Papa Bear's Visit

It was almost exactly a month ago that my daddy and Su-Yen came to visit me in Prague. I was nervous yet excited, as I always love seeing my daddy. I hadn't seen him since my sister's wedding in September, so I was definitely very happy that he was taking the time off from work to spend a week with me in Prague. My father and I have a very unique relationship, one that is based off of uncomfortable sexual innuendos and the mere fact that him and I are very alike, maybe too alike at times. As much as he is my father, he is very much my pal, one of my closest friends. We joke around more than any parent and child do, and I think I can confidently say he brings out a lot more of my weirdness. I think the physical distance ( he lives in Singapore) that our relationship undergoes really builds this relationship that is not so common between father and daughter. Anyone who knows me know how highly I think of my dad, as I truly think he is a super rad dude. I'd be lying if I said I never had my dad strike up a conversation with a cute boy in order for me to take to him. He is the best wingman. And although my dad and I have had many bumps in the road, at the end of the day we enjoy each others company, and truly cherish it whenever we have the opportunity to see one another in person.

So when he came to Prague, we made sure to do everything and anything. At the time, I had been too busy getting situated in Prague to have done a lot of the classic Prague touristy things, so having my dad and Su-Yen come visit gave me the opportunity to do all of that...for free ( I mean, thanks dad!)

On the first day, I took them to their first Czech meal, and surprisingly my dad agreed that czech food isn't really good, which was good for me because it didn't make me look like such a picky eater. That night we went to a really cool jazz club called Jazz Boat which was on a boat...in the river. It was super cool and very contemporary jazz, borderline funky at times. We had fun dancing in our little cool retro chairs, sipping our cocktails.

Jazz Boat Rockin' Out

The next day, we took a day trip to a town in Bohemia called Kutná Hora. In the 10th Century, silver was found in Kutná Hora, and the money that came from the silver is what is partially responsible for the beauty that is Prague because it helped build many of the beautiful architecture the city has now. One of the coolest things about Kutná Hora is its famous Sedlec Ossuary, a chapel decorated with bones of over 70,000 people. It was both very bizzare and yet really cool. But the truth is, thanks to things such as Halloween and Alexander McQueen, when one looks at a real human skull they are indifferent to it because we are so primed to skulls.

Sedlec Ossuary

Sedlec Ossuary

Bones

Bones Chandelier 

One of the funniest things to observe when hanging with my dad and Su-Yen is watching them compete to take the best photograph, as they taunt and brag to one another every time they snap a good one. If one takes a good one and shows the other, the other will go to the same spot and out shoot them.They are both photographers in their free time ( when they aren't busy checking emails on their blackberries), and everytime they travel they take thousands of beautiful photographs. Now that I'm part of the DSLR game, it has become the three of us competing for the best photograph. I am not joking when I say it takes us roughly 45 minutes to move 100 yards, as we are all furiously shooting away.

Dad showing his dedication to getting a cool picture

Dad being cute

Us being cute

While in Kutná Hora, we also visited the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady and Saint John the Baptist, which was originally a gothic church that was later rebuilt in a baroque style after it was completely destroyed during the Hussite Wars.

If I know anything about my preferences when it comes to art it's that I am a sucker for gothic churches. The detail in their construction often leave me breathless, and more often than not their stain glass window work leaves me mesmerized. Kutná Hora's Saint Barbara Church was absolutely no exception, as its flying buttresses and pinnacles were out of this world. 

Saint Barbara Church

Saint Barbara Church

Saint Barbara Church's beautiful rib vaulting

Me

We walked around the entire town of Kutná Hora, exploring the deserted town and then making our way back to Prague late into the evening.

Dad

A sky that had me singing "cotton candy tootsie roll" for a very long time. Why I decided to sing such a thing? I have no idea.

We were starving once we got back to Prague. Every time my dad comes to visit me, whether it be in New York City, Florida, or now Prague, he always tells me to pick a restaurant that I would love to go to but would never take myself to, and usually this freedom overwhelms me and has me googling places and asking friends for recommendations. But, on the daily walk from the metro station to school, I had always passed this Brasilian steakhouse, and had secretly noted this is where I wanted my father to take me. So we went to this  upscale churrascaria, which I can only imagine is the only one in Prague, and the only thing I can ask is why I have NEVER been to one before as it a restaurant built around the only things I practically eat: meat, chicken, french fries, corn, and bread. I was in heaven, absolute heaven, as I daringly tried every meat and asked for thirds a little bit more than is socially accepted. I am proud to say I lasted longer than my father, but honestly, who can say no to incredible brasilian steak sizzling in sea salt or garlic? Not I. My limitless stomach was truly happy at this eatery. I still dream about the meats. 

This is an after- eating shot of my plate: I was too busy stuffing my face to take a real "full plate" photo. 

The next day, it was a beautiful day and I took my Dad and Su-Yen to what is becoming my favorite thing in this city, the Prague Castle. We caught the huge performance of the guards, which was funny and awkward because being a castle guard seems weird. What happens if they have to pee while on duty? Are they deep philosophers thinking for about the universe during their shifts or are they mostly just thinking about nutella? Are they fashionistas judging the style of the castle visitors or have they mastered the art of sleeping with their eyes open? I dont know if this is a good sign or not, but the more I visit the castle ( I go with my art class a lot as well as taking little trips up there by myself) the more I start to recognize and remember the guards. I wonder if they notice I go there too often? Another question that has been puzzling me: what happens if one does not move when the three guards are walking to switch guard posts? Do they stop and wait for you to move, do they walk right through you, or do they take their fancy guns and use them?

Guard Performance Piece

Does this not take your breath away?

One of the best things about visiting the castle is that it sits on a hill that overlooks the entire city. Definitely one of the most beautiful sights my eyes have ever seen.

Me with the city behind me

We made our way from the castle to the Charles Bridge, walking past this river den where I spotted the greatness of nature. 

I love nature. 

Charles Bridge from afar

We walked across the Charles Bridge and my dad and Su-Yen blended in so well with the other thousands of tourists it was like finding Waldo.

Although I had never been to an Opera before, I always assumed it just wasn't my thing. My dad is really into everything, and he personally loves going to the Opera, so I decided to culturize ( I believe I just made up this word) myself and tag along that night. I had been to the Prague National Theatre before when I went to the ballet, so I knew it was beautiful, but as we sat in our own balcony box ( if that's what they are even called. All I could think about was Lincoln's assassination while sitting in there) I felt so VIP and cool! The opera we attended was The Bartered Bride, composed by one of the Czech Republic's most famous composers Bedrich Semtana, and it was so fun and lighthearted that I really enjoyed it. It involved folky music and folk dance, and although I was reading the english subtitles, I very much got that it was a humor piece as well. One thing I love about hanging out with my dad is that he always exposes me to new things, whether it be new food, music, or things such as opera.

Theatre

Dad being a VIP baller

Me being super cool at a Opera

I had school the entire week, so while I was a nerd in the classroom, my dad and Su-Yen explored the city on their own, and then we all met up in the evenings for dinner and a night activity. I grew up going to Hard Rock Cafe's and the Prague one was conveniently right next to my school, I did not hesitate when my dad opted to go there. Nothing better than a good meaty hamburger. Embarrassing thing about the Hard Rock Cafe? In the span of 24 hours, the three of us went there twice: once for dinner, and once for desert. But thats not the embarrassing part. The embarrassing part is, we had the same waitress both times. We were seated in two different sections, two different floors, and yet, we got her, and she remembered our drink orders. 

One of the nights we went to a marionette rendition of Don Giovanni, my dad's favorite opera, and it was so fun and entertaining! Although it was in Italian, I could pick up what was going on from body language of the marionettes ( funny to think marionette's have body language). I guess speaking spanish and a dad sitting next to me who is fluent in Italian didn't hurt either. The marionette house has been open and playing Don Giovanni for 40 years! Crazy right!

                                                                                                                                                                                                        

After that show, I decided I refused to let my dad leave the Czech Republic until he drank absinthe, since he was a absinthe virgin. We found a cool bar off of Old Town Square that had a military theme, with communist propaganda posters, murals of Stalin and Lenin, and real military gear on the walls. Although it seems a bit weird to have a military themed bar in a country that has seen too much ugliness from war, its surprisingly not that uncommon in Europe. As we fired up our sugar spoons and dipped them into our shots, my dad truly had no idea what was coming to him. No matter how cool absinthe seems, the taste is disgusting, and I never understand how anyone gets drunk off of it as the taste itself sobers me up every time. 

Add caption

                                                                                           Bottoms up.

As we relaxed on the very comfortable couches we were sitting on and let the warm sugary burn of the alcohol inch down our throats, one of my family's most favorite sing-a-longs came on: Meatloaf's Paradise by the Dashboard Lights. This song was one of my parent's favorite songs to sing to, but I have adopted it as a family song as I still remember the last day I hung with my family of four ( mom, dad, sister, and me) a few year after the divorce this song came on in the car and we all went crazy singing it. Anyways, it came on at the bar, and my dad and I had a nice little performance going. Nothing compares to the family Bohemian Rhapsody performances we give in public ( regardless if the song is playing or not), but it was pretty epic, not gonna lie.

On their last night in Prague, I convinced my dad to take us to the Blacklight Theatre, someone that Prague is known for. After finishing our delicious meal, we had to literally sprint through the city to make it to the show on time. As we got to the theatre's door we realized it wouldn't open. "Yes we were two minutes late, but there's no way the theatre locks their doors" we thought. After confusion washed upon all of our faces, I spotted it: The night crusher, the spirit crusher, the sign that said the show had been cancelled for the night. Upset and out of breath, we figured the only way to make ourselves feel better was with some desert. But, unfortunately, czechs arent big into deserts, so desperate and frustrated with the lack of desert and lack of blacklight theatre, we made our way back to the Hard Rock, where we were greeted as VIPs or MFV ( Most Frequent Visitors). 

The week I had in Prague with my dad was probably one of the greatest week's of my life. It felt so good to share this chapter of my life with him, as his visit truly made me realize  the bold decision I made to move to a completely new city that is off the beaten path. I had so much fun just hanging with my dad, especially because the older I get, the harder it becomes to allocate time in both of our schedules to just hang in person and enjoy each other's company.I am truly grateful that Su-Yen and Papa Bear allow me to be the growing up teenager that I am, letting me speak my mind and respecting what I have to say. Nothing feels greater in the world than knowing you parents are proud of you, and respect you not only as their child, but as the incredible human being you are growing up to be. 

xox

ivd

                                         

I'm Back

I have turned into the people I hate. The people who start a blog, promise to update it very regularly, and then STOP. But, luckily, I've had the past month to come up with multiple excuses as to why I have been slacking soooo hard.
1. my dad came to visit early last month for a week so I was very preoccupied.
2. My weekends have been filled with traveling: Vienna, Budapest, Cesky Krumlov, and Terezin.
3. After much thought and consolation, I decided to switch out of my lovely single room to a new dorm into a four person room. The decision came after realizing I was cheating myself of the experience I wanted in Prague because all the people I had met and enjoyed hanging out with all lived in this one dorm called Osadni ( including Kelly, who also made the move three weeks before me). So now, Kelly and I are roommates ( the only free bed in this dorm was in her room) and words cannot even describe how incredible it is to constantly be giggling and laughing with someone. We really are two peas in a pod. It is so incredible to me how friendships sometimes are just meant to happen. Kelly and I just click: she has brought me down to earth and has lifted my spirits through the beautiful friendship we have that is filled with love, joy, and laughter. My other roommates are incredible as well: we all enjoying eating a little too much so most of our time is spent in our beautiful and large kitchen eating or watching each other cook.
4. Now that I've moved, my social calender is constantly overly full! I have a friend group that consists of over 20 people, made up of NYU students from all different NYU schhols, majors, backgrounds, and personalities, yet the connection we all have with one another is truly magical. On any given night, we make our rounds at our two favorite bars, Sir Tobys and Cross Club, and just drink beers and talk about anything and everything. No matter what night of the week it is or where we are going, we are constantly rolling deep ( translation: always have a very large group going). I am so happy to always be surrounded constantly with people I consider my friends, as there is never a dull moment nor does a moment go by without the sound of laughter. Coming from New York where one will very rarely have a large friend group, its been so fun to just have such a large group of friends who are all after the same thing: having the best time in Prague. Whether we are being too competitive at Tuesday night Trivia at Sir Tobys, acting as unofficial tour guides/ Prague ambassadors to people we meet at the local hostel, or dancing a little too hard, every element of our lives in Prague is just incredible. Sometimes I have to pinch myself because I can't believe how happy I am here.
5. School is starting to get a bit more chaotic as midterms approach and as I am rushing to get them done before I leave Prague for two weeks to go to Berlin and Istanbul.
6. I have started working as a fashion intern at InStyle Magazine. Although I am not liking it anywhere near how much I loved working at More Magazine, I guess building a resume is the only way to move up.
7. A main reason has also been, that I really enjoy blogging, and whenever I do I put my whole heart into every post. Unfortunately, that means each post usually takes me two hours to write, and as my life here is very quickly taking off in full speed, I constantly kept putting off blogging by telling myself I didn't have the necessary time to write a post. But that habit ends now.

I was meant to blog yesterday, but instead my best friend decided to skype me for an hour. Opps.

Valentine's Day

My handwritten Valentine that I got in my mailbox today! It was from a secret admirer, I wonder who!

As for my gift to all my supportive readers, I promise you two blogs in the next week. My life has been crazy and busy lately, which only makes for a perfect blog post.

xoxo
 love every single day of the year

Time flies when you're in the Czech Republic...

I swear it feels like yesterday that I sat down to catch up with you folks, but in reality its been a week! To my defense, I've started classes, so in between trying to not fall behind in class readings as well as trying to sleep off this awful cough/cold that I've developed (A cough that has attracted the attention of three of my professors, who have all told me in nicest possible way to do something to control my  nasty cough!), time has slipped through my fingers.

My first week of classes was actually busier than it normally will be because I took the liberty of trying out as many classes as I was interested in, regardless if I was registered in them or not. Thus far in college, I've either taken courses because they seen easy, they have good time slots, I need to take them for my requirments,  or because I have a vague interest in it. This often results in me dragging my feet every time I go to class, which isn't really fair to my professor nor me. I'm paying to learn and I might as well enjoy learning. So, in the spirit of truly trying to get everything I can out of this experience, I tried out different classes to see if I perhaps enjoyed other classes more than the ones I originally signed up for. To my surprise, two classes that I randomly tried out have actually become the highlights of my week, so I dropped my Czech Cinema class and my Kafka course. My four courses for this semester now are: photography, Czech Art and Architecture, European Security after the Cold War, and Modern Dissent in Central Europe: The Art of Defeat. Although I am very blessed and grateful to be taught by some of the most innovative and intellectual professors in their fields back in New York City, there is something a little more special about being taught about the destruction communism had on Europe when my professor first hand experienced it or was one of the leading forces in the revolution against communism. For the first time in college, I'm taking classes with 5-10 other students as opposed to a lecture hall of 150, and let me just say, that small intimacy definitely helps me from falling asleep during class ( I have a small suspicion  that I have developed a minor case of narcolepsy during lectures. Of course I don't, but a neurotic person is a neurotic person). I've always been the kind of learner/ student that likes  to get into class discussion, and as many former classmates can attest to, I do not like raising my hand in class to speak, therefore a small group size makes it a lot easier for me to blurt out what's on my mind.  Because NYU in Prague only has roughly 140 students in the program this semester, it has also been really cool having a sort of "community" within my school. With only two NYU in Prague buildings, you tend to see a lot of faces on the regular, and I'm quite enjoying the small talk and hellos that occur as one hustle's to class. I keep finding that small pleasures such as becoming friends with all office administrators because of the frequent naps taken on their comfy blue couch or  running into 8+ people you know in the computer lab as you all check your Facebook's in between classes,  are really what's making this experience of going to school here that much more enriching. This is not to say that I find Facebook enriching (although, depending on what time and day you ask me I may differ with myself), but just that constant interaction with people who you may have not spoken to at a city campus of 20,000 plus students. It makes you feel less alone, and that you're part of something a lot bigger than your own abroad experience: the abroad experience's of everyone else. A funny detail I have noticed while in school though is how easily you can distinguish NYU in NYC kids from other university kids attempting NYU in Prague by how they simply dress for class. No matter how into fashion you are, you will very rarely, if ever besides maybe exam week, see an NYU student wear sweatpants to class. No matter how hung over, or sleep deprived, an NYU student will at least manage to put on a pair of jeans and maybe a plaid shirt. But non-NYU kids, I guess non- city kids, find no problem in dressing down for school, and wearing very "going out clothes" at night. This point isn't really significant, just things that I would obviously notice. Once a fashion intern always a fashion intern?

I don't mean to digress and focus back on the topic of communism and its impact on Europe, more specifically the Czech Republic, but I have been finding it very hard to escape the topic  even for the slightest moment. The evidence of this country's past is everywhere you turn, in every face you see, in every word you hear spoken. But the most fascinating thing is, I don't just notice it because I am in complete awe with the history of this country, but because its own people, the Czechs themselves, still are in complete shock with how they got to where they are today.  The answer I have received from elders who witnessed the Velvet Revolution is simply: " We don't know why this time it worked, why it worked." My European Security professor, who is an Ambassador at Large as well as the governmental overseer of the largest Nuclear Tender in Europe, was actually one of the main student leader's during the Velvet Revolution, and all he can explain of revolution was that it came so fast. One day he was facing 3-8 years of prison for his role in the revolution, and literally 10 days later he was the youngest person (21) to be working a very high position in the government, being given access to the secret police files that no one had ever seen before. 

The most adorable old man one will ever meet (beside my own grandfather, Papito) is my darling photography professor. Although sometimes I can't understand what he is trying to say ( English is not the first language of any of my professors so sometimes its both hard for the students as well as the professors to carry the lecture) he has such joy in his eyes, and he is just so happy, so weightless in his life now. Growing up with WWII as your childhood, and communism as your adulthood, one would assume a person would lose hope in happiness. The happiness that overcomes him when he speaks of the first camera he ever bought (those big ol' camera's that literally required a room to store) he gets so happy. Every time he unplugs his USB flash drive from the computer, a huge smile overcomes his face as he re-mentions that it was his christmas present last year. Today he told my class a story of the first time he heard boogie music in the days shortly after WWII . Him and a few school colleagues had just gotten out of a dance class (apparently required in those days) and they headed off to a café. When they walked into the café, they saw men in uniform, but not German uniforms as they had become so accustomed to seeing, but US soldier uniforms. The US soldiers were dancing to boogie, a music that had been banned and censored in Czechoslovakia, and my professor described the sensation of seeing these soldiers dancing to this music by saying " it was something like freedom." The moment those words left his lips, I jotted them down on my palm, and the entire day I have just carried them with me. "It was something like freedom." I cannot even put down in words how hearing him say that made me feel because I would be robbing you all of what I felt as I watched him say those words. It was just a powerful moment, even if no one else in the room felt it, because here is a man who is now free, free to do and be whatever his heart desires, a man who 50 years ago saw a style of dance and associated it with freedom. Sometimes words just don't do a moment justice.

The weather here hasn't been as brutal as my mother and I anticipated (prior to my departure, I made my first visit to a ski store in order to equipped myself of  pants to wear under my pants in order to stay warm as well as additional glove warmers).Because of my fabulous window and great view, I often find myself just standing with my head out the window, watching as days go to nights. The other night, snow quietly covered the city, and as I prepared to go to sleep, I took a peek out my window and was blown away with what I saw. My picture does no justice to how beautiful the sight was. But trust me. I was speechless. Still am when I think back on it. It was one of the MOST beautiful things I have ever seen in my life. It literally felt like in the moment I saw the snow, I was taken high above the city and looked down at this little sleeping city, like a sleeping child, with an innocence and peace that only a child has.

 I don't know if the European mentality has kicked in already, but I keep finding myself less and less high strung and stressed all the time, and instead I just continue to roll with the punches, enjoying whatever is going on around me without the constant pressure to meet any form of expectations. I've meet some really great and real people already, people that I am fascinated to speak to. It's so incredible to meet people who are 19-20 and just have something to say, something strong and powerful and meaningful to say. In New York, I find everyone is just trying to get by each and everyday, a little too self focused to really stop and look at the people around you. I personally find that NYC has a way of bringing a sense of pretentiousness out of people, everyone kinda beings to think they are a little too good for everyone else. But here- that is just gone. Perhaps it's the reality that we are stuck in the middle of Europe in a country where the local language cannot be understood, but truthfully, I just feel like we all sort of have put our guards down, we've all stopped for a moment and looked around. I know I definitely have. Its empowering, and extremely inspiring. I always knew that students have the strongest voice of all, the most power in this world, and it's inspiring to hear and speak with the people who already are and forever will change this world. 

My dearest friend Kelly has switched out of my dorm building into another one where it is more of her scene, and my scene too.  Unfortunately, with no single rooms left in that dorm, I'm sort of stuck on this side of the river for now, but in all honesty I don't know If I would ever be able to leave my own Hey Arnold  quarters. To celebrate her first night in her new place, a bunch of friends, Kelly and I went to one of our favorite bars thus far in the Czech Republic (I want to make note that this was not only the first time I had water during dinner, but the first time I have bought a water bottle at the bar. I've been here almost three weeks and this was the first time? oy vey!) Seeing as how public transportation ends at midnight and there was no way I was going to have another adventure that could have possibly led me to German again (See last post if this seems a bit puzzling to you) I decided to wait until the metro opened again at 5 a.m. to ensure a smooth a safe arrival home.  Walking home as the sun was coming up reminded me way too much of my New York City lifestyle. Regardless, I was greeted home by snowflakes on my window. This is the first time in my life that I have actually been able to see real snow flakes that resemble the fake snowflakes often made during Christmas time in elementary school. I thought this point was worth the mention, LOL. 

A point I brought up in class the other day was brought upon by the talk of the US draft. I have not been able to drop this topic for the past three days because I find it ridiculous that I was laughed at by the entire class for something that doesn't seen so illogical when you think deeply about it. I have asked classmates, professors, Facebook friends, my parents, literally anyone who would be able to give me an educated answer. So I want to leave you all with a question, a question to ponder: if the United States got to the desperation where a draft would be implemented again, do you believe women would still be completely excluded from the draft process? 

Here are some shots out of my window:

This weekend my father and Su-Yen are coming to visit me and I am quite excited. Due to the hectic schedule I have had since being here (orientation and classes) I have surprisingly not seen or done a lot of the classic Prague landmarks, so I am stoked to be able to go around and do that with my dad as well as show off all the knowledge I have gained in these short three weeks. 

Sending lots of love and good thoughts your way,

IVD xoxo

Sometimes it's amazing to know that no matter where in the world you are, your best friend is only an internet call away. 

Overview of Week One

I've been planning on updating ya'll for about four days now, but I swear, each day has been even busier than the day before it! I can now semi-confidently say that I am beginning to become more comfortable with the city and the life in Praha, and that's not just because I've literally taken the wrong metro/tram/bus at least once a day, which often result in me landing myself somewhere off the map of Praha itself ( story to come later in the post.) This whole week has been a orientation/ get to know the city type of week, with mandatory intensive czech classes for two and a half hours a day as well as various lectures and tours around the city. I've been making my rounds at the grocery store, everyday goods store where I was able to get shampoo etc. as well as to the cell phone store where I unlocked a phone given to me by my dear friend Jesse who was on tour around Europe and happened to have an extra cell phone ( this new phone is called the Bullet, due to its Bullet like appearance). I have been eating out a lot ( A LOT of mexican and italian, as czech food really isn't that great. But I will give a shout out to fried cheese, that stuff is gooooood!) , as food is very cheap in restaurants due to the exchange rate.  I've explored a bit of Praha's history through its architecture and landmarks, as well as experienced a bit of the nightlife.

NYU in Prague is located right in the middle of Old Town Square, one of the main tourist destinations for not only the beautiful buildings, but because of this super cool clock called the Astronomical Clock, which is really fascinating, so you should read up on it (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague_Astronomical_Clock) !

           (Some pals, Grace and Kelly, or Grace Kelly.)

On Tuesday, I was incredibly happy to be able to hang with my friend Jesse and his band(s) Snuffaluffagus and Witt. Not only are they really talented dudes, but they were so much fun and I had a blast exploring Praha with them. For the past month of so they had been touring Europe, so on their way home they made a bit stop to SEE ME ( as I like to tell myself) and Praha, and were welcomed to the city by not only getting their rental car window smashed but by a amp being stolen as well. Nothing says " Enjoy your stay" like filing a police report! It was with the boys that I experienced my first "Czech" food, which were potato dumplings that were very thick and took a very long time to chew. I also tried a bit of "knee", whose knee I do not know, but I'm not gonna lie, it was tasty!

  ( Presenting Jesse Kranzler. Cutest couple in the Czech Republic.)

( Knee.)

 ( Presenting Snuffaluffagus and Witt. After Czech meal, Before drive to Germany, With taped window.)

Throughout the week, I've been doing a lot of activities in conjunction with my school. On Tuesday night I went to the National Theatre to see the ballet  " The Nutcracker/ Christmas Carol," a combination of the two stories. With my luck, I got shut out of my seat for the first half of the performance because I was standing in a ridiculous bathroom line, and as soon as I got out of the bathroom, BAM! doors closed, no re-entry. But from what I saw, it was lovely. Ballet always is. It's so pretty and it brings me back to my childhood days where I thought I too could dance ballet and go to Juilliard like in Save the Last Dance so I would steal my cousin's old pointe shoes and dance around my house. One of the most special things I have done is go on a tour of Jewish Prague around Josefov ( The Jewish Headquarters), where we visited several synagogues and a cemetery world famous because it is "layered," housing over 12,000 tombstones with as many as 100,000 burials in all. 

 It is really powerful yet heartbreaking to hear Jewish History. The majority of my best and closest friends are Jewish, and living in a predominately Jewish community in Florida as well as attending a predominately Jewish summer camp in Canada for over 9 years, I have always had a fascination of the Jewish religion. Although I  don't consider myself a very religious person and I don't really support organized religion, I have my own personalized and individualized beliefs that carry me through this life. But although I wouldn't be able to identify myself as one type of religion over another, I have always found it so incredible beautiful that no matter how religious or unreligious a person who identifies as Jewish is, they are always very passionate about their religion. I had noticed this since at summer camp most friends went to Jewish Academies, but on the Praha Jewish tour it was the first time that I was actually able to see the passion, feel the passion myself.  In a famous synagogue called the " Old New Synagogue" that was modeled off of the fallen temple in Israel, my tour guide, a Czech culture attaché in Israel, sang a beautiful prayer song that literally brought me to tears because in those few moments I felt the synagogue come to life. It was in this song and in the vibrations his voice was making off of the temple walls that I was actually able to feel the pride, love, and passion of the Jewish religion. It was in this song that I was finally able to pin-point why the Jewish religion has always fascinated me, why I have always been interested in the religious lives of my Jewish friends, and it was because of the undying devotion and belief to the religion that many of their grandfathers, great grandfathers, grandmothers, uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters had to unfortunately fight to the death for.

Something they introduced to all the students was the Velvet Revolution, and the impact it has had on the country. They screened the documentary " Power of the Powerless," an American made documentary covering the Velvet Revolution, but because I have an unbeatable illness called "falling alseep everywhere and anywhere I possible can /having to fall asleep every time I'm either sitting in a classroom with a talking professor or  in a dark warm room with comfortable chairs AKA old man's syndrome" I missed a lot of the documentary. Interested in what this "Velvet Revolution" was all about, I came home that night and did hours of research that extended to reading about communism, Stalinism, totalitarianism, etc. The Velvet Revolution was basically a two month non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia during 1989 where its people, mostly the youth, fought to end communism and overthrow the communist government. Taking a step back, how absolutely breathtaking is it to think about how a country who had been under a communist regime for over 40 years as well as under Nazi rule was completely changed to a democratic nation in UNDER TWO MONTHS? Another point that completely baffles me: How did the people who had been repressed for almost if not all of their lives develop a voice that they believed would be heard? What gave the 100,000 Czechoslovakia people who had been protesting the hope, courage, and belief, that a demonstration was needed in order to change the nature of its country? For a nation of people who had always had their voices and individual rights kept from them, it is incredible to digest the reality that it was those two things that gave them back what was rightfully theirs. My czech class and I had an hour or so discussion with my beautifully sweet and kind czech teacher Petra about the Velvet Revolution, the after effects of it, and the reality of the country. Speaking very openly and candid, Petra explained how her family was as active as one could have been during the communist regime without completely being thrown to jail for life. Her father fled to Britain during World War II, which eventually led him to jail. After being released, he worked as a chemical researcher in Praha. Her father once again saw the insides of a jail cell when he along with a few other of his colleagues and friends were caught with British books they had smuggled back into the country. Petra's oldest sister would type up and distribute radical pamphlets, although Petra never got to ask what was in them because not only was speaking about any revolutionary action forbidden, but her sister sadly passed away two months before she would have seen what all her hard work and her fight had done: given her people freedom. Petra herself was 17 years old when the Velvet Revolution occurred, and she is proud to say she participated in it. She still recalls when at age 12 she was caught by her teacher passing a note to a friend that said she was listening to American radio the night before, an illegal act in all communist countries at the time because there was a censorship by the government on all news, all media.  Petra introduced the reality that many people, especially the older generation, have had a hard time adjusting to this democratic government even 20 years after it has been in place because they have never known the freedom that comes with making decisions. In their earlier lifetime, they had one yogurt and one yogurt only and were lucky if they even got a yogurt, but today they have different flavors, different companies. The older generation also does not like to discuss the communist regime nor do they enjoy teaching it in schools because many are still very ashamed that they did not do anything sooner or they are ashamed that in those hard times they did some things ( such as give information about others to the secret police) that they are also not proud of. Petra herself admitted that she was once very angry and disappointed that her parents did not fight earlier  and harder for freedom. By having a little more knowledge of the Czech history, I can now begin to understand many reasons why Czech's are the way they are. Czech's are very reserved and very quiet, especially in public, and that partially stems from the fact that merely 20 years ago, they could not trust anyone, thus speaking in public would only further jeopardize them.

Going hand in hand with my new found fascination to the history of the Czech Republic, I had the most interesting thing said to me at a local bar the other night by a older Czech man, Michael. While discussing his short lived residency in Australia, Michael turned to me, pivo in hand and told me with the most sincere look in his eyes how much he, as well as many Czechs, appreciates and admires the United States of America for its strength, its presence and dominates in the world, as well as for the ability to stand as a role model to all other countries. I was perplexed. As an American, I have very rarely if ever looked at the rest of the world admiring what my country has done for them over what they believe is destroying the economy, deteriorating the world in general. It's as if as Americans we are subconsciously convinced that the rest of the world hates us and wants to see us go down. I am guilty in saying that even at times I rarely see the positive that my own country has done in the world over the negative. Michael's  words truly touched my heart, as I am still moved by it. I was once again given hope that this world will become a peaceful place before the blood stops flowing in my veins and my body lays to rest.

On a happier note----

I have discovered how I'm going to beat this freezing winter: pivo. I am not exaggerating when I say that pivo has almost become more dominate in my diet than water. I was not lying when I said I was having pivo not just for me, but for all of you! I am just so into the here and now that I'm not thinking of what's going to happen to me ( well, mostly my body and figure) if I continue to drink pivo at least three times a day as well as stuff my face with fresh warm baguettes, fried cheese, and enchiladas. Although staying healthy to me is very important, I'm not going to let it dominate my life right now, now in this experience. I am not holding back on anything, not the nutella, not the KFC chicken sandwiches that taste oh so delicious when one is drunk, not the incredibly hand rolled pasta.  I'm not going to think about calories or trans fat, but instead just continue to do daily exercise such as yoga and aerobics,  and just enjoy myself. I am excited to share that I tried absinthe for the first time, and although lighting sugar on fire and placing it inside my shot was exciting, I saw no green fairy.  But do not fear, I have hope in this European treasure. All it means is it just needs a second chance to prove me wrong. My new friends and I have been exploring the nightlife of Praha without overdoing or overwhelming ourselves. So far we've done the big club thing at a place called Mecca, a two floor club with a techno floor and a 60's/70's/80's/90's floor, where it was a mix of young NYU kids and creepy old Czech man checking both us and adult "dancers" out. Although the techno got to me after a few hours, I've never been so happy to hear things such as Backstreet Boys, "I Get Knocked Down", and Modonna  being played. Mecca made me realize that next to my sister Sandy, Kelly is the best dancing partner ever. That girl can dance, brah. It's probably a Berkeley bay thing. Along with exploring night time hang outs,  I, along with Kelly, have  had to unfortunately ( or fortunately?) explore the Praha transit system by getting constantly very lost on it. Although we have often taking the wrong trams or gone in the opposite direction, nothing can yet top off our journey which involved a tram going the COMPLETE opposite direction of the city that got us off the Praha map,  a bus which we believed would take us the way we had come from but which actually took us up and around a mountain giving us a complete view of the city ( during this bus ride I believed that we were not only heading towards Germany, but I truly thought I would  never get home), until the bus finally heard our request to Stop which coincidently was the end of a subway line. With luck on our side, it was by this point 5 a.m. which meant the metros were up and  running again and we were able to take the subway (with a transfer) all the way home. What an adventure!

                            ( Only in Europe.) 

I'm already beginning to feel that feeling of disconnection. Not permanent disconnection, just a temporary disconnection from my real life back in the USA. It's really hard for me to be here in my all of my mind and body if I'm constantly pulling myself back to my old world. This is why I'm kind of grateful that I didn't even try to keep my blackberry connected. I'm living in a new world where I just kind of do whatever I want, with no social obligations to text people, call them, or try to avoid them. I'm living back in a world where everything is a lot more simpler- although I have a cell phone, I never hear it ring. I just feel such a sense of freedom from the ability to disappear for a little bit, not run away from anything, but just kind of put whatever I was dealing with into a  perspective outside of my own perspective. Although I have meet some incredible people thus far and have danced, enjoyed myself, and laughed harder and more genuine than I think I ever have in the past few years, I'm finding real comfort in the fact that I am truly in this alone. And being in it alone means putting myself truly and with all my heart into this new world I am exploring and discovering with not too many outlets back to my old world. 

                    ( Me and a new friend.)

( No matter where I go, I will still manage to be Silly Illy.)

Most importantly, I am feeling very happy here. And I'm excited to start school this week and regulate myself, establishing more of a daily lifestyle here instead of feeling like a tourist that is overstaying their welcome. 

As my sister had reminded me yesterday, Do One Thing A Day That Scares You, God knows I am. 

xoxo,

ivd