Zmrzlina, prosim!

Clearly, "ice cream, please."

This has quickly become a favorite phrase (pronounced more like "zimmerzleena"), and we have come to exercise it...probably a bit too often.

Yesterday we got zmrzzz (as we endearingly call it) on our way to a professional soccer game.

Our Czech teacher (love ya Jitka!) told us that some of her "friends" from the University wanted to show

us what real Czech 20-somethings do for fun. On Saturday they took us to a local pub they go to often. After about 30 minutes we realized that Tomas was not Jitka's "friend," but her son! After we hung out with them for a while they invited us to go to an AC Sparta Praha soccer game. 

SO FUN! They beat an Italian team 3-2, AND we sat next to the "hooligans." These guys (I don't think I saw a single woman) are definitely separated by a fence for a reason.

Sorry for my lack of posting in the last week--it was a bit busy. On Saturday we went to Terezin, a military camp used during WWII as a prison by the Nazis. We explored the town (which felt oddly like a ghost town) and visited two museums. I was extremely interested by the prisoners (mostly Jews or members of the resistance in Prague) art, specifically that of the children who lived in Terezin. It was definitely a moving experience.

To clear our heads, Christina and I went on a nice long run along the river upon our return to Prague on Sunday. GORGEOUS. We ended our run at our favorite veggie and fruit stand/market on the other side of the river (Mala Strana) and bought the cheapest box of wine we could find and sat in a park by the river for hours talking. It's funny that even though we haven't been apart for more than 6 days since March we still find loads to talk about. I guess that's what good friends are for! After that we cooked a lovely dinner of grilled cheese and veggies, and met the Czech students at the Pub.

Later we ventured to Karlovy Lazne, the "largest club in Central Europe." It's Prague's famous 5-story club right on the river. I had been there before on my high school trip in June 2008, and let me say not much has changed--still full of creepy European men and the oldies floor is still as good as ever. GREAT NITE. We're thinking about making it a Saturday tradition, although the touristy aspect makes us feel a bit pathetic. We'll see how long it lasts!

Sunday was a GORGEOUS day. Christina and I "studied" in my windowsill in bikinis for the majority of the day, soaking up some much needed sun. Best part of the day? WE BOOKED TICKETS TO JERUSALEM. Yup, you read that right. Alex Katz, a friend from Northwestern (and Cherubs!) invited us to join him and a few other of the boys on a trip to visit his grandparents. I literally cannot wait. This is such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I am so excited to take advantage of it. We're going October 13-17. More on that to come later.

I'll stop my rambling, as the next few days consisted of quizzes/Czech Oral Tests (yikes!). But we had our official Welcome Dinner on Tuesday nite, and regular classes started Wednesday. I'll blog about my individual classes once they get going--very excited though (Economics, Reading Prague, Baroque Art and the required Czech course).

I'm off to the Prague Wine Festival, but HAPPY WEEKEND! Tomorrow we're planning on making blueberry chocolate chip pancakes, paddle-boating on the river, going to a Beer Garden in this beautiful park that overlooks the city, and probably hitting up good old Karlovy (much funnier said in a British accent, if you were wondering).

Much love to you all!

KP

Pictures from the last week or so:

PIGS! At the old Communist Housing Compounds.

And then my camera was stolen...