Sunday, August 31, 2008

first impressions






I'm in PRAGUE!!!! and it really hasn't hit me that 'I'm living in Prague!!!' Yesterday when we landed I really think i was the only person who was excited. I slept less and had more energy than ever. Everybody was really quiet and im just hoping that i meet some people that are down for the same things I am. Oh and my blog menu is in Czech... weird! I have so much to say so i'm going to break it down a bit.( these pictures are just to give a bit of an idea)

The flight:
to start out... I met a lovely man on the plane. He lives in Kent England and I met him earlier in line for baggage check in. Thats what I get for talking to everyone!! ( thanks mom). It's nice to know someone else who has trouble sleeping on long flights. The movie selection was awesome! After we transfered planes in London i got a window seat which was basically amazing. Flying over Europe is beautiful because it is all green. I was surprised at myself that as we were leaving London i could identify all the sights... the London eye, Big Ben and parliament, tower bridge. I felt so cultured. I can't even imagine what i will be able to identify after this trip!

Living situation: 6 girls in a 3 bed 1.5 bath apartment. There isn't really a living space but at least we have a kitchen table unlike the guys who live upstairs. Somehow we are all going to share a mini-fridge and wash our clothes as we cook ( the washing machine is next to the fridge. My house mates seem nice. My roommates name is Sarah, she is from Ohio. rooms and such were not assigned. We all sorta walked in and where we put our things down we stayed. Our shower is out of control! I was the first to use it and I think I got more water on the walls, floor, and ceiling than on my body. We are going to have to talk to our Australian landlord about it. overall the apartment is pretty bare... no color at all!! Is it even worth spicing it up a bit?

We live in Vesehrad. It is a beautiful part of Prague that is near the park. I'm excited to go running on this trail that apparently has a view overlooking Prague for more of it. it is pretty easy to navigate to and from our apartment. There is a convention center near us with a huge billboard, a salmon pink building across the street, a Gothic style church with tall spires that stand out, and a huge brick wall that used to act as a watch tower that looked over the inner city of Prague back when it was ruled by the soviets. There was a tour around our part of town today because it is only a 5 minute walk to the university. One of my roommates got sick suddenly and i stuck behind to help her. Our group kept moving and we got left behind. I learned to send a text on a payphone in order to figure out where everyone had gone. The group was on there way to lunch and we didn't know what restaurant. We made it and the food was surprisingly good... soup in a breadbowl (Polivka in english.. funny funny). We also had some meat in gravy with bread.... oh and beer.. Pivo!!

I guess I skipped ahead and told you about today before yesterday. Yesterday we didn't get into town until the evening. We ate pizza because it looked safe and went to a music club. The club was surreal at first because everyone looked so awkward dancing... no rhythm at all. it turns out it was 80's night and reminded me a lot of LaSalles in Chico. Oh how I miss Chico! I was a bit disappointed because all the music was American... or at least in English. I could sing along to every song! high energy me danced the whole time. I feel like i sort of have to lead people and make decisions because everyone sorta sits around and is scared to do anything. i was first to get a drink, first to be dancing on stage and first to spill an entire beer on myself... Yes.... i was sober and spilt an ENTIRE beer on myself. I smelt like there was literally a party in my pants. haha. so.... I danced until it dried and by the end of the night almost all of our group was dancing too.

Our trip home was an adventure. What was supposed to be two rail stops and a short walk turned into two train stops and a hike across town. I'm not going to complain at all because the weather was perfect and we walked along the river for a part of it. Prague at night is like Disneyland without the screaming kids. all the large monuments are lit up and the rest of the town is pretty dark. I will get pictures up as soon as i get myself a tripod.

Well i must go now because my computer battery is going to die and i brought the wrong plug with me. (not the three prong that my computer requires. I will try to write more tomorrow... explain the shopping situation and such... which is crazy! (imagine strawberry scented Toilet paper.. yes they have it and yes i bought some!)

Friday, August 29, 2008

Horoscope

To be superstitious or not?...so today of all days my Horoscope reads: "You will experience problems while traveling, dealing with institutions or agencies and with a medical diagnosis". Fuck! It might as well say "you are going to have trouble making it through airport security and then when you finally make it on the plane it is going to crash and you are going to die!". WTF? I'm hoping it means 'BART will be a bit late, there will be long lines at the airport and your new shoes, that you are going to stupidly wear, will give you blisters.' Better yet I hope this horoscope means NOTHING AT ALL!! I don't think I am really a Capricorn anyway...

My bags weigh more than I do and I am off to start my adventure at 2pm. Flight leaves at 6:30 (unless my horoscope decides otherwise --sarcasm??--)

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Jumper

On Monday I jumped out of a plane in Lodi with an amazing 'small world' friend, Ryon. He asked... I said yes... 4 days later we were doing it....

jumping out of a plane I mean... (gosh perverts). It was spectacular, not quite the rush I expected. I think I was just so happy that I didn't have time to be scared. The free fall was not the kind that did a number on your stomach it was just... well.. it just felt like falling towards earth. I had a creepy, quietly sarcastic, rarely smiling Russian strapped to my back and surprisingly I felt safe putting my life in his hands. Mid drop my goggles flew off and probably eventually hit some random person in the head. If I was hit with a pair of goggles I would sport them... for sure. Cottonmouth, tangled hair and half way deaf we landed. When can I do it again???!!!

Bad news....I began to write this post because I thought I could upload the video. Apparently I suck at computers. Maybe sometime soon...?

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

The Bay to LA




I chose option #1. Now... 738.6 miles later.... and 11 hours literally sitting on my @$$ in the car... I am 'now free to move about the country'. After driving to LA and back in one day, and speaking with the Czech consulate myself, I now have a multiple entry passport that is good until February of next year. SWEET!! I have also decided that there are fewer nice people in LA than in NorCal. Figures...

The drive was not bad until the last 1.5 hours and the traffic leaving Santa Monica. And hey... I got to see the whole state of California one last time before I leave! (thinking positive). I sang the whole time as you can see in the photos. I got bored and had a photo shoot.... I was sweaty and haggard. silly silly.
Advice: Don't text and drive at 85mph.

Monday, August 25, 2008

oh the visa process...

So as expected and with my luck ( that I may bring on myself) I am SOL about receiving my passport in time. It turns out that my visa is still being processed and they are holding my passport hostage. I am trying to find a way to send all the appropriate information as soon as possible so i can at least get a 90 day student visa and get my passport back in time for my Friday flight. I will be in Prague for 117 days so i will need to get an extension of my visa once i am over there. Thank goodness the man from the LA Consulate office seemed to understand my concern and need for speed.

It just blows that they didn't let me know about this a few days ago. I am definitely cutting it to the wire. I have options 1) I can either fly or drive there and do it myself 2) i can cross my fingers and send it rush delivery tomorrow in hopes that my passport will be sent back here by Friday... or 3) I can pay $366.85 that I don't really have to get the damn envelope picked up at my house tonight and put on the quickest plane. AHH!!!... I am going to go decide now...

Saturday, August 16, 2008

14 days..

14 days.... then I'm leaving on a jet plane for 4 months of adventuring. I Just got my housing location today for Prague... it makes this trip seem real. I am not looking forward to packing this week.