It's the home stretch! (One month to go)

I apologize for the 2 week+ delay that has occurred. Last week was pretty hectic, I was a tour guide for 7 days straight but it was wonderful hearing from my parents (and their friends) that Prague was: unbelievable AND a good study abroad choice on my part. I am patting myself on the back as I write this.

With the hiatus, however, comes new pictures and stories!

As I wrote in my last entry, the weather has finally gotten nice. Today is a bad example it was raining and hailing (literally), but overall it's mid 60's gorgeous every single day. Makes me feel guilty when I decide to stay in. And with the nice weather, I've explored more of Prague and because of that... I really don't want to leave. Not because I'm so in love with Prague -- I mean I am, but that's not the point -- but because life here is so stress-less. One of my papers is due in June. As in after I leave Prague. Another paper is due in 3 weeks but is not to go under 3 pages. I think I can handle that... last time I wrote a 3 page paper I think I was in middle school. Maybe freshman year of college. Sure there are some students here that have lots of work to do, but I'm not to be bunched in with that group of people. I've got peanuts for work.

But as I sit here, trying to plan out my summer and crossing my fingers for my fall housing to work out, I think : oh man, life in the states is way more stressful. It's actually stressful. Once school combines with sorority, a part-time job, a possible internship, and interviewing for co-op, I know I will think back to these very days. And I get it. I get why people come back so much calmer from studying abroad. Our worries are minimal, if present at all. Okay, sometimes I worry about if I want to go to a NEW bar or one that I'm already used to. Hard life. But I could never get away with what I do (or lack thereof) in the states. Back in the good ol' United States of America, I need to work. I need to focus on school because my GPA will be seen by those grad schools I will inevitably be applying to. In a few years. I need to learn how to balance being super involved with going to the gym, napping, AND having a social life. I'll manage, I have for years... but I cringe at the thought. It's true.

But onto fun things!

Having my parents here was a treat. It was so good to see familiar faces AND not having to worry about money because everything was paid for woo hoo! I was also able to do the touristy things I've been avoiding like the plague. I actually stood around and waited for the Astronomical Clock to do its thing. And I walked down Parizska street a million times because it's that amazing and saw the Spanish synogauge and finally found the peeing men statue. No picture yet, but it will come with time. Still haven't been up Petrin Hill but I did hang out at the base and read. It smells good outside, Prague has exploded with flowers.

As a true Sudit, my dad was just as obsessed with the Easter Market as I was - it's all due to the fantastic bratwurst they grilled up on REAL grills outside:
I took my sister to an actual bar, she was super excited about being able to drink - despite the whole being WAY under 21 factor. But she came out! And she drank alcohol in my presence! And then I turned 21 although it really doesn't matter in Prague. And turning 21, with most of the people who love me most, was amazing. Really. I got to do everything I wanted to do! I ate carrot cake at Bakeshop and went to Perpetuum for the best duck I've ever had and then topped it off at Tretter's with a couple of cosmos in the company of my mom and sister.

Before the second half of the group came, I went to Cesky Krumlov with my dad and sister which was nice but we were there for way too long. It's a cool little medieval city, but certainly not one that warrants 8 hours. Still, it's nice to get out of Prague once in a while but still stay in the Czech Republic:
And with the second half of the group, I once again walked through the castle and this time entered St. Vitus Cathedral which was pretty spectacular and reminded me of Notre Dame but was more awesome just because I live so close by. And because of the insane amount of walking i did, I am pretty comfortable with the majority of Old Town. Ah, it's good to feel comfortable and adjusted in a place with streets that stop and start in a language you can barely understand.

I'm having a great time here. I'm relaxed, looking forward to Anna's arrival, and booked a hostel for my trip ro Vienna in a few weeks. All is well on the Czech front!

S

And I finally don't want to leave

Strudel!
A few of us at Radost FX Thursday night
Making my way down from the castle.

Took a while, but the clouds have finally parted and sunlight is what has been waking me up the past three days. It's the Prague I've been asking for. Don't-need-to-wear-a-jacket Prague. Ow-my-head-hurts-and-I-need-me-some-sunglasses Prague. I-don't-want-to-be-inside Prague.

Sorry it's taken me so long to blog. Without traveling it's hard to find important things to fill blog pages with but I suppose there are a few things worth mentioning. I've been able to cross several eateries/lounges off my list. And I followed in the footsteps of Samantha Brown, that perky blonde tour guide on the Travel Channel, and found Prague's best strudel over in Praha 3. It was delicious and ENORMOUS but the cold weather cooled it down really quickly and we all know there's nothing like a hot strudel.

Classes are... going. Truthfully, they're a waste of my time and most of the time I'm thinking of my future life in the South End come fall but I go because attendance is taken and we're only allowed one absence. I'll take advantage of my get out of jail free card when my dad/sister come and later on my cousin. I am so excited to be reunited with my family especially now that Prague is so amazing. Anyway, I don't have any midterms and one of my final papers is 3 pages, another is due in June (?), and another is a presentation and I'm required to write two pages. Really tough stuff. 

I finally got to check out the Prague Castle for myself last week. There were swarms of people so I just walked around outside but it's definitely worth seeing a few more times. And I stumbled into the Prague Half Marathon as well... cool? I also went for some traditional Czech food at this awesome cafe by the kolej and had some of the most delicious beer yet in Prague. 

I've been having fun, keeping myself busy. Worrying much less about money and I'm trying to pay more attention to staying healthy. Though I am starting to walk much more my indoor time has given me a bit of a belly. But I'm in Europe. I should not be worrying about things that can be fixed when I go back home.

Oh wow, it's April. My last full month here in Prague. It's a shame it's taken me so long to LOVE it here but I have to say that the weather played a huge role. But things are better now. Even though the city is filling up quickly with annoying tourists, there's an overall happier vibe. Czechs still don't like Americans and I am still constantly struggling with refraining from cursing at these people... but in a way I guess the American students have infiltrated Prague. The dirty looks get tiring though... and aren't we helping their economy? We're the ones that are actually giving money to Charles University and I'm hoping they can take that to fix the place up... if not pay the professors a bit more than the bus drivers. It's true, my professor told me that she gets paid less than bus drivers. I suppose education ranks lower than transportation on the importance scale?

Regardless I'm really starting to learn my way around the city and I don't dare bring a map around with me. I'll figure it out. Prague really isn't that big of a city. At least not the important parts. 

I saw He's Just Not That Into You last night because it's a cheaper alternative than going out for drinks and though I thought the movie was pretty bad overall, it did make me feel better about not being "that" girl... anymore. And it made me feel like I'm in a much better place in my life right now. I don't worry about much, there's nothing to really worry about other than the superficial things such as how I look and if my love handles are growing exponentially. They probably are. And I do hope that can be fixed. But for now I need not to worry about not being able to know the caloric value of what I'm eating, about having no income, about grocery shopping being such a process. There's no heartbreak to be dealt with, no stress with school, no drama, no tears, no drinking age, no problems really. 

And what makes me even happier is that I'm not sad to go back either. Granted that's not for another 7 weeks but the point is that my life here isn't better than my life back at home. I've managed to find the equilibrium, that happy equilibrium. Even though I won't be surrounded by European awesomeness when I'm back in the states, I'll be surrounded by people who know me, who have known me before, during, and after Prague. I'll be in a new apartment, newly 21, back on my cross-Boston walks, back in classes that actually mean something, in Boston in the SUMMER!, taking those dreaded-but-necessary gym classes, back with my cousin, back to work. And then I'll be living in the South End come fall, in the apartment I've been dreaming about, with a roommate who is equally as excited as I am about our new neighborhood.

I don't want this feeling to ever go away. I'm feeling good.

S.