10:45 a.m. – CZ
Yesterday. Was. Amazing.
First of all, I’ve figured out how to work the heater-thing in my bedroom. No more sleeping in a hoodie!
Paula had a hair appointment yesterday afternoon (at a place called “Jane’s” or “James” or something…) close to the centre. We drove to a place where we could park (the Mercedes) and caught the train downtown. We walked to the salon, so I could get my bearings around Old Town. On the way, we stopped at a restaurant for some authentic Czech food. After we sat down and ordered our drinks, we realized we weren’t going to have time to finish before her appointment. We paid for the drinks and left. She went to her appointment and I went to a little bookstore ( well, Big Ben Bookshop). I looked for a good twenty minutes.
I had no idea what I wanted.
But, I was determined to get something, because I had an hour and a half to fill until Paula would be done. Eventually, the guy behind the counter walked over and asked if I was looking for something. I had no clue. I wasn’t in the mood for mushy/romantic, not really into sci-fi or suspense. Mysteries are good, but I didn’t want something that long. Thought about some Kafka or John Grisham…but that didn’t really sound good at the time, either. I looked at the “Local Interest” section…but I didn’t want a touristy-Prague book. Perhap something light, something witty, thought-probing but not requiring too much energy, or something beautiful. He looked to be about my age, so I asked him what he liked. He pointed out a few. The first one he pointed to was a contemporary novella called “Bonsai” by Alejandro Zambra. I think I’ve heard of it before. It was a simple looking book. He pointed out a few others, bigger novels and things. I picked up “Bonsai.” I read the inside flap. I’m going to type out what it says. It might be a little long, but bear with me (you have to be a part of the whole experience!)
Yesterday. Was. Amazing.
First of all, I’ve figured out how to work the heater-thing in my bedroom. No more sleeping in a hoodie!
Paula had a hair appointment yesterday afternoon (at a place called “Jane’s” or “James” or something…) close to the centre. We drove to a place where we could park (the Mercedes) and caught the train downtown. We walked to the salon, so I could get my bearings around Old Town. On the way, we stopped at a restaurant for some authentic Czech food. After we sat down and ordered our drinks, we realized we weren’t going to have time to finish before her appointment. We paid for the drinks and left. She went to her appointment and I went to a little bookstore ( well, Big Ben Bookshop). I looked for a good twenty minutes.
I had no idea what I wanted.
But, I was determined to get something, because I had an hour and a half to fill until Paula would be done. Eventually, the guy behind the counter walked over and asked if I was looking for something. I had no clue. I wasn’t in the mood for mushy/romantic, not really into sci-fi or suspense. Mysteries are good, but I didn’t want something that long. Thought about some Kafka or John Grisham…but that didn’t really sound good at the time, either. I looked at the “Local Interest” section…but I didn’t want a touristy-Prague book. Perhap something light, something witty, thought-probing but not requiring too much energy, or something beautiful. He looked to be about my age, so I asked him what he liked. He pointed out a few. The first one he pointed to was a contemporary novella called “Bonsai” by Alejandro Zambra. I think I’ve heard of it before. It was a simple looking book. He pointed out a few others, bigger novels and things. I picked up “Bonsai.” I read the inside flap. I’m going to type out what it says. It might be a little long, but bear with me (you have to be a part of the whole experience!)
‘This stylish, elliptically told Chilean novella is, as perhaps best described by one critic, “Brief as a sigh and forceful as a blow.” And indeed, the sweetness of the youthful love story at the heart of Bonsai belies its absorbing power.
The tale of a young writer who falls for a woman who disappears while he is pretending to edit a book that doesn’t exist, it brilliantly explores the relationship between art, love, and life. And with a beguiling form that seems whimsical on the one hand, wiser-than-its-years on the other, it is a work of such striking originality and unusual beauty as to make it seem both simple and profound. It is, clearly, the debut of an important new writer.’
I asked the guy why he liked it. He said, “It’s beautiful.”
I was sold.
I bought the book and headed back to the restaurant we’d just tried. I was determined to try the goulash with dumplings. I attempted to get a picture, but didn’t use the flash. It’s not very clear.
Goulash is pretty good. It’s a Bohemian peasant dish – cheap and filling.
When I finished, my waiter brought me my check. He ever-so-nicely told me that the 126 koruna amount on the ticket was the cost of my meal, but that amount didn’t include “service.” He had a calculator with the 145 koruna amount, including “service.” Normal Czech restaurant-goers don’t usually tip. But, those places in the touristy areas know that we Americans are expected to tip fairly well at home. So, they “expect” us to tip them when we’re here.
I laughed on the inside and left him 150, partially because I knew there was no way he would give me change, and partially because I was amused at his tactics and intrigued by his nerve. Perhaps he thought he’d fooled a naïve American girl, because he took my money and said “Thank you, goodbye” all in one breath. Like I said, he wasn’t going to offer change.
People are interesting.
Anyway, I left and walked back down to Starbucks on the corner. I stood in a long line to order a tall “white caffe’ mocha,” browsed the mugs, then found a seat and started in on my new read. The coffee over here is the best. Gah. I think it’s the cream they use. I dunno. But it’s amazing, and probably incredibly fattening. I wasn’t there long before Paula found me and we headed home.
Around 6:30 p.m. our taxi showed up to take us to Quit Night at the school. Holy Cow – not your average Quiz Bowl. When we arrived “Hey Ya” by Outkast was blaring and tables were already set out for wine and beer (provided by the school) to be purchased (by the glass or by the bottle). The night was a fundraiser for the year 12 students (11th grade) to go with Habitat for Humanity and build a house in Romania. So, those students were the servers for the evenings…even the alcohol. Definitely not American! There was a guy that stood up and spoke for a bit…I think he was the Romanian Ambassador….THE Romanian Ambassador. Cool, huh?
It was fun. We did pretty well on the quiz. We should have had a better score than what they gave us, but I won’t go into that.
This morning, I’m doing laundry. I also have to finish some paperwork for GST and send it in to my supervisor, Don.
I’m doing some team teaching tomorrow. I’m working with the year 7’s (6th grade) on writing paragraphs. You know, topic sentences, supporting details…that sort of thing. I have to come up with a lesson plan. Blah - stupid technicalities.
I hope to hear from the IBTS people soon. I don’t think I’m going to look at Sanaan’s apartment after all. If things work out with the seminary, that’s what I’m going to do. I figure I’ll hear something tomorrow, when the workweek starts back up.
The sun’s been out the last few days! It’s 23 degrees right now. It feels good.
Alright. That’s it for now. On to paperwork…
Much Love.
The tale of a young writer who falls for a woman who disappears while he is pretending to edit a book that doesn’t exist, it brilliantly explores the relationship between art, love, and life. And with a beguiling form that seems whimsical on the one hand, wiser-than-its-years on the other, it is a work of such striking originality and unusual beauty as to make it seem both simple and profound. It is, clearly, the debut of an important new writer.’
I asked the guy why he liked it. He said, “It’s beautiful.”
I was sold.
I bought the book and headed back to the restaurant we’d just tried. I was determined to try the goulash with dumplings. I attempted to get a picture, but didn’t use the flash. It’s not very clear.
Goulash is pretty good. It’s a Bohemian peasant dish – cheap and filling.
When I finished, my waiter brought me my check. He ever-so-nicely told me that the 126 koruna amount on the ticket was the cost of my meal, but that amount didn’t include “service.” He had a calculator with the 145 koruna amount, including “service.” Normal Czech restaurant-goers don’t usually tip. But, those places in the touristy areas know that we Americans are expected to tip fairly well at home. So, they “expect” us to tip them when we’re here.
I laughed on the inside and left him 150, partially because I knew there was no way he would give me change, and partially because I was amused at his tactics and intrigued by his nerve. Perhaps he thought he’d fooled a naïve American girl, because he took my money and said “Thank you, goodbye” all in one breath. Like I said, he wasn’t going to offer change.
People are interesting.
Anyway, I left and walked back down to Starbucks on the corner. I stood in a long line to order a tall “white caffe’ mocha,” browsed the mugs, then found a seat and started in on my new read. The coffee over here is the best. Gah. I think it’s the cream they use. I dunno. But it’s amazing, and probably incredibly fattening. I wasn’t there long before Paula found me and we headed home.
Around 6:30 p.m. our taxi showed up to take us to Quit Night at the school. Holy Cow – not your average Quiz Bowl. When we arrived “Hey Ya” by Outkast was blaring and tables were already set out for wine and beer (provided by the school) to be purchased (by the glass or by the bottle). The night was a fundraiser for the year 12 students (11th grade) to go with Habitat for Humanity and build a house in Romania. So, those students were the servers for the evenings…even the alcohol. Definitely not American! There was a guy that stood up and spoke for a bit…I think he was the Romanian Ambassador….THE Romanian Ambassador. Cool, huh?
It was fun. We did pretty well on the quiz. We should have had a better score than what they gave us, but I won’t go into that.
This morning, I’m doing laundry. I also have to finish some paperwork for GST and send it in to my supervisor, Don.
I’m doing some team teaching tomorrow. I’m working with the year 7’s (6th grade) on writing paragraphs. You know, topic sentences, supporting details…that sort of thing. I have to come up with a lesson plan. Blah - stupid technicalities.
I hope to hear from the IBTS people soon. I don’t think I’m going to look at Sanaan’s apartment after all. If things work out with the seminary, that’s what I’m going to do. I figure I’ll hear something tomorrow, when the workweek starts back up.
The sun’s been out the last few days! It’s 23 degrees right now. It feels good.
Alright. That’s it for now. On to paperwork…
Much Love.
No comments:
Post a Comment