Ein BEERliner?

Finally, here comes a summary of BERMUN. Well...not exactly. The only context, in which I've mentioned BERMUN here before was the crazy (train) journey we underwent to get there and I was seriously planning on writing a comprehensive BERMUN  review. And here I go: writing this on December 24, two months after BERMUN (I'll post it later; I have no idea what happened to my  neighbor's wifi, but the highly upsetting point is that I'm very likely connection-free for the Christmas break [ok, I can use the family computer, if I put up with windows......]). To defend myself, I have to say I had started writing such a post on numerous occasions, however, I was not able to produce anything even remotely satisfactory.

Those who were there have seen what they've seen and those who weren't, well, it would take too much explaining of all the procedures and the ridiculous officiousness-approaching language (which would be probably the main point of the whole post: "Honorable delegates, please keep in mind that throwing snowballs is out of order," or "Motion to proceed directly to lunch procedures," would be examples of that.)

As my 18th birthday approach (Feb 6), I was thinking what would be my first legal beer and I realized a horrible think: the beer-drinking-age in Berlin is 16 which makes my first legal beer that dreadful Berliner Kindl!!! The hypothesis that is currently keeping me sane is that THAT was by no means a BEER but a terrible whatever that insults all beers by calling itself a beer. 

I've tried regular Berliner Kindl (tastes like dog shit spiced with pigeon crap), green Berliner KIndl (tastes like vanilla-flavored rotting banana) and Berliner (probably better than Berliner Kindl, but that's like a blind amongst the headless, to stick with the metaphor).

I think I'l go for Murphy's. I realize, however, that lots of my friends will then condemn me for not being patriotic, so I'll have to think about it some more (let's face it: that's a pleasant assignment;) ). 

for your consideration: green Berliner Kindl

Berlin or trying to get there....

Today, we were to meet at Prague's main station at 8 AM to take the train to Berlin as we are attending BERMUN (Berlin Model United Nations) there. I (as always) relied on my father to give me a ride. But he said he'd take me just to Strančice, then I wa to take a train that was to go STRAIGHT to the main station. Well, at the Hostivař station, I had to get off the train, because it was unable to continue (the next stations didn't have electricity...).  So, instead of being there 30 minutes ahead, I sprinted like an absolute lunatic to come about 5 or 10 minutes late and find the other guys.... sitting on their suitcases, because the train had like and 2-hour delay... 

Then they told us our train was going from the Holešovice station.....

Well, after that everything went pretty OK. Once we were on the train, it went where it was supposed to go and we got to see some important places in Berlin.

ACH JO

...a je tu můj první post v češtině. Ne, že bych z toho měla radost, ale vzhledem k tématu by byla angličtina poněkud bezúčelná.

Jsem na pokraji zoufalství. Nemám pocit, že mě nikdo nemá rád, neutápím se v nešťastné lásce ani v alkoholu. Zato se nejspíš přestěhuju do jiného kraje. Může za to nějakých 14.8 (jak zoufale malé se to číslo zdá, a jaké následky za sebou skrývá) procenta občanů Středočeského kraje, díky kterým se hejtmanem tohoto stává DAVID RATH. Dá se k tomu vůbec něco dodat? Snad jen, že si hledám podnájem (jen ne na Znojemsku!!!!).

Taky se hodlám zúčastnit akce Díky Vládě, ve středu 12.listopadu před Strakovou akademií. Myšlenka této věci mi připadá rozumná. Ano, tato vláda není kdovíjak úžasná, ale provedla několik dlouho postrádaných reforem. Navíc jediná nabízející se opozice je dokonale odstrašující.

Inaudibly DID

This Friday, I participated in a student videoconference concerning elections (in a broader way then just the US presidential of  '08). It was a part of international project called Deliberating in Democracy. My task was to describe major Czech political parties to a bunch of high school students from Illinois. After a series of jokes me and my Czech colleagues made about English spelling of ČSSD or KSČM, I cowardly gave the poor Americans Czech spelling followed by translated meaning of those abbreviations and brief descriptions of these parties. I probably should have said something more, but we were running out of time due to their problems with microphones - we could hear about every other syllable. At the end, there was a woman holding 3 microphones in front of the one who was speaking. 

I consider this a good experience and I'm looking forward to the upcoming videoconference on death penalty (it also seems to be a more discussable topic then "how do you elect president in your country?"). 

Our principal rocks!!!

There's wi-fi in our school's study room!! Our principal just rocks. That's for the good news.

The bad news of the week (or, more likely, a decade) is the fact that I don't have the AC/DC ticket. I mean can you believe this? These guys are legends. They've been playing since 1975, I wasn't to be alive for the next 16 years by that time. Now, they are coming to Prague!! And, surprise: I WON'T be there. I'm still hoping they will release some extra tickets, but otherwise, I'm screwed.

There's not gonna be a point this time (not that the other times there have been  one. Today, however, I won't even try). 

Church of Flying Pizza Monster

This idea first came to me few months ago when I watched South Park with my friend. Mr. Garrison teaches the kids how they have to believe in God and there's a reaction: "If you believe in God, I want you to believe in flying spaghetti monster." Well, I like pizza way more then spaghetti. In fact, I love pizza and my relationship with spaghetti is rather cold ;). So I thought it'd be super cool to start a church, just for fun. Or like: "Why should I voluntarily submit to rules somebody made, I can make my own". Maybe there'd be like a holy month when you have to eat pizza for every lunch and because it serves a "higher purpose", the restaurants wouldn't be able to charge you...

Mentioning higher purpose, this of course has one of its own, like everything: I need money. Self-appointed messiahship seems a great earning opportunity. You can say I'd be tricking people, but the way I see it, other churches do that as well. They don't even give you a month of free pizza consumption every year. Seriously, how can anybody ever go there? 

Pondering it over and over, the idea gets a lot cooler when money's not involved. Than it's really the poking message it supposed to be. So I'll do some research on "what it takes to start a church to piss people off".  Meanwhile, I'll spend time on jobs.cz ..... and the hardly earned money on pizza, mozzarella and prosciutto. 

The best of US ?

This commercial was probably supposed to make me proud of being human (= belonging to the same race as these great athletes). Instead, after watching the Olympics, I have serious doubts about me belonging to the same race as, say, Phelps or Bolt. I'd say Phelps is a mammal, but most likely some kind of well-developed dolphin. And I say that with all due respect. Actually I think it's a compliment. Like you told Bolt he's a cheetah. But with all the test they do to these guys, facts like this would probably come off. So they they are just about the same as me or you. Just faster and stronger.

Once more on Malaga

As you may already know, I have spent some time in Malaga but I feel like writing about it something more than "I love Murphy's", which is obviously true but it also is pretty global. And Malaga is like 600,000 out of more then 6 billion...I think you all've studied fractions....
So, I went to Malaga for a two-week language course with EF ( http://www.ef-czech.cz/master/ils/destinations/es/main.asp?code=MAA ) and I really enjoyed it. I wouldn't have expected that I'd be able to understand something explained in Spanish, but it seemed really natural in no time. OK, I was looking something up in my dictionary all the time but I got what they said. Of course that the teachers adjusted their speeches for the intermedio bajo level, but I was still pretty amazed by my own abilities (compliment yourself, no one's gonna do it for you ,)).
I also really appreciated the international experience - I got to know lots of things about foreign countries and their cultures, some of them inspiring, shocking or "just" interesting.
That's about it, I mean sure I could give tons of funny stories but I'm already worried about my graphomania..... call it laziness, you're not gonna get these stories ;)

Vivat Boston

A few days ago I left sunny Malaga and came back home. I've had a wonderful time and - of course - didn't want ot leave. But then I left and it felt strange. I just left my keys on the table and slammed the door. Then Ajka and I just sat in front of school a waited for the taxi. And Mary Luise got up at like 4 A.M. to say goodbye. She is one of the people I met there I miss the most.

Earlier that night we went for a walk by the sea and to find a bar we'll like (because some of us wanted to go to Namaste -nice place, but we've been going there all the time- and the others -including myself- would've prefered Celtic Druids Irish Bar which just rocks but it's in the center and the Namaste people didn't want to pay for the bus and didn't like beer!!!!). But the place we found was incredible - they kept bringing peanuts, popcorn and candy to our table :)). We talked - among other stuff - once again about "you have to come to Canada/Czech republic, I'll let you stay in my house and give you food for free....." and then about how some people say they are coming back here next summer. I don't think I am but as we spreaded the Canada idea, an interesting proposal came up - go to Boston (it's like a 14 hour ride to Rimouski,QC where Mary Luise, Maxime and Mary Elizabeth live....). I've always wanted to go Boston, and I also planned to study English next summer. I just love that idea. (this picture is from the last night and was taken by Ella from Netherlands)

Vivat Vegas

(as drafted on July, 13 in the school garden)

I'm in Malaga, Spain and I love it here ,). I share my residence room with Catarina(Italy) and Rikke(Denmark)....and our bath-tub is just huge;). Here in the school are people from all around the world - Denmark (suprisingly high number of them), England, Italy, France, Quebec, Portugal, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Alberta, California, Rhode Island, New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania.....I could go on but I think you have the picture.
When I arrived here I thought it would be to go to the movies here,......to watch something in English with Spanish subtitles(to study, of course.)). So yesterday, when my friends were gone to Marocco and Granada, I went. I wanted to see Incredible Hulk but I didin't find the theatre I was looking for and I accidentaly ran into another one :D...Iron Man was just starting and I decided to go. I already saw that one but I loved it. I was so lucky to make this decision. It was dubbed. Whooooey me.
But as it's been pointed out to me in a nice place called Celtic Druids Irish Bar over even nicer pints of Murphy's and Guinness, we are in Malaga, Spain. I didin't get the idea but Mary Louise was kind enough to explain that we are far from our homes (OK, her home in Rimouski, QC is further then Czech Rep., but I'd say even that works) and most importantly our parents. So whatever happens here doesn't really count. Like we were in Vegas. I love Vegas.

Philosopher's Point 2

Today is a very significant day. Not only it is the Independence day but more importantly (sorry US patriots) it is the first day of 43rd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. I was there last year and it was really awesome. But to prove the point the philosopher made, I will not be there this year because I'll be in Spain.

I should admit that I already knew I wouldn't be able to go to KVIFF when I booked my Spanish course in Malaga therefore I shouldn't whine. And I really am happy about the whole Spanish thing, but KVIFF is soooooo wonderful.

Well, yeah, I'm going to Malaga for two weeks to learn some Spanish. Athough I've already taken two years of Spanish lessons with Mr. Štang at Gymnázium Nad Alejí, my level is not what it's supposed to be. To be honest, it's not really his fault...

So now I'll go and shorten few hours of waiting with sleep. Good Night and Good Luck ;)

P.S.: I'll send postcards ,)

Great Philosopher's Point

This post has nothing to do with me recently finishing Happy Death by Camus. It's more about what happenned last night in Rock Café, Prague: Flogging Molly concert. Great US punkrock band (celtic punkrock to be more precise) comes to Prague. Did I wanna be there? Sure. Was I there? Sure not.

A quite similar band I like even better - Dropkick Murphys from Quincy, Massachussets - is coming to Roxy on Aug 12, 2008. Will I be there? Given that it's the future I can't say that with absolute certainty, but it's currently about 99.899% sure that I will not be there.

I'm sure you can see I have some pretty good reasons to be at the very least upset. Thanks to the kindest help of doctors Hofstadter, Cooper, Koothrappali and Wolowitz I got a little better and realized that the great pihilospher had a point:

About this blog

Whooey....I finally made it and started this blog. Even though I'm now writing in English, there may be some posts in Czech later on. The reason is simple: laziness. I can see myself starting a post in English, but then I can't come up with the appropriate word and insted of openning a new window in my browser and searching for it in an on-line dictionary, I just rewrite the whole thing in Czech (plus the on-line dictionaries aren't very trustworthy and the Macmillan Advanced Learner's or whatever-it's-called is upstairs and if I went there, I'd most likely got stuck by the fridge or something).