The Kolej

I have had many occasions where people ask me about my dorm so since there is not to much going on this week, I figured it would be interesting to make a post about it. I'm not going to lie, on September 7th, when we pulled up, it took me a while to believe this was where I would be spending the next four months. I don't mean to sound ungrateful, it was just a little shocking. We live in a "kolej" which translates to student dormitory. It was constructed during the communist era in Prague, so it is simple and slightly bland on the outside. The rooms were bigger then we expected, but bigger does not always mean better! Our mattresses are very thin, and are more of a pad than an actual mattress. There are four girls that live in each suit. When you walk into the room, there is an area to hang coats, the "WC" which is the bathroom, a shower room, A small kitchenette, and two bedrooms. It is quite roomy. The bathroom is very little. There is about enough room to shut the door, spin in a circle and sit down. To flush, you put a handle that is attached to a container of water mounted to the wall. You have to close the lid before you flush, or needless to say, splashing occurs ( I learned from experience upon arriving here :). The bedrooms are very communist, for lack of a better term. Everything in the room is marked with a six digit number, so the room feels very "rented." We have pretty standard furniture, a bed, wardrobe closet, chair and a desk. It is plenty. They supply a pillow, sheet, and a blanket, which is great because I didn't being any of those. They have maids here who come every day and change the garbage, mop the floors, and every three weeks give us clean bedding. They are always really sweet, though they don't speak english, so not to much communication occurs. I am still adjusting to how common it is to smoke anywhere here. People can walk around anywhere in the Kolej and smoke. It is crazy considering how strict the US has become. There is unique smell inside of the rooms, and up until a few days ago we had no idea what it was. Last weekend three rooms flooded, and the girls were freaking out, called the resident director, and were stunned at how calm she was. Come to find out the Kolej floods often, and as a result there is now mildew in the walls. They said they will probably have to start looking for a new building to host the international students next year for health and safety reasons. I thought that was so crazy, so now I'm paranoid to leave anything on the ground. When I leave I try to put stuff on my desk, chair, or bed. I brought so many clothes, it probably would not hurt to lose a few articles of clothing though haha. As far as I can tell, the kolej is in a good, safe area of town. It is located about fifteen minutes outside of the downtown area, so we just walk up the street a few blocks and catch a tram. It is in a nice area, especially right now with all the fall leaves everywhere. There is a park across the street, and a few little markets throughout the neighborhood. A guy from Cincinnati moved to Prague and started a restaurant right behind the Kolej, which was a genius idea because he gets a lot of business from all of the international students here. Its not healthy food, but it sure tastes good. At night when we are walking around, and I see a homeless person sleeping on a bench, or on the street, suddenly I feel so thankful for the "communist bland" place that I get to come back to every night! 

My Trip to Budapest, Hungary

This past weekend, me and a few friends took a bus ride to Hungary. We have an awesome school schedule, which means no classes on Thursday or Friday, so Wednesday night we stayed up all night and then left at 5 am to head to the bus stop. The ride was interesting. There are times that I look out the window and feel like I'm in the US in a rural area, because it looks so similar. From prague to Hungary was about nine hours, but the bus was a lot like flying. There was a hostess, who served snacks and a drink. There was also movies which were in English, so the ride went by quickly. When we arrived, we spent about an hour walking around trying to find out hostel. We finally stumbled upon it, threw our stuff in the room, and headed back out to find some food. We at at this little greek place that had really good food. Everyone had a gyro, and I had a greek salad and some cheese bread. It totally hit the spot. We then wandered around the city. As with most European cities, Budapest had an incredible castle. It even had a moat surrounding it, which was still maintained. We spent a while there, just observing the amazing architechture and of course did the tourist photo taking. We spent the rest of the evening exploring the city near our hostel and then headed back, because all of the yawning got the best of us due to our no sleep. The next morning we woke up at nine and headed out to greet the day. We bought a tram pass so that we could go farther and not waste so much time walking. We rode the tram in the downtown area, and were instantly amused. The city was so incredible. Aside from the immaculate buildings and beautiful scenery, the people were so friendly. As I have mentioned before, Czech people are not fans of tourists. They are usually quite unfriendly, but the Hungarian people seemed excited that we were there. They asked questions, and went out of their way to make us feel welcome. It was also possible to cross the street in a crosswalk and have the drivers actually stop and let you safely cross. In Prague, it is a daily risk to cross the street :). Anyway, after we walked around what we thought were the important spots to see, we decided it would be fun to experience the thermal spas that Budapest is known for. The country is basically sitting on top of a hot spring, and the have developed spas where the water is pulled up and left untreated. When we walked into the building, it was really quite funny, because it did not look like the location for a spa at all. The building was very large and ornate looking. It had large columns and the ceiling was beautifully painted. It looked just like a museum, but people were walking around in speedos and white robes. There were four areas in this particular building. There was a pool inside, and a spa (hot tub) next to it, and then the same set up was outside up on top of the building. It was such a pretty view. We were there for almost three hours. It felt so good since we had been walking basically that whole day. Afterwards, we were quite hungry so we had this restaurant on while we were walking. It had to of been one of the best meals I have had since being in Europe. It was just pasta with vegetables, but for some reason, it was amazing. We also got desert. I had chocolate crepes which was so yummy. We walked back to the hostel, and met a guy who was staying the night there as well. We went out to this pub where everyone had a few beers (no worry I had one mixed drink and stuck to juice :) and the guy came along with us. He is from England and had been traveling for almost nine months. We asked him where he was going next and he didn't know, so we told him he should come see Prague, and he is now coming in three days. Its so crazy that some people have no schedule or commitments, and just plan their lives one day at a time. Saturday, we woke up to a rainy day. We walked to a little cafe and had tea and a muffin and spent the morning just talking. I have really come to adore my new friends. They are such awesome people, and we have a blast together. We stopped in a few shops and bought some souvenirs and then headed back to the hostel to pack. Chelsea and I left a day earlier then the boys because the bus for today (sunday) was sold out. We slept for half the ride and then just talked the other half. We finally pulled into Prague at about 11:30 last night. It amazes me that we have only lived here for about a month, yet getting back last night was such a relief and a comfort to be somewhere familiar again. Hungary was a blast, but so far nothing beats Prague! 

The Start of a New School Year

It blows my mind that here it is October, and I'm just now starting school. In one way, it is sad end to a long summer break, and in another way I'm excited to be back to a routine and be productive. I was mistaken in thinking the professors were from the US. They are all Czech citizens which has proved to make classes a little difficult. It is funny because whenever we talk to anyone around here who speaks English, they always ask us to slow down because our "American accent" is too strong. My initial response is to think that I do not have an accent, but of course to them I do. The teachers here are all fluent in English, but there is definitely still a language barrier. They all speak with thick accents, and very quickly, so we often have to ask them to repeat themselves or to slow down. It is not easy to zone out during class, because everyone is so concentrated just trying to understand what they are saying. It has been interesting thus far, but I'm sure as time goes on we will begin to better understand each other's accent. I'm taking five classes while I'm here. One of them was my immersion language class, which only lasted two weeks, but was five hours a day, for ten days. It was a lot to learn, but I'm really happy with it, because I can now get around the city and ask questions in Czech. I am also taking Sociology of Globalization, Psychology of Nutrition, Personalities in Times of Transition, and Art and Architecture. I am really happy with my classes so far. I go to class Monday-Wednesday, which is nice to have such long weekends, but classes are three hours long. I have about 9 weeks of classes and then a week of finals. I am thinking it is going to fly by. I am kind of a nerd who enjoys school, so I'm actually really excited to get going with my classes. 

I am leaving in the morning for Budapest, Hungary. I am going to be there until Sunday. I am traveling with four other people, whom are also in the same program as me. We found a safe and affordable hostel so it should be an awesome time. For all those who have not heard, I was finally approved for my visa, Praise the Lord! In the upcoming weeks, I will be going to Germany in a few weeks, Poland in the beginning of November, and then to Austria a few weeks later. I feel so blessed and privileged  to be able to do all of this. Thats all for now. This picture is of my school, Charles University. Sorry for the random people in the picture, but there are so many people here that is is quite difficult to get a picture with no one in the way! 

COLDPLAY!

So last night I went to the Coldplay concert, which for those of you who do not know who they are, go buy their CD now, because they are amazing. The show was in the o2 Arena in Prague, which was such a big place. Since we had no idea what the ticket said, we had a hard time finding out seat. We looked like lost puppies, and we could not ask any of the ushers because they did not speak english either. After we finally found our seats, we anxiously awaited for the band to make their appearance. When they finally did, everyone went crazy, and I mean CRAZY! It was so loud, but don't let me fool you into thinking we did not contribute to the noise! The band is so incredible. They played so many great songs. I wondered how all the Czech people, who was basically everyone besides us, got into the music since it was in English, which was refreshing to hear. After the show, the subway was crammed so tight with people. I was pretty claustrophobic, but I just watched the videos of the band, and made it through the ride. Overall, it was an amazing night! 

Czech, Colds, and Confessions

First off, sorry I have not posted in a while. To be completely honest, not much has happened lately. On Monday I began my Czech language course, which I went to Monday thru Friday for five hours a day. Just a random fact that expresses my frustration with the class: It has been said that Czech is the third hardest language to learn, following the African click, and Hungarian. This language is almost impossible. The only comfort I have in taking this class, is that everyone is just as bad at it as me! I have one more week of it, and then I'm done. I did learn basic phrases such as "Dekuju" which is "thanks" and "Prosim" which is please, but other then that, its all really a blur. Instead of just teaching us basic phrases that we need such as ordering food, or asking where the bathroom is, they are teaching us adjective tenses (affirmative and negative) and noun genders (male, Feminine, and Neutor). Needless to say, I will not be coming home speaking Czech :) 

Then yesterday both Meredith and I woke up with bad colds. We knew we had it coming, since they told us in orientation to go ahead and buy cold medicine ahead of time, because almost everyone gets sick due to the stress on the body from culture shock. They were completely right, almost everyone here is sick right now. We are being hermits in our rooms, bundled in whatever clean laundry we can find, watching movies. It is nice to get in some good rest every once in a while.

So now that I have explained the first two topics in my title, let me explain the confessions portion. I am having a BLAST here. It has been more fun that I had anticipated. I have meet the nicest people, learned how to interact in a entirely different culture, and even learned some Czech on the way! But here is my confession...I'M SOOOOOO HOMESICK! There I said it! Whew. That may not come as a surprise to some of you, but its very true. It could just be that I'm frustrated with this language course, and enduring a bad cold, but the fact of the matter is, I long for a hug from my mommy, and a good night sleep in my own bed. 

Now, do not let this alarm you. I am doing just fine. I knew I would be really homesick here, I mean come on, the most I go without seeing my family is one to two weeks, where as most college students only see their families on breaks and during the summer. However, I know that this experience is helping me grow up a lot. I am learning to do things completely by myself, which is something I know little about thanks to my parents and joe who constantly are helping me! I know that I am going to walk away from this experience so glad that I did it, as I can already see growth within myself, but know that all of you are so important to me and I miss you VERY much! 

My Weekend in Morovia

This past weekend, we took a trip to Moravia, which is a small historic region in central Europe, east in the Czech Republic. Friday we left early in the morning. It just so happened to be my birthday, so the whole bus sang to me. It was a lot of fun. We got there around 4 in the evening. Charter buses are comfortable, but nothing compared to a bed. Meredith and I headed straight for our hotel room and grabbed a nap. Before we knew it, it was 5:30. The charter bus took us into the heart of Brno, which was the city nearest us for some dinner. We walked around for a while and finally settled on this restaurant that looked nice. One thing I have learned is how different the service is over here. When I ask a waiter for something they act in a way as if they are going out of their way for you. Another difference is that this culture views meals as more than just eating, but as a time of fellowship with one another, therefore meals are expected to be a lengthy process. We were seated for about an hour and a half before we received our food. It has been an adjustment, but now we all enjoy the time. That night, being that I was officially 21, everyone wanted me to get drunk. Drinking is not really my thing, but in celebration I had one drink, and tasted a few others. Overall it was a good birthday, however I really missed my family, friends, and of course the love of my life Joe! Saturday we woke up early with lots of things to do. We toured the city of Brno with a tour guide, went to a cathedral, and toured a monastery. The best part of the day was that our program AIFS, rented out a restaurant in a wine cellar. It was so beautiful. They served wine with dinner, and had a wine tasting with grapes and cheese. It felt so classy. Sunday, we had a early check-out and headed for the road. We stopped off at a cave, which was discovered in the early 1900s. We walked through the caves and were able to take photos, and visually explore the sites. I thought it was so pretty. Then we boarded a boat and went for a boat ride through the cave, which  of course was a blast. Unfortunetly, I, not lots of people, were not dressed for the very cold weather, but we still had so much fun. The bus ride home was a mixture of catnaps and good conversations. Though I have only been here for two weeks, the apartment felt so nice to come back to. This weekend was a lot of fun! However, the intensive Czech language course began this morning, so vacation is over and now I must study hard because this language is no walk in the park. 

My First Day Off

I am so excited that today I had absolutely nothing planned as far as tours or excursions. Since I left the US I have been on a schedule. Daily, we go on tours, trips, and special events. Don't get me wrong, everything so far has been incredible to experience, but it is nice once in a while to have a lazy day, and when I say lazy I mean LAZY! The day begin with me sleeping in until noon! It was so great so sleep until I naturally woke up, versus running around, grabbing whatever I can find for breakfast, and boarding a bus full of students. Meredith and I both took our time getting read. Okay okay I didn't really get ready. I pulled a sweatshirt over my head, threw on some jeans, and pulled my hair into a ponytail. We headed out to the tram to catch a ride to the city. We had coffee, shopped a little (I finally found a purse with a zipper), and then headed back to the apartments. We both spent some time on the internet, and then had some friends over for dinner.  If you don't go out to eat, it is a little hard to find things to eat. I had a piece of pita bread with lettuce and a slice of Gouda cheese. It was interesting. We then went for a walk around the city. Can I just remark how gorgeous Prague is at night! Its seriously unreal. We went up by the Prague Castle and over to the Cathedral. I literally stand with my head cocked straight up for minutes and minutes just starring at the intricate detail. It was incredible. We headed back and now I'm packing for the weekend. We are taking a three day trip to Moravia, which I'm so excited about. I'm really loving it her more and more. I try my best not to let myself get to homesick by staying busy. Tomorrow may be a little tough since its my birthday and I'm so far away. I have met amazing friends who I know are going to make it special! Thats it for now! 

Terizin

Today we went on different trips all over the city. The trip I went on was to the two of Terizin. Terizin is a area that was inhabitated with a large Jewish population. We toured all over the city. We began in the heart of the city, which was called town square. It was little, but nice. Later we walked up to a museum, and if you have ever been to a Holocaust museum, you can can relate to the heaviness I felt as I walked around looking at the images. We got to visit the towns chapel, as well as a few other buildings. Then the hard part started. We took a short bus ride to the concentration camp that was built in the town. We stopped off and walked along the railroad tracks that carried the Jews from the town to various concentration camps. Our guide explained that the Jews had no idea where they were being taken at first. It was so hard to listen to these words, now knowing the fate that most of them had ahead of them. We actually got to go inside the camp and see where they lived. They slept in wooden bunk beds, four aligning the width. I will never complain about my hard bed here in Prague again. We also go to see where the resistant Jews were put in solitary confinement. The room was so small, and cold. There were words on the brick walls of the camp that read in English, "Work Will Liberate You." We all know that was deceitful lies. I can only imagine the hope they felt as they read those words. We also went into a room that had metal piping hanging from the ceiling. Our guide asked us what we thought the room was, and we all could tell it was there they showered. He said sadly no, though thats what the soldiers wanted people to think. The Red Cross would tour the facilities, so the soldiers would fake them out and put in "humane" features, but in reality, none of the Jews were allowed to shower in there. I was disgusted when I heard that. The part of the tour that was the hardest was when we walked through an underground tunnel, which our guide explained was the tunnel to death. The Jews would walk through this tunnel hand-cuffed, knowing their life would soon end. As we walked the half mile, there was little noise. I imagined what went through their heads, and what they were feeling inside. When the end of the tunnel came, there was three structures. A grassy knoll in front of a brick wall, which the Jews would be forced to stand and be shot, a station where they were hung, and the gas chamber. The whole day was obviously humbling. I feel so grateful for everything I have. I do not understand how the German soldiers justified what they were doing. All I know is that my heart breaks for each and every Jewish individual involved. 

The Beautiful City of Prague

Its official....I'm in love with Prague. Its so beautiful here. The streets are made of cobblestone and brick. The buildings are either castles or extremely ornate. It almost seems like an unreal place. However the insane amount of smoke, car honking, and people shoving me out of the way quickly brings me back to reality. Almost everyone uses public transportation, whether it is the tram or the underground tracks, they are packed with people. Bring that we are Americans and everything is so new to us, the locals seem to be irritated with our constant picture taking and the always present "ohhhhs" and "ahhhhs." Being such a touristy city, one would think english would be more prevalent, but it is actually quite difficult to find someone who we can ask a  question or get some help from. Meredith (the girl who is also here from my school) keeps telling me I was too sheltered, because I am constantly taken back by the rudeness  of people. I just think everyone should respect every other persons space and presence. Apparently the people in Prague disagree with my thinking :). I have been trying to find a purse that zips, because pick pocketing is very common here. The locals will actually team up on a tourist and one will bump into them roughly, and while the tourist reacts, the other will grab their wallet, or other belongings. Still all of the negatives cannot over shadow the unique beauty that this city holds! 

Europe, I Have arrived!

Sorry I have not posted in forever! I have not had an internet connection until ten minutes ago. First off, Thanks for all the prayers for my safe traveling. I had no problems. I first went to Munich, Germany for two days. It was such a pretty city. We went on a professional tour and visited a beer garden (no worries, beer is not my thing), which was so cool. Its a gathering of a huge group of people, who sit at picnic tables in a park and eat, drink, and get to know others. The food of course was much different that the US. They were into sausage, pretzels, and beer. Anything outside of that was hard to come by. The next day we drove in a charter bus to Prague. We stopped on the way at a brewery called "Pilsner," which is supposedly very famous. We had lunch there and pulled into our apartments around six. After we looked around a little, we found a really cheap pizza place and had some dinner. The language barrier is pretty tough. We do not live in the touristy part of Prague, so finding someone who speaks english is proving to be more and more difficult every day. The Czech people are not to friendly. The seem to be annoyed with out questions, and picture taking. As I begin to unpack, the realization that I am not going anywhere for four months is starting to hit me. This is it for now. I'll post more frequently now that I have internet!