ummm. prague?

So I'm here. Have been for the past three days. I've been avoiding writing anything about it, because I don't actually believe that I'm in Prague. I'm still where I've always been except I don't understand anyone and anything around me.

For all the bitching I did at Sean for not packing ahead of time, or bringing just two duffel bags, I was tenfold worse. First off, I quit my jobs two days before leaving, assuming that it was enough time, when in fact, it definitely wasn't. I received a call from the Czech Embassy that my visa was finally done even though they led me to believe I couldn't get it until after my school started (February 12). That's when it hit me that in 24 hours I would be in a plane to Prague, and I had no idea where I was going to sleep come Thursday night. I'm smart.

Wednesday/Thursday
I woke up Wednesday morning and thought to myself that there was no way I was actually going to Prague that day come 7pm. And I was pretty much right, because my flight was delayed until 11pm, which resulted in missing my connecting flight in Frankfurt by 5 minutes. They almost didn't let me board the plane to Prague because of visa complications. Patrick told me to just wait for him until he got there in March.

Despite all my flight complications, I think the cherry topping to my day was riding public transportation to my school hostel. First off, whatever attempt at learning the Czech language pretty much proved to be useless. Second off, chasing after buses in the airport with two huge suitcases in tow was mildly embarrassing--constantly losing my shoe in the process was more so. Trying to figure out how to transfer to tram 26 at Dejvice metro station was not so hard, just riding the elevator to below ground was painful because it smelled like someone had shat in the corner. Then trying to haul my luggage up the stairs again and then onto tram...Pretty much, I relied on nice (huge!!!) Czech men everywhere. I missed my tram stop because I was too slow with my stupid suitcases and the doors shut on me. When I finally got off the tram I just wandered the streets in the dark looking for the dormitory because of all the delays. Thankfully, I am studying in Prague, not Baltimore.

And then I found out the next day that I was the only retard who didn't shell out the money to take a taxi.

Friday
I met up with a girl from MICA, and her two American flatmates from Carnegie Mellon. The moment I saw Micaela she immediately instructed that we are going out to night. Sure, okay, why not. I made a pledge to myself that I would amend whatever antisocial habits I have. (Like eating out by myself the first night I was in Prague, because I thought I was badass. Then whatever confident feelings I had dissipated when I was a complete American idiot trying to order off the menu. I felt even more alienated when the only one drinking a non-alcoholic beverage.)

I don't remember anything worth mentioning that night, just local bars in Praha 7. You know, we're in Europe, so we get wasted every night because we're so college. In Europe. woooo oo oooo ooo 000oo

Saturday
I woke up early that day because I had to go buy a SIM card down the road, and I wanted to walk around by myself. Down the street from our dorm there's a ridiculous church. Just. ridiculous. I still think when I'm walking around and looking at all the buildings that it must be a joke. too beautiful. actually we are only 15 minutes away from Prague Castle. I remember glancing at it when getting off the tram, and thinking "Disneyland???"

Then I met up with Micaela and Ali and explored Old Town Square and the Jewish Quarter, which was super pretty and super touristy. We found our school (Uměleckoprůmyslová škola v Praze, or Umprům for short) which is located right next to Charles Bridge and the river facing the Castle. Sooooo pretty.

even though we're outside the center in Praha 7, I think Prague is still a small city where as so many things are in walking distance. And the weather has been nice, so it's been great because of that.

At night we just went to the same bar again, this time with two more American guys, more Spaniards, a very nice German boy who spoke the best English, and a very....passionate Greek boy. and by passionate I mean grilling me about the state of America for at least 15 minutes. He was talking to the wrong person. It was nice, but I retired to the dorm with the two other American girls Amanda and Ali by 1 am. Which apparently is way too early for European standards. the Spanish girls said that people usually stay out until 7 am--1 am is when things start going. I don't know if I can to get used to that.

Either way, us three ended up staying up to 4 am talking about books, architecture and process, which really cheered me up because I was starting to feel weird about going out the past few days.

Sunday
Went to the grocery store, went Letna Park by us. We walk through Letna park to get to the center city and to school, which is nice. The view after the park of main Prague before crossing the bridge is unreal.

And then we came back, and I ran into people in the stairwell and chatted briefly before escaping out of pure social awkwardness. I can only handle big groups and small talk for so long until I freak out. I'm so cool.

Well hopefully tonight I'll get to relax and read tonight. School starts tomorrow.

Congratulations if you actually read this whole thing. I'll post pictures later.