Blogs from Czech Republic, Europe - page 288

There has been intermittent snow, both all night and during the day. I don’t know, but it is like a low pressure system has gotten stuck over Prague, the clouds come in with a load of snow, dump the snow and then go back somewhere for another load. Unlike last Saturday when it was clear and very windy now with the clouds and snow there is no wind. The snow falls almost straight down, falling softly and at times as large as goose feathers. It is a beautiful sight. The seminary has a small tractor with a blade on the front that runs around the streets each morning pushing snow away ... but leaving a thin layer on the cobblestones. This, in turn, makes the makes the cobblestones quite slick. Fortunately someone goes around each morning ... read more

Today was the first day of the librarians conference. Seminary librarians from many countries in Europe, especially Central and Eastern Europe have gathered to discuss topics of interest, to discuss problems and to explore the idea of developing co-operate interlibrary loan programs. There was general agreement that journal articles as they can be sent electronically by fax or by e-mail. Books are another matter as they have to be mailed and there are countries where the postal service is not only not reliable it is almost non-existant. One librarian said he tells his students if they take a book to their home town and it is due back in the library not to mail it as it will never be delivered. His request is they simply keep the book until they return to the school. He ... read more

Today was a sunny day with occasional clouds floating across the sky ... sunny but cold and windy. At breakfast we met Elke. Elke is the sole librarian at a seminary in Berlin, Germany. “I have 80,000 volumes,” she said, “and have about 30,000 entered on the computer. I really need a volunteer who understands German to help me.” Nancy suggested she get in touch with a Mennonite group as there are many Mennonites who understand German and could help her. Later at the reception center, as we were leaving to go downtown to sightsee, we met a woman, Eileen, who has just arrived to attend the librarians conference. Nancy introduced Elke to Eileen and told her of Elke’s problem. “She should get in touch with a Mennonite group” Eileen said. “There are many Mennonites that ... read more

Somewhere over the North Atlantic we passed from Tuesday to Wednesday. We landed at Heathrow International Airport a few minutes before nine. Our flight from London to Prague was not schedulce to leave until 2:25 giving us a five-hour layover. Deplaning out on the tarmack a bus drove us to Terminal no. 4 and we had to transfer 4 to Terminal 1, but this proved to be no problem as there are excellent signs pointing the passenger along the way to a shuttle bus that transports travelers from one terminal to the other. With the driver sitting on the right side I had an erie feeling of being in Japan. It has been a long time since I was in England. In fact, I have been in Japan several times since my last visit to Lodon. ... read more

The Czechs are a funny lot. It is as if the person that they spoke to just before you really pissed them off and so they decide to bite off your head for asking simple questions like directions. What is really surprising is that they can be sweet as honey just afterwards. I find that piling on heavy sarcasm just adds to the culture clash, but it is great fun. (3rd Nov) I am staying at a hostel in the party end of Prague and it shows. Life couldnt get any different here to Iran . It has a great bar downstairs, I popped down for a quiet drink with my book last night as I hadn't yet met anyone. Didn't read a page. Everyone had a story of a very heavy sesh the night before. ... read more