Czech It Out

The Best Kebab places in Brno

Yesterday, my friend Sara posted this on my facebook wall:

I got a drunk kebap last night, but they were out of bread s I had a tortilla. I didnt realize the prices were different, and I got super pissy that he only gave me 20 back. Im glad I understand now.

Kebabs, to me and my friends are not only a food, but also a way of life. We constantly shame ourselves on how many kebabs we eat a week. This is why a review of the best kebab places in Brno is neccessary.

Mnam Mnam Kebabs (the one across from the pharamacy with the lobster)-One of my favorite places in Brno. I led a group of hungary americans there during the first week and haven’t looked back since. The owner recognizes me and knows what I like and don’t like. Rough night? Kebabs the next day? They may not have the best kebabs but they speak english and are very friendly and make my life. Don’t go to the other mnam mnam place in the center, its not as good, and cold.

The place that’s really not a kebab place by mandarian: I can never find this place during the day. You have to ask for a gyro and there’s only one kind of meat but I think its juicer than mnam mnam kebabs and the sauce is better; my friend sara disagrees. Downside: It’s literally a window so you can’t eat in the warmth, lacks atmosphere.

The Kebab place by Fleda: I’ve only been here twice, both after clubbing. One time they only had tortillas, which are NOT as good as regular kebabs, even if that’s what the real thing is. Thick bread, good meat, a variety of lettuce (red cabbage!) etc. Cons: I have never been here during the day, it’s kind of pricer (a small for 60 crowns, most places are 50 crowns for a regular with student discount).

Adventure time in Brno

So this weekend, instead of adventuring to Vienna with a large group of very loud Americans, I chose to explore the city of Brno.

Friday night and the majority of Saturday I just kind of moped around, missing the states. I watched some 30 Rock, talked to a few friends and read Beloit’s newspaper (Our parties will get better once the sophomore class returns! I promise!). I did laundry on Saturday, which is always a task. I do all my laundry by hand because its cheaper than using a washing machine and the washing machines in my dorm are awful. I decided to wash my towel not realizing how much water it held exactly. It holds a lot. So much that I had to drape it over my door and put my umbrella under it to hold all the water. Also my laundry line broke while I was putting clothes on it so I had to rescue some underwear from my dirty floor. Not surprisingly this made me curse the Czechs (or, more accurately, my dorm’s) lack of laundry facilities.

Saturday night things began to perk up. I went down to my friends’ room and we drank beer and watched cat videos for a couple of hours. We vowed to spend Sunday exploring the city of Brno.

My friend Alyson is quite the Indian food enthusist I’m told, so we planned to eat at an Indian restaurant called Goa. Like most things in the Czech Republic, it was closed on Sunday. We headed out to a restaurant/hotel by the dorms instead and I ate “oriental chicken.” Somehow they snuck mushrooms into it, those sneaky bastards. My favorite thing about this restaurant was its choice of music. Amy Winehouse, club hits and a Czech cover of “Holding Out For A Hero.” Seriously if someone knows where I can find a cd of Czech covers of popular American hits from the 70s/80s I will be eternally grateful.

(Embarrassingly enough) One of the things I have been most worried about is…

What I’m going to wear abroad. In the past year I’ve had a fashion revelation—trading in my skinny jeans and cardigans for dresses with cardigans. Big changes, I know.

As the fashionita I am, I have been largely concerned with what I am going to wear abroad. Will I stand out as a crazy American with my brightly colored tights and dresses that would make an old church lady jealous? Would I be able to pick up some sweet communist fashion while I’m abroad? Unfortunately the only people who I have talked to about the Czech Republic are guys who wear baseball caps all the time and a very nice girl who doesn’t share my love of fashion.

I joined a facebook group for my study abroad program for the reasons that anyone would join a group like that: to stalk my fellow exchange students, boost my friend count on facebook with people that I may or may not end up being actual friends with and ask the occasional question. So I asked about the fashion there and what would be appropriate, and most importantly, would I have to wear a fancy dress at some point?

I finally got my answer and am relieved. Yes, my style of dress won’t make me stand out any more than usual and there will be themed parties such as “men vs. women, so you dress like a guy…famous couples, RnB…” And I am already planning out what outfits to wear to these parties. The one I am most excited about is famous duo. Could I repraise my ‘dead JFK’ costume from the Dead People and Mustache Party last October, complete with blood splattered Jackie O (too soon?) or should I go in another directon—Sid and Nancy, Lindsey Lohan and a bottle of alcohol (definitely too soon). My only issue is that I have to find someone crazy enough to want to be my blood splattered Jackie O.

And yes, there are thrift stores aplenty (unlike western europe) and I have already found some that I want to check out. Excellent.

Things I am beginning to realize

1. Relying on google translate for translating czech is very confusing.

2. oh god, I don’t speak this language. And I’m going to be living there for 3 months.

3. I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to pack as lightly as I want to (Do I need a fancy dress? Probably not. Do I want one just in case? Yes.)

4. Finding information on the CR that’s about places other than Prague is rather difficult.

Some Questions You May Have…

So I’m vain enough to think that people might have questions as to why I chose the Czech Republic and how to navigate the site (hi mom).

Technologies:

How do I respond to your posts?

JK guys, you can post comments now! It’s pretty self-explanatory and I don’t feel like explaining how to fill it out. You’re smart, you can figure it out.

Somewhat more interesting things:

oooo You’re going to the Czech Republic! Are you excited to live in Prague?

Actually, won’t be in Prague. I’ll be in Brno (pronounced Bur-no not like ‘bruno’ as I embarrassingly found out not too long ago), the second largest city in the Czech Republic. Its a big university town, and while apparently its a bit slower than Prague, it has a really young population which is something I wanted.

What will you be studying?

It’s complicated. Technically I am at Masaryk University in an ISEP (study abroad provider) program. At Beloit I am a communications major with double minors in European Studies and Anthropology (But I might be dropping that minor). So the program that I am on is called CESP (Central European Studies Program), and I will be taking a hodge-podge of classes. I am currently signed up for a Czech Language class, Cultural Anthropology in a Post-Socialist Society, Czech Cinema (which might be changing due to a credit thing) and I’m trying to get into an internet radio class. So basically everything.

Do you speak any Czech?

No. It’s an issue.

Why The Czech Republic?

I’ve always had an interest (well until IB History II Senior Year) in post-communism and in my history class I really liked how the Czechs integrated the arts into their process. Milan Kundera is a BAMF. I’m a unique snowflake who didn’t want to go to Western Europe, but too accustomed to toilets to go somewhere really wild. I found this program when I thought I wanted to do International Relations and it was really perfect for that. Then I found the radio classes after I switched majors and it still seemed like a good fit.

What’s Your University like?

It’s 40,000 students. I wanted to try a big university with the ability to run back to Beloit if it scared me too much. There are a lot of english classes. It was named after one of the founders of Czechoslovakia. It’s big.

Wow, your name is really clever! Where’d you get the idea? (Since I know you all care so much)

I shamelessly stole it from this guy: http://www.youtube.com/user/consumingfireprod he did a video blog of his semester at Masaryk and used the phrase. Also, I really love bad puns, especially ones that have to do with the Czech Republic, so you’ve been warned.

My First Disappointment

So I’ve been trying to get into this radio class at Masaryk University. I emailed the professor because the class was already full, not really expecting a response. He responds to me and is very nice and it appears that his english is broken. This excites me greatly because I’ve heard that the Czechs are generally unfriendly, you won’t know any when you’re abroad blah, blah, blah. So of course my first thought is that I have this adorable professor (he told me ”If you are interested to meet, I’ll be in Milwaukee area in early August.”) and possible first Czech BFF.

Since I’m a fairly creepy person, I of course google this guy and find a video interview. He’s from SAN FRANCISCO and was born in WISCONSIN. I am both deeply upset (loss of an imaginary BFF) and immensely relieved because I know we can bond over our Wisconsin-ness and I can actually understand his english.

Also, my biggest downfall is going to be trusting anyone mildly good looking that speaks broken english.