GCSU CzechPoint

Final blog post

2006-07-12T22:10:00.000+02:00

POSTED BY JESSE

Ok, I am very sorry about the delay in posting this final message, and I feel terrible. Seems Hetty was the only one who did her homework (although I noticed she waited a while before posting, too...) I guess even after being in another country for three weeks, you come home and everything else catches up with you before you know it and it starts to feel like you never left. Wait, am I trying to say that I began to forget about this trip as soon as I got home? Well, sadly I guess I did. I started work right away, and I had family and friends to see, and there was no period of grace between leaving the Czech, and starting my normal life.
So at first I could think of nothing interesting to write about, besides my first meal back in the US: we ate at Chile's Restaurant on the way home (I REALLY didn't want to eat more restaurant food, but we had no choice) and I chatted away with our friendly waiter and kept my glass of ICE water empty at all times. I felt like I had been dehydrated for the past three weeks, and free refills made the water taste so much better. But that is not an interesting story - to say that after leaving the Czech Republic the only thing I cared about was free refills sounds kind of shallow.

But as the weeks of summer slipped by and I never thought of a final posting, I got discouraged. You've read one post, you've read them all, right? WRONG! One of the biggest things that I learned on this trip (I'm just now realizing) is that even when you think that there can't be too much to say about some topic, the six other people around you are already looking at it differently, and from these seven different backgrounds a discussion will emerge, and you will learn from it whether you want to or not. (The same goes for Czech people, I mean we didn't just wander around the country AGREEING with everyone we met now did we?)

Anyway, I'm trying to say that I assumed everyone's final post might be like mine: I got home, it felt great, enjoyed the trip but now my real life is back so I'll catch ya'll later. But I know this wouldn't be true, if only we would all post something. haha So, guys, go ahead and tell me how much you still miss the Czech and what a jerk I am for not still talking about all my experiences with everyone I see. :)

Czech Reflections

2006-06-19T22:06:00.000+02:00

POSTED BY KYLE

I have been home now for a few weeks and it is amazing to see how much one’s life can change in a matter of hours. In nine hours my life changed from comfortable to “interesting.” There is really no other word that could describe my European life more! I used the word multiple times a day because that was exactly what it was.

Everything around me was different and new. I was sometimes dizzy with all the fresh sites, from beginning to end. In Kuks I saw more shades of green than I had ever seen. In HK (sp?) I met a foreign family that in any other situation I never have been as memorable or would have gotten a chance to meet. In Olomouc I realized not every person is as accommodating as I naively thought. And Prauge, I found out what real tourism was all about. Both the positives and the negatives was what made my experience into what I still remember and will recall for years to come.

Currently, I am working as a nanny and spending time with my friends (making the most of my last summer at GC&SU), who are patient with my recollecting (which is sporadic). I know it does get old always hearing “yeah, when I was in the Czech…” haha! It is funny to see how different memories come up in my everyday life. I knew it would happen, but being displaced for three weeks, I did not know in what capacity it would influence my life now. When someone does not know the English language I am more appreciative of their efforts in trying to communicate. When I go into a bathroom I am grateful for the cleanliness. When I got back to the United States, I went to a theme park …ahhh a roller coaster ride that is was not on a plane.

I loved Europe and I cannot imagine not having that experience; especially with the people I got to share it with. There must have been someone up above who knew this crew would just mesh, without any reason, but for an ultimate purpose. My experience was just not me; it was the four other students and two advisors who made it the trip that I will remember into my adulthood.

My experience would not have meant as much if I could not have discussed it over dinner with the people I was with. You guys helped me value things I did not at first notice. Each one of you added a new perspective to my life and this trip. Gaining perspective was my personal goal on this trip and each one of you helped me in achieving my personal goal. Thank you, I only hope I could offer you something just as valuable in return!

I'll be back!

2006-06-06T20:59:00.000+02:00

POSTED BY HETTY

This trip to the Czech Republic will be one of those few great events in my life that I will annoy my children and grandchildren with by always referencing to it: “they had cobble stone in the Czech Republic too”, “the Czech people did this”, “like Joe always says, you've seen one castle-- you've seen 'em all!” (Joe was always making comments like this).

This just goes to say I will always remember the trip, the people I met along the way and the wonderful people I went with. I couldn't have designed a better three weeks, we got the best of every part of the Czech Republic: rural/city, music/theater, history/entertainment, wonderful lectures and even learned some of the language. We also had the best possible guide (they asked him to be mayor of Kuks and he turned them down!).

So thanks to everyone who made this trip possible for me and us....!!!! And thanks for keeping up with the blog -- you rock (yes, you, reading this now). Until next time (oh, yes, I'm going back!) --

Here today, home tomorrow

2006-05-30T15:25:00.000+02:00

Our last day in Prague has been cold, rainy and very busy. (And yes, we're aware of the heat wave at home in Georgia!) Hetty and Paul went off to the suburbs early this morning to shoot an interview at a school. Everyone else took care of last minute shopping and running around.

At 4 we have movie night; we'll sit together and watch all of the blog videos. At 6 we have a final dinner with our friend and guide, Standa. At 8 a final concert in a church off the square. Then it's home to pack for a 4 a.m. wake-up to make our 7 a.m. flight.

No more blog posts tonight; we never did find a good Internet spot in Prague. Once home we'll do a final blog update and begin work on the documentary. If you liked the blog, you'll love the documentary. Watch for it!

Acting in Prague

2006-05-30T15:21:00.000+02:00

On our first night in Prague we went to the Disk Theater where Standa's son Martin was doing his final performance before graduating.

In this clip, Martin sings. After the performance his fellow student Daniel Cech sat down with us and described what he expected from life after graduation.

Terezin

2006-05-30T15:15:00.000+02:00

POSTED BY KYLE

The tone of the morning was appropriately set by the ominous clouds overhead and the brisk air. Once we left the comfort of the bus we were met with countless gravestones and a Star of David in the distance. We quickly realized the aftermath of Terezin.

Our morning was long, wandering in and out of holding cells and sleeping quarters. None of us could imagine the life those many people were forced to live. Some of the rooms held hundreds of people, but the cold, barren rooms were only as big as an average classroom.

It was difficult to comprehend the destruction that had occurred in the very rooms we stepped into and out of freely. Unlike the people who inhabited Terezin decades ago, we were allowed to leave. When the past became too real we could move on.

We saw, felt, and learned that morning. The cement walls still tell a story. The courtyards still hold the grief. The art and museum helped us to learn and not forget.

We and many others left Terezin with a greater understanding. Thousands come and go each year. It is remarkable to think that in the 40’s thousands came, and only a handful left.

You won't see this in Milledgeville

2006-05-30T15:11:00.000+02:00

Czech Cheese

2006-05-30T15:07:00.000+02:00

Standa is a fan of cheese. On our first night here we had fried cheese for dinner. Half of us didn't know what it was; the other half thought it was an appetizer. Later, we went to the factory...

Behind the gates charge

2006-05-30T15:03:00.000+02:00

When I posted the photo of charging the castle gates I completely forgot that Paul had the video!

Charles Bridge Jazz

2006-05-29T17:33:00.000+02:00

As we were walkng home from our visit to Prague Castle on Saturday, we came upon some street musicians on the Charles Bridge. Video by Hetty.

Sugar coated almonds

2006-05-27T17:18:00.000+02:00

The pace of the trip has picked up for the last stretch; our days are very full and we have theater events every night. We've got piles of video but little time to edit. And we've yet to find an ideal Internet spot (said Paul, "It seems like the bigger the town the harder it is to find Internet." I agree. It's everywhere and nowhere. And not free!)

Today we visited Prague Castle and walked from there across the Charles Bridge back to the main square in town where Kyle stopped for some of her favored sugar coated toasted almonds. I thought the guy bagging them had flare, so I snapped this video with my still camera. I figure it will have to fill the video void until we can get these students some editing time!!!

Another day another castle

2006-05-27T17:13:00.000+02:00

We arrived by train in Prague yesterday, spent the day wandering around in the rain and went to the theater last night. Video soon!

In the meantime, the photo on the right is of a fairy tale castle (home of the German Order of Knights) that we visited on Thursday. In the photo below the gang charges out of the castle and across the drawbridge.

The clock

2006-05-25T16:43:00.000+02:00

Here in Olomouc there is a large clock on the side of city hall that once had religious iconography but now has workers (put there by the communists while they were in power). The locals love it, It performs at noon. Yesterday Hetty was there...

When nature calls

2006-05-25T16:08:00.000+02:00

POSTED BY KYLE PULNER

One thing that none of can aviod while being in the Czech is having to use the various facilities while roaming around. We caught on quickly to the fact that most lavatories are marked by an unmistakeable WC. When ya gotta go, this makes the search much easier. However, that is only the beginning to one's bathroom adventure.

If the doors are not labled with a picture, we then have to discern which one is for us ladies and which is for the gentlemen. I have had to take a guess at times (thankfully, my womans intuition has been correct!).

Anyone can get confused, especially in a foreign country, right? What if you then had to pay? Yes, thats right people in America, we have paid to use the "toalety!"

This can't be as much of a shock to you as it was to us. The first time I encountered this, I was in the train station with Jessie. We tried to walk on by (sort of in a rush if you know what I mean) only to be stopped by an old lady asking for 10Kc. We searched our bags for change; luckily I had just enough. Then I briskly walk towards the stalls (by now its just getting worse), look in the stall and see there is no toilet paper dispenser. Not the common problem of toilet paper being all used, the dispenser is no where. I checked behind the door, anywhere the toilet paper could hide (remember urgency is ensuing).

I was going to go back to the little old lady that I had paid to try and communicate the need for toilet paper. As I turn around I see the dispenser!! I grab what I think I need, I think more is better in this case, then I finally go into the stall fully prepared.

That was my first experience with the culturally different bathrooms and I cautioned everyone to the possibilties. Now that we know what to expect, everything goes much smoother. Think of us the next time you mechanically go to the bathroom while out in public.

Studio time

2006-05-24T19:05:00.000+02:00

We spent much of the day in the television studio of the university here shooting interviews for our documentary project. When we're back we will be editing together a narrative of our trip, along with profiles of each of the students, and Casey Sullivan will be putting together a photo montage.

While we were busy interviewing, Casey was uploading a few more albums to her flickr site. Click here to check them out. Among them, this one (of me and Hetty, titled HAHAHA!) from our trip to the zoo outside Olomouc yesterday.

An Anecdote

2006-05-23T20:47:00.000+02:00

Arriving in Olomouc I think most of us students were excited to learn that we get to sleep in the Palacky University dormitories. Until someone pointed out that no bath towels were laying await on our beds, as they had been in the hotel in Hradec. So Hetty and I went on a mission to locate towels (but it was a Sunday evening so our hopes were not high).

Luckily, the secretary was still in the downstairs office. Unluckily, she spoke no English. We attempted Joe's technique of pantomiming our problem and, thinking she understood, the three of us traveled down through locked doors to the underworkings of the dormitory. We reached a final door which the secretary unlocked and opened with a flourish, revealing...

A SHOWER STALL

Hetty and I laughed. You can only imagine how bad our pantomime had been to make this woman believe we wanted to see the secret underground shower stall. (Were we worse than Joe?!) Hetty grabbed at a random towel hanging in the room and pretended to dry off her arms. Visual aids are always helpful. The secretary made an "Ohhhhhh, so that's what you wanted" face and led us back to the office.

She found some dishrags for us to use as towels (well honestly they might as well have been dishrags) and we all had a good friendly laugh as Hetty and I finally left this poor woman alone. (I have found that when faced with an awkward situation and literally nothing to say, friendly laughter serves well.) I hope those at home can laugh along with this little experience!

(As a follow up, Standa later got some better towels for us to use - not bigger, but at least more absorbent!)

Dirty laundry

2006-05-23T08:38:00.000+02:00

We came to the Czech Republic expecting to learn Czech...little did we know we would end up hanging out with the Russians!!! For three days, Kyle and I stayed at the home of two amaying ladies: Ana and Oxy (mother and daughter). They fed us (too much), gave us a bed, gave us a shower, and taught us Russian. They didnt speak a word of English so Kÿle and I have become masters of miming. Dont mess with us.

This video was shot by both of us concerning our dirty laundry and the potential drama of getting it washed. This is a rough cut, I will be adding music and effects later but it may be days before I can so here it is... I hope you enjoy!

The Czech Republic Blues

2006-05-23T08:28:00.000+02:00

Posted by Paul Grigsby

Embarking on this journey to the Czech Republic has been eventful and inspiring. Hetty and I shoot and shoot, and look for wonderful things to include in our documentary, which will be available for $9.99 when we get back. Besides looking for shots we like to be silly, and this is one of those silly episodes, Kyle Pullner caught us on tape singing the Czech Republic Blues.

The iPod of its time?

2006-05-22T20:27:00.000+02:00

On our way from Hradec Králové to Olomouc yesterday, we stopped at a castle in Litomysl. There we saw one of the Czech Republic's two Music Boxes from Vienna, this one from 1826. It stands over six feet tall and comes with sixteen thirty-inch cylinders that can play a whopping eighteen melodies.

A farewell to Hradec Králové

2006-05-22T12:34:00.000+02:00

After a variety of successful experiences with home stays, we left Hradec Králové yesterday morning bound for Olomouc. We arrived and settled in here last night.

While in Hradec Králové we were treated to a rehearsal of the renowned Jitro Choir. After the rehersal one of the Jitro students played a solo piano piece for Dr. Mercier. As a remembrance of the trip so far I have edited together the piece with some random photos of our adventures.

Home stays

2006-05-19T18:12:00.000+02:00

We're spending our last days in Hradec Králové in the homes of students and friends of the university here. We have split up and paired off and gone our seperate ways to experience life from their perspective. We will gather again on Sunday morning when we head off to Olomouc for a stay in the university there.

That means we will probably not be posting until Sunday or Monday. In the meantime, Casey Sullivan has set up a flickr site with her photos. Click here to explore and enjoy them. We also invite you to comment. We're following the blog with you and reading all of your comments. You can also comment on individual photos on the flickr site.

Here's a favorite of mine:

A night of jazz...

2006-05-18T19:49:00.000+02:00

Posted by Hetty:

Upon our first night in Hradec we had the pleasure of attending the concert of an amazing jazz band led by a great trumpet player who is from the Czech Republic and now resides in New York. Here is a snipet of the musical evening.

Still more Czech steps

2006-05-18T18:39:00.000+02:00

233 this time. A video by Paul Grigsby.

Czech pop in the park

2006-05-18T17:36:00.000+02:00

POST BY HETTY

Where is the Czech pop?! That has been the question. Everywhere we go we have been surrounded by American music, especially pop. It almost seemed like they saw "the Americans" coming and would switch to American music. Madonna seems to be a particular favorite. Even when we were in the small town of Kuks and were watching a little band in a local restaurant the band played La Isla Bonita by Madonna. We want to hear the real Czech music!

Last night we had amazing opportunity to experience this culture's music through their eyes. While walking around Hradec, we happened upon a large, outside stage that a Czech rock band was playing on. It seemed like the whole town had come out to watch! All ages, all different flavors of Czechs, it was great! Everyone was singing along to the words. This experience was refreshing.

The other day when we went to an art gallery opening, I met a Czech girl named Daniella. She told me that she doesn't buy CDs and that the stuff they sell in the record stores is Czech pop but it's not any good. She said that she simply downloads her music online. I laughed and told her I did the same most of the time. I asked her if she got tired of hearing American music everywhere she went. She laughed and said that it just simply is the way it is....we "are bigger" and have more media, more to offer. She said she also usually sees American movies. The way she said it was matter-of-factly, a sort of "of course all media is centered around America." I thought this was interesting and then we went on the talk about languages. She knows three languages and we were saying we felt like we should too. She commented that we shouldn't because it isn't necessary. hmmmm.

After this conversation we decided to dress up like Madonna and go karyoky-ing down town. it was fun. We also went to the movie theater and watched Pride and Prejudice while listening to the Backstreet Boys on our ipods. And wearing shirts that said American Eagle. Then we went to Hollywood. It was a great night.

ps: I made that last part up. (the part about going to Hollywood). Here's some video Joe shot with his still camera of the concert in the park. We've got 2 more videos ready and are trying to get them uploaded...

So Who Is This Man Leading Us Around The Czech Republic?

2006-05-17T14:29:00.000+02:00

posted by Jessica Wehner

It came to my realization that folks at home may be wondering just who this man is that is leading us around the Czech Republic. We often wonder this ourselves, everytime he introduces us to our next crazy adventure. Joes describes him as a leprechaun. He says "He appears suddenly, transports us to some crazy magical place, and then just as mysteriously he disappears," and we all agree that this is an accurate description. So, in case you are curious, this is what we know of our guide thus far:

Name: Standa Bohadlo

Favorite Meals: Fried Cheese, Tortellini, and Steak Tartare (raw meat topped with an equally raw egg and surrounded by various spices)

Musical Ability: Plays guitar (much to Hetty and Casey's delight)

Lanugages: maybe 8? maybe 9? maybe 20? (Czech, German, English, Russian...)

Interests: Art, music, theater, film, leading groups of Americans around the Czech Republic

Hobbies: Fixing up his old barn and converting it into a theater

Connections: Gypsy band, modern art gallery director, antique book collector, other professors, Jitro girl's choir, art shop owner

Our Favorite Standa Moments: The choir director asking us how we know Standa and all of his pupils laughing; him turning the camera on Hetty (our first glimpse into his personality); his strongman poses modeling his GCSU tshirts; his animated, wide-eyed expressions

Favorite Standa Quotes: "Ohhhhh, this is right...."(usually followed by a quirky
joke)

"Hide it! Hide it!" (In reference to Hetty's secret water
bottle in the nice restaurant)

"Teeeeeeeeeee for Texas, and Tennessee" (singing)

"Strange people, strange food, strange things, strange
place" (in reference to his own country)

Web Address: www.jmc.cz/stan