It’s the final countdown! (Czech version)

Well, it’s my last full day in Prague. I depart tomorrow (Wednesday) at 8:30 AM. People always say these kinds of trips will go by so fast, and I always think, “Naw, it’s not going by TOO fast.” And then the day like today comes, and here we are, packing suitcases, buying those last minute souvenirs, taking that one last photo of a street we’ve been down almost everyday for the past month. So now it hits me, how did this month just sweep by?

For two years, I waited for the right time for this study abroad trip. I thought it would be perfect for me. I’ve always wanted to travel to as many places as I could. Plus, to get school credit for taking pictures of a beautiful city, that just doesn’t get much better for a photojournalism major. And it has been perfect for me. I had built up so much anticipation for this trip, but I didn’t really know the kinds of sights I would see or the kinds of people I would meet. There are those moments when I turn a corner and BAM; an amazing view of the entire city opens up to me. Then those moments to look back on, hysterically laughing with people who I had never had a conversation with just a few weeks before. It’s an experience like none other, and I’m so glad I was able to do this study abroad with the people who ended up being my classmates and new friends.

As I prepare for my last day here in Prague, I notice that we’ve come full circle, this city and I. For the past week, it’s been hot and sunny and unlike Prague’s normal characteristics. Today and yesterday, however, the weather is back to how it was when I first arrived, chilly and rainy. In a way, it kind of feels like I’m back to the beginning of this trip, but it’s just the opposite. I pass by Czech strangers and stranger tourists and have just a little more knowledge about this place. I’m noticing different things, as opposed to trying to capture a picture of everything I see as I did during my first week.

So Prague, “it’s been real,” as the kids these days like to say. I’ve gotten to know you a little bit better. We’ve had our ups and down. You know I suffered from your abnormal/unexpected summer heat. You helped me have a better understanding of beer and a culture that can’t get enough of it. You showed me some natives who weren’t so happy-go-lucky. But hey, you allowed me to indulge in your heavenly sausage, and I thank you for that. I want you to know that I’ll always remember you. Whether I’m in the Lone Star state, or exploring the unknown, I will remember you. Just know Prague, you were my first. My first trip to Europe, that is, so you’ll always hold a special place in my mind and memory. Maybe one day I’ll return. I mean, it’s only fair. Until then, Prague, I will long for your sausage.

P.S. Give your people some ice cream. They’re a bit grumpy and I think ice cream could do the trick. Ice cream makes everyone happy, even the check out ladies at the Billa grocery store. 

Don’t y’all forget about us, ya hear?

It’s starting to really hit me that I’ll be leaving Prague much sooner than later. At this point, I don’t even have a full 48 hours left in this city. It’s a weird feeling. Sure, I’ve complained about a few things (weather, people, my need for AC), but I have greatly enjoyed being here in Prague and around the Czech Republic. I always try to keep in mind how lucky I am to be able to see and experience what I have during this month-long study abroad. It just makes me think to myself, “Some people may never get to see this in their lifetimes, yet here I am, lucky enough to take it all in as it lays out in front of my eyes.”

As I begin to reflect on the past month, one of many aspects of Prague crosses my mind. The stylistic detail of the architecture is something I won’t get to see in America as often as I’ve seen it in Prague. I’ve noticed the faces and the people, engraved and sculpted into the buildings that I pass nearly everyday here. It’s an aspect of the architecture that can be easily missed if not looking for it. I talked quite a bit about the historic architecture in my first blog post, but that was before I was even able to start noticing and appreciating the smaller details. It’s a lesson I’ve learned that I will take away from this trip. Just as the journey can be greater than the destination, so too can one small part be greater than its whole.

Appreciating the Overlooked

As I mentioned in my “Artistic Inspiration” post, I’m a big fan of art. I appreciate a multitude of styles and forms because it’s all about the artist’s mind taking over to create a unique piece, which is all digested visually by the viewer.  Art is a form of expression, whether it be emotional or political or some other reason, and that’s a beautiful thing. While walking to the zoo bus on Saturday, I happened to notice the pattern of painted faces and bodies along a hallway I was passing through. Surprisingly, I didn’t even realize the wall art until I was halfway through passageway.

These kinds of moments make me realize that I can sometimes be a bit oblivious to my surroundings when I’m focused on getting from one point to another. It happens often while I’m driving home, which really isn’t the best habit. Once I snap out of my trance and realize what’s around me, I wonder what made me go into that trance in the first place. The answer revolves around me rushing through a place. I’m determined to get somewhere, but sometimes forget that the journey to my destination can oftentimes be just as great, if not better, than the destination itself. I’m glad I snapped out of my trance before exiting this passageway. I was completely fascinated with the work once I let my mind take it in. Even this morning, I was guilty of my habit, but was able to notice more art before it was too late. It’s important for me, and others as well, to just slow down a bit and appreciate what surrounds us.

Kicking back under the moonlight

Only midway through my time in Prague did I make my way to the Beer Garden in Letna Park, just a few blocks from my apartment. Not only is the area a great place to kick back with a beer and just relax, but it also offers an amazing view of the city. I’ve now visited the park a number of times and have really grown to appreciate parks in general. I don’t really enjoy baking in the summer sun, per se, but after being in Prague (and Milan for my weekend trip) I really love the idea of sitting under a tree and taking in my surroundings.

I actually feel a little guilty. Austin is a great place to visit a park or a lake for a swim. Sadly to say, I have yet to do any of that while being in Austin for almost two years. I’ve had a sudden need to do so though. I’ve never been to Barton Springs in Austin, so that’ll definitely be something I partake in once I return to Austin. I also just want to have a picnic in a park. The idea may seem a little cheesy, but I noticed people in Milan doing it and I thought, “Why haven’t I done this yet?” When I first arrived in Prague, I knew being here would inspire me do something different with my life. I’m sure there will be other things, but the nature part of me has begun to shine through.

Summer Zoo Time

My days in Prague are numbered. Within a few days, I’ll be back in the Lone Star state in the US of A. While I’m ready to be back in Texas, I still have yet to see many things in Prague. I’ve been scrambling around trying to do and see as much as I can before it’s time to bid this city an adieu. Today I cooled off from the summer heat and Prague’s infamous absence of AC with an exciting trip to Aqua Palace, Prague’s indoor water park. I shall always remember today’s experience with the human rapids, especially. Yesterday, however, I was dying for a place like Aqua Palace. Some of my classmates and I visited Prague’s zoo. It was hot. Go figure. Seeing the animals was great though. I can’t remember the last time I was at a zoo before yesterday.

Although Prague has been rain free for a week or two, places like the zoo are still feeling the aftermath of the month’s earlier flooding. We did get to see a good number of animals, but multiple exhibits were blocked off and some animals had yet to return to their habitat. Some areas of the zoo actually have to be reconstructed because of the flooding damage.

I was a little disappointed that sections were still blocked off at the zoo, but I really did enjoy it. I loved how the entire place was set up. The orangutan area was placed within a dome-like structure, which inside was set up like a real rainforest. A hike up from the bird exhibits guided us to an overlooking view of the zebra and giraffe terrains. Along the pathway of the zoo awaited ponies for children to take a short pony ride. Finally, the elephant exhibit was grandly magnificent. Those elephants are living the good life in the Prague Zoo; let me tell you. The theme of the elephant exhibit was based around Indian culture, which already extremely fascinates me. I’m also very captivated by elephants, so the combination was really perfect for me. The entire elephant section also included some interactive areas, which is great for all the kids that run around the zoo. I really loved just climbing up the stairs to a platform and gazing at the majestic elephants.

Terezin

I’ve been interested in Holocaust history for several years now. My first semester at UT I took a class about Holocaust films. A lot of times, it seems that history books write it off in a couple of paragraphs, but it’s much more complex than that. Just since being in Prague, I learned that non-Jewish Czechs were also sent to concentration camps. Yesterday’s group activity helped me put a face to everything I’ve learned thus far.

Accompanied by a sweet and informative survivor, Doris, we visited Terezin. It was not used as an execution camp, but more of a “pit stop” kind of concentration camp. People were brought to the camp, and if they were deemed unsuitable for work, they would be sent to Auschwitz. Others would be sent to working/labor camps around Europe.

Initially while we were looking around Terezin, I thought, “Huh, well this is interesting.” However, something snapped and I realized I was standing in an actual concentration camp. I suddenly started to realize that this was where thousands of people came out of force. Whenever I think about what happened in the Holocaust, I just can’t come close to fathoming how one person can do something so terrible to another.

Having Doris with the group was an amazing experience. It won’t be much longer before we can only rely on videos and stories to hear a first person account from a survivor. While we toured the museum, Doris would share information and personal stories of her experience in Terezin. Sometimes she would just start talking to the person next to her to share her story with someone. She had so much to share; yet she still managed to stay composed as she relived the moment to tell us. Just within the few hours we had with Doris, she told us numerous stories that really expanded my understanding of what it was like to be in a place like Terezin. I really feel honored that I was able to experience the camp with such a brave woman.

Artistic Inspiration

I’ve always been interested in art and the concept of creating unique things. What I find really interesting is that the concept of art is spawned from the mind. Yes, some art is more realistic than others, but ultimately, it’s the artist’s decisions and intuition that makes his or her piece come together.

As I progress in the art of photography, I still don’t like giving myself the title “photographer.” Who’s to say who is and isn’t a photographer? Some people focus solely on the equipment that is used to capture a photographic image. Other people focus on the composition or post-processing of a picture. Sometimes those kinds of “qualifications” go along with classifying someone as a photographer. Honestly, however, I truly believe anyone can be a photographer, just like anyone can be an artist. I think it’s amazing to see and experience someone appreciating their surroundings. It’s beautiful. Just because someone has a super extravagant DSLR camera, doesn’t necessarily make him or her anymore a “photographer” than that tourist holding up a giant iPad or even the young girl who uses an artificially pink Barbie camera. They are all photographers because they’re capturing an image that speaks to them in some form. Sure, the whole iPad thing looks strange, but give the man some credit, at least.

Since being in college at UT and majoring in photojournalism, I’ve loved the idea of capturing meaningful images that connect to a great story. When it all comes down to it though, I view photography as an art form. In my eyes, art can be anything; it’s all about how the creator and the audience interpret a certain piece. That’s the beauty of art, really. The viewer, creator or just onlooker, has the freedom to feel and interpret a piece of art anyway he or she subconsciously does so.

Although I currently use photography as my creative outlet, traditional art was initially my interest. I’ve always been a doodler. The doodle is such an intriguing thought because it’s all about letting the mind take control and just letting a hand flow across paper (for example). It’s a subconscious activity. So if you’re thinking about it, you’re doing it wrong…to an extent.

Anyways, back to art. I’ve enjoyed painting and sculpting and just creating art in general. That’s what brings me to write this post. After visiting the museum literally across the street from my apartment, I felt a burst of artistic inspiration. I wanted to create. I wanted to “get back to my roots.” I just crave sitting back, playing some music, and forgetting about any “rules” some oddball created to restrain art. I saw beautiful pieces in the museum, one after another. To know a person sat back and produced stunning art is purely incredible.

Reflecting on my Jewish Heritage

While the heat persists here in Prague, so too does our walking tours. Yesterday was just as blazing hot as earlier this week, but was an interesting tour, nonetheless. We visited the Jewish Quarter of Prague, which included several synagogues and the Old Jewish Cemetery. We visited the oldest synagogue in Europe that is still active. The cemetery was interesting because it holds thousands of bodies in a relatively small space. The space is so small that five bodies were buried on top of each other just in one burial spot. Tombstones fill the graveyard like jagged books on a full bookshelf.

The area we were in, the Jewish Quarter, once held ghettos and was pretty rundown compared to other parts of the city. Today, however, the area is one of the most luxurious regions of Prague. Shops such as Prada, Rolex and Louis Vuitton call the Jewish Quarter home.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, some of the Jewish aspects of the things we’ve seen interest me because of my Jewish heritage. Although I don’t have any Czech Jewish lineage (that I’m aware of), I find it interesting to learn about how Jews lived during different time periods in various places.  It’s really not just Jews, even. It’s cool to think about how all people lived in the past, whether that meant good or bad conditions. The Jewish aspects of all this just makes me wonder how my ancestors lived when they were in Europe. I wonder how they were treated and how they went about their lives. I know that some of my ancestors were expelled from Spain around 1500. How many more ancestors of mine were expelled from a place or country solely because they were Jewish? I have no idea.

I am glad, however, that I’m free to live where I want and believe what I want. I’m finally getting comfortable with my feelings towards being a Jew in general. Right now, I can’t say I’m at the most religious phase of my life. After going to Israel in December, I was and am finally okay with that. I will always classify myself as Jewish, that I have a Jewish heritage, and I will continue to inform myself about Jewish history. However, my non-religious phase may last for a while. Currently, I’m more interested in learning about all cultures so that I can share what I learn with people around me, all while having an open mind about what I learn.

Shiny, happy people

I’ve been in Prague for almost a month now. My study abroad here consists of only a few more days and then I’m back in the US of A. As my classmates and I know very well by now, the Czech people aren’t the most cheery, friendliest people at face value. We were warned of the not so great customer service in restaurants and stores. ‘Twas a fairly accurate portrayal and warning provided to us. We were also warned of the infamous Czech stares. And boy, how they stare…and stare, and stare, and glimpse, and shudder, and stare.

From what it has seemed, many Czechs tend to keep to themselves for the most part. They don’t speak loudly. They don’t seem to be overly expressive with their emotions and conversations. As today’s tour guide mentioned, the majority of the Czech behavior stems from the age of Communist rule. Despite the Czech’s ‘rough around the edges’ exterior, there have been a few Czechs that have broken that preconceived notion. About a week or two ago, I ate at Café Louvre and was lucky enough to have an extraordinarily kind waitress. A couple nights ago while I was at the beer garden near my apartment, a Czech film student randomly came up to my group and started a conversation, something that I haven’t seen happen really at all. Finally, yesterday’s tour allowed me to notice a few people who just seemed more cheerful than the norm. The lady in the above picture wore a slight smile as she squeezed herself through my 15 other classmates. In this kind of situation, we usually experience a frustrated Czech that is quietly muttering as he or she passes. This lady was different though, and calmly went along her day. Lastly, on my way home from the tour, a lady handed my roommate a free balloon as she passed us along the crosswalk. Free! Water and public restrooms aren’t even free in Prague. This isn’t a matter of money though. It’s about kindness that goes a long way. When something, like kindness, is a rare commodity, it’s noticed tenfold when it actually happens.

Voice from afar

As the heat rises here in Prague, I think my tolerance for it decreases. I know, I know, I should be used to it all because I live in sweltering Texas. As I said in a previous post, Prague has spoiled me up to this point with its cool weather. I personally prefer cold weather. Even with Texas’ triple digit summer heat, I’ve been spoiled there as well. In America, almost everywhere has some form of air conditioning, but here in Europe, that luxury is not included. It’s actually a rare occurrence to walk into a shop or a restaurant with some nice, breezy AC.

Today’s group activities definitely helped me realize my 1^st world need for a chilly place to sit back and relax. The day’s main event was a walking tour to see some of the more modern architecture around the Wenceslas Square area of Prague. I prepared myself with a couple coats of sunscreen, a bottle of water, some shades for the eyes, and proper attire. I found myself still searching for a sliver of shade along sidewalks and buildings.

Through all the heat and my increasing exhaustion, my ears caught a distant melody. The soothing sound of an acoustic guitar wrapped my attention towards its direction; a calm and passionate voice reeled in my interest. I soon found the source of that distant melody. A fellow of twenty-something sat under a tree, strumming his guitar as pedestrians passed by him. I snapped a couple of photos, but wished I could have stayed to listen and to appreciate his passionate singing. Unfortunately, our tour had yet to be completed, so I had to run to catch up to my group. It was nice to hear the voice slowly fade away as I got closer to the square, nevertheless.