Fried Chicken and a Symphony...classy

Sorry everyone! I have been neglecting my blog again. I have attempted to write this blog post maybe like ten times and every time I either get distracted or want to go to bed. So finally here it is.
On Wednesday, I had my lesson at 5:30. Usually, I have it on Tuesday but he had rehearsal for the Prague Symphony Orchestra. So we had the lesson and then he gave me tickets to the concert that night--actually first, he asked if I wanted to go. Did he really need to ask. If it's free and it's music I'm there. Anyways, so after my lesson he walked to the hall that the concert was going to be in and then left for his rehearsal. So I sort of knew where I was but not really so I had to find something to eat that wouldn't take that long. I wandered for a couple minutes and then saw off in the distance--could it be?!--yes--I think it is--KFC. Needless to say I'm a horrible person. Totally had Kentucky fried chicken...in Prague. However, it was surprisingly delicious. Perhaps better than the KFCs in the states.

Yes. It happened. No regrets.

So the concert was amazing. It was in Smetana Hall (he's a famous Czech composer--contemporary of Dvorak). They played Mahler's Songs on the Death of Children or (for my German-speaking friends) Kindertotenlieder. Kind of a Debbie Downer but still beautiful. It was five songs for mezzo-soprano and orchestra. The mezzo had a beautiful voice, especially her low-register. It was full and rich which is hard to find unless it's a really good alto. The first movement was the best--absolutely gorgeous. It gave me chills. The other movements were also excellent but lacked the "umph" (that's a technical term) that the first movement had. Then, after intermission they played Shostakovich's Symphony No. 15 in A. I love the first movement. It is amazing. The other movements meander around aimlessly. But the first movement is so great. And there's a trumpet solo in which he quotes Rossini's William Tell Overture. It's quite funny. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaRKsOUTZw8
Go to 1:55 seconds if you'd like to hear--or you could listen to the whole thing. It's pretty epic.

Prague Symphony Orchestra

Also I was a big ol' creeper and took a picture of my prof.

I see you dere.

CEILING.

Another post is to come of my trip to Moravia!

Another Praha Moment

So we had another two days of class on Wednesday and Thursday. My Czech is getting better (theoretically). However, every time I end up in say the grocery line the cashier starts talking a mile a minute then looks at me for a response and all I can do is smile and say "Ano," which means yes. Then, they look confused and proceed to mutter in Czech (probably something to the effect of "he must be one of those crazy people"). Anyhoos, besides Czech being really hard, I also had Woodwind Quintet on Wednesday. Well, it was only four of us. The bassoonist is a Czech student at the Prague Conservatory and won't be with us for another week. I like everyone in the group, Natalie, Joe and Casey (huzzah! I remembered their names!) and they're all really good players. Not sure I like the instructor but then again it was a only an hour that we spent with him, so perhaps it's too soon to tell.

So on Thursdays, I only have one class  and it's at 4:30! What a nice reprieve from Work Forest. It's photography and it was...interesting (in neither a good way or a bad way...just an interesting way). Our professor attempted to explain to us the philosophy of photography in Czenglish. Not sure any of us really understood. Then, we as a class went to the photography store to buy an analog camera (black and white camera). I ended up somehow last in line and the selection was pretty minimal (and by minimal, I mean there was one camera left cheaper than 2000kc but the condition was kind of poor). So the teaching assistant told me to go to the photography store across the street tomorrow (since they were closed while we were there). I went with my friend, Lecia, the next day (Friday) and we both got a camera. We're convinced that they were better than the ones that we saw on Thursday. I'm excited to learn how to take pictures (it's more involved than just pushing a button). You have to adjust the aperture (which controls the amount of light let in) and the shutter speed (which controls how long the light is let in). I'm also excited about the dark room. It will probably be pretty time consuming but I have a surprising amount of time here. I am only taking five classes and one is my clarinet instruction and the other is woodwind quintet. This is going to be a great semester not that it won't have it's moments of difficulty but I'll actually have time to enjoy it.

Also, since I didn't get into the English class I wanted and the others are at conflicting times as well, I'm starting to think that I might just be an English minor. I think I was just being overeager freshman/sophomore year. I want to enjoy my next three semesters at Wake and not have to double-up on English classes (and for one semester triple-up). And music is what I should be doing anyway. It's what I want to do for the rest of my life. I pretty much had a Praha moment (Get it? See what I did there). I think this time abroad is going to be so refreshing for me and really help me put things in perspective.

Sooo enough of that. I went to the zoo yesterday with Stephen and Elana. It was sooo much fun! I'm sure some people are thinking you can go to the zoo in the US, but it's still fun and it was only 100kc (5 dollars). It was huge. We just had a great time. The first place we went was the "Indonesian Jungle." Ooooohhh. There were monkeys and some cool birds. But then. There was "The Twilight Zone." We had to walk through these black flaps hanging down (that were blocking the light, since all the animals were nocturnal). As soon as we walked in, something hit my arm. I turned and no one was there. I turned to my friends and they were sidetracked by the bushbabies. I was not impressed. Well...maybe they were kind of cute, but that's beside the point. I still want to know what hit me in the arm. So we proceed past some large rodents and other animals of the night and we come to the bat exhibit. We proceed to look at the bats and then...we all notice at the same time...the bats...aren't...enclosed. A bat hit me in the arm. WHATTT????? I don't think we could run out of there faster. Freaky. Then Elana says, "Something brushed my ear but I thought it was just someone walking by." No. IT WAS A BAT. Anyhoos. After that we saw other animals including two baby ocelots. Quite possibly the most adorable thing I've ever seen. They were curled up together and fast asleep. Stephen almost wet himself he was so excited cause in his second grade rain forest play, he was the ocelot. That's pretty legit. Although there were no manuls in their big cat exhibit, it was still quite fun. Oh and the tiger wasn't out. Then we rode a ski-lift type thingie down. Stephen has a fear of heights. Elana and I were so proud he didn't start crying or throw-up or anything like that. We proceeded to give him high-fives. He deserved them. So after that we sought out Afriky dum/ Africa House! I (of course) started singing, "I blessed the rains down in Africa." It got stuck in everyone's head. YES. There we saw giraffes. Elana's favorite animal. She was excited. But, we wanted the elephants and the hippos. We were promised elephants and hippos. But then we realized they weren't in Afriky dum. They were actually near the entrance. The elephants weren't out. Sad day. But the hippos more than made up for the elephant's absence. They were swimming in the water. They were submerged, except for their backs. It was quite funny. Then the hippo swam over to where we were standing and ate the plants right in front of us. It was so awesome. He popped up. Grabbed some plants. Then went back under the water to om nom. He did it like three times. Sooo funny. After that we saw the flamingos and then the penguins and then we left. We saw many other animals yesterday, but that would take forever. A lot of them were really ugly birds too. Like really ugly.

Also, I forgot my camera. Wah wah. So please enjoy this picture of a baby ocelot. Picture it asleep and duplicated and that's what we saw (sans the hands holding it).

First two days of class

We started class yesterday. I was looking forward to it, but at the same time not at all. On Monday, I have one class (say what???)! It's Elementary Czech at 12:00. I like the teacher. She's a little intense, but I see that as meaning I will always pay attention and perhaps even learn more. I also really enjoy learning a spoken language. Latin was fun and all, but there's something gratifying about speaking with native Prague-ians/Prague-ites/Praguers (not sure what they're called). I rather like Praguers. Anyways I think I'll enjoy Czech. After class I basically gallivanted about the city with a friend for like 5 hours. I bought a metronome (left mine at home) and Czech-English dictionary (seems essential) and then we ate fried cheese (which tore my stomach inside out, but that's enough for the gory details). It was surprisingly tasty. It's a favorite Czech cuisine. They love to fry things (like the South!). That's why there is a KFC on every corner.

sidenote: I feel that I am the only person here who says "ya'll" - not ok.

So on Tuesday I have three classes, but before I get into that...funny story. So I was waiting at the tram stop with a friend at 12:30 (class is at 1:30, we allotted plenty of time to be punctual). And we were making small talk about classes and whatnot. And then I made a comment about Czech driving--which is bad. And I said, "I'm surprised there aren't that many accidents in Prague." The drivers seem to do whatever they want with no real pattern to who goes or who yields, although they always stop for pedestrians, which is nice. So we get on the tram. We've been on for maybe like a minute, not even close to the first stop, and then the tram is suddenly stopping. Everyone is sort of thrown forward and then the tram shakes. WE. HIT. A. CAR. Everyone was fine. No injuries (thank you Jesus!). The car had a dent just above the rear left tire. The driver started to slow down for the tram, then floored it out of nowhere and hit the tram. Kind of stupid but anyway. I had/still have this sinking feeling that it was totally my fault. I jinxed the tram. My friend could not stop laughing cause I had literally said perhaps five minutes earlier how surprised I was at how little accidents there were. We then had to transfer trams and surprisingly enough we were on time to class! But just so weird. Me and my mouth.

As for class, I had Topics in Twentieth Century Music at 1:30. I have friends in the class and I really like the professor. The subject matter should be interesting though some will be a review of Theory IV. Her specialty is avant-garde music, which is exciting since it's something I feel I know very little about. Also, the class is three hours long...what??? But it didn't seem quite that long and she gave us a ten minute break halfway through. Then, I had photography. The professor and the TA are great. The professor is really old...like ancient...like he might have invented photography. And the TA is really chill although her English is not very good. BUT, I have to buy the analog camera, the film and the print paper. ugh. Good thing Prague is cheap. In a good way. Then, I had to book it to The Academy of Music in Prague (or HAMU) for my clarinet individual instruction. I'll have to cross the Charles Bridge every Tuesday (nbd). My clarinet professor is sooo great. He's excellent. He's also first clarinet in the Prague Symphony Orchestra. He gave me a ticket for their concert next week (SCORE). I am sooo pumped. I'm happy to get another opinion though I love EY (my clarinet professor at Wake). It's just a refreshing new opinion. Today, felt more like a typical day of Work Forest: six hours of nonstop class. Anyways, I might add photos to this post tomorrow.

Touristy stuff, The Marriage of Figaro and Czech Philharmonic

We were scavenging. 

We were supposed to take a picture with a sailor at the 

Charles Bridge, but he didn't want to be in the picture 

so we decided to take a picture NEAR him. It counted.

Ok so I finally got the chance to be touristy (fanny-pak, Hawaiian shirt, straw hat, socks+sandals, etc) but not really. We went on a scavenger hunt around Prague, which was surprisingly fun. It was a competition to take pictures of different landmarks and then figure out a puzzle (the answer was Cinderella--really stupid, but the rest was great). I sort of forget all that we saw but I'll put up the cool stuff. The Charles Bridge was so neat--statues of favorite Czech saints and such all along it. It's been my desktop background for the past couple months and to see it in person was surreal but there were sooo many people. As I said the final answer was Cinderella and we had to take a picture of this slipper behind a glass. The shoe was old and dingy and looked as someone just lost their nasty shoe. LAME. Otherwise the scavenger hunt was great.

Charles Bridge

We also got to go on a tour of the Prague castle. Well, technically it was the grounds of the Prague castle, because it cost about 300kc to go inside. It was spectacular and St. Vitus Cathedral is breathtaking. It is neo-Gothic architecture and absolutely gorgeous.

Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral 

from across the river.

St. Vitus Cathedral

So they had extra tickets to The Marriage of Figaro. Ummm I snatched those puppies up (actually only one so I guess it was just a puppy). It was sooo good. Rosina, the countess, was amazing. Her voice was just absolutely pristine. She sang a B or C like it was no big deal. Perfection. It was also really funny and the theatre was beautiful.

Estates Theatre

Last night. Czech Philharmonic. Can't breathe. It was amazing. It was the final concert of the Dvorak festival, so obvi, they played Dvorak. They began with Dvorak's Hussite Overture. The opening of the piece gave me chills. Not going to lie...almost cried. It was the most gorgeous woodwind choir. It's what I live for. There was another great moment when the orchestra is fortissimo on the V and you'd think it's going to I, but instead the trumpets begin a chorale. Utter brilliance. Then they played a Chopin piano concerto (no. 2...I think). The pianist was maybe 26. He was sooo good. His movements were so fluid and his physicality was not overbearing or too little. And being Chopin the piece was an amazing display of his finesse. Then. Dvorak. Symphony No. 7. Incredible. For those of you familiar with the "New World" symphony of Dvorak, No. 7 is like it just a notch lower on the epicness but a notch up on the difficulty. SO GREAT. It's pretty much the reason I came to Prague. But then. They closed the concert with Ravel's Bolero. So ridiculously overplayed and repetitive. But nonetheless a fantastic concert.

The Rudolfinum. Where my dreams come true.

Me=neglectful

This is the apartment building.

Can you say "yes, please!"

(Sorry about the random street sign)

Dear diary,


I feel really bad. I have neglected you. You promise to listen with no judgment and yet I do nothing. It's like you're a baby and I leave you in the car, because I am just going in to the market for one thing (like bread), and then I get sidetracked (I see the muffins). And so then you are in the car with the windows rolled up and it is triple digits farhenheit. And then you are dead. Diary, I am sorry.


Sincerely your truest friend,
Jacob


PS diary=blog

That's me! Although I feel that

there is a strange aversion in 

Prague to not going by your

first name.

So basically what I am saying is that every night I am so tired and I think to myself "Oh, it's ok. I will write a post tomorrow" and/or "I finally have time to write a post, but I'll just lay down for a hot second." Hot second becomes five hours...what?


For peeps who want to know about my life, my apologies, so much has happened these past few days and by few I mean five. So what has been happening is orientation. That word has never been more apropos. Every time I attempt to traverse the city whether with a group or by myself (which was today) I am completely disoriented. Oh and did I mention I don't speak Czech. Well, I can say "good day" and "thank you." Oh and count to a thousand...not that I've tried. That only gets you so far.

Entrance from the
kitchen into the room.

The kitchen.

Sorry, couldn't get my camera 

to flash so lighting is weird.

So we've been taking Czech classes in the morning at the NYU center which is gorgeous and really close to Old Town Square (AMAZING). Um...why are there no vowels in the Czech language? For example, a famous Czech tongue-twister: Vlk zmrzl, zhltl hrst zrn/a wolf froze to death that swallowed a handful of grains. WHY? Also, I love that there is a word for "froze to death" in Czech.


Monday night we went to dinner with our RAs. Everyone ordered traditional Czech cuisine (although it was done up all fancy like). I ordered the goulash. It was SOOO GOOD. It was beef in this ridiculous sauce. I envisaged a soup/stew but whateves--still amazing.

My corner of the room
(sans the top bunk).

My bunk.

Sorry I didn't make the bed.

Tuesday morning we went to the NYU center and received tickets for the cultural events. Options: Circus Theater Performance, Jazz Club, Don Giovanni, Swan Lake, Marriage of Figaro, and the CZECH PHILHARMONIC. Need I say it, the choice was obvious. I can't breathe. It's a part of the Dvořák festival. 


(sidenote: that "ř" is horribly difficult to say and is the reason why I will never fully be a quality Czech speaker)


After Czech class and lunch, we had to get our metro/tram/bus passes. First, the transportation in Prague is so organized but more importantly sooo clean. Second, it works via the honor system. Like what? That's just amazing. Kudos, Prague. Kudos.

The Jewish Cemetery.

Sorry, pictures weren't 

allowed in the synagogues 

so this is my only picture 

from the tour.

After that I went on a tour of the Jewish section of Prague. The lecture was interesting and the guide was great. Funny too. We went to synagogues and the Jewish Cemetery. It was breathtaking. And there was something about the Old New Synagogue that seemed to transcend everything. It was built in the thirteenth century and is still in use for practicing Orthodox Jews. Our guide sang a traditional Jewish prayer. Incredible. Well, not the quality of his singing but the deeply penetrating fact that I was surrounded by hundreds of years of history.


Tuesday night was a documentary about the history of the Velvet Revolution about which my knowledge was minimal. I knew it was a non-violence revolution that dismantled the communist regime. But that's about it. The film was geared toward American high school students (which was evident). Nonetheless, there were very moving and powerful moments throughout the film. Perhaps, best of all was the Q&A with a NYU in Prague professor who was a participant in the revolution and spoke in the documentary.


Hopefully soon, I can become a little more of a tourist and have some pictures of the Prague landmarks (ie. the castle, Charles Bridge, Old Town Square).


Please enjoy these views from my window.

Picture 1.
YESSS.

Picture 2.
mmmmm.

Picture 3.
You better be enjoying.