The future, some more of the past, and some thoughts on the future...
"When you start spending more time reliving something than you actually did living it in the first place, you make it timeless. You can make it last forever. You can make it even better than it was the first time." It's been a while since I've written something here.... I wonder how many people are actually reading this or checking for updates *imagines doing this for no-one* . Feel free to comment!
So naturally this will most likely be a long one! Make sure you have plenty of coffee!
Anyway for those who are reading this, I shall first of all bring you up to speed on what's happened in the last three plus months....
It was tricky making the choice to come home, and I think it is a choice that I never really have dealt with. I just haven't had the time. I was able to spend my last days in Prague with Elizabeth, a really good British friend and ex-flatmate. Once you have lived in Prague, you will never be the same again. She texted me on the Tuesday, asked me if I could change my flight, and leave a week later, so she had more time, and could stay longer, but I couldn't. I wanted to be home for my birthday. The next thing I know I get another message...(on Thursday) "I am arriving tomorrow." So no accommodation sorted, she turned up. Luckily we still had an extra matress, so she had somewhere to sleep. We did all the old things.... swimming at Podoli (our local swimming pool), got opera tickets (story to follow), went to our favourite cafes and restaurants, sat on Petrin Hill and enjoyed the sunshine, did some souvenir shopping, and went to our church services for the last time... She left Monday afternoon, and I was to leave on Tuesday. So I had that evening to finish packing, and say some last goodbyes. I still really miss it! Everyday, I think I want to go back. I defintely will.
The last opera....
Elizabeth turned up to the theatre to get ticket for the next night's performance of Dvorak's Rusalka. The lady was just leaving the box office and said to come back later, so that we did. We went back later and she remembered Elizabeth. So we paid for our tickets (as usual, the cheapest one's we could get) and I put them in my bag, and we left. Next day, I got them out just to double check the time (We had both done this otfen enougt to know the drill - 45 minutes to get home, 10 minutes to get dressed up for the opera, and 35 minutes to get there...) I checked them about 2 hours before it was about to start, only to find that we had been given tickets for the performance for the night before... What should we do? We'd paid for the tickets, so we should be able to use them. And it wasn't our fault was it. We knew... put them back in my bag and pretend not to know anything about the mistake! So in our usual style, we ran up the opera steps at 7:05 (opera starts at 7) and gave the lady the tickets.... She spent s long looking at them, said she would take us to seats that were easy to get to as it had already started, and we could change at the interval... Nothing at all about the fact that we were at the wrong opera! As it was, it was half empty anyway, so what would have been the point of not letting us in...
The flight home...
I made it back to Christchurch in one piece. Which I was surprised at. You know the feeling you get when you just can't see past the present point, and all that matters is the past and everything you have achieved... Well that was the feeling I had. I had done so much, proved so much to myself and others, and knew that everything had been AWESOME, UNBEATABLE AND PREFECT, what would it matter if the plane crashed. But i didn't. ( I had the same feeling the day I left Rome. Seeing the Pope was one of my dreams, and I pretty big dream I have to say. As was travelling around Europe - seeing Paris, the Hundertwasser Haus, Auschwitz, having my parents meet my German parents... and countless other things)
Praha to Wien was a tiny little plane, and everybody was catching connecting flights. Then a bigger plane from Wien to Sydney with a short fuel stop in Kuala Lumpur. This was not too comfortable. There was a guy in the seat behind me who when he wasn't pulling on the back of my seat, couldn't keep his leg still. The BIG TALL man in front of me only wanted to sleep, so being taller he needed his head-rest much higher and that was much more annoying when the seat was reclined! For the trip to K.L. the couple (probably about my parents' age) was fine. The woman was sitting next to me, but for the second leg, they swapped. He wanted to sleep, and that he did. At the expence of annoying me. With my ear plugs in I could still hear him snore, and when he wasn't snoring, he was elbowng me in the side! And the aisle on the forth side meant I the carts were going up and down and people were going up and down! I couldn't win.
Then Sydney Airport... I only had another 3 hours of flying before getting home, but I had about 4 hours there. I managed to brush my teeth and splash myself with water, and find something cheap to eat. Why can airports get away with having such expensive food? But what was worse was all the accents! Being surrounded by Australian and Kiwi accents was a little more than I was ready for. Sorry everyone, but I HATED it! I think being gone so long, being surrounded by Americans, British and non-native English speakers, and being an English teacher meant my accent became a little more neutral. Or not as strong. (To this day, there are still some things that come out differently, and my sister still gives me a hard time for it!)
Boarding the flight to Christchurch, and making that last leg, would have had to have been one of the hardest things that I could have done. This was it. I was coming home. It feels like home, but at the same time, it's definitely not the same for me.
Settling back...
Well, got back into dancing pretty much straight away... Many thanks to Sarah who took me to the Hog when I had been back less than 24 hours. I think I did really well - I still remembered some dance moves after being away for so long. I also managed to surprise people by being back! And there are so many new people around.
The next morning I got the Yellow pages out and looked at the listings for language schools. I rang a few schools, told them my sitiation and there were some who were really keen , but couldn't promise anything. (more on that one) But, sure enough, mum's predictions were right. (She said I would have no trouble finding work) Within an hour I had 2 weeks work at Christchurch College of English Language, one of top three schools in Christchurch. Then I got 6 weeks work at a small school in town. And when I say small I mean really small. Teeny tiny small. There were two students in the whole school, and more staff than students. In the time that I was there the school did grow to twice the size! Then I went back to CCEL, and after Chrsitmas I am starting at the best language school in the country! Well, that's the impression that I get about the school. It seems that teachers there teach a similar number of hours to teachers at other schools, but this school (once they have all of their new system in place) will pay for more hours than just teaching time - preparation time, professional devopment time, workshops and some extra supervision. They have their main school up in Auckland, which was the first school in the country to run any of the Cambridge training programmes (CELTA, DELTA). So, while it seems to be a really good school to work for, I think I will have my work cut out for me, at least until I get used to the systems, and I am sure there will be many more of those dreaded OBSERVATIONS!!!! (will do my best not to freak and stress too much, I know they are only for helping me, and everyone hates them!) I did consider doing my DELTA, which would have started mid February. With it, I would have much better opportunities for teaching, and I could get into management. I have been told that I should be capable of passing it now. It's a little bit like the CELTA, but longer. 4 weeks of classes, 1 week study, 4 weeks of classes again and then two months before the exam. Yes, there is an exam for this. And for those who remember what I was like doing the CELTA, I think there would be twice the number of tears and worries! Anyway, it seemed a lot of money to spend, and I hadn't really made a read decision, when I was told that the course would not be run after all. The last course to be run down here was 5 years ago! So I guess I have missed my slot. For now. I DO want it!
The weekend after I got back, I went shopping. I got a car! It's a three door toyota starlet! Not again! No, really it is different. It's still a starlet, but instead of 1982, it's 1993, and it's not white, it's red. And it's not a "nana car" like my sister warned me against. It has a fun top! The roof opens. So when the weather is warm enough (which is not very often), I drive with the roof open! Echt toll!
What else? I haven't been involved much with music yet, but I am now counting the days till I can go back to the Cashmere High School Continuing Education Music Programme. Orchestra is still on Monday nights and it seems now that they have a concert band again!!!! That's even better! So I think I will try both. I so can't wait. Then I think I will try and go to ballroom dance classes, or learn a language (either Russian or Spanish). I don't know where I am going to find the time, but it will definitely keep me busy and distract me from thinking too much.
What I miss being back in NZ
-not needing a car
-reliable public transport
-*sorry* bubbly water
-Czech bread
-castles, art galleries and museums
-not being surrounded by foreign languages
-H&M (admitting you have an addiction is the first step to recovery right?)
-going to the opera or ballet every week
-going for random tram rides
-sitting by the river and looking at the castle
-Cafe Louvre
So my boss in the UK wants me back. He will have to sponsor a visa for me. I have to get onto finding out what paperwork I need, to do, get a new passport (mine expires September 11), and get another job sorted in Prague before I leave NZ so I have somewhere to go in September. I was offered a job with International House before I left, but I turned it down. A little series of events dictated that I really should come home for a little while.
So, that's about it. I hope you have all had a good Christmas and Happy New Year. Don't let anything stop you from achieving what you want to do this year. I'm not going to let anything stop me, that's for sure. All I know is there is just so much more out there that I need to do, and one way or another, I'm going to do it!
I'll try to post again, but it does feel strange writing this sitting in NZ. Hopefully I can keep it full of exciting things....
Time to make a move....
Well, so much for ask me again in a week! I did end up enjoying the whole residential experience. It was exhausting, but the kids were great and some of the group leaders, especially the iltalian nuns were wonderful help. The food left a little to be desired, and the fire alarms going off at 3am (not the fault of our kids I might add) were even worse, and the kids who managed to sleep through them with looked doors were even more terrifying! I got to go on a couple of trips, like to Hampton Court and Madame Tusaauds (for which I was the only teacher to look after 40 kids and 3 group leaders) !!!! I had to avoid the IT room which really was not an IT room, but rather a SAUNA!!!! Yes it was that hot. And the July heat wave did not help. After three weeks there, when I was all settled and enjoying it, I was asked to go back to the main school. thinking it the best option and knowing that there would ebe more work there for me I went. And the accommodation was much better than when I left... there were more people and I was in a different flat to the person who made me want to leave in the first place. So I worked there for another 5 weeks and came to a few decisions.
I did intend to stay in the Uk, but I figured starting a new career there was just going to take a lot of money and time... And I didnt even have a place to live, so that was going to take even more time... All I wanted was a rest, and I did not want to stay in the UK. I guess the whole reaso for being there in the first place was because I had my visa and I thought I *should* use it.... But my director of studies told me that he would sponsor a visa for next year!!! Which means there is no limit! So really I did not need to stay after all! So feeling exhausted I called a friend in Prague and she said to come out and think about what to do. She was right! Its much nicer and much more affordable to do nothing for a bit. So here I am once again in Prague....
I managed to go to interviews and be offered jobs really quickly, but I still felt this strong need not to stay.... I am terrified of returning to NZ. I have no job to go back to, I need to get a car, and I *know* that settling down again will not be easy! And I think by staying here I am just putting it off and making in harder. So after calling the schools that had offered me jobs and explaining the situation, they said that if I were to come back they would definitely take me on!!!! Good news again!
So I leave here early on tuesday morning, and arrive in Christchuch at about 23,30 on Wednesday!!!!! So no doors are closed and I am getting excited about getting back, even if it is only going to be for a few months.... Who knows what will happen! Oh, and in other news.... I didnt manage to save any money at all over the summer.... All spent! I have a computer!!!!!!!! An ACER!!!!! I love it! I am sure there will still be stories posted when I get back to NZ... Will let you know I am there. Better get to the airport to meet my old room mate... She is arrving here soon so we can so goodbye to prague together.... So exciting.
See you soon!!!!
Time to make a move....
Well, so much for ask me again in a week! I did end up enjoying the whole residential experience. It was exhausting, but the kids were great and some of the group leaders, especially the iltalian nuns were wonderful help. The food left a little to be desired, and the fire alarms going off at 3am (not the fault of our kids I might add) were even worse, and the kids who managed to sleep through them with looked doors were even more terrifying! I got to go on a couple of trips, like to Hampton Court and Madame Tusaauds (for which I was the only teacher to look after 40 kids and 3 group leaders) !!!! I had to avoid the IT room which really was not an IT room, but rather a SAUNA!!!! Yes it was that hot. And the July heat wave did not help. After three weeks there, when I was all settled and enjoying it, I was asked to go back to the main school. thinking it the best option and knowing that there would ebe more work there for me I went. And the accommodation was much better than when I left... there were more people and I was in a different flat to the person who made me want to leave in the first place. So I worked there for another 5 weeks and came to a few decisions.
I did intend to stay in the Uk, but I figured starting a new career there was just going to take a lot of money and time... And I didnt even have a place to live, so that was going to take even more time... All I wanted was a rest, and I did not want to stay in the UK. I guess the whole reaso for being there in the first place was because I had my visa and I thought I *should* use it.... But my director of studies told me that he would sponsor a visa for next year!!! Which means there is no limit! So really I did not need to stay after all! So feeling exhausted I called a friend in Prague and she said to come out and think about what to do. She was right! Its much nicer and much more affordable to do nothing for a bit. So here I am once again in Prague....
I managed to go to interviews and be offered jobs really quickly, but I still felt this strong need not to stay.... I am terrified of returning to NZ. I have no job to go back to, I need to get a car, and I *know* that settling down again will not be easy! And I think by staying here I am just putting it off and making in harder. So after calling the schools that had offered me jobs and explaining the situation, they said that if I were to come back they would definitely take me on!!!! Good news again!
So I leave here early on tuesday morning, and arrive in Christchuch at about 23,30 on Wednesday!!!!! So no doors are closed and I am getting excited about getting back, even if it is only going to be for a few months.... Who knows what will happen! Oh, and in other news.... I didnt manage to save any money at all over the summer.... All spent! I have a computer!!!!!!!! An ACER!!!!! I love it! I am sure there will still be stories posted when I get back to NZ... Will let you know I am there. Better get to the airport to meet my old room mate... She is arrving here soon so we can so goodbye to prague together.... So exciting.
See you soon!!!!
Where in the world?
Well, what a week! I came over to the UK to settle into a job that was just to be for the summer, and I knew that. and the contract said only four weeks, thereby not being made any promises they couldn't keep. Fully understand that.
Moved into the Thanet campus accommodation and managed to get myself comfortable, even bought a CD player/alarm clock (very much like Liz's Psycho that she tried to have me take from Prague because it was smaller than mine. But we kind of broke it because it was american and the voltage was different) I was making sure to spend plenty of time in my room and get reading done so I didnt have to keep too many books. I was managing to avoid Al, although I did have to answer the door to him wearing just boxer shorts and T-shirt..
Then Thursday lunch time my DoS talked to me in his office and asked me if I would move to a residential centre. The woman in charge of all the centres is based in the thanet accommodation and needed another female teacher. So I crazily said yes, not knowing what I was letting myself in for. There is more money but so much more work. I have been out at Ardingly college since Friday night and everything has been set up and students have arrived. First real day of teaching was today, and was not too bad. But the thying is I never really get to stop thinking about work... There are activities,. wake up calls, putting them to bed, planning, dinner duties.... Everything. And there is not very great mobile reception here at all. So I dont reall get messages. I am only lucky enough to be able to post this because I am on activities at the moment, and there is a free computer and I can email while the kids are doing stuff on the internet. Next time will have to be more structured though. And there is no land line that I can use to receive calls or to make calls. I really have no idea what is nearby, and there are no busses that I can get away on. No sunday mass for me to go to, I'm tired and its miles to get to the nearest town. What a mission. I feel really isolated. I really dont know how much time I will get to look for jobs either, and considering I really have nowhere to go after this its really something I have to do while here. At the main school I had time for that....
As I keep telling people, ask me again next week after I have had a day off before I give you how I really feel about all this....
More later,
xoxoxo
Farewell Praha :(
Last two months in Prague...
Karlovy Vary
A rainy saturday in May and Michelle, Marja and I set off to catch the bus to KV, a spa town. There we wandered around the streets and tested the water. Some springs were hot and others just warm. You could see the steam coming off the water. We didnt go swimming though butI did try some of the water. It was no very nice. I have the photo top prove that I had some. Very sttractive! Not!
Operas and Ballets
I have lost rack of what I have seen, but the favourite opera was Carmen at the state theatre, and I absolutely loved the ballet "Ballet Mania" basically a take off of Swan Lake with men dancing as the swans! Classic. Will give you a final list of everything I saw one day... I still have all the tickets... Watch this space! Obviously this was one of my favourite ways to spend time.
Zoo
Peter and I went to the Zoo, and thanks to my student I found out about the Trojska Karta, a ticket that gets you into the zoo, troja place and gardens for a lower price. The zoo, was good and I absolutely loved the monkeys, but then I always love them. the big cats were gorgeous too, and the peguins were entertaining, the way they all walked, I thought it was like the Blue Bird chips ad... Unfortunately Peter couldnt go to the Ptroja Palace and Gardens which we had opted to leave till another day, so I had both tickets and last weekend Michelle and I went. We went into the palance, now an art gallery. The best was the hall upstairs with floor to ceiling, and ceiling included fresco. very nice. I think I enjoyed the rooms and furniture more than I did the paintings on the walls that I was supposed to be looking at... Oops!
Church
One of the hardest to leave. Tim and Adriana had a BBQ for me out at their place in the garden and it was lovely. I will really miss playing for the mass on Sundays.
Packing
Was eventually successful, although I did leave a fair bit behind. I managed to get everything into one VERY big suitcase and a big pack, plus a keyboard bag. Yes, I have my keyboard with me! you have no idea how much Sterling made my day when he gave me that thing. The biggest worry was whether I would be able to get it all on the bus though. It all worked out in the end, thank goodness
There are so many things that I would love to be able to go back to Prague and do... Seeing the flatmates in the hotel DUM for one. There were so many great times there, and it really feels like a family. Playing chess on the matress in the hall, shooting the bow and arrow, cooking in the communist kitchen, (the oven doesnt have a temperature dial!), going to my favourite resturant where one of the waitresses never never smiles and the mission everytime is to get her to smile, and one of the waiters always recognises me, and the cafe Louvre, going to the theatre every week...the churches always being open, musuems that I didnt get to go to, going for a walk across the rail bridge that I never did get to do.... I guess if things work out over in the UK, I will get to go back for holidays... If they dont, then I guess I could always move back....
It's my home! I miss it all!
Any questions????
Continued....
Well I am now in England and reflecting on leaving Prague... I really miss it and all the poeple there. I know I will see some of them over here, but there are others, who I don't know when I will next see them. I miss just wandering the streets, and going out with firends. I know I have only been here for about a day, but I have a fair idea about how the next few weeks are going to be. I start work on Monday but am only teaching mornings for sure and covering classes in the afternoons. This is OK. The big problem is the accommodation/ I have the same as last year which was absolutely greet, mainly because of the people I was living with. Although there was one who I was not all that comfortable living with, and he was the only one left with me in the last week, and I made an effort to have dinner and get to bed every night before he got home... And there was one other who I sadly didnt get to know because she was not actially teaching the same as the rest of us and going to all the other centres... so she was never there. Well, it seems that this year these two will be the only two that I will be living with.
So I guess I will have ti volunteer to be transferred if they need to, and spend a lot of time reading the papers looking for jobs for when I finish. I have no idea where though. I need to chose a place thats no London, but definitely bigger than Ramsgate. And suggestions? The sooner I plan he future the better I will cope with the next weeks. I will let you know a number you can call me on after I have moved into the accommdation. I move in tomorrow.
The 18 hour bus trip over was survivable. I was sitting next to someone for a while but half way through the trip ahe got off so I managed to get a little quality sleep. The ferry was ok. Must have been because I managed to eat something. Anna was at the bus to meet me in Dover and I have been staying with her and her parents. We have just had dinner and wathced a DVD. Shame I will be alone tomorrow night.
Send me as many positive vibes as possible... I need them!
you can also call me or text me on my mobile +44 781 088 2761 or text ONLY my czech number +420 608 875 469
till soon,
Well, I think a lot has happened since the last update... Being very nicely informed by the school via SMS that they would not be hiring me again, I confirmed with the school in Ramsgate that they still wanted me, and sure enough they did! Although I think I may have slightly put my foot ïn it by saying that I didn´t have any permanent job here, and they said they would take me on earlier. Only thing was I had a friend about to visit! And there was no waz I was going to miss out on that... More details to come... Anyway, after all the fuss of leaving the school becaus of the new holiday policy (you could only have 3 days holiday, and unpaid at that), and them not being able to figure something out, I finally hear from a friend that they have changed it again. Now seems a little more fair... You can only have 3 days if you are a first year teacher, but if you have been there longer, they will be a little more compromising. I hope my case was useful for the committee who were fighting for the changes! Just as long as something good comes of being treated unfairly. I accept that it is time for me to move on. (Finally admitting this openly)
Rebecca came to visit for just over two weeks and we had a great time! The weather at the start left a lot to be desired. It rained so much, and when we took a little train trip to Karlštejn, we saw how high the river was... A little bit of a worry. Unfortunately the trip to Karlštejn was on a Mondaÿ, and silly me didn´t think about the castle being closed on a Monday. as a lot of things are. (Menatal not to self to check that the musuems that I want to go to on Monday will actually be open...)We still got to see the castle from the outside, and walk through the village streets when there were no tourists around. The night before that we went to the Opera at the National Theatre. Riggoletto. It was great. Think of the Dolmio pasta sauce ad... We also managed to get Rebecca a library card, making it easier for both of us to get around emailing! Despite the fact that she didnt have residency here. She just was not allowed to take out any books. Fair enough. So for anybody wanting to visit Prague for any length of time, join the library, and for a reasonable price you can join just to use the internet! Pretty good I say! I still had to teach my private students while she was here, so those days were pretty well filled with trips to the Jewish Quarter, art galleries, and shops... We did all the touristy things like going to the Old town and watching the Astronomical clock at 12pm, but it was raining. We had some time to kill before it chimed, and went into the crystal shop that it right beside it and managed to find a window to watch from. Very clever
We went to česky Krumlov, a medieval town on a bend on the river Vltava. It was a nice little town, but spoilt a little by the weather. We had a nice Czech lunch, saw the cathedral, and visited the castle. We had a guided tour of the castle, which you can do in three different languages. Czech was of course the cheapest, and you could request an information sheet. So thats what we did. The bear skins, complete with heads on the floors were just a *little* disturbing! We managed to get to the castle on a day when the weather was being good. We were joined by another Kiwi... Went into the cathedral, climbed the tower, which is rather narrow, and if you have short sleeve, be careful of your elbow that you dont graze it along the stone walls. Saw the old royal palace with the dodgy floor boards that you can feel moving as you walk on them. Then to St George´s basillica, which is still as lovely as I always though. I think this must have been the 5th time that I have bought the ticket for the castle. It is always just as amazing. Had to finish things off the next day. We managed to get to a performance of Carmen at the National theatre, which sadly was not as good as the one that I saw at the state theatre with my family. If is is possible, I think this one was done in a slighly communist style... The other one was more colourful. Spent a day in Kutna Hora, where I nearly chickened out of going into the ossuary again... I dont know what my problem was! And then we went to the Arab Restuarant Dahab, in old town. It was the place that Aiman told Elizabeth and I to go to and we tried to go there, but it was too empty and scary so we found somewhere else to go. It was actually really great. There was good music and the food was good, although priced at tourist prices. Then we went to BRATISLAVA. It was great. We managed to get everything in one day. We went on the train on Friday afternoon when I had finished teaching my student, and checked into our hostel. Then we went for a walk along the main shopping street (I wouldnt advise going there for serious shopping) and found somewhere for a drink. We had the most amazing hot chocolate. It was really thick and made with ice cream and cream. Mmm! Then we went back to the hostel and slept all night. I didnt hear anyone come in at all, although we were sharing with 4 others... I guess it must have been the earplugs... Saturday we went wandering for somewhere to have breakfast and because it was raining it was not as easy as walking to tesco and sitting in a park somewhere. We still ended up going to tesco and then went and sat upstairs in the old market hall. Then we wlked through the old town, seeing the main square, the danube river, St Martins Cathdral which was really nice, lookking at all the little market stalls selling craftly things, and finally walking up to the castle and around the gardens but didnt go in. It was still being renovated and the parts that were open were open as galleries. Found somewhere to have lunch and then went for hot chocolate at the most amazing chocolate cafe in the main square. They must have had about 50 different kinds of hot chocolate. One was definitely enough but it was so tempting to have more. Just a little sickly though. Trained back to Prague and spent the next three days souvenir shopping and seeing the things that we hadnt seen off the list of things to do... Then I took Rebecca to the airport last Tuesday, which was probably one of the easier airport trips, as I will see her again soon. This time next week I will be heading to the UK again...
(To be continued)
Life...
Since being back in Prague, I have not been too busy, like I used to be, but I still manage to keep myself pretty occupied.
I still keep getting to as many operas as I can: Aida, which is supposed to be one of Verdis better operas, was not really as great as I thought it would be. There was one march in there that I knew, but that was all. I guess I went in with high expectations, and it failed to live up to them. The lesson here, is not to have high expectations, and you will never be disappointed... Well, maybe. Then I went to Rusalka. Despite hearing from people that it was not really that great, it was on my list of operas to see. I mean, if you are living in Prague, you have to see an opera by one of the most famous Czech composers, right? Dvořak. I actually really enjoyed it - following on from the high expectations thing... I managed to get a ticket to see La Boheme, a story of three artists living together, and one of them falls in love with a woman who is ill, and dying, and they can only be together for a very short time. The opera is all about their romance and ends when she dies. And I managed to see one of my favourite operas again- Tosca. I hope to be able to see Carmen again, and I want to see Rigoletto, and some others, but I am well aware that my time here is running out.
I just sent the school in Ramsgate another email to confirm that things were still Ok for the summer, which they are, but he said there could be work from 30 May..... That only gives me 20days, but Rebecca is coming out to visit me!) Oh gosh! All this after the Caledonian school here in Prague just sent me a message to say that they would not be offering me another job... I guess I have always known that things DO really work out for the best. As from the Sound of Music "When the Lord closes a door, somwhere a window opens"
Anyway, back to the main story, I have been catching up with friends, wandering around, playing chess with my flatmate, attempting to start packing (two years is a long time in one place, and that makes packing a mission and a half!) planning the little trips I need to go on before I leave the country -Bratislava, in Solvakia, Karlovy Vary, and česky Krumlov... But somehow I dont think I will be able to leave them all for weekends trips!
I am still teaching my few private students, and that gives me enough money to live off except for rent. So I guess I am pretty lucky. And I think they would keep finding me other students if I wanted them to. But really I am just perfectly happy to work part time!
Will keep you posted on how everything is going...
Holiday over? Or still more???
Pisa was great, but there is not really a lot to see there... the tower is actually really small. And Florence was just lovely.
So much for new year's resolutions....
Well, I think I vowed at the start of the year that I would be at more frequent at updating this thing. I guess I never have been great at keeping diaries though.
This may be the last entry for a while, but before I get into that this is what has happened since the start of January(oops, it's really been that long???)
The weather has been really cold, and I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!!!! Where is spring. So needless to say I haven't really had any adventures - saving them up for the warmer weather and when I have a little more time on my hands (explanations later) But when Elizabeth left, she gave me two really useful pieces of advice. Number 1 - Don't think about anything. Number 2 : Go to as many operas and ballets as possible. So that is what I've been doing. Some weekends there have been none and other weekends I went to two! I think by the time june comes around, I'll will be all opera'ed out.
Sleeping Beauty (ballet) was just the same as the fairy tale, and the dancers were lovely, but the disappointing thing was the music - there was no live orchestra, and that is one of my favourite parts of going to the theatre - I want to be down in that pit! Tosca was one of the best operas I have seen. I really loved it, and the cosutmes and the sets were just perfect! I would definitely go and see it again! I wonder when it's on again??? Onegin was a lovely but sad ballet with written by Tchaikovsky, and there was some music in there that I really love, and love playing too! Don Pasquale - at last a comedy. I didn't really have a good view for this one and I wasn't really feeling too well, so I kind of lost the plot in the first half, but then in the second half I figured it all out and enjoyed it, although not one of my favourites... The Bartered Bride, by Smetana, was my first Czech performance (not that there were any language problems because they always have subtitles so you can understand what's going on. The settings were so much simpler that the other operas(mostly Italian ones) that I have seen. The costumes too. It is set in Bohemia, and I guess these differences really do reflect the differences in life in the respective countries... It was enjoyable though, and there was some good humour in it.
Next weekend I have tickets sorted for the Ballet again - Mozart? Mozart!, a special performance to mark Mozarts 250th birthday...
Then my I finish work and my family arrive!
My family will be in Europe for 6 weeks, and there will surely be some adventures. I just pray that the weather will be warm enough for them. They will arrive in Prague and we will spend 5 days here doing touristy things - seeing the castle, the bridge, all the places that have been important to me in the last two years. Finally I get to share everything with them, much better than sending them CD's with photos, I'm sure. Then we will head south to Budapest for 3 nights, and then on to Vienna for another 3 nights. I have been to both already, bu there's always so much more to see. And then back to Prague for two more nights. After that we take the train to Dresden and stay there for 1 night and then onto Berlin. I really hope it will be just as special this time as last time. People never really seem to understand what I liked so much about Berlin. But I think that was being with good friends, and the adventures we had as teenagers... We have two nights there and then fly to Poland for 1 night and back to Berlin for another 2 nights... Trying to fit everything in and get all the time we wanted in each of the places has been a real challenge - I hate to think what my parents living room has looked like for the past six months or so. Even the cat has noticed all the maps and information lying around, and possibly even noticed the things sitting on my bed to come over, and decided that she won't have anything to do with my parents. The Korean family across the road are much better. The only thing to do now is to copy the tickets, and tear them up in front of her... Hopefully she will be convinced that she will not be left alone for 6 weeks... Anyway, back to the travel plans - After Berlin we all head over to the Essen area, and visit my sister's old host family and my old host family. That will be one of the highlights. After that my sister and I separate from Mum and Dad while they go on a Rhine river cruise and spend some time with my cousin Jared in Germany, and some time in Switzerland and then Meet my sister and I in Rome. Meanwhile Liz and I fly to London for 2 nights, and then fly to Rome to begin a bus tour through Italy, Switzerland, and France then ending in London, and fly back to Rome to meet up with Mum and Dad. Such a muddle because the contiki tour we were originally going to do started in London and finished in Rome, so we got the flights we needed. And then they cancelled it. So we found another that goes in the opposite direction. Insurance will have to pay for all the extra flights. But just think about all the extra stamps in my passport! Then it's Mass with the Pope in Rome before Mum, Dad and Liz fly back to New Zealand and I come back to Prague to begin a life of unemployment.
This unemployment situation is due to the schools NEW holiday policy. We don't get paid holiday except for 1 week at Christmas and New Year, and even then not the same amout that you would normally earn in the week, and you could ask for unpaid time off throughout the year, providing the school could cover classes etc. And now they change it, and say no more that 3days. So I gave it a try anyway and asked for 6 weeks. Not approved. Trip all paid for. I quit. I still have some private students and they are happy to contine after I get back, and then I should onlt be here for 6 more weeks before heading to the UK for the summer. Same story as last year, but maybe a little earlier. And then I should go back to NZ in September. I promised I would be back for Christmas.
So I have been saving all the little trips that I want to do in the Czech Republic until I have all this free time, and the weather is warmer. I am really looking forward to the break, and will enjoy sitting in the parks reading and just wandering around the city. I have almost sorted everything for my students that I will teach after I come back - copies and books ready. I have bought my travel insurance and opera tickets for Carmen. Just forms to fill out, a few more lessons to teach, a reference to be obtained and I think that's it for me. Holiday - here I come!
I may not get much of a chance to update over the next 2 months, but I will try and check my email, victoriamcfadden@gmail.com and of course I will try and keep a written diary of everything that I see and do, and of course there will be hundreds, if not thousands of photos!!!!
I think that's all. Any questions???
I hope you are all happy and well.
Happy Birthday Hilaire!!!! xoxoxoxo
Ballet Again!
This time is was The Nutcracker, but not the usual version. It was the story of the Nutcracker combined with that of A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. The music was excellent and you got to hear all of the main musis from the Nutcracker that you hear so often - Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Dance of the Reed Flutes.... It was a lovely evening. (Although we did have seats right up in the second gallery. But the prices are so cheap - only 30kc, less than NZ$2)
My aim for the next few months is to go to an opera or ballet every week or two... Sometimes more than one a week!
In answer to Sarah's question about my Czech - it's still very limited. Pronunciation is so difficult, My schedule is so full that I don't have time to attend the classes that the school offers. I fell rather disappointed in myself for not having tried harder to learn more. I can order things in a restaurant, count, say please and thankyou, and a few other things. I understand more than that. Everytime I try to say something, my pronunciation is so bad that nobody can understand me anyway.... Maybe now that I have a new Slovakian room-mate, I may get a chance to learn something - she speaks Czech... We'll see.
Finally! Another Update
Well, I guess it looks like I stayed here in Prague. It was a little touch and go for a while. I had decided that I was ready to go home. And nothing came up in England.
But I have something really exciting to look forward to now. This has been in the planning for a long time now, but nothing was really definite until tickets were bought. I think, now that the tickets have been bought, I can say that my Mother, Father and sister are coming over here. They will be arriving March 14. They will stay with me for a little while in Prague and then we will head south to Vienna and Budapest and then back to Pargue for a few days, Then through Poland and on to Berlin, then over to Western Germany to meet up with our old host families. That is going to be amazing. After that my sister and I are going to split from our parents. Mum and Dad are going to go on a river cruise, and Liz and I will go to London to start a Contiki tour that goes through Paris, Lucerne, Munich, Florence, Venice and then ends in Rome, where we will meet up with our Parents and spend a few extra days there before they fly back to NZ. I will prabably be back in Prague after that for a little while and then head to the UK to work for the summer, and then be back in NZ in time for Christmas at the latest.
The last few months have been a little quiet, but some of the highlights are:
Ballet - Swan Lake
Swan Lake was amazing. It was also my first time in the Prgaue National Theatre, which was wonderful. The costumes were beautiful, and my favourite parts were when all the swans were on stage. Absolutely amazing - not a lot more to say...
Christine coming to visit
My second cousin Christine came to Pargue for about 10 days to do a business training course. She was pretty busy over the weekend that she was here so I didn't really get to spend a lot of time with her. Although we met on Sunday morning and went for the best hot chocolate in the world. Then again on Monday evening I took her to a little Czech restautant right in the centre of the city. The prices there are pretty cheap for a place so close to the Old Town Square. It was really nice to be able to catch up with someone from home - I loved it! (anyone else want to visit????)
Christmas markets in Prague
Whenever I got a chance I would wander round the Christmas markets in the centre of the city. I would get a hot Trdlo - a sweet pastry roll thing, or some roasted almonds or some hot red wine. And then just look at the little stalls selling Christmas gifts and decorations, along with other little souvenirs. It was even better when it was snowing and getting dark, and with all the lights and the lit up Christmas tree it was just perfect. Although I wouldn't really recommend going there on the weekend, for all the tourists that were around.
Christmas Markets in Dresden
On Saturday December 17 Marja and I got on a bus and went to Dresden. It was an organised tour, but all of the information was in Czech and I had forgotten to take the copies I had made of the guidebook. They wouldn't have lasted so long anyway. I was surprised that we were actually able to get through the hills, and across the boarder - there was so much snow. We passed so many big trucks along the way which had pulled over because it was so difficult for them to get through. I think they may have been moving at about 1mm a second! When we got to Dresden we were led on a little walk around the main sights, and after about 2 hours we all separated at the Christmas Market - the oldest Chirstmas Market in Germany. We were so wet from all the snow that we found the shopping mall that was right beside the Market and sought refuge in there. We took off all that we could and bought some lunch from the supermarket - German bread that I was dying for, and sat somewhere in that mall where we would be able to dry off and warm up a bit. I think I had about 1cm of snow on my hat!!! Then we explored the Christmas Market, but in small doses. Wander about the Market for a limited time and then back into the mall for half an hour, then back outside, then back into another shop. There was SOOOO much snow that I didn't even manage to take a photo of the Christmas Market - the main reason for going... Didn't even get completely dry on the 3+ hour bus trip back!
Christmas, New Year's Eve and the short holiday
Christmas was reasonably relaxed. I said goodbye to Elizabeth. She has left Prague and is now in Equador. I moved into her room (it's bigger) and then went to Church. After the mass I went for a little walk across Charles Bridge and called my parents very quickly from there to wish them a Marry Christmas, and called Mary and got her to come to meet me and we went and had Tea somewhere.On Christmas Day, I went to Church again and went with friends from there back to their place for some really nice food. There were other people there and it was a really nice atmosphere. I was home by about 6.30. And then had a really long phone call with my family. Not to mention the call that morning being passed from one Aunt to one Uncle, then a cousin and a grandparent until I had spoken to the whole family. Boxing day was a really lazy day. I think I slept for most of the day. I had a week break from school although I still taught some private students. I went to see the film "In her shoes" on Tuesday, alone, which was really relaxing. On Friday I went to "Elizabethtown" with Marja, and then on Saturday it was New Year's Eve already. I meet with Diana and her family at church and went back to their place for a nice evening. We spent most of it in front of the TV (cable TV with so many channels) and had a Chicken Curry cooked by her mum and her aunt. And then at 12.00 we went outside and set of a lot of fireworks. I think we were out there for about an hour. Eventually her uncle and aunt drove me home. On New Year's day I went to Church and then straight home where I sorted everything out ready to start work again.
I have now been back at work, and am even busier than I was before Christmas. There will be a short semester break when the school courses finish, and the new ones start.
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION: Be better with updatng this weblog....
Being back in Prague
Mushrooms, Mobile phones, Birthdays, and Exhibitions...
I wasn't alone for too long when I got back. I arrived and picked up my stuff from Jared, and had enough time to unpack everything and go to school to get my schedule before Elizabeth arrived back in Prague. It's so good to have her back here. It just wouldn't be the same without her. Her sister cam with her to stay for a few days and her mother and God-mother also came out from England. So I was kept busy for the weekend.
The next week was just a little boring. I didn't have to start teaching alot of classes for another week, so I had a lot of free time. It was nice to get some sleep-ins, but I was bored, and thinking about not wanting to stay here.
The next Saturday a small group of us, Sterling, Michelle (a new teacher at school), Elizabeth, Helena (Elizabeth's Czech friend) and myself went out mushroom picking. We meet a school, and Sterling drove us to some forest area where we used some books with pictures of mushrooms as a guide to know which ones we should and shouldn't pick. It was lucky that we had Helena with us so she could read the Czech. (All books were written in Czech) And she would have know what to say to the doctors, had any one of us been ill after eating a poisonous mushroom. The time in the forest was nice, that is, until Sterling pointed out the slugs! They were huge and really didn't belong there. They belonged in Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter. They were so big and ugly and gross. Spent the rest of the time trying to avoid them. We left the forest just as it was starting to get cold and rain. Perfect timing. We went back to our place and cooked them. I don't reallt eat mushrooms anyway, and if I do they are usually of the bought kind, so needless to say, I didn't actually eat any of them. But I think that any mushroom fan would have loved to be there.
My mobile phone provider here is Oskar. When I first got here, this was the one that I bought because it was the cheapest. I thought that was the best idea. Unfortunately it meant that I could not send any messages to NZ. I could only receive texts from NZ Telecom. But a few months ago, Vodafone bought Oskar. I tried to send my sister a message as soon as this happened, but to no avail. Then, just after I got back, I tried again. And what do you know - it worked!!!!! So now it works both ways with vodafone. I can text NZ, and receive texts from NZ. I still can't text Telecom though, but I can receive. And the prices are just the same for me to text NZ as it is for me to text within the Czech Republic. So needless to say, I am very happy to be able to communcate with all my vodafone friends again, other that by email!!! So if any of you want to text me +420 608 875 469 I even made my parents go out and buy a new phone so I could send them messages!!!!
Satuday was my birthday. Quarter of a Century. 25. Old? I really don't like being away from my family for my birthday. But I still had a nice day anyway. I spent an hour talking to Mum and Dad, and then a little later, I spent another hour talking to my sister. Then I went with Michelle and Sterling to the World Press Photo Exhibition. The photos were great. They give you a better impression of everything that is going on in th world. They make you feel so much closer the the events. They are so realistic. Then afterward we met Elizabeth and Jared for pizza. It was really nice. They gave me a really beautiful bunch of flowers - I think they are Gerberas (spelling?) and a card that I have to colour in. Yay! I don't have to grow up!!!! On Sunday, Marja cooked a late lunch for me and Tracey was almost there. It was so yummy, and I now know how to make apple crumble. Mum, did you ever teach me to make apple crumble? Maybe I never asked. They also ruined my no chocolate diet. They gave me a really big cake of German chocolate. But when it is gone, I will go back to the no chocolate thing. 'friday is chocolate day'.... Yesterday I got three things in the mail, Birthday cards from Mum and Dad, and one from Nana. Lizzy also sent me a card with a little pressie. A big paper clip, and some really lovely earrings. I also got numerous text messages. It was a nice birthday, but I think I will be home for my next one...
On Friday night, Katherine's flatmates, Kate and Katie were in town. I met up with them and walked a little around the city before going for the best hot chocolate in the world, and then a little more walking before leading them to a Czech restaurant for a typical Czech meal of gulas and dumplings. Then a little more walking over Charles Bridge and through old town square before saying good bye at the metro station to go home...
Summer 2005
July 1 - August 28 - Ramsgate, England
I spent a lot of time at the start of the year getting mz UK Working Holiday Visa application sorted and then got the Visa and started applying for jobs. I was looking for a summer job, and possibly a residential, although I was not looking forward to having to live with the kids that I was teaching. I got luckz though with a job teaching 3 hours in the morning and then another 3 hours in the afternoon, and getting to go home straight after work! I was a little nervous at first, worrying about how I was ever going to keep control of teenagers who did not really want to be spending their summer in school.
I left Prague on the Friday afternoon, after a thunder storm (I really did not want to fly after that weather!!) and the flight was delayed two hours!! I caught the train from Gatwick to Broadstairs and then found a bus that took me to mz accommodation. I was really lucky because a nice old man helped me to carry some of my luggage. I got in to the Canterbury Christ Church University (Thanet) campus at about 10pm, and no one else was around. The accommodation was a 5 room student flat with our own bathrooms and a shared kitchen. It was a little dull, but it was comfortable. I unpacked my things and went to bed.
The next day I got up and did some exploring, firstly finding the shops so I could get myself a map book and find my way around. I did not want to catch the bus as they seemed a little too expensive, so I just spend the whole day walking. I always think that is one of the best ways to get to know a new city or town. I tried to find a church to go to the next day, but it was not so easy. There were only 3 Catholic churches in the whole area, unlike the many Church of England Churches around. I did eventually find a place to go.
I was in a little bit of shock after the first Sunday afternoon at the school. We didn't have any course books! The kids probably used all of the major course books at home, so we didn't want to have them doing things that they had already done. We had books that were made up of a lot of resources, and things from other books. These pages were called stencils. They were already upstairs in the stencil room, photo-copied and waiting to be used. This saved a lot of copy time, but we were not restricted to using only these stencils. In the front of our books was a list of the grammar, vocab and topics that we were allowed to cover that week. So if you were not happy with the stencils then you could find everything for yourself from other sources. This was the time consuming part. I think I managed to spend about 3 hours a day planning for the first week, and then it got a little easier. At the start I really didn't know how I was going to manage for the following weeks. But once I got over the initial shock, it became much easier.
The children were great. I was a little scared that I wouldn't be able to handle them at all, but there were no major problems at all. In the mornings I had Juniours, mostly aged 13-15. I had the Upper-Intermediates or Advanced most of the time, and this was great. They would have some great discussions and you could get a lot out of them. Some favourite students were in the Advanced class. They were really willing to work, and eager to learn. They did everything I gave them and didn't complain. Some of them studied through the medium of English at home, and therefore knew a lot more that I would have expected from that age group. The afternoon classes were aged 16-17 and were of a lowere level. Most of these students came from Italy and Spain, and a few other countries - China, UAE, Hungary, Turkey.... It was a little more difficult to get them to speak, and I did constantly have to remind some of them to speak English. Other than that I really enjoyed them. It was really fun and rewarding and I think I learnt a lot from the whole experience. It is now strange to be back here teaching students who are all from the same country and adults...
"Big Brother House"
I did not meet any of the flat mates until Saturday afternoon, when I had returned from my walking. There were 7 teachers in the flats, with 4 in our flat and 3 in the other flat. Alex, Dan, Dave and myself in one flat, and Sarah, Al and Christine in the other.It was sort of like a Big Brother house. We were all strangers and had been thrown in the same house to live together for the next 6 weeks. There was no TV so this was one of the first things that was bought for the flat to make life a little more interesting. It lived in one kitchen for about 5 weeks sitting on the box that it came in. then when there was only one flat mate left down that end, it was moved down to our kitchen. And put on yet another box. This only lasted 2 days. On Sunday afternoon, when nobody was in that kitchen, the TV just jumped off the boxes and onto the floor... Then the flat was in a state of mourning. But the next day at work, after a few little complaints about not having a TV, our boss said that they probably had a spare TV at home that we could borrow for the rest of our stay. Sure enough when I got back that evening the boys had been to collect our TV, and the flat was a little less bored. Most of our Friday nights were sent in the Churchill Tavern, the pub that is on the ground floor of one of the school buildings, and is actually owned by the school. There was not really a lot to do in Ramsgate.
Oxford
I had to do one trip a month with the students. On Saturday in July I went on the school trip to Oxford. This was not a hard as I thought it would be. It was my first time there, and I thought that it would not be easy for me to be taking students to a city that I knew absolutely nothing about. But on turning up to the coaches at 7.15 in the morning I found that there would be 3 teacher with one coach of 26 students. These students were from two groups. Each of these groups had their own student leader. All we had to do was give thm the maps, show them their meeting point and tell them when they had to be back there for their guided walking tour. We gave all of these instructions to their respective group leaders and then they passes them on to their students. They were then allowed free time for about 2 hours... Teachers also had a bit of free time. The weather was really nice, and I just went walking, seeing all of the old stone buildings, although not really worrying about what each of them were. I knew that I was going to get to go on the tour later (Yes, teachers got to join the tour if they wanted, and at not extra cost to what the students had pre-paid!!!!) At about 2.15 all of out students turned up at the meeting point. It was wonderful. We didn't have anything to worry about. The tour was great. We got taken to a lot of the Colleges of Oxford. I always had the idea that Oxford University was just one big University. But in reality, it isn't. Oxford University is made up of about 38 or 39 different Colleges, each having a different name, all together being called Oxford University. The city is famous for all of the stone buildings and the gargoyles and heads hanging down from the sides.
On Saturday July 23, I got on a bus and went to Canterbury to see Anna. She met me off the bus and we went walking around the city centre. Canterbury is famous for Canterbury Cathedral. It's amazing. There are some great stained glass windows, and it is most famous for the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Thomas Becket, who was murdered in the Cathedral. Canterbury was bombed a lot during the war, but the Cathedral stayed standing. We had a nice afternoon seeing the Cathedral and looking around Canterbury shops, and seeing the old ruins of the Castle that was once there. In the evening we went back to Anna's parents' place and then went to a Ceilidh dance. It was a fun night. It reminded me of all the folk dancing we had to do at primary school. I wasn't too sure about it at first -I had never done it before, but once I got a little used to it, I did actually enjoy it. It didn't help that I was sick though, and did end up having a couple of days off work the next week with a horrid sinus infection!
London
The school trip
The next school trip was in August, and I chose to go to London. It was the day of the NZ vs Australia rugby game. Dan and Sarah also went on the bus to London, but didn't do any work. They were supposed to meet friends but neither of the friends showed up, so they went to watch the rugby together. I was hoping that I would get free from the students and be able to meet up with them and catch some of the game. No such luck. I did however get text messages progressively through the game, letting me know how it was progressing. Not that I really needed it. We all knew who was going to win anyway... NZ of course!!!
The group of students was good, I was with the Russians and the two Italians. The Russians had their group leader with them and she knew pretty much everything about London there was to know, so she was able to explain to both groups about bits of history and what the buildings were etc. That made my life a little easier. We walked around Westminster, and Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square. Then we went to the Tower of London. Didn't spend too long in there because my two lovely Italians wanted to go shopping and this was their only chance in London, so I got them back to the shops, although they had little success in finding what they wanted. I didn't really know London too well, so I didn't get them to Oxford street. I was worried about missing the bus back to Ramsgate. It rained for most of the afternoon, so we were pretty tired when we got back.
Kiwi's United
The next weekend Dan and Sarah went on the bus to London, not to return to Ramsgate. I also went on the bus to go and meet Rebecca and Sally. They had only just arrived in the Uk, so they were a little jet-lagged. I said goodbye to Dan and then to Sarah, and got to meet Rebecca and Sally. It was great to see them again. We met on Embankment and walked along toward Big Ben. As we were walking we saw Janna! How huge is London, and what are the chances of meeting someone unarranged right in the centre where all of the tourists are?!?!?!?!?!? Janna had to go and meet someone, but was meeting Carmen and little later. We exchanged numbers and spent the rest of the morning arranging a place and time to meet Carmen. Meanwhile we walked past Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace (but didn't see any changing of the guard), through Kensington Gardens and St James' Park, along Whitehall and to Trafalgar Square where we had some lunch, and then proceded to do some of the Monopoly Board - Pall Mall, Picadilly, and onto Oxford Street and to Bond Street Station where we meet Janna and Carmen. As arranged, Janna didn't tell Carmen who was coming, but just that someone was coming to meet them. Carmen had guessed that it was me, but she had absolutely no idea about Rebecca and Sally. That was a real surprise for her. We went and sat it Starbucks for a while and then a little later Cord (who I had never met before, but also from Christchurch) came and met us after we had had a little wander through Selfridges. Then we walked a little through Hyde Park (I must say at this stage, that I am not entirely sure if I have all of these parks right - I can't remember where each of them are in relation to everything, and even after spending 10 days there, I still have not pieced the centre of London completely together.) It was very much like being back home. Christchurch is almost like a minature version of London, but without all that history and royalty. We felt like we were walking through Hagley Park. I had to get back to the bus so I could get back to Ramsgate (I had to take advantage of being a teacher and go on the bus for free!!!) It was really hard leaving London that day. I felt a little lonely and confused for the rest of the weekend. That was about when I decided that I couldn't come back to Prague, and I had to stay in the UK where all of my friends are. So when I got the chance that evening, I bought myself a copy of the Guardian and started thinking about jobs.
Staying in London
Jobs
After spending the day in London with the Kiwis, I thought that I could probably stay there, knowing that I have so many friends from home there. I started looking at job advertisements, but there was nothing that I really wanted to do, other that teaching. I did feel a little confused at that stage because I had my contract back here, and although I am sure they wouldn't have been too angry if I had decided not to come back 2 weeks before I was supposed to start, they wouldn't have been entirely happy either. Nevertheless I did start sending off my CV to all the schools I could think of, and everything that was on www.tefl.com I managed to have one interview arranged for the first working day that I was in London. The school was not British Council accredited, so I didn't feel too certain about it. They were offering 13 pound an hour and 30 hours a week. I think I could have had the job, but I mentioned something about my contract here, and he said it was a good idea to honour that contract... I don't think I would have felt happy not honouring it, but I guess I wouldn't have got that job anyway on those grounds. Later that week I had another job offer, but this was only for 15 hours a week, and there would probably be no more work than that, and I couldn't have survived in London on such little work and money... Then on the day before I wa supposed to leave, I was aksed to go to another interview. He seemed very impressed, but after, I realised that I would have to say no, because the money was not enough, and I could have managed. So on leaving London to come back to Prague I felt like I had made a mistake of signing my contract before I left. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have had a job to come back to, and would have been forced to stay in the UK, and make it work. I know I could have done it. I am still trying to apply for jobs in the UK. One day at a time...
Monday - Notting Hill Carnival
The weather was glorious! On Mnday after having a nice sleep-in we met up Libby and went off to the Notting Hill Carnival. We wandered along the streets for a little while before the parade started, and got ourselves something to eat. There were all sorts of international foods. We then walked a little to find a good spot to watch the parade. The people were all dressed up in awesome costumes and the music was brilliant. (Although at times it was just a little too loud, and you could feel it moving through your body - it makes you wonder how the DJ's on the back of the trucks managed not to go deaf, even though they were wearing earplugs!) All of the costumes were absolutely amazing and obviously a lot of effort had gone into them. The dancers must have been so hot! I did get sunburnt on my shoulders while I was standing there watching the parade. After a while we moved to the other side of the street, where the sun was not so strong. There were many more people on that side. That was the side that everyone was walking along, and because they had to wait for a gap in the Parade to get across the road, it became very congested- another terrifying crowd situation. After watching the Parade, we made it safely away from the crowd and went to a pub, after stopping at a shop called "A Taste Of Home", where you could buy things from NZ, Australia and South Africa.
Tuesday
On Tuesday, I got a message from Sarah, and I went to meet up with her before my interview. We went for a walk along the River Thames, past the Tate Modern Gallery and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, before we found somewhere to have lunch. We bought Paninis and sat near the river. Then we walked lot a little more before walking across Tower Bridge. That was my first time walking across it!!!! I wish it opened! Before long it was time for me to head off to my interview, so I had to say goodbye 
After the interview I went for a wander along Oxford Street, but not all of it. I resisted the urge to do any shopping... Then it was back home to the flat.
Wednesday
On Wednesday my first stop was to Harrods, that big famous and EXPENSIVE department store on London. I had a little wander around the store, but refrained from buying anything more that a really yummy doughnut for lunch from the Bakery. I then walked from there to the Brompton Oratory, which is the centre of the Catholic Church in London, according to my guide book. As I arrived I couldn't actually go in because there was a funeral, so I sat down and had lunch on a little prak bench and then continued walking up the road a little. I then stumbled upon the Victoria and Albert museum, so I went inside and had a look around. I saw a lot of old rooms and furniture from English royalrt and high society. Big old beds, mirrors with elaborate frames, dressers, clothes... There was also little TV type displays that showed how things were done. I leant how the first books were printed and put together, I got to design a monogram and my own wallpaper. I am sure that those little interactive computers were put there for the kids, but as there was no-one else around, I thought why not? And then I got to email them to myself! So I have a copy of them... After the V&A I wandered back down to the Brompton Oratory and had a look inside. It was dimly lit, and very big. It was not like some of the other Churches and Cathedrals in London, but more in the Italian style. Lots of mable pillars and alters. I then went to Green Park for a little while and sat in the sun watching people walk buy and reading the guide book, deciding what other things I could do and see in London.
Thursday
On Thursday Katherine had the day off and stayed at home to clean the flat... There were some things I needed to go shopping for, so I went out for the afternoon to try and find some new trousers. I had some luck, but decided not to buy them there and then because I didn't really feel like walking around London with shopping bags for the day.I went off to Southwark Cathedral. It was one of the places in Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code. I had a look around and saw all of the plaques in memory of different people to do with the South Bank. There was a monument to Shakespeare. Afterward I went for a little walk over Tower Bridge and then got the tube up to St Paul's Cathedral. I sat inside for a little I went inside for the Evening Service, and listened to the prayers and the hymns. It was really nice and relaxing.
Friday
Friday was a long day - I started by going to Camden Market, there are so many stalls and things to by, not just in the market itself, but there are lots of shops along Camden Road. After that I went off to the British Museum, and saw some more things than I saw last year, but I think to really understand and be able to remember everything from the museum, you need to stay in London for months, and visit it every weekend - there is just too much to see there. I then went for a walk around the Covent Garden area. Covent Garden is always buzzing and there are some awesome street performers. It would be easy to spend the whole day just sitting in one of the pubs with a view over the square and just watch everything going on. While I was looking in a shop, I got a phone call offering me a job. The job was for 15 hours a week teaching CAE (exam preparation). I was not interested in only working part time in London, so I said that if there was any chance of fulltime then I would take the job, but I was told that was unlikely, so I decided not to take it... After that I went off to a bar in Shepherd's Bush Green to meet Alex (one of the flatemates from Ramsgate) for her birthday. It was a nice evening, some of it spent playing Jenga - I had never played it before, and it was actually quite fun.
Saturday
On Saturday I went shopping again, but this time on Oxford Street. Although the street is very long with many shops, there is not all the variety that you would think. There are about 3 H&M's. 2 Marks and Spencer's 5 Boots'... All of the shops seem to be repeated up and down the street. After succeeding in buying what I was looking for, I went to the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. There I saw some Da Vinci - Mary on the Rocks, some Rembrant, Van Gogh's Sunflowers, and manty other wonderful paintings. I then went for a little walk to St Jame's Park and wrote a birthday card to my Mum.
Sunday
On Sunday I went back to the Brompton Oratory for mass. I was about 2 minutes late because I had missed the bus stop, and although I had been told where to get off the bus, I had no idea where I was. The buses do not stop at every stop and they do not announce the names of the bus stops, like they do here in Prague. After mass I went for a walk through Kensington Gardens and found the Peter Pan Statue that Rebecca, Sally and I were trying to find. It would be great to be like Peter Pan and never have to grow up! I continued walking and got to Speaker's Corner. I think that the best day to be there is probably a Sunday when many more people are out preaching and yelling about the state of countries and what they think of all the political situations...
Monday
On Monday I came up with a good plan. I was running out of time to see everything I wanted to see. I first did my washing, and then made it to Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the Guard at 11:30. BUT, on arriving there, I saw the sign saying, next changing of the guard - TOMORROW 11:30!!! So I walked around to Westminster Abbey and the Parliament Buildings and took a lot of photos. I wandered along the Thames and got some lunch and sat in a park to eat it and read the guide book a little. I walked past Southwark Cathedral again as I had forgotten to take my photos when I was first there, then past Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, before my camera batteries ran out - and I had completely forgotten to take any extra one's with me, so I had to wander off my planned route to get some. Back on the path, I went into the Tate Modern Atr Gallery. Some of the most memorable things in there were 1. The Thames River Sweep - There was a whole cabinet filled with things that were in the bottom of the Thames Riverb-boxes of bones, bottles and bottle tops, letters, cigarette lighters, nails, shoe soles- everything that could be found at the bottom of a river, it was there! 2. Seeing Claude Monet - another painting of Waterlillies. 3, A Picaso work, although I can not remember the name. After the Tate Modern, I wanted to visit another church - St Bartholemew the Great, but when I finally managed to find it, it was closed, and there was no sign to say that it was open at any stage during the say.... So I had to forget about going in there Feeling rather tired I went back to the flat
Tuesday
Katherine had the day off on Tuesday so we had some fun. First it was off to see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. But the weather would decide to be yucky and they didn't to the usual change. They call this one a "Wet Change" - This means that there is no band, and they all wear coats.... But I still got to see all of the guards walking around and the guards on horses... Then we walked along the Mall, and through the gardens and past the Queens Life Guard (guards on horses) on Whitehall, and then up to Trafalgar Square, and had a look at New Zealand house then into the little shop called kiwi-fruits, selling many things from NZ. After that we walked up to Picadilly Circus and saw all of the big neon screen advertisements. Along Regent Street are a lot of shops, many of them a little pricey, although not the most expensive, and there is the a wonderful toy store. It made me wish that I was like Peter Pan and never had to grow up. The best part of the store was the Teddy Bear Factory. There you can take the outside of the bear and record something onto a little box for inside, and then you can stuff it and have it stitched up. You can dress it and give it a name and then you get a Birth Certificate for it... Some children are just so lucky these days! After this we went for a walk along Bond Street and saw some more expensive shops - I think we could have spent so much money, had we actually had it! Then back on Oxford Street we went into British Home Stores, a big department store, which has a little cafe upstairs... Could this store be where the idea for Farmers comes from? After lunch and back out on the street I was faced with a decision on what to do for the rest of the afternoon... Imagine that, in London and not really knowing what to do!!! We went to find Frotnum and Mason, where the Queen does all of her shopping. I wonder if they close the store when she goes shopping? Does she actually shop? Does she have everything that is in the shop? Does she have her ears pierced, or does she wear clip-ons? Does the whole family go shopping? Do they have special Royal Family shopping days? From there is was home via Victoria Underground Station... I needed to have my photo taken in Victoria Station... We went out for dinner to a really nice Moroccan restaurant. I had the lamb and the meal was just perfect!!!
Wednesday
The last day... I got up earlier than usual and made sure I had everything packed. Then I called my sister and used the last of my phone credit and then arranged a job interview. I went along to the interview, but I was not sure about it. Not enough money. The hours would have been enough, but the pay rate was just not that great. I made it back to the flat and talked to Kate and Katie for a while about their planned trip to Prague, and then left to catch the bus to Victoria Station and then the Gatwick express to the airport. Was there in time, and made it safely back to Prague, and was home by 11:30.
What a summer! I can't believe that it is all pver. It was so busy and I really think i could have got used to living there. I won't give up trying to get a job back over there, but there things to consider...
Leavin Prague... for the summer!!
These last two weeks have been filled with doing and seeing things around Prague that I have been meaning to do, lots of packing and saying "see ya later" to people.
I am leaving for Ramsgate, UK on Friday afternoon. I have a 6 week teaching postition, teaching children 10-16 years. I don't really know how I feel about that... I just hope I can keep them under control. The job can be extended to 7 or 8 weeks, and then if they have any vacancies, then perhaps I will stay on. I know that I want to come back here - that's what I feel at this stage, but then, who knows what I will think of the place. I may love it and find it better than here... Will kep you all posted.
Packing has been mission, and not too successful either. I am leaving more that half of my things behind - it's amazing how much you can get in ust over a year. And the plane is small and I am not allowed to take a lot with me. Luckily it is summer, and I have friends here who can look after everything till I get back.
I am looking forward to catchin up with friends who are in the UK - I will be in touch when I get there, and hopefully will have the chance to see everyone. If I am not staying, then I will probably spend a week in London, making it easier to catch up with people. Who wants a visitor?????
I hate to leave some of my wonderful students - they are telling me they want me back. That's another reason to come back.
And there is still so much more to do in Prague. So many places that I haven't been - the National Theatre - I have been to the two other important ones, but not the National Many more churches to visit, more streets to wander down and get lost, more museums to see, and more parks to find.
Not to mention leaving behind friends.
Must come back!!!!!!!
Last weekend, Elizabeth and I managed to visit 3 more museums, and two really nice cafe's, and wander around the Old Town, but as I was doing that I continued to find places I wanted to go to and things I wanted to do.
I will try to put some posts up over the summer, and let everyone know what I decide to do.
Take care and have a happy summer! Oops! I forgot, for most of you it is winter, and today it was windy, raining, stormy, and freezing, as mum said on the phone this morning. So keep safe and warm and healthy.
OLOMOUC
Friday June 17 we Elizabeth and I caught the trian to Olomouc. Tom told us it was a really nice place to visit, but there were others who said "What do you want to go there for?" Trusting Tom was the right thing to do. We really enjoyed it. We arrived at 8pm, and went straight to our hostel www.hostelolomouc.com - Poets' Corner. The hostel was full, and it was lucky that I had booked our beds, because we had the last two beds in the place. After going to the hostel we went out for dinner, and had a nice meal in a traditional Czech Restaurant. The prices for food were much cheaper than Prague. After our meal we went walking around the town. The town festival was on that weekend, so there were lots of people about. We walked down some dark streets, and there were street lights suspended between the buildings. They were blowing in the wind. It gave the streets a kind of spooky feel. Olomouc has an astronomical clock too, but this one is a little different. Instead of the Apostles coming out of little windows (the way it originally was, and like other astronomical clocks) this one has little statues of workers - it is a socialist clock. We were in bed and asleep before anyone else in the hostel!
On Saturday we were the first ones up and out of the place. We were all set to leave at 8:30. Well, what do you expect - we were first to bed, and we only had one night in Olomouc. We left our bags there for the day and went off in search of breakfast. We ate our breakfast in the town square, and looked at one of Olomouc's fountains. There are 8 Baroque fountains in the town, and we saw them all. In the square there is also the Holy Trinity Column. We walked through the parks, and saw the old gates to the city, and looked at the buildings, and architecture. The weather was just right, not too hot and not too cold. We saw some of the festival events around the square. We went into many churches. On of the chruches is home to the oldest organ in Moravia - and people were playing it. You could even go upstairs and INSIDE the organ! It was really nice being in the town, as there were not many tourists around. Everyone was friendly, and completely different to the people in Prague. I think the Prague people must get annoyed with so many tourists around. We even got a private tour up to the top of the clock tower!!! And we were given alot if information about the things that we could see in the town - fountains, and what they were called/named after, all about the churches, and the Holy Trinity Column. We had ice-cream in a really classy cafe, with a good view of the town square.
It was a wonderful little trip out of Prague, and I felt a little sad to leave. I would definitely go back there.
Muzeums
Saturday June 4 was Prague Museum Night. This was a night when many of the museums in Prague were open to th public for free. There were also special busses for the night. Tom, Elizabeth and I managed to start at about 8:30 and visit 6 museums. I know this must have been record time, and people must wonder if we actually know what we were looking at. To be honest, I think I remember more from seeing so much in such a short time. Or rather remember just the same. I never remember anything about most anyway, there is always so much to take in.
The first stop was the Transport Museum, and we saw lots of old trams, and there wer photos of how the Metros were built. It's hard to imagine Vaclavske Namesti being all dug up to run an underground right through the middle.
After that we walked, quickly, on to the Sternberg Gallery. We had a quick llok through the European artists section and then headed on to the castle. We went into the Old Royal Palace, which usually costs so mush to visit.
After those two, we hurried on down across the river and to the Ruldofinum. This was the first time I had been in there, and we saw a collection of photos. The photos were based on the artist's holidays and her sister.
After that we went to the Klementinum Library and there was another photography exhibition. These photos were from developing countries, showing people in their daily lives. There was also an exhibition of photos of the capital cities of the 10 countries that joined the EU in May 2004.
After that we went off to the Smetana Museum. I think we were a little tired by this stage, as it was already about midnight. There were just a lot of pictures, and information about the composer. He is a famousCzech composer, for those who have never heard of him before. In the middle of the room there was a number of music stands, and one main stand. The main stand has a special conductors baton and you use it to point at any of the stands and the music that is on the stand starts playing. You can read all about the background to each piece on each of the stands.
That was enough for one night.
Mucha Museum
On Satuday June 11, the weather was dull, so I just went for a walk in the centre and stumbled across the Mucha Muzeum. He was a Czech artist who lived in the late 19th/ early 20th centuries. His artwork is really interesting, and mainly consists of prints done for various different productions.
BUDAPEST
May 28/29
On Friday evening Elizabeth and I met Charlotte and Ryan at the train station, and having already bought our tickets and paid a little extra so we could reserve seats, we went in search of our train and the correct place. We walked up and down the length of the train and couldn't find where we were supposed to be. After being told that there was no carriage with our number, we somehow managed to lose some one of our tickets. It had been accidentally been given to one of the station masters, and they didn't speak English. I managed to get them back by speaking German... One that was over we settled into the cabin for a not so restful night. The train left at 23:23 and we didn't get to Budapest until 9am. It was a long and almost sleepless night. I must invest in some ear-plugs!!!!
On arriving in Budapest, we managed to find where we were going, and the Hungarians seemed to be really helpful. We caught the metro to our accommodation, Hungaria Guesthouse, where we were able to have a shower and leave our things in our room. The room was really nice. There were only four of us and the room was for four. We had our own bathroom and it was really quiet. The price was great, too. Less than $20 per night. The only disadvantage was that there was no breakfast. No too bad, I say. After being a little more awake, we went for a walk to find a supermarket (which never actually happened) and get something to eat. As we were walking, we asked a few people on the way where the Tesco was, but we never actually found it. Lucky that Charlotte had some food in her bag. We had a little stroll through city park, and sat down to eat. Then we kept walking and wanted to go and see some of the sights... It was so hot, and we didn't quite make it. We found one of the Turkish Spas that Budapest is known for. Szecheny Spa. I didn't really want to go, but it was much better than I had expected. The thermal pools at home are smelly. These are not. Apparently they actually have water from the Danube! Imagine that! In one of the pools you can see people playing chess. The changing rooms were funny too. They didn't actually have separate male and female changing places, but you go in, and be careful not to get lost, and you see a changing room assistant and he lets you into a room, and when you have changed you cll him back and he locks the room, and you leave your things in there, and he gives you a little tag that you have to be careful not to lose. Seems like something very old-fashioned to me.
After the spa, it was off to Heroes' Square, a wonderful square that has a big column in the centre, and around the back are statues of past heroes. It was really nice. After that we caught the metro. Budapest has the one of the oldest metro systems. There is even a historical line, that stops at all of the major historical sites. We got out to see St Stephens Basilica. It is a huge beautiful church, decorated with green and a reddish-brown colour of marble. We just wanted to find out what time Mass was on Sunday, so that we could come back for that the next morning. After having dinner, we kept walking and seeing things. We saw the Opera House, which I really think is a copy of the Opera House here in Prague, and then went for a walk along the Chain Bridge where we got a wonderful view of the Parlianment Building. which some people compare with the parliaent building in London. Really, I don't think you can do that. They are completely different. The only way you can say they are similar is in the size of them. We walked a little further and got some ice-cream, before heading back to the hostel for some sleep. I think we must have crashed that night.
On Sunday, we got up, and packed everything, and went off to church. Elizabeth and Ryan went to a church that was a long way from the centre, and Charlotte and I went with them. I still hadn't managed to find an English-speaking Catholic Mass so I left Charlotte to wander and do her own thing for a while, as I went back to St Stephen's. The Mass was really full and there was no room at all to sit. It was all in Hungarian, so I didn't understand a thing. But for some strange reason, I thought that I was in Rome. I have never been there!!!! I think that the Hungarians are more religious than the Czechs, and I am not used to seeing so many people in a Church like that.
After I met the others outside the church, we went up to the top, and got some good views of the city, then it was on to the metro so we could get up to the Royal Palace. After eating our lunch and a walk around the outside of the palace, we went to Matthias Church and the Fishermen's Bastion. The church was amazing, and it was just a pity I wasn't a bird, because the roof is amazing, but the inside was even better. There were flags hanging from the pillars and they looked like the next time anyone touched them they would just crumble. There was also some choir rehearsing for that nights performance, so we sat and listened to them for a while. Fishermen's Bastion was also good, but we didn't walk along the top. I was the only one who walked the whole length of it though. It was nice looking through the arches at the city. I took some good photos... After that it was time to find some ice-cream and head off back to the hostel to get our bags and make our way to the train station to come back to Prague. It was another all-night train and it seemed to stop in the middle of nowhere along the way. I wanted to take a photo out of the window at one of the boarders, and I did, despite Elizabeth saying that I would get in trouble. Nothing happened.
It was a wonderful weekend! I would definitely do it all again. But maybe, for the price of the accommodation, I wouldn't do an overnight train.
Photo Link
For some reason the link to the photos that I put there doesn't seem to be working. If it doesn't work, and you didn't receive my email with it, send me an email or leave a message here. If you have any idea how to get it to work, then let me know!