OBAMA COMES TO PRAGUE!

Hi everyone (again)

So I should have done this right after he came, but I didn't. So now I'm going to write about my experience seeing the President of the USA!!

So we got up early, made our way down to the tram. SOOO MANY PEOPLE! We finally got to the gates where we had to go through security. I have never been more happy to see US secret police. They all spoke perfect American English. It was a perfect way to start the day with Obama! SO we get through security and for some reason, we got in the VIP section. Everyone around us was wearing nice clothes, and had looked liek they showered. My roommates and I just through on pants and ran out the door! (Yes, we did brush our teeth...=)) We kind of felt out of place, we whatever WE WERE GOING TO SEE OBAMA! Finally Obama comes out and gives his GREAT speech! At the end I cried. His speech was about nuclear proliferation. This was give RIGHT after North Korea launched it's so called satalite. BEst line of the speech was, "North Korea broke the rules!!" haha, i loved it.
Go OBAMA!!!!

Triangle Trip: Austria, Brno, and Bratislava

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't updated this in a while!

Brno---its the capital of Moravia, which is the other "state" in Czech Republic. Really, there was nothing in this town. But we did go to this cool Roma Culture Museum. Not alot of people in the program liked it, but I really enjoyed it. It was interesting to see a minority group that has been so heavily separated from the majority of society. It was also interesting to see the different cultural traits of the people and see how similar they are to Mexican heritage. That was one of my favorite parts of Brno. Also, we went to a wine tasting. This was NOT enjoyable. A horribly sexist man was the owner of the wine cellar. I was outraged by some of the comments that he made towards woman. This was not a good experience, but you live you learn and you grow.


we also went to these caves! This was the best part of Brno. THey were soooooo cool! This is the opening to one of the caves. It was soo cool!

Bratislava---I really wish I had more time here! We stayed on a Botel. I think that was the best part of the city! The city was really cool, and there was alot to see. We only spent one night there. this was waaay too little time to actually enjoy the city! I wish i could go back to visit more of it!Vienna---BEST PART OF THE TRIP!! This city is really pretty! It was soo enjoyable! Best part-We went to the Belvedar (sp?) and saw different artist. My favorite was "the embrace" by Shiele. It was soo pretty and so different. I couldn't stop looking at it! Another one of my favorite parts was just walking around and seeing the different buildings and seeing how different Austria was compared to Germany. I still like Germany better. I also enjoyed speaking german! =)

So that was the triangle trip. Good memories. If I could tell people to visit one city out of the three, it would DEF be Vienna!

-Katie

Krakow, my new favorite city

Hi everyone!

This weekend was spent in Krakow. By far this was one of my favorite cities visited so far. I recommend that if you are coming to central europe that you go to Krakow. It is definitely worth your time!

The main square was my favorite part! Its so huge and with so much history! There is a huge and beautiful catholic church. There is also this small Romanesque building that is a church in the square. Which was sooo beautiful. Also, there is a huge building with lots of shopping. I bought some stuff! It was soo cool!
Our hostel was also veeery fun to stay at. We stayed at "Goodbye Lenin" hostel. It was alot of fun. Interesting people, but at the end of the day, it was a hostel and we def got out money's worth! I also recommending stay at this hostel.

On Saturday we went to Auschwitz concentration camp. I will post another post just for this becuase I feel it deserves it own (or this post will be a novel).

SO---the weekend cost me basically 110 dollars including food, hostel, train ticket and shopping. It was soo worth my money and more!!

Love you all!
-Katie

krakow -Perogie-fest 2009 part one

Hi from Poland!

So we (me, kendra, annika, jelena and tara) are in Poland! We arrived at 6 30am and barely made it to our hostel at 8. Yes, we got lost. But that is a different story....

Night tram experience--We took the night train to get to Poland. WOW. Ok, so let me try to explain this experience. First, our car was this little soap box of a car. We had 5 people to fit into it. Then the beds are stacked on top of each other. So I was thinking, "Ok, well my cousin is in the navy, my boyfriend is in the navy...they have to sleep like this..so i can..." yeah...BIG FAT NO. Horrible experience. It was like sleeping on a 2X4 with an inch to breathe. NOT FUN.

Then, I had this HORRIBLE dream. Dreaming from Southern California, earthquakes are something common. SO in my dream, I dreamt that I was in this NEVER ENDING EARTHQUAKE. When I finally woke up, I couldnt figure out for hte life of my why the earthquake still hasn't stopped. YEAH---I'm on a train.

On top of the earthquake and the 2X4, I kept thinking that outlaws were going to take over the train and then the Gastapo/Dementors were going to come get us.

Finally at 6 in the morning when we woke up, I was glad to get off the train.

More to come!

-Katie

Dresden und Kutna Hora

Hi everyone!

So over the last week, I went to Dresden and a small silver mining town in the CR called Kutna Hora. First Dresden.

I went with my friend Keen and her sister. It was alot of fun! We went to the Staat Museum (City Museum) and some other cool churches. This is my second time out of Bavaria and into another part of Germany. Even though its in the same country, its totally different. There were alot more Protestant Churches than Catholic churchs, the city seemed alot smaller, and history played out a lot differently than it did in Bavaria. At the city museum, I found out that Dresden has seen alot of devastation. It was crazy to be there seeing all of the history--Nazi regime, the fire bombings of the allied forced during WWII, and then the communist regime. Its crazy that you can spend one day in a city with so much history. It was alot of fun. Best part--WienerWald.

some sights in dresden.
Kutna Hora!!! This is a famous mining town with a ossuary which is known as a "bone church." That was the only really cool thing we saw. We were supposed to go into the mining museum which is the most important part of the city, but it was closed...=( but her are some pictures...

this church is made all of human bones!!! creepy...
alright everyone! this weekend~~~POLAND! sooo excited! more to come!

Love you all!

Katie

Terezienstadt: Jewish Ghetto

HI everyone!

We went to a jewish ghetto that was used during WWII and the nazi's "final solution" to the Jewish question on saturday. We toured the town which is this military fortress. At one point in the town, every where you look you see a wall. It was creeping me out! This town was used for a departure point for all the jewish prisoners to be taken to other extermination camps. At one point, there were at least 60,000 prisoners!

Another interesting thing that I found out about Terezin was the children's art. Because there wasn't alot of things for the children to do other than besides work, they drew pictures. The childrens' art was one of the best depictions of how life was in Terezin. They drew pictures about how they had to drive the wagon that carried coffins, how much food they got, how they slept. It was incredible that those types of drawings could come out of children. I was so impressed and it only deepened my love for children.

Although the day was very rough to take, there was one point that I did have a smile on my face. that was lunch. it was not because we got to eat, it was becuase of the place that we went to. We decided on this place that helps out mentally challenged people. I dont know if all or a portion of hte proceeds go to helping mentally challenged people, but some of it definitly does go. The wait was also mentally challenged. It was the most beautiful thing EVER. If my sister was there, i KNOW she would be soooooo happy!

We also went the "concentration camp" part of terezin. That is were they held political prisioners. That was really hard to see and be around. luckly we had a funny tour guide who made it a little better, but it still was tough. I felt that just being there and seeing where so many people suffered and died was like making there life and death into a tv show or a movie. But after having time to reflect, I think that people need to see this so that it doesn't happen again and it can remind us that PEOPLE did this. just my opinion

here are some pictures

This is where the dead would get blessed before taken to the graveyard.
work makes you free. also was posted in dachau
this is where people were executed if they were found after escaping

alright i think that is enough for today! tomorrow, dresden!
love you all,
katie

The Devil and Kaca

Hi everyone!

So today I went to an opera! It was a lot of fun! The National Theater where I saw the opera "The Devil and Kara" is SOOOO beautiful! My pictures wouldn't really do it justice so there is no need to post them. We sat in the very very top level and had to look down the entire time. But that part was ok because we got to look in on the orchestra.

The Opera was about this girl who got taken away by the devil, but then she tricked him....honestly i dont know what it was about because it was in czech. But our Czech teacher told us that it was a fairy tale. But other than that, it was a good opera.

Tomorrow--Concentration Camp. I'm really looking forward to that trip. I'll tell you guys after i get back!

See ya!
-Katie

Sunshine: I thing I will never take for granted again

Hi Everyone!

I just want to publicly apologize to the sun for taking her for granted. After surviving Prague through January and now February, I can count the number of days of sunshine on one hand. Today was a 1/2 day of sunshine and it was glorious. This week, we have had at least 1.5 days of sunshine. It was so nice to get some vitamin d back into my system.

So, Ms. Sun, I'm sorry that I took you for granted, and I pledge that I will never curse you name for being too hot!

Other than that, Praha is fun! This weekend we are going to Terezin which is a Nazi concentration camp. I'm really looking forward to the trip because its very historical and we are getting a guided tour. The last concentration camp I went to, Dachau, we just walked around ourselves. But this trip should be very interesting.

Also, two things that I have found interesting which are school related (this section is mostly for my dad and ma =) ). I watched a really good documentary. Its called "THe Power of Good." Its about this guy who brought children from Czechoslovakia to england to resuce them from the Nazis. He brought over 660 kids! You should watch this. Also, I bought this book and I want dad to read it. ITs called The Hitler Kiss: a Memoire about Czechoslovakia Resistance. ITs really good. I'm bring it home for you, dad!

Alright love you all!

-KAtie

p.s. I decided the gender of the sun was a woman because its the center of the universe, without her no human could survive, and all the other planets and pluto gravitate towards her. THEREFORE, its a woman.

VIP section at a bar.

I have to share this with the world.

tonight was a fake night.

1. Currently I am in München with my host family...which is basically just my german family and its AMAZING! i love it here so much. But I'm also here with my roommates sarah and erik. SOooo.. we wanted to go out tonight. First we pre gamed with my host family. This was enjoyable because my host father was as red as the tomate juice that was in his bloody mary. it was so funny. he kept asking sarah and erik why?? why?? it was amazing.

1b. During pre gaming, erik was called Justin Timberlake because of his new hat that he bought. he also tried on a hat from the oktoberfest.

2. we went to this club with the son of a haitian princess.

3. at the club we got VIP= private dancing area and the ability to tell people to move. also with private service from teh bar and a LARGE bottle of vodka for a reasonable price.

4. some guy almost stole eriks camera. but i swooped on that, and got it back

5. sarah spilled a drink WHICH WAS NOT HERS. so we had to leave FAST.

my night was fun. thanks erik for making entertaining because of his comments in both auf deutsch und auf english.

LOVE YOU ALL!


ps. sorry about the typos in this one especially. i blame it on this awkward keyboard thats switches up the letters. =)

World Class Gym Experience

So, I went to the gym today and I had a crazy experience. I needed to share it with the world.

SPINNING CLASS WITH SARAH:
Nothing really special happened during this session. Only thing worth while is they played Phantom of the Opera to the HORRIBLE techno beat and it was just horrible..

STREET DANCE=HIP HOP DANCE CLASS:
So this is my second time taking this class. I took it last week and it was pretty chill, so i decided to go back. But this week was a toooootally new experience.

First, I walk into the dance class and the first thing that caught my eye was this guy. If you have ever seen malibu's most wanted, he looked EXACTLY like that guy. I mean exactly--the only thing that was different was that he was Czech and not Jewish. His outfit wasn't the only thing that got me, it was his dancing. Before the class even started he was dancing around showing off his moves. He thought he was HOT STUFF. After seeing him, I almost burst out laughing and I knew this class could only get better.

So next the instructor. He is probably the only person of color I have seen that is darker than me in this ENTIRE country. I cant tell if he is black or if he is some sort of Northern African like Moroccan. I really can't tell. But here is the list of the racial makeup of the class. Me-the token mexican, the intructor-see above, a middle eastern man---who is actually pretty good, and an asian girl, all the rest are Czech. So being in a hip hop class, this in it self is just kind of funny.

Let me get to the music selection. But first, let me remind you that me and probably 2 other peopel speak english well enought to know what is being said in hip-hop songs with heavy amounts of slag in it. Well the first song was "My neck My back.." (I think thats what its called). but the lyrics of this song were as followed: My neck, my back, lick my pu$$y and my crack.---another part of the song said-- lick my di^# and my sack. So when this song came on, I was like...WOAAAAH!!! THERE IS NO WAY I CAN DANCE TO THIS.

But soon enough the song was over and we moved on...I still think I was the only one who really understood what was going on.

That was my experience today at the gym.

My Birth-Right Trip to Italy

Buongiorno tutti!!

I made my birthright trip to Italy. I finally made it back to my roots. Well, technically its not because I'm Sicilian, but the other side of my family is from Northern Italy. EITHER WAY, I made it to the homeland. It was BEAUTIFUL.

Milano
I wish I could have seen more of this city, but what I did see was gorgeous. The main part of what we saw was the Duomo, which is the 3rd largest cathedral in the world. I got kicked out of it once for having too short of a dress on, but then I snuck in and got to see it. It was beautiful. My favorite part of it was the stained glass windows.

Another part of Milan I liked waaaaass...SHOPPING! I wish i were a gazillionaire so that I could buy EVERYTHING. Instead, I bought some stuff at H&M. Still fun.

Dan took us to this incrediable gelato place. SOOO GOOD. We also had some really good food. Best meal of the weekend was the swordfish (my favorite fish) and pasta. sooo good. One thing I realized was that I am IN LOVE with sea food. I wish the Czech Republic was near an ocean because all I really want is some muscles and a big fish.

HOTEL---our hotel, i SWEAR was haunted. My roommates and I think it was an old people home because it was just MAAAD creepy. It was bitch black because of the military shades that we had going on. Also, there was this huge gapping hole in the toilet right in the front. So weird.

VENICE

I would LOVE to move here! We stayed in this little town outside of Venice that was soo cute. I wish I could live there. I cant describe it, but when I got there I got had this feeling that I was SUPPOSED to live there. One day I will move and live there...

Anyway, Venice is BEAUTIFUL. I feel that anyone who has a soul should go and visit. All the people that do not have souls should not visit it because they will not appreicate the full beauty of the city. The city is soo amazing. Every single street that you turn down just takes your breath away. I loved loved loved this city. I wish I could go back and see more of it. Here are samples.

Other than that I had a great time in Italy. Wish I could spend more time in one city, but over all, it was a good birthright trip!! Next weekend---MUNICH!!!!

love you guys!

spanglish=italian

HI EVERYONE!!!!
first, this will be short with pently of mistakes because this keyboard is sucky.
second....im on my birthright trip to italy!!!!!!!! its amazing!! everyone looks like my cousins. ive seen 4 of my dads, 2 papa joes, one cousin nadine and plenty of others. but its really beautiful.
more to come. love you all and i wish you all coud be on my birthright trip with me!!!

oh, so im speaking half spanish and some italian, and its working!!!! haaha thanks mom for making me watch novelas. =)

love you all!!!

Cesky Krumlov= Castle + Beer + Czech food

Hi everyone!

We had our first field trip this weekend! We went to Cesky Krumlov. It is soooo beautiful! If you ever come to the Czech Republic, GO GO GO to this town. It's in the south close to the Austrian boarder and it is DEF worth seeing! It the best preserved and restored medival town in all of Europe. It is really touristy when it's tourist season, but I still think it would be worth it. We stayed in a Pension--which is basically like a bed and breakfast. SOO CUTE!

Also! One of our adventures in the town was going to the Eggenburg brewery. OMG. Best beer ever...so cheap. It was like 25 kcs, which equals $1.05 for a HUGE beer. Also at this place was a gypsy band. They were really fun. If you remember in my earlier post, I mentioned that many people think they look like Mexians...well they don't. BUT They did manage to play "La Bamba" which i thought was HILARIOUS. But, no one else really got the joke. But of course, I had one too many beers (they were cheap) and I was the first one out on the dance floor. I had alot of fun!!!

Next subject: CZECH FOOD.
Czech food is heavy, rich with cream sauce, bread, and fatty meats---meaning, BEST FOOD IN THE WORLD. We had lunch at this cute little place up a side street, and it turned out to be the best food ever. Again---inexpensive. The pork, chicken, and duck I recommend. I would much rather have potatoe dumplings that bread dumplings, but either way...they are good. Also, never really like cabbage before, but saurkraut is sooo good--Red and white cabbage.

but other than that, Krumlov is a great city...CZECH it out..hahaha

love you!
oh it also snowed on the way down there, so it was a BEAUTIFUL drive!
ps. thanks mom for packing me an umbrella!

Hockey games, classes and the Infant Baby Jesus of Prague

Hi everyone!

Classes started this week. They are good. They are taught very European though. But other than that, I am really enjoying them!

On Friday (yesterday) we went to a hockey game! Soo much fun! Rules to know about a hockey game:
1. DO NOT get up when people are on the ice. If you do, beware of Czechs blowing blow-horns in your ear. not fun.
2. Boo-ing=Whistling.
3. 5 beers=10 bucks. FAKE. At Dodger stadium, one beer would have cost you 10 bucks.

Other than having to figure out these rules the hard way, I had a lot of fun! The Czech team lost, but it was still really fun.

I went to the church were the Infant of Prague is. AMAZING. The Infant of Prague is this wax figurine that was brought to Prague after the battle of White Mountain. It was given to the Catholics in Prague who won the battle by the Spaniards who originally got it from God. Sooo...basically its this huge thing in the Catholic church. It was sooo beautiful. I didn't take any pictures in the church because I thought it wasn't respectful, but it was sooo beautiful! Anyone who comes to Prague should definitally see it!!

One last story. If someone asks you if you speak english---answer them and hold your purse tightly. My roommate and I were walking home one night and speaking english and a crazy man came up to us and asked if we spoke english. We didn't answer at first, but finally my roommate yelled, "NE!!!!" They guy grumbled something in czech and then proceeded to spit on us! It didnt get on either one of us, but it was still kind of shocking that a guy spat on us!!

Anyways, I will be posting another blog soon! We are going to Cesky Krulomv (sp ?) this weekend and its supposed to be BEAUTIFUL!!

Bye everyone!!!

Homesick and Racist Tour Guides

Hi everyone!!!

So I FINALLY got my first feelings of homesickness. I've decided I just want an In-N-Out soooo badly.


But with that, this city just keeps getting more and more beautiful! Yesterday we went on a tour to the castle and other parts of Prague. Although the tour was a lot of fun, our tour guide was sooo racist. I was really offended.

Offense number 1: Explanations of Pick-Pockters
The tour guide was explaining how the pick-pocketers are usually from gypsy decent--meaning they are people that roam. He was also saying that they usually come from places such as India and other places where the people tend to be darker. Well, in trying to explain that, he said, "The people that you need to look out for are the people that are dark. They kind of look like Mexicans, but usually have sunglasses on and dress nice." Strike one.

Offense Number 2: Drive by Italians
When we were standing in front of a church, there was a busy road with trams and cars. While standing there, a really really really nice car was blarring music and the people that were driving it were screaming. As they passed by, the Czech tour guide saw them and commeted, "Damn Italians!" Strike 2

From this tour, I have deduced that my herritage is not welcomed here. Thank goodness I did not tan before I cam here or I would have been in a lot of trouble. Here is a picture of the fabulous tour guide.

Along with the tour came some incredible street art. I think that is my favorite part of Prague. Its amazing to see graphitti being used to say what people feel about love, relationships, art, politics, etc. Its just incredible. Here are a few samples.

Before I left, my mother told me that I should by things from Prague that are things that I can pass down to my children some day. She said that those are the kind of things that I should buy instead of a t-shirt. Well, I did just that. My roommate and I walked into a vintage dress shop and I found a vintage Prada dress. It fits both of those catagories. Its NOT a shirt, its a dress. AND I will pass it down to my children. here it is!

Well, I think that is it for the blog!!! bye everyone!

<3

Gym, Beer and Pork

Hey everyone...

I'm writing again because I have ideas about my blog! I've decided I'm going to dedicate this blog to stories that are a little unusual and things that you usually don't have happen to you on a regular basis. If you want to know about the specifics, like castle trips and other touristy things like that, just email me and I'll let you know. But on this blog, I'm dedicating to the stories that either make me smile, laugh really hard, or just make go...what just happened?. The pictures will also correspond to the wackiness.

So for these pictures. 1. The first is dark beer. Its my favorite so far. Its called Kozel. Sooo good. My czech professor said that most girls dont usually like dark beer, but I guess I'm an exception. 2. This is a typical Czech meal. Its cabbage, pork and dumplings. Truth is, the Czechs trick you into thinking they are like a real dumpling....sort of like chicken and dumplings...but thats fake. They are really just some white bread cut up and soaked in juice of the pork. I didn't really eat them because I can eat white bread another day. Overall, this place was really good and I SWORE that the guy that was our server was in the mofia. 3. my first beer. It was pislner. Its basically Czechs number one beer. It was good.

One wacky story that I need to share. My roommate and I joined a gym. World Class Gym. Its in Wenceslas Square. Pink and the Rock have worked out there. Yeaaaah, its one of THOSE kind of gyms. American gyms and Praha gyms= not the same. Gym culture in America versus European gym culture is way different. Its weird to go to the gym and feel culture shock. I thought working out would be the same in all places, but I guess not....

Well everyone, hope you enjoyed this blog! Till next time....

<3 Katie

My frist days in Praha!

Hi everyone!

I don't really know about this whole blogging thing, but Laura Z told me I should get one, so here it is!

I LOVE Prague. Seriously, if you get the chance to come to this city---DO IT! Its so beautiful. Every corner you turn, you see something new. It's breath taking. I've only been here since Thursday the 22nd and still have SOOOO much more of the city to see! I'm really excited I dont have to rush to see everything in a couple of days or weeks!

Classes started on Monday. Intensive czech. First thing you should know about the czech language...the letters with the hats on them..especially the r are really hard to pronounce. Its like say "tree" really fast, rolling the r, while adding a j. Yeah, not fun. Other than that, I like the language. Its toootally different that german, but for the most part, they share common grammer rules, so thats nice to have that background. My two favorite words are Dort and Zmrzlina (hence the name of the blog). They mean cake and ice cream. Two VERY important words for Prague. =) So now mom, when you go to your cake decorating class, you are going to your DORT decorating class! hahaha.

My roommates are TTOOOOTAAALY cool. They are from all over, but not really. Most Jersey..=) One is from San Fran, Jersey, and the midwest. Our apartment is ALL Ikea. Its crazy how much Ikea things are in here! But its really nice. I'm so glad that I have a good living situation.

Well, I think this is enough for this post. I am off to explore another pub and maybe a tea house! Love you all!