My Puzzle and The Awards
15 years ago
Friday, December 26, 2008
update
finished the semester strong and lost my voice from consuming too much alcohol. still a little hoarse now (a week later) but it's practically gone. being with ari and sam has rocked, and the fam joined up too. we are now in budapest, enjoying the whole shabamm, then off to krakow and back to prague. the fam will be parting from us then, and sam, ari, and i will begin our trip to morocco (via brussels for beer and waffles and spain for not sure what yet)! merry xmas to all, and happy new years too!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Post-Berlin through Czech fina
Alritey, just a very quick update because I feel bad for not doing so in a while but am a little lazy.
Germany was fun, and I have no real desire to return - unless its Christmas time again. For one, Christmas in Berlin is aweseme, even though its Berlin. The wall was pretty strange, especially how there is literally just bricks in the middle of concrete to show you where it was and how it has no non-historical role anymore. From what I remember of about 24 hours in Munich but not at Oktoberfest, Munich was much more modern than Berlin. Although East and West are very integrated, a few areas still display socialist realism [Soviet architecture] and make you feel cold inside. The city has a ton of really high end shopping, something like multiple areas that are like Chicago's mag mile. One experience:
We walked into the Longchamps leather store, and I told the girls I was with that I loved it because they had free cookies on a table. As they laughed at me, a lady walked out and offered me champagne. She came around 15 minutes later with finger food. Not pigs in a blanket finger food, but high end, 5 star catering. Little brioches and miniature fruits/veggies stuffed with cheese. Fantastic. Truly. I then went to the Lacoste store, and then they repeated it. That is why I love Berlin shopping.
I also had Hoffbrau beer again - my favorite from Oktoberfest - the greatest beer in all the world. In Berlin they mix beer and juice to be an interesting but tasty afternoon drink. I had the mango, it was good. I also had a lot of hot wine at the x-mas markets, which is amazing and much better than Czech hot wine. I also had bratwurst, currywurst, and every other imaginable fantastic food, primarily meat. They were all delicious, as were the beers.
As far as social life, my program had a lot of party poopers - as in everyone wanted to stay in on Friday and many people wanteed to on Saturday. We went out friday and met a german pop/rock band named suboptimal who were cool, but weren't performing until we left. We even saw their advertisements in our hotel. Pretty cool.
Friday I had also bought homemade grappa at an x-mas market. This stuff was only 38% and was cherry-enough to be drunk straight. That is until you forget everything that happened. Oops.
Saturday we went to a bar at 4am. There was a 30 minute line, and it turned out to also be a techno rave. There were many stylish boys and a lot of crazy people, 2 things I would have known had it not been my first rave. I ended up sobering up by sitting at a bar and drinking jack, then water, then a lot more jack. When we left at 6am, the line was about 45 minutes long. This club is known to have people party all day Sunday too, as the schedule had DJs playing from midnight through 730pm. Also I learned how hard they party in Berlin via a British girl who told us she had a different agenda than us Americans as she wasn't expecting to go home before 9. Nuts.
I got 2hours of sleep, got woken in my boxers by our tourguide alerting us I had 2 minutes to make the bus, then walked around more. Went to the Holocaust memorial and museum which were both really meaningful and nice. Berlin absolutely despises Nazis, and goth people you would see in other places wearing Nazi swastikas actually wear anti-Nazi stuff in Berlin. WW2 isn't really mentioned in Berlin from what I understood, nor is the H word or N word (and not a black person). We also stopped in Dresden on the way home which is a sick city with crazy mixed architectural styles and another sweet market.
Since then, I had my czech final today which I rocked, partially because the hobbitt checked over my test before I turned it in to make sure I didn't have any real mistakes. I'm also trying to cook as little as possible and have thus not purchased any groceries in over a week. Laundry has turned into the same situation and is pretty bad, especially since I'm working out in a gym now. I hadn't realized how much I miss lifting until here, where I go to a gym run by the ex-Mr. Europe and 6th place Mr. World. I'll see them in about an hour, and most of the people reading this in under 2 weeks.
Germany was fun, and I have no real desire to return - unless its Christmas time again. For one, Christmas in Berlin is aweseme, even though its Berlin. The wall was pretty strange, especially how there is literally just bricks in the middle of concrete to show you where it was and how it has no non-historical role anymore. From what I remember of about 24 hours in Munich but not at Oktoberfest, Munich was much more modern than Berlin. Although East and West are very integrated, a few areas still display socialist realism [Soviet architecture] and make you feel cold inside. The city has a ton of really high end shopping, something like multiple areas that are like Chicago's mag mile. One experience:
We walked into the Longchamps leather store, and I told the girls I was with that I loved it because they had free cookies on a table. As they laughed at me, a lady walked out and offered me champagne. She came around 15 minutes later with finger food. Not pigs in a blanket finger food, but high end, 5 star catering. Little brioches and miniature fruits/veggies stuffed with cheese. Fantastic. Truly. I then went to the Lacoste store, and then they repeated it. That is why I love Berlin shopping.
I also had Hoffbrau beer again - my favorite from Oktoberfest - the greatest beer in all the world. In Berlin they mix beer and juice to be an interesting but tasty afternoon drink. I had the mango, it was good. I also had a lot of hot wine at the x-mas markets, which is amazing and much better than Czech hot wine. I also had bratwurst, currywurst, and every other imaginable fantastic food, primarily meat. They were all delicious, as were the beers.
As far as social life, my program had a lot of party poopers - as in everyone wanted to stay in on Friday and many people wanteed to on Saturday. We went out friday and met a german pop/rock band named suboptimal who were cool, but weren't performing until we left. We even saw their advertisements in our hotel. Pretty cool.
Friday I had also bought homemade grappa at an x-mas market. This stuff was only 38% and was cherry-enough to be drunk straight. That is until you forget everything that happened. Oops.
Saturday we went to a bar at 4am. There was a 30 minute line, and it turned out to also be a techno rave. There were many stylish boys and a lot of crazy people, 2 things I would have known had it not been my first rave. I ended up sobering up by sitting at a bar and drinking jack, then water, then a lot more jack. When we left at 6am, the line was about 45 minutes long. This club is known to have people party all day Sunday too, as the schedule had DJs playing from midnight through 730pm. Also I learned how hard they party in Berlin via a British girl who told us she had a different agenda than us Americans as she wasn't expecting to go home before 9. Nuts.
I got 2hours of sleep, got woken in my boxers by our tourguide alerting us I had 2 minutes to make the bus, then walked around more. Went to the Holocaust memorial and museum which were both really meaningful and nice. Berlin absolutely despises Nazis, and goth people you would see in other places wearing Nazi swastikas actually wear anti-Nazi stuff in Berlin. WW2 isn't really mentioned in Berlin from what I understood, nor is the H word or N word (and not a black person). We also stopped in Dresden on the way home which is a sick city with crazy mixed architectural styles and another sweet market.
Since then, I had my czech final today which I rocked, partially because the hobbitt checked over my test before I turned it in to make sure I didn't have any real mistakes. I'm also trying to cook as little as possible and have thus not purchased any groceries in over a week. Laundry has turned into the same situation and is pretty bad, especially since I'm working out in a gym now. I hadn't realized how much I miss lifting until here, where I go to a gym run by the ex-Mr. Europe and 6th place Mr. World. I'll see them in about an hour, and most of the people reading this in under 2 weeks.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Seeing Family
So I pretty much forgot that I even had this blog because I haven't posted in so long... I really haven't had much to say and haven't done too much, but I guess I should update anyways. After pseudo-Thanksgiving dinner we had a very nice regular thanksgiving. Pseudo consisted of about 9 people, almost all from my apartment building; the real dinner consisted of about 15-20 people of whom I think I knew about 7 before dinner (and only 3 actually well). I missed class Thanksgiving morning in a show of patriotism, but primarily because I didn't get home until about 830 am (class starts at 830). Unfortunately we couldn't get a real turkey on T-day, but the chicken was real good as was all the rest of the food (again). I also got to see Jon while he was in Prague Wednesday night, then again on Friday when we saw Body of Lies (a great movie I will add). Saturday we went to dinner at La Cantina, arguably the best Mexican food in Prague - although the one a few blocks from my house is pretty dank too - and had a ton to drink with our fantastic food. We followed that up with a ton to drink later on too. I went over to Joey's dorms on Sunday and said good bye to Jon, then hung out for a little and picked up my new IPOD touch which Jon had brought over. He also brought 2 books with him from the fam, one of which I'm half done with and enjoying a fiction novel from 1988 that deals quite close with what is occurring now in our financial markets.
As far as school goes, I just learned that I have a 10 page essay due for one class, so I'll have to keep procrastinating for a while before even thinking about starting. I'm actually sitting in the class that that paper was assigned for, not paying attention like the other 8 people here (half the class). I also received 'extra credit' work for having too many absences in Czech. To counter this, I blamed them on being Jewish (I missed 2 classes for Rosh Hashana that they never excused, and complained about the unfair severity of this; I then told them I missed 3 classes - not 2 - for High Holidays). I also had to write 3 75 word essays in Czech last night because I have avoided turning them in for the past 2 weeks (just as I have done with the extra work assignment). This also paired with my Czech immersion presentation today. I have actually done more work for Czech in the past week than all semester, and my teacher unfortunately has noticed. Although the immersion project was fine, she decided to rail me with 5 questions in Czech (so I of course didn't understand) in class after my presentation. I think she is taking this out on everyone too, so it's not too terrible, although it sure is far from 'good' or even 'fine.'
I went to dinner last night with Joey again because Uncle David just got to town, and he'll be staying here through Sunday. Hopefully I'll see him again tonight because if not, I won't see him until Allison's Bat-Mitzvah. Uncle David also brought me 6 books from my dad, which I carried arouond until 130 am since I didn't go home until then. After dinner we walked around Old Town Square, saw the real life Disneyworld Castle at nighttime (truly beautiful since most haven't seen it), and the decorated Christmas tree with some of the coolest lighting ever seen on an x-mas tree. Afterwards we went to a tobacco and liquor store which had some awesome Absinth, and then to a dessert shop which made their own, unbelievably fantastic, gelato. It was quite a fun night.
This morning after Czech class I went to a gym for the first time all semester. Despite doing yoga on average twice a week, and working out on my own in my apartment for pretty much the first half of the semester, I have yet to have gone to a gym. K&K gym is where most of the guys who have worked out at all go, so I decided to stop by. It is owned by a former Mr. Europe bodybuilder, who since he no longer takes steroids just looks like a short, jacked - yet normally fit not outrageously - man. I rode a bike and lifted which felt great; I don't think I've really lifted for 3-4 months if not 6-8. I'm looking forward to not being able to lift my arms tomorrow, even though I stretched out a little afterwards.
And finally, I am off to Germany tomorrow! Our program has an optional trip to Berlin, which I got for 25% off because I didn't originally purchase the trip on time (with a terrible exchange rate). We leave at 815am, so I have told Robert it is his responsibility to wake me (in addition to 2 or 3 other people in our building to make sure we get there on time). He luckily agreed, and I am real excited for whatever may happen this evening and then on my trip.
PS: Since the only music I really have yet is the GirlTalk CD and requiem for a dream remix, I have listened to these NON-STOP for like 4 days now. Someone is giving me music later today.
PPS: I thought I should leave with a quote from Robert, about Robert. "Good thing we are going home soon 'cause I'm almost out of ketchup." Robert loves Heinz ketchup, and I had thought that he just brought his own from home in case they didn't sell it here. It turns out he doesn't even want to buy Heinz here because they may use different ingredients and he doesn't know what he would do if that was the case.
As far as school goes, I just learned that I have a 10 page essay due for one class, so I'll have to keep procrastinating for a while before even thinking about starting. I'm actually sitting in the class that that paper was assigned for, not paying attention like the other 8 people here (half the class). I also received 'extra credit' work for having too many absences in Czech. To counter this, I blamed them on being Jewish (I missed 2 classes for Rosh Hashana that they never excused, and complained about the unfair severity of this; I then told them I missed 3 classes - not 2 - for High Holidays). I also had to write 3 75 word essays in Czech last night because I have avoided turning them in for the past 2 weeks (just as I have done with the extra work assignment). This also paired with my Czech immersion presentation today. I have actually done more work for Czech in the past week than all semester, and my teacher unfortunately has noticed. Although the immersion project was fine, she decided to rail me with 5 questions in Czech (so I of course didn't understand) in class after my presentation. I think she is taking this out on everyone too, so it's not too terrible, although it sure is far from 'good' or even 'fine.'
I went to dinner last night with Joey again because Uncle David just got to town, and he'll be staying here through Sunday. Hopefully I'll see him again tonight because if not, I won't see him until Allison's Bat-Mitzvah. Uncle David also brought me 6 books from my dad, which I carried arouond until 130 am since I didn't go home until then. After dinner we walked around Old Town Square, saw the real life Disneyworld Castle at nighttime (truly beautiful since most haven't seen it), and the decorated Christmas tree with some of the coolest lighting ever seen on an x-mas tree. Afterwards we went to a tobacco and liquor store which had some awesome Absinth, and then to a dessert shop which made their own, unbelievably fantastic, gelato. It was quite a fun night.
This morning after Czech class I went to a gym for the first time all semester. Despite doing yoga on average twice a week, and working out on my own in my apartment for pretty much the first half of the semester, I have yet to have gone to a gym. K&K gym is where most of the guys who have worked out at all go, so I decided to stop by. It is owned by a former Mr. Europe bodybuilder, who since he no longer takes steroids just looks like a short, jacked - yet normally fit not outrageously - man. I rode a bike and lifted which felt great; I don't think I've really lifted for 3-4 months if not 6-8. I'm looking forward to not being able to lift my arms tomorrow, even though I stretched out a little afterwards.
And finally, I am off to Germany tomorrow! Our program has an optional trip to Berlin, which I got for 25% off because I didn't originally purchase the trip on time (with a terrible exchange rate). We leave at 815am, so I have told Robert it is his responsibility to wake me (in addition to 2 or 3 other people in our building to make sure we get there on time). He luckily agreed, and I am real excited for whatever may happen this evening and then on my trip.
PS: Since the only music I really have yet is the GirlTalk CD and requiem for a dream remix, I have listened to these NON-STOP for like 4 days now. Someone is giving me music later today.
PPS: I thought I should leave with a quote from Robert, about Robert. "Good thing we are going home soon 'cause I'm almost out of ketchup." Robert loves Heinz ketchup, and I had thought that he just brought his own from home in case they didn't sell it here. It turns out he doesn't even want to buy Heinz here because they may use different ingredients and he doesn't know what he would do if that was the case.
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