I’m sitting on a plane bound for Washington D.C.
wondering what I’ve been wondering for about a week now: did I just study abroad? Is it really over already?
A few of you know that prior to this trip, I had been attempting to become a temporary ex-patriate for quite some time. In fact, during the summer before my sophomore year, I announced about 12 different locations where I decided (“no really, I’m actually going! I’m sure this time!”) where I would spend my spring semester. If I’m exaggerating when I say 12, Tim and Deb can attest that I’m not off by much. Desired locations included Ireland, England, Scotland, Spain, Peru, Ghana, Mexico, some countries I can’t think of, and finally Costa Rica.
I ended up spending that spring semester where else but exotic, tropical Raleigh, N.C., after deciding I couldn’t leave my life on campus (writing, editing, friends, classes, etc.) for an entire semester.
It took a lot of unfinished applications on the Study Abroad Web site, but I don’t think I could have chosen a better time or place to study. I went to Prague expecting to watch some movies, learn to be more environmentally sustainable, and hang out with Helen and Alison. While I did do those things, I also met a slew of great people, learned some amazing history lessons, visited the studios where they filmed “The Chronicles of Narnia,” experienced life as a blind person, gained awareness of womens’ issues, extracted honey from a beehive, etc. etc. etc.
I never knew what to expect when I left our Penzion each morning. While my experiences were all unique, they were not random. The things I saw and learned all tied together on a level I probably won’t fully understand until much further down the road.
Last dinner in Prague at our favorite pub! I can’t believe I am leaving in a few short hours. I’ll have to do some sort of wrap-up post later.
This is our corner pub, which is on the top of the hill where we live. They have AMAZING food (potato and chicken pancakes FTW) and we’ve gotten to know the people who work there. I’ll probably be eating my last dinner there tonight!
Here we are eating at the top of the baby tower!
This is the “baby tower,” officially known as the Prague TV Tower. Communist leaders ordered it be built in order to block radio frequencies from free European countries from coming in to Prague. It wasn’t completed until 1989, after communism fell, so it never served its purpose. Now it has a lookout room and a restaurant, where we ate last night.
Yes, those are giant babies crawling up the side. Yes, it is the creepiest thing I’ve ever seen.
We finally bumped into Prague’s “dancing buildings” during some wandering by the river today.
Here’s a shout out:
My “friend” Brooke on this trip has been bugging me to write about her in my blog for about six weeks now. The problem is, my mom always told me that if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. I have nothing nice to say about Brooke Anderson. She’s been nothing but a nuisance and keeps inviting herself along on trips, such as to Vienna and Berlin. I tried to leave her in Germany at the station, but no luck. She managed to jump on the train right as it was leaving, which is a nearly impossible feat for a girl with no coordination or brains.
I can’t wait for this week to end so I don’t have to wake up to her standing over my bed, wondering how long she’s been there and pushing away the realization that she’s probably been watching me sleep for several hours. I guess that explains my frequent nightmares.
What a creep.
There you go, Brooke. Hope you liked your shout out!
One last film recommendation
We watched our last movie before taking our final in film today, which was the Hungarian “12:08 East of Bucharest.” It was really entertaining and funny, while making a point about the questionable revolution in Bucharest in 1989.
Courtyard area of Terezin
This was a sleeping room in the concentration camp, which held 60 to 90 prisoners. Can you imagine?
