...the Yankees won the world series?
Happy 20th, Velvet Revolution.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
European Revelations
The most significant revelation having been discovered while sitting in my Contemporary Central European Politics class searching fruitlessly for some entertainment... until my wandering eyes happened to glance over at the map of Europe hanging on the wall in front of me. As my knowledge of Germany's insanity has increased since studying in Europe, I made this astonishing and poignant discovery...
Har har.
Irony. Our professor moves on to tell us about the numerous parties in the Czech parliament... "Socialist party, communist party, green party, Christian party, party of retards..."
...at which I find myself the only one laughing out loud and a slight silent pause afterwards. Great, I am now "that girl".
But in other news... I haven't really felt the blogging urge lately which is too bad because I've done a bunch of cool stuff that would be interesting (or not) to read about. Poland was cold, Brussels was expensive, Amsterdam was smoky, Maria is now broke. Well... not really but I might be eating with the peasants in Istanbul and fishing out of the canals in Venice and perhaps visiting the homeless shelter in Barcelona. Builds character.
Another one of my revelations was that this world is extremely tiny. I've had several "Wait, are you serious? The world is so small...." moments since being abroad. Strange things. I also need a hair cut but at the same time am torn between long or short hair. What a dilemma. Got to wear my Dirndl again last night for a Kolej costume party, that was nice. I have to wear it 68 more times to get my money's worth. Yikes. Maybe I'll consider moving to Bavaria.
Here's something to think about- having to study during study abroad? Who ever thought of something so crazy! Sheesh. How am I supposed to immerse myself in Czech culture when I've got three history tests to worry about. Or something.
I need to start eating healthy...
Har har.
Irony. Our professor moves on to tell us about the numerous parties in the Czech parliament... "Socialist party, communist party, green party, Christian party, party of retards..."
...at which I find myself the only one laughing out loud and a slight silent pause afterwards. Great, I am now "that girl".
But in other news... I haven't really felt the blogging urge lately which is too bad because I've done a bunch of cool stuff that would be interesting (or not) to read about. Poland was cold, Brussels was expensive, Amsterdam was smoky, Maria is now broke. Well... not really but I might be eating with the peasants in Istanbul and fishing out of the canals in Venice and perhaps visiting the homeless shelter in Barcelona. Builds character.
Another one of my revelations was that this world is extremely tiny. I've had several "Wait, are you serious? The world is so small...." moments since being abroad. Strange things. I also need a hair cut but at the same time am torn between long or short hair. What a dilemma. Got to wear my Dirndl again last night for a Kolej costume party, that was nice. I have to wear it 68 more times to get my money's worth. Yikes. Maybe I'll consider moving to Bavaria.
Here's something to think about- having to study during study abroad? Who ever thought of something so crazy! Sheesh. How am I supposed to immerse myself in Czech culture when I've got three history tests to worry about. Or something.
I need to start eating healthy...
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Laundromat Revelations
Ahoj, ahoj.
Just returned from Poland for the weekend. As much as I'd like to share all about it I feel like I should probably maintain a chronological order to my blog since any other form of organization is seriously lacking. Also I feel as though I've been somewhat neglecting to write about my experiences IN Prague and have turned an unfair focus towards just my excursions. So first things first. Czechs are smelly. Reason: lack of laundromats. Well, at least that is one factor. What the hell CR, where are all your washers and driers!? Get on that Klaus, and join the EU already while you're at it.
After going a couple weeks without laundry, Jenna and I decided it was time to leave the comfortable confines of the Kolej to seek a mode to clean clothing before departing for Krakow. Cut to Andy's Laundromat, second to last stop on tram 22. Now a trip to the laundromat normally wouldn't warrant an individual blog entry, but this laundromat had something special. After putting all your clothes in, you were welcomed to sit in a lounge and enjoy complimentary coffee and tea. Still not too exciting- until I picked up a book off the coffee table. Entries dating back to 2003, this book held anecdotes, comments and praises of Andy's and clean laundry/Prague in general. I spent a good hour reading through the entire thing- people from all over the world, connecting within one medium, over dirty underwear and trousers. Genius.
Below are some noteworthy entries that I wanted to share:
"Never thought I'd be here but I love it. The cab driver threw Zain's bags onto the street because he took him to the wrong location. Bangu is chill as hell. We go back in seven weeks to the states. I don't want to leave at all. Don't really miss anybody except my ferret Amelio."
-Ryan, Raleigh, NC, USA
"Didn't actually wash my clothes. But I watched."
-Tim, Australia
"I like hockey, squares, and this laundromat."
-Simon, Quebec, Canada
"Time to wash and think
Moments to write and drink
Sunshine for newly-weds
Who have the hardest time gettin' out of bed
Reflections from a tram window make it hard to say, 'we have to go'."
- Paul and Becky, New Orleans, LA, USA
"Cheers to all the travelers and explorers of life."
-Jim W., Bishop, CA, USA
" We arrived here a horrible, smelly punk rock band. Now we're just a horrible punk rock band. Cheers!"
-Meggers, THE CASUALTIES, NYC, USA
"They say if it ain't clutch, it ain't much. But then I found this laundry place. Excelente!"
-Felix, The Netherlands
"You're a great fisherman."
-Anon
Reading these entires made me unusually happy. There were words in so many languages written by people from so many different countries around the world- even ones from Maine. If the two loads I washed hadn't cost upwards of $15, I might've said that this is the best laundromat in the world just for having this guest book. Now that I've put all these thoughts down on virtual paper, I promise that my next two entires will include accounts of an epic adventure in the mountains of Bad Schandau, Deutschland (out of chronological order, woops) and of course my trip to Poland, land of the Po.
Just returned from Poland for the weekend. As much as I'd like to share all about it I feel like I should probably maintain a chronological order to my blog since any other form of organization is seriously lacking. Also I feel as though I've been somewhat neglecting to write about my experiences IN Prague and have turned an unfair focus towards just my excursions. So first things first. Czechs are smelly. Reason: lack of laundromats. Well, at least that is one factor. What the hell CR, where are all your washers and driers!? Get on that Klaus, and join the EU already while you're at it.
After going a couple weeks without laundry, Jenna and I decided it was time to leave the comfortable confines of the Kolej to seek a mode to clean clothing before departing for Krakow. Cut to Andy's Laundromat, second to last stop on tram 22. Now a trip to the laundromat normally wouldn't warrant an individual blog entry, but this laundromat had something special. After putting all your clothes in, you were welcomed to sit in a lounge and enjoy complimentary coffee and tea. Still not too exciting- until I picked up a book off the coffee table. Entries dating back to 2003, this book held anecdotes, comments and praises of Andy's and clean laundry/Prague in general. I spent a good hour reading through the entire thing- people from all over the world, connecting within one medium, over dirty underwear and trousers. Genius.
Below are some noteworthy entries that I wanted to share:
"Never thought I'd be here but I love it. The cab driver threw Zain's bags onto the street because he took him to the wrong location. Bangu is chill as hell. We go back in seven weeks to the states. I don't want to leave at all. Don't really miss anybody except my ferret Amelio."
-Ryan, Raleigh, NC, USA
"Didn't actually wash my clothes. But I watched."
-Tim, Australia
"I like hockey, squares, and this laundromat."
-Simon, Quebec, Canada
"Time to wash and think
Moments to write and drink
Sunshine for newly-weds
Who have the hardest time gettin' out of bed
Reflections from a tram window make it hard to say, 'we have to go'."
- Paul and Becky, New Orleans, LA, USA
"Cheers to all the travelers and explorers of life."
-Jim W., Bishop, CA, USA
" We arrived here a horrible, smelly punk rock band. Now we're just a horrible punk rock band. Cheers!"
-Meggers, THE CASUALTIES, NYC, USA
"They say if it ain't clutch, it ain't much. But then I found this laundry place. Excelente!"
-Felix, The Netherlands
"You're a great fisherman."
-Anon
Reading these entires made me unusually happy. There were words in so many languages written by people from so many different countries around the world- even ones from Maine. If the two loads I washed hadn't cost upwards of $15, I might've said that this is the best laundromat in the world just for having this guest book. Now that I've put all these thoughts down on virtual paper, I promise that my next two entires will include accounts of an epic adventure in the mountains of Bad Schandau, Deutschland (out of chronological order, woops) and of course my trip to Poland, land of the Po.
It is winter. Hope everyone is well. Clean clothes abounding.
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