Thursday, September 20, 2007
Bits and pieces from my week
My favorite headline of the week:
"Jack Hanna, flamingo, get stuck in airport turnstyle"
"Jack Hanna, flamingo, get stuck in airport turnstyle"
I've never really had a nickname before, but I seem to have acquired quite a few in my time in CZ, the most recent favorite being "jesiczyzku," my roommate's play on the word "jezicku", which means "little hedgehog"...I haven't decided if that's a good thing or not...
Quote of the week:
"I can't believe we're getting beaten with a .3 kg rod"
-my colleague Charles, after we got hounded for hours by upper management to get this small shipment moved a few thousand kilometers in less than 24 hours
Youtube video of the week:
Do you speak English?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fijBUeqiW0g
One of the German offices I occasionally send stuff to is convinced that I am German, most likely because of my last name. I've started using my coworkers to help me answer their emails in German. I just hope they don't call....
Saturday, September 15, 2007
New Pictures!
With my ongoing lack of anything creative to write, I've decided to show you pictures instead!
Welcome to my new flat
- attached pictures are my room and living room. The other is of me with my coworker Alena after we went to the Krizikova fountain to see the Marriage of Figaro ballet (updated with a modern twist that included a slip-and-slide), where the water and lighting is timed to the water.Monday, September 10, 2007
Not my best entry...
I think I have writer's block or something. I've always loved writing; I can express myself so much better in written word than in speaking - any of you who have ever heard me try to speak in public are probably nodding your heads vigorously. But for some reason I just cannot think of a single exciting story or interesting fact to update you with. Maybe because now I just go to work every day, and sometimes I forget that I'm actually living in Europe. Work is still going well. Some days I want to rip my hair out, and some days it's all I can do to fill the time until I can leave. There is something kind of exciting about looking at your to-do list and seeing things like "call Tunisia" or "send shipment to Singapore." My first load of ocean cargo landed safely in the Charleston port last week...I was so proud : )
I did celebrate my birthday last weekend...I suppose that's an exciting story. I didn't do much, just went out to dinner with some people. It was a very international birthday weekend as at my party there were representatives from New Zealand, Australia, the US, Japan, CZ, and Colombia. One of my coworkers gave me a Czech phrasebook in their never-ending attempt to get me to understand them. I did manage to give someone directions in Czech the other day. It was really just a lot of gesturing, but I think I was able to help. I made a point to look up how to give directions correctly just in case the opportunity arises again - and I can barely pronounce any of the words!
I have been asked by quite a few people how life in Prague differs from life in Ostrava. Besides the obvious, here are some things I've noticed:
1. I run for trams in Prague. In Ostrava I think it was sort of a pride thing. You don't want to be seen sprinting after a vehicle, only to miss it at the last second and stand there, embarrassed and out of breath. In Prague I don't live on a main tram line, so I know if I miss it I will be waiting a loonnnggg time for the next one. In the event I might possibly make it, I will run for all I'm worth...thankfully the drivers will usually wait if the see you.
2. My cooking disasters have decreased significantly. Maybe it's come with experience (ok, there was the cookie incident, but lets not worry about that), but I think it's more that I've found about three things that I make a lot...eventually you learn to make them well. I dazzled my coworkers with some tasty treats on my birthday which scored me major popularity points around the office : )
3. I have internet at home this year. This is directly contributing to my fulfillment of the stereotype that Americans spend a lot of time in front of the TV, thanks to the beauty of tv links...
4. People seem much more used to tourists and foreigners, and therefore are much more likely to have a conversation with you if they've just met you. This is a good thing for me.
5. Sunsets over the castle and the river are quite possibly the best part of living here
6. I have never in my life seen so many choices for restaurants; I actually have found some decent Mexican restaurants too
7. Despite living in the bigger city now, I prefer to do my shopping at the local Delvita instead of the massive Tesco. Delvita is closer and it takes half the time to do your shopping
8. I have less time to spend on these updates : ( hopefully it won't be so much time until the next one
I did celebrate my birthday last weekend...I suppose that's an exciting story. I didn't do much, just went out to dinner with some people. It was a very international birthday weekend as at my party there were representatives from New Zealand, Australia, the US, Japan, CZ, and Colombia. One of my coworkers gave me a Czech phrasebook in their never-ending attempt to get me to understand them. I did manage to give someone directions in Czech the other day. It was really just a lot of gesturing, but I think I was able to help. I made a point to look up how to give directions correctly just in case the opportunity arises again - and I can barely pronounce any of the words!
I have been asked by quite a few people how life in Prague differs from life in Ostrava. Besides the obvious, here are some things I've noticed:
1. I run for trams in Prague. In Ostrava I think it was sort of a pride thing. You don't want to be seen sprinting after a vehicle, only to miss it at the last second and stand there, embarrassed and out of breath. In Prague I don't live on a main tram line, so I know if I miss it I will be waiting a loonnnggg time for the next one. In the event I might possibly make it, I will run for all I'm worth...thankfully the drivers will usually wait if the see you.
2. My cooking disasters have decreased significantly. Maybe it's come with experience (ok, there was the cookie incident, but lets not worry about that), but I think it's more that I've found about three things that I make a lot...eventually you learn to make them well. I dazzled my coworkers with some tasty treats on my birthday which scored me major popularity points around the office : )
3. I have internet at home this year. This is directly contributing to my fulfillment of the stereotype that Americans spend a lot of time in front of the TV, thanks to the beauty of tv links...
4. People seem much more used to tourists and foreigners, and therefore are much more likely to have a conversation with you if they've just met you. This is a good thing for me.
5. Sunsets over the castle and the river are quite possibly the best part of living here
6. I have never in my life seen so many choices for restaurants; I actually have found some decent Mexican restaurants too
7. Despite living in the bigger city now, I prefer to do my shopping at the local Delvita instead of the massive Tesco. Delvita is closer and it takes half the time to do your shopping
8. I have less time to spend on these updates : ( hopefully it won't be so much time until the next one
