Decisions, Decisions....

As you can tell from the last post, I'm going to have a LOT of time to travel this semester..... Here is the TENTATIVE list of places to go... Each line is a different weekend that month... in order... Here goes..
FEB
Caves, Brewery, Church
Vienna, Austria
Olomouc (Shopping area)
Hungary
MARCH
Open Weekend... not sure yet...
Prague (St. Patty's Day)
Amsterdam
Poland (Auschwitz)
APRIL
Kromeriz
East Bohemia
Spain
Slovak Mountains
MAY
?Ireland?
Greece
United States of America!!! :)

This semester

I am taking four classes total this semester... Through ISU, I am taking my capstone class (which is a summary of all my combined business classes) and advanced tax....enough said... I need both of these to graduate and am taking them online.... Here at Masaryk I am taking two classes... One is Czech Cinema.. it meets every Thursday.. we just watch movies then our final is a five page paper about what the class meant to us... The other is Ethnic Relations... It meets four times... EVER! It is a three hour night class and that is it! I'm going to be able to do massive amounts of traveling and sightseeing while I'm here!
Be jealous... It's okay... J/K

Saturday's Gratitude Journal Entry

Today I am thankful for nature.

The Abyss and the caves today were amazing! I wish everyone could have been here to see it! The pictures really don't do it any justice, like I said... I was always the kid who HATED nature! Don't get me wrong, I love my air-conditioned home... I just apreciate nature more than I did before... My parents used to take us to the mountains when we were younger. We would be ticked. There is a hilarious pic of me floating around somewhere.. It is of the family at ANOTHER mountain lookout and I am asleep on one of the benches... haha* Classic Tiff...

Did I mention?

I'M IN EUROPE??!?!?!?!??!?!?

Saturday's Outing.....

Masaryk is such a great university! I love that they plan SO MUCH for the students to do! This week has been a little overwhelming because we have CONSTANTLY had something to do! And you almost feel obligated to go to EVERYTHING so that you aren't left out... Today we went to the Movavian Karst. It has a world-famous (and AMAZING) place called the Maccha Abyss... There are over 1,000 caves in the Karst... We visited and took a boat ride through the Punka caves... I found out the difference between stalagmites and stalagtites... ((an easy way to remember which is which from my roomie, Rachel K....))

Termites crawl up a wall ((from the ground up...)

To take off your tights, you have to push them down...((from the top up))

I also have to mention the sound effects in the caves!! BAHAHAHAHA* The park had put a sound system into the caves to apparently add to the experience... haha* They played creepy music and even played some parts of Phantom at the Opera to enhance the experience.... I just found it funny... ((duh))

It's REALLY sad that the pictures don't do this any justice! I just emailed my friend, Leslie and told her that the pictures I take are beautiful, but the sights IN PERSON are enough to make even ME speechless! That is pretty serious...

We hiked for about twenty minutes at a 78 degree freaking angle to get a view of the top of the Abyss... I wasn't really impressed.. Just looked like we were really high up and couldn't see it as good as we had half hour prior.... So instead of taking a pic of that, I got ALL the International Students together for a pic... Czech out how many people I rounded up! I rock! ((Get that triat from Pammer....))

Then, in Czech condition, we went to the Cerna Hora brewery. We got to see how beer is made... ((DID YOU KNOW IT TAKES 100 DAYS TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS?!??!?!?)) That gives me a whole new respect for booze... :) We got a nice meal and THREE SAMPLES OF BEER! My roommate, Rachel, doesn't like beer so I was POPPED (along with everyone else) when we left... Remember, the beer here is as gangster as that Saint in a previous post! No Bud Light can be found here! This is a pic of the people at my people saying Nas Dravi [Cheers]!

I have to mention one last thing about the Brewery... The video is of the tour guide telling us about the history of Cerna Hora.... She also told about all the different types of beer they brew... I stopped recording when she started talking about the lemonade and sodas they produce as well.. BIG MISTAKE! This is a quote: "We put 'hop' [beer taste] in it [the lemonade] to get the children used to the taste of beer." WHAT THE HAIL!!?!??!?!??!??! I hope your neck doesn't hurt afterwards.. Sorry... At least you will get to hear the way people talk over here... It is getting really easy to understand.... :)-

Countdown

In 175 days I will be the happiest girl on Earth! I love you, Fancy!! :)- XOXO From Europe!

Friday's Gratitude Journal: Differences

Today I am thankful for people's differences. This is a pic of Thomas (from Poland) and I at the Opera last night. He is really nice and I am really glad I got to sit by him! I got to know him and realize that, although we are different, we have a lot in common! He laughed with me when the clapping frenzy began! ((See below)).... Do unto others... Be nice... It will get you further...

Blueberry

Pic of me hanging out with some of the international students the other night.....

So I went on the tour of Brno (my new home) yesterday... You saw the church pics but you didn't see THIS!! This chick (who is SMILING) is standing in front of a creepy wall... Apparently, a man back in the good old days betrayed the city of Brno.... so they hung him here... NOPE...so they stoned him to death here....NOPE....so they cut off his toes and lit him on fire in this exact same spot....NOPE... ((sorry, I crossed the line on that last one..)).... THEY TRAPPED HIM ALIVE BETWEEN TWO CONCRETE WALLS UNTIL HE SUFFERED AND STARVED AND DIED.... And to this day.... hundreds of years later... people like the one in the pic stand proud and tell the tale.... and indirectly say, "Don't F~&* with Brno! Thanks for coming!"

Let's not even talk about this saint that is right across the street from the crazy man's wall.... Is that a 22 in his hand?!?!?!?? I need to watch my back! ((I registered with the US embassy today.... be sure to tell them to beware of walls and listen for my screams....))

Next time you get a chance to go to the Opera... Don't....

A lot of the international students went to the opera last night... We saw the Bartered Bride... in Czech... Now I know why Mark doesn't ever want me to take him to the opera... As much as I was trying to enjoy it, I was thinking of other things in my head... Like the funny parts that I would be laughing with my friends about if they were here... The most hilarious moment of the night... ((there were two...))

1.) The story was about two lovers who couldn't be together... [think Romeo and Juliet]. Standard... The story comes to an end where the lovers are finally able to be together... BUT WAIT! That isn't the end?!?! No! I only THOUGHT THAT! The story ends with a random guy dressed up as a bear scaring the people in the town and then revealing that he is, in fact, just a dumbass in a bear costume.... [[Sorry, Mom]]. BAHAHAHAHAHA*

2.) Not to be outdone by the ferocious grizzley, the cast came out for us all to clap for them.... standard.... Then the curtain closed and I thought, 'Okay, We're done..' WRONG! The curtain rose again for us to clap for them AGAIN... Okay, I can do two clapping sessions... The curtain closed and I had the previous thoughts... WRONG AGAIN! The cast LITERALLY found their way through the curtain to stand on the outside for another round of clapping. At this point I'm interested... and giggling....And still CLAPPING.... They find their way back through the curtain when they are satisfied...[Same thoughts...same thoughts....] THEY FOUND THEIR FREAKING WAY THROUGH THE CURTAIN AGAIN FOR ANOTHER APPLAUSE!!! At this point, I'm in hysterical laughter and looking for the Candid Camera to pop out in front of me... ((I thought for sure that's what was going on....)) NOPE! This was serious business... I went home with a feeling of emptyness and bruised palms.... If you go to an opera in the Czech Republic and want to know how long to expect the play to last, add an additional ten minutes of CONTINUOUS clapping to the performance! Look for me in the Guiness Book of World Records....

More Insightful Czech...

This pic was in my Czech language book.... Zena means girl... not stripper... not skank... not even transvestite... I was suprised too....

Let's not even start a discussion on the two 'friends...' WHAT THE?!?!?!??!

Neice Update

What a terrible Aunt I am! This is the only pic I have of me and my beautiful neice, Lexie! This was right after she was born! Can you tell I was crying? :) Amazing sight! Congrats Andy and Kristi on your new baby girl!

Address

Sorry... one more post and then I'm going to bed because it is almost three in the morning....

If you want my address while I'm over here, shoot an email to tifftheaccountant@yahoo.com...

Love you all! Nighty Night!

Thursday's Gratitude Journal Entry

Today I am thankful for is kindness of strangers. Rachel and I certainly couldn't have gotten to Brno as easily as we did (and it wasn't easy) if it hadn't been for great people helping us. We just went to a girl's dorm earlier tonight... She was here last semester and gave us a box of stuff that her roommate left that she didn't need... People are so kind! Do unto others.... :)

That is enough blogging for tonight.. I will tell you about tonight's opera experience tomorrow...

"Dobrow Noc!" [Goodnight!]

Pizza

So I went to a Pizza place with some new friends of mine! It is the "best Pizza in Brno!" How could I resist?!?! It was only a dollar a slice! Even Better!! So I got two slices... Turns out, one slice means 1/4 A PIZZA!!! I purchased (and ate) half a pizza for lunch today... for two dollars... Then I did an ab workout to make myself feel better... haha*

Speechless

Another example of a time I was speechless was today during our tour of the city. Czech out the amazing churches and architecture! B-E-A-UTIFUL!!!

The other pic is of me at the bell tower in the church in the second pic.... overlooking my new home!! :)

Today's lecture on Czech Society....

So we went to a classroom at 10 this morning and had a lecture on Czech culture... Czech out the REAL PICTURE from the lecture in ACTION!! HAHA**

Quotes from our lecture:

"Beer is the best communication medium ever."

"Beer is not an alcohol. It is a part of lunch. It is a food."

We also discussed famous Czechs. They started out with really familiar people like Einstien and Mozart.... Who weren't from Czech!! They would show their pic and follow it with... "They weren't from Czech but they did something important in this country...." So I'm thinking, 'Come up with your OWN famous people! Do you really not have any that you have to pull from other countries? This is absurd and I would go as far as saying downright rude....' Then they got to the REAL CZECH STARS in this order:

Ivana Trump [Donald Trump's first hoe]

((Another quote that was more appropriate here)) "Many porn stars in United States pornography are from Czech" WHAT THE?!?!?!?

Finally, Otto Wichterle... The inventor of contact lenses...

That's all! That's the best they could do!! I was cracking up! Not only at the meager list, but the order of their presentation! haha* Shouldn't the SCIENTIST beat out the PORN STARS AT LEAST!??!!? :)

Police Station Experience

So I had to go to the police station with some of the other interational students to officially register with them so I'm not illegally chillin in Europe for four months... Let's just say I have to go back again tomorrow morning because the trip was unsuccessful.....
Quotes:
"There are a lot of sketch people here... I mean, I know we are in a jail and all but....." -Me to Rachel at the Police station
"How do you say 'We were here first' in German?" -Rachel to our translator about a Russian chick who was trying to cut us in line after we had been there for two hours

Speaking of lines... There is no concept of lines here... If you get somewhere and there is a line, apparently it is perfectly acceptable to push your way to the front.... no one else cares!!! Take a number, people!

Food

The food here is really good... and cheap! I went grocery shopping tonight and got about enough food for a week and a half (thinking I will have one meal out to eat each day/night) and it cost me thirteen dollars! haha* sweet!

Also, I highly recommend blueberry dumplings if you ever get a chance.... They are amazing! I had them at a local cafe the other day... AMAZING!!!! :)-

Czech Language Class

I am in an intensive Czech language course right now. Let's talk about the entrance exam first....

I got one point for signing my name correctly, one point for putting my correct country, and 98 points for the rest of the Czech language test.... my score...TWO PERCENT!! HAHA* Apparently pivo wasn't on the test! At least I know how to spell my name correctly! Vital!

All the other American students must have gotten the same score... we are all in the same class! haha* What is the first word we learned in class??? PIVO!!! OW OW!!!! I KNEW that would come in handy, Mom!! :)-

Bubbly

So the water here is carbonated... icky... you know when you are getting a Polar Pop from Circle K and the syrup runs out and all you get is that nasty mullet-tasting carbonated water?? Well people pay for that here.. It is fowl... That is why I choose booze... :)

Na Zdravi! [translation: Cheers!]

Speaking of Booze!!!

Pubs aren't the only place you can find booze here.... IT'S IN THE CANDY!!! One of the other American students in my Czech Language class [yet another story to come....] bought what she thought was a chocolate candy bar... turns out she was half right.... There was (what we thought) was caramel filling.... Turns out it was RUM!!! It was terrible, but hilarious!! This is the owner of the candy bar, Rachel..... haha*

Boozers

Did I mention that the Czech Republic is the NUMBER ONE DRINKING COUNTRY IN THE WORLD?!?!! That is pretty serious!!! We went to the police station to register as foreigners here [whole other story, stay tuned....] and we passed a pub with people boozin... Sounds normal, right? YEAH!!! IT WAS NINE AM!!!!!! They don't mess around! So, in order to 'fit in' I had a beer with lunch today... before class... When in Rome...... :)

((*NOTE*))
Beer is cheaper than water here.... The accountant in me kicked in.... Or was it the college kid in me..... ?!?!?!?!

Wednesday's Gratitude Jouranl Entry

Today I would like to say I am thankful for Public Transportation in Europe... It is such a great idea! You can get popped and always have a ride home... Saves on freakin gas fo sho! :) Did I mention that people WALK EVERYWHERE here?!?! To get to town it takes a thirty minute walk.. I've made it a few times ALREADY! Good workout though! :)- Public transportation is amazing! Terre Haute should totally invest in trams!

Czech Cinema Club: Kolya

Every Monday we are going to be watching a Czech film in one of the auditoriums... This Monday was Kolya... It was really good! I recommend it to all you out there.. It won awards back in the day... (late ninetys....).... More REVIEWS to come! haha*

Another Observation....

I cannot believe how common smoking is in Europe! There are so many people who smoke here! The population of Brno is about 400,000.... I bet 75% of those people smoke..... Icky!!!! Don't they know that is bad for them?!?!?!?!?!

Food For Thought

It is illegal to charge tuition for degrees in Czech... What would we do if we didn't have to pay for college tuition? Wow... I'm amazed.....

SuperBowl XLII

Right now I am watching SuperBowl XLII highlights.... I am so sad I missed it! I am so happy that the Giants won!! WooHoo!!!! I'm also going to watch the halftime performance by Tom Petty! I cannot wait to go see him on July 3rd in Noblesville with a whole bunch of my friends!! Love you guys and miss you!!

Selfish, Impatient Americans...

I finally have internet in my dorm! I cannot believe how excited I am! I was so impatient and selfish about getting access, that it really made me think.... There is so much stuff that I take for granted.... Thank God for the wonderful life I live!!!

Eating in Europe.....

My eating schedule is completely off!!! I usually eat like six small meals throughout the day.... Ever since I got to Czech, I have eaten one big meal a day....THAT'S ALL!!!! Us Americans can't handle it! haha* It is bizarre, and hard to do.... I'm sure I'll get used to it soon....

Also, I did buy some fruit the other day from the market.... BEST APPLES IN THE WORLD!! I can't get enough of them...

Gratitude Journal

So my roommate is Rachel... She is from Salt Lake City, Utah.... She was telling me how she wants to keep a gratitude journal while she is over here.. I'm going to try to do this as well... but online.. A gratitude journal is one where you list one thing you are thankful for for that day... Let's see... Today, I have to be thankful for the food at the Welcoming Reception earlier today. Living in dorms is a whole new concept to me and I don't have the luxuries around me that I am used to.... I enjoyed the food at the Welcoming Reception and am very grateful to those people who put on the party. ((In Czech tradition, of course there was booze provided as welll....)) Hopefully I'll have better, more thoughtful gratitudes tomorrow... haha* PS... The pic is of Rachel and I at a pub last night... Ahhh Europe.... :) ((*Beer was fifty cents.....*))

Orientation to Brno!

I am now officially a Brno citizen! I love this city! It is absolutely amazing! :) I am getting tired of not being able to talk to people from home though.... With the six hour time difference ((and Superbowl yesterday)) I haven't been able to coordinate schedules with people.... Boo.. I'm hopefully going to talk to Mark Wednesday... Maybe my family that day as well... I am so upset that I missed the SuperBowl! I have to watch the game somehow! Go Giants! haha* It was hilarious today because all the Americans here were wondering who won the game last night... None of us knew because no one has internet yet! We tried to explain to Europeans what we were talking about... we had a complete conversation before we realized that when we said 'football,' they thought soccer! haha*

Language is going to be a huge barrier here! I can't believe how dumb I sound when I am using my hands and trying to explain things to people. One girl here is from Australia (Liz). Some of us were asking where we could buy school supplies. She told us there was a store just up the road that sold paper, pens, rubbers, and pencils... Rubbers! haha* We HAD to tell her why we were giggling.... :)

I joined the International Student Club today! It is going to be a lot of fun! They take a lot of trips! One is to Auswitchz!!! They are all free!!! I cannot wait to travel with them! They also have lots of social events. Obviously, PIVO (beer) is very popular here. It is about fifty cents for a big glass... It's about $1.50 for a glass of water! haha*

I also got my three month tram pass today! That was exciting! People here walk everywhere! If they do not walk, they take the tram (public transport). I have made the thirty minute walk to town twice already! haha*

I cannot wait to tell more about my journeys here! I love you and miss you all!

XOXO from Europe!

Safe and Sound

Agghh!! I'm in Europe! It took me about a day and a half to get here, but I finally arrived yesterday night! Sheesh! The good news is, I am safe and sound... There are two bad things though

1) Vigo County Credit Union blocked my card as soon as I used it in Amsterdam... For the internet... it was 6 Euros for 30 minutes of internet.... I used 5 minutes... That was how long I was there before I had to get on my plane

2) I don't have internet in my dorm room yet... I have to go to the computer lab on campus... It's not far but I have lug my stuff to it so I can use Yahoo Messenger...

So far, I have been meeting lots of people. I went grocery shopping today and spent two US dollars... Sweet! :)- I also bought a gyro for 2 bucks... Then a tram pass for 1 dollar... not bad for a day of entertainment! haha*

Brno is beautiful and I cannot wait to get internet in my room so I can share it with everyone! Keep me in your thoughts/ prayers and email me to update me on your lives as well... There feels like a total loss of control with everyone that is in my life. I have yet to ACTUALLY talk to friends/family since I officially arrived...

I love you and miss you all!

XOXO From Czech