Sunday, May 25, 2008

Don't press mystery buttons

I was so proud of myself. I have only been here a couple of days and already done a good bit of grocery shopping and made a couple of really good meals for myself - good looking and nutritious if not flavorful.

But what happens when I get curious and decide to press little buttons in my mini-fridge here? I guess the freezer shuts off!

I open my fridge - which means that my freezer open because the door does not stay shut for some reason - and a small waterfall pours out over my food and into all the little drawers. I thought at first maybe one of my bottles of water had leaked - BUT NO - MY FREEZER ALL MELTED! Completely ruined the tomato I had in the crisper. Who makes an unlabeled button that turns off the freezer?

Anyway, so my day started by cleaning/drying out my fridge. Productive start. I have been very productive lately. I am getting a lot of studying for my course done which is good - I might need the head start. Getting a lot of enjoyable writing done which is something I wish I would have done more of the last time I was here.

Getting my day started at all is pretty good the past couple of days - The time change is kicking my butt. I'm a little tired anytime I am not doing something active and today was the first day I did not wake up at 4AM - this is what I saw my first morning at 4 AM

Little dark isn't it? 

That is from the balcony of my flat. I really enjoy it here. Its a small place - my bed is flush against my kitchen - but its nice. I'll add pictures of that later.

In the mean time I am outside a good amount trying to enjoy the fresh air and the mostly enjoyable weather. If I get going to fast and then slow down it gets warm fast - me melting is more of a concern than my fridge. Someone mentioned to me how hot it was here and I thought "but I've been there and its not that bad - its just like Wisconsin" - but then I remembered that Wisconsin get really humid and the person I was talking to was in the Czech Republic in July (the one month that I have not lived in the Czech Republic before) and July in Wisconsin can be very uncomfortable. So we'll see how this goes.

Anyway - I use the free time I have to sit and enjoy little things that I find. I love the detail in everything here. Nothing is too simple an object to be intricate in its design. Age only adds to the incredible nature of so much that you can find on any street - including the street itself with bricks that are reused each time the streets are redone.

Going to Slovakia later this week to see a friend. She lives in Zilina which is a place I have been before and look forward to going back to. I hope everyone is well at home and you are all enjoying your vacations - at least those of you who get vacations.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Getting here was the easy part

The flight was long was it wasn't so bad. I meet some nice people and had a good conversation with the man next to me on the longest leg from Minneapolis to Amsterdam. He was Dutch but has lived in St. Louis for decades now. Interesting perspective on things. 

It was a long wait for my luggage especially since I was not sure that it would be coming in one piece. When you pack so late as I did, things do not always fit as nicely as planned. Still, the luggage got here with me and I went to meet the man holding a sign with my name on it - that was a first. He drove me to my new flat and even helped me upstairs with my luggage. 

He was the first person I was able to speak to in Czech and it was motivating to see how much I still remember - even after not sleeping for so long. I still have some improving to do though. That will come. 

My flat is nice- an entry with the shower room ahead and the bathroom to the right, my bedroom/kitchen to the left. It is a very nice room with plenty of space and a little balcony I can go to. Plenty of natural light through the large windows. 

I found out today that I can actually stay there the entire course and I won't have to move to a different flat next week - thats convenient but we'll see if I enjoy living alone that much. The upside is that I am MUCH closer to the school here - about two minutes on foot. The other students stay in the next suburb over - Still close but not as close.

 Pictures coming soon. 

Before I make a short story long - believe me it could all be much longer - I'll leave it at this. If anyone needs my address or phone number please let me know. Hope everyone is starting their summer well and stays well throughout.

Justin