angel in a tutu

[threeplusfire]

When we walked into the house last night, Blaine greeted us and pointed the way towards refreshments. In the kitchen, Angel was bopping around in a pink ballerina outfit and a tiara. She was having an excellent birthday party. Alan lost the bet, because by 10:45 she was out in the yard demonstrating her sword moves to the crowd. Then a kung-fu demonstration. All in the tutu. A very fun time was had by all, and excellent snacks. Good caviar, snow peas, cake, guacamole, olives and more.

We had lots of fun, and she really liked her gift. Sometime soon we will watch Pirates of the Carribean on the big television and eat popcorn.

Comments

Brno

[calmingwhisper.livejournal.com]

This'll be really random,but I used to have you as a friend, whimsikal was my name. I remember talking to you (on here) about going to study in Budapest. Either way, I remember you studied for a summer in Brno and I was contemplating spending my last semester of college there. I have to decide by early February so I was wondering if I could ask you questions about Brno or if you could offer ANY advice for me.

I guess my main concern is my lack of Czech. I would take some intensive Czech or teach myself basics. The classes will be at Masaryk U - in English. Also kinda scared b/c I did a report on the sex trade and E. Europe but not sure that really affects Czech Republic. So those are my only points of fear.

Re: Brno

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

Hi there. Ask away! I would be happy to answer your questions. :)

I most highly recommend Brno even if you don't speak Czech. Masaryk offers intro courses taught in English, and there are coordinators who live in the dorm who can help you. The classes are intense but great! Brno is better than Prague because it's not as crazy, and you get more opportunities to use Czech daily. It's a beautiful little town too.

While the Mafia and the sex trade are realities, it is in fact very safe there. Just use good judgement, like walking home at nights in a group or in pairs. Hell, I felt safer in Brno than I did in Germany.

It's a great school, and I encourage you! If you have any other questions, I'll be glad to answer them.

Re: Brno

[calmingwhisper.livejournal.com]

The program that I am looking at has courses in English that I would take. Of course I would also like to try taking a beginner's Czech language course.

I am wanting to go so badly, I just get these stupid images of me being carted away from my bedroom at nighttime by men in black and shipped off to parts unknown. And since I can't speak Czech and I'm tiny, I keep thinking I'll be target number uno. Have you heard of anything like this? Am I just being totally stupid? (I tend to get paranoid about certain things, haha, generally I am calm).

Do many Brno residents speak English? What kinds of fun things are there to do? Are there many foreign exchange students?

Re: Brno

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

Honestly, in most of the reading I've done in English and Russian press about the sex trade, it tends to be deceptions where women are promised jobs and then taken hostage inside another country. As long as you don't go running off with strange men, you should be okay. The dorm is in a very safe, nice part of town, and since you can hear everything there it would be hard for someone to kidnap you. ;)

Seriously, I would not be too concerned with that. Be careful with your passport, and just exercise the same caution you do at home in regards to going out at night. (IE, not going out alone to rough places, getting too drunk to get home, etc.)

Some people will have english, especially those working at the university, the travel offices, the train stations, etc. But most of the residents of Brno either won't know much, or none at all. I had good experiences mostly with people willing to help me find the right words or figure something out. It is a bit scary, but it is a great opportunity. I had two years of Czech and I was afraid, but it's surprising how much you pick up just having to try every day. Most all restaraunt people will know some english, or have multilingual menus.

Brno has summer music/opera performances, movies, pretty parks, lots of good places for ice cream, a couple fun bars that play lots of Europop and techno. While I was there, there were many foreign students there, and frequently ones with better Czech let me know when there was a concert or a cool film screening. If the university offers any weekend excursions, go! There is an old and fabulous brewery in Cerna Hora, and many vineyards in the Moravian region. Much fun can be had at the tastings. :)

Re: Brno

[calmingwhisper.livejournal.com]

You'll have to pardon my ridiculous paranoia. I am just perhaps making excuses to get myself not to go because I'm scared! Either way, as I make friends and go out in groups, I shouldn't have problems.

Did you stay in the dorms? What were they like?? I've checked out the uni's international student website and it seems super - the photo of the dorm looks nice.

Thanks for the information, I am sure I'll have more questions and comments as I find out more about the program and move along with the application process.

Re: Brno

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

It's definitely a bit scary going so far away. But during my time in both Brno and Prague, I felt very safe in the places I lived. Don't let it keep you from going. Seriously, this could be one of the best experiences of your life. It was for me.

The dorm I stayed in was an old building, leftover from the communist years. They were more spacious than rooms I've seen in America certainly and their were showers connected to our room. It was reasonably comfortable, but the bed are a bit hard. I had a nice down comforter though! And the pillows are good. Definitely bring your own towels though. The ones they provide are the size of hand towels often. Usually the dorms will have kitchens on each floor, or little kitchenettes in the rooms. Looking at MU's page, I think you're going to be in the nicer dorm than I was in. They usually have people at a desk in the front, and you carry a card to retrieve your key. (You're not supposed to take it outside of the building) The dorms are located in a nice neighborhood, and are not very far from the university buildings.

No problem at all, I am glad to help. I'm getting jealous of you now, I must go back and earn another degree! ;)

Brno tips and such

[calmingwhisper.livejournal.com]

Thanks for giving me the tip on the towels! If there is any other type of information like that, let me know! :) Did you bring yer own comforter? What are the showers like - can you take nice, long, hot showers like you can in the dorms here in America? (Or at least I did that, hehe)

Ahhh, talking about this with you is making me excited!

Re: Brno tips and such

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

The comforter was actually supplied by the dorm! They are a little short, so you might want to bring an extra blanket along. Bring some slippers, or flip flops for wearing around the room. It cuts down on any dirt you might track in and they are good for the showers since there are not usually bathmats.

The showers don't have tubs, so you can't take a bath but you can get a nice shower. :)

As far as laundry goes, you can either take your clothes to a laundromat, which isn't very expensive, or spend a lot of time hand washing in the sink. (Which is what I did) Czech water & laundry detergent will sometimes do funny stuff to your socks or something random, but I had no problems. You can pick up stuff like woolite in Brno. (There's even a big Delvita near the dorms with most anything you could need food or soap wise.) The water in Brno was much better than the water in Prague actually.

Re: Brno tips and such

[calmingwhisper.livejournal.com]

What do you do about pencils and notebooks - campus bookstore? bring from USA?

calling home - how does that work?

:)

Re: Brno tips and such

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

I found a store not far from the big yellow school building where the student cafeteria is that sells paper and pencils and pens. I brought some of my own, just for comfort's sake. But you can easily pick stuff up at Tesco by the train station. Tesco is like the European version of Target.

Calling home is easy. You can buy cards to use in the phones for different amounts. The school gave me a list of codes for different countries, and I just popped the card into the machine and dialed. There were phones on every other floor of the dorm. I noticed the dorm you would be staying in has net access. Even if you don't have a laptop to take with you, there are internet cafes which are very cheap. (About a dollar an hour)

Summer language?

[calmingwhisper.livejournal.com]

Me again with another question..


Do you know of any places that teach intensive summer Czech language course? Particularly ones that are not for the full summer, but rather, a month or so...

I am trying to look for some online but not sure of any good ones.

Re: Summer language?

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

Well, Masaryk has intense summer language for foreigners... ;)

I believe Duke university offers a summer course, but I am not sure. Several East Coast schools do, as I remember seeing lots of brochures in the office when I was at school.