What a week!
I have had a wonderful few days this week, beginning on Monday. Classes are getting difficult, but only slightly. On Monday night we met our studio professor Martin, at a building that he designed with his architecture firm. It is a multisport indoor gym type thing, with pool, tennis, basketball, weights, restaurants, indoor driving range and simulators, and a bowling alley, among others. The whole group went (20 or so people) and we had all three lanes of the bowling alley reserved for us. We bowled 3 games, which I scored a 147, 99, and 112. The 147 was the high score for the night out of everyone until the last game, when Caitlin bowled a 153. Oh well.
Anyways, the bowling and shoes were free, so naturally, we drank many beers. We left after about 3 hours or so and headed for a bar, our inner voices were telling us to go out, so we did. We found this really cool bar and stayed until about 2am before calling it a night. A good night, at that.
Tuesday, for my LAR Perception class, we went to the Communist Museum, located very close to the Institute. The cost of the museum was covered by tuition, as are all of the museums, shows, etc. that we attend as a group. It was incredible how depressing the state of things were under communism. Right after going to the museum, we had a Literature class, and the professor began the class by telling us about how it was to grow up in a communistic environment, as she has been in Prague all her life and was 6 when Soviet Tanks first rolled through the streets. It was very intense to go right from the museum to hearing her talk about growing up during those times. The times were definantly different in Prague then.
Tuesday night was "Jazz Night." We met at the Institute at 8:30, ready for another great night. We walked to a Jazz Club near the Institiute and found our reserved seats in the front half of the performance room. Again, the tickets were paid for already, and again, all we had to pay for were drinks. The group featured a pianist, electric guitar, drums, and bass, and labeled themselves as a Jazz/Blues group. When they started playing, I went into my happy-state. In my book, nothing is better than live music, it takes me places that my imagination could never go otherwise. They were very good, and everyone enjoyed themselves thoroughly. The band played until midnight, after which I bought their CD and had all the members sign it. Really cool, and the music is amazing. The professor from NC State that came with us on the trip, Art Rice, was leaving on Wednesday morning (a different professor will be here in a few weeks for the 2nd half of the semester), so naturally, we had to celebrate the times that we had shared. We headed to a bar near the hotel to send Art off right. It was a great night, and I am willing to bet that Art definantly slept on the plane back to the USA, haha.
Here is a picture of the guitarist for the Jazz group that we went to see.
We got up early for class on Thursday, and everyone was definantly moving slooow. We headed to the Prague City History Museum for my LAR perception class, very cool. Admission was paid for, too, but no beers to drink here, ha! This museum reinforced my understanding that Prague is olllllld. Really really old. It was a very cool place.
We had to hurry back from that museum so we could be back in time to go to a wing of the National Gallery with my Literature class. Again, our entrance was paid for. We went to a special exhibit about St. Wenceslas and his importance in the spirituality and history of Prague, which was fantastic. Old statues, glass, everything you could think of that had to do with St. Wenceslas (he is the Patron Saint of Prague). We also went to the main area of the museum that featured Gothic Art. That is some old art, let me tell you. Very cool indeed.
So it was a good week, and now the weekend is here!
Dinners have been very good lately, we have really gotten into cooking as large groups (so cheap!). Main menu items have been chicken breast, rice, vegetables, garlic bread, pizzas, strombolis, salads, sandwiches, etc. Average cost for a king-sized meal this week has been $1.50-$3.00 a person.
My favorite personal meal so far is going to the supermarket and getting four 6inch long rolls, which cost 1CZK each (20 cents, 5 cents each), buying a pack of pepperoni, which cost 18CZK (90 cents), and a pack of fresh swiss cheese, which cost 16CZK usually (80 cents), as well as two yogurts, which cost 16CZK (80 cents, 40 cents each), and a fresh croissant, which cost 3CZK (15 cents). I split 2 of the the rolls in half, lay on some cheese and pepperoni, and stick it in the oven. Comes out like a fresh pizza, and the pepperoni, cheese, and rolls are enough for two meals. So, thats two good meals for $2.70 or thereabouts. Basically, when I go to the supermarket, I look at what the really old people are getting, they obvioulsly know what they are doing. They always get bread, meat, cheese, and yogurt. It's just so cheap!
A large contingent of the group went skiing last weekend, and they are skiing again today. The total cost of everything (bus ride, lift ticket, and equipment) is $60. Which I guess is really cheap, but I didn't want to go. I am about to go on another of my huge long walks around the city, a different way and direction every time!
It has snowed for the past 3 days, not necessarly sticking every time, but snow has been in the air all week, first time in my life I've been in an environment that is as perpetually cold as this.
But I love it!
I have left out so many details.
Peace,
Terry
No comments:
Post a Comment