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.
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