there are not words to express my feelings right now....
apprehension
excitement
incredible sadness
I realized this morning that in 2 weeks, I will be on a Boeing 777 back to America. My 5 months overseas (quite arguably the best 5 months of my life) will be over.
Where has the year gone? It feels like I just hopped on my United Airways flight out of Kansas City just days ago. Not months. No way. It just can't be.
All the months of planning and looking forward to these months abroad..... and now it's almost over.
So where am I now?
I am living illegally.
I am so penniless, that I've had to ask my parents for money.
I've spent way too much money on cigarettes and plane tickets.
I've spent 30+ hours on airplanes in the past 5 months, and am about to spend another 13.
I've spent about double the hours just waiting in airports.
I've spent god-knows-how-many-hours on trains and buses.
I've spent 12 of these hours on a bus in Turkey sitting in front of a puking and crying baby.
I've used the restroom without having toilet paper about 25% of the time.
I've gotten lost more times than I can count.
I've had my debit card eaten by an ATM.
I've missed my 5-year class reunion.
I've lost count of how many beds I have slept in (not like that, just hostels/hotels/homes, etc).
I've lugged 40 lbs of luggage on my back for hours at a time.
I've paid up to $5/hour for internet access.
I've missed the birth of my best friend's baby.
I've been knowingly scammed by taxicab drivers for obscene amounts of money, but it was 4am and there were no buses.
I've survived strep throat, bronchitis, allergic reactions, sore muscles, food poisonings, hangovers, sunburns, and now upon reflection, I'm pretty sure I had the swine flu.
BUT.....
I've also gained an uncountable amount of new friends.
I've seen places that I hope my children have the chance of seeing someday.
I've had conversations with people without even speaking the same language.
I've gone kayaking in the Algarve grottoes.
I've been cleaned, scrubbed and massaged in private places by fat old Turkish women.
I've danced to the thumping techno music at a real Euro-Trash French nightclub.
I've been paid to make kids laugh every day.
I've dressed up in costume more days than not.
I've paid 2 euros for a bottle of wine that would cost $50 in the USA.
I've stood 3,000 year-old monasteries where you can still see frescoes.
I've listened to the Islam Call-To-Prayer before the sun has risen.
I've seen a circus and a monster-truck rally in France.
I've crossed the border between Asia and Europe while sipping tea.
I've danced like a maniac in to a Balkan folk concert in Prague.
I've gotten paid to drink.
I've learned how to say "free shot" in 8 different languages.
I've discussed communism's effect as we look at the remains of it.
I've learned the best cure for a sore throat is honey brandy.
I've done cartwheels underneath the Eiffel Tower.
I've had an international potluck with friends.
I've learned to be semi-comfortable in a bikini.
I've worn shorts in public.
I've purchased goggles with no intention of using them underwater.
I've set off fire alarms (not individually and not on purpose, but incidentally).
I've had Special Forces police buy me a drink.
I've dressed up as everything... from Madonna to a man. From a Greek goddess to a tree.
I've sang the Star-Spangled Banner in the streets on France and Prague.
I've watched fireworks on France's independence day.
I've learned how to bargain and haggle in Turkish, French, and Portuguese.
I've gone horseback riding through vineyards.
I've learned to take pleasure in small things -- such as finding decent Mexican food, double-ply toilet paper, being able to read product labels, public transportation, and the patience & kindness of others.
I've made friends with Americans, Canadians, Australians, Kiwis, El Salvadorians, Brazilians, Indians, English, Scottish, Irish, French, Germans, Austrians, Dutch, Norweigans, Spanish, Portuguese, Czechs, Turks, Slovaks, Russians, Poles, Hungarians, Zimbabweans, South Africans, Italians, Swedes, and Swiss.
I have enjoyed my life more. I have never been happier or more fulfilled.
I have no idea where the next few months or years will take me.... but if it's anything like the past 5 months, I have a great life to look forward to.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
recycling
Europe is ridiculously environmentally friendly. Everything electrical is censored or on timers, and there are recycling bins for everything just about everywhere.
With one exception. No one recycles aluminum cans in Europe. It is a practice that does not exist.
Which is funny considering in the USA, aluminum cans are the most recycled thing. The fact that you can take your cans and get money for them probably doesn't hurt.
But in Europe? Nope.
My heart hurts a little bit every time I throw away an aluminum can here.
With one exception. No one recycles aluminum cans in Europe. It is a practice that does not exist.
Which is funny considering in the USA, aluminum cans are the most recycled thing. The fact that you can take your cans and get money for them probably doesn't hurt.
But in Europe? Nope.
My heart hurts a little bit every time I throw away an aluminum can here.
repeat
As a side note, I would like to know who actually reads this blog besides my parents and family. So if you are reading this, please leave a comment to let me know!!!!! Thanks!!!!
Jako vedlejší poznámka, rád bych vědět, kdo vlastně čte tohoto blogu vedle mé rodiče a rodiny. Když jsi jsou čtení této, pros opustit vyjádřit k dovolte mi vědět!!!!! Díky!!!!
Aussi, j'aimerais savoir qui lit en fait ce blog outre mes parents et ma famille. Donc si vous lisez ceci, s'il vous plaît partir un commentaire me permets de sait ! !!!! Merci ! !!!
Eu gostaria de saber quem realmente lê este blog além de meus pais e a família. Então se lê isto, por favor deixa um comentário deixar me saber! !!!! Obrigado! !!!
Als möchten eine Seitennotiz, ich wissen, wer tatsächlich dieses Blog außer meinen Eltern und Familie liest. Deshalb wenn Sie dies lesen, verlassen Sie bitte eine Bemerkung, mich wissen zu lassen! !!!! Dank! !!!
Jako vedlejší poznámka, rád bych vědět, kdo vlastně čte tohoto blogu vedle mé rodiče a rodiny. Když jsi jsou čtení této, pros opustit vyjádřit k dovolte mi vědět!!!!! Díky!!!!
Aussi, j'aimerais savoir qui lit en fait ce blog outre mes parents et ma famille. Donc si vous lisez ceci, s'il vous plaît partir un commentaire me permets de sait ! !!!! Merci ! !!!
Eu gostaria de saber quem realmente lê este blog além de meus pais e a família. Então se lê isto, por favor deixa um comentário deixar me saber! !!!! Obrigado! !!!
Als möchten eine Seitennotiz, ich wissen, wer tatsächlich dieses Blog außer meinen Eltern und Familie liest. Deshalb wenn Sie dies lesen, verlassen Sie bitte eine Bemerkung, mich wissen zu lassen! !!!! Dank! !!!
Favorite Czech Words
My new favorite Czech word is "Počítač." (Pronounced Po-chee-tahch.)
It means "Computer."
It's just fun to say.
Almost as fun as "Budějovická," my metro stop. This has been lovingly nicknamed by me and my friends as our "Booty stop." It's just easier and more fun to say.
Another fun thing to say is "I.P. Pavlova," the name of another metro stop. Maybe it's just entertaining because of the metro-guy's voice recording when he says it. "Příští stanice: I.P. Pavlova" actually sounds like "Pzhee-shtee sta-nee-tsuh: Ee-pay pahv-LOW-vuh!"
Oh the Prague metro. It's an adventure every time. I saw a guy get tackled the other day by two women metro police.
I also got checked for a ticket last week. First time I've ever even seen them checking. Good thing I had a valid one!!!!!!
There is something about the smell of European metros that is amazing to me. Mix of hot steel, burnt rubber, smoke, B.O. and paint...... doesn't sound lovely and in all technicality it is NOT lovely, but every metro smells the same. Paris, Valencia, Lisbon, Prague, Rome.... That smell will always bring back so many nostalgic memories of riding on various metros......
It's comforting to find the same smells in various places....
It means "Computer."
It's just fun to say.
Almost as fun as "Budějovická," my metro stop. This has been lovingly nicknamed by me and my friends as our "Booty stop." It's just easier and more fun to say.
Another fun thing to say is "I.P. Pavlova," the name of another metro stop. Maybe it's just entertaining because of the metro-guy's voice recording when he says it. "Příští stanice: I.P. Pavlova" actually sounds like "Pzhee-shtee sta-nee-tsuh: Ee-pay pahv-LOW-vuh!"
Oh the Prague metro. It's an adventure every time. I saw a guy get tackled the other day by two women metro police.
I also got checked for a ticket last week. First time I've ever even seen them checking. Good thing I had a valid one!!!!!!
There is something about the smell of European metros that is amazing to me. Mix of hot steel, burnt rubber, smoke, B.O. and paint...... doesn't sound lovely and in all technicality it is NOT lovely, but every metro smells the same. Paris, Valencia, Lisbon, Prague, Rome.... That smell will always bring back so many nostalgic memories of riding on various metros......
It's comforting to find the same smells in various places....
Monday, September 14, 2009
Secret Czech Identity
If I had been born in Czech Republic, my name would have been "Stela Purnellova."
Each birthday has a coinciding Czech name, and every female gets -ova added to their last name. No matter what. Czech people even do it to foreign names -- Paris Hiltonova. Britney Spearsova.
Bizarre to think that even if I was named Amanda, all my official documents would say "Purnellova."
Adventures of Amanda and Supermarket are going well. No big screw-ups lately.... been buying good milk, un-gassed water, a nutella/white chocolate mix, even found pepperoni!!!!!! Oh and I have taught myself the art of the French Press coffee. So I am learning things.
Speaking of, I had my first shot of Slivovice, which is a traditionally Moravian (western Czechville) plum brandy. Ew ew ew. It was horrible. I would rather do absinthe any day!
I still have to try Becherovka (a Czech digestif) and I need to find a decent kolache. The cafe at my school sells pre-packaged crappy kolaches. More like odd-shaped muffins.
One of my teachers is from Kunovice, which is where a portion of our family is from. Her name is Alžběta Černušková - which is pronounced Alzh-bet-ah Cher-new-shkova.
Anyways, my other tutors are Gregor and Dunstan, who are Scottish-German and British, respectively.
I just taught my third lesson today (all focused on the difficult grammar of Narrative Tenses -- betcha have to google those huh?) -- it really went well though. Again, got some really positive feedback from my tutor and colleagues.
Wrote a 6-page grammar paper this weekend......... well lemme tell you, that was loads of fun. This week, it's a paper on how students learn and how to curtail lesson planning for those motivations.
Making some pretty good friends here.... got my little gang of Corydon, Nathan, Katie, Helen and John which is pretty solid -- nice mix of the USA, UK, Russia and Canada. I have a feeling over the next 3 weeks we will become a pseudo-family. There have been talks of having a big international pot-luck this weekend -- everyone making traditional national dishes and having a potluck dinner party with games and everything. So I hope this actually does happen... we see each other every day for hours on end, but we don't really get to socialize much outside of class or talking about English or our lessons. And during the week, we are just so damn busy -- we all teach on different days, always planning lessons, never getting enough sleep, etc etc etc.
My next lesson is on Wednesday and it's an hour long (all those so far have just been 40 minutes). I have to do a 60-minute lesson on vocabulary dealing with crimes/burglaries/theft etc...... yeah don't ask!!!! This coursebook has some odd topics (i.e. my first lesson was on speed-dating, second on astrology/palmistry, and today was on flying). We are also switching observing-tutors, so I will get feedback from a different tutor this time. I am excited about this because it gives me the chance to get feedback from someone who hasn't seen me teach yet and who may have different opinions/suggestions.
I love how this program doesn't have "criticisms" or "negatives"..... everything is "positives" or "suggestions". lol Sometimes I think I would learn better if they just flat out said, "OK that sucked. Never do that again." Tough love works for me.
Anyways, I'm going to get back to lesson planning!!!!!!!!!!
Tak zatím!!!!!!!
Each birthday has a coinciding Czech name, and every female gets -ova added to their last name. No matter what. Czech people even do it to foreign names -- Paris Hiltonova. Britney Spearsova.
Bizarre to think that even if I was named Amanda, all my official documents would say "Purnellova."
Adventures of Amanda and Supermarket are going well. No big screw-ups lately.... been buying good milk, un-gassed water, a nutella/white chocolate mix, even found pepperoni!!!!!! Oh and I have taught myself the art of the French Press coffee. So I am learning things.
Speaking of, I had my first shot of Slivovice, which is a traditionally Moravian (western Czechville) plum brandy. Ew ew ew. It was horrible. I would rather do absinthe any day!
I still have to try Becherovka (a Czech digestif) and I need to find a decent kolache. The cafe at my school sells pre-packaged crappy kolaches. More like odd-shaped muffins.
One of my teachers is from Kunovice, which is where a portion of our family is from. Her name is Alžběta Černušková - which is pronounced Alzh-bet-ah Cher-new-shkova.
Anyways, my other tutors are Gregor and Dunstan, who are Scottish-German and British, respectively.
I just taught my third lesson today (all focused on the difficult grammar of Narrative Tenses -- betcha have to google those huh?) -- it really went well though. Again, got some really positive feedback from my tutor and colleagues.
Wrote a 6-page grammar paper this weekend......... well lemme tell you, that was loads of fun. This week, it's a paper on how students learn and how to curtail lesson planning for those motivations.
Making some pretty good friends here.... got my little gang of Corydon, Nathan, Katie, Helen and John which is pretty solid -- nice mix of the USA, UK, Russia and Canada. I have a feeling over the next 3 weeks we will become a pseudo-family. There have been talks of having a big international pot-luck this weekend -- everyone making traditional national dishes and having a potluck dinner party with games and everything. So I hope this actually does happen... we see each other every day for hours on end, but we don't really get to socialize much outside of class or talking about English or our lessons. And during the week, we are just so damn busy -- we all teach on different days, always planning lessons, never getting enough sleep, etc etc etc.
My next lesson is on Wednesday and it's an hour long (all those so far have just been 40 minutes). I have to do a 60-minute lesson on vocabulary dealing with crimes/burglaries/theft etc...... yeah don't ask!!!! This coursebook has some odd topics (i.e. my first lesson was on speed-dating, second on astrology/palmistry, and today was on flying). We are also switching observing-tutors, so I will get feedback from a different tutor this time. I am excited about this because it gives me the chance to get feedback from someone who hasn't seen me teach yet and who may have different opinions/suggestions.
I love how this program doesn't have "criticisms" or "negatives"..... everything is "positives" or "suggestions". lol Sometimes I think I would learn better if they just flat out said, "OK that sucked. Never do that again." Tough love works for me.
Anyways, I'm going to get back to lesson planning!!!!!!!!!!
Tak zatím!!!!!!!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Being taught how to teach.....
So I have finished two full days of CELTA training. Each day is a LONG day -- we go from 9:15am - 5:30, Monday thru Friday. Our schedule looks like this:
9:15 - 9:55am -- 1st teacher
9:55 - 10:35am -- 2nd teacher
10:35 - 10:50am -- BREAK
10:50 - 11:30am -- 3rd teacher
11:30 - 1:15pm -- Group feedback and lesson planning
1:15 - 2:15pm -- LUNCH
2:15 - 3:45 -- Seminar One
4:00 - 5:30 -- Seminar Two
There are 18 of us all together, but we are split into three groups of 6, and we each have a different class of students. We will be working with this group the entire four weeks. I am in a group with Corydon (Texas/New York), Filip (Czech), Katie (California), Ellen (Russia), and Stefan (Sweden). We definitely have the most diverse group of ex-patriates. Most others in the program are American/Canadian/British (with two other Czechs).
About Teaching Schedule: We each teach every other day. So today, me, Corydon and Filip taught for 40 minutes each. Tomorrow, Katie, Ellen and Stefan with teach 40 minutes each, and so on and so on. Some days wre 60 minute lessons. We also teach different things -- today I taught a reading exercise and vocabulary. But on Thursday, I am doing a listening exercise. I can assume my next lesson will be with grammar.
About Class Make-Up: Most of the students are young females. My class is entirely female. Right now, my class is the highest level, which is strange for me since I've been teaching really low level in France. The students pay a discounted rate for these English classes (in 2 week sessions) and depending on their attendance, they get refunded money. So needless to say, attendance is almost perfect to ensure they get the most amount of money back.
The Seminars: Kind of boring, but obviously very useful. When it's after lunch and a long day of sitting in a desk, all you want to do is take a nap. I find myself getting extremely antsy, which I don't remember being in high school.
TEACHING: I was the first teacher to go today. Scary!!!!!! My lesson was reading an article and vocabulary words about "Speed-Dating." Yes. It was quite a good topic for a room of girls -- it was easy to make jokes and share stories about bad dates, and our type of men, and the perfect guy, etc. The girls in our class are extremely receptive and participative. They are able to put complex sentences together and can understand very well. With most of them, it is almost like speaking normally -- just a little slower and using simpler language.
My lesson was timed almost perfectly -- I improvised an activity at the end (instead of doing planned discussion) and I ran 2 minutes over time, but overall I thought the lesson was engaging and fun. I got some very good feedback from my fellow colleagues and my tutor. My negatives were "talking/explaining too much," and I had a bit of trouble with one of my handouts due to printer error. But I was "full of enthusiasm and had good rapport, great pacing and flow, and effective vocabulary teaching."
So overall, a successful lesson -- I passed!!!! YAY!!!!
So now I have a night off.... tomrrow I just have to observe the other 3 teachers and give feedback. No lesson planning tonight!
Tonight is another episode of the Adventures of Amanda & Supermarket, as I have just about run out of everything conceivable.
Especially coffee. Man, I just can't function without it early in the morning. We do not have a coffee machine at the flat, just a French press. So this morning I was googling instructions on how to make coffee with a French press. It worked, but it wasn't strong enough. Thank god the teaching center has a coffee machine -- for only 10kč a cup!!!!! (that's like 5 cents). Whoooo hoooo -- we are all hopped up on coffee most the morning.... and afternoon... well... the whole day.
Anywho, off I go to Supermarket and to buy a temporary Czech sim card for my cell phone!!!!!
"Tak zatím!!!!!" (I'll see you later!)
- Amanda
9:15 - 9:55am -- 1st teacher
9:55 - 10:35am -- 2nd teacher
10:35 - 10:50am -- BREAK
10:50 - 11:30am -- 3rd teacher
11:30 - 1:15pm -- Group feedback and lesson planning
1:15 - 2:15pm -- LUNCH
2:15 - 3:45 -- Seminar One
4:00 - 5:30 -- Seminar Two
There are 18 of us all together, but we are split into three groups of 6, and we each have a different class of students. We will be working with this group the entire four weeks. I am in a group with Corydon (Texas/New York), Filip (Czech), Katie (California), Ellen (Russia), and Stefan (Sweden). We definitely have the most diverse group of ex-patriates. Most others in the program are American/Canadian/British (with two other Czechs).
About Teaching Schedule: We each teach every other day. So today, me, Corydon and Filip taught for 40 minutes each. Tomorrow, Katie, Ellen and Stefan with teach 40 minutes each, and so on and so on. Some days wre 60 minute lessons. We also teach different things -- today I taught a reading exercise and vocabulary. But on Thursday, I am doing a listening exercise. I can assume my next lesson will be with grammar.
About Class Make-Up: Most of the students are young females. My class is entirely female. Right now, my class is the highest level, which is strange for me since I've been teaching really low level in France. The students pay a discounted rate for these English classes (in 2 week sessions) and depending on their attendance, they get refunded money. So needless to say, attendance is almost perfect to ensure they get the most amount of money back.
The Seminars: Kind of boring, but obviously very useful. When it's after lunch and a long day of sitting in a desk, all you want to do is take a nap. I find myself getting extremely antsy, which I don't remember being in high school.
TEACHING: I was the first teacher to go today. Scary!!!!!! My lesson was reading an article and vocabulary words about "Speed-Dating." Yes. It was quite a good topic for a room of girls -- it was easy to make jokes and share stories about bad dates, and our type of men, and the perfect guy, etc. The girls in our class are extremely receptive and participative. They are able to put complex sentences together and can understand very well. With most of them, it is almost like speaking normally -- just a little slower and using simpler language.
My lesson was timed almost perfectly -- I improvised an activity at the end (instead of doing planned discussion) and I ran 2 minutes over time, but overall I thought the lesson was engaging and fun. I got some very good feedback from my fellow colleagues and my tutor. My negatives were "talking/explaining too much," and I had a bit of trouble with one of my handouts due to printer error. But I was "full of enthusiasm and had good rapport, great pacing and flow, and effective vocabulary teaching."
So overall, a successful lesson -- I passed!!!! YAY!!!!
So now I have a night off.... tomrrow I just have to observe the other 3 teachers and give feedback. No lesson planning tonight!
Tonight is another episode of the Adventures of Amanda & Supermarket, as I have just about run out of everything conceivable.
Especially coffee. Man, I just can't function without it early in the morning. We do not have a coffee machine at the flat, just a French press. So this morning I was googling instructions on how to make coffee with a French press. It worked, but it wasn't strong enough. Thank god the teaching center has a coffee machine -- for only 10kč a cup!!!!! (that's like 5 cents). Whoooo hoooo -- we are all hopped up on coffee most the morning.... and afternoon... well... the whole day.
Anywho, off I go to Supermarket and to buy a temporary Czech sim card for my cell phone!!!!!
"Tak zatím!!!!!" (I'll see you later!)
- Amanda
Friday, September 4, 2009
Czech surprises in the supermarket!!!
My supermarket (which will be referred to from hereonout as just as Supermarket. Yes like a person) is a Billa and is located just 5 minutes walking from my flat. This blog will chronicle the adventures of Amanda and Supermarket.
Things that are strangely expensive here in Czechville:
- deodorant
- extra virgin olive oil (EVOO as good ole Rachy Ray would say)
- Coca-Cola
- spaghetti sauce
- Nutella
- any sort of hair care products
- toothpaste
What's even stranger is that brands like Garnier Fructis and Pantene Pro-V (shampoo and conditioner and such) are actually the cheapest brands you can buy. Garnier Fructis is everywhere. It's actually the cheapest in Portugal and France as well. Very strange, considering how expensive it is in America.
And when I say expensive in Czechville, I mean more than 30-40kc. Which means more than $2-3. lol What can I say? I'm down and out in Prague. Just flat broke. If it's more than 50kc, I won't buy it!
Mayonaise. That's another interesting concept in Prague. It took me 30 minutes to find mayo in the Billa supermarket. Obviously, I'm searching next to the mustards and ketchups and salad dressings. It was there in the US, Portugal and France. Could not find it. Because it is in the refrigerated section. Next to the yogurt, of course. Next to the yogurt is my first European experience with refrigerated milk. Milk is normally purchased in boxes, non-refrigerated. After you open it, then you refrigerate it. So it was to much delight that I found plastic bottles of refrigerated milk.
So my first trip to Supermarket.... I left with sandwich bread, sliced ham, mayonnaise, cereal, refrigerated milk, pasta, spaghetti sauce, white chocolate, and a bottle of water.
I return to my apartment to find that the milk I bought is sour. No, not past its expiration date -- they SELL it that way. I guess it is common for baking. Of course I couldn't read the label cause it was in Czech. It was white, it was liquid, it was by a bunch of different colored-topped bottles (similar to the US).... it even had a picture of a coffee mug on the front!
Needless to say, it was not what I wanted.
I also find that the bottle of water I bought has gas. Not flatulence, mind you, but bubbles- carbonated, if you will. In Europe, it's either "with gas" or "without gas."
So my first trip to Supermarket by myself was interesting. Couldn't read a damn thing. I stared at the mustards forever thinking that maybe they were a funky colored mayonnaise, because well, I can't read Czech. And there is no English translation. Some things, such as my spaghetti sauce, is conveniently translated into 8 different languages. No English. But French yes, so I at least knew my spaghetti sauce was safe.
Most everything else is in Czech and Slovak. Obviously, I do not speak either, so for most things in the supermarket, I am S.O.L. and have to go with my instinct.
Also, Supermarket has stopped selling cans of Coca-Cola. When I first arrived, I purchased a 6-pack of Coca-Cola cans. When I returned to Supermarket today, it was as if it were all a dream. Not an aluminum can in sight. Of any soda. (OK POP!!!!! fine!!!! Soda POP!) Just half-liters, liters and 2-liters. Now I don't know about you, but I'm extremely partial to soda in a can. It just tastes so much better to me for some reason. So I was very disappointed in the lack of support to the aluminum-can community.
What else about Supermarket? Oh yeah, they don't have peanut butter (which is nothing new for europe but...). You also have to buy grocery bags. (This again is nothing new for Europe, but a mystical concept for Americans.... like a unicorn.)
Another mystical thing that never ceases to amaze me every time I see it.....
Just the simple brilliance of it, and just how damn simple it is, but yet how cost effective and energy saving it is.....
Motion-censored escalators. Escalators that do not move until they sense someone approaching. Then they move and carry you down/up like any other normal escalator.
The first time I saw this was in the Athens airport last year, and it's something I keep noticing more and more around Europe. Because it's just smart. Why leave the damn thing running all the time when there's no one to step ont it?
So now I'm rambling. I've been reading way to too much David Sedaris and it's rubbing off.
By the way, just finished "Naked" by the aforementioned author, and would recommend it to anyone with a dry sense of humor or an appreciation for one.
Daddy -- Happy Birthday! Thank you for all your support!!!
Mama -- I'm bringin home a recipe for fruit dumplings!!!! Be ready!!!
Condolences to Uncle Robert and Aunt Charlie on their recent family loss.
Thinking of You -- to Gaylord, Rhonda, Aubrey, Jared and most of all Chanta.
Much love to Grandma -- I wish you could have visited Czech Republic!
A little late, but Congratulations to Jen and Jacob Silvey on the birth of their beautiful lil Isabella Marie!!!!!!! Baby Bella, I'm comin home soon to squeeze you!!!!!
To Commerce Bank -- I curse thee!!!
And much love to all my family and friends who read this! One more month until I'm home!!!
---------------------------------------------------------------
As a side note, I would like to know who actually reads this blog besides my parents and family. So if you are reading this, please leave a comment to let me know!!!!! Thanks!!!!
Things that are strangely expensive here in Czechville:
- deodorant
- extra virgin olive oil (EVOO as good ole Rachy Ray would say)
- Coca-Cola
- spaghetti sauce
- Nutella
- any sort of hair care products
- toothpaste
What's even stranger is that brands like Garnier Fructis and Pantene Pro-V (shampoo and conditioner and such) are actually the cheapest brands you can buy. Garnier Fructis is everywhere. It's actually the cheapest in Portugal and France as well. Very strange, considering how expensive it is in America.
And when I say expensive in Czechville, I mean more than 30-40kc. Which means more than $2-3. lol What can I say? I'm down and out in Prague. Just flat broke. If it's more than 50kc, I won't buy it!
Mayonaise. That's another interesting concept in Prague. It took me 30 minutes to find mayo in the Billa supermarket. Obviously, I'm searching next to the mustards and ketchups and salad dressings. It was there in the US, Portugal and France. Could not find it. Because it is in the refrigerated section. Next to the yogurt, of course. Next to the yogurt is my first European experience with refrigerated milk. Milk is normally purchased in boxes, non-refrigerated. After you open it, then you refrigerate it. So it was to much delight that I found plastic bottles of refrigerated milk.
So my first trip to Supermarket.... I left with sandwich bread, sliced ham, mayonnaise, cereal, refrigerated milk, pasta, spaghetti sauce, white chocolate, and a bottle of water.
I return to my apartment to find that the milk I bought is sour. No, not past its expiration date -- they SELL it that way. I guess it is common for baking. Of course I couldn't read the label cause it was in Czech. It was white, it was liquid, it was by a bunch of different colored-topped bottles (similar to the US).... it even had a picture of a coffee mug on the front!
Needless to say, it was not what I wanted.
I also find that the bottle of water I bought has gas. Not flatulence, mind you, but bubbles- carbonated, if you will. In Europe, it's either "with gas" or "without gas."
So my first trip to Supermarket by myself was interesting. Couldn't read a damn thing. I stared at the mustards forever thinking that maybe they were a funky colored mayonnaise, because well, I can't read Czech. And there is no English translation. Some things, such as my spaghetti sauce, is conveniently translated into 8 different languages. No English. But French yes, so I at least knew my spaghetti sauce was safe.
Most everything else is in Czech and Slovak. Obviously, I do not speak either, so for most things in the supermarket, I am S.O.L. and have to go with my instinct.
Also, Supermarket has stopped selling cans of Coca-Cola. When I first arrived, I purchased a 6-pack of Coca-Cola cans. When I returned to Supermarket today, it was as if it were all a dream. Not an aluminum can in sight. Of any soda. (OK POP!!!!! fine!!!! Soda POP!) Just half-liters, liters and 2-liters. Now I don't know about you, but I'm extremely partial to soda in a can. It just tastes so much better to me for some reason. So I was very disappointed in the lack of support to the aluminum-can community.
What else about Supermarket? Oh yeah, they don't have peanut butter (which is nothing new for europe but...). You also have to buy grocery bags. (This again is nothing new for Europe, but a mystical concept for Americans.... like a unicorn.)
Another mystical thing that never ceases to amaze me every time I see it.....
Just the simple brilliance of it, and just how damn simple it is, but yet how cost effective and energy saving it is.....
Motion-censored escalators. Escalators that do not move until they sense someone approaching. Then they move and carry you down/up like any other normal escalator.
The first time I saw this was in the Athens airport last year, and it's something I keep noticing more and more around Europe. Because it's just smart. Why leave the damn thing running all the time when there's no one to step ont it?
So now I'm rambling. I've been reading way to too much David Sedaris and it's rubbing off.
By the way, just finished "Naked" by the aforementioned author, and would recommend it to anyone with a dry sense of humor or an appreciation for one.
Daddy -- Happy Birthday! Thank you for all your support!!!
Mama -- I'm bringin home a recipe for fruit dumplings!!!! Be ready!!!
Condolences to Uncle Robert and Aunt Charlie on their recent family loss.
Thinking of You -- to Gaylord, Rhonda, Aubrey, Jared and most of all Chanta.
Much love to Grandma -- I wish you could have visited Czech Republic!
A little late, but Congratulations to Jen and Jacob Silvey on the birth of their beautiful lil Isabella Marie!!!!!!! Baby Bella, I'm comin home soon to squeeze you!!!!!
To Commerce Bank -- I curse thee!!!
And much love to all my family and friends who read this! One more month until I'm home!!!
---------------------------------------------------------------
As a side note, I would like to know who actually reads this blog besides my parents and family. So if you are reading this, please leave a comment to let me know!!!!! Thanks!!!!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Česká Republika
So after a couple months in France, one crazy month in Portugal, a couple days in Spain.... here I am in Prague.
Living in poverty is interesting. I guess one could argue that I´ve technically lived in poverty ever since I left my parents home. My annual income is well below that of the respected poverty line in the USA. However, I have always had my parents, a job, or at least an emergency credit card to fall back on.
I have money. I do. Well, not a lot. But the problem lies in the fact that I transferred it all from my French account to my American account. No big deal, except my American debit card was eaten up and destroyed by an ATM in Spain.
I entered Prague with 50€ in cash, or 1100kč (roughly 60 USD). This 60 dollars are supposed to last me almost 2-3 weeks --- the time in which it takes my bank to send a new card to my house in the USA and then for my parents to send it to the Czech Republic.
What about credit cards? you might ask. Ah, but all my credit cards are maxed from paying for this course in full, upfront. In addition to all this, I still have to pay my student loans (roughly 150 bucks per month) and credit card payments. I honestly thought of trying to defer my loans, but I can't legally, because the school I am attending is overseas and not recognized under Title IV or something like that.
So after buying enough groceries to hopefully last me a week or two, I have about 200kč left.... about 10€ or 15 dollars. That's not a whole lot to live on.
To give you perspective.....
a beer costs - 35kč
milk costs aroun - 24kč
a metro ticket - 18kč
can of coke - 29kč
bag of coffee? close to 100kč
pack of cigarettes - 76kč
To give you perspective.....
a beer costs - 35kč
milk costs aroun - 24kč
a metro ticket - 18kč
can of coke - 29kč
bag of coffee? close to 100kč
pack of cigarettes - 76kč
So comparatively, everything is cheap. But when you only have 200kč, it goes fast.
So in conclusion, I am living in poverty. I can't even go out and enjoy a Czech beer (beer was invented here) because I can't afford it. I mostly sit at my flat and read all day. Which is sad cause I read fast, but I can't go buy more books. Even a membership to a library costs money. Luckily, my host has a small section of English-language books. Currently I'm reading "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote which is just absolutely fascinating. I would advise every single family member and friend in the Missouri/Kansas area to read it, because it all centers around Garden City and Kansas City. And it's all based on a true story -- a vicious, cold-blooded mass murder.
But before I get ahead of myself, I´ll remind everyone why I am in Prague. I have chosen to take a whole new route to my career. I have obviously caught the "travel bug" but of course one must work to stave off the poverty I am now facing. I have decided to do this by getting my CELTA certification.
For the next month (Until october 2nd), I will be in class over 8 hours every day (M-F) reviewing English grammar, teaching principles, lesson planning strategies, and getting hands-on teaching experience. I will be teaching the English language to classes of Czech adults.
In the end (hopefully) I will receive my certification to teach English as a second language to adults. This certification will guarantee me to be able to get a job pretty much anywhere. It's kind of like a nursing degree -- there will always be a job.... now where is the question. I could obviously get a job even working in the USA given the number of immigrants we have to the country. But more importantly, I now have a valid reason for almost any country to give me a valid work permit.
So why Prague? Well, the program offered the price in British Pounds, which at the time was a pretty good exchange for the USD, compared to paying higher prices at the Euro. Also, central Europe is just incredibly cheap. Not as much as it used to be, but in comparison, things are much cheaper. Czech Republic is also still on the Czech koruna -- NOT the Euro! And as such, the American dollar and Euro is worth quite a bit in exchange.
Currently,
1 Czech koruna = 0.05 US dollars.
or
1 US dollar = 18.05 Czech korunas
For the next month (Until october 2nd), I will be in class over 8 hours every day (M-F) reviewing English grammar, teaching principles, lesson planning strategies, and getting hands-on teaching experience. I will be teaching the English language to classes of Czech adults.
In the end (hopefully) I will receive my certification to teach English as a second language to adults. This certification will guarantee me to be able to get a job pretty much anywhere. It's kind of like a nursing degree -- there will always be a job.... now where is the question. I could obviously get a job even working in the USA given the number of immigrants we have to the country. But more importantly, I now have a valid reason for almost any country to give me a valid work permit.
So why Prague? Well, the program offered the price in British Pounds, which at the time was a pretty good exchange for the USD, compared to paying higher prices at the Euro. Also, central Europe is just incredibly cheap. Not as much as it used to be, but in comparison, things are much cheaper. Czech Republic is also still on the Czech koruna -- NOT the Euro! And as such, the American dollar and Euro is worth quite a bit in exchange.
Currently,
1 Czech koruna = 0.05 US dollars.
or
1 US dollar = 18.05 Czech korunas
Note to grandma: I asked my host family about kolaches!!!!!! In Czech, they are "koláče". But yes they are a common pastry here!
Speaking of host family, I do live with people. I live with Radka (a director at a school) and her son Simon. They have a nice townhouse in Praha 4 (a Prague suburb just south of central Prague). They are also hosting a university-exchange student Sarah. She is from Arkansas. And later this week, another American CELTA-trainee will join us. We have the upstairs half of the townhouse with a bathroom and kitchen to share.
(My metro stop in Praha 4. Pronounced "boo-day-yo-vitz-kah".)
(The street I live on. Pronounced "Nah Kirtch-skra Strah-nee". Yeah, impossible to actually make that into phonetic phrases.)
(View from my bedroom window. In the distance you can see the ugly high-rise apartment complexes -- remnants of the Communist reign that spackle the Czech Republic. )OK so this is turning into a rambling novel........ and I'm gettin a headache.
I love you all. Thanks for reading!
I return to the USA on October 6th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Amanda
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