Ok So I know it has been a long time but I haven’t really had the time to be on computers for more then ten minutes at a time or had a computer to be on. On top of that I really hate typing on computers. But I do apologize for just kind of leaving nothing up for a long time. But even though it has been over a month I promise this wont be as long as the last one.
So after I wrote the last one (this is like one of the last weeks of January.) I left for a week of skiing in the northern part of the Czech Republic. They are the biggest mountains in the country. Still smaller then all the surrounding countries but compared to Wisconsin… I was pretty happy. So I packed a lot of stuff knowing I’d be gone for a week and my camera had no batteries but I though I would charge it later so I through it in my suitcase too. Packed up and left on Sunday afternoon. Also, the REM concert was supposed to be that day, but long story short I didn’t go. I also learned if you want to go to a good concert, skip friends just buy a ticket. So I got a train and went to Prague to meet my friend and his dad. We went and saw some stuff there and later that day drove north to Vrchlabi. That is were Micah lives. He’s another exchange student. But that isn’t why we went there. So after a lot of driving and not really knowing where to go, we finally get there. We find a good place to stay for a decent price. Our room even had a futon a TV and a small kitchen. So the next day we got up got our skis and went to the mountain. The skiing was great and I really loved it. That night we went to town and met Micah for some billiards and after made our lunches for the next day and went to bed. Next day went to a different mountain. The mountain is still owned by the same group so it was only one lift ticket (which by the way cost more per day then the hotel room per person.) It was snowing more this day but the skiing was still great. That night was about the same as the first. Next day got up and it was beautiful and sunny and warm, and then we drove to the mountain. In the fifteen minutes up, it drop 10 degrees Celsius and we entered a snow storm. None of the lifts on any mountain were open. Se we went back to town and ate and came back a few hours later… it was even worse, and all this while its beautiful and sunny in town. But o well we had two really good days of skiing and I got a voucher for the third day… Woo Hoo. I think I’m giving it to Micah to use because it was expensive but I won’t get back there again this winter, so he can use it at least. So then when went back to Prague on Wednesday and saw some more stuff and stayed in a hotel. I’m going to give you guys a big lead and point out this is were my problem started. You may figure it out quick.
So we park the car about 10 or fifteen minute walk from the hotel. Not wanting to take out suitcases we left them in the care and only brought what we needed. That night Kent had to go somewhere for a while so his dad and I explored for a while and then meant Kent for coffee. After we went to TGI Fridays for dinner, yes they have one in Prague. After a very good meal paid fro by Kent’s dad, we went to see Alexander the Great in the theater. Good movie. Then it was about midnight so we went to bed. Next mourning got up and had breakfast, and went back to the car… walking back I thought “I wonder if it was legal to park there over night, I hope they didn’t boot out car.” Then we turned a corner far a way and I saw what I was almost sure were police. They wear black suits with POLICE written in white on the back. I didn’t think about it then but those aren’t city police uniforms. So I’m going thinking “that sucks, Kent’s dad might get a ticket. What happens next isn’t good, but it was worse for me then Kent’s dad.
I get there and notice glass all over the ground and I just start laughing because I immediately realize that my suitcase isn’t there. Normally it’s not funny, but I was the third man who came the latest, so my suitcase was always in the car and not the trunk. The night before I mentioned that maybe that was a bit of an invitation but Kent’s dad assured me it would be fine. I forget I’ve been to Prague more then him. So I left thinking “well of course he would be cautious, it’s a rental car, and he doesn’t want a broken window.” The next day I realized that if it was me I would actually think, “What do I care, it’s a rental car, If it breaks it isn’t my problem.” Well I don’t actually think that’s what he thought and I don’t blame anyone but myself and the jerk who took it. So after I spent the day at the police station, filling out a report that said I lost a whole lot of money, or stuff worth a lot of money, that includes almost all my clothes in the country, my camera, and all my ski clothes. Well it’s going to be better though. (A peak ahead in my xanga entry) my parents are coming and they are bringing me a lot of new stuff!)
So then after I got home from Prague, which ended with a long drive home in the winter with one window open, well… actually it was closed… but the window part was missing. So anyway came home and after about a day or two I switched host families! Exclamation not cause its good or bad just exciting. So I’ll tell you about my new family now-
They are really nice! They have two kids: and 11 year old daughter and a 6 year old boy. They are great kids and I really like playing with them all the time. I always wanted a little brother or sister and now I got both. I have a nice room with a desk and a bigger bed. Feet still hang off the end a little sometimes, but its ok, I ‘m used to that. My last bed had a foot board which is sometimes a problem. My mom stays at home all day, well when she isn’t running kids around or doing errands, which is most of the time. My dad is a lawyer and has an office right on the main square. Our house is in another small village like the last one but this one seems to have more connected people. I think it’s because of the village pub. Every morning, I wake up about the same time, and me and my host dad and sister go to town to his office building. Usually my sister goes straight to school but I have extra time so I usually I go to his office and have a cup of coffee, do home work, or sometimes I can go on the internet, but it’s usually only enough time to check my mail and see what’s urgent, I can’t really write anything then. After that I go to school, but two days a week I actually go straight to school because I start earlier. After school sometimes I have three options. 1. Go straight home on a bus. 2. Go out with friends till my host mom picks up my sister and brother and she’ll pick me up too and take me home. 3. Stay out a little later and take a bus home at about dinner time. But there is a problem with taking a bus. Once I get off I still have to walk an extra kilometer up hill (no joke) to get home. That’s gets old fast! It’s the same if I take the bus too town but its better cause its down hill. But going up or down, winter can be slippery so I have to watch out. Overall though, I am really happy here. They are great people who always want to help me. That’s always good but sometimes I wish I could do more for them.
Well, soon after I moved in, about 5 days after actually, I went to France. In a way it was actually a surprise to me. I thought originally I was leaving on a Wednesday. I had missed a day of school though because I was in Prague, and my mom had gotten a call from the school that day because I missed some info on it. They told her that I was leaving on Monday. In turn the next day when I woke up she informed me of this. I guess it was fine with me but it was still a surprise and I felt stupid because I told my host parents differently. So next couple of days I just kept settling in and played a lot of games with my host brother.
To cap off the week, on Friday I had my Rotary ball. Here’s the bullet points-
- Practiced three Saturday and before the ball for a special dance I had to do because I’m a rotary student.
- Since I’m in the dance I needed to rent a black and white tux that cost a lot of money.
- Went to the ball and realized I could change out of the poorly tailored black tux after my dance, so I called my host parents and had them bring my other nice suit.
- Went to the ball and did the dance, which went much better then I expected.
- Changed into my suit and was much more comfortable
- After the ball, at 2 AM, Libor Kicmer (my neighbor and head of Rotary in the Czech Republic) drove me home, only to find my key would work (common problem, if the key on the other side is all the way in, mine won’t work), and my host parents couldn’t here the phone, so I slept at his house.
- Had and awkward time going to bed, fell asleep, woke up had a nice breakfast, and went home.
I slept part of that day and had a normal weekend.
Then came Monday…
My bus to France left at 2 in the afternoon, and for some reason I don’t know, I went to school that mourning. Almost none else going on the trip went to school. I was actually the only one from my class going, but I didn’t care. When I heard about the trip I just knew I wanted to go. Anyway, I went to school and just sat through my classes. I got out at noon and went to my host dad’s office to pick up my things. After I went to the bus stop and waited with my friends to leave. Finally, we all loaded the bus and left. The bus took about 17 hours to get there. It was long, seat was a little uncomfortable, knees hit the seat in front of me, and we stopped every two hours all through the night for bathroom breaks, so really I never slept…. It was a great bus trip. I loved just hanging out with my friends and meeting all the people on the bus I didn’t know.
Eventually I realized we entered France… I saw garbage, graffiti, dead streets, drunks at 5 in the mourning, and not a single uncovered window, all of them were covered with metal shutters. Sometimes people just covered there whole door way with the shutter. I thought this was a horrible place, but I was so interested I hardly blinked for the next 2 hours.
Closer to 7 that morning we had our first stop. It at this really cool spot on the Mediterranean Sea where we walked up to this small village like thing filled with little winding streets and things like they have in movies. We watched the sunrise there and just wandered for about an hour. I loved it and though I could move here. This was such a difference from what I was seeing in the main city just hours before. I really liked France then. After we came down we toured a perfume and soap factory. Ehh, it was ok, smelled funny and was filled with overpriced bars of soap.
Now I can tell you about the whole trip but I’ll bullet point it so it’s fast.
- we stayed in a small hotel, each room had three people, a sink, a double bed, and a single loft bed… but we could still fit 20 some people in that room.
- Every morning we would get on the bus and drive, I usually didn’t know where, but it was always amazing
- Every day I saw the sun rise and set on the Mediterranean Sea.
- Every day I wandered the streets of cool cities just exploring places and seeing sight and walking ton the beach eating as many baguettes as I could. And also a kebab once and a while.
- Toured a wine factory
- I saw real live Picasso’s and Miro’s and tons of art. I have different idea of modern art now. That’s more then I can write.
- I saw Monaco! And also some of the biggest boats of my life.
France was amazing! It was worth every penny and I can’t wait to go back. I had pictures taken there but they turned out bad. All I had was and instamatic camera because my other camera was stolen… but my friend said he would copy me all his pictures onto a CD. I have to go there again someday soon.
I will add this though. I had a big disappointment. We went there essentially for carnival. Normally it is Friday through Sunday. I was kind of confused, but we were informed that for some reason, something about NATO, they went having it on Friday anymore. That was going to be the only day we were there. Anyway, then the teachers decided it was a good idea to just go back early! So we left like five hours early, got back about 7 hours early because of different traffic then planned, and I got home early in the mourning. It was really nice after that long bud ride home with almost no sleep, then getting off the bus AND waiting for my city bus back to my village in the rain. Then I get home, and the door is locked and my key wouldn’t work again. So I huffed and I puffed and when the house didn’t blow down I walked around back and knocked on the window. My host brother, who is five, was slurping his breakfast and heard me, so he came to my rescue, that is after telling everyone in the house that I was at the back door and not the front. I had a cup of coffee and went to bed for a good part of that day.
I think it woke up at 1ish actually, which is when we all went to Cesky Krumlov. I really didn’t want t go cause I was tired and it was a crummy day and I thought we were going to just walk around this town. I was wrong. We got there and went to the house of this friend of theirs. He was so cool, and had an amazing house. It was so old and historic, I can’t really explain it to you guys how you would understand. He had a lot of nice art and a huge boat in France and he was definitely rich. Later we walked through the town and I learned all this cool stuff no one ever told me before, especially a lot about the floods that happened in the CR a few years back. It was cool because the guy telling me was there and helped evacuate people and had a house there and everything. So then we came back to his house and we played darts, after which we had dinner the dinner that he cooked on the fire place in his house. I had a good day.
That Monday in school my friends asked me to be in there play. Not having a reason not too, I said yes. I had no idea what it was about though, just that I was going to be death, or the grim reaper. After that it was kind of dropped for a couple of days when I asked if I should ever practice with them. They were really surprised I wanted to so they said sure and told me to go to this place on Friday, the day of the play.
But before that, on Wednesday, my friend Elena was having her graduation ball. In spring here there are so many of them. It is a lot like prom in the US. So I went to that, I got there late, but I still went. It was fun, but I didn’t have too many friends there because it wasn’t my school. So I left that later and slept at the flat of my first host brother. Next day he went to school, but since it was Friday and I had that play, I didn’t have to go. I went home at like nine and again, the key didn’t work… so I waited and not to long after my host mom came home. After a couple hours I had to go back to town for my practice though.
So I went to the practice and after sitting around for about three hours I finally realized that it wasn’t just a play, my friends were 1 group out of about 10 putting on short plays. I had already known it was a benefit for the tsunami victims, but I didn’t realize it was like this. Anyway after those three hours we practiced ours for about a half hour, which I was only in for ten seconds, because they forgot to tell me to go in the rest of the times. Then we sat for three more hours and finally the real thing started. We were like 4th or something. Still not knowing when to go, it didn’t go quite liked planned for me, but it was ok. All I had to do was walk across the stage three times. SO afterward we went out for like an hour and then I had to go home.
Next mourning I went to Brno. I was going to stay at a friend’s house for the weekend but that fell through. You see this was a family trip. It was actually to visit there dieing grandmother. I didn’t know it at the time but it was actually the last time they saw her. You can tell this was a bit of an awkward trip. But we were only in the nursing home for like an hour each day, and the rest of the time I met there families. It was actually a lot more fun then I thought it would have been. Came home Sunday.
Wednesday I had my school’s graduation ball. That was a lot of fun. I loved hanging out with my friends all night. They do a special little ceremony for the two graduating classes, and to be honest, it was kind of sad for me. All these people I have gotten to know well over the last year, and I know even if I come back as soon as next year many will have moved to college or something. Plus all that they have worked for, this was a big night for them. I’m glad I was there. Anyway I’ll leave that short
Friday night I played volleyball with my host parents for the first and possibly last time. Every Friday they play at this indoor arena. They always want me to go. I wanted to go to Prague that night but since I’m never in town I said I would stay and go with them. I did horrible! And they are all very serious about this. I felt so bad if I screwed up. The only thing I could do well is serving. I got a lot of points that way. But anyway, even if they ever invite me again, I’m not sure if I’ll go.
Next mourning I got up early but not so bright. It was 4:30 AM. I had to go down to my bus stop, go to the train station, and take the 6:02 train to Prague. I was picking up my parents! So when I got to Prague I got to the airport as fast as I could with public transportation. That means it took about 40 minutes. So once there I thought I was right on time. Actually I had to wait about another hour and a half. First the plane was late and then it just sat on the runway. Any way they got here. We went back to town using public transportation, and my mom almost all those nice little snack foods she ate on the plane. If you know my mom you might understand that. When we got to town we called my pal Ben who lives in Prague and he showed my parents around for a while. They were really tired though so later we just found our hotel and they went to bed. Meanwhile me and be went out to find a movie for a few more hours. Came home that night and went right to sleep.
Next day I woke up with a fever and I was sick. That’s bad. But I thought I’ll get over this, so I bundled up and went out with my parents anyway. We saw more of Prague. I would tell you all more details but if you don’t know Prague it’s really no difference. The next day I was still sick, but that evening, after barely missing our first train and waiting at the station for two hours and then taking the next one, we went to my city,
Ceske Budejovice. Met some of my friends, had a good dinner, went to bed. Next day went to Trebon, saw Misa, got a tour of the town, saw a really cool old church thing and went on a walk, went home and to sleep. The next day my mom was really sick and so we went nowhere. Its ok I understand though. I feel bad for her that she never go to see Cesky Krumlov. It’s a cool old town she has wanted to see for a long time. So anyway me and my dad toured a brewery and at night went to my host parent’s house for dinner. We had fondue and it was a good night. Next day mom was still sick so we went to Vienna. It was an ok trip, but we got there and saw our friend Vera and went to her apartment. The next day both my parents were sick. Me and Vera went to see the town ourselves.
I know its sick and sad but true... I'm still not done. But I don't have much left! but I will finish this tomorrow in town in an internet cafe. SO see you then!
justin
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