When I left off last time, I was about to go practice for the performance. Well, in true Parnell form, napping got in the way. I thought that I could just take a quick power nap. Not so much. I slept through the rehearsal. But, this turned out to be a very good thing.
I woke up in time to go with a group to The Golden Snake, a small restaurant near the castle where the performance was to take place. We thought that it would be a comedy show in a dive bar. Oh no, it was not. It was a dinner theatre performance in a nice restaurant. Yeah, I'm really glad I did not have to perform with the other (much more serious) acts. The State group decided to perform the classic hit, 'Whip It' by Divo (except that they called their band Pivo, the Czech word for beer!) because they thought that it would be funny and the Czech people would know it. Yeah, the Czech people did NOT know it. At all. A performance that was supposed to be really funny turned into being really embarrassing. Of course the rest of the State kids and I were laughing hysterically. Good times. Afterward, we grabbed some dinner at an Italian restaurant.
The next morning was the first day of orientation. We had breakfast and then Art, the professor staying with us at the penzion, took us to the Institute. The Institute is right near Old Town Square (the one with the clock) in a building that was built in 1250. The Institute takes up one side of a building surrounding a courtyard. All of the ceilings have Gothic peaks, which give it an old feel, but other than that, it is very modern. There are two classrooms, a fashion studio, a architecture studio, and a GER table that I have claimed. There is one full kitchen and two other half kitchens. It is a really nice space. A State flag hangs from outside into the courtyard.
We learned about the transit system and traveling around Prague, the CR, and the rest of Europe. I didn't realize that we have a Spring break, so I have to figure out what to do. Traveling sounds pretty easy to do. We went to an Italian restaurant [again!] and then headed back to the Institute for more training.
The night before, I realized that my trip to Tesco was not as successful as I thought it was. In the shower, I didn't understand why my body wash was not lathering. Yeah, instead of body wash, I bought lotion. Czech is pretty tough to decipher. Some of us ran to Tesco after orientation to grab more toiletries.
Dana, the head of the program, had arranged for us all to go out to dinner. We went to a monastery/restaurant above the castle. We had to take the tram and make a transfer and then go to the end of the line. Needless to say, we lost people [only 3...pretty good], but they were together so they just went back to the penzion. The restaurant was very interesting, lots of wood burning fires, exposed brick, and wooden beams. I got chicken and it was delicious.
Speaking of consumption, I have apparently become part camel. Since you have to pay for water, I only get one small glass bottle for dinner. The deprivation has made water so much more appealing. When we get back to the room, I drink out of my water bottle like I have a hollow leg.
After dinner, some of us took a walk down through the Prague Castle and across the Charles Bridge. Prague at night is breathtaking. We could look over the castle hill and see all of Prague. Every time you turn a corner, there are more incredibly beautiful old buildings. It is easily the most beautiful city I have ever seen. My roommate, Eleanor, and I have decided that one day when it is snowing, we are going to get up really early and go the the Charles Bridge for the sunrise.
The fashion students are going to Paris tomorrow. We [the land arc students and the two GER kids] are going to the slightly less exciting Ceske Krumlov, although we are going to Berlin in March.
Now I am at the Institute, waiting for the land arc and fashion students to be done with their studio orientation. The other GER person and I are pretty much doing nothing for the time being. Later we are going to go on a walking tour of Prague. I have been preparing myself for sub-arctic temperatures, but it really hasn't been super cold [knock on wood!]. It is about freezing now, but if I'm all wrapped up, I'm fine. I think it is going to snow at the beginning of next week.
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