The Nordic World Ski Championships are currently being held in Liberec, Czech Republic. The dates are from 18/2/09 to 1/3/09. There are 20 medals being handed out this year. Events include mens and women’s cross country skiing, ski jumping and nordic combined. There are about 635 participants from 62 countries. Heavy snow the last week have caused some events to be postponed. There has been coverage on in pubs and restaurants constantly since the 18th.

-Completion of the Czech Language Intensive Course. I got an A-!

-Viewing of the Czech movie “Little Otik” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Otik

-Seeing the TV Tower http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Žižkov_Television_Tower

-Getting confused in the Czech Republic National Library and needing to be walked out by a passerby who spoke english. Turns out you can’t use the library without paying for a daily pass. I just wanted to study.

-Seeing the “Dancing House” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dancing_House

-Finding a fake Apple store called iStyle

-Going to all the Puma stores in Prague in the middle of winter and finding out none of them sell winter hats

-Getting fried cheese triangles and a blueberry muffin from McDonalds.

-Not being able to eat 2 full racks of ribs after the waiter basically forced me to order it and watching women’s cross country skiing in the process.

-Having it snow a least a little bit for the last 8 days

-Eating Eurohotdogs

I am so glad I chose a program that allows me to live in a “piso” or flat!  One of the reasons is that I love to cook and also learn more about the food here by having to go grocery shopping.  Another is that I don’t have to worry about coming into a family’s house late at night–obviously I am quite and respect when my roommate is sleeping, but it’s not the same as if it were a family because you have the sense that it is your home.  Here are some pictures of my “hogar dulce hogar” (home sweet home)!

This is the main building of Charles University.  Where 70% of all of our classes are held.  It is situated right in front of the Mánesův Most. One of the main bridges in Prague.

It was snowing violently when I arose. Massive flakes sped by the window and landed on the cars below. Snow doesn’t accumulate here. It must have been snowing for hours and there was just a dusting on the cars. With high hopes of capturing the city under this temporary blanket I set out with my camera after a hearty bowl of Smacks and a banana. I made my way down to the water snapping shots as I passed by buildings. I am trying to figure out a way to take pictures and not look like a tourist. I intend to buy a new winter hat with a local football team on it to divert people’s imaginations. Also because I can’t stand my current hat. I was on a quest across the city to find the office to find a person to give 7000Kc’s to for the Istanbul trip. Which was only the down payment. I took out money from an ATM and the money came out in 2000’s I felt like a high roller. In reality a 2000Kc is $90. I got on to the street, Jindřišská, after an hour or so of walking and had no idea were the building was. I used my cell phone for my first purposeful call since I’ve been here to ask my friend where the building was. Naturally he said it was right next to the local porn shop. I found it fairly easily after that. After I paid I had only 25mins to get to class so I ran to the nearest subway station which I’ve never been to and took 2 different subways to get to class in around 10mins. I would have been lost if it hadn’t been for my moleskine which I bought from Barnes and Noble before I left.  It has maps of the areas of Prague, unit converters and a subway map.

After teaching for a couple hours our language teacher decided to expose us to some culture and took us to the national museum during class time. By the time we got there
it was about to close so he thought going to a pub was just as cultural, and off we went at 5:30p to drink with our professor. We had a couple drinks, which came out to less than an admission ticket would have been, and headed back home. It was a productive day. I guaranteed my spot to go to Turkey, and got to know my language teacher a little too well.

Snow in Oviedo is very rare because of it’s proximity to el Mar Cantábrico (Bay of Biscay) and the high mountains surrounding it.  So it was quite a surprise to everyone to wake up and see this today!

~Molly Jo

I woke up to the sound of a drill 10 feet from my head. The dorm staff decided to break into our suite and install another electric outlet at 7:30 am. It was great considering I got in at 3 and other guys much later. O yea and they turned off the hot water. I took the coldest shower of my life.

I walked into town and decided to try to see where my parents will be staying when they visit cause it was close to Tesco. I was on the street which was like 75 meters long but I couldn’t seem to find a hotel sign. I didn’t worry about it too much cause I gota double check on the address. I did some “back to school” esque shopping at Tesco, the Czech walmart. I also picked up a phone. The phone came out to $75 with a prepaid card. In crowns it was 1600kC so I freaked when I saw the price. I paid more for this phone because it was a cooler phone and I have a little obsession with cell phones. The phone is a vodafone 527.

It has a camera and a micro sd slot so I can listen to music on it and talk on the phone with the headphone and headset. Probably wont use it but they don’t give you that stuff in the US.

I walked over and bought a 90 day unlimited metro, tram pass which was only $32 which seem cheap for unlimited use. Its $1.19 per ride otherwise.

We made dinner the first time tonight in our suite. Everyone went to Tesco and got odds and ends throughout the day. Someone came back with a George Foreman type grill which was a great addition to the kitchen. Dinner consisted of chicken, rice and fried potatoes. Came out tasting good but bland. I got to pick me up some teriyaki sauce one of these days.

My roommate went to some protest over a modern looking building being built. Its a crazy looking building. It is going to be in addition to the National Library which is Baroque.

He said the protestors started singing Red Hot Chili Peppers “Under the Bridge” during the rally.

I think the craziness caused by all of the snow made me even more thankful and excited to reach Oviedo. When I had collected my luggage, Charo, New Paltz’s coordinator here, was there to greet me and we got in her car and headed for the hostal where I would spend the night as I couldn’t meet with my landlady until the next day. I thanked her for her immense patience–she had spent sooooo much time waiting at the airport the day before! She was so great and gave me a packet of information, along with a map on which she had circled several important places, such as my apartment, the hostal and the Plaza de la Escandalera which is a plaza in the middle of the city that is home to “La maternidad” (a statue that is more coloquialy known as “La gorda”) that everyone is familiar with and is therefore an excellent meeting point. Of course I eventually had to get a classic tourist picture with it, although I’m trying to stay away from taking too many of those The fountain that is in the same plaza is also very pretty so here’s another touristy picture