Video from the wine cellar. Enjoy!

Still alive and this time in Brno

After long time without posting I wanna assure u that I'm still alive. Just too busy... I have ddl for my bachelor's thesis on December 5 (de facto I have to hand it on November 23, because my supervisor is leaving for Brussels), I have to study for my other classes that I have again many. And the brand new news - I got a job in an internet advertising agency.You can find it on http://www.robertnemec.com/ and just started to work there for couple hours a week yesterday. The agency is focused mostly on inovative internet marketing like Search engine optimization, link building etc. So, could be pretty interesting... We'll see, I'll keep u updated.

And to this wine cellar thing - it was great. About 20 people came, one of them was Marcelo, Brasilian guy who studied with us in Nebraska. We had an awesome wine-testing and plenty of food and of course wine. And we had our own cimbalom's band. Perfect music! Who didn't come missed a lot. Anyway, tried to post videos from the cellar, but have some technical difficulties, so I'll try it tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Wine meeting in the South Moravia

Still hangovered from yesterday burcak party (typical Czech type of short-time fermented wine) in my home faculty I wanna invite all friends to wine cellar in the South Moravia. Wine-tasting is a typical South-Moravian custom well known all around. So, come to experience great Moravian wine in this very special setting on November 2nd... Looking forward to all people who can come! Let me know who wanna come...

Back in my homeland. How is it in the Czech Republic?

It's cold here. One of the differences between my former "home" in the US - last time Washington, DC and my "old and current" home in Czech. And believe me that it can make your life more difficult. No more t-shirts and shorts this year. However, the cold weather out here is just one of differences. Others I had an opportunity to remind myself very quickly. No more "American smile" (even it got much better since past and now more people are smiling). Although it might seem to many people like fake and they are many times right, I still do believe that many Americans really wanna be nice to u and expect the same from u. However, don't expect the same in the Czech Republic - you'll find most people in hurry, not looking at other people and if so with disinterested face.

What I can't stand anywhere in the world is bureaucracy. And there is a lot of bureaucracy in here - especially old white collars who stay in their offices from the Communist period. It takes a lot of time and stress to arrange anything. For example I wanted to get a discount card for student transportation but I didn't have my ID with me. However, I had my passport which normally works like a regular ID. But the older lady behind the glass didn't want to accept this because I didn't have my permanent residency address on it. I showed her other ID cards with pictures I had but she didn't wanna see anything else than this official ID. I couldn't explain her that I probably lost my ID and in my passport there is a place of issuance of passport which is identical with the town where I have a permanent residency... After five minute arguing I left the place because I didn't wanna insult the woman. And I got this card in my university town Brno without showing any ID ;)

Anyway, last time when I posted here I was still in DC. So to my flight back to Europe. After some small problems in Dulles International Airport close by Washington I got on the plane to Copenhagen (well, small - there were so many people waiting for check in and security control I thought that I miss the plane, but everything had a happy end and I got on the board on time). We were taking off in the late afternoon, so I saw sunset above the USA and when we got to Europe (thanks to time change) we caught a sunrise. So, it was kinda symbolic - something is ending but on the other hand something new is starting ;) Well, we live in time of symbols so we see it everywhere ;)














We got safely to Copenhagen, when I had about 8 hours layover. Because they cancelled my flight. When I found it out in the US, I was kinda pissed because I planned that I get to Czech on Monday morning and at 2 I'll be sitting in my class in Brno ;) So, this plans didn't come through, but I had at least an opportunity to see Copenhagen. Pretty nice "Nordic style" city. However, after a day without sleeping and with jet lag little demanding ;)

About school and other things next time...

Last week in DC is coming

After over a year spent in the US my time here is coming to its end. Last week and it's over. Next Sunday, September 23 I'm leaving the States for the Czech Republic... Do I look forward to going back home? Yes and no. I feel that my time (for this year) is over, so I know that I have to come back home. On the other hand I like it here and I would like to stay here. Nevertheless, I have to admit that it's not so awesome and new as at the beginning. And it's different that I don't study any more here. It's totally different to study and work here. And I wanna say that I enjoyed studying much more ;)

In other words - if I studied here I would like to stay here, but my scholarship is gone at the moment and I must come back to my university to finish my bachelor's degree. However, after I'm done with me bachelor's I wanna work on my master's. And now priority one for me is to do it in the States. We'll see how it will work out. But it's still far, for now-look forward to me because I'M COMING HOME SOON!!!

P.S.: Enjoy this pic of Washington as I did when I took it from Arlington National Cemetery...

Primitive man and goat in the Natural History Museum

Well, I was just wondering what is this primitive man doing with this goat. Maybe you can help me and tell me your opinion. Drop here your comment on the skeleton scenery from National Museum of Natural History in DC ;)

Weekend and Labour day traveling - Baltimore, Mormon Temple, North beach and Holocaust Museum

I took advantage of this weekend and additional free day - Labor day to do some traveling around DC and in the city. We were talking about doing some small road trip with my friend Katka, who is interning with me at the Czech Embassy, before and this Saturday we made it real.

Baltimore is surprisingly neat city hour far away from Washington. The downtown is located to Inner Harbor which makes nice contrast of modern and tall skyscrapers and water. I think that every city with some river or ocean around just has to look neat in some way and Baltimore just proved my theory. Further from downtown there is an older part of the city with many historical sites. In this area there was written of modern America, so there is plenty of interesting stuff. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to explore all those places so we just basically drove through this neighbourhood. We were supposed to meet up with friend of Katka and explore some night life of Baltimore, but unfortunately she went to some party even before and wasn't able to either come to Baltimore. So, we went back to DC...

Next day we planned to go to Sand Point State Park on some beach. Before we left DC we stopped in the Mormon Temple in the suburb of DC. When we saw it last night my friend thought that it was some Disney land. It really looks like from different world, especially during the night. Huge white stone temple without any windows... Look at the pics below, it's really very weird architecture fitting to this weird church. I was saying to Katka, don't go to Visitor center - you'll get at least hour lesson about their church and Jesus. But she wanted to talk to them and have some fun - and we had, but for me little long. I was looking forward to the beach. After a long while we finally hit the road.

Not just we had the idea to go to the beach this day. We got stucked in the traffic jam, because many people wanted to take advantage of prolonged weekend. When we finally got close to the park, there was a sign Parking full, so we even couldn't get into the park. Never mind, we decided to head to some other close beach. We decided for one hour far away North beach. Now I know that it wasn't very good choice, because when you wanted to get on the tiny beach with dirty sea you had to pay $7. We were there just for a while and we really didn't wanna pay for what we saw. We continued walking on the sea shore and got on some even dirtier (but unpaid ;)) beach with similar dirty water. OK, maybe it was my last time by the ocean this year so I went to the warm and stinky water. Not so good, but at least it was OCEAN!!!

Today, on Monday it was a labor day so I didn't have to go to work. So, I could visit another Washington's museum - this time Holocaust museum. I've heard it's very good museum. And it was... great, I spent there 6 hours today. The history of holocaust and the raise of Nazism were explained in very good and live way... I've been to Auschwitz already, which was very natural adventure. This museum helped me understand all the conditions and the results of this monstrous time of our history. When you have opportunity and you'll be DC, you should definitely visit this museum! But come early morning, many people wanna do the same as you ;)

Baltimore, Mormons' Temple and Holocaust Museum

Trip to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

During whole last week I had my friends from Nebraska here, so I didn't have time for writing posts. I was exploring a night life in DC and having fun with my friends. It just reminded me how much will I miss some people I've met here... Well, unfortunately my friends had to leave DC on Saturday morning, so I tried to disperse my sadness through exploring new places. Saturday afternoon I visited great (but overcrowded - it's most visited museum in the world) National Air and Space Museum and National Botanic Garden. On Sunday Bob, owner of house where I'm staying offered me if I don't wanna go to Gettysburg in Pennsylvania, famous for it's fighting history. And I wasn't against...

Gettysburg is one of the biggest battlefields in the US and a place that raises lots of emotions. At this place the armies of North-Union and South-Confederation met which led to bloody battle where many people were killed or injured. This battle took place July 1-July 3 1863 and Union won. This battle is considered like a breaking point of Civil War where South slavery states were defeated...

Gettysburg lies in Pennsylvania close to border with Maryland, hour and half far away from Washington, DC. It's neat and small east coast town. However, you can see the bloody history of this place all around. There is a big cemetery in the town with buried bodies (or just ash of bodies, because there were so many corpses that they didn't have time and room to bury all of them). And in the countryside around the town, on the places where the soldiers died there are many (at least tens, maybe hundreds) monuments and memorials for these people. Perhaps every troop from different states has its own monument. And in addition to it, every fighting state has it's own memorial. Especially Pennsylvania one is huge and amazing.

This is typically American I would say. They appreciate everybody who fought for their ideals and freedom. We have hardly main monuments for all the people killed in different wars and they have memorial for every person killed. Well, it's possible here, because America hasn't seen many conflicts on its homeland. Which you can't compare with European bloody history.

Gettysburg-battlefield

Greetings from Washington, DC

So, I'm finally here. In the capital of the USA, the center of politics, neat city without so typical American skyscapers but on the other hand full of museums of different types.

Camp finished on last Sunday, August 12th and we were leaving the facility next day, on Monday morning. I don't like saying good buy, but this went pretty smoothly. I forgot about worse things that happened in camp and concentrated to say goodbye to people I wanted. And even to people I firstly didn't want to, like to Jonesy, cook from kitchen who I didn't have very good relation with. He thanked me for good job, but it can't so easily fix what happened (well, it wasn't so bad, just annoying sometimes). We left later than we were supposed to and in addition we stopped in another camp to drop some guys who are working for a postcamp there now and in the town in the bank so some guys could withdraw poor money they earned ;) That's why we got delayed, which was for me, Tom and Vita, other 2 Czech guys pretty bad, because are bus from New York to DC was supposed to leave in 1:30PM. Well, we got close to Port Authority, main NYC bus station at 1:20 and we were running to find our bus. Very nice experience, especially when I need have to piss sooo badly...

At the last minute we found our almost leaving bus and we got on the board. And thanks God they had a bathroom in there, so I didn't have to destroy the glass to get out of the bus, because it was really very urgent. Anyway, I'm not gonna annoy you with my past urinal problems ;) So, after four hours ride we got to Washington. And fortunately there was Bob Doubek, I was supposed to stay with in DC, waiting for us. We dropped guys in their hostel and continue to my new home. We stopped by the Tomas Masaryk Statue at the Embassy Row Street. Bob is a president of organization called American friends of the Czech Republic and he was also director of building of this memorial to first Czechoslovakian president. Bob is very interested older guy among others interested in the Czech Republic, with Czech heritage and working for American government. He was a projector of Vietnam War Memorial, one of the most important memorials in DC. All around his house there are pictures with Clinton, Gore, Havel and other famous and important people.

We are leaving in neat family house in beautiful (and probably pretty rich) neighborhood with his 22 years old son James, James's friend Jessie who is attending college here and Bob's friend Bob, the director of golf courses. All of them are very nice and interesting people. You can check out some pictures of our house and my room:

(btw. about work and other things later, now I'm going to bed to be fresh for tomorrow)

The right house is ours.

Back of our house.

Well, this is little messy, but it's still my room ;)

Pics from Pittsburgh

Lot of work and just little time for other things. It caused that I'm posting so late.

Anyway, we have 5 more days to spend in the camp and on Monday morning I'm leaving for Washington and on Tuesday at 11AM I have to be on an Embassy ready to start working. I can't wait to get out of here and try to live in the capital of the US. I'll be there just over month so I'll try to get from it so much as I can. We'll see what's gonna happen there. I'll keep u updated.

And here enjoy the pics:

Pittsburgh

Random thoughts

Today, I'm in such a lazy mood that I'm even lazy to think of what to write here. But in the situation when I haven't written here for a long time I'll try to make up something what can help u orientate what's going on with me those days...

Why not to say it loudly - I'm starting to be sick of this camp and can't wait moment when I leave. I'm not just this type of person who follows orders of others without thinking and this is sometimes expected here. All those rules you have to follow and all those people u have to allow to. Some people here are just so damn and envy (OK, I'm here for the first year and I'm doing work which belongs second and more timers, but if I can manage it, why not?). But on the other hand there are very nice people who I can talk to and they keep me in a good mood. And of course, I'm leaving for Washington, D.C. for my internship in 11 days, which I can't wait for. I'll be able to move around without restraint and do whatever I wanna do again...

And what else does keep me positive? Oh yeah, awesome days off when we can get out off the camp and travel. Actually, in couple hours we are going to Pittsburgh, second largest city of Pennsylvania where is our camp. We plan to stop by in some outlet mall close by as well. Sooo, raise your drinks we are HITTING THE ROAD AGAIN!!!

Boston pictures

There is a lot of work in our camp right now, so I'm posting the pictures from Boston where we went last weekend later than I expected. Yesterday, we had a visiting day here, which basically means that the parents and relatives of kids are coming to see their children. We had 3000 people here, which is to normal state of 800 people big difference. We had to prepare for them special food etc.

But here are the promised pictures...

Boston and Cape Cod

After the trips to Niagara Falls and Boston...

Back to work. My days-off-season ended. Two days in work and I wanna travel again ;) However, back to my trips. On Thursday night (at 2 AM!!!) we set off to Buffalo and Niagara Falls. All together in ten people and two cars we hit the six hours lasting road to USA-Canada borders. I was driving and I have to tell u, it's not the best thing to drive during the night without getting any sleep before. But, at this time I still didn't know that it wasn't so bad in contrary to trip to Boston, where we went to a day after Niagara Falls and with even less sleep.

Anyway, during early morning we got to Buffalo, which was my idea to stop in on our way to Niagara Falls, because it's only half an hour from the falls. And I'm really happy that we stopped by there, even longer than we planed, almost for whole morning. Buffalo is kinda industrial city with this special type of architecture typical for those cities. This architecture is combined with historical buildings, especially build in the 20th century, kinda art deco style, which I like very much. The city hall is an example of this architecture. And there are, of course, couple skyscrapers. All together it makes an interesting mix of postindustrial city. There is a strong student's element in Buffalo, when there are couple universities with beautiful campuses and many students around.

From Buffalo we got to Niagara Falls, unfortunately just to American side, which was beautiful, but there is a better view on the fall from Canadian side, from where you can better see the main falls. Because there are the biggest Niagara Falls and right next to them artificially built American Falls that are still very impressive, but aren't the original Niagara ;) Finally it didn't matter that we didn't see it from Canadian side, because we took a cruise on the boat so we got right to the middle of the lake where was water falling from the falls. You can see the pictures from there and from Buffalo in a gallery below. And about the trip to Cape Cod and Boston where we were during the weekend later...

Buffalo and Niagara Falls

Gas Station, 5 AM, Saracause, NY

So, very quick post - we stopped in the gas station near to Saracause, about 2 hours far away of Buffalo. And that's the end of my message to you, because the guys from other car we waited for are here, so we're hitting the road again. I'll keep u updated what's going on...

Trip to Niagara Falls and Buffalo

After 3 weeks without day off I'm finally taking one. It's 11 PM and in couple hours we are leaving camp to Buffalo and Niagara Falls. As I said we are setting off at 2 at the night, so there are at least 6 hours of night driving ahead of us.

We are going in 10 people (I'm going with other guys from kitchen and dining hall) in 2 cars. Btw. the rental of car - it's an another story. I almost freaked out today when we were renting a car. The guys from a car rental (big American car rental - Enterprise) were supposed to pick us up at 5 in the camp. As it normally happens it started to rain 10 to 5PM. In spite of raining we were waiting for them by the main gate to our camp. 10 minutes, nothing, 15, nothing... then somebody from the rental called me that they will come in 15 minutes or so. But the didn't and we waited there for another hour before they finally came. I almost stopped believe that they'll show up and i started to say bye to my another try to get my day off.

But finally we got our car and we can hit the road soon! Viva Niagara's!

My camp address

So, if somebody wanna send me something, now you know where... All types of gifts, money, checks, invitations are welcomed...

Pavel Mrazek
Camp Towanda
700 Niles Pond Road
Honesdale PA 18431
USA
Universe - Milky Way

News from the camp

I'm sitting on the porch of the farm house, only one place in whole camp where we can go online now (btw. you have to walk here about 10 minutes from our bunk and the main camp through the forest, which is awesome, especially when you are walking here during the night, alone and without flashlight). I'm trying not to fall asleep and write you finally how I'm doing here. And what I'm doing.

So, here are the answers that are very connected. I'm good but tired, most of time working... To start from the beginning, I came to camp Towanda in Honesdale in Pennsylvania to work like a support stuff to earn some money for my internship in Washington DC, where I'm going after the camp is over. I didn't know what I'm exactly going to do (possibly in the kitchen). After 5 weeks spent here I'm baking all deserts for 900 kids, counselors and other stuff. Without any previous experience with baking... In the pre-camp, that was some kind of preparation of camp for arrival of kids and in which I spent 2 weeks, I worked couple times in kitchen and chef cook favoured me and decided for me that I'm gonna be his help cook and gonna make special projects. And those special project aren't anything smaller than deserts.

To say something about our Food service director, that is his formal camp work name, but everybody calls him chef...he is just crazy... But crazy in the right way. He is awesome cook, who cooked all over the world and even for Puff Daddy (or however is this raper called now). However, he still sometimes behaves like a five years kid. I guess he has never grown up and never will. Especially in pre-camp he was doing such things like scratching all iron things in the kitchen with a fork that nobody who was there at this moment couldn't stand or spraying water on us. In spite of those things he knows what he's doing and many people who have been here last years say that this year is much better food. Anyways, for some reason Chef favoured me and telling me always that I should have my own bakery or cook business and that I had to be a cook in my previous life.

It's nice to hear something like this but not all the time ;) as he says it.

The baker here in camp is kinda hard work. Especially when I have to cook everything on my own, which means 12 pans of cakes or similar pastry every day. My work depends on daily menu. When there are 2 deserts a day I'm working through whole day without break. I start about 9AM and finish after 7PM. But for example today I don't have such a difficult day, so I have 2 breaks, which is fantastic. So, now I'm going to take a short nap to be ready for the dinner at 5...

P.S.: Tomorrow desert menu - fruit cocktail for the lunch and chocolate fudge brownies for the dinner. So, medium hard day. Maybe one break...

Photos from Phily - the city of Independence

My time online is last days and weeks very limited, so I didn't have a chance to post much. However, tonight I finally got some time to post some pictures from Philadelphia as I promised before...

So go here and you'll see pics from our awesome trip to Phily which took place couple weeks ago. Awww, so long time ago, it's like yesterday... Time here just fly by.

Philadelphia - Day off in the camp

The end of the rain

Just wanted to let you know that approximately 10 minutes after I wrote the previous post and when it started to rain it's again sunny weather without the rain now. Fast change ;)

The storm is coming...

I'm sitting on the porch of the office house here in the camp. And as the weather is turning to the storm I decided to tell u something about the weather here in Pennsylvania. It's ridiculous that the weather here is so similar to the Nebraskan one. At least its unstable features are pretty similar. Couple minutes ago there was sun shining and now I had to run away to inside part of the porch because it's heavy raining.

Sometimes you can't predict here how the weather will look like in upcoming hours or even minutes. Apparently often storms, the weather and temperatures are nice here. Mostly sunny and warm weather about 25 degrees. However, some nights are very cold so one sheet is not enough.

As I can see the storm going toward its end I wanna show you pictures with rainbow above the camp I took yesterday. Hopefully it will look like that here soon, so we can make barbecue tonight as we planned...

Less work more partying...

After long time of my laziness and hard work ;) I'm posting again. During this time you didn't hear from me I tried to used to on camp life. Which isn't very easy sometimes... All this rules which we have to follow. We can't smoke, drink in the camp. OK, I can understand those rules, because it's still kids camp (even the kids still didn't arrive, they are suppose to be here in less than two weeks), but I can't hardly understand that we can't chew the gum and we can't wear the flip-flops (something like sandals).

No matter rules and work, here are exactly this mix of people I like. Internationals (include Czechs, Slovaks, Polish, Israeli, Dutch, British, Canadians, South Africans...) and Americans. With my American, Colombian and Israeli friends I already went to Philadelphia. I'll tell u more later. Take care!

Life of a camp staff

It's my fifth day here in the camp and I must say that it's not so bad as I thought at the beginning. The work is hard but here are nice people who make the stay here much better and funnier. I can say that I have already new friends here. And the mix of the friends I like - internationals with Americans ;) People from South Africa, Colombia, Israel or from Kansas, New Jersey...

The real camp still didn't start. We are in the phase of the pre-camp, which means that we are preparing the camp site for the arrival of kids who are gonna come in approximately 3 weeks. I like this time, because we are here in about 30 people (the number is still rising when the new guys are coming), which is ideal number to get to know others and know everybody here. It's not gonna be possible when here are 250 counselors and support staff and over 500 children.

So, basically our work like cutting the grass, painting the buildings, cleaning the bunks and all building isn't fun, the other people and our "community" make it much easier. We are tired after each work but then there is a night to chill out with friends. We can go to the bars in the near town Honesdale (20 minutes drive by car - without car or friends with car it just sucks as everywhere in the States ;)), play variety of outdoor and indoor games.

It's pretty camp, looking forward to the pictures from here...

Greetings from Pennsylvania

My bad dreams became reality - I have to work every day for 2 and half months... Actually, it's not so bad as it looks like. I can stay in the U.S. for the summer and thanks to the money I earn (hopefully) I can do my internship at the Czech Embassy in Washington. In addition I work with nice people in beautiful countryside.

However, let's start from the beginning. I got here, to Pennsylvania, where I'm working like a support staff in the kids camp, yesterday. We flew from San Francisco to New York where we took a bus to Honesdale, PA, which is the closest town to our camp. Btw. we almost missed our connection in NYC. And guess why? Because of a post office... I need have to send some stuff to the Embassy so I went to the post office close to our bus station. I had half an hour for it, which I thought is more than enough. Mistake! In the post office there was a huge line of waiting people. And if I say huge, I mean huge... And it the post office close to Times Square there were just 3 people working. Even some Americans got angry and started to complain why there aren't more people, especially when we heard the chatting and laughing people from the back. So, finally I waited more than half an hour to buy an envelope and stamp... We should be happy in Czech for our posts even we are complaining about them all the time. You can't compare them to this New York's post office in downtown...

Nevertheless, after some running back to the station we got on the bus. I realized that it's my first bus ride for a longer distance since I'm in the States. I just flew everywhere I need have. It's easier and mostly similar expansive. Buses aren't the most popular transportation mean in America. But for the way from NYC to Honesdale it was all right. When you don't count the terrible cold in the bus. It was pretty nice weather outside but the bus driver probably wanted to freeze us out and turned on the air condition on maximum. I was freezing whole way... After 3 hours we got to Honesdale where Mike, guy from the camp pick us up.

He was sorry that I almost got frozen in the bus. But then he turned on the air condition and I was freezing again ;) Americans are just obsessed by air con. I remember the huge extremes between outside and inside temperatures in Nebraska when we got there last August. Such a miracle that I didn't get sick.

Anyway, we got to the camp which is situated in the forests and countryside that looks like European. It's very nice here. So, today I started working in the kitchen. It's so hot out there. Where is the air con when I need it ;) Our boss-cook is called chef and is about 50 years old crazy guy. We found out that he cooked for P Daddy (or however is this rapper called right now), lived in Cannes for 4 years, traveled over the world... Funny guy, who hopefully will make our working time easier. It's kinda hard and demanding work and it's still pre-camp. The kids are coming in mid-June and now we are just setting up the site for them and cook for about 20 guys who already got here.

We will see when I'll start to be sick of this work. I guess this day will come. I'll let you know...

Memories of Nebraska

It's three thirty in the morning and I just got back from the Sacramento airport where we dropped Monika. During the drive there we were playing our favorite round trip songs. It was like a reminder of all the great memories we have for this year we spent in Nebraska and the States.

It was like an end scene of some movie - driving in the car in the darkness and talking about all these great moments what happened to us. I played in my mind all these moments - when we firstly arrived to Nebraska airport and met Larry and Carmen, our great advisors, and they took us through the totally new and unknown city of Lincoln to our dorms - Selleck, which became our home for a year. The place of social contacts with foreigners and Americans. Cafeteria in Selleck where you could meet always known faces. Friends or crazy lunch lady - checker of the meal cards - Cheryl. Or over 40 years old Dixie, who likes young guys, especially athletes and who went with us drinking and actually got drunk, danced with some strangers who drove her truck back to her home where her husband and son waited for her.

I had in my mind skiing in Colorado, our last round trip and all places we've been to. And what was the best - all those people I met this year. Raul, Juan, Darcy, Tim, John, Amandine, Mauricio, Daniel, Victor, Marcelo, Pauline, Boyko, Rudy, Czechs, Irish, the people who helped me a lot - Joe, my professors who were all nice and I can't forget - my advisors. Without them it would be all much harder and who were kinda my family this year...

I try to console myself that something ends but something new starts. That's true, but I just will miss all these things. But show must go on and the next stom is in Pennsylvania and DC and then back in Czech. And then I don't know where... Maybe I'll come to the States again. Because when you once get to know international environment, it's hard to come back and stay on one place. You are always in the movement and that I like...

Monterey coast

Cali coast

After all those national parks and cities we've been to on our round trip we wanted to see the ocean, too. And where could be better place to make it real than in California? ;) Today, we (this time without Irish guys, who left yesterday) went to the north coast of Cali, below the San Fran. It took us about 3 hours to get to Monterey from Davis. Monterey is pretty city, but unfortunately at this time with cold ocean and today even with the cold weather. The sun was shining most of time, but it was still about 20 degrees of Celsius, I guess.

After Monterey we drove along the shore and then to Santa Cruz, which is touristic town upon Monterey. We went there to some amusement park to experience the roller coasters. However, I didn't get on any, it wasn't anything special there, I didn't wanna get sick for such a big money on normal roller coasters;) The beach in Santa Cruz wasn't very nice too, at least the part we've been to. And again cold. Now we are again in Rudy's.

It's 1 at the night and we'll have to say bye to Monika who is leaving to Czech tonight. Have a safe trip, girl, and take care! See ya in Czech soon...

Not just Monika is leaving, me and Jan are leaving tomorrow to work in the kids camp in Pennsylvania. So, it's 2,5 months of boring work, but after this.... Washington is waiting for me. Can't wait to be there.

Pictures from the vineyard

Enjoying the wine...

Our friend and host Kate.

Wine tasting in Napa

One of the girls we met this party night works in the vineyard. Then, why not go to taste wine? And one of the best in the U.S. - from Napa area. The vineyard is about our far away of Davis where we stay and is situated in beautiful wine countryside. We tasted one of the best wine I've ever had - white, red, pink, dessert... And everything, which normally cost $20 we got for free and got 5o% discount for the purchase of all wines they have. And all because we were "friends" with Kate, girl we met the last night.

Thats America, you are "the best friend" after while. Looks like a hypocrisy, buts its very nice and can help you in many situations.

Chilling out in Cali...

We got back from our round trip on Friday. Since that time we are chilling out in our Dutch friend Rudy's house. He studied in Nebraska last semester and after that he moved to Davis, California to experience another place in the States. Why not? Sunny and hot California, near to San Francisco... However, I'm still happy that I spent whole my year just in Nebraska. The people there are just gorgeous.

On Friday me, Rudy, Irish fellow Dain and Rudy's roommate went to the party. Kinda weird party - organized by people from College of Arts. I thought this type of people - long oily hair, emo style (wearing black, kinda death metal style), flannel... - is just in Europe, but exactly the same people were in this party. So, not everything is different all over the world. Nevertheless, when we were coming back home by taxi-bus we started to talk to some random two girls who got to the cab. And why go back home, when we can play pool and actually going to the pool, this time swimming and to hot tub. So we got back again in the morning with the wet underwear, because we didn't have swimming suits.

Here is the picture with our underwear. Btw all of us commando ;)

Couple meters from bisons or grizzlies? It's Yellowstone...

One of the things totally different here in Yellowstone from the previous places we stopped in our round trip - weather. When we came here it was snowing and the temperature hit zero. After hot California, Arizona, Nevada and partly Utah big change. No matter the bad weather we checked in the hotel and headed to the park.

Yellowstone, the second largest national park in the U.S. (after nat. park in Alaska) is different than other parks we saw on our way. The geologically young and therefore unstable area famous mostly because of geysers. Two thirds of all world geysers are found here. Simply said, the Yellowstone is huge green forest and among the trees in some parts there is water steam raising into the sky, some geysers are erupting the water into the air. And one of the best deals in Yellowstone - you can see many wild animals very close to you.

Herds of bisons or in America known as buffalos, deers, elks, many of birds, wolfs... All of them we saw just couple meter of us (you drove through in the car mostly, so it's safe if you don't get off the car what we sometimes did). But we are still waiting for the king of the Yellowstone - grizzly. So, hopefully tomorrow.

It looks like that we are moving to the Grand Teton National park below Yellowstone tomorrow. And after that we are going back to San Francisco, respectively to Davis to our friend's house. Maybe we will go to the California coast for a while. Who knows. Nothing is planned exactly and we take it easy. So, take it easy too! And look forward to the pictures, hopefully soon...

Salt Lake City and the finish of our road trip - Yellowstone

I tried to download the pictures, but the connection here in hotel in Salt Lake is so bad that I just gave it up, so I'll download them when I'll get on computer with better connection... Sorry for that.

Anyway, finish the story... After Bryce we today got to Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah and also the Mormon metropolis. Mormons, special church which is established especially in Utah (about 70% inhabitants of Utah belong to this church) is considered by many people like a sect and people who belong to this church as weird people. And I have to kinda confirm this, Mormons are strange and for other people hardly understandable and therefore Salt Lake City is nice city you feel that it's something different here.

Tomorrow we are going to our final destination on our way - Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park where we spend about four days. I'll let you know what's going on. For now, take care!

Other adventures from my trip across the Southwest...

So finally i got for a while online so I can drop here some new information about our round trip in Southwest U.S. So, what happened after Yosemite? From this national park full of traffic jam, smog and people (who would expect such a situation in natural park?) we moved to less busy Kings Canyon and Sequoya National Park. We didn't see much from Kings because we were in rush - we had just one day for both - so we decided to spend more time in Sequoya to see huge trees. And I have to say that it was impressive. In the normal forest solely spread giant red Sequoya trees. And there were just huge... With very special red color which they have because of special chemical liquid which protects this trees living normally about 2000 years against diseases and fires. Actually fires are very beneficial for the trees because they help in reproduction of this weird trees. The Sequoya can be burnt and you can see the black burnt spots and they are still alive.

The pictures of this crazy trees I'll add when I'll get on my computer where I have all my photos...

After Sequoya our national park road continued - we headed off to Death Valley, still in Cali. And nomen omen - the Death Valley is monumental colorful natural theater. Red , white, black, white and mostly mixed cliffs going along with each other. And we drove in the middle of these cliffs. Except other things there are huge sand dunes, where you feel like in the Sahara or the lowest point in the U.S. and the North hemisphere as well - if i good remember 86 meters below the sea level.

We deserved some break after all these national park. We took it in the biggest gambler place in the world - Las Vegas, which lies in Nevada. It was visible since the beginning that it's all fake and commercial, but although liked it. I haven't seen anything similar before. And what I didn't expect - I spent there my birthday. I guess you can hardly find better place where to spend the birthday party. And I really enjoyed it - but as it's said what happened in Vegas stays in Vegas, so I will tell you just individually and won't spread it out publicly ;)

After wild two days in Vegas we moved to Grand Canyon - to the north part - North Rid. Grand Canyon has two main touristic parts - South and North Rid, while South Rid is much more visited, about 90% go there. Good for us, we could enjoy the breathtaking view on Canyon without crowds of tourists. The day after we arrived to Canyon and camped in the near National forest we hiked to the Canyon. We didn't manage to get on the bottom, because the Canyon is really deep but we enjoyed the hike to the waterfalls walking along the beautiful and colorful cliffs of Canyon. Huge hike!

All picture from the places mentioned above I'll add later. So look forward...

From Canyon we moved to another national park - Bryce. I have to say that for me it was one of the most impressive place which I've seen here. Very special rocks created by earthquake and erosion. However, don't talk about it much - let's see the pictures...

Just a one picture from Yosemite, others thanks to slow connection I will add later...

Yosemite National Park

After hilly San Fran, we moved to our friends place as I already told you. There we spent more time than we expected so we set off the road at the late afternoon on Friday and got to the Yosemite National Park, which was our other stop on our round trip, already at the night.

I know that sleeping in the room for 4 people in 9 people doesn't seem very comfortable but we survived this night and finally were able to see Yosemite in the day light not just during the night as we were going to the park to get to our motel.

So what to tell about Yosemite - its not the best I saw but its beautiful and kind of special... Tomorrow we are moving to Sequoya National Park and Kings Canyon. Here enjoy the pictures from Yosemite...

VERY hilly city

San Fran China Town

The beginning of our round trip - foggy San Francisco

I managed to pack my stuff, which took me very long time. I told bye to my friends (btw. even to John and Tim, with who I had an argument couple days ago) and could head to Omaha to stay in my friend's house over night and in the morning fly through Las Vegas to San Francisco.

So, that's the crack, as the Irish with who are we traveling would say. We (5 Czechs + 3 Irish + one British) spent three days in San Francisco and tonight we are staying in our friend's house in Davis near Sacramento. Rudy is our Dutch friend who studied with us in fall semester in Lincoln and for the spring semester he moved to California to finish his study abroad with studying at University of California, Davis.

What to say about San Francisco? I can't get rid of the comparison with Lisbon in Portugal. San Francisco is as Lisbon located on the hills, it's mostly white colored, there are riding the similar trams across the city and the city is lying on the coast of the ocean and is connected with opposite coast with long bridges exactly as Lisbon. Last but not least San Fran is much more European than other American cities. But what differs San Fran from Lisbon are fogs. There are there almost all the time. And the pride of SF - the Golden Gate Bridge is most of time covered by fog.

San Fran is liberal city. Much more liberal, than for example Nebraska, when I spent this year. In SF there is a big gay and lesbian community. They have here even their own part of the city - Castro. The freedom you can experience just when you are buying the alcohol - mostly they don't ask you for your ID, which would be in Nebraska unimaginable.

Lots of people are excited of living in San Francisco. I say, it's a beautiful city, but for me, it's something between American and European city. And why to make a compromise, when I can live either in American or European city? However, definitely I wanna come back one day...

So, what's the plan for upcoming days? Yosemite National Park, Death Valley, Sequoya Nat. Park... As soon as I get online I'll let you know how it's going...

Summer plans and leaving Nebraska

After couple days without much sleep, moving out from my dorms (which I btw did from 9:30 at the night to 3 in the morning...) I'm finally posting. Days full of farewell parties and saying see you and mostly unfortunately bye. Normally I like partying but this last week I just HATED. Tired, thinking of what I have to do before I leave and what's the worst knowing that I won't probably see most of guys I spent unforgettable year with. And right now I'm really sad, because I had argument with ones of my best friends here - John and Tim and I didn't tell them bye, which totally pisses me off. I spent with them some great times, they helped me a lot and now we will leave each other in this awkward situation? We will see how will it go. Hopefully we will solve it out because I really don't wanna leave like that...

I'm not good at saying bye (and who is?) but I realized that it's time to move and head to other life adventures. So I decided not to come back to Czech for the summer and stay here in the States... So, guys it's my pleasure finally present you my summer plans. Here you are:

1. Tomorrow morning me and my Czech and Irish friends are flying to San Francisco, CA where we are renting a car and heading to our round trip across California, Arizona, Utah to Yellowstone National Park. The trip is planned for almost 3 weeks, so looks like a lot of fun ;)

2. After this trip, me and my Czech friend Jan are flying to Pennsylvania to work in the kids camp for more than 2 months.

3. Right after the camp I'm moving to Washington DC, where I should have an internship at the Czech Embassy in Washington for more than 1 month.

And afterwards, I'm coming back to Czech!!!!! I guess in late September. So, plan the party at this time for me ;)

Now you know my plans, so I'm looking forward to know what's going on with you. And whoever wanna come to Washington to visit me, you are more then welcome... Hopefully I'll go online sometimes in upcoming weeks, so I can keep tracking my journey here. Stay tuned!

Finally, done with the finals...

I had my last exam today. Spanish test was the last exam I took here at UNL. I'm so glad that's over. I mean my exams, not my stay here. For that I'm still kind of sad, even I start feeling that I have to move again. It was gorgeous year for me, but I'm ready to experience again something new. I'm ready for summer! And guess what? We are going to travel for almost three weeks.

California, Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, prepare for us! Next Tuesday we are gonna jump out on you and start another adventure over there...

And just quick note for the end - my sickness is hopefully over. Just you to know ;)

Videos from UNL Rodeo

Here are few videos which I captured last saturday in UNL Rodeo. Enjoy Bareback with horses and a royal discipline of whole rodeo - bull riding...

Another bull riding

Bull riding - the white killer

Horses, bulls and cowboys in Rodeo videos - at the beginning Bareback

Pics from farewell with Pauline

Selleck Family...

It was very hard to fit all Pauline's luggage to the car....

Pauline and her parents

Everybody is said that Pauline is leaving...

Bye, bye, Pauline ;)

Farewell with Pauline

It came finally. We have to say bye (or hopefully to some guys just SEE YA!) to people with who we've spent gorgeous year full of fun and new experience. Our "Selleck family" as we call our international-American community living mostly in Selleck dorms is heading to the end. We experienced something like that at the end of the last semester, when we said bye to guys who were here just for one semester.

And I have to say that it was very hard, but we still knew that we are coming back for the second semester and we again see many guys who stayed here. Now, it's different, everybody is going on his own way, to his country. Maybe I will see some guys but with most of them it's the last time we see each other...

Firstly left us German guy Chris and french girl Pauline. Chris left Lincoln during the Friday night after a big party in downtown bars, where I've been thanks to my illness just for a while. But there is a possibility that I'll see Chris in New York where he has an internship or he will come to Washington DC, where I hopefully will have my internship. And if we won't see each other this summer, Germany is close to Czech, so I guess I will meet him in the future.

After Chris, on Friday afternoon Pauline left. Her parents (who btw look like typical French - in the good way ;) and don't speak English at all) came to see Lincoln and then they are gonna travel together across the States. So, here are couple pictures from farewell with Pauline in front of Selleck...

Getting sick. Again!!!

So I've had probably 20 hot teas today, a lot of lemon, different pills and medications and what's the worst and reason of all of these - sore throat... It's so annoying when you can't swallow. I hate illnesses (as probably everybody)... Why they have to come always in the wrong time. Two weeks left till we will be leaving Nebraska, exam time, projects and of course parties. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, farewell parties for guys who are leaving us sooner (Pauline and Chris, I'm gonna miss you. Have a safe trip tomorrow!!!).

All this and I must to be sick right now. Oh yep, that's life. Always brings something we don't expect...

I didn't expect I'll be feeling like a crap whole day. It really sucked because I worked today 8 hours and at the end of my second shift in the cafeteria (firstly I worked in a catering) I just stood there and looked pale. I probably looked very bad, because my nice co-worker offered me to take me to my dorms by her car ;) Thanks, Michelle!

Anyway, when pills won't work hopefully at least my home made slivovice (plumb liquor) will help. It's not just a alcohol, it's more, it's treatment ;) I'm almost out of it, because I took just one bottle with me to the U.S. but for this medical reasons I still have some :)

Hopefully, this won't read my mom, but I'm going out today. I don't wanna look like an alcoholic, but it's kind of mandatory today. There is bye bye party for Chris, German guy in downtown Lincoln, so I'll better show up there for a while. But nothing wild tonight! And I promise that I'll take day off yesterday. At least during the day, when I don't have classes ;) Have a great day and feel better than me!

Rodeo, rodeo, rodeo...

Are cowboys surviving just in the old western movies? Don't be mistaken. There are plenty of cowboys in Nebraska. And actually of cowgirls as well. Jeans, shirts, cowboy boots, hats. All that we saw on Saturday's UNL rodeo performance.

After 15 minutes drive we got off the car and found out that we are finally there - you could smell typical animals stink. We quickly got in the building which looked like a hangar, paid cover which went to research of brest cancer and took seats next to all these Nebraskans pretending to be cowboys as well ;) Show could start... And I have to admit that it was very interesting show. I kind of don't like this type of entertainment using animals, but here it looked that nothing bad was happening to them (when I don't count poor little goals, on which cow kids practiced catching them and roping their legs :( ) There were whole bunch of disciplines, when you wanna list them:

Bareback

Breakaway

Tie Down Roping

Team Roping

Goat Tying

Steer Wrestling

Barrel Race

And finally the royal discipline came - Bull Riding. Almost 30 guys tried to stay on the back of huge jumping bull... and don't be hit by its horns or be trampled out by its huge hooves. Nobody was injured this time, I'm kind of surprised by that as far as I saw that.

We spent on the Rodeo about 3 hours, which I even didn't realize, because there was always something going on there. So, if you have an opportunity to go to some rodeo, go ahead!

Mystery of Mrazek pond revealed

I finally know the story of Mrazek pond! Mr.Wilcox, park ranger in Everglades National Park sent me the history of this small lake:

"Mrazek Pond was named for Vincent J. Mrazek, park ranger at Coot Bay Pond, and later a park naturalist for five years at Flamingo between 1962 and 1967. This pond was formally known as Barney’s Pond for Barney Parker, the first ranger at Everglades National Park."

So, now I know that unfortunately it wasn't named in honour of our relative so I can't request returning this gorgeous natural place back to my family ;). Anyway, it showed me even something more important - how are some people here nice and worry about others. When I was talking to some park ranger in Everglades and asking her about this place I really didn't expect that she is gonna ask another ranger and he will shoot me a mail with the history of this pond.

I just can't stop wondering what's going on here sometimes, every day some new surprise and learning... Have a great day and hopefully you will meet such helpful people as well.

Czech Cultural Club Omaha festival

Oh, how I like Czech festivals in Nebraska organized by people with Czech heritage here. Always nice people enthusiasm to talk about Czech. Some of them dressed up in typical Czech-Moravian costumes (kroje). A lot of good food and good drinks.

Me with other Czechs were invited to come to Omaha to Czech festival last Sunday. We were supposed to have presentation about our town, as it had the last time we visited Czech festival great success. So we were prepared to set off our way to the biggest city in Nebraska. But not at 7:45 in the morning when some guys pick up us in front of our dorms. Never mind, another day without much sleep...

However, it was great day finally. We judged the home made cakes - unfortunately just visually, we couldn't taste them. We called numbers in the Czech bingo game and had presentation about our lovely towns. We weren't the only original Czech in the festival, couple Czech soldiers showed up there. They came to Nebraska for 3 weeks lasting observing how to effectively reorganize army. So, since now I guess we can feel safer, as we know that we got inspired by American army ;) Have a great day!

Czechoslovakia probably will stay in mind of Americans for a long time... Here you can read something about our Christmas.

Monika and the real St. Nicolaus.

Cool band...

Festival took place in Sokolovna - at this place normally people excercise. This time there are stalls with different "Czech stuff".

I haven't seen blue kroj before, but it's nice.

We took care of the Czech bingo.

Line of people waiting for the Czech dish - pork/duck + saurkraut (mistni vyraz pro kysely zeli;) + potato dumplings. This huge line was there for a whole day and they sold about 1000 meals. To the festival came amazing 1200 people!!!!!! Would you believe that? In Nebraska? ;)

Whoohoo, I won!!!!

I don't like bingo so much, but calling the numbers in Czech was fun ;)

Hmmm, duck... And the bread similar to the Czech one - great! And kolaches. Everybody loves kolaches in Nebraska and not just the people with the Czech heritage.

Sokoli, sokolice a sokolcata. Many Czech names on the floor ;)

Future generation of Nebraskan's Czechs. Hopefully this nice heritage and tradition will last forever...

Folklore dances.

Board about our scholarship and us. Nice, thanks guys!

Monika is having presentation about her town Bilina. If somebody don't know - North Bohemia ;)

The world is small - Czech soldiers in Nebraska. And this one is moreover from my city Prostejov. Btw we were 3 people from Prostejov - Ada, my friend from grammar school who is studying in Omaha came as well. Prostejov rocks!!!!

Like in the hockey game ;)

Future Czech Nebraska queen? Maybe...

Sokolovna and the end of the festival. Cleaning up of the huge room (and downstairs there is another one big room).

It's over, but next time again. Czech heritage in Nebraska lives on...