Over the past weekend my host mom took me to do several awesome things. On Friday she and I went to beach volleyball practice and it kicked my butt. I was really nervous having not played much volleyball but the instructors were incredibly nice even with my lack of Czech! They showed me how to correctly hit the ball and I even felt like I improved a bit. I also felt it in my thighs for the next several days – those things BURNED. Sunday my host mom’s niece had her first birthday party and I got to meet the entire family! Everyone was super kind and welcoming. They practiced their English with me and tried to give me a leg up in class on Monday by teaching me some Czech.
Yesterday was the beginning of intensive Czech lessons which means early morning commutes to Vysehrad (pronounced: vi -shi – hhhrod) where the CIEE study center is located. From my homestay I take the metro for three stops and then walk probably half to three quarters of a mile to the study center. It’s safe to say that the walk has some visual eye candy along the way. Vysehrad is a park built on the ruins of an ancient castle. Within the park there are a few pubs as well as several beautiful older buildings. The more famous of the buildings/structures in this area is the church and it’s neighboring graveyard. Now from what I understand for most graveyards all you have to do is buy the plot. This graveyard has a stricter requirement – fame. The biggest question I have is who determines who is famous enough to be buried here? I don’t think I hit all the criteria – yet.
Three times on Monday I got confused for a Czech person by other Czech people which made me feel great about myself! I felt like I was really begin to understand and find my place in the city. This was totally usurped by the hilarity that was me falling up one of the metro escalators having my stuff fall out and rushing around the escalator trying to pick up all my stuff as it and the people kept moving. Different city, different language, same manner of clumsiness – this isn’t just luck it’s skill.
Cau, Ahoj, No shledano! (All Czech expressions for goodbye, good day)