I am writing a film paper right now that has the word "crutch" in it. As I typed it and saw it there, I thought of the day I learned that word. Right now, the learning of languages is particularly fascinating me. (I've been hanging out with people who are learning English, I've been studying Czech, and had opportunities to practice Spanish and French as well.)
The day I learned the word "crutch," I was maybe 7, Cassie and Nikki Miles came over to our house to "play." (This was before I was old or cool enough to "hang out.") Cassie had injured herself somehow, probably playing volleyball at school, and she was on crutches. I saw an opportunity for acrobatics, even at that age, and said to her, "Cassie, can I try your crotches?" Everyone laughed, but I specifically remember Cassie being thoroughly amused, even more so after she corrected my pronunciation and watched me try precariously to balance on them, my feet dangling a foot or so from the ground.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Monday, June 30, 2008
Coming soon (in a few minutes): lots of new pics and stories!
But in the meantime, I wanted to share something funny- which is that as I'm going through my pictures, categorizing and such, I'm listening to Ani Difranco on my iTunes, and twice I've clicked to the next picture just as Ani sang a line with a corresponding word.. like once it was the image of a bunch of the other students reading books, and as I click Ani says, "I picked up a magazine." The other line was "We've got rings of dirt around our necks" just as I click to a picture of some rings I found in a jewelry store. That was kind of an interesting juxtaposition...
okay back to it.
okay back to it.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Ossuary
I saw a building full of death made art.
In it, two pieces of life joined thirty others on a stone pedestal in front of a larger flame,
the Lord.
I knew one of the faces in the fire, but not the other.
I asked the question by answering it.
She was 17. He was 23.
He blew out his match. I shook mine.
Then I took his sad words and put them in my heart next to my own.
I left that place a fuller person than she who entered.
In it, two pieces of life joined thirty others on a stone pedestal in front of a larger flame,
the Lord.
I knew one of the faces in the fire, but not the other.
I asked the question by answering it.
She was 17. He was 23.
He blew out his match. I shook mine.
Then I took his sad words and put them in my heart next to my own.
I left that place a fuller person than she who entered.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
I wrote a poem today
"Hold On"
I held hands with a stranger today-
Just for a moment as we passed-
A touch, by chance, of fingers to fingers-
The briefest of things, no time to react-
At least visibly, to dismiss or retract.
Only time to encounter and recognize-
For people were passing us on both sides,
And beyond them the buildings and windows and cars
This compact city, the world would've seen,
And we both had other places to be.
He had to go catch the tram, I think.
Buy a suit. Visit his wife.
I had to go home and write a poem
and then live out the rest of my life.
I held hands with a stranger today-
Just for a moment as we passed-
A touch, by chance, of fingers to fingers-
The briefest of things, no time to react-
At least visibly, to dismiss or retract.
Only time to encounter and recognize-
For people were passing us on both sides,
And beyond them the buildings and windows and cars
This compact city, the world would've seen,
And we both had other places to be.
He had to go catch the tram, I think.
Buy a suit. Visit his wife.
I had to go home and write a poem
and then live out the rest of my life.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Prague-ery Robbery. and pics.
K, so I'm sorry the title is lame, but it's not as lame as what happened.
Two days ago I was lying in bed- all day. Why? One, because I was drawing and studying and reading and learning and writing and stuff. And 2, because it was pretty out and I discovered my window does this cute Bohemian thing if I open the window but leave the curtain down (which I did in an attempt to let some air in but keep the bugs out.)
Ok, I know what you're thinking- that window is very nice, but what's this thing about a robbery? Well, see that room? That's my room. Someone else has seen my room who wasn't supposed to. At some point during that afternoon, had to be during the 3 or 4 minutes I was out of my room, someone went in and stole my relatively new cell phone and charger, my roommate's macbook and power cord, and my red leather wallet from Vienna, which contained about 700 czech crowns, 20 USD, and every credit card and ID card I own.
However- Allie (my roomie) and I are both lucky ducks because 1. we're safe, 2. I still have my camera, and as long as I have that I can continue enjoying my trip, 3. there were so many other things that could've been taken that would not be as easily replaced and could've thoroughly ruined the trip.
Okay, so that's the bad news. Of course this means, to all you lovelies who I just got phone numbers from 2 months ago, I'll eventually need all your numbers again when I get home and get a new phone.
What I've learned from this experience:
1. Even when you think you're being oober careful, you can never be too careful.
2. Don't carry all your eggs in one basket / cards in one wallet.
3. There are some thieves who will skip right over the signed travelers' checks sitting on the desk, and go straight for the cell phone charger that's on the floor in between the bed and the back corner of the room.
4. Where the Czesky Republiky police station is.
5. The Czesky Republiky police station is bright yell0w-green on the inside, and they speak zero English, and the translator comes in to work like once a week.
6. You can get along way with 15-crowns per meal if you have to- that's less than a dollar for a hotdog.
7. They have shiny red wallets at Tesco for less than 13 dollars.
8. I prefer my wallets red. And un-thieved.
And now, some pictures! Then I have to go write a paper.
^Heathrow airport in London
Two days ago I was lying in bed- all day. Why? One, because I was drawing and studying and reading and learning and writing and stuff. And 2, because it was pretty out and I discovered my window does this cute Bohemian thing if I open the window but leave the curtain down (which I did in an attempt to let some air in but keep the bugs out.)
Ok, I know what you're thinking- that window is very nice, but what's this thing about a robbery? Well, see that room? That's my room. Someone else has seen my room who wasn't supposed to. At some point during that afternoon, had to be during the 3 or 4 minutes I was out of my room, someone went in and stole my relatively new cell phone and charger, my roommate's macbook and power cord, and my red leather wallet from Vienna, which contained about 700 czech crowns, 20 USD, and every credit card and ID card I own.
However- Allie (my roomie) and I are both lucky ducks because 1. we're safe, 2. I still have my camera, and as long as I have that I can continue enjoying my trip, 3. there were so many other things that could've been taken that would not be as easily replaced and could've thoroughly ruined the trip.
Okay, so that's the bad news. Of course this means, to all you lovelies who I just got phone numbers from 2 months ago, I'll eventually need all your numbers again when I get home and get a new phone.
What I've learned from this experience:
1. Even when you think you're being oober careful, you can never be too careful.
2. Don't carry all your eggs in one basket / cards in one wallet.
3. There are some thieves who will skip right over the signed travelers' checks sitting on the desk, and go straight for the cell phone charger that's on the floor in between the bed and the back corner of the room.
4. Where the Czesky Republiky police station is.
5. The Czesky Republiky police station is bright yell0w-green on the inside, and they speak zero English, and the translator comes in to work like once a week.
6. You can get along way with 15-crowns per meal if you have to- that's less than a dollar for a hotdog.
7. They have shiny red wallets at Tesco for less than 13 dollars.
8. I prefer my wallets red. And un-thieved.
And now, some pictures! Then I have to go write a paper.
^Heathrow airport in London
^Kacin and Kacin Jr.
^Hello. We're not tourists. We can say Dobry Den.
^Rub the golden puppy on Charles Bridge for good luck.
^L to R: Amanda, Stephen, Patty and me on Charles Bridge in front of the pretty view.
^Funny sign on a picture vendor on Charles Bridge
^Pretty shot of the church steeple from my bedroom window. The bell is in that tower and chimes early on Sunday mornings. This is literally less than a stone's throw from my window. Very loud.
^I liked his building so I took a picture of it. This is not far from Jerome House.
^A cool door. These are fairly common in Prague. There are like 4 of them on the way to Tesco.
^L to R: Amanda, me, and Patty with our Pilsners and goulash at the Prague food festival. I got a legit souvenir fork.
^These guys were supposed to be walking around advertising the food festival, but instead they were being lazy and sitting under a tree so we took a picture with them. I wonder if they fought over who got the tall hat.
^Cool building and fountain by the park.
^I love the zoom on my camera.
^Pretty church.
^ Jesus on Charles Bridge
^Zomigosh, Valerie! I found "Mozart Desertdrink!" It was tasty.
^"Karlovy Lazne. The Biggest Music Club in Central Europe." Just off Charles Bridge- we are told it's extremely sketchy and to avoid it at all costs. Look at it... lurking in the shadows... It's terrifying...
^A random muzzle I found on an old fountain across from the park I went to. I found this at once frightening, comforting, and sad. What does it make you feel?
^A typical day in Prague.
^Rooftop shot.
^Vltava River
^Rowr.
(I thought her water jug was a video camera at first.)
^Cool statue. Stole this pic from Sam.
^This one too, though I wish I could take credit. It's a great shot. Well done, sir.
^This one, however, is mine, and I am very proud.
^I really. love. my zoom.
^Me at U Fleku, my favorite pub so far! This was the 2nd night in Prague. Their beer is really dark, and very good. They have their own brewery.
^The U Fleku courtyard.
^The U Fleku clock.
^Gorgeous view from the bridge. (hah, sorry Arthur Miller.)
^Self explanatory.
^Absinthe Time.
^Chris having fun in Absinthe Time.
^First outing with these ladies. They are wonderful. This was at "Bar 23," which was okay, but unimpressive after Absinthe Time.
^"Hey let's take a picture in front of this door!" aka, random pic after dinner the other day. L to R: Rob, Sam, me, Lisa, Stephen. Love these kids!
^I liked his building so I took a picture of it. This is not far from Jerome House.
^A cool door. These are fairly common in Prague. There are like 4 of them on the way to Tesco.
^L to R: Amanda, me, and Patty with our Pilsners and goulash at the Prague food festival. I got a legit souvenir fork.
^These guys were supposed to be walking around advertising the food festival, but instead they were being lazy and sitting under a tree so we took a picture with them. I wonder if they fought over who got the tall hat.
^Cool building and fountain by the park.
^I love the zoom on my camera.
^Pretty church.
^ Jesus on Charles Bridge
^Zomigosh, Valerie! I found "Mozart Desertdrink!" It was tasty.
^"Karlovy Lazne. The Biggest Music Club in Central Europe." Just off Charles Bridge- we are told it's extremely sketchy and to avoid it at all costs. Look at it... lurking in the shadows... It's terrifying...
^A random muzzle I found on an old fountain across from the park I went to. I found this at once frightening, comforting, and sad. What does it make you feel?
^A typical day in Prague.
^Rooftop shot.
^Vltava River
^Rowr.(I thought her water jug was a video camera at first.)
^Cool statue. Stole this pic from Sam.
^This one too, though I wish I could take credit. It's a great shot. Well done, sir.
^This one, however, is mine, and I am very proud.
^I really. love. my zoom.
^Me at U Fleku, my favorite pub so far! This was the 2nd night in Prague. Their beer is really dark, and very good. They have their own brewery.
^The U Fleku courtyard.
^The U Fleku clock.
^Gorgeous view from the bridge. (hah, sorry Arthur Miller.)
^Self explanatory.
^Absinthe Time.
^Chris having fun in Absinthe Time.
^First outing with these ladies. They are wonderful. This was at "Bar 23," which was okay, but unimpressive after Absinthe Time.
^"Hey let's take a picture in front of this door!" aka, random pic after dinner the other day. L to R: Rob, Sam, me, Lisa, Stephen. Love these kids!Tuesday, June 17, 2008
playing catch up!
Okay, so i hate that I haven't been posting more. Most of the time I've been working on various was of fanagling (sp?) my computer to capture the videos i've taken. Hasn't yet happened, and I'm desperate. I almost have a whole tape filled up already, and I only have 4 left, and I can't record over them until they are backed up onto my computer. SO. Apparently there's a mac store in Prague, and chances are very good they'll speak English there. I'm going to check it out today after class (elementary czech, 9:00-12:30).
So, let's rewind.
Monday night adventure! Chris, Stephen, Sam and I went to dinner at "U Fleku" [ http://www.ufleku.cz/ ] which is a pub I was excited to check out because they have their own brewery. They make a dark 12-degree beer, which was delicious (and is more potent than the lighter 10-degree you find other places). Then a waiter came around with a tray of shots, and offered it to us. It's called "becherovka" and it's a 38% alcohol drink that tastes, Chris and I agreed, like ginger. We gave them a try... I'm not sure if I liked it or not. I'll have to try it again. ;) The food at U Fleku was delicious. I got roast pork with kraut and dumplings. Goulash is also very popular here in CZ. After dinner, we began what was going to become the most intense night of bar-hopping I've ever encountered.
Well... i mean it's the only night of bar-hopping I've ever encountered, but I still think it was
pretty intense.
The four of us went half a block or so from the pub and came across a bar called "Absinthe Time." It was, clearly, an absinthe bar. Then we headed back to the hotel where we picked up about 300 other students (and by that I mean like 7 or 8) and continued on to another bar called "Bar 23," where we had 10-dgree beers. (By the way, just to give you guys perspective, the beer here is cheaper than the water. You can get about a liter of beer for equal to $1.50 USD.) After that bar, we went to a third. I'm not sure why we did this. It was a very cool place- underground, like a lot of the bars and clubs here, and the ceilings were curved like a cave. And they were playing michael jackson. it was a pretty snazzy dance club, it's just that it was a monday night and nearly no one was there. I was drinking red bull by then, just trying to keep up with everyone else's energy. After that, I was dying to get home- this is getting on toward 1:00am I think. I was falling asleep like crazy and just wanted to go to bed - but no one else was going home, and I wasn't about to go by myself. So we all went to yet another bar- this one goes from room to room to room, each one a little lower in the ground. I nearly fell asleep on a bench there, and Chris took pity on me and agreed to walk back with me. I slept well that night but not nearly long enough.
Tuesday!! Orientation.
9:00 we gather in the lobby, and follow the student assistants (sa) to the college (CHP). There we get assigned our chip cards, which grant us access to the school building and library books. Then we had a crash course in Czech language. (I'm looking forward to working with this professor- she is crazy.) I realized during this that my challenge in the class and the language is going to be learning the numbers. They're sort of complicated.
Next we went to lunch with a random group of students and one of the advisers. I went with Sam, Zi, Lisa, Kylie (sp?), and Lonny (sp??). We went with Alzbeta, the program coordinator lady. She was very nice and fun to be with, and she taught us how to tip waiters. (Minimally.) DAD- I had this GARLIC SOUP with quail egg in it. It was one of the most delicious things I've ever experienced. I'm taking you here and you're getting this soup when you and Mom come up. (Hi Mom!) I also had a plate of roasted tomatoes with cheese and asparagus.
After lunch, Alzbeta took us around town a little and showed us useful and important places like drug stores and places we could go to see doctors if we need to. She even took me and Sam to a store to get the plug adapters we needed. Then we went back to the school, got talked at for a long time about important things that I couldn't for the life of me focus on, and finally went back to the hotel to rest and get ready for dinner.
We went to dinner at this beautiful place right on the river. We ate in this ENORMOUS open tent area, with pre-determined menus. I had chosen the salad with pomegranate and orange dressing, followed by a marinated salmon steak on some fancy cous cous, followed by a desert of different fruit sorbets. I had about a half a glass of white wine with my dinner, and afterwards a cup of "kava" (coffee). Although when you order coffee here you get a cup of espresso. (Again, I thought of you, Dad. It was a pretty small cup.) Dinner was fantastic. Just before we began to eat, Stary, the program director, stood up and made a toast, and with great mirth, officially declared the program in session. I can't wait to get this footage up on here- this guy is fantastic.
After dinner, Zi, Shu, Sam, Kate, Rob, Stephen, Chris and I walked around the touristy part of Prague. (haha.. ok sorry. the MOST touristy part.) We went over the big famous bridge (Charles maybe?) and made some purchases, including some zmrzlina (ice cream). We watched some musicians playing on the bridge on the way back- the whole thing was beautiful. (Just... there were a ton of tourists who don't know how to walk in a straight line.)
AFter a while we headed back to the hotel to change out of our formal clothes. Then Rob, Kate, Lisa and I went out to a little underground bar just around the corner from our hotel and had a pivo which was light, but the menu said it was 12-degree. I don't know how it works. Anyway there was a dog hanging out in that bar- a beautiful big black lab. One of the ppl who worked there kept throwing this big dog toy under people's tables and the dog would go and disrupt their drinking to retrieve it. It was actually pretty hilarious. Jack, you would've gotten a huge kick out of it.
After that we came back to the hotel, I messed with my camera and computer a little more, to no avail, and finally gave up and went to sleep.
Wednesday (today).
I randomly woke up around 4:30. The sun hadn't come up yet but there was the slightest hint of blue in the sky. You know how sometimes you just wake up at random times, open your eyes, and realize you have absolutely no interest in going back to sleep? That was one of those times. I went and got a cup of the juice I have in fridge down the hall, and began messing once again with footage and chatting with people from home who were getting ready for bed.
Now I'm super tired and would like to go back to sleep, but I have to go get breakfast and get ready to head out for classes. My roommate (I now have one! she's cool!) is still asleep. I've been moving around here since 4:30- she sleeps through anything! Which is good for me cause I like to get up early.
Thanks for reading! If you have any comments or questions or professions of love, email me:
kacinmenendez2007@u.northwestern.edu
p.s. Hi family! I'm working on the calling card thing. I'll figure that out today and give you guys a call. I love you!
So, let's rewind.
Monday night adventure! Chris, Stephen, Sam and I went to dinner at "U Fleku" [ http://www.ufleku.cz/ ] which is a pub I was excited to check out because they have their own brewery. They make a dark 12-degree beer, which was delicious (and is more potent than the lighter 10-degree you find other places). Then a waiter came around with a tray of shots, and offered it to us. It's called "becherovka" and it's a 38% alcohol drink that tastes, Chris and I agreed, like ginger. We gave them a try... I'm not sure if I liked it or not. I'll have to try it again. ;) The food at U Fleku was delicious. I got roast pork with kraut and dumplings. Goulash is also very popular here in CZ. After dinner, we began what was going to become the most intense night of bar-hopping I've ever encountered.
Well... i mean it's the only night of bar-hopping I've ever encountered, but I still think it was
pretty intense.
The four of us went half a block or so from the pub and came across a bar called "Absinthe Time." It was, clearly, an absinthe bar. Then we headed back to the hotel where we picked up about 300 other students (and by that I mean like 7 or 8) and continued on to another bar called "Bar 23," where we had 10-dgree beers. (By the way, just to give you guys perspective, the beer here is cheaper than the water. You can get about a liter of beer for equal to $1.50 USD.) After that bar, we went to a third. I'm not sure why we did this. It was a very cool place- underground, like a lot of the bars and clubs here, and the ceilings were curved like a cave. And they were playing michael jackson. it was a pretty snazzy dance club, it's just that it was a monday night and nearly no one was there. I was drinking red bull by then, just trying to keep up with everyone else's energy. After that, I was dying to get home- this is getting on toward 1:00am I think. I was falling asleep like crazy and just wanted to go to bed - but no one else was going home, and I wasn't about to go by myself. So we all went to yet another bar- this one goes from room to room to room, each one a little lower in the ground. I nearly fell asleep on a bench there, and Chris took pity on me and agreed to walk back with me. I slept well that night but not nearly long enough.
Tuesday!! Orientation.
9:00 we gather in the lobby, and follow the student assistants (sa) to the college (CHP). There we get assigned our chip cards, which grant us access to the school building and library books. Then we had a crash course in Czech language. (I'm looking forward to working with this professor- she is crazy.) I realized during this that my challenge in the class and the language is going to be learning the numbers. They're sort of complicated.
Next we went to lunch with a random group of students and one of the advisers. I went with Sam, Zi, Lisa, Kylie (sp?), and Lonny (sp??). We went with Alzbeta, the program coordinator lady. She was very nice and fun to be with, and she taught us how to tip waiters. (Minimally.) DAD- I had this GARLIC SOUP with quail egg in it. It was one of the most delicious things I've ever experienced. I'm taking you here and you're getting this soup when you and Mom come up. (Hi Mom!) I also had a plate of roasted tomatoes with cheese and asparagus.
After lunch, Alzbeta took us around town a little and showed us useful and important places like drug stores and places we could go to see doctors if we need to. She even took me and Sam to a store to get the plug adapters we needed. Then we went back to the school, got talked at for a long time about important things that I couldn't for the life of me focus on, and finally went back to the hotel to rest and get ready for dinner.
We went to dinner at this beautiful place right on the river. We ate in this ENORMOUS open tent area, with pre-determined menus. I had chosen the salad with pomegranate and orange dressing, followed by a marinated salmon steak on some fancy cous cous, followed by a desert of different fruit sorbets. I had about a half a glass of white wine with my dinner, and afterwards a cup of "kava" (coffee). Although when you order coffee here you get a cup of espresso. (Again, I thought of you, Dad. It was a pretty small cup.) Dinner was fantastic. Just before we began to eat, Stary, the program director, stood up and made a toast, and with great mirth, officially declared the program in session. I can't wait to get this footage up on here- this guy is fantastic.
After dinner, Zi, Shu, Sam, Kate, Rob, Stephen, Chris and I walked around the touristy part of Prague. (haha.. ok sorry. the MOST touristy part.) We went over the big famous bridge (Charles maybe?) and made some purchases, including some zmrzlina (ice cream). We watched some musicians playing on the bridge on the way back- the whole thing was beautiful. (Just... there were a ton of tourists who don't know how to walk in a straight line.)
AFter a while we headed back to the hotel to change out of our formal clothes. Then Rob, Kate, Lisa and I went out to a little underground bar just around the corner from our hotel and had a pivo which was light, but the menu said it was 12-degree. I don't know how it works. Anyway there was a dog hanging out in that bar- a beautiful big black lab. One of the ppl who worked there kept throwing this big dog toy under people's tables and the dog would go and disrupt their drinking to retrieve it. It was actually pretty hilarious. Jack, you would've gotten a huge kick out of it.
After that we came back to the hotel, I messed with my camera and computer a little more, to no avail, and finally gave up and went to sleep.
Wednesday (today).
I randomly woke up around 4:30. The sun hadn't come up yet but there was the slightest hint of blue in the sky. You know how sometimes you just wake up at random times, open your eyes, and realize you have absolutely no interest in going back to sleep? That was one of those times. I went and got a cup of the juice I have in fridge down the hall, and began messing once again with footage and chatting with people from home who were getting ready for bed.
Now I'm super tired and would like to go back to sleep, but I have to go get breakfast and get ready to head out for classes. My roommate (I now have one! she's cool!) is still asleep. I've been moving around here since 4:30- she sleeps through anything! Which is good for me cause I like to get up early.
Thanks for reading! If you have any comments or questions or professions of love, email me:
kacinmenendez2007@u.northwestern.edu
p.s. Hi family! I'm working on the calling card thing. I'll figure that out today and give you guys a call. I love you!
Monday, June 16, 2008
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