Czech It Out

This past week has been my most American…

Let me recap:

-Friday—went ice skating at an actual MALL which was super nice and had those quick hand dryers that I only see in American airports/the L train stations.  On another note, it was Fran’s & Ercan’s first time ice skating and was adorable.  Fran was a little shaky but Ercan took to it quite nicely.  Afterwards ate SUBWAY for the first time in forever, had a drink that was pure ICE and ate a oatmeal raisin cookie for the first time in ever.

-That weekend: mainly in my pjs, eating slim jims, avoiding life. Typical american college student (what has masaryk done to me??)

-Monday: Eat at McDonalds for the second time here, have a real SALAD with no oil or anything on it.  Had garlic dressing which is the closest thing to ranch here.  

-Today: Ate at mcdonalds again out of desperation and hungoverness (sorry mom) and had chicken mcnuggets for the first time in ages.  felt awful about myself.

Half my conversations with people (north americans) here is about food.  I can’t wait to eat mexican, culvers, bww, my mom’s cooking and el mezcal again.  I think junior year I will finally gain the freshman 15. 

I’m nearing my last days in Brno, I leave sunday morning/saturday night.  I cry at least twice a day here, but more on that later.  

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. 

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Alright Czechs, I know your secret…

Whenever I research the Czech Republic online and their attitudes towards foreigners the general consensus is: “the Czechs are unfriendly and, as a foreigner you probably won’t meet any because they keep to themselves.”* However, all the Czechs that I’ve talked to (so far) have been incredibly nice and helpful and friendly.  Mind you, I’ve only talked to approximately three of them, but that’s still enough to persuade me. 

I’ve talked to my “czech buddy” Martin a bit and he is super nice (at least through email) and extremely helpful. All of our exchanges include lots of smiley faces and exclamation points, which I am perfectly fine with. I also think he shares my obsession with skype, but that’s only a hunch.  I asked him about banking abroad and he offered to go to different banks and see how it all worked for me.  I’m beginning to think that he might be nicer than some Americans I know.  Maybe he is just eager that I am his “first student from USA about whom I take care:).” Either way, if I play my cards right,  I can possibly score a home cooked meal from him some time. 

I’ve also had some Czechs add me through facebook (lame, I know. But I joined this group for my program and it makes me feel like a freshman again—gossiping about dorms, introductions, what to bring etc.) and they (okay, one girl who insists I call her Michelle instead of her given name Michaela) are excited that I love art and fashion and wearing dresses.  So new friends all around.

And of course there is Martin, my ISEP ambassador while I’m in the Czech. If I was more poetic (and if I could think of more words that rhyme with Martin other than “tartan”) I would write him a poem. He’s done so much for me already.  Calmed me down when I’ve freaked out about dorm placements, called insurance companies for me, sent me generic emails regarding orientation week etc.  I just want to bake him chocolate chip cookies when I arrive.  

Who knows, maybe I’ve just met the only friendly Czechs, or perhaps I have a personality that just meshes with the people. Or maybe ya’ll are secretly friendly. I am probably being presumptuous here, but I’ll let you know in about two weeks when I’m all settled in and whatnot.

*This is not my opinion, just something that I’ve read from students who have gone on my program and various websites.