Jessica in Prague

Today was actually educational. After our language classes, we had a guest lecturer talk about the Jewish community in Prague. He did a brief history: one of the oldest communities in Europe, one of the freest (women were allowed some education, no wall was built to seperate Jews from non-Jews, etc.), and one of the biggest. Afterwards, he took us for a tour of three or four Jewish synagogues and a Jewish cemetary. I have pics, but no knowledge of how to add them yet. In order to see one, you have to pay to see them all, about 200kc, or 8 dollars. I got to get in free b/c I was with the tour group!! Two synagogues were boring, but the others were worthwhile. The best is The Pinkas Synagogue, with the cemetary adjacent to it. The Jewish community used it for roughly 300 years?!? But they only had so much space, so they started piling up vertically, about 12 deep in places! It's very sad.

Also there, the community decided to name all roughly 80,000 Czech Jews that perished at Terezin and Auschwitz (both of which I am to go visit, yikes). It's incredibly moving to go into the temple and see thousands and thousands of names on the wall, knowing they all died that way. They are grouped by town, and then by family name. Then we all went grocery shopping, YAY! Just got done eating French Toast, made by the lovely Amaanda. As soon as I can figure out how, I will add pics of my room, my friends, and the Jewish Cemetary.

Oh yeah, The Old-New Synagogue, which we saw, was built in 1270, and is still used for services today, oldest building in the country!!!

This is a picture of the Hebrew clock that runs counterclockwise.

Hey all! Well, I didn't end up going to the opera or the movie theater last night. However, we were in Wencenslas Square and grabbed some hot chocolate (horká čokoláda) and dessert. I went to bed relatively early, again. But I got to sleep in until 11 ish. Oh it was nice. My roomie went to church early, so I had lunch waiting for her when she got back. Use the term loosely because I overcooked the noodles and I have no idea what kind of sauce that was. Mandy liked it, though, and congratulated me in my culinary skills (did I mention she's from Idaho?).
After that, we all trekked down to the State Opera, of which I have pics, to see the Ballet: Cinderella. It was very pretty and the music was amazing. That's something Mimi and Brian definitely must put on their to-do-list. Also, the week they arrive is the week I'm supposed to go to Kutna Hora on a one-day field trip. That's the place where there are bones covering everything, even the chandelier. I'm going to see if they are allowed to join us on the field trip, is not, I may leave them stranded.... so they can catch up on some sleep! I'm going to try to add some pics now, and that's basically my day.

By the way, that beer was half a liter?!?!? And I only drank half of that... I'm a wuss. It isn't the same brand Budweiser as back in the states, I believe it is the original one, we just copied it.

Can't seem to add pics, so gonna go to my technical assistant, and I'm sure they'll be up here within 72 hours, Brian's a genius.

OK, here are those new pictures. One pic is another overlook of the city, and the other is me after walking up 101 stairs.

Yep having my first beer as I write this waiting for the foam to go down. I think it's roughly a dollar for a pint? Budweiser, too. Definitely not downing it because alcohol and I don't get along. But it's like going to Maine and not trying the lobster, you just don't do that. Yeah there are two IKEAs here but NO STARBUCKS!!! Instead there are little coffee houses everywhere (Kavarnas).
Yesterday my friends and I wandered around Prague castle, but didn't actually go in. Saw the changing of the guards, which happens every hour. I'd add a picture, but I can't seem to find a USB port on the computer I'm using. Then we wandered around Old Town Hall/Square for a couple hours window shopping. We were trying to find a cheap place to eat in the most touristy place in Prague, it wasn't happening. We gave up and had pizza. Pretty good: ham, salami, sour cream. We got back and had tea and cookies... again. We're a pretty happenin' bunch. Today, so far, we went to a newer part of the city to go shopping some more. I bought a purse b/c I needed something that went over my shoulders.
Now we're just chilling, waiting to go to the Opera. We heard that if you show up right before the show with your student id, it's super cheap. They are showing Verdi's Nabucco or something like that. If we can't get in, we plan on going to see a movie instead. Tomorrow, the girls and I are all going to the Ballet to see Cinderella. We're in the nosebleed section, but it only cost 50 kc, or roughly $2. Not bad for some culture, huh? Besides, the national theater (Narodni divadlo) is incredibly beautiful inside.
My sis asked me some questions: I see a road when I look out my window... but I can see the spires of a church, haven't figured out which one yet. The tram goes right under our window every half hour or so... all night. The showers are incredibly small and are pretty moody when it comes to temp and pressure, plus with four girls' worth of shampoo bottles on the floor, makes it even more fun. We take a metro to school, though sometimes I walk so I can cross Charles Bridge. So far we are only taking our language course from 9am-1pm. There are a couple of breaks in between to go down to the cafeteria to get a sandwich and a beer. No I haven't drank beer at school. A typical day consists of getting out of school, wandering around until dark (5ish) and then returning back to the dorms and lounging. Typical for ME anyway. Most everyone else came here to drink... EVERY SINGLE NIGHT!
That's about it for now, have only drank 2 sips of my beer so I don't know what I'm going to do with the rest. Oh well. Talk to you all soon!!

Isn't this great? I've never had a blog before. Anyway, today my friends and I went to IKEA. There are actually two of them in Prague, so haha Meems. The problem with going somewhere after class is that it takes awhile to get places and it's dark by the time you get back to the dorms. I always feel so unaccomplished, plus I don't go out later either. After IKEA, where I got a blanket, towel, and candles (the electricity went out on our floor last night), I went to 112 and had tea and Swedish cookies. 112 is the room munber of my friends: Heather (from CA), Rachel (PA), Emma (MA), Amaanda (uh-mon-duh, ID), and Maria (from Sveden yah). My roommate, Mandy, is also from Idaho. Hope everyone is having fun reading this... it's going to be a little odd to me for awhile. Tomorrow I'm supposed to go to Prague Castle, keep you updated. Hey Meems, how long are you planning to stay here? Let me know what you all want to hear here, bye!!

I think the street the school is on is called Jam Palacha, or something similar. By the way, don't ever take a taxi, they are expensive and dishonest. There are only two pics. One general one of Prague and one of the front of my dorm. Told you it was non-descript. I'll see if I can add one of Charles Bridge... This is someone else's computer, so let me know how the pics turned out.

Jess

I've spent less than $100 American dollars. When it comes to tips, it kinda depends. You just round up your bill. Say you owe 315 crowns, which is roughly 13 dollars, you'd just round it up to 320, or 350, whatever you wanted. Nothing big, and they don't really care either way.

But amazingly I haven't really gone out to a restaurant yet. I've been COOKING!! Today was spaghetti with zucchini, green peppers, and mushrooms, and I sprinkled some mozzarella cheese on top. Pretty good for only having a hot plate, huh?

By the way... I MOVED ROOMS!! Can you pass that on to Mandy for me? I am going to Venice and Krakow, we got signed up for the trip. I'm going to get going.

Jess

Prague is super cheap... I got all my pots, pans, silverware, dishes, groceries for a week or so, shampoo, conditioner, and a lot more for under $100. Actually, I've just barely spent $80 so far this trip. I had budgeted $100-150 a week for stuff. I've spent most of that in the first three days here, but it’s mostly on stuff I won't have to buy again. I have to pay for my room and my transportation pass soon, but I already budgeted that in also.

What's great is that they are offering two other 4-5 day trips to Venice, Italy and Krakow, Poland, both for roughly $250 each, includes transportation, hotel stays, and some meals, and entrance fees into places. I'm going to both places. It kind of my whole souvenir budget, but it’s completely worth it. Some girls and I were planning to go to Venice anyway, so now we don't have to plan for it. The trips are scheduled for March 29-April 2 and April 6-9 respectively, so meems don't come then!! Besides I am saving so much money because things are so insanely cheap here. I've even “splurged” on good shampoo and conditioner, and pop, and candy.

I love this place!!! Talk to you later!!

My address, and actually, could you send this on to everyone else too? is:

Jessica Brown
(Now that this blog is public, I've removed my address. Email me if you don't have it yet.)
Parlerova Str. 6, Praha 6, Czech Republic

My building is extremely non-descript, I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but you'll see what I mean someday. I'm in a room with four single rooms, though one is unoccupied, and we share a toilet, a shower, and a "kitchen" (word used very lightly), itty bitty fridge, a kitchen sink, and a hot plate. It's very ghetto. The double rooms, which I'm trying to get into, are set up the same way kitchen and bathroom wise, but the rooms seem much nicer. I can't make outgoing calls on my room phone, but I can take incoming calls.

It's so bleak around here that there's not much to describe, plus it's so cold, it's hard to look around. I have more emails I need to answer, So I'm gonna let you go now.... HAPPY BIRTHDAY MANDY!!!!!! I miss you and Brian, and everyone already knows you guys are coming. The food here's pretty good actually, meat and potatos, so don't worry about that. Talk to you later!

Jess

I'm here, but I have to make this quick. The flight was alright, the room is kinda jankÿ, my two roommates are cool. I'm kind of airsick and exhausted, but otherwise okay. Sorry so short but we are all tired and we are gonna go back and sleep. They both have laptops so I'm hoping it will be pretty easy to email you all. Talk to you soon. I love all my family.

Jessica