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Published: February 25th 2008
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Street
Typical street in the neighborhood above my accommodation (pretty nice, right?) You really don't analyze yourself until you live somewhere where you feel different from everyone else. I experienced this in Africa with the color of my skin and especially my language, and I've got it here now with the language again. The main difference is, in Africa, people automatically started talking to me in English, or at least assumed I knew none of the local languages, but here, people just assume I know Czech. Why not? So, a number of times I'm just out by myself, and people come up to me or just say something to me and I don't know what they're saying. Most of these times, I just guess and nod.
But sometimes this doesn't work. Example: I went to Tesco (kind of an everything store) last week. There are three different floors with different items on each one, so you have to check out at each floor separately. I had done two floors and was at the last one, and I was also proud of myself for even finding my way to Tesco, which involves navigating an underground mall-ish area. Anyhow, I was at my last stop, waiting at the check-out. The cashier is chatting with
the guy in front of me and I'm just daydreaming, waiting for my turn. I have no idea what they're talking about anyhow. Suddenly, I realize the cashier is trying to get my attention. She's pointing to the edge of the belt thing and talking, and I'm like, "Nemluvim Cesky" (I don't speak Czech). I look to the guy for help and he just stares at me blankly. I'm thinking, at least motion to me or something, help me out somehow. No. She gives up. She continues checking the guy out (as in cashing him out, not trying to get his number). She starts again, and this time she points more towards the floor. The epiphany: I had put my basket in a pile of baskets underneath the belt, and apparently that was very very wrong, because it was so important that she needed cross-language communication to remedy the situation. And the guy could have just pointed right at the basket the first time and everything would have been jolly. But the whole time I was trying not to laugh because it was just so ridiculous that I had noooo idea what she was trying to get me to do
and she just kept trying. So, I'm having these moments a lot, but sometimes I can understand some words. And actually, I quite enjoy guessing what people are talking about. Still, I have a Czech language class so eventually I will start to have a better idea of what's going on.
On other fronts, I have now begun four of the five classes I will take at this university. On two days I have an hour and a half Czech language class with mostly other Americans. I also have started one other class with mostly Americans, and it is about ethnic relations in the Czech Republic, which should be interesting subject matter, but I think the class could be a lot better with Czechs in it. And for that class, we get to go to the only Roma museum in Central Europe, which happens to be right here in Brno. I also will have another class which will have mostly Americans, and it will be cultural anthropology of post-socialism (sounds like a blast, right?). But, my absolute two favorite classes are the ones with Czechs and Slovaks. One is Archaelogy of North America Before Columbus, and there is only
Another Building
In the area near I live one other international in that class, a Polish guy. The other is Gender and Power in Post-Colonial Societies, and the only other international in that class is a guy from Germany. So, I really am excited about those two, and the others will at least give me credits. It's unfortunate that the university offers only a few English-taught classes and that my other classes are not very diversified student-wise. Hopefully I'll be able to meet Czechs and Slovaks through those two classes, because it happens to be difficult to meet people whose country you're in, if you come in a study-abroad program, at least.
My extracurricular life is as follows: Czech movie on Monday nights, country presentations (internationals present their homeland) and afterwards a club on Wednesday nights, random nights at pubs and other clubs, and in the beginning of March I will begin to teach an English class to other internationals (it will be mostly conversational, as most of them already have pretty good English). Also, I have a good bit of traveling planned, to the countries immediately around eastern Czech Republic, and within the Czech Republic itself. And, in less than two weeks, I'm going to Copenhagen
to meet up with some other friends who are currently in Europe studying! I began my traveling by going to Vienna the first week, but unfortunately I forgot to take my camera. Nonetheless, I remembered my camera when we went to Olomouc, a city about an hour and a half away from Brno, last Saturday. It was kind of a whirlwind tour, including many churches and statues. One of the most important things was the Holy Trinity Column, which is a UNESCO special thing. A guy from Brno told me before I went that he thought Olomouc is prettier, and that is the general consensus, but I still like Brno better, because it's a little bigger. It's a hard judgment to make from only spending 6 or 8 hours there, though. Soon I should have more cultural information cataloged for a more 'about the country' entry, so watch out for that. Hope everyone is in peace.
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Kathy O, the mamacita
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Awesome photos
Enjoyed your narrative and your pictures...you can photo as many churches as you wish...it won't get old with us. As you point out they are so pretty. Also love the building and town shots because if I was there that is what I would love to do is walk around and see what there is to see. And of course it is always a plus to see photos of you and the people you are with, so the blog site is a really great innovation, I'd say. Thanks for taking time to share your time and travels with us, Laura!