Riding Solo

So after being thoroughly chastised for keeping you all in suspense about my o’ so exciting day trip by myself into the Czech country side, I have decided to make up for it by spending half my day trying to figure out how to add pictures to this blog while using a combination of the world’s worst internet and a computer that so conveniently has decided to take on the task of symbolizing all that is wrong and faulty with Apple.   Thus if you are currently reading this blog and there is an astounding lack of pictures popping up everywhere, it simply means that I was so mad at the computer I did not have enough energy to go back in and erase this sentence.  But then again maybe this just means I need to ask for a double helping of patience in my next life…

So I know I promised I was going castle hopping this weekend, but lets be honest my good friend Murphy and his annoying law would have never allowed it to happen knowing how much I built it up to everyone. It’s Friday night, everything is scheduled and the alarm clock is set when all of a sudden my roommates prance in feeling really… confused. Five seconds later they are out cold, snuggled up in their beds where they will be for the next day and a half. Well, I guess that means the castle ain't happening. But it worked out for the best because I woke up the next morning to the worst traveling conditions I’d seen since I planned that ski trip last week.  But with my heart set on an adventure I pack my bags anyway and head to the train station, jump on the metro, take it to the end, and get off in a random small town way on the outskirts of Prague.  After walking outside into the bitterly cold wind with snow quickly filling the streets I start to question how effective my day will be.  I look around and literally see nothing. There are unmarked buildings randomly scattered to all sides of the train station and a single road heading into the distance.  As I start to walk an incredibly profound thought enters my head; ‘this is the Czech Republic’ – But in all seriousness it was quite the revelation. The bitter cold, the dead land from all the years of over production under communism, the empty streets (mostly because even the Czech’s know you would have to be crazy to be leisurely walking down the streets in that weather), and the feeling of an uncanny loneliness are all attributes of this paradoxical city known as Prague.

However, as I am walking I do end up stumbling upon a path that leads up this hill and disappears into a sea of dead trees to which there is truly no way out; so naturally I skip toward the entrance, put on a little country mix, and groove my way throughout the haunted, black forest of the random Czech town I don’t even know the name of.  I try taking some artsy pictures along the way but, plainly put, it fails.  After about a 20-minute walk I finally find my way out the other side and continue down the highway like a true hitchhiker. And in the spirit of the wondering traveler I seek out a small, random little diner to rest my feet. Being that the restaurant is all in Czech I simply point to the markings on the menu, look up, smile and hope the waitress speaks intuitive sign language.  She does. But what she does not do is warn me that what I am ordering is a traditional Czech meal for construction workers on a budget who prefer their pork/steak extra fatty while swimming in a creamy Italian sauce.  But at least my café latte came with a little chocolate mint, because even when the world goes bad chocolate will always nurse the tongue back to health. 

After that I simply make my way back to the metro station and to my apartment to find the place exactly the same as I had left it J

There is just one last piece of juicy information I feel I must share with you all.  Within the last week I have managed to spend over $500 in airfare…but don’t freak out I got a lot of bank for my buck thanks to some expert bargain shopping and 13 hour layovers in random cities throughout Europe!

I am officially going to Berlin not this weekend but the next

Sicily, Rome, and Athens over spring break

And Edinburgh (and possibly Wales) two weekends after spring break

All flights booked!! Now I just have to figure out how to spend less than $100 a month while here in Prague.  Strategy.. don’t eat (definitely stop ordering all the Housky) 

A Typical Day

Wake up at 8:30am, scramble one egg, maybe make some instant coffee and out the door by 9.  Plug in my earphones as I finish putting on my gloves, scarf, and down comforter jacket because waking up at 8 after being at the pub till 3 equals a very anti-social Kristy.  Ride the tram 20 minutes into the city, get off near Starbucks, and arrive at this huge, gothic looking brass door as entrance to my University.

‘Ahoj’

‘dobry den’

‘cau’

Learn a little Czech and history of the beautiful city I can officially now call home. I figure two weeks is a sufficient amount of time to now truly consider myself a local.  I mean I can say 'hi', 'how are you', 'I’m sorry', 'please', and 'I don’t speak Czech', definitely a local.  I have a thirty minute break in between my three-hour long lectures so I hit up the local café, which is no longer going to be apart of my daily routine since I look at the money in my wallet at the end of the day and I realize I have mysteriously misplaced it all…

Fortunately I am inevitably one of the biggest dorks here so class flies by while I furiously try to soak up 2,000 years of history, art, politics, language, culture, and tradition in about three hours a week.  But then I step outside and I get a different sort of history lesson.  For example, I’m not sure if they even realize it themselves, but Czech people are incontestably in love with chocolate and value it almost as much as their beer.  Thus I have strategically chosen the ‘coco café’ to be my adopted secret spot here in Prague.  I walk in with my backpack and 50 layers, curl up on a couch in the back, open my book or reading for the afternoon, and order this hot chocolate snack thingy that deserves a sentence to itself in explanation.  This hot chocolate isn’t the wimpy drink we think of in the states, it is straight up melted Godiva with hot strawberries and raspberries mixed in with a huge swirl of whip cream on the top and a rich yet fluffy aftertaste allowing the cocoa to penetrate the taste buds up to a couple minutes after you take a bite. This is my true home here in Prague.  I can proudly say I already know the family that owns it and they recognize me.  I am working on having a usual every time I come, which may result in a serious change of my body structure…but hey do as the Czech’s do right? If they love chocolate then so do I.  That’s really the only reason why I’m doing, since as my little sis Lindsey knows I don’t even like chocolate; I’m just taking one for the team.

Every once in a while I check my phone out of pure habit because the Lord knows I have absolutely no one calling me or even knows my phone number, and if they do they are in the states and should not be calling me because it will probably end up costing them a fortune and a half, which they will end up resenting me for and end up right back at the beginning with not calling me.

A good three hours later I finish my chocolate elixir of the Gods and make my way back to the apartment.  I take one of those two hours naps I told you about earlier and wake up just in time to go out again.  Tonight it is a hockey game, yesterday was a jazz club, tomorrow will hopefully be this puppet show I really want to go to that is doing a rendition of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, which I find to be the cutest thing about Prague culture; they love Mozart and aren’t afraid to show it.  There is an entire Mozart museum in the place where he stayed once while visiting an old friend. It is a big deal here.  But alas I feel I’m gonna have to do some serious convincing for this one and figure out a way to make the puppet show sound cooler than it is if I’m gonna get any sort of backing from my roommates. Any suggestions?!!

This weekend we are castle hopping in the Czech countryside.  I’ll let you know if it is as cool as it sounds… I’m just hoping for some more fun adventures and hot Czech men. But again, I’ll keep you posted.

Cau 

My first and last ski adventure in Liberec, Czech Republic

Ok so let me preface this blog post with a disclaimer releasing me from any responsibility for the events about to be discussed.  I am an English speaking American in a country that apparently doesn't believe in reliable forecasts and whose websites straight up lie. (tangent… I looked up an internet café online and went on this wild goose chase across downtown Prague yesterday only to find the address dead end at a store doubling as an abandoned warehouse.  This has happened three times so far. Lesson learned- the Internet is still under communist control and is not to be trusted)

Anyway the story starts two days ago when Mallory and I get this bright idea to go skiing at a local mountain after an incredibly girly moment giggling over our shared obsession with the mountains and anything rugged and wild.  So we look up a local ski resort only an hour away with rentals, a lift ticket, and transportation under $50.  We then proceed to coerce three of our friends into joining the escapades and set out 7:00am Friday morning on the adventure of our lives (so far).

This is where it gets good…

We miss the train (of course. What good story starts with anything but a missed train) and so no problem we just take the next one.  Well the next one has hidden stops that more than doubles our transportation time to about three hours and we arrive in Liberec at noon.  But this aint Prague anymore.  It’s a much more friendly yet much more Czech countryside where all communication must be done in the most basic sign language attempts (because apparently even sign language is America specific).  Sooo about thirty minutes later we make it to the base of the mountain, which isn’t actually a mountain at all but rather an ant hill on steroids.  And from what we can see there is one lift going straight into a forest of green, lush trees full of dirt and very little snow.  But alas we are reassured that there is snow; we just have to run up this crazy little metal butt pusher to find it. And as they are telling us this they so kindly give us a discount on the ski lift ticket since apparently today is the absolute worst day of skiing conditions this mountain has probably ever seen and they are laughing at us for even stepping out of our house.  (see yesterday, the day before that, and the week before that the air was warm, the sun was out, and life was good.  But we woke up today and clouds had beaten joy and comfort at a wrestling match the night before and the earth was crying hailstorms over its loss. – ok a little over dramatic – but it truly was wet, cold, drizzly, and miserable) O and that wasn’t the only thing they were laughing at us about.  Apparently there is a direct student bus from Prague to the mountain that not only takes an hour, costs half the price, but also gives you a free complimentary cup of hot chocolate for the ride. Is that a joke??!

But the day wasn’t all bad.  I did realize that even after all these years I can still kill it on a pair of skis (Like if I was racing a bunch of 4-year-olds in snow school I could for sure make top ten) and Mallory and I had this great moment on the ski lift when it started pouring straight up rain and we looked at our mitten liners, hoodies, and water absorbing pants and just started to laugh so hard you would think we had truly gone mad this time.  It was one of those moments in life when you evaluate all you are, all you have become and you realize that in actuality your not that smart and you might as well enjoy life because at least it will make a great blog post when you get home. And last but not least, by far the best thing about this whole experience is that I met my husband.  I’m not even lying. If he had proposed I would have said yes.  If Julie Virjee is reading this let her know that she can be expecting a save the date.  I am not kidding the man working the rental shop was not only the most attractive Czech man I have sever seen but he was just straight up the most attractive man I have ever seen.  All I know about him is that his name is John and when he comes home to meet the fam im gonna take him to a dodgers game because he loves baseball, which I just conveniently found a new found passion for myself.   The only bummer about this situation is that it’s going to look really suspicious when I show up the mountain every other weekend claiming the snow is just so good I couldn’t stay away and he starts to realize that either I have no idea what I am talking about or that I am stalking him. But ill keep you all informed on any updates.

So anyway that was my day. I think the only thing I left out is that we missed the train on the way back as well, but this time it was literally just pulling away as ignorantly and casually strolled up to the station.  So we spent the next two hours sitting on the icy cold tile floor in our soaked and below freezing clothing, eating our miseries away in totally undeserved calories. 

In my book it was a completely successful adventure and totally worth the story I got out of it. 

Time to put the 'study' back in Study Abroad

     Well yesterday marked the first day of class for me at the Anglo American University here in Prague.   Currently I am enrolled in European History 2, Art History 2, Czech Language and Culture, and Composition 2.  It is actually such a blessing not taking classes for credit because I can truly learn for the sake of learning and enroll in classes I have always wanted to take at USC but never been able to with my Public Relations major. On Tuesday I sat through my first European History lecture and learned that even with leaving school a week early and taking a week off for my birthday I will still be able to take all my midterms and finals and potential still pass the class… typical. I am also really excited for this class because my professor will focus on understanding the true nature of a European from the 1500s to present and from there be able to have an understanding of why things happened the way they did, not simply memorize what happened.

            I would have had class today but it was cancelled, which actually turned out to be a blessing because I woke up today completely bed ridden from Eve’s curse and therefore spent the day watching Little Women and answering e-mails.  J  And for those of you who know, those are truly some of my favorite pass times.

            I have still yet to find my ‘special place ‘ here in Prague but I am not worried, there is still so much to do and so much to explore.  But I will admit it is weird not having a million things to do and it is almost hard to maintain this state of relaxation for such a long period of time. I have decided I am going to make mini goals and have lists of things I want to accomplish during the week so I don’t end up wasting any time and getting the full experience I can.   What can I say, lists are just a part of me I cant ignore it. 

Example:  Before the end of this week

1)    Wednesday- Go to the State Opera house (I tried to last night and failed miserably)

2)    Thursday: class – seminar by Andy Steve’s (rick steves son!!) - Listen to famous Mozart concert at the National Museum

3)    Friday: local ski trip day

4)    Saturday: museum of Contemporary Art - National Ballet Theater at night

As you can tell this week has a more artsy feel to it.  Next week will be a little more sporty with a ice hockey game (shout out to Maddy!) and day trips hiking and climbing in the Czech Republic country side.  What a  life!

Love you all and please add ‘kristypyke’ to your skype contact list and stay signed in so I can message you if we happen to be on at the same time 

First Weekend in Prague

So its been a couple days since I’ve arrived and I’m finally starting to get on the Czech time schedule, which in Prague means you get up at noon, go out at midnight and come home by 5am. Now you would think I should be used to it being a college student of three years but I am actually quite horrible at it.  I’ve been so tired I’ve resorted to napping – but not just any nap, Im talking three hours long, Cassie Geibel style nap.

But anyway, down to business.  Day one: wake up at 6 am with complete jet lag. Decide to explore the neighborhood with my roommate and walk into a little market.  Now I had been told that “everyone in Prague speaks English” … so being the annoying and ignorant American that I am, I walk straight up to the woman and ask if the milk they have is non-fat.  That conversation didn’t go over well. I had to spend the next 5 minutes saying no to all of the items she haphazardly pointed at while trying to heroically interpret the origin of my question.  Bless her heart.  We then took a walking tour of downtown Prague with our CEA program, but only after being late because I absolutely had to have my coffee that turned out luke warm/to cold and a quarter filled since I apparently forgot to specify I wanted it hot and filled to the top.   Anyway, not bitter about that at all.  

The first stop was the quintessential public art attraction of Prague – one to define the very heart and soul of their culture – a fountain of men peeing at each other representing the relationship between the Czech republic and Slovakia. …Truly classic.  

But don’t let their humor fool you.  Czech people are stern, contemplative, and task oriented people. Don’t get in their way and definitely don’t smile without knowing full well that you are to receive one back.  But at the perchance that you run into a friendly, English speaking Prauvanka (our made up word for a Czech woman), make sure you utilize every minute with worthy questions. For example, is it simply socially unacceptable to ask people if you can pet their dog or is it that ‘dog’ is a bad word in Czech?  Or how do you say ‘I am a Canadian’ in Czech?

Moving on.

Sorry this is going to be a long one because it’s been a couple days.  So from here on out I am going to make a quick list of all the things we did and elaborate where necessary

1)    Tour of old town Prague and the main downtown castle

a.     Commentary: LEGITTTTTT

                                               i.     Turn to one side and it is this gold encrusted ancient cathedral will all the necessary gargoyles, hundreds of pointy tops, and gaudy stain glass windows.  Then look to the other side and it is the most spectacular view of all of downtown Prague.  Ya that’s right. This is my city. What now.

2)    First night out

a.     Pub downtown and random 80s club

                                               i.     Ps this particular pub is designed with under ground tunnels and secret passageways seemingly designed for the single purpose of tripping out newbies and girls in heels. But in all seriousness it is literally Harry Potter chamber of secrets – I kid you not- I would know, I watched the movie.

3)    Second day: sleep all-day, do a little shopping for the apartment, and go out again at night.  We went to this super touristy, 5-story club that will be solidified in my mind forever as the place where I got my first free drink in Prague, compliments of my new Belgium friends.

4)    Sunday morning- go to the International Church of Prague and meet some legit new friends.

a.     Alyssa- the most beautiful Russian woman I have ever met. I  kinda have a girl crush on this woman.  We are going to be besties.

b.     Angelo – not even exaggerating this man speaks so many languages that he actually doesn't know the exact number.  He is also the college pastor and might actually be mentally insane.  And he prays like a boss.

c.     Joe and Marshall- two guys who are actually students with me at AAU and also arrived a couple days ago.

5)    Super bowl

a.     We got the privilege of watching the game at 12:30pm, which meant there were literally three locations in all of Prague that actually showed the game.  So naturally my group shows up late and there is no room.  But instead of leaving we just become buddies with the owner and get hooked up with a private VIP room with couches, a giant big screen TV, and a sick sound system.   Got to love Prague!

Sorry this was so long… ill try to write more often.  But overall I have to say that I am truly in love with this place and might actually not come home. Sorry mom. 

PS- Today was gorgeous! I wore a long sleeve shirt and jeans.. no jacket.  all that worrying for nothing! (knock on wood!) 

just pray the weather stays this nice!!!!

love you all, 

kristy 

prayers being answered already

The fist half of my flight was pleasantly uneventful despite the complete lack of sleep and shockingly ineffective Nyquil. Other than that it was quite average.   But the fun part started when I realized our plane was scheduled to land at 11:25am Thursday morning in Germany and my connector flight boarded at 11:40am on the complete other side of the Frankfurt terminal.  It was then that I recognized a familiar American complaint coming from the row behind me.  Thus I discovered two of my classmates and we made a pact to be running partners.  By the time we all exited the plane it was 11:40am on the dot. As soon as we broke from the mob all three of us made a 20 minute straight sprint from one end of the airport to the other, only stopping for an occasional pat down and frisk (one that would have never flown in the states for fear of some serious violation codes).   During our mad sprint I realized a couple things about myself… 1) being out of shape is not a joke 2) running frantically around in an international airport definitely flags me as an American 3) movies make chevy chase family vacation makes dashing through airports look fun, when in fact … its not. 

But never fear we arrived huffing and puffing, collapsing on the floor like the true dramatic Americans we are with about 70 seconds to spare.  The plane was miraculously 20 minutes delayed.  I can honestly say I never expected to be stripping layers as I embraced the below freezing, European air for the first time through the boarding terminal.  But then again, I have a feeling this is going to a whole semester of the unexpected, frantic sprints, and figure it out as you go. Bring it on.

PS more details about my apartment coming soon with pictures. But I can say that it is WARM! (prayer request number 2), has perfect internet, plenty of space, clean, super cute, and right next to some really cute coffee shops.  I’m in love already.  Tomorrow starts the fist real day of my Prague experience.

PSS all my internet sites are in Czech.  You would be surprised how long it takes to even find the submit button 

Peace Out America

I leave my house in 2 hours to make my 3:00 flight.  Armed with two boots, two jackets, 5 scarves, and 1 pair of heels I get ready for the coldest winter in Czech history.  I repeat: the COLDEST in recorded history (or so the rumors go).  God has a sense of humor.

Needless to say my prayer request are as follows:
1) safety
2) warmth, heat, and noo frost bite
3) friendships
4) to find a good church in Prague (preferably close to home, in english, and solid in doctrine... is that too much to ask?)
5) to relax and have fun :-)


Thank you for tuning in. This is Kristy Pyke signing out of America and Czech'ing in to Prague