I came across an interesting series of articles about the Czech mentality. They are quite fascinating and enlightening. You may find them interesting as well as it will give you an idea of the differences in ideologies of Czechs and Americans. After reading the 1st article, be sure to scroll down all the way to the bottom for the links to the rest of the series. http://prague.tv/articles/zine/czech-mentality-1

It's good to be home.

I'm finally back in Prague and so much has happened already! Our flights were fraught with delays but fortunately, we arrived only 20 minutes later than scheduled. I realized during the flight that I did not have the key to my building. I arrived at my front step hoping my sub-letter was home, which she was not. After several failed attempts of ringing my neighbors' bells and telling them in my broken Czech that I didn't not have my key, one kind soul had pity on me and buzzed the front door open. I slept on the couch that first night as it was the sub-letter's last night in Prague. I didn't care, I was just happy to be home.

Kafka would be proud.

The next morning, I rose early and headed to the Ministry of the Interior's office for my area of Prague to announce myself and register my visa. My friend, Tereza, met me there and acted as a translator. After waiting for almost 3 hours, we were told that I was (yet again) at the wrong office. I had researched this for hours and all the information I was able to find said we were at the right place but why should I be surprised that it's not. So we headed off to the Foreign Police, where we waited for a mere 2 minutes before we were seen. The police officer searched my passport several times over and grumbled to himself then would look at me for an answer. I kept asking Tereza what he was saying but she had no idea since it was all mumbles. He finally asked where my passport was stamped. I was afraid of this. I didn't realize until after I was pass the passport control in Frankfurt, that he didn't stamp my passport. You can't go back to passport control once you are through. Fortunately, I had my plane ticket with me to show to the police officer. He said it was a good thing I had it, otherwise it wouldn't have been good for me (not sure what that meant and glad I didn't find out.) He also told me to demand a stamp next time. HA!

Strange days, indeed!

Several people have stayed in my flat while I was gone. There was a group from YWAM who stayed about a month, a couple of ESI teachers were here over Easter and a sub-letter for July and August. I have found some of my things in interesting places but also, some things that aren't mine at all. Some of them were a lovely find while others are a bit strange. Here's a list in no particular order:

1. A bottle of Tokaji wine! Thanks to Erin and Maria. There was a lovely little card that went with the wine that I found a day or two later.

2. A dried piece of moldy bread in the pantry.

3. A million fruit flies courtesy of the watermelon left on the counter.

4. Several packages of dried-up cheese in the fridge (what a waste!).

5. My dishes on the highest shelves possible which I cannot reach.

6. My Dallas Cowboys to-go coffee cup in the bathroom under the sink sans lid. I have yet to locate the lid.

7. A ginormous jar of Nutella. Yum!

8. An almost empty, smaller jar of generic nutella.

9. A plastic bag filled with small, dried shrimp. EW!

10. Various and a sundry seasoning packets with Asian characters on them.

11. A refrigerator full of food that I have to throw out.

12. Two very LARGE spiders who seem to live on despite how much hairspray is sprayed on them.

Regardless of the above list, I am glad to be back in the city I love doing what I love doing. Home is home, no matter what.