Twas a morning before panic mode, and all through the house
not a creature was stirring (i hope to god there's no mouse)
The clothing was sorted in the bedroom with care
In hopes that the visa (and passport) soon would be there....
When down at the front door rang a bell loud and clear
I sprang from the bed to see what was here
And now I can say, as I joyfully skip
"Happy travels for me, in one wonderous trip!"
Waking up and finding my passport at the door was almost as good Christmas.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
I'm all wrapped up in Prague
I can't stop thinking about Prague, and I'm not even there yet.
I won't be able to get there until my visa arrives. Less than two weeks and I still have no idea where my application or passport is. Hopefully en route back to me.
I sent the forms in over two months ago and ALL the paperwork got sent back. I was one dollar short on the money order (which of course means paying more to reorder the money order), I'd left off my middle name on a form, and I hadn't included a copy of my credit card...funny, since no one had told me I needed one.
Being a. lazy and b. hating talking to any kind of service people on the phone, I hauled my ass up to the embassy before heading to work to talk with someone about the changes and dropping it off again. The woman was so uncommunicative; I started wondering if I was really going to be able to survive 4 months not being able to communicate.
At least at this point, I can say some basic greetings and questions like, "Do you speak English?" and "Where is Vodycova street?" I actually don't have any idea where that's supposed to be. Nor do I have any idea how I would understand any response that would come afterward...
I won't be able to get there until my visa arrives. Less than two weeks and I still have no idea where my application or passport is. Hopefully en route back to me.
I sent the forms in over two months ago and ALL the paperwork got sent back. I was one dollar short on the money order (which of course means paying more to reorder the money order), I'd left off my middle name on a form, and I hadn't included a copy of my credit card...funny, since no one had told me I needed one.
Being a. lazy and b. hating talking to any kind of service people on the phone, I hauled my ass up to the embassy before heading to work to talk with someone about the changes and dropping it off again. The woman was so uncommunicative; I started wondering if I was really going to be able to survive 4 months not being able to communicate.
At least at this point, I can say some basic greetings and questions like, "Do you speak English?" and "Where is Vodycova street?" I actually don't have any idea where that's supposed to be. Nor do I have any idea how I would understand any response that would come afterward...
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Leaving on a jet plane
Hi all,
As many of you know, I will be spending the Fall 2008 semester studying in the Czech Republic. Not Paris or London, as many people assumed I would, but Prague.
So why Prague?
At this point, I'm not even sure I can answer that. I knew I wanted to travel with theSchool for International Training (SIT). Instead of attending a local university, I'll be taking my courses with the other 20 or so students in the program. Being a small group means that we have trips to Poland and Slovakia as a required part of the semester. In about the beginning of November, classes will end and I start my independent research project. Before I leave the CZR, I have to turn in a 30 page paper of my own research.
But so that still doesn't answer "why Prague?" I started flipping through the SIT brochure about a year ago and my list included Senegal, Cameroon, and Madagascar. After the "no Africa" talk with my parents, I looked at the other programs offered related to culture and arts.
And I found the SIT program in the Czech Republic. With the program's focus on communities in social change, I knew that was somewhere I wanted to be. I am sort of/kind of obsessed with the effects of EU on culture and traditions. Although the Czech Republic has been out from under Communist rule for 20 years, it's acceptance into the EU is much more recent.
Do I speak Czech? Nope. I don't know anyone who does either. Do I like beer? Nope, but since I'm a broke college student I'll be drinking whatever's cheapest. Do I know anything about my host family? Nope. Won't get assigned one until I get there.
I have no idea what my access to the internet will be like, but I will be checking my gmail account, facebook, and using skype to assure my parents that I'm still alive.
Na Shledanou
Caitlin
As many of you know, I will be spending the Fall 2008 semester studying in the Czech Republic. Not Paris or London, as many people assumed I would, but Prague.
So why Prague?
At this point, I'm not even sure I can answer that. I knew I wanted to travel with theSchool for International Training (SIT). Instead of attending a local university, I'll be taking my courses with the other 20 or so students in the program. Being a small group means that we have trips to Poland and Slovakia as a required part of the semester. In about the beginning of November, classes will end and I start my independent research project. Before I leave the CZR, I have to turn in a 30 page paper of my own research.
But so that still doesn't answer "why Prague?" I started flipping through the SIT brochure about a year ago and my list included Senegal, Cameroon, and Madagascar. After the "no Africa" talk with my parents, I looked at the other programs offered related to culture and arts.
And I found the SIT program in the Czech Republic. With the program's focus on communities in social change, I knew that was somewhere I wanted to be. I am sort of/kind of obsessed with the effects of EU on culture and traditions. Although the Czech Republic has been out from under Communist rule for 20 years, it's acceptance into the EU is much more recent.
Do I speak Czech? Nope. I don't know anyone who does either. Do I like beer? Nope, but since I'm a broke college student I'll be drinking whatever's cheapest. Do I know anything about my host family? Nope. Won't get assigned one until I get there.
I have no idea what my access to the internet will be like, but I will be checking my gmail account, facebook, and using skype to assure my parents that I'm still alive.
Na Shledanou
Caitlin
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