Whoopee!

M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S to everybody !!!!

Hey there! Yeah, you!

I am sitting in the study room, surfing on the Internet and doing exactly ... nothing. I should do something but I don't feel like doing anything. I'm tired. I almost didn't wake up in the morning. Things have been going quite bad recently and I'm pissed.

In about an hour I'm going to have a presentation about Open Door Policy but I don't remember my text so I will read it. I'm sure no one cares because it's almost a rule that people lose concentration after 7 minutes :-) And to be honest, this topic is not interesting at all.

At the weekend I went shopping with my mom. We wanted to buy some gifts for Christmas but we weren't very successful. I have no idea what to buy to my family. I would cancel this tradition of buying gifts. Christmas is about something different. I'm looking forward to staying at home with my mom, walking with my dog, doing "gaučing", watching good old movies (I can't explain it but I really look forward to watching Home Alone :-) etc. Whats not good is that I am going to study during this Christmas time. That is really not good.

I hate presentations.

Suzanne

What a surprise ...

I really didn´t know who I live with till today:) My flatmate is in Paris "being involved in the conference on human rights and democratic values." That seems to be very professional and academic! But it´s great. When I was reading it I thought that the last sentence will sound like: So, I am sorry but I have to go now. I forgot to buy that wonderful jacket at Vuitton and I am really worried that it will be sold out. And that would be A DISASTER! I would not have matching item to my new Vivienne Westwood´s shoes! That would be funny though. But some day it might be true. Anyway, I hope Suzanne is (and will be) ok in Paris - people there came out on strike.

Well, I have just seen my photos from my matriculation. It´s weird cause I am at most of them. I stand in the first row so everybody can admire "wonderful" Kate:) But on the other hand, I will have a lot of photos to show my grankids - one meaning of life at least.

I go now because I am hungry. I´m at home at my mama. Therefore there must be something to eat .. there is ALWAYS something to eat!

First Impressions

Hey people!

I am sitting in the Paris hotel Renaissance being involved in the conference on human rights and democratic values between the EU and Russia. It is pretty hot right now. There's a discussion about a relationship between Russia and the EU and it has been started by an innocent question asked by a girl who wanted to know what is a definition of "values" from the russian view and it, of course, made angry a main russian leader. The argue has become really hot.

Does the EU have a common opinion on Kosovo issue?

To say a few words about the hotel I am just amazed. The hotel has four stars so the rooms are truly beautiful, with amazing view from the window and with five pillows on each bed! We are all impressed.

The truth is that some kind of barrier has been built between Russians and other Europeans. To be honest I didn't expect this. I thought that if we launch this kind of discussion including more foreign students, the atmosphere will be open for all opinions and views, not only for expressing strong statements on particular topics. Russians are quite sensitive while talking about Kosovo or Chechenia.

I will write more when I get more impressions.

Suzanne

My only salvation ..

everybody knows what that is .. I feel just for it today .. boo ..

What a prospect!

It's November and that can only mean that Christmas and finals are drawing closer and closer. We are going to take the first exams very soon. I am sure we are both stressed and scared. Hard to believe the time passes so quickly.

I have great news. I am going to Paris next week! I am so happy that my school offers these opportunities. I've met princess Ann, I am going to Paris and in MarchI will go to Brussels. This trip to Paris is completely for free. Everything is paid by the organization. That's even better! And what's more I won't miss any class because my flight is on Thursday evening and return is on Sunday. And what's the best - we have holidays on Monday!

I am sad because Kate goes home every weekend and leaves me here. I understand that it's better to be at home, there are better conditions for studying and sleeping. Private happiness.

I am not really sure if someone reads our lines. There are no comments. Maybe someone could be so nice and make us happy by leaving some warm words for us ;-)

Suzanne

The Daily Distaste

As Suzanne wrote, everything is bad...not everything but almost everything! I found out couple days ago that I will have to take horrible exams from math. It wont be just one!
The good news is I have days off next week...I will have to babysit my sister´s dogs next weekend so I will have the strenght for it after those days off which is great. Otherwise I would have to kill them..what a nice positive sentence to end with:)

Kate

On duty

Ufff

We've oficially begun studying at university and feeling desperate. Almost every day we get up at 6am. That's the worst thing I'm not able to manage. I'm asking myself "why?". I'm not going to write everything here because I have no time for it and don't really feel like complaining.

All I want to say is I don't regret anything. So far.

Suzanne

Ugh

Hello boys and girls

I am absolutely exhausted. The reason? The entering to subjects at uni is coming and I don't understand anything, I am looking into a list of subjects and am getting blind of it. I am mad.

Kate wrote very interesting news to our quick news column. I'm not actually with my boyfriend right now but maybe I will. I would like to go to the cinema because the weather is horrible, I don't know what to do but I am sure I don't want to see the subjects and schedules and anything about uni now. Kate's boyfriend is sick and I'm really truly sorry for him. I hate vomiting. I can stand many things but vomiting. Ble.

I'm working on finding a part-time job. I am going to inerview next week. Think of me. I am scared. I really need a job (or money).

There are a few days left before school starts. Tomorrow it's a holiday which is just great. We (me + my bf) are planning that I will teach him how to drive a car. It will be fun :-) I hope the weather will be better. I want to enjoy the last few days of doing-nothing.

Oh, I almost forgot to write about my get-together trip! ... I can't find words. I read about 7 km form the railway station to the camp but ... it was actually something between 10 and 12 km because the organiser knew that if he had said that we have to go 12km, nobody would have probably gone with him. So the beginning was interesting as well as the end. At the end we walked 4 km while raining!!! Just great! The most important thing took place on Tuesday when the director of the Institute of International Studies arrived and talked about how to register and enter the subjects. I am smarter and also more frightened.

That's all for now. I have to go to rack my head over the entering.

See you

Suzanne

let´s sing a song

Turn away

If you could get me a drink

Of water cause my lips are chapped and faded

Call my Aunt Marie

Help her gather all my things

And bury me in all my favourite colors,

My sisters and my brothers, still, I will not kiss you-

Cause the hardest part of this, Is leaving you.

Now turn away, Cause I'm awful just to see

Cause all my hair's abandoned off my body,

Oh my agony,

Know that I will never marry,

Baby, I'm just soggy from the kimo,

But counting down the days to go..

It just ain't living

And I just hope you know,

That if you say

Goodbye today I'd ask you to be true,

Cause the hardest part of this, Is leaving you...

Cause the hardest part of this, Is leaving you...

................Cancer, My Chemical Romance................

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8598560415125027655&q=my+chemical+romance+cancer+free+video&total=3&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=2

Kate

...I am allergic to some kind of people...

I am really exhausted right now. The thing is, that I spent yesterday and today in my new job. It is called a Course Registrar and it is in language school I attended last year. It would be fine but .. there is always the word but:) There is a "girl" I really dont like. She just thinks that she is the best in the whole world and nobody is better than her. She works there for a year. She is even arrogant towards our boss. She speaks brilliant English and therefore she supposes she is much better than everybody. I just dont understand people like her..

I am going to be there on my own next week. That will be very funny I think. I can imagine myself in front of the computer with a huge line of people, the phone ringing, my stomach growling ...that is the perfect picture! Or I will type here such a desperate blogs that I dont know what to do ...

Hopefully I will manage!

Suzanne is coming back today from her getting-to-know-you camp. I was kind of surprised cause I thought she was going to be back tommorow. But that´s ok:) I will be here just with Lucy anyway.

Anyway, I saw a gorgeous coat! In Zara... Its just amazing! I´ll put the picture here!! I wont!! :((( I didn´t find it on internet, booooo ... so I HAVE TO buy it now and take a picture of me in it!!


Kate

If you gave me three wishes I'd throw two of them away

It has been a week since we've updated our blog. I'm not sure if any news has been occupying our lives recently but I have time right now and my flatmate is sleeping (or trying to sleep) and I just need a little talk.

I kind of like the photo that Kate posted in her last article. It's a little bit depressing because it's too dark but if you look at it as if it's a sunset (or sunrise) then it makes you feel calm. And that's the way how Katie wrote her story. I agree with what she said there always must be a difficulty because that makes us stronger and grown-up.

On Tuesday I joined a reunion of my future classmates. We went to a restaurant called Simple Simon (in czech: Hloupy Honza) where we sat around a big table and talked and where music was quiet but nice. There are such interesting people I must admit. I'm going on a get-together trip next week and I'm quite nervous but also curious. All the things I am approaching to make me nervous and curious at the same time which is, in my opinion, a great mix :-) [with no irony].

I've also registered in Instituto Cervantes and I will attend the spanish course every Saturday from 9am to 1pm. I hope I get lots of information about university on the trip because I'm still not sure about the third language. I think I have to attend a language course so I've already made a decicion I will go to the French Institute and apply for Friday course from 4pm to 8pm. It's not a final solution.

Oh, I almost forgot ... I visited World Press Photo on Monday. It was mostly sad as usual. I didn't expect a change. The truth is I don't like the winning photo. I like the contrast - a beautiful car with nice people and destroyed buildings in the background but I just feel nothing to write about. Maybe because the people in the car look like they've just came from Hollywood and the situation hasn't touched them because they just seem to be posh. That's my feeling from the photo. I think there were better photos in the exhibition. Last year I liked the winning photo so much I bought a picture of it.

The Kate's fashion updates make me crazy. I'd like to buy a similar coat but I'm running out of money ...

Suzanne

Hiii peopleeee!

I am pretty sure that you should enjoy every happy moment in your life the most you can. Because the life changes in every second. I was so happy yesterday in the afternoon. We were sitting with Somelady in a coffee shop drinking a good coffee. I got a new job, we live in an amazing flat, my boyfriend was on his way to our place..but couple hours later, everything was different. The job seems to be still current though, but that´s all! :)) No, we still live in the flat too, but things aren´t so smooth as it looked like before. But on the other hand, it is not sooo bad:) (we didn´t break up or something either:)

But it would be maybe too boring I suppose...life with no problems:)

Anyway, there are "problems" and "problems". Some people find problems just everywhere eventhough there are not any. To say the truth, sometimes I am one of these people:) But I am trying very hard not to be. It´s very difficult, trust me:) But for example, my future classmates are already worrying about our new school duties and all things around..but why?? tell me why?? when you have no idea what everything will be like..you will just see..

good night everybody:)

Hi folks!

Nice to see you again. I am at my mother's at the moment. I spent here two pleasant days but I am glad I am going back to our flat soon ;-) Tomorrow I am going to register to university and that's what makes me crazy :-0 You surely know that feeling ... you want to go there because you're curious but on the other hand you are so nervous that you just can't. Boo.

The greatest news is that we both love our new apartment! We can't believe it. We really like it so much that we don't want to leave it for the weekends-with-parents thing. Our room si very adorable! Maybe we like it way too much just because it's only ours and we can basically do with it what we want. We can organize our day as we want and no one can interfere in our affairs. Whoopee.

On Saturday I was in the cinema to see a movie called Irina Palm. It was about a woman whose grandson was dying of some disease and the only way how to cure him was to send him to Australia because there they have found a new treatment. Their problem was money. The journey and all expenses cost something and they couldn't earn so much money in a short period of time. So here we go. This kind old lady had a plan how to get this money by working in a sex club. Not that it was a difficult work, she became the best in her domain. I was surprised that the movie turned into this way, I expected a sad real-life movie. When I got home one of my flatmates came up with a good theory that the surname Palm is actually connected to the job she was doing ... (Irina Palm was her nickname).

Now I have to go.

Suzanne

The settle down

How do you dare mašlovat these windows??

Kate will get a cold easier than ever now!

What the heck is that?

This doesn´t look like a dinner at all!

Where your treasure is, there will be your heart also

That ´s very nice quotation I think. It´s from a book I read in these days. The weather is revolting ... the time of coats and winter decoration is coming soo quickly .. I dont why but I feel like this every year .. everything´s gloomier than normally .. on the other hand, there is a couple of things that make me happy: the new fashion autumn and winter collections (oh yeah, surprisingly), the pretty colors of leaves and the spirit of Christmas. It might sound little bit like a phrase, especially the last one but I still feel that way.

But this year I will live on my own so it might change. Everything´s gonna change now I suppose.

Kate

Ž i j e m,

t a k ž e d o b r ý

=Gabi=

...... KATE´S COACH ......

What else can I say?? My dream came true!!!!!!!

Happy girls at home

What´s the most beautiful place when you are young?? Your own place!

That´s right! Tomorrow is our first night in our flat! There will be just me and Suzanne because the other girl is not ready to move. So you can visit us everybody is invited:) I suppose we will spend whole weekend decorating our new place...it will be fun! There is a lot of empty space..And we need to built our new wardrobe from Ikea, that will be funny! We´re lucky that Suzanne´s mom is coming to help us otherwise we would have our clothes in boxes till Christmas:)) No, it wouldn´t be so bad we´re skilful ladies and we have dexterous hands!

I add some pictures of my new stuff from the States...:)

I was so lucky I didn´t have too much money...in that case I would have to buy my own plane for the trip back!!

What can you find in the empty flat? Lovers.

Oh yeah. That was a really "nice" surprise. I was on my way to our flat where my brother with his friend was waiting for me with furniture. I couldn't open the door with my key so I knocked. There was a man behind the door. He said that our flat, according to the contract, is available from September 1st. That is true but our landlord agreed that we can start moving before this date. That man didn't even open the door, he was talking to us through the door so that was a little bit confusing. When he opened the door (after 20 minutes) he was actually very sorry for this misunderstanding. She didn't say a word. Then they left. It was really embarrassing.

But the good news! Beds, desks and a wardrobe are in the flat with all my things and tomorrow we are going to Benátky with Kate to take all her things. So we can live in the flat from tomorrow!!! My father already saw the flat and he liked it. I still could see in his face that he hardly believes we are moving. My mother doesn't have time because she goes every day to hospital with my granny and then to work.

I hope we will put some pictures here to show you the flat. Kate took a lot of photos and also made a video.

Have a nice day!

Suzanne

Start moving, get living!

Miss Kate is back with her new Coach purse and we are all happy :-) She has lots of stories to tell so I wonder she hasn't written any post yet. On Monday we went to the estate agency to sign the contract and I'm proud to tell you we already have our new rent FLAT! Tomorrow we are going to move the furniture and the next day we are going to move ourselves :-) Today I've already packed everything I need to survive the first days. I also packed all my underwear so I had to unpack it later ... yeah, I was so zealous! [btw this is such an interesting word. I found it in the dictionary and it means "horlivý"]. I cooked today as well. Ha ha. I wanted to cook pasta with chicken meat and vegetable ... and somehow ... I forgot to put there the pasta! :-D But everything is ok now, prepared for my mom as a surprise :-)

I think my mom is sad beacause of my leaving. I'm sad because she is sad :-) but she is brave. And my father still can't believe that we found a flat and that I am really moving there.

Because I've been a good girl I got a present from Kate. An american gift! What's more - A Victoria's Secret gift!!! Thank you very much, Kate!

Suzanne

Keep your eyes wide open

I'm back from Belgium. I needed some time to sort my memories out. Hm. I spent three days in Brussels and saw all the things I mentioned in my previous post. Someone asked me if I liked Brussels and I couldn't find the answer for a long time. Now when I'm thinking about it I would say Brussels doesn't have an atmosphere. I don't know how to discribe it. Prague has an atmosphere. What is the atmosphere like I'm writing about? It's like when you stop for a while and you can feel it ... When I stopped in Brussels I didn't feel it. It's not because Prague is my beloved hometown, I felt the same in London and Paris.

On the other hand, Belgium is beautiful. Full of green fields, small villages and so calm. I love travelling by train and we travelled a lot. There are beautiful houses made of bricks just like in England. We stayed in Fraipont where the Centre for refugees and asylum seekers is. There was a beautiful sunny weather when we arrived but then it was rainy and cold most of the time. The day of our departure was sunny. Fraipont is that kind of town where is only one main road with the necessary stores ("supermarket", library, newsagent's) and pubs. Just lovely :-) In the french part of Belgium we also visited Liege that is really beautiful. We went to a big market which was on the waterfront and also to the most famous pub - La Maison du Peket. Another trip, this time with the residents of the Centre, to Brugge and, again, it was very nice. We went for a cruise because almost the whole city is surrounded by canals and fortunately we had a beautiful weather so the cruise was sweet.

The other volunteers were nice and friendly. I really liked Tetsuhiro from Japan and the Korean girl. We all had really nice time together.

Now I'm at my mother's. We have a small family reunion because on Monday my granny is going back to hospital. And in the same day Kate, Lucy and me are going to sign the contract for our rent flat. One little problem has appeared. Yesteraday Lucy told me that we have to pay 7 300 Kc each on Monday. This money should have been paid by Lucy but she hasn't got her money yet. Kate is coming back tomorrow so it will be a big shock for her. We'll manage. I hope so.

I finished reading Kafka on the Shore at the workcamp. The story was wonderful. Now I have to go back to the History of the USA ... and believe or not I haven't even finished the first chapter :-) Ehm ...

So the plan for the next week is - moving! I am so sorry for my mother but I really have to move. There is no other way.

I look forward to seeing Kate!

Suzanne

"A person's got to have an appearance and name, don't you think?"

...

SomeLady

heey guys

I am writing from the states.... I have just found that I will have at least an intereting receipt for my cell phone... 949 czech crowns..o-oooouuuu but I am in touch with my lovely family..:)) I can face loooooong calls from my dad...
but... I am looking forward to go back home!! and to our new apartment! that will be so much fun!!I am also so glad that Zuzka is safely at home! Here is such a disgusting weather it's pouring all day... we have just came back from our cabin at the Big Sandy lake.. It was fun .... I had there my friend from the clinic Kristin otherwise I would be death from boredom..We are going for a dinner to some restaurant so I quess I have to go now .... see ya

Kate

Wait!! I got the COACH PURSE FINALLY!!!!!!!!!! THATS THE BIG NEWS OF THE MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You can't put your arms around what's already gone

SomeLady

A message from the Workcamp

Hello people!

This is my third day here at the camp in Fraipont, Belgium. I have a little time to use the Internet, so I decided to leave a post and let you know how it's going here.

I arrived on Monday and met my first volunteer-mate at the station in Fraipont, a lovely small town. She was from Korea and her name is Jihye, that's what I understood after talking to her for 20 minutes :-) Her name was kind of difficult to pronounce. She is very kind and optimictic, although she is not very talkative. She speaks English a little and French un peu :-)

There is also a guy from Japan. These two countries, Korea and Japan, are so far from here and these two guys are in Europe for the first time so I guess it's pretty interesting to come to a workcamp which takes place somewhere in Belgium rather than a regular visit of an european city.

I am actually with two Slovakian guys so it's not as exotic as it might look :-) When we are alone we talk in our mother tongues (and we of course understand each other) but we want to practise English so we talk with the others. I regret not studying French in July. I wanted to improve what I had learnt but because I knew that the spoken language of this workcamp will be English I didn't study anything. I regret it because French is used here a lot so I could practise. I decided I will continue learning French.

Yesterday we repaired a wall and painted it and today we made some decorations and drew on it and because each floor of this building has a different theme which are actually elements such as a water, an air, an earth and a fire, we painted the water floor. We also painted chairs but when we came back from lunch we found our paintings destroyed because some children from the Centre played with it a little bit ... that was kind of sad to see our work's been destroyed ... children are supposed to be angels, aren't they? :-)

There are lots of trips in our programme. We are going to visit Brugge, a nearby city with many canals. And we are also going to a Chocolate Factory! Sounds like fun! We will go to Liege as well. This city is popular for its football team, I think. There will be a concert and maybe we will visit another Red Cross Center, that's not sure yet.

We had a discussion with doctors from this Centre who talked about an asylum seeking
system in Belgium. I will write about it later because I don't have much time now. But the important thing for me was that I now want to know how it goes in my country...

I will continue later ...

Zuzka

Just to say hello

I am having nice time in Brussels. I am leaving for Fraipont tomorrow. I wish I had more time to write everything. I spent 40 minutes on writing ONE e-mail and it was only because I am not used to using this keybord :-)

I hope Kate is OK and having great time. I hope she will write me a message, she promised.

Bye for now,
Zuzka

Nazdarek !

Takze dnes taky pekne po cesku ... aspon to bude rychleji ubihat ze ...

Tak ja uz mam taky skoro sbaleno a myslim, ze tohle baleni byl muj dosavadni zivotni rekord. Musim balit velice, ale opravdu velice skromne! Jednak z toho duvodu, abych neplatila pokutu jako loni za prekroceni povolene vahy a jednak taky kvuli tomu abych tam mohla svobodne nakupovat obleceni ktery si pak povezu zpatky! Sice na to nemam moc financi, ale to uz je takovy maly nepotrebny detail ze:)

Ted jsem taky uplne popletena, volali mi z usa jestli je vsechno v poradku ...ztratila jsem nit:)

Akorat se stala takova dost blba vec. Vcera nekdy okolo 6 vecer se v Minneapolisu (hl.mesto Minnesoty)zritil most. Nastesti se nikomu z tech mych znamych nic nestalo. Jinak teda mrtvi a zraneni jsou, bohuzel ...

Mam docela strach jak se to blizi, abych to vsechno zvladla. No holt budu muset, nic jinyho mi nezbyva!

A az se vratim zpatky, tak nastava obri stehovani do naseho uzasnyho bytu do Prahy!! Na to se fakt moc tesim, bude to skvely!

Takze uz budu koncit, dneska bohuzel asi neobsahnu takovy velky prispevky jako Suzanne, ale musim jeste balit!

Přípravy na odjezd

Ahojky!

Včera jsem připravovala krosnu, tak dneska připravuju výlety po Bruselu. Vyhledala jsem si v průvodci místa, která chci navštívit. Jelikož tam jedu na víkend, tak si musím dobře rozmyslet, co kdy navštívím, páč o nedělích tam mají dost omezené otevírací hodiny.

V sobotu se pojedu podívat na hlavní budovy Evropské unie - Palais Berlaymont a Charlemagne - a na čtvrť Quartier Léopold, která trpí na úkor výstavby dalších budov Evropské unie. Dovnitř se zřejmě nepodívám, což mi ani nevadí. Prohlídka se dá totiž zamluvit po telefonické domluvě a vzhledem k mé telefonické fóbii a také vzhledem k tomu, že bych jim to musela vysvětlovat ještě v angličtině, do toho se mi vážně nechce. Vyfotím to zvenku. To mě potěší i tak :-)

Ještě tentýž den se zajedu podívat na Kašnu s čurajícím chlapečkem, což je symbol Bruselu. Je to jako kdybyste jeli do Paříže a neviděli Eiffelovku :-) Co mě ale totálně dostalo, je to, že oni toho chlapečka oblíkají do různých oblečků, viz tady nebo tady!!! V Bruselu se nachází i muzeum, kde vystavují všechny ty oblečky - je to Královský dvůr, kam se určitě podívám.

Potom si ještě dám procházku městem podle průvodce - je to výlet mezi Horním a Dolním městem. Zaujala mě Katedrála svatého Michala, samozřejmě. Katedrály já ráda. Je zajímavá tím, že se tam naprosto nehodí. A to proto, že celá středověká obytná čtvrť před kostelem byla stržena. Šlo o to, aby průčelí katedrály ještě více vyniklo. Dnes je katedrála tedy obestavěna ošklivými novostavbami a cukrovými domečky, které uměle napodobují staroflanderský styl. Během této procházky ještě navštívím třeba budovu parlamentu. To já taky ráda. Mám fotografii parlamentu v Budapešti ... se vztyčenou pravou rukou :-) ... [ech, to jsem někomu něco ukazovala, víte ;-)]

V neděli navštívím čtvrť Marolles - zde si dovolím popis z mého průvodce: Quartier des Marolles je typickou bruselskou čtvrtí. Tato ošuntělá, ponurá a současně životem kypící čtvrť není žádným "tajným tipem". Její morbinost si našla své příznivce. Vždyť turisté už dávno nechtějí vidět jen čisté a naleštěné části měst, ale zajímá je spíše realita. ... No nenavštivte to když o tom tak krásné píšou! Obzvlášť se mi zamlouvá to slovo "morbinost" [muhahaha]

Komiksy čtu ráda, ale vůbec jsem netušila, že Belgie má jakýsi prim v této oblasti. Samozřejmě znám Tintina a vím, že pochází z Belgie, ale spíš jako komiksovou zemi pokládám USA. Takže na počest tohoto umění, dá-li se to takto nazvat, se v Bruselu nachází Muzeum komiksů, na které nesmím zapomenout.

Budu se snažit pohybovat se po městě pěšky (to mám radši), ale uvažuju, že si koupím celodenní lístek na metro za 3,20 euro, abych se nemusela starat pořád o jízdenky a měla klid. Jinak, bruselské metro je známé svými artistickými stanicemi. V některých se umělci pořádně vyřádili. Např. ve stanici metra Parc je tato výzdoba - dřevěné figurky pod heslem Happy Metro to You. Koukám, že ten obrázek je fotka nejspíš nějakého turisty, takže předpokládám, že si dovezu přesně takovou i já domů :-)

Jinak úplně nejlepší zprávy jsou o naší bytové situaci. Máme totiž byt! Je senzační, je totiž velkej, umístěn na Vinohradech a cenově je přijatelný. Otec psal, že si představoval něco jiného, jako např. Malešice nebo Stodůlky .. tak mám takový pocit, že si to představoval asi ve chvíli, kdy nebyl tak úplně při smyslech. Na to mu sere pes. Stejně už je to tak na 98% jistý, že ten byt je náš.

Jak jsem psala, že na NĚJ kašlu, tak to myslím úplně normálně totálně vážně. Asi jsem se toho vzduchu nadechla tak, že jsem vypustila myšlenky na něho ven z hlavy. Což je fajn.

SomeLady

Máme rádi lentilky :-)

Ahoj!

...

Dneska to bude česky. Jen tak. Pro legraci :-). Protože jsme Čecháčci. Tak mám, Kaťulíno, vystavenou sovičku na stole. Moc hezké. Opravdu děkuju moc. A taky pohled - už je přišpendlen na nástěnce.

...

Dneska jsem začala balit věci do krosny, abych věděla dopředu, co všechno budu muset vyházet a mohla se na to psychicky do pátku připravit. Oblečení jsem zredukovala na minimum, což jsem následně musela zredukovat na pod-minimum, což je vlastně "skoro nic", čemuž se snad jedině rovná, že s sebou budu mít na sebe jen to, v čem tam přijedu. Jenže ouha! Když jsem do krosny narvala všechno oblečení, ještě ve stavu "minimum", a to připomínám - pouze oblečení - tj. bez hygieny, kosmetiky a bot - našla jsem na dně zip od spodní kapsy - a [teď přijde to nejlepší] ten zip se dal odendat a tím pádem se objem krosny zvětšil o tu spodní kapsu! Takže mám víc místa !!! Moje "skoro nic" jsem tam uložila bez problémů i s hygienickýma věcma, kosmetikou i botama! :-) Musím podotknout, že jsem netušila, že moje taštička s kosmetikou obsahuje 3 věci ... jako vážně. Úplně jsem čuměla - make-up, pudr a řasenka! Neberu si tvářenku, protože mi tam bude zbytečná vzhledem k tomu, že jedu do podmínek, kde budu spát ve spacáku a dělat si jídlo s dalšíma dobrovolníkama z celého světa. Neberu si ani žádné stíny na oči, protože bych tam mohla na někoho působit, že se o sebe moc starám vzhledem k tomu, že jedu do stanu, do spacáku a do mezinárodní dobrovolnický kuchyně. Nebudu zbytečně vyvolávat u někoho stres, že.

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Dneska jsem se koukala na Státní jazykové zkoušky. Chci si tenhle (školní) rok udělat CAE, ale ta SJZ by taky nebyla od věci. Luciferka jí má. Říkala, že to zvládnu. Dělí se to na dvě části - písemnou a ústní. U písemné se smějí používat slovníky. Luciferka mi vyprávěla, že když k té písemné zkoušce přišla, tak tam všichni seděli obklopeni asi deseti slovníkama! Ono prej nevadí, jakej slovník používáš. Lidi tam měli i třeba nějaký speciální slovníky. To jsem vážně nevěděla, že se to smí, když děláš jazykovou zkoušku. Nu což. Výhoda. Existují 4 SJZ - základní, všeobecná a speciální (tlumočnická a překladatelská). Pro roli diplomata se vyžaduje ta všeobecná. Nevypadá to složitě. K ústnímu kolu si uchazeč musí přinést seznam přečtených knih (beletrie) v rozsahu nejméně 500 stran. Ten Murakami, co čtu, má 615 stran :-) Ještě bych k tomu přihodila Absolventa, Farmu zvířat a kdyžtak ještě něco (když něco přečtu do té doby). O těch knihách se potom diskutuje se zkoušejícíma.

...

Co mě překvapilo: koukala jsem se do Společného evropského referenčního rámce pro jazyky, což je taková věcička, kde se píše, jaké zkoušky se rovnají jaké úrovni, které platí v Evropě a podle nichž se dá snáze orientovat, kdo má jakou úroveň. Například pro diplomaty požadují úroveň C1 - C2, což se rovná CAE a výš. A co mě právě překvapilo - oni dávají CAE a CPE na stejnou úroveň !!!

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Vypadla mi nit ... teď nevím, co jsem chtěla psát ...

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[po 3 minutách]

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No, ohledně jistého muže z ciziny jsem učinila rázné rozhodnutí. Seru na něj. Normálně. Opravdu. Už mě to nebaví. Napsal opět hromadný e-mail, kde se rozplývá, že pojede do Španělska a Portugalska a bla bla bla. Koho to zajímá? Najdu si jinou modlu :-) Platonika nezabírá.

...

Začínám se těšit na ten workcamp. Nevím, čím to je, ale je to tak. Nabrala jsem dech. Čerstvej.

Kate in 10 years

In everybody's life there's a point of no return [Haruki Murakami]

So the best news is that Kate is back! I really missed you, Kate. As I told you, I don't enjoy holiday much when there are no friends, everybody's gone abroad and I am usually bored :-) I am trying to start looking forward to the workcamp but it's really hard. I don't know what I should expect :-) The principal problem is that I hate being away for a long time. All I can stand is to be away for no more than for 4 days. And I'll be at the workcamp 14 days [ha ha].

I was in the cinema at the weekend. Actually twice. On Saturday I saw The Simpsons Movie which was amazing, hilarious, brilliant! It's a great piece of work that the makers've done. On Sunday I was with our friend Lucy to see the new David Lynch's movie - Inland Empire. All I can say is that it was again confusing. But I didn't expect anything but confusion. And the movie lasted 3 hours [heh]. During the screening 3 people left the hall :-D [What did they expect?!]. I remember I left a cinema-hall once when I saw a war movie and I did't like the bloody scenes full of killed soldiers [ugh].

Yesterday we should have seen a flat for rent but because of the high price we gave it up. The plans have changed so Kate and me will probably live with other friends. We will see. What I am really sorry about is I forgot to give Kate the CD with the English dictionary! That's a shame. I've written down a note to my diary but I forgot it anyway. Don't worry, Kate, I WILL give it back to you :-)

Kate brought a beautiful little owl to me! I like it very much because the owl is a symbol of wisdom. It will be my talisman which will bring good luck :-)

I found a nice picture which I'd like to share:

.:Zuzka:.

Heeeeeeeeeey!!!

I am back!! And I am so surprised how nice it looks here!! GOOD JOB Suzanne! :) I have to add something interesting as well! At least, my photos from the beach will be interesting enough I think .. sunburnt Kate, without make-up and with her wet and dishevelled hair everywhere ... :D

But I have to write that it was GREAT! I mean really amazing ... the sea ... I have never seen such clear and blue sea with my eyes .. it was sometimes almost kitsch and slushy ... I had a lot of fun under the sea - diving is beautiful. Unfortunately, just until you find out that you choke:)

As Suzanne wrote, I sunburt myself actually the second day but I did put my suncream on! It wasn´t enough .. HOT HOT .. sometime 40C° in the shadow ... HOT HOT HOT!

The second week I lived at my boyfriend´s flat. His travelling agency what he works for rented him a room in a house of a 80years old lady. She was very funny. Her cat was pregnant. One day, when we were cooking a dinner the cat started to give birth in the kitchen. That kind, nice, old lady started to kick(!!) the cat from the kitchen shouting: ,,You cursed slut! What a hellish bastards you have in your belly!" I swear, I was completely shocked and wasn´t able to make a single move ... Then, when she kicked the cat outside to the garden, she started to LAUGH so bad .. What a "fun"! Poor kitty ...

So that´s a bit from my croatian holiday :)

Who works on Sunday?

-= Zuz.=-

A Beautiful Day

Today is a beautiful day! My mother's arrived in the morning. I feel better because I am not alone. This week was sad.

...

We went shopping because there was nothing to eat in our fridge and we were so hungry! When we were leaving the shop a strange man walked past us staring at me. At first, we thought that he works in the shop and, because my mother is a heavy smoker, as soon as we left the shop she lit a cigarette, maybe he wanted to tell us that she is not allowed to smoke there (in the garage). BUT ... he went to the shop and we went to our car. Suddenly he appeared again! I was already sitting in the car so he spoke with my mom:

...

Stranger: "I'm sorry to bother you but ... I like your daughter"

Mom: "eh ... that's nice ... but... she is engaged" (I am not, of course)

Stranger: "Oh ... "

...

My mother was great! All I was able to say when I saw the man was "Mom! He's back! Protect me!". The man was probably 40 years old and looked aberrantly.

...

But today is still a wonderful day! I've started reading the book about the history of the U.S. The first thing I learned was how native people came to the North America - it was 15-20 thousand BC from Siberia to Alaska (přes Beringovy úžiny).

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My father has already booked the airtickets to Brussels. I'm leaving on 3 August at 3pm and it's the same day, I think, when Kate is leaving for the States. We are such enthusiastic travellers!

...

ContinuallyAstonished

art /a:t/ - noun = the use of the imagination to express ideas or feelings, particularly in painting, drawing or sculpture

Jan van Eyck - The Arnolfini Portrait (1434), National Gallery, London

Andy Warhol - Marylin Monroe (1967)

Zuzana Budinová - Orange (2006)

"So is your face"









Paris










Paris










Budapest (Vladka, me and Zuzka)

Seldom had he seen such beauty

Ten days ago I wrote in my post that the weather was horrible. It was rainy and cloudy. Now I have to say that the weather is horrible again ... but now it's sultry and sticky (35°C!!!).

I am home alone. My mother is at the cottage with her grandchildren and she is probably enjoying it [irony :-)]. She called me actually and complained to me about her grandchild Martin who doesn't obey her. [ha ha]

Today I was sunbathing in the garden. There were workers in the other garden who were building our neighbours' house. So I had an unwanted audience ... I don't like sunbathing because it's boring.

Kate is in Croatia and, as she wrote me, she and her mom got sunburnt. That must be very annoying. As I told her this is a typical czech characteristic - get sunburnt the first day of holiday abroad :-D

I've already booked a hostel in Brussels. I will stay there for 3 days and then go to Fraipont where the workcamp for volunteers is. I hope I will visit some European institutions because that would be shame not to see something from EU while staying in the capital of Europe :-P

The truth is that I don't look forward going away. I'd rather stay here with my friends. If only I went there with someone. I don't want to go there alone. I was alone in Paris and I felt ... lonely [obviously].

And what's more, I am ill! There is so hot outside and I have a cold! That's not normal ...


SomeLady

HEY YOU
MADONNA

Hey you,
Don't you give up, it's not so bad
There's still a chance for us
Hey you,
Just be yourself, don't be so shy
There's reasons why it's hard

Keep it together, you'll make it alright
Our celebration is going on tonight
Poets and prophets would envy what we do
This could be good
Hey you

Hey you,
Open your heart, it's not so strange
You've got to change this time
Hey you,
Remember this, none of it's real
Including the way you feel

Keep it together, we'll make it alright
Our celebration is going on tonight
Poets and prophets would envy what we do
This could be good
Hey you

Save your soul, little sister
Save your soul, little brother

Hey you
Save yourself
Don't rely on anyone else

First love yourself,
then you can love someone else
If you can change someone else,
then you have saved someone else
But you must first love youself,
then you can love someone else
If you can change someone else,
then you have saved someone else
But you must first

Hey you,
They're on the fence, you've got a choice
One day it will make sense
Hey you,
First love yourself, or if you can't,
Try to love someone else

Keep it together, we'll make it alright
Our celebration is going on tonight
Poets and prophets will envy what we do
This could be good
Hey you

First love yourself,
then you can love someone else
If you can change someone else,
then you have saved someone else
But you must first love youself,
then you can love someone else
If you can change someone else,
then you have saved someone else
But you must first

Hiiiiiii!

I am writing this post immediatly before my departure to Croatia .. It is pretty hard pack everything and not forget something, I can say! Especially not forget something so important like the fifteenth t-shirt or fourth swimsuits :o)) No, dont panic! I am not like this, I have only 6 pairs of shoes ... I like when I have the opportunity to choose from a lot of clothes and shoes and I dont have to reckon on just limited number. I see that some people might have problems to understand this:)) But my problem is, that my luggage can have 20 kg, yes, JUST 20!!

Im sure that it HAD just 20 kilos, couple minutes ago but I dont have enough courage to guess how much it does weigh now ..

I shouldn´t panic. It´ll be okay, definitely!! If I forgot the blue skirt, nothing will happen! Surprisingly, the world will stay the same like it was .. To say the truth, I´m not satisfied until I sit in the bus with my passport in my hands.

You dont have to feel guilty Zuzka if you have eaten so much chocholate, I am sure tommorow in the bus I´ll eat more:o)) I´ll have nothing else to do than just sit and eat!

I´ll take a lot of photos Zuzka! I even wanted to take my dad´s video-camera but I had forgot it in his car when he drove me home. The puppies were so sweet! There were 4 of them finally!

Zuzka enjoy your holiday here in our lovely country too! :o) I´m sure here will be many political scandals during my trip as usual so you wont get bored!

Kate

Work like you don't need the money.

Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching.

On Monday I swore ( = this should be a past tense for "swear" :-) I will never eat chocolate again ... and this week I've eaten more chocolate than usual!!! I know, bad, bad Zuzka ...

Today I am going to our cottage with my mother and, hard to believe, I look forward to it! I will take my books with me and enjoy the calm and quiet atmosphere. I'll also take a laptop so maybe I will write a post.

Yesterday I went to the post office to send the letters to university BUT I forgot to sign them! I called my father asking if it's a big problem and he told me YES! Can you believe it? I have to go there and ask them politely whether I can sign the letters because I am an idiot. I don't want to go there!

I hope that Kate will have a nice trip to Croatia although she will go there by bus :-( I promise, Kate, I will give you back the CD (with an English dictionary). I have already written a note to my diary so I should't forget. Take a lot of photos so you can post them here in our blog!

Have a nice time in Croatia, enjoy sunbathing and swimming in the sea and say hello to Martin.

SomeLady

Hey there!

I am the second part of our duo - Zuzka. The more I see my name, the more I hate it. So I'll use my nickname.

I have one little problem - I don't know how to arrange my summer holiday in order to manage all my duties and read all books I'd like to read and still have time for friends and my family :-( I feel helpless. I should make a schedule so I'll be able to do everything I want.

Kate - did you know that Satchel is a name of Woody Allen's son? :-)

The most important thing now is to find a flat, discuss it with other girls and start moving there. I think we don't have time this week because you are leaving but as soon as you come back we have to do it because then I am leaving for Belgium. I'll write down some flats which could be suitable for us and then we should meet each other and discuss it seriously :-) The truth is that I don't like indecisiveness and when things go too slowly because of that.

The weather is horrible! This is no summer.


SomeLady

P.S.: I had to change the "Check it out" archive because there wouldn't be the latest post on the main page, now it's perfect ;-)

Hey everybody!

So I am writing our FIRST post! It should be festival or something but the saddest thing is, that it is NOT. To say the truth, I was made to do it! If you know Zuzka, you know what I am talking about! If I would not do this, she would not let me sleep for days ... (months)
No, I am kidding! :o) I am unbeliveably pleased we have decided to make our OWN blog! At least, something is really ours! (meaning we might not find our, JUST our rented flat - but of course we will!! :)

The next reason why I am so excited is, that I can show my deviation for fashion and nobody will shout at me "OMG stop! I dont want to hear your stupid comments about neccesity of having the new coach purse." Ok, it is not usually like this, people usually at least pretend they are interested in my "coach issues"

But I have to go now because I am starving for hours! But we had to discuss very serious problems about our NEW BLOG with my chill-out (jazz) friend Zooza:)

Your dearest Kate