collegeSo today begins the first day of actual classes. It is nice to start to have a regular routine here and a little structure to the days (but I assume I’ll regret writing that in a week). My excited to take four distinct classes that all have an intertwining theme: Prague and the Czech Republic. At home, last semester I studied international trade and we never left the seats of the auditorium. This time, in Prague, I’m learning about Czech economics and the EU development in Prague. The buildings and places are steps from the classrooms. I’m must excited for an anthropology class entitled Alternative Czech Culture. It combines a lot of field research with seminar and the professor is awesome. When communism fell in 1989, and before as well, there was a big underground culture in Prague. From music, to literature, to graffiti art, and nightclubs, many twentysomethings of the CR made a big impact of the city and its push for democracy. A lot of the clubs and music still exist and it will be great traveling around the city and learning.
This past Friday, as a conclusion to our Intensive Czech classes, we did a scavenger hunt around the city that took us to Petrin, a hill just east of the city center with some of the greatest views. For whatever reason (no guided tours until it is warmer out), the city of Prague has a replica of the Eiffel Tower that they use for some great views. Also up on the hill is an observatory and park that we will definitely return to when it isn’t 20 degrees out.
That night, the entire program went to an opera. The State Opera House was beautiful and the orchestra rocked, but I don’t have a single clue as to what the show was about. Something with a water world meeting the real world, The Little Mermaid type opera. Before the show, about 25 of us meet for dinner at a restaurant in my apartment building. It has been a blast meeting everyone and seeing people from different schools all around the country gel with one another. It was a little break from all the Czech cuisine and the pivo was traded for some Czech wine.
A buddy and I are both into seeing as many shows as possible while we are here, whether they be Czech bands or huge orchestras at the many theaters in town, so the opera was a good start and we are looking to see a show this week too. For students, tickets to major orchestras, operas, and plays are as little at $4 here, about $12 for a last minute decent seat.
On Saturday, I went with 4 friends to Plzen which is a town 90 miles west of Prague. It was nice to see another city and part of the country. We took a bus there that we got on last minute at 9 a.m. for $3 (love this city) and it was interesting to see the former communist housing blocks that still exist just 10 miles from the city center. Plzen was a very cool city, although since it depends mainly on tourism, and 90% of that between April and September, it was a little slow. It was great for us though, as it was nice to have a more authentic feel when we toured around as opposed to the summer tourist season. The city surrounds a main square with the largest church in the CR and we climbed to the top for some awesome views. There was also a synagogue and theater there that we were very cool, ancient buildings. We spent the morning walking around and had an authentic Czech lunch in town. There is awesome dish in CR that is basically a nice size grilled chicken breast fully wrapped in a potato latke. It is unreal and huge. They usually serve it with a small plate of sauerkraut, so they have combined 3 of my favorite foods. Plzen is hands down most famous for being the home of Pilsner beer and we took the tour in the afternoon. It is a half mile walk outside the city center and you walk through old gates from when the factory opened 200 years ago. They show you around the old brewery and the new one and the miles and miles of underground storage they used before good refrigeration.
We took a train home that took 2 hours, but had a big cabin to ourselves. Although more comfortable than the bus, I definitely suggest avoiding the train because of the wasted half an hour.
Sunday, or rather Monday, was the Superbowl as it started here at 1 a.m. I made it until the third quarter, and headed home at about 4 a.m. The sports bar was packed with the many expats living in Prague and Americans passing through the CR for the weekend. And the commercials? We didn’t see any of them as the game was shown live in Prague by the an English network. Big disappointment.
I just had Czech class and now I am waiting for my Czech Alternative Culture class to start. I don't have internet at my apt. so it is nice to have it at school now instead of bringing my laptop to an internet cafe.
For the past week we have been without hot water, which has been miserable to say the least. It was lukewarm and cold until yesterday when it felt like ice was pouring out. They swear to fix it tomorrow, but we will see. We have to tell the school and then the school has to contact the landlord, so it takes a while.
So besides all that, we are headed to Budapest, Hungary on Friday for our first trip. It should be a blast, but I’ve got to study up on the place first, as I admit I know nothing about the city.
Have to fun to class. Have fun, enjoy.
