Back home and happy

After 12 hours on a plane from Frankfurt and a couple more stamps in my passport, I finally made it back to San Francisco where my parents and my boyfriend were waiting for me.

It was sad to say goodbye to all the people I met there, but I think we will see each other again. Now all that is left is getting over jet lag and the reverse culture shock to come.

California was much like I remembered it, but some things still surprised me. Here's some of the more entertaining observations:

-In Millbrae, where our hotel was near the aiport in SF, we were driving around and I look out the window astonished. "All the buildings are so short!"

-Not having language as a barrier means you can hear everyone's asinine conversations in restaurants because people here are loud.

-Free water and refillable soda in restaurants! Yay! Although now I don't drink nearly as much soda with dinner ... where's my cheap Czech beer? :(

-Wal-Mart. Maybe you hate it, but I missed it. Sure, it's like Tesco in Prague, but here I can read all the labels and I actually recognize some of the products.

-Grocery stores where I can find the ingredients I need without consulting a dictionary!

-Lack of transportation: I was thinking this morning about taking a bus to see my brother. I don't think there is a bus that goes to Anderson. With gas at $4 a gallon I'll wait until he comes to Chico soon, but I will definitely miss the thorough public transportation system of Europe.

-Along the same line, I miss the trams. How am I supposed to get around? DRIVE? No wonder we produce so much pollution and use up so many resources. It's hard to not drive places.

Having a blast in Torino

Gionni, Sam and I at a statue in Torino.

Aside from brining back a cold, I had a great time in Torino. I met a friend of mine there from The Orion named Maegan Martins and she showed me around and let me crash at her place (even though I accidentally stole all the bed the first night). Here are the pictures from the trip, and also my YouTube video of London is up.

Torino isn't touristy at all (except for other Italians) and lacked all the touristy crap that you can find in Prague. It was nice to be in a place where no one spoke English because even I now know some Italian. The architecture was beautiful there and the piazzas were nice. There is always a market on the weekend with clothes, food and all sorts of stuff. Walking through it was enough for me: the people were loud and joking around, calling out to each other and to potential buyers. Very different from Prague. (Picture: The last standing Roman wall in Italy.)

It seemed like everyone had a little balcony to look out of and they always had lots of plants.
Flowers, bushes, leafy ones, it was very nice to see. Most people live in apartments and hang their clothes out to dry on their porches too, so out of Maegan's window I saw lots of green and lots of underwear.

There was also an International Food Festival going on the weekend I was there (a chocolate festival happened a few weeks before I came, sad I missed it). There were stands with food from many countries in Europe, the Czech Republic being one of them. There were some U.S. booths too but they sold tacky stuff and hamburgers. Go figure, eh? It was a lot of fun! Until lots of babies started crying, then we left.

I met Maegan's Italian boyfriend, Gionni (spelling? pronounced like Johnny), as well as three other Italian friends of hers. We had dinner at a seafood restaurant and I got "Fritto Misto" which was a plate of fried fish of all types. Filipo ate my fried sardines for me, because I just couldn't do it, heh.

I ate gelato and pizza, too. It's what you do in Italy, right? I also went to a club and danced with Maegan and her roommate Samantha.
The club was crowded and hot, but even Italian men dance in groups, so it was much different than Prague or the U.S. They dance without women, although they'd like to dance with women. Maegan told me that when they dance, the men try to kiss your neck. Creepy! That was way too far outside my comfort zone (and I'm sure Robert wouldn't appreciate it), so I decided to just dance with my friends. (Picture: Maegan and Gionni with Sam in back at the International Food Market)

Loving London and missing my folks

Mom and Dad are now safe and sound in the States again. They were here for a total of about 10 days but they saw nearly everything there is to see in Prague! They didn't do many museums or anything, but they saw the city and also Český Krumlov. (Just noticed the similarity the first photo with the picture hanging above us ... weird)

They wore me out but I'm really happy they came. I sometimes feel kind of alone here because there really isn't one I relate to in a strong way. No one to get my jokes or my sense of humour, except when Robert and my parents were here. Seeing them made me miss home and it made me realize how much we care about each other. I cried when they left but I'm sure I'll cry when I get back, too.

However, this last weekend after they left I took a solo trip to London. It was so nice to be in an English-speaking country again! I understood all the signs, most of what other people were saying and people were very nice when I asked for directions. I saw all the big sites: Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Big Ben/Parliament, Speaker's Corner. Also had a beer and ate fish and chips.

I went by myself, which made some of my family nervous, but it turned out fine. I did a lot of walking and wore myself out. If I could've afforded to drink, I might have. The exchange rate killed me; I spent a lot of money without even trying.

The highlight of the weekend was probably seeing Avenue Q. It's a Broadway play that started in the States. It's supposed to be like "Sesame Street grown up" and I've seen clips of it online. It's hilarious! Even better live! My only qualm with it was the actress who played Kate/Lucy wasn't as good as others I've seen online. She didn't use the puppet to show emotion, she used her face. Bad form.

I have a video coming soon, just need to edit it and what not. Look for it!

Parents in Prague having a great time

Mom and Dad made it to European soil safely! We've had an already very exciting time here, and their week is only half over.

They've taken a tour of the town and seen the Astronomical Clock, Old Town Square and the surrounding area, Charles Bridge, Fred and Ginger buildings, the Infant Child of Prague church, a quick look at the castle and more. I also had them trek up to Vyšehrad with me to get a good view of the city. I meant to take Robert there, but we ran out of time.

I've worn both of my parents out. It's 11:30 a.m. and Mom is still sleeping. Dad's had to take a few naps and has sore feet from all the walking (especially up to Vysehrad). We plan on going to Český Krumlov tomorrow, where I've been but is worth going again for just a day.

Dad also had his wallet stolen on the metro. The car was packed and we kept falling over so Dad took his hand from his front pocket to hold on. We stepped out of the metro and he realized it was gone. We looked at the open door of the metro with people still packed inside but we knew trying to get it back would cause more trouble. So we spent an hour canceling credit cards and then we went to the police station to file a report.

The biggest loss out of this is he will have to get a new driver's license (which means a trip to the DMV, boo), lost about $200 and his Mark Martin wallet. However, he still has his passport, $200 in Czech korun and no one was hurt. He also can't get his credit cards mailed here so he won't have them.

He put it in his front pocket (after I told him to not keep his passport or wallet in his back pocket) with rubber bands around it to make it harder to get out. You can't prevent everything, I guess.

Be back soon

I'm going on a five day trip today to Budapest and Vienna among other places, so I won't be updating for a few days. I will have my phone, so if you need to call me you can do so (like if Mom needs to discuss travel plans ...).

Also, I'm very excited that my parents are coming to visit next week! It's going to be so much fun!

Have a great weekend!

Prague is better than Berlin

Update: I have posted the photos of us here.

Robert and I have been having a blast together in Prague. For a day and a half, however, we took a trip to Berlin and I have to say that I must have fallen in love with Prague more than I had imagined because as nice as Berlin was, I definitely prefer the look and feel of Prague.

It also seemed as if fate tried to tell us not to take the trip at all. We missed the first two trains to Berlin - the first we were exactly a minute late for and the second we were at the wrong train station. However, determined as we are, we hopped on the third train to Berlin and were exhausted by the time we go there. We still had more trouble coming after that, because we got off at the wrong train station in Berlin and it took us about an hour and a half to find the hostel from there.

But we made it! We stayed at the Heart of Gold hostel, which to my delight is themed off the Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books. We didn't end up in one of the themed rooms but it looked spacey enough. There were jokes and puns on all reading material from the hostel. The biggest downfall is that the beds were cheap Ikea bunkbeds and sagged in the middle, making for a less-than-comfortable night's sleep. No one stayed in our six-bed room so we got it to ourselves.

The coolest part about it was the different covers of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books that were framed on the wall in different languages and from different decades. They also served Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters but we didn't have time for one. Also, Robert bought me a "DON'T PANIC" towel.

We went sight seeing the next morning after we arrived. Now, we didn't actually plan anything. We just decided to take the map the hostel gave us and go with it. We saw huge buildings that were government owned, such as Berlin's town hall and the Reichstag (pictured below), which holds their version of parliament. I mostly wanted to see the Berlin Wall, but was almost disappointed. From what I'd seen in the videos, it was the big gray wall that was broken up. Now it is covered in layers and layers of colorful graffiti, originally commissioned but now also vandalized. The power of the wall really only struck me when I got back to Prague.

By the way, Germany may be the original beer brewers but the Czechs do it better. We went to a 5-story club, Karlovy Lazne, near Charles Bridge where every floor had different kinds of music. Robert even liked the DJs that were mixing on most of the floors and he's quite the music snob. After a few drinks, we both got on the dance floor and shook what we had, which was probably amusing to those sober enough to notice :)

We made it to the top floor but not in the greatest of shape. We ended up walking all the way home because he didn't have a tram ticket, but we did get to stop by McDonald's at 4 a.m. to get burgers.

Last night we went to a drum and bass concert in Prague 8. We didn't stay for the whole show (it went on until 4 a.m. or so) but there was one very good mixer on the second floor.

To keep ourselves well-rounded, we are going to see the opera Carmen tonight. Yes, I'll even wear a dress. With heels. Brace yourself.

Green beer in Prague is delicious

To celebrate St. Patrick's Day, I did two things.

First, I went to a free concert in Old Town Square that had Irish dancing and also Poitin playing some Irish jigs. The weather was cold, cloudy and occasionally rainy but we made the best of it.

Lucy and I were in search of some cornbeef and cabbage, but to no avail. No one had even heard of it. Makes me wonder if it's really Irish. We went to Caffrey's Irish bar next to Old Town Square and it was too packed to even sit in, much less get food and beer.

The five of us then walked to Wenceslas Square (after I broke a painted egg at a stand and had to pay for it) to Rocky O'Reilly's bar. Everything was extraordinarily over priced and they didn't have cornbeef either. So we walked down the street to a non-Irish pub serving green beer.

Now the beer I saw at O'Reilly's had a little bit of green in the foam on top, but this bar, called Jama, had green beer. The entire thing was a dark green, perfect for St. Patty's Day. The advert promised "super prizes" for "participants" but our server had no idea what that meant. They may not have had cornbeef either, but at least we fulfilled our holiday obligation in drinking green beer (even if it wasn't Guinness).

Other than that, it is midterms week, and so I'm writing an essay and studying. Robert will be here in about a day and a half. Yay! Expect cute photos and other such things.

And I already called him, but once again: Happy Birthday Troy! You're my favorite big bro ;)

Street performers do Johnny Cash (video)

Here's a new video I posted today from Prague. There were four guys playing Folsom Prison Blues in Wenceslas Square for money on the first day of the Easter Market earlier this month. Don't worry, I gave them more korun than usual since I taped them. Seemed only fair, eh?

The Final Countdown (to Robert)!

I've got a four day countdown until Robert gets here and I'm excited showing him around and! It's going to be a lot of fun taking him to a bar since he can't even do that in the states. I've been making a list of what we can do while he's here, but we don't have to follow it. I just don't want to be stuck with not knowing where to go.

Sickness has passed by me a few times in the past week or so. There was a three-day migraine, then stomach/digestive problems and now a small cold. However, I'm pretty sure I'll be better when Robert gets here on Thursday.

The Easter market has started up as well. We took pictures on the steps there. It's mostly touristy stuff but it is still a good time. I'll have a video posted later :)

Anyways, there have been a few things going on since I last blogged. I have delved into Twitter head first and show no sign of returning. It's hard to explain, so I'll let this video do it for me, if you're interested.

I also participated in a women's march for International Women's Day on March 7. The day is actually on the eighth but that was a Saturday. I met the group of Czechs at the horse statue in Wencelelas Square in cold weather (I was in shorts because my roommates told me it was a warm day). There was a people dressed up: one as T.G.M., the first president of Czechoslovakia who was a feminist; his wife, a communist and a Nazi. Also, an eccentric man who lead most of the march wearing a white shirt and a red bra on the outside, much to some people's disappoint. Maybe it should be a Czech woman instead?

As a symbolic move they do every year, they march to a building close to the square to protest. The building was originally used by the feminist movement before the occupation, and then the Nazis took it over. Once the march arrived at the place, a man dressed as a Nazi posted a notice in Czech stating it had been taken over.

After the Nazis left, the communists took over the building. So, another person dressed up, this time as a communist, posted another notice up stating it was communist property. The building is actually now a theatre and the owner came out to say "ahoj" so I don't think it is meant in malice.

The only reason I knew what was going on is because my gender studies professor was there. She's a British woman who has lived here for many years and translated the events for me. We went and had some tea and wine at the Lucerna Cafe and I warmed up a bit.

As for today, I went to Petrin Hill for a picnic with Kathy, Gabi and Krystal. We ate cheese, bread and fruit and drank wine. It was a good day and now we're watching Alvin and the Chipmunks and High School Musical 2. Don't ask, I really don't know why.

On meeting new people

The way the new USAC program is structured has made it hard for me to meet students who aren't from the United States. I have gone out of my way to try to meet people, with some success!

First, I met Klara at the Blind Eye. She's a more unconventional Czech in that she is very talkative and has told me some rather personal details of her life but I always have a good time with her the few times we've hung out. She works at Bohemia Bagel and I've visited her at work when she was bored.

Second, I met Ksenia. She's a Russian student who I briefly mentioned before I met at the international party I wasn't supposed to be attending. I love what she said about people from the States:

"Your chatty guys but you don't open up your soul, your heart."

It's very true. She said she went to the States but was unable to make real friends because our friendships tend to be many but more shallow. I know her pain because I have trouble myself making deep connections with other people from the States because getting to that point can be hard. I actually need to call Ksenia this weekend ...

Third, I met Alena today. I put up a tandem advert for a language exchange with a student and she is one of the ones that responded. We met at a cafe/bar that I'd only been to once before and talked about Czech culture, music, the State elections and education. She was shocked when I told her that we aren't encouraged to learn another language and our first opportunity to learn is in high school, way past the recommended age. She said the debate in the Czech Republic is whether it is better to start at age four or six!

I can see why she was shocked. I would have loved to have the opportunity to learn Spanish or some other language when I was young so I would be fluent in it by now. Although the way the world is turning, it might be better to learn Chinese.

In sickness and in health

Update: added picture of Karlovy Vary trip taken with Kathy's camera.

I apparently ate something that my stomach did not agree with because my digestive system has been less than pleased the past two days. I still feel a bit sick but I am overall feeling a bit better. However, the day is young.

I visited Karlovy Vary on Saturday through USAC and it was cold and boring. The town is famous for its hot springs and we were lead to believe we could swim in one, but it was actually an outdoor swimming pool that has a third of its water from the springs. It looked nice, but it was way too cold to swim. No pictures, I forgot my camera.

We also visited the Becherovka museum, where they let us "taste" their products: two shots of Becherovka, which tastes like Captain Morgan and has spring water in it so is supposedly healthy, and one shot of KV 14, which tastes more like normal hard liquor. On an empty stomach, those three shots made the next hour until I got lunch more amusing and warm.

I also almost hopped on a plane to London today. I was supposed to go next weekend to visit Jay, a long time friend of mine in the U.K. However, he got a job offer from the BBC and is flying out this Friday. We found out yesterday so I was going to book a flight to see him before he left to film on some island. However, he didn't want me to miss class so he will come visit me in Prague after he is done filming which should be around May 1.

I am, however, very happy for him. This job is paying him a great amount and will almost completely payoff his student loan. I can't be mad about that, now can I? Congrats, Jay. Even if he'll be an Aussie working for the BBC ;)

Here's to new jobs with the BBC and better health through Becherovka! (or something like that anyways)

Lovers reunited

I found Dr. Pepper in the Czech Republic! On our way to Terezin, we stopped at a gas station where they only had two liter bottles. I almost bought two. However, Javier said there is a potraviny (small grocery store) near our apartment that sells it.

*breathes deeply* YAY!

Where I've been the past two weeks: Olomouc, Terezin and Prague

I have been horrible and not updated often enough. Between homework and going out, it's hard. So here's a recap of the trips and sights I've seen. But first, if you haven't watched the video in the last post, you should. I'm even in it!

Also, you can follow my daily activities by looking at my Twitter account. Microblogging at its finest.

Today I went to the Observatory Tower above Prague. I walked up a huge hill and then climbed the tower. The view was worth it. I could see all of Prague and some of the countryside with mountains in the distance. I also discovered my camera has a panorama setting. Check it out:
More pictures are available on Picasa here.

Last weekend I went to a wonderful town in Moravia (eastern Czech Republic): Olomouc. It's a college town and a professor we met there, Donald Roberson Jr., told us it's what Prague would be without the tourists. It used to be quite the religious capital of the country and was once fighting to be the capital but lost.

I have uploaded pictures of the Olomouc trip to Picasa, and you can find them here.

It's the "town of seconds:" the second astronomical clock, the second university, the second capital. It was gorgeous and quiet. Food was also inexpensive and delicious. We went in a group and by the end of it I was ready to slap some of them, but that's how it goes sometimes.

And poor Lucy ended up in the hospital: she fell on the cobblestone with her hands in her pockets and busted open her lip, nearly breaking her nose. She also broke her camera. Aside from the camera, she is doing much better now.

I also attended a football game, Slavia vs. Tottenham. We ended up on the British side, who we could understand (mostly) and who sang taunts that included, "Your father is a (something) and your mother is a whore." They only sell nonalcoholic beer and overpriced sausages, but it was a worthwhile experience. I got there after the game started and was somehow never charged for my entry. Oops.

After the game, the British side had to wait fifteen minutes while the other side left so there wouldn't be any fighting. Pressed against the gate, they sang taunts and I thought a riot might start. But the gates opened and they dispersed.

This last week was also the second week of classes and they went a bit better than the first. It was more than just introductions this time. We also saw the Cubism museum for my theatre class, which was interesting as well.

On Friday we went to Terezin and a glass blowing factory (pictures here). The factory was very cool: we got to watch people blow glass and some of us got to try it. I didn't; I was scared. But it was a good time anyhow.

The concentration camp was eerie. It's hard to imagine all those horrible things happening there. They didn't kill people in the huge amounts like in other camps, but between the town's Jewish Ghetto and the Small Fortress, nearly 40,000 people died.

I felt it would be disrespectful to take pictures, so I only took one. Someone brought their cat to the grounds, and I took a picture of him. It seemed appropriate.

*phew* That was a summary of everything I've done. I've also met some Russians at an event for a different international program, and I am still singing karaoke every Monday night at Blind Eye.

Following the Bohemian Parade

This is the Bohemian parade and carnival my friends and I followed Feb. 5, 2008.

Sorry about the delay of posting this video. The "internet" in my apartment is ridiculously slow (i.e. up to five minute page load times) and would not work with Youtube. I think someone in our complex is downloading massive amounts or somehow using tons of bandwidth.

I had to go to a coffee shop with internet to upload this video. Don't feel too bad though, I had some Marlenka (Czech honey cake) while it uploaded, so it wasn't a bad deal ;). I hope you enjoy the video. More updates coming soon on what I've been up to.

Český Krumlov weekend trip

Český Krumlov is a beautiful place. It is the second largest city in the Czech Republic (the first being Prague). But first, some smaller updates.

The Flaming Cocks show was good, although not as good as the Prague Ska Conspiracy show. Tessa went with me, another Chicoan, but the opening bands just weren't as good; their songs sounded the same. The Flaming Cocks were awesome, however.

I have also posted some photos of Český Krumlov, more of Prague, and of the Bohemian Carnival. The carnival happened last week, but I haven't had a chance to edit the video so that post is next on the list.

"Český" in the name means "Czech" or "Bohemian" to us, to distinguish it from Moravia, which is a different part of the republic. "Krumlov" is a German word for "crooked meadow" or something similar, and the town was given that name because the Vltava River winds its way through town in a crooked fashion, creating a semi peninsula.

We almost didn't go because figuring out the bus schedule from Prague proved to be more complicated than we originally thought. Krystal, Kathy, Gabi, Lucy and I missed the first one but caught another bus an hour later.

By the time we finished the three hour bus ride from Prague, it was dark. This was actually a lucky thing, because Český Krumlov is gorgeous at night, with the castle walls, the flowing river and the strategically placed lights. At our hostel, we had two very cool roommates: Yuta, a Japanese tourist who is ridiculously good at playing Bullshit and has been traveling for two months, and Dori, a Chinese tourist who was with a group but was put in our room. Yuta left us a very sweet note because he left while we were still sleeping, but I wish he'd left his email address!

Since it is off season for tourism, many things were closed. However, we still got to go up to the castle (just not the inside). You could see the whole town from there; it was the stuff of postcards and book illustrations.

There were also large groups of Chinese and Japanese tourists, which I thought was odd.

I also went on a tour of the Eggenberg beer brewery with Lucy. Sierra Nevada's is more impressive, let me tell you. However, it was interesting nonetheless. We got a "free" beer that was included in the cost of the ticket. It tastes like a rich Budweiser. Unfortunately, Lucy got very sick towards the end with flu like symptoms but she is now feeling better.

How to not look like a tourist in Prague

Step 1: Ditch the map. That's the most obvious sign. Getting lost isn't a terrible thing, just keep your wits about you.

Step 2: Speak quietly or not at all. When you're on a tram and you're American, you are the loudest person on that tram, especially when with other Americans.

Step 3: Stop taking pictures of everything. You're not here for all the pictures, but to see and remember the places you've been and the experience of being there. If you can't stop taking pictures, then you'll never actually see the places you visit.

Step 4: Look perpetually irritated. Czechs generally don't smile while walking around in Prague. This one is hard, especially for Americans (or at least Californians) who are used to smiling when catching someone's eye or for no reason at all. With friends, that's OK. But by yourself, do the "Czech face."

Step 5: Buy souvenirs before you leave, but don't wear them around. I've learned from experience that wearing a beanie that reads "Czech Republic" gets you odd looks if you follow all the other steps, because their name for their country is Česká republika.

Step 6: Bring your dog. Everyone walks their dogs here and you will soon fit in with your small cute dog on a leash.

Step 7: Smoke and drink a bit. Everyone here smokes and has a cigarette with their beer, or at least enough people do. You can smoke in bars, restaurants, anywhere except the tram stops and on the trams. Coming from California, that's something new and exciting for me. But don't drink too much or else you're just obnoxious.

These are just observations of mine from living here for nearly two weeks with some people who act too much like tourists.

We're here for three months and therefore I am not obligated to go see everything right now. So I relax and just hang out. Listen to people talk and how they interact. How they communicate with each other seems different but in many ways it is not.

People are more interesting to me than castles and statues, but I will see those in due time as well.

Prague's got a ska scene

I saw my first live show Thursday night. It was for a band called Prague Ska Conspiracy, who sing mostly in English. However, I saw two other bands and left before the headliner because we had a test in the morning.

They were apparently two ska shows going on. Lauren, John and I meant to go to one and couldn't find it, then we came upon this one at the Lucrena Music Bar. Great place for shows.

The first up was Disco Balls, playing more traditional ska and singing in Czech and English. I liked them a lot, especially when they did a cover of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire." Hearing a Czech woman sing that song in English to ska is amusing, to say the least, but I liked it.

They played a few songs and because they got there late, ended their set a few songs after we got there. The crowd cheered them back on stage for a two song encore and I went up front and danced. No moshing, but that may be the ska crowd rather than a Czech thing.

I'm going to look for their album soon in a store around here. I don't know if Czech CDs are different than USA CDs, so I guess I'll find out. (Update: They aren't, but I still haven't found a good music store)

The second band we saw was ... interesting. Don't know their name, but it may be better that way. Instead of the trombone and saxophones like a normal ska band, they had an accordion and a set of bongos. It was like a mix between ska and Jamaican music. Which was fine, but they weren't great. Good to dance to, but the singing was sub par and the accordion player only decent. My roommate plays accordion, and she noted he only used the keyboard side, but none of the base keys. Apparently the sign of a amateur.

During this set, I was also asked to move by some Czech people about my age. The spoke Czech at first, then I said "Anglicky?" He nodded and said he was saving the spot I had just moved into for a girl. I told him I was just taking a picture and wouldn't be long, so they let me be. By the time I left, that spot was still open. Hope he wasn't ditched.

Plan on going to see a psychobilly band tonight called the Flaming Cocks. Robert approves of at least one song on their MySpace page, so it should be good.

Prague pictures on Picasa

I have uploaded my recent photos. I haven't been able to label where, who and when yet, because I never seem to have the time. However, I will try and get to that soon. Other than that, here are pictures of me, friends and places in the Czech Republic.

http://picasaweb.google.com/amwhite12/PragueJanuary2008

Update: I have posted captions for the pictures and will be posting more pictures soon.

Ahoj!

Ally

Video tour of the apartment

First weekend in Prague

I made it to Prague! I'm studying abroad for the semester here in the Czech Republic, so I won't be back until May 10 or so.

Getting here was quite a trip. Eight hours on a plane from San Francisco to Frankfurt, Germany. I started and finished "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman on the plane ride and also watched Hairspray. In this part of Europe, we are nine hours ahead of California, so if I wait until afternoon to call you, you'll still curse me for it being too early.

Calls also cost about 99 cents a minute, so don't expect long, dwindling conversations on the phone. I downloaded Skype and will be borrowing Krystal's headset so that is now a possibility.

About my living space: I was originally set to live in the dorms, but apparently the rooms were iffy and were pricey for the services offered, so the resident director got us all furnished apartments. I live in a two bedroom apartment with four other girls: Krystal, Lauren, Sarah and Austin (yes, she's from Texas). It's pretty big, much bigger than a dorm. There's a kitchen, living room, fireplace and dining table. And only four beds. Two girls share a king sized bed and I am one of the two that has a single while Sarah has a king all to herself.

We also have dishes and glasses provided. Including shot glasses, very unlike Chico. I'll post a video tour soon.

Students are spread around town, but our apartment building has a pub downstairs. The beer is good, but I still miss Sierra Nevada. I've only drank socially and only a couple beers at a time. No partying this early for me. Lots of clubs, and American '80s and '90s music is everywhere.

Pickled cheese is quite delicious, despite how it sounds, but it is primarily a bar food. I've also had some other dish which was like a sweet goulash, which I didn't care too much for. The bread and steak were good, but the gravy was sweet and thin, which ruined it for me. Tonight we went to a bar aimed at tourists and Lucy, Gabby, Kathy and I ordered two fifteen inch pizzas and desert, none of which was Czech. But they spoke English there, which was a plus.

We start our two week intensive Czech language course tomorrow, so I should go to bed. It's 2 a.m. here. Because of the time change, I'm just not tired. Hello, Dramamine!

Ally