These are the seven main characters of the novel Saturnin, by Zdeněk Jirotka (pronounced Zdeniek Yirotka.) It was one of my birthday presents that I got from Rotary last week. It's apparently a very famous book, and I now understand why. I thought it was hilarious, it was very well written and a really excellent book. The plot was really spectacular and the characters were all really well done. It feels great knowing that I finally got some real Czech literature seeing as I'm an avid reader I couldn't wait. If you can find a copy, I would definitely recommend it.
But onto bigger and better things. So Monday was the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall in Germany. I know because it was all over BBC World News. It was so interesting to watch the ceremonies and events that took place and to see what the wall looked like and how Berlin looks now. It wasn't a huge event here in the Czech Republic as I didn't even know until after school, but the big event here will be next week. Next week Tuesday is twenty years since the Velvet Revolution in Prague and the beginning of the end of Communism. As far as I know, it's going to be a pretty huge deal here. On Monday we only have two classes so home at nine forty and on Tuesday we don't have school at all. Also on Monday the town is having some sort of mini festival, I'm not sure on the details but it should be fun and historical all at once. I've already spoken with my host mom about living under communism and I can't even imagine what it must have been like. I'll be sure to put picture on Facebook.
Speaking of pictures that I've taken, I was recently in Prague. It was rather chilly that weekend, only 2 degrees. Which is 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Anyways it was a beautiful city as you may have seen. The Astrological Clock in the Square of the Republic is like the oldest thing ever, it's close to a thousand years old I believe. The castle was gorgeous, and enormous. Apparently President Vaclav Klaus, (pronounced Vatslav) was also there since that is, indeed, where the President lives. King Charles' Bridge was also very nice too. According to legend, they builders needed something to hold the bridge together so they used eggs. Apparently it worked well as I can testify to the stability of the bridge, having walked across it myself. So Prague was amazing and I can't wait until I return in December.
So this weekend I have a Rotary weekend in Jindřichův Hradec. It's Halloween/Thanksgiving themed so we'll be carving Jack-o-Lanterns and having Thanksgiving dinner. Also, there will be a language test. I'd prefer to not even think about that right now since Czech is officially the hardest thing in the history of everything that ever was. It's like they set out to make the hardest, most complicated, and most ridiculous language with the hardest pronunciations ever and actually managed to do it. Anyways it should be pretty fun and we'll be doing some sightseeing. Although considering it's been a torrential downpour this week I'm not sure how we'll be going anywhere at this point. I honestly didn't know that a landlocked country could be wetter than one with two oceans by it. I've never had so much rain in my entire life except for that June when Amy graduated and it flooded.
My birthday was last week Friday so I'm officially seventeen now although here that doesn't mean anything since rated R movies don't exist here, they're just all non-rated. Anyways I ended up with two parties and six cakes so it was pretty decent. My class at school threw me a surprise party with three cakes and it was really great, there are pictures on Facebook. Rotary threw me a party with two cakes and I got a lot of čokolada so it was very nice. Finally, my host family gave me a cake on my actual birthday and it was really great celebrating with them. Although there was a little bit of an excess of cake... more like a cake-a-palooza if you ask me. We were giving in away by the boxes and we still have some left, but that's ok with me. All in all, it was a really super birthday.
So that's about it for now, I'll post about this weekend probably or at least have pictures. My host parents twenty-fifth wedding anniversary is soon so we'll be having a big party, I plan on making pumpkin pie. My school schedule is probably going to change soon after I asked to drop my French Language class, but otherwise that about wraps things up. I'll keep you posted on the going-ons here especially next week.
Oh also, dear Mom and Amy, apparently the capitol of Canada is Ottawa, I looked it up during Geography today. Huh, who knew?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
hey i knew that the capitol was Ottawa, I googled it and told mom that while you were on the phone with her but she refused to listen to me or believe it. also remember your parents over here have a wedding anniversary coming up as well :) glad you had a good birthday.
ReplyDeleteWhat is cokolada? Coke? Is that a big deal? Thanks for the photos from Prague. That astronomical clock is beautiful. Does the celebration of the Velvet Revolution mark the beginning or the end of the revolution? I suppose it would be the successful end of it, huh? Mrs. Gaynor was there with her chorus group during that time.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the next language you attempt should be written Chinese, then Czech won't seem too hard.
čokolada, pronounced "chokolada" is chocolate. Also thanks Amy but this year I actually remembered their anniversary.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I'm glad we had to google the capitol of our bordering country to figure out what it was.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's almost as bad as the lady in the post office asking Grandma what country the Czech Republic was in.
ReplyDelete