hospitals - and given that no one knew it was going to happen, it caused some major issues for people and backed up the metros for a long time.
Amanda and I secured our ISIC cards and our tickets for Brno, Budapest, and Vienna for two weekend trips coming up. This was quite the fiasco today - ending with a margarita for Amanda and a mojito for me just to celebrate our ability to get it all done.
Work is going well - I'm estimating that I will have written over a hundred pages of documents this summer, which is good. It's nice to be back in the swing of writing, though sometimes I want to bash my head against a wall. I have the opportunity to attend CEELI's annual board meetings next week, so it will be me and a whole lot of (Republican) lawyers. Which is always fun, right? Actually, I'm most excited about the evening at the Ambassador's house, which is supposed to be absolutely gorgeous.
I can honestly say that I'm starting to get a bit homesick. The lack of smiles is really getting to me, as is the pushing, shoving, and impatience with my English that seems to be getting a little harder each day, especially as the city gets busier and busier. I miss Robert and am super excited to see him and travel to Canada. But, I keep reminding myself to live in the moment (I'm such a plan-ahead-er), and I think it will be good to be out of Prague for a couple of days. All of the places I've visited outside of the city center have been friendlier, and I think that's what I need right now - some relaxation in a pretty place, some good wine, and to play tourist for a weekend.
That's all I can think of for now. Hope things are well with all of you.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
In German? Himelfarb = Color of Heaven. In English? Himelfarb = Bad jokes about your name.
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to travel to Dresden, Germany with Christoph, the director of the Burma Center, and I had an absolutely great time.
We caught the train early in the morning, and though I was tired, I thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful two hour ride that followed the river all the way from Prague into Germany. Dresden is an incredible city. Having been fire-bombed to pieces in WWII, I was expecting open spaces and signs of destruction. Having been part of East Germany, I was expecting to see the Communist bloc housing I have come to recognize throughout the Czech Republic. What I experienced was totally amazing - a mix of the old and the ultra-modern, and communist housing that has been renovated and painted in cheery colors. Unless you have been to these Central/Eastern European countries, it's very difficult to explain why communist architecture is so dreary - though it does remind me of the "projects" in Harlem and the South Bronx. Nondescript, run-down, and above all, GRAY, this housing looks as miserable as the people that probably lived there were - but in Dresden, they have done everything they can to make the flats look cheerful and modern and the effect is uplifting.
The people were beyond friendly and there were plenty of smiles from the people waiting on us in the cafes, the people walking in the park, and the people I encountered on the train. As I've expressed before, smiles are few and far between in Prague, especially among strangers, so it was like taking a deep breath of fresh air after being stuck in a stuffy room. I felt totally renewed and hadn't realized how heart-hungry I was for some kindness and friendliness. People didn't seem to mind as much that I didn't speak the language, and seemed happy that I used the three words I know in German.
Christoph was a wonderful guide, taking me through the main square, telling me stories about the various buildings and landmarks. He took me to a great restaurant in an arbor where I had an amazing salad with beans (Amanda will understand why that's amazing - beans are nowhere to be found here)! And we finished out the day with a long walk through a beautiful park to a small cafe on a lake where people were lounging in rowboats and discussed life over cafe lattes. I could have stayed there for a few more days - but alas, I had to make my way back to Prague. I'm hoping now, however, that I can make at least one more venture into Germany before I leave Europe. I could never have guessed that I would love it so much, but it truly touched me in a way that I can't explain. Down to the crosswalk sign people (who have on hats), Dresden was really fantastic.
Some highlights:
*The buildings and statues are almost black - mainly due to the ash from the bombings.
*There is a Volkswagen factory where the parts are brought in, but you can have your car custom assembled in front of you.
*Flats in Dresden are uncommonly cheap in Europe - so maybe I can move there someday. :)
*The transportation system is ridiculously efficient. Each tram stop has the numbers of the next trams and when they will arrive on screens.
*Waiters and waitresses are ridiculously efficient - both places we went, the waiters carried small, electronic machines where they could imput our order, print out our checks, and provide change for us.
*La Boheme was playing at the opera house - my favorite.
And I saw a pug puppy. So, of course, that completely and utterly made my day.
Anyways. . .I have a very busy rest of the week ahead of me - finishing up a few more documents for the Center, attending the annual exhibition at Iva's school tomorrow, tying up loose ends for Amanda and my trip to Vienna and Budapest in a couple of weeks, a Burma Center event Friday afternoon, and a big night out Friday night. I'm so busy, I'm not sure if I'm ever going to get a chance to relax. But, hey - that's the way I like it!
We caught the train early in the morning, and though I was tired, I thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful two hour ride that followed the river all the way from Prague into Germany. Dresden is an incredible city. Having been fire-bombed to pieces in WWII, I was expecting open spaces and signs of destruction. Having been part of East Germany, I was expecting to see the Communist bloc housing I have come to recognize throughout the Czech Republic. What I experienced was totally amazing - a mix of the old and the ultra-modern, and communist housing that has been renovated and painted in cheery colors. Unless you have been to these Central/Eastern European countries, it's very difficult to explain why communist architecture is so dreary - though it does remind me of the "projects" in Harlem and the South Bronx. Nondescript, run-down, and above all, GRAY, this housing looks as miserable as the people that probably lived there were - but in Dresden, they have done everything they can to make the flats look cheerful and modern and the effect is uplifting.
The people were beyond friendly and there were plenty of smiles from the people waiting on us in the cafes, the people walking in the park, and the people I encountered on the train. As I've expressed before, smiles are few and far between in Prague, especially among strangers, so it was like taking a deep breath of fresh air after being stuck in a stuffy room. I felt totally renewed and hadn't realized how heart-hungry I was for some kindness and friendliness. People didn't seem to mind as much that I didn't speak the language, and seemed happy that I used the three words I know in German.
Christoph was a wonderful guide, taking me through the main square, telling me stories about the various buildings and landmarks. He took me to a great restaurant in an arbor where I had an amazing salad with beans (Amanda will understand why that's amazing - beans are nowhere to be found here)! And we finished out the day with a long walk through a beautiful park to a small cafe on a lake where people were lounging in rowboats and discussed life over cafe lattes. I could have stayed there for a few more days - but alas, I had to make my way back to Prague. I'm hoping now, however, that I can make at least one more venture into Germany before I leave Europe. I could never have guessed that I would love it so much, but it truly touched me in a way that I can't explain. Down to the crosswalk sign people (who have on hats), Dresden was really fantastic.
Some highlights:
*The buildings and statues are almost black - mainly due to the ash from the bombings.
*There is a Volkswagen factory where the parts are brought in, but you can have your car custom assembled in front of you.
*Flats in Dresden are uncommonly cheap in Europe - so maybe I can move there someday. :)
*The transportation system is ridiculously efficient. Each tram stop has the numbers of the next trams and when they will arrive on screens.
*Waiters and waitresses are ridiculously efficient - both places we went, the waiters carried small, electronic machines where they could imput our order, print out our checks, and provide change for us.
*La Boheme was playing at the opera house - my favorite.
And I saw a pug puppy. So, of course, that completely and utterly made my day.
Anyways. . .I have a very busy rest of the week ahead of me - finishing up a few more documents for the Center, attending the annual exhibition at Iva's school tomorrow, tying up loose ends for Amanda and my trip to Vienna and Budapest in a couple of weeks, a Burma Center event Friday afternoon, and a big night out Friday night. I'm so busy, I'm not sure if I'm ever going to get a chance to relax. But, hey - that's the way I like it!
Friday, June 13, 2008
Breakthrough!!!
I had to come home and post because I, Sara Himelfarb - American, helped a tourist today in the metro. I had the knowledge and expertise to tell someone else: a) how to buy a metro pass, b) the importance of getting the metro pass stamped BEFORE getting on the metro, c) that I.P. Pavlova is said eee - pay - pahv -low - vah, d) that that stop is on the red line or c line - without even looking at a map, and e) that tomorrow night is Museum Night and that all of the major museums in Prague are free from 7 pm to 1 am. I felt like a true Prague-let. Or whatever they call people who live in Prague.
When I lived in New York, this was the way I knew that it was home - everytime I was able to tell a tourist how to get from the West Village to the Met or from Sylvia's to Bloomingdale's. My favorites were the tourists lost in Harlem because you could see them realize that they had accidently ended up in Harlem and that they thought they would be shot or mugged at any moment. As they expressed their concern at their mistake, obviously unaware that I lived in an apartment 25 feet away, it always gave me a sense of pleasure to tell them that they were far more likely to be mugged outside of their Hilton in Times Square and about 10 times more likely to be murdered in San Diego or St. Louis or whatever city they were visiting from - we call these "teachable moments." :)
Anyways. . .today was a great day. I met up with my Burma Center folks this evening and learned more about what they are up to and received feedback on my work to date. They are so excited and pleased with what I'm doing - which completely motivated me to do more. They actually told me to chill out and travel - but I'm still planning to do as much as possible now and hope for some time in the end to do a trip. Christoph, one of the project managers is from Germany, and he is taking me with him when he goes to set up a seminar next week in Dresden. I'm so thrilled, I can't even begin to tell you. I didn't have the opportunity to go to Germany yet - so I couldn't be more excited.
What else? I have a great weekend plan. JD's Jennifer is coming into Prague tomorrow with her friend Sarah, so I'm planning to have dinner with them and explore some of the museums while they are free. Late in the evening, I'm going to head to Blind Eye where Amanda and her friends will be dancing through the evening. I may even pull another all nighter in Prague - we shall see.
Life is great - my only small issue at the moment is that it hasn't been warm enough to hang my laundry to dry - so I have a huge (and by huge, I mean nearly my whole suitcase's contents) pile of clothing to wash. But I'm optimistic that tomorrow will be perfect laundry-drying weather.
Hope everyone has a great weekend!
When I lived in New York, this was the way I knew that it was home - everytime I was able to tell a tourist how to get from the West Village to the Met or from Sylvia's to Bloomingdale's. My favorites were the tourists lost in Harlem because you could see them realize that they had accidently ended up in Harlem and that they thought they would be shot or mugged at any moment. As they expressed their concern at their mistake, obviously unaware that I lived in an apartment 25 feet away, it always gave me a sense of pleasure to tell them that they were far more likely to be mugged outside of their Hilton in Times Square and about 10 times more likely to be murdered in San Diego or St. Louis or whatever city they were visiting from - we call these "teachable moments." :)
Anyways. . .today was a great day. I met up with my Burma Center folks this evening and learned more about what they are up to and received feedback on my work to date. They are so excited and pleased with what I'm doing - which completely motivated me to do more. They actually told me to chill out and travel - but I'm still planning to do as much as possible now and hope for some time in the end to do a trip. Christoph, one of the project managers is from Germany, and he is taking me with him when he goes to set up a seminar next week in Dresden. I'm so thrilled, I can't even begin to tell you. I didn't have the opportunity to go to Germany yet - so I couldn't be more excited.
What else? I have a great weekend plan. JD's Jennifer is coming into Prague tomorrow with her friend Sarah, so I'm planning to have dinner with them and explore some of the museums while they are free. Late in the evening, I'm going to head to Blind Eye where Amanda and her friends will be dancing through the evening. I may even pull another all nighter in Prague - we shall see.
Life is great - my only small issue at the moment is that it hasn't been warm enough to hang my laundry to dry - so I have a huge (and by huge, I mean nearly my whole suitcase's contents) pile of clothing to wash. But I'm optimistic that tomorrow will be perfect laundry-drying weather.
Hope everyone has a great weekend!
--edit--
Also!!! I just received an email letting me know that I have been accepted as a founding board member of a new Uncommon Charter School in Little Rock, set to open in 2009. I'm so excited and pleased that I can be a part of this amazing program and get back to working in education, in a very different capacity. This is my first board position, so I could not be more thrilled to be able to take on this new venture!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Quick break. . .
I just needed to take a quick break from work this morning. . .
Sabe at the Burma Center asked me to do a favor for her and look over a translated document that had been recently created, regarding the different ways that the refugee lifestyle affects men and women according to their gender roles. Interesting stuff. However, the translation is so off, that each sentence is taking me about 5 to 10 minutes to decifer and rewrite. Add to that the fact that much of it is cited from research, so I need to be careful to stay as true to the original language as possible. I would give you an example, but I don't want to post any of their original work. Let's just say that the subject matter is very interesting, but the general feel is that paragraphs were fed into altavista.com's babblefish translator, and so the general context is totally lost. It also uses words like "pedant" and "labefy" - which I have never ever used.
Only 25 more pages to go.
In other news, I am wearing my green tennis shoes from the small Vietnamese shop in Kutna Hora. I think they are pretty awesome for $5 and I have posted pictures for your review. Hey, whatever makes us happy right? And $5 shoes ALWAYS make me happy.
Ah and also. . .Iva gave me tickets to an art exhibition opening last night. I went, and I have to say I was blown away. The paintings are so realistic that one would think they are photographs. The subject matter (generally, the effects of war/violence) was subtly disturbing. I can honestly say that I have not been as affected by an art exhibit since I went to my very first modern art museum in San Diego when I was 12-years-old. Robert and I have very different views of modern art (namely, he hates it and I love it), but regardless of whether you are a fan or not, I think this guy is worth checking out. You can see his stuff here.
This was one of my favorites - called, "The Oath," and one of the more tame pieces (I'll warn you that there is some very graphic imagery on the website). And yes - this is a painting, not a photoshop-ed picture.
Hope everyone is healthy and happy!
Sabe at the Burma Center asked me to do a favor for her and look over a translated document that had been recently created, regarding the different ways that the refugee lifestyle affects men and women according to their gender roles. Interesting stuff. However, the translation is so off, that each sentence is taking me about 5 to 10 minutes to decifer and rewrite. Add to that the fact that much of it is cited from research, so I need to be careful to stay as true to the original language as possible. I would give you an example, but I don't want to post any of their original work. Let's just say that the subject matter is very interesting, but the general feel is that paragraphs were fed into altavista.com's babblefish translator, and so the general context is totally lost. It also uses words like "pedant" and "labefy" - which I have never ever used.
Only 25 more pages to go.
In other news, I am wearing my green tennis shoes from the small Vietnamese shop in Kutna Hora. I think they are pretty awesome for $5 and I have posted pictures for your review. Hey, whatever makes us happy right? And $5 shoes ALWAYS make me happy.
Ah and also. . .Iva gave me tickets to an art exhibition opening last night. I went, and I have to say I was blown away. The paintings are so realistic that one would think they are photographs. The subject matter (generally, the effects of war/violence) was subtly disturbing. I can honestly say that I have not been as affected by an art exhibit since I went to my very first modern art museum in San Diego when I was 12-years-old. Robert and I have very different views of modern art (namely, he hates it and I love it), but regardless of whether you are a fan or not, I think this guy is worth checking out. You can see his stuff here.
This was one of my favorites - called, "The Oath," and one of the more tame pieces (I'll warn you that there is some very graphic imagery on the website). And yes - this is a painting, not a photoshop-ed picture.Hope everyone is healthy and happy!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Things that make you go - "what the fruit?"
This has to be a quick one - but I wanted to write these few things down before I forgot. I have has several "signs from home" that I wanted to share.
*Small Czech boy wearing a Branson, Missouri hat on the metro yesterday. The back of the hat said, "Proud to be an American."
*Young (17, maybe?) Czech woman on the bus with me yesterday was listening to typical euro-dance music when all of a sudden, the Doobie Brothers "Black Water" came blaring through her headphones and she bobbed her head right along with it.
*Came home to Uholicky yesterday to a man playing a banjo on the front stoop. I'm pretty sure banjos are not the rage in the Czech Republic, so I thought it was great.
*The bus driver turned on the radio for the first time ever this morning and the song that was playing when I got onto the bus was "What a Feeling" from Flashdance. . .I love Flashdance.
*Finally, the bus driver has about 30 tiny stuffed animals hanging from his windshield. Today, however, I noticed that he also has a Confederate Flag hanging up there with the words "Rebel Forever." I tried to ask him about it, but alas, no English.
Ok - so kind of random, but I can't express how odd it is to see/hear American iconography here. . .it doesn't happen much, especially outside of the touristy areas, so to see several instances in a few days is weird.
*Small Czech boy wearing a Branson, Missouri hat on the metro yesterday. The back of the hat said, "Proud to be an American."
*Young (17, maybe?) Czech woman on the bus with me yesterday was listening to typical euro-dance music when all of a sudden, the Doobie Brothers "Black Water" came blaring through her headphones and she bobbed her head right along with it.
*Came home to Uholicky yesterday to a man playing a banjo on the front stoop. I'm pretty sure banjos are not the rage in the Czech Republic, so I thought it was great.
*The bus driver turned on the radio for the first time ever this morning and the song that was playing when I got onto the bus was "What a Feeling" from Flashdance. . .I love Flashdance.
*Finally, the bus driver has about 30 tiny stuffed animals hanging from his windshield. Today, however, I noticed that he also has a Confederate Flag hanging up there with the words "Rebel Forever." I tried to ask him about it, but alas, no English.
Ok - so kind of random, but I can't express how odd it is to see/hear American iconography here. . .it doesn't happen much, especially outside of the touristy areas, so to see several instances in a few days is weird.
Monday, June 9, 2008
My fantabulous weekend. . .
Saturday
I woke up Saturday morning all prepared to head out to the Jewish quarter. I was craving some Matzo ball soup, and I was super excited to see if any of the Czech restaurants make it as well as I do. Of course, about 15 minutes on the bus ride there, I remembered that it was, in fact, Saturday and nothing would be open. So, I quickly changed my plans.
I have attached a slideshow of the morning's events. I went to the other side of the Prague Castle to try and glipse this wall of rocks that Amanda and I had seen from afar two weeks ago, but I failed to find it. Instead, I found the main castle gates and the Loreto, this unbelievable church. Unfortunately, I could not take pictures in side the Loreto, but you can see some photos here. Yes, the Czech say Loreta, and we say Loreto - just another one of those things. You can see some of the pictures I took of the outside, but the coolest thing inside was the replica of Mary's house and the alter to Mary. The female symbolism throughout was intriguing.
From the Loreto, I hiked up a massive hill to an observation tower on the top - sort of a mini-Eiffel tower. I took tons of photos and met several Indian men who actually live in Phoenix, a lovely woman from Liverpool who walked around with me so we could take photos of one another, and Chris, from Canada, who entertained me on the very long walk back down the 299 steps of the observation tower.
From there, I traveled a few feet away to the Mirror Maze - created for the World's Fair Exhibition. It was entertaining - especially watching the 4 years olds walk smack into a plate of glass, fall to the floor, and burst out into giggles.
I had a fabulous lunch where I actually ate some red meat - the first time since coming to Prague.
Sunday
Sunday was amazing. Amanda and I met early to go to Kutna Hora, a small village about 75 kilometers from Prague. We managed to traverse the crazy rail system and got to the village in time to follow all the other tourists to the Bone church. Along the way, we discovered a Phillip Morris cigarette museum, housed beside and underneath a gorgeous old church, which supposedly, Phillip Morris paid to renovate. Amanda and I were pretty humored about the whole thing and snapped several pictures of the small museum.
We then trekked to Kostnice - the bone ossuary and cathedral. I have never seen anything like it. Both Amanda and I thought it was one of the coolest places we had ever been. Having toured the catacombs in Rome, I thought I was prepared, but seeing the bones arranged so artistically was overwhelming. The story of the church can be found here. It's pretty great. I really cannot say much about it - it was so striking in person, but I highly recommend you check out the photos. I think the one of Flat Amanda and Flat Sara in front of the bone ossuary is pretty priceless.
Amanda and I bought a few trinkets at a small crystal shop outside the churce and met. . .the Czech Bill Clinton. When trying to describe where we are from, I finally said, "you know, where President Clinton is from." That got him excited since he said that people says he looks like Bill Clinton. He knew how tall President Clinton is, how much he weighs, his birthday, and a whole range of other information because, for so many years, people were stopping him on the street to get his autograph. At one point, about 15 years ago, he was living in San Francisco and was being stopped so frequently that he went into a barber shop and asked them to buzz off all his hair. I decided I needed a picture of him, so Amanda kindly snapped one for me.
After that, Amanda and I toured the village, seeing the Cathedral of St. Barnabus and an amazing chapel carved below the ground in the stone. I also managed to buy two, count them - TWO - pairs of shoes for $12. Prague has been pretty pricey, so this was extremely exciting. I will take a picture of my new green tennis shoes as soon as I get to wear them.
Amanda and I finally got back to Prague after some concern that we were on the wrong train, managed to have a fantastic dinner at an Indian restaurant (sooooo good), and went to the Peach Pit (named after the bar in 90210) for some wine with Amanda's new friend. I made it home super late, with a very bad sunburn, but I couldn't have asked for a better weekend.
Other News
Congrats to my very best friend in the world, Elise, on her wedding on Saturday. I wish I had been there, but my mom says it was awesome. I am so happy for Luke and Elise and wish them all the best in their new life as husband and wife.
I woke up Saturday morning all prepared to head out to the Jewish quarter. I was craving some Matzo ball soup, and I was super excited to see if any of the Czech restaurants make it as well as I do. Of course, about 15 minutes on the bus ride there, I remembered that it was, in fact, Saturday and nothing would be open. So, I quickly changed my plans.
I have attached a slideshow of the morning's events. I went to the other side of the Prague Castle to try and glipse this wall of rocks that Amanda and I had seen from afar two weeks ago, but I failed to find it. Instead, I found the main castle gates and the Loreto, this unbelievable church. Unfortunately, I could not take pictures in side the Loreto, but you can see some photos here. Yes, the Czech say Loreta, and we say Loreto - just another one of those things. You can see some of the pictures I took of the outside, but the coolest thing inside was the replica of Mary's house and the alter to Mary. The female symbolism throughout was intriguing.
From the Loreto, I hiked up a massive hill to an observation tower on the top - sort of a mini-Eiffel tower. I took tons of photos and met several Indian men who actually live in Phoenix, a lovely woman from Liverpool who walked around with me so we could take photos of one another, and Chris, from Canada, who entertained me on the very long walk back down the 299 steps of the observation tower.
From there, I traveled a few feet away to the Mirror Maze - created for the World's Fair Exhibition. It was entertaining - especially watching the 4 years olds walk smack into a plate of glass, fall to the floor, and burst out into giggles.
I had a fabulous lunch where I actually ate some red meat - the first time since coming to Prague.
Sunday
Sunday was amazing. Amanda and I met early to go to Kutna Hora, a small village about 75 kilometers from Prague. We managed to traverse the crazy rail system and got to the village in time to follow all the other tourists to the Bone church. Along the way, we discovered a Phillip Morris cigarette museum, housed beside and underneath a gorgeous old church, which supposedly, Phillip Morris paid to renovate. Amanda and I were pretty humored about the whole thing and snapped several pictures of the small museum.
We then trekked to Kostnice - the bone ossuary and cathedral. I have never seen anything like it. Both Amanda and I thought it was one of the coolest places we had ever been. Having toured the catacombs in Rome, I thought I was prepared, but seeing the bones arranged so artistically was overwhelming. The story of the church can be found here. It's pretty great. I really cannot say much about it - it was so striking in person, but I highly recommend you check out the photos. I think the one of Flat Amanda and Flat Sara in front of the bone ossuary is pretty priceless.
Amanda and I bought a few trinkets at a small crystal shop outside the churce and met. . .the Czech Bill Clinton. When trying to describe where we are from, I finally said, "you know, where President Clinton is from." That got him excited since he said that people says he looks like Bill Clinton. He knew how tall President Clinton is, how much he weighs, his birthday, and a whole range of other information because, for so many years, people were stopping him on the street to get his autograph. At one point, about 15 years ago, he was living in San Francisco and was being stopped so frequently that he went into a barber shop and asked them to buzz off all his hair. I decided I needed a picture of him, so Amanda kindly snapped one for me.
After that, Amanda and I toured the village, seeing the Cathedral of St. Barnabus and an amazing chapel carved below the ground in the stone. I also managed to buy two, count them - TWO - pairs of shoes for $12. Prague has been pretty pricey, so this was extremely exciting. I will take a picture of my new green tennis shoes as soon as I get to wear them.
Amanda and I finally got back to Prague after some concern that we were on the wrong train, managed to have a fantastic dinner at an Indian restaurant (sooooo good), and went to the Peach Pit (named after the bar in 90210) for some wine with Amanda's new friend. I made it home super late, with a very bad sunburn, but I couldn't have asked for a better weekend.
Other News
Congrats to my very best friend in the world, Elise, on her wedding on Saturday. I wish I had been there, but my mom says it was awesome. I am so happy for Luke and Elise and wish them all the best in their new life as husband and wife.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Catching Up
Okay, so the last few days have been hectic. . .
Here's what I've been up to. . .
Wednesday
I finished up work and headed into town to attend a protest at the Chinese embassy. Given that it was the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, Amnesty International, along with the Burma Center, laid out flowers and candles in front of the famous tank picture across the street from the embassy. They also wrote a letter to the Ambassador to China, asking him to stop the injustices done to the mothers of Tiananmen, who have been threatened for their appeals to talk about what happened on that day. The turnout was rather small, given the rainy weather, but it was interesting to note that the police came out in full force to oversee the small group of people, peacefully demonstrating in the street.
After the demonstration, I went to tea with Gwen from Peacework and my partners at the Burma Center. We discussed my work for the summer and put together a plan of action. They are so incredibly passionate about the Democracy School and their vision is big and very intricate. In turn, I asked if I could help them by creating a sort of "project toolkit" with the necessary paperwork, timelines, etc. that they need in order to get a project of this size underway. They know what they want to do at the School - I will work on the how. I promised them that I could get them a solid binder of information and resources by the end of the summer - so that's my plan.
Thursday
After putting in a couple of hours at CEELI, I headed to Praha 6 to visit with Iva (my host) at the School of Arts that she teaches at, to help with a project on Flat Stanley. The school, Zakladni Umelecka Skola, is absolutely beautiful - an old villa that has been converted into an after-school center for visual art, music, and drama. Children 5 to 17 come to the school after finishing their daily studies and work on various projects that have city-wide recognition. Iva, as a painter, works with these children on various projects ranging from sculpture to portraiture, and the students often have exhibitions showing throughout the nation.
After showing Iva my Flat Stanley, Dean and Eric, she decided that she would have her students also create Flat Stanleys and create a project out of it. I showed up at the school about an hour before class was to start, and made 40 Flat boys and girls. The children arrived and after Iva announced that I spoke only English, the giggling and whispering ensued and children were pushed forth by their friends to say "hello" and "where are you from?" in shy English. Lots of smiles, goofy faces, and sharing of red colored pencils later, we were good friends.
After finishing their Flats, the children and I ran around outside taking pictures of their creations - on the stairs, in the grass, and especially in the trees. One young man climbed a 14 foot ladder to get his Flat in just the right spot. Iva didn't seem concerned about lawsuits, so I just smiled and snapped the picture as quickly as possible. With about 30 minutes left, Iva sneakly said something to the children in Czech and we headed back to the room, where the children began drawing, coming up to me periodically to peer at my face and measure my eyes with their fingers. Each of them created a black and white portrait of me. I was amazed at how beautiful I looked in their pictures - until some of them started shading in smile lines and wrinkles. :) However, the portraits are all quite memorable and I will cherish them for a long time to come. I will post pictures of those as soon as they are done being sprayed to keep the charcoal shading in place. All in all, I remembered how much I love working with kids, being a teacher, and having a classroom - and it made me miss my Bronx kiddos.
Finally, after all of that, I was in the throngs of a full-blown migraine, but trekked back to Praha 2 to have dinner with Jenne and Gwen from Peacework, Amanda, and an intern at the Peacework office. We ate an amazing dinner and mojitos at Radost FX - an all vegetarian restaurant. After some great conversation, I had to bow out because my migraine had gotten to that "get-in-bed-NOW" point, and I made the long haul back to Uholicky where I promptly passed out.
All in all, it has been a great few days. I'm ready for a nice relaxing weekend and working out my itinerary for the rest of my time here. Hope things are well for all of you!
Here's what I've been up to. . .
Wednesday
I finished up work and headed into town to attend a protest at the Chinese embassy. Given that it was the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, Amnesty International, along with the Burma Center, laid out flowers and candles in front of the famous tank picture across the street from the embassy. They also wrote a letter to the Ambassador to China, asking him to stop the injustices done to the mothers of Tiananmen, who have been threatened for their appeals to talk about what happened on that day. The turnout was rather small, given the rainy weather, but it was interesting to note that the police came out in full force to oversee the small group of people, peacefully demonstrating in the street.
After the demonstration, I went to tea with Gwen from Peacework and my partners at the Burma Center. We discussed my work for the summer and put together a plan of action. They are so incredibly passionate about the Democracy School and their vision is big and very intricate. In turn, I asked if I could help them by creating a sort of "project toolkit" with the necessary paperwork, timelines, etc. that they need in order to get a project of this size underway. They know what they want to do at the School - I will work on the how. I promised them that I could get them a solid binder of information and resources by the end of the summer - so that's my plan.
Thursday
After putting in a couple of hours at CEELI, I headed to Praha 6 to visit with Iva (my host) at the School of Arts that she teaches at, to help with a project on Flat Stanley. The school, Zakladni Umelecka Skola, is absolutely beautiful - an old villa that has been converted into an after-school center for visual art, music, and drama. Children 5 to 17 come to the school after finishing their daily studies and work on various projects that have city-wide recognition. Iva, as a painter, works with these children on various projects ranging from sculpture to portraiture, and the students often have exhibitions showing throughout the nation.
After showing Iva my Flat Stanley, Dean and Eric, she decided that she would have her students also create Flat Stanleys and create a project out of it. I showed up at the school about an hour before class was to start, and made 40 Flat boys and girls. The children arrived and after Iva announced that I spoke only English, the giggling and whispering ensued and children were pushed forth by their friends to say "hello" and "where are you from?" in shy English. Lots of smiles, goofy faces, and sharing of red colored pencils later, we were good friends.
After finishing their Flats, the children and I ran around outside taking pictures of their creations - on the stairs, in the grass, and especially in the trees. One young man climbed a 14 foot ladder to get his Flat in just the right spot. Iva didn't seem concerned about lawsuits, so I just smiled and snapped the picture as quickly as possible. With about 30 minutes left, Iva sneakly said something to the children in Czech and we headed back to the room, where the children began drawing, coming up to me periodically to peer at my face and measure my eyes with their fingers. Each of them created a black and white portrait of me. I was amazed at how beautiful I looked in their pictures - until some of them started shading in smile lines and wrinkles. :) However, the portraits are all quite memorable and I will cherish them for a long time to come. I will post pictures of those as soon as they are done being sprayed to keep the charcoal shading in place. All in all, I remembered how much I love working with kids, being a teacher, and having a classroom - and it made me miss my Bronx kiddos.
Finally, after all of that, I was in the throngs of a full-blown migraine, but trekked back to Praha 2 to have dinner with Jenne and Gwen from Peacework, Amanda, and an intern at the Peacework office. We ate an amazing dinner and mojitos at Radost FX - an all vegetarian restaurant. After some great conversation, I had to bow out because my migraine had gotten to that "get-in-bed-NOW" point, and I made the long haul back to Uholicky where I promptly passed out.
All in all, it has been a great few days. I'm ready for a nice relaxing weekend and working out my itinerary for the rest of my time here. Hope things are well for all of you!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Just wanted to share. . .
On my long walk up the hill today, it started to rain. My bag was insanely heavy, since I went grocery shopping (you have to buy grocery bags or bring your own - so nearly everyone brings their own) and my feet had sprouted two new blisters from the walk this morning. But I couldn't stop smiling because I walked past an area where it smelled like manure (bear with me - I know this is sounding really bizarre), and I suddenly wanted to go horseback riding. Now, I hate horses. I'm actually a bit frightened of them, and I haven't gone riding since I was in the 7th grade. I don't like their teeth and I don't like sitting up so high and I have terrible, horrible memories of 3rd grade birthday parties where all the girls wanted to be cowgirls and all I wanted was to get the heck off the horse. But all of a sudden, I had this desperate urge to go riding, to try it again.
I wasn't afraid of it anymore. Or of anything I could think of. . .
In the past year, I have:
*Moved 2000 miles away from the person I love most, to a town where I knew no one, and this wasn't the first time I'd taken that risk.
*Done introductions for people far more famous than I will ever be in front of hundreds of people including those people I know to be my harshest critics and my best friends.
*Attempted to speak a language I'd never heard spoken until 2 weeks ago
*Tamed a Marten - well, not yet, but I'm going to
*Not quit
*Went canoeing and fell in
*"Fixed" my car
*Been so sad I didn't think I'd make it through another night
*Been so happy I couldn't think straight
And I realize this sounds all so sacharine and that these things mean so little in the light of all of the amazing things that so many of the people I know do on a regular basis, but I've always been so afraid of everything, and today, for the first time in a very long time, I was not afraid and wanted to do something absolutely ridiculous, even if I looked like a complete idiot. So, I didn't get to ride a horse, because let's face it, I live on the side of a mountain and I don't even know where the manure smell is coming from, but I felt like I could. And that's a big deal.
I wasn't afraid of it anymore. Or of anything I could think of. . .
In the past year, I have:
*Moved 2000 miles away from the person I love most, to a town where I knew no one, and this wasn't the first time I'd taken that risk.
*Done introductions for people far more famous than I will ever be in front of hundreds of people including those people I know to be my harshest critics and my best friends.
*Attempted to speak a language I'd never heard spoken until 2 weeks ago
*Tamed a Marten - well, not yet, but I'm going to
*Not quit
*Went canoeing and fell in
*"Fixed" my car
*Been so sad I didn't think I'd make it through another night
*Been so happy I couldn't think straight
And I realize this sounds all so sacharine and that these things mean so little in the light of all of the amazing things that so many of the people I know do on a regular basis, but I've always been so afraid of everything, and today, for the first time in a very long time, I was not afraid and wanted to do something absolutely ridiculous, even if I looked like a complete idiot. So, I didn't get to ride a horse, because let's face it, I live on the side of a mountain and I don't even know where the manure smell is coming from, but I felt like I could. And that's a big deal.
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