Fair Pragoo

Ahoj kamardy!!

Another week is passing by here in fair Pragoo. My czech intensive class has ended and yet only two of my real classes have begun. My judaism class is with a conservative (and ZIONIST) Jew and my american lit class (preapproved by the english dept) is no longer american lit. Tomorrow I have my first history seminar taught by this old Jewish professor who not only survived the holocaust, but also survived time in prison under the communist regime. That class should be interesting!

I'm a traveling fiend! I went to Berlin with four friends last weekend (and got to see Rose!!!!!! which was so so great and made me so happy), this weekend we're going to Terezin (the "model" concentration camp), next weekend we're going to Istanbul, then a weekend off, then hopefully to Krackow, then my parents come, and then it's almost november! craziness!!

The things that have given me culture shock:
+ Tesco: the crazy, 5-floor supermarket where the people WILL run you down with their carts, the aisles have no sort of order, and the checkout line takes as long, if not LONGER than the shopping itself (no joke), oh yeah and you have to pay for a cart and they are not generous if you get caught without 10 crowns.
+the just generally cold attitudes of all czech citizens. don't expect a smile. and don't expect them to try to speak english. if you get into trouble with czech and try asking "mluvite anglicky?" you're pretty likely to get a glare or strong "NE".
+everyone tries to rip you off and it's almost inevitable that they will.
+the streets are poorly marked so getting lost is part of the experience.
+beer is cheaper than water. it's served in the dining hall, it's in the vending machines in our kolej (dorm) and it's part of every meal. We were given shots of the local liquor (and two tickets for free drinks) when getting onto the boat that our school chartered for a river boat tour of Prague. hard liquor is sold on the street (think hotdog stands filled with alcohol).
+the school class schedule is crazy! and doesn't make any sense, and they don't have a normal bookstore, you go to the small international students office and say can I get a book for such and such class and they get all stressed out and find it in some cabinet for you. they aren't really there to help you, they expect you to take care of yourself.
+Hearing American accents is a new sort of culture shock. When I'm out in the city running errands and whatnot I can pick out an American accent from a mile away.

The things that I love about Prague:
+that despite my ghetto living situation, I am a five minute tram ride from the largest castle in the world and I am a beautiful 30 minute walk from my school (the oldest university in Europe).
+the architecture never ceases to amaze me and I still can't get over the stone masonry work put into all of the cobblestone streets (all) and sidewalks.
+despite the unfriendliness, my valiant attempts at czech sometimes earn me an english word or two from them and/or a sense of acceptance for at least trying. I really am starting to feel at home here. I am starting to feel like I belong.
+despite the lack of street signs or any sort of organization of city streets, I am actually learning my way, getting lost less often, right about directions more often (even without maps) and I LOVE the metro.
+the tourists will be leaving soon!
+only seeing an occasional KFC and mcdonalds. Never a starbucks or dunkin donuts (who I admittedly miss) or burger king or wendys
+Smazeny Syr!! (Fried cheese!!) classic czech food, delicious but bad for you. picture a mozarella stick, but HUGE. mmmmmm...
+In the end, the culture shock is easing up and I am beginning to not even think of it as "Czech culture" vs. what I'm used to or "American culture". Slowly but surely, it is becoming what I am used to and what I love and what I miss when I'm in a different city (i.e. Berlin) and what I look forward to coming home to.

As for now kamarady (friends), I have to email good ol' CC about the craziness with classes over here, but you're all in my thoughts. Know I'm thinking about you, and missing you, and hoping you're happy!

Dobrou noc a nastravi (good night and good health),
A