I was waiting at the tram stop last night to get home from the metro when I was approached by two drunk young men. At first, they shouted "Ahoj!" at me and left it at that. A minute later, however, they began to speak to me in Czech.
"Nemluvim cesky," I told them. It means I don't speak Czech. However, either my accent was convincing or they were quite drunk, because they laughed and continued to talk. Finally, I said, "I'm American, I don't speak Czech." And then they left me alone.
I do seem actually to be picking up Czech at a fairly fast pace, considering I've only been learning the language for a week and a half. And I'm really beginning to feel familiar with this city. Today was the second or third time I've given directions to a tourist.
I met two Americans on the tram today on my way to class. They are recent college grads who are here in a TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) certification program. I didn't suggest giving them my phone number to hang out until they were getting off and I ended up shouting it out the window as the tram pulled away from the stop. I hope it worked, because so far the only people my age that I know are the eight other girls in my program. I would prefer to meet young Czech people rather than Americans, but I'll take what I can get.
At this point, I've had at least one session of all my classes. They are: Czech language, History of the Jews in East Central Europe, Politics and Culture in East Central Europe, Modern Czech Art and Architecture, and Czech Jewish Literature. The professors are all very different- one is shy and quiet, one is free-spirited and easygoing, one is creatively charged, one is energetic and fast-paced, and the last has a very circular way of lecturing. I have decided that my internship with the rabbi will be informal and not for credit, as I like all the classes and the credit for anything non-history isn't useful to me at school anyway.
I have been learning more about Prague this week, even though our orientation is technically over. Yesterday, we met with the interim head of the Jewish Community, who discussed with us the complexities of the community's internal political turmoil and the intended upcoming election that will relieve him of a post that he has been holding many months longer than expected. Also, at lunch, we happened to run into the president of the Jewish youth group (the group is for anybody under 40), and he talked to us about possible joint events and also told me about a good place to go kayaking on a nearby river.
I have also made plans to go next weekend to Amsterdam with two friends from my program. It will be my 21st birthday next Friday, as well as the beginning of our first free weekend. We will be staying in a hostel near the Anne Frank Museum, the Van Gogh Museum, and several botanical gardens that are supposed to be quite beautiful. I am very excited about this trip and promise to report on it when I get back.
I bought postcards this week, but I haven't finished writing them and haven't bought stamps yet. If you are someone who expects to receive one, look out for it in a few weeks (before the end of the month). If you don't expect one but would like one, please let me know! I check my email at most every two or three days, so feel free to drop me a line.
I want to post photos, but I haven't yet found a place where the wireless internet actually allows my computer to access a photo site. I will make a note of it when I've got pictures up.
Last but not least, I finally have a mailing address! I'm putting it in a separate post to emphasize it.
