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I have lived outside of the United States for close to three years now. I admit, at first I missed things like having a clothes dryer, being able to read the labels on food, the radio, ice in drinks and free refills of cola at restaurants. But the longer I am away from the states the less I miss. And really, there is no reason to miss anything anymore. You can get just about everything you need out here.

I was able to watch the Inauguration of President Obama with the help of the Internet and free wifi. My male friends are able to keep up with the NFL with the help of sports bars like Gold Star, which show the games live from America. Sure, you have to watch them at 1:00 in the morning, but it’s actually pretty fun. And I hate football so that’s saying something. Red Hot and Blues showed the Oscars live at midnight. All of the important events make there way here somehow. There is a feeling of being in the same boat at these events. We expats are comrades who just can’t give up certain “All American” things. And Prague has responded.

One of my favorite things about Prague was the fact that it had a bunch of cute independent coffee shops, and not a Starbucks in sight. Well, that changed a few months back. Prague is now the most recent conquest of the Starbucks Coffee world domination tour. I have yet to set foot in one, but from what I understand its about the same. Really expensive coffee. It’s mostly expats and tourists that are paying for it. Sometimes comfort costs more than it needs too. Prague also has some really great shopping – not many “malls” – but some great and familiar shops. We have an H&M, and for those of you with more money than me, you can try shopping at Dior or Gucci downtown.

Prague hosts more McDonald’s than you can shake a stick at, about a billion KFC’s, a Subway and, just this month…a Burger King! It sounds funny, but it was kind of a big deal here. Until recently if you craved a BK Broiler or a Whopper with Cheese you would have to hop a train to Germany. And I know people who have done it.

So, three years later I actually prefer to hang dry my clothes – they keep their shape better. I can read the labels good enough to find the low fat yogurt, I can listen to the radio streaming on line and I don’t see ice as an integral part of my drink anymore. I have adapted to the way things are here. And heck, ain’t that half the fun?

With the “Big Holidays” out of the way I now have time to get back to blogging. And, in case you were wondering Christmas, and New Year’s were great! The Czech New Year’s Eve (Sylvester) is something not to be missed. It involves plenty of fireworks and very little police involvement. If you get the chance it is worth seeing. It makes Time Square New York look like child’s play. Spring is on its way now and I am excited! Once I make it through the rainy season I have beautiful flowers and bustling parks to look forward to. Spring here is truly beautiful.
So, I guess i have to add Easter to the list of wacky traditions here in the CZ. I know what you are thinking: What could possibly be wackier than a giant rabbit bearing chocolates in his own likeness? Holiday celebrations tend not to make sense. And Prague is no different. At Christmas little baby Jesus brings the presents – not Santa Clause. Well, at Easter the Czech people get a little mid-evil with the traditions. When I asked a class about Easter traditions i was told that theirs might be a little more "brutal" than in America. Brutal? Hmmmm…tell me more!

See, they have these things called pomlazka. They are young, live pussy willow twigs. The Czechs believe that they bring health and youth to anyone who is whipped with them. That's right, whipped. Oh, and anyone means a woman or girl. It has been used for centuries by boys who go door to door on Easter Monday and whip girls on the legs or behind. The girls are so thankful to be beat with the twig that they give the boy some candy as a thank you. Older boys (called "men") still do this with a shot of alcohol as their reward. Czech fathers take their sons into the woods and gather twigs to make the whip. It is a time consuming process to make them and the end result is truly a piece of art. Sure, you can buy them in the Easter markets, but that takes away from the tradition of it. And don’t worry, the women here love it! They think it’s cute when the boys come to the door with the whip. I have been told that this tradition is more prevalent in the Czech Republics outer lying towns and villages, but is still done to a certain extent in the city as well.
One of the great joys of teaching here is getting to share traditions with your classes. Every new holiday that comes up is a new opportunity to speak with your students about traditions and celebrations. You can share your traditions with them and they can share them with you. In my time here I have even picked up a few Czech traditions that I will incorporate into my own family traditions one day. Being international sure is fun, huh? See you next month!

Ah, the holidays, a time for love and fellowship. A time for us to spread joy to our fellow man and … well… if you are American, eat like there is not tomorrow. I have been here in Prague for two consecutive Thanksgivings and I can state with the utmost sincerity that we Americans have definitely cornered the market on gluttony. If there is a holiday, you can bet that there will be a huge spread to go along with it. Whether it is candy at Halloween or the traditional turkey at Thanksgiving, we include mountainous amounts of food in all of our celebrations.

Celebrating a traditional American holiday in a different country can be a little bit troublesome. For obvious reasons they do not celebrate Thanksgiving here in Prague. Why would they? That means there are no 20 pound frozen Butterball turkey’s overflowing in every supermarket. That means there are no cans of cranberry sauce or pumpkin for your pumpkin pie. There is no cool whip and no Frenches onions for that green bean casserole. There is no in store display that has everything you need all in one convenient spot. So what is an expat to do? Well, you have to embrace the true meaning of the holiday and be thankful for what you do have. That, and have mom send you some necessary supplies.

This year my friends and I went all out. We had turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, corn chowder, fruit salad and green bean casserole. We even had cake for dessert.

I had my mom send me a can of cranberry and some Velveeta cheese. I make a killer macaroni and cheese, and Velveeta is a crucial ingredient. I was ecstatic when I also located some cheddar cheese. Prague seems to be the land of all white cheeses, so I was in shock when I saw cheddar. I also found a Turkey at the Tesco. It was not a huge Butterball, but it was big enough for our little family. The trick is to make the most of what you have, and what we had was plenty.

When I looked at our bounty set out on the table I felt a little proud and happy. I think it was the first time that Thanksgiving was really about being THANKFUL. I mean, how thankful do you need to be when you have an abundance of food at your finger tips 24 hours a day? Do you really feel thankful for what you have or for the fact that you have a long weekend and turkey sandwiches enough to last a week? Here in Prague I felt truly thankful. I was thankful for having a group of friends who I didn’t know before I moved here that I now consider family. I was thankful for the meal we ate and all contributed to. And, finally I was thankful that we could embrace the spirit of this holiday in our own way even with out mom’s apple pie. We did alright. We did better than alright – we rocked it.

Jawaharlal Nehru, a political leader in India, once said “Time is not measures by the passing of years but by what one does, what one feels, and what one achieves.” I totally agree Mr. Jawaharlal. This month marks my one year anniversary in the Czech Republic.

I am undone! I can’t believe that one year ago I landed in the Czech Republic – alone. I didn’t know a single person here, I didn’t know the language. Heck, you could fill a whole suitcase with the things I didn’t know a year ago. Present perfect? No clue. How to speak Czech? You must be joking. You want me to find my way through the winding streets of Old Town? I don’t think so.

Now look at me! It has been a mere 365 days and I am rocking Prague. I graduated TEFL Worldwide Prague and I am a teacher now! Cool! I know the present perfect, Present simple and even present perfect continuous! I can speak enough Czech to get by. I would be able to speak more if I wasn’t so lazy. But hey, one thing at a time. I have traveled to Budapest, Geneva, Germany and in and around the Czech Republic. When I lived in America the farthest I went was Los Angeles from San Francisco. The culture here is definitely more relaxed and supportive of adventure and travel. Where my weekends used to be predictable and a little dull, my weekends now are always fun and a little crazy! I love it here.

I have also met some pretty cool people. I am proud to say that I am still friends with the people I met during my 4 weeks at TEFL. I actually live in the same building as most of them! We have become a very close knit group – a little family. We cook a Turkey on Thanksgiving and eat Chinese food at Christmas, just like at home. I have met a bunch of other Americans as well. There is no shortage of expat’s here in Prague. It’s funny, being far away from home in a place where no one speaks your language, you find yourself really opening up to people. I meet more new people in Prague in a month than in one year in America. I have some Czech friends, some British friends and yes – even some American friends.

So, my year has been amazing. I have succeeded in living in another country. I have succeeded in living without television for an entire year. I have succeeded in changing careers, challenging myself and having more fun than I ever thought possible. Yeah, I rock - like Bon Jovi.

I grew up in California. It’s a great place, and all that you have heard is true: swimming pools and movie stars. Oranges, hut tubs, redwoods, Disneyland and blondes. You can’t walk down the street with out seeing a bona fied superstar. Heck! Even our Governor is a movie star. We got it all. Okay, okay…maybe it’s not all like that. Like most native Californians I tend to over exaggerate my own importance and that of my home turf. And while all that is said about The Golden state is not completely accurate, one thing is for sure true: Nobody walks in L.A. Seriously; I drove my car everyday when I lived in California. I had too. The other options were just too deplorable to think about: walking or taking public transportation. Ewww. I mean, if I wanted to exercise I would DRIVE to the gym like a normal person. And public transportation is all but non existent in L.A. (San Francisco was better, but still not the greatest)

I moved to Prague almost a year ago and I am proud to say I have not driven a car since I have been here. The “California Girl” in me is bitter, but the rest of me is quite pleased. There has been no reason to drive a car. The public transportation system here rocks - and rocks hard…like Bon Jovi. It’s really the best I've ever seen. The metros are incredibly fast and always on time, the trams go practically everywhere, and wherever they don't go; you can take a bus or a train. I am now a huge supporter of public transportation. They even have night trams here! The Metro stops at midnight and then they have “Night Trams”. That’s right you can go out with your friends till 4am and still have a free and sober way home! It’s really exciting to sit and watch people try not to pass out or throw up. Ah, Prague.

So, although I prefer to walk this lovely city, I shall now tell you how to avoid certain mistakes whilst using public transit. There is a system of etiquette here in Prague. If you don’t follow it I will glare at you from the Metro platform. You have been warned.

1. The public transportation system is not free. You have to buy a ticket every time you ride or buy a monthly pass. They work on the honor system here, but they have power hungry checker guys hidden all over the place. So save yourself some money and aggravation and just buy a ticket. If you are found lacking in the ticket department, they will charge you 500Kc on the spot. Not fun.

2. You are waiting on the platform for your train. The train arrives, and the doors open. Please, please step aside and let people off! If you do not, you will risk a beating from the little old lady trying to exit said train. Move out from in front of the door!

3. Always let old ladies get on before you do. They will push their way in front of you anyway, so it’s just easier to let them go first.

4. Always give up your seat to people who stare you down, or people with disabilities or injuries, or any woman who looks like she will start yelling at you. I have friends who have never sat down before on the Metro. Do not under estimate old Czech ladies.

5. If you're wearing a backpack, take it off. Did you hear me? OK…if you are wearing a backpack – TAKE IT OFF! This is so you don't bump into me or the old ladies that just kicked your butt for not giving up your seat, and it ensures no one will steal your stuff.

6. You will see a little sign on escalators telling you which side to be on if you want to stand, and which side to be on if you want to walk. Please stand on the correct side. It is proper to stay to the right side of all escalators in order to let people walk up or down the left side. However people tend to stand wherever they want. A heart felt “PROSIM!” usually gets them moving because it’s usually the Czechs who are disregarding this rule.

So, I hope you have learned a little something about the Czech transportation system and how to ensure happy usage on it. Until next month…

I’ll see you on the Metro!

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Having grown up in the United States of America I am prone to boredom. It’s part of my cultural DNA. I see this now. I never noticed it before, but now that I have been in the Czech Republic for almost a year…I see it. We have so many things to occupy and soften our minds in the states that our attention spans are shrinking and we manage to get bored easy. It’s kind of ironic that we can get bored when we have so much “stuff” at our finger-tips.

I have not been bored once in Prague. I’ll say it again in case you had your ipod in and were checking your Blackberry while you were reading this: I have not been bored once in Prague. I know! It is pretty incredible! Now…take into account that I do not own a TV here, or a car and you will start to get an idea of what Prague has to offer. There is really never a lack of cool stuff to do in or around Prague.

This weekend is a pretty cool music Festival called - Trutnov Open Air Music Festival. It is the 20 year Anniversary of this “Prague Woodstalk.” The Festival is visited by 9,000 to 15,000 people each year. It looks pretty cool. It is the oldest, the biggest and possibly the most well-known open air festival in the Czech Republic. The festival was founded as “an alternative action against the communist regime and as an underground event during 1987. Its beginning should have taken place in 1987 in a private field owned by one of its original organizers.” However, the communist police force banned the event and its organizers were arrested. Seriously, how cool is that? Our festivals at home are sponsored by Gatorade and MTV! From the beginning this festival went off with almost no sponsors and its promotional campaign has always contained environmental aspects. Because of its history and specific atmosphere the festival is known as "Czech Woodstock" or "Festival with opinion". The environment and setting where the festival is located “… has a magical feel, which promotes peace and tolerance for one and all.” Nice.

Each year the festival is dedicated to someone or something that has done something positive with their life and made an impact on the world. In years past it has included Hare Krishna, victims of Wounded Knee, freedom of Tibet and the prisoners of conscience, patrons of human and animal rights, environmental initiatives, second underground culture, dead protest songwriter and poet Karel Kryl, Mother Earth and the Universe and even voluntary modesty. Ok, I don’t know what that last one means, but I am all for it.

This year’s anniversary festival is dedicated to the Czech ex-president, Chief Václav Havel. Apparently, Mr. Havel is a regular visitor to the festival. He says, "This is where I always realize that from its very beginning, rock music has been associated with the ideas of freedom, tolerance and solidarity." Right on Mr. Havel! Who says Americans have a handle on Rock and Roll!? I like the idea of a festival with no corporate sponsorship whose main aim is to promote an alternative lifestyle, radically different to popular culture's tunnel vision and brainwashing; to bring people together and to spread tolerance and openness. I mean, Burning an is almost corporate sponsored these days.

So yeah…things like this are part of the reason I am never bored here. Between the Beer Gardens, the night clubs, the music festivals and…well… my job…I have a lot to do. And a lot to be grateful for. Peace…until next month.

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix opens today in Prague. I am totally excited. Not just because I love going to the movies, but because I have a total crush on Ron Weasley…don’t ask me why. Anyway…my friends keep calling - asking when we are going and which movie theatre will be showing it in English. You see, most kid’s films get dubbed in Czech when they come here. It makes sense. Little tykes can’t read the Czech sub-titles so…dubbed it is. A few savvy theatre owners know that there is a HUGE Expat community in this lovely city and therefore show the film in English with Czech subtitles. You just have to know where to go. And I know where to go.

I am pretty impressed with the whole “going to the movies” process here. I mean, before I moved here I thought I would be waiting months and months for new Hollywood releases. Boy was I wrong! All of the really big movies – I’m talking summer blockbusters and movies like The Departed and Dreamgirls – come out within two weeks of their American release. Sweet! They don’t bring every movie here, but we get all of the big ones…the cream of the American crop if you will. I even got to go to a cool Premier Screening of Grindhouse and went home with a free movie poster! Yay!

The cinemas here are fantastic. My roommate says that they are nicer than the ones in her home town in America. They run the entire range: from the plush-seated multi-kinos with surround sound, to cool tucked away arthouses. During the summer you can catch a film on the island, Strelecky Ostrov, and enjoy outdoor seating, good movies, and a river view. My favorite theater here is the Kino Svetzor because films are shown in their native language, with subtitles in English. This makes it a great place to see Czech films that you otherwise wouldn't be able to follow. Their selection is excellent: usually art & indie films in a fun and casual atmosphere highlighted by the lively bar. They also show cool old films like Casablanca and East of Eden. It’s fun to see those movies on the big screen.

And ladies…you don’t have to feel guilty about ordering that large popcorn here. The large here isn’t ginormous like it is in the states. It is a good size. And! They don’t use that greasy “butter flavoring” here. You get your popcorn fresh from the popper…period. Although, some theaters offer you a choice of butter flavored popcorn or bacon & cheese flavored. Um…I haven’t tried it yet, but hey, I’m game. Oh, and guys…? You can also get beer in most cinemas as well.

So…I’m off to see Harry Potter. I’ve got my popcorn and soda money ready, and I am as excited as a Muggle at a Quidich match! See you next month!

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