Well, this is my 7th day in Prague so I figure it's time for an update. Grocery shopping is challenging, but I am beginning to get the hang of it. There are so many varieties of yogurt, it makes me dizzy. The prices are really good, too. A litre of skim milk is about $1, as is a small package of sliced deli turkey, and 6 brown eggs. I bought a package of Laughing Cow cheese for just over a buck, and if I recall, that's at least $4 in Canada. I bought 4 bananas for 9.30 kc (czeck korunas), which is approx. 5o cents. I'm still unable to find Tetley tea here, but the coffee is so amazing I almost don't care (there are many cafes here, and so many types of coffee; I cannot wait to try them all). I cannot find Splenda either, but I am not too stressed over that, since it's not that healthy anyway. While shopping at Tesco today, I came upon the international food and found one Canadian item. Can anyone guess? That's right folks, maple syrup!! I was happy to see KitKat bars, and Smarties, whick are called Lentilky over here.
Finding my way around is also difficult. The street names are difficult to pronounce, and are not clearly marked. The transit system is excellent, however. There are three subway lines, yellow, red and green, as well as a system of trams and buses. Downtown is quite walkable though, and a lot of the time, it's easier to walk than it is to go underground to the subway.
I'm living in a house with 8 other people. I am the only Canadian. There are 2 students from Italy, one from the UK, one from Australia, and the rest come from the US. We all get along very well. I had a couple of them (the Americans' I think) ask me if it was true that Canadian's leave their doors unlocked when they're home. It's difficult living with a large group of people, and sometimes I feel like I am on Big Brother, but I am committed to appreciating this experience for what it is. Someday I will look back on this as one of the best times of my life. I already wish I had done this sooner, and am having a fabulous time.
Yesterday we went to Berlin, Germany. Two classmates and myself decided to spend the day on an adventure. We did not get to see a lot of Berlin, but I would go back in a heartbeat. It's very "western" compared to Prague, and I admit I definitely felt more at home. We got to see Brandenburg gate, Checkpoint Charlie, the Berlin Cathedral (it's massive), have lunch, which included apple strudel, and enjoy the autobahn and the Czech countryside. The autobahn was quite the experience. Unlike North America, the roads are in excellent condition, free from traffic and potholes/patches. We were going 190 km/h at one point and has police officers passing us.
What I've noticed about the Czech Republic and Germany that differs markedly from North America, is the amount of greenspace in the cities. Naturally, this is attributed to the "newness" of North American cities. It sure is a welcome change from the suburbs of barren Mississauga.
Other random happenings and things that have occured? Hmmm, well, we took a wrong turn in downtown Prague, and got followed and eventually pulled over by the police after making a U turn about 4 blocks back. In Berlin there are "squeegee" kids (though not all are kids) like in Toronto, but far more aggressive. One woman refused to go away when we gestured that we did not want our windows cleaned. She started to "draw pictures" on our windshield with her squeegee to make it dirty. She left in a hurry when we turned on the windshield wash and got her (by accident) in the face. We were followed by a taxi driver in Berlin who thought we were going too slow a few blocks back. He pulled up to the right side (by me) and gestured for the driver to open the window. I pulled out my cell phone and made sure he saw it, we made sure the doors were locked, and just ignored him. Living in Toronto for 20 years has taught me the best way to deal with road rage is by ignoring them. Gas attendants wash every window in your car when you fill up. What else is there?? Oh, it takes forever to get your bill in a restaurant (Germany OR the Czech Republic), and female McDonald's employees wear pencil skirts as part of their uniform. When you order a sandwich, you get only a sandwich (no fries or salad etc), and when you ask for a glass of water, you get about 3 ounces..
I'm feeling less and less like a fish out of water every day, though; and will eventually own this place like I've owned every other city I have lived in. I have a new appreciation for those that uproot and make a new life in a foreign country. (I've always supported Canada's immigration policy because I feel diversity is a positive attribute, and because, on a more practical level, Canada needs it due to a low birth rate.) It's a brave endeavor, and difficult both physically and emotionally; I cannot imagine how it must be for those who cannot go back home if it "doesn't work out. " On that note, I'll have a busy couple weeks, but I'll do my best to keep you all posted. My love to all. Over and out!!
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