Hezky Rano

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OHHHH beautiful life. OK so right now it is Sunday and it is such a pretty day out today- or a "hezky rano" (pretty morning). It has only been sunny about three days out of the three weeks that I have been here and at this moment, I choose to update my blog because I want to.

Right now Jara, my host papa, is outside my window staring at me. No i'm just kidding. He is replanting their Christmas tree that they moved outside a few days ago- but he really is outside my window. He is such a nice man and by "nice man" I mean he is a kind soul and he once told me to have a "sweet sleep".

So let's start with this morning. I went to bed pretty early last night because I had a late/exciting night Friday and then went on a bus trip all day Saturday, which I will explain about in about six minutes. So I went to bed at about 10:30 last night, after talking to my real mother on the phone. I talked to Emily and Kristen on skype last night which is just utterly cool, especially talking to Kristen because she has a camera and I could see her perfectly which was unreal. I woke up this morning at 10:45 ish and felt the warm sun pouring through the window (okno), hitting my three blankets. You see last night it was pretty cold and not only did I sleep with two shirts, long pants, and socks but also two fleece blankets and one comforter. I had found the two fleece blankets in the closet that belongs to my host sister who moved out, Petra, and and they kept me very warm. It wasn't until this morning that I realized that one of the blankets (which had pictures of dog's footprints on it), was probably her dog's. Upon further speculation, I saw some fine hairs on the blanket and my worst nightmare became reality. I had slept with a dogs blanket. However, like eating a tomato, I got over it quickly.

After rising from slumber, I put myself together, and went upstairs to find my host mama, daniela cooking! She is an amazing cook, but I think Czech people in general are good cooks- maybe there is just really good materials to work with in the Czech republic. Anyway, I found her making my favorite, bubuvka- which is like a marble-like cake shaped in a circle with a hole in the center. I told her "Dobre Rano" (good morning) and I made coffee. I asked her if she wanted coffee but I accidently said "do you have coffee", instead of "do you want coffee". Let's just say a laugh or two was heard for miles. Daniela did not need more coffee, because she already had a mug full, but she did tell me that whenever she cooks, she needs coffee. I smiled and patted her shoulder.

I then proceeded to take my coffee and go into the living room. By the time I sat down on the blanket covered couch next to Freddy, my coffee was already finished. I'm not even joking, I'm like a scavenger. It was so good and there was sugar at the bottom that I also ate. I sat on the couch, the sun shining through the window and opened my czech intense language book and began to do a little studying. It was cool to study without really HAVING to. I finished my two weeks of intense czech class, my real classes begin tomorrow. Czech class was amazing. Let me tell you a little about it.

Not only were my two very good friends Madeline and Liz in my class, but there was Vlad and Denise too! Who can forget to talk about BARA, our teacher. It is really hard to describe the wonder that is Bara and my whole table, along with others who I have spoken to, thought Bara was both funky and cool. Madeline, Liz, and I fought for her attention and approval. Her short "pixie" red hair matched her stockings when we saw her at the opera. (yes, I know what you are thinking- I saw my first opera. It was called nebucco or something of that nature).

Right now I am cleaning my room too. I looked up how to say "clean my room" in czech and then I told daniela that I was going to clean my room and she showed me the cleaning supply area (if you know me, you know I like my cleaning supplies) and I took a broom, with a covering, and began cleaning my room. There was so much dust and hair, it was pretty disgust. Now I am just trying to organize my clothing. I am also pretty hungry and Petra is going to be here soon so we can all have a nice afternoon lunch- of the pig that they bought from the fair yesterday.

My host parents, Madeline, and her host parents met by the bus stop, took the tram, then got on a bus for an hour to go to the countryside. I never laughed so much in one day because Madeline is just like me only her, and we just seem to find everything hilarious. I think we were both just in a funny mood- so we both knew there was going to be a cooking of a pig, but I personally did not know if the men were going to kill the pig there... of if there would be a "chasing of the pig" and then whoever caught it won money. However when we stepped off the bus, and after one minute I gasped because there was a LARGE-ass pig hanging from rope upside down, cut open. I am not going to go into much more detail, but if you require it, send me a personal email. So I pointed out the pig to Madeline and she immediately jumped next to the pig for a picture.

The five of us passed the pig and entered a small tent-enclosed dining hall filled with benches and tables of people and a buffet line. Our parents got food and Madeline and I checked out the scene first and then realized between the two of us we only had about 200 crowns. She said to me "I think you should share that 200 crowns that liz gave you" (liz had given me 200 crowns for a cab the other night) So Madeline and I split fried pig, pickles, potatoes (brambora) and bread. She ate most of it because it was too natural for me. I like my processed, packaged meats. Madeline ate what I didn't and then her host mom, Hanka bought me a coke to drink. Madeline had hot wine which I attempted to try like three times but just couldn't get myself to do it because it was so hot and smelled so poignantly, i mean pungently.

Madeline's host father is quite the character and played the accordian for the whole crowd with his "sister" who played the cello... or bass, I'm not sure. Everyone seemed to love him and people were dancing. It was cool to see elderly people and my host parents and lots of other people sing along to the same czech songs. Then he played "glory glory Hallelujah for us because we were American.
Madeline and I later were told by our host parents to take a walk through the gate and to the forest. We only had about 45 minutes because the bus was leaving with us or without us at 4pm. We exited the premises and walked up a narrow hill to the middle of NOWHERE, the beautiful Czech Republic country. It was a feeling like no other, so quiet, so beautiful. There was absolutely no one in sight, with open fields and land. There was a tree house in the distance and a forest at the top of the hill. I literally laid on the cement road, for madeline to take a picture of me, don't ask me why (if you want to know why, send me a personal email). As I laid on the ground, I looked up the hill and saw snow/hail hitting the ground. Madeline was like "Ok get up" and I just didn't move because it was just amazing. Pictures will be shown when received.

We headed back on the bus and continued the laughing and switched hats with each other because I liked hers and she liked mine, the one mommy bought me from colorado. We will give them back to one another in due time.

hmm... what else can I write about? I think I told Liz I would write in my blog everything I thought about her. She is honestly the coolest person I have ever met in my life- a real people person who is down to life, laid back, and awesome.

Now it is about 4:20PM and host mama and I just went food shopping. It was pretty quick and I got dzeus (juice), salam (Salami), syr (cheese)- you have to pay for the plastic bags at the store therefore many people just bring their own bags. When we got back to the house Petra was here- eating lunch- and she showed us her new car that she got for free because she was promoted at work.

Funny: : : The other day denise, liz, madeline and I went to McDonalds because we wanted a cheap lunch and frankly denise loves the place. well i ordered a number five, and i said (pet) which is five in czech. The number five was a cheeseburger. Denise also ordered, got her order, then went upstairs with Liz and Madeline to find seating. I was wondering what was taking so long, then the woman walks over FIVE hamburgers! The only thing I could do was laugh giddily. I went upstairs to my friends, they laughed, took a few pictures. I ate two and a half, madeline ate two. It was a good day for becky's stomach.

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Photos

Liz and Becky
Liz and I at the opera. My first opera. How nice.

HOMEstay.
Me in my living room.

Charles Bridge
The view from charles bridge.

Becky and the Charles Bridge.
Becky standing utop the bridge.

McDonalds please
five cheeseburgers.

homestay kitchen.
The place where I make my cafe every morning.

Becky at the prague castle.
the view seen from the castle doesn't matter, but rather becky's beautiful face.

Madeline and Becky meeting.
hanging out outside. it was caaaa-hooollddd.

Comments

[elizabeth]

miluje te
when i read your blog, i hear your voice narrating, like in a movie. it cracks me up.

[Kaitlin (YOUR COUSIN)]

haha 5 hamburgers!! I agree with Emily-- keep writing them. Love you very much!