all of my lofty goals of faithful blogging have once again been pushed to the gutter. sorry, readers.
let's do a short recap: the last weeks in slovakia were CRAZY. in a good way. i went to a great french party in presov, i had a really nice going away party with my closest friends, and my students said sweet goodbyes. i was surprised by a friend. i went for walks with ice cream. i enjoyed episodes of LOST. and i was actually remarkably sad when the morning came for me to haul down my bags and head to the mcdonald's parking lot for the shuttle to the budapest airport. i feel tears reliving the moment.
i traveled with my friend vesna. the budapest airport was nothing short of a nightmare. our flight to amsterdam was delayed an hour, giving us a 30 minute (expected) layover in amsterdam before our flight to minneapolis. after receiving my boarding passes at the self check-in, i went to check my bags, only to be greeted by a clerk who refused to check my bags because she didn't think i'd make my flight in amsterdam. so then i told vesna to forget her hassle getting her boarding passes. so i went to rebook our flights, and the agent told me there was no reason to rebook because we could make our other flights. so then i went to check in my bags again, i was charged 100 euro for my second bag (which i thought i was allowed to fly with), and then vesna was still having problems. finally we got her boarding pass (without a seat assignment), and then everyone told us we wouldn't make it to our gate in time and that vesna might not have a seat because the flight was overbooked. so we decided to risk our luck. we got to our gate and vesna had a seat (in first class!). thank god. but did i mention vesna hates to fly? she doesn't have an ordinary fear of flying, but a full on panic at the mere thought of flying. an inconsolable panic. as if someone was holding a gun to her head and threatening to shoot her. so once we boarded the plane, we offered the not-so-kind gentleman sitting next to me to move onto first class. he didn't hesitate. so during the two hour flight to amsterdam i exhausted my dwindling patience to keep vesna calm. when we landed, the flight attendants told us that we wouldn't make our connecting flight, so we would have to use a kiosk to look for a flight leaving tomorrow. i thought there was maybe a miscalculation on my part with time differences etc., so i went to the kiosk to change our ticket but discovered instead that our flight was "now boarding" at a gate not-so-far from us. so i took an already hysteric vesna and made her run with me. this did not go well, but WE MADE IT. just in the nick of time. we had twenty minutes to make the flight, but the flight in fact left early. we were lucky.
after arriving home, we met some dear friends (luke and eva) for panera. then we took the longest drive back to worthington. our time in worthington was perfect. it was so. incredibly. good. to sleep in my bed, to drink mom-prepared coffee, to eat good food, to go on walks, to see worthington people, to see family, to see over-stocked shelves in monstrous stores. everything was so good. and then we went to chicago. i could have spent the whole trip walking on the street laughing out of pure joy because everything was so beautiful and so american. i saw black people and asian people and muslim people and pretty people and ugly people and fat people and skinny people. all in one place.
we also spent some time on the lake in okoboji, as well as the children's theater. i felt like a child again. for the fourth of july, we went to pioneer village to look at allis chalmer tractors. i ran into some friends and we went jet skiing. we had a picnic with old family friends. and we watched fireworks from our neighbors dock. one word to describe the fourth: perfect.
finally, i just returned from spending a few days in minneapolis. it was so, so, so good to see people who i've missed greatly. on friday we saw my dear former boss, pam, and had a nice conversation and i remembered all of the reasons i loved working career services. we also met eva and her sister, anna, and brother-in-law, caleb, for mexican food. then i had a small party at eva's for my friends, which included two of my most beloved things: dancing and (good) red wine. we spent a day on grand, we spent time at como, we layed out by the pool, we went shopping at MOA... it was wonderful. vesna left late monday evening, and everything at the airport was peaceful, smooth and calm. people were so friendly and so helpful, they even let me walk with vesna to the gate because she was so afraid to fly alone.
tuesday i went to st. cloud to see mr. and mrs. miller. i miss these people like a desert misses rain. we spent the whole day together walking around st. cloud, eating big and greasy burgers, playing with callie, looking at cool blogs (and thus feeling shameful about mine), making dinner, watching a movie... all of the normal things in life which are so much sweeter when done in good company.
now i'm back in worthington, but not for long. this summer is full of travel for me, though the only thing i long to do is watch LOST and attempt to complete the mountainous task of applying for grad school. i wish that days were twice as long, and the distance between all of my loved ones half as long.
until next time...
xo
13.7.11
18.6.11
6 days and then i'm gone...
good morning!
the time is quickly passing, and i am ever so ready to be home and to be spoiled with comfort. i can't wait to make small talk with cashiers, to walk barefoot in grass, to sleep in a real bed, and to see people who i love but haven't stayed in touch with.
last saturday i went with my co-worker, misa, and her friend to the Betliar mansion and to Krasna Horka (a castle). if any of you are ever in eastern slovakia, i will take you to both. they were really special. the Betliar mansion was a surprise... i wasn't expecting anything spectacular but this mansion was truly fascinating. it was owned by the Andrassi (sp?) family, which is an extremely aristocratic hungarian family. the house itself was, of course, beautiful. but most impressive were the things which the family collected. in a time without the frequency of travel that we know today, this family was able to travel (literally) around the world. and in their travels, they didn't simply collect vases or plates or jewelery... they collected a grizzly bear from canada, eskimo clothing, a samurai suit, a massive turtle, and a whole elephant from africa (among many other treasures). like the true vision of an aristocratic family, the Andrassis travelled, hunted, were involved in politics, and lived in luxury. the library in the home felt like it was pulled straight out from Beauty and the Beast. i was so impressed by everything.
the rest of the week was relatively uneventful. i had my lessons at school, i met some friends, and i tried to enjoy kosice. last night i said goodbye to two of my spanish friends who won't be returning to slovakia next year... of course it was sad and hard. i simply hate goodbyes. next year i'd like to plan a sneaky exit from slovakia so that i can avoid all of the painful farewells.
i hope that all of you will enjoy your weekend. if you are anywhere near keith wilson this weekend, consider yourself lucky because he is the best father in the world. shake his hand and tell him he's great.
xoxo
the time is quickly passing, and i am ever so ready to be home and to be spoiled with comfort. i can't wait to make small talk with cashiers, to walk barefoot in grass, to sleep in a real bed, and to see people who i love but haven't stayed in touch with.
last saturday i went with my co-worker, misa, and her friend to the Betliar mansion and to Krasna Horka (a castle). if any of you are ever in eastern slovakia, i will take you to both. they were really special. the Betliar mansion was a surprise... i wasn't expecting anything spectacular but this mansion was truly fascinating. it was owned by the Andrassi (sp?) family, which is an extremely aristocratic hungarian family. the house itself was, of course, beautiful. but most impressive were the things which the family collected. in a time without the frequency of travel that we know today, this family was able to travel (literally) around the world. and in their travels, they didn't simply collect vases or plates or jewelery... they collected a grizzly bear from canada, eskimo clothing, a samurai suit, a massive turtle, and a whole elephant from africa (among many other treasures). like the true vision of an aristocratic family, the Andrassis travelled, hunted, were involved in politics, and lived in luxury. the library in the home felt like it was pulled straight out from Beauty and the Beast. i was so impressed by everything.
the rest of the week was relatively uneventful. i had my lessons at school, i met some friends, and i tried to enjoy kosice. last night i said goodbye to two of my spanish friends who won't be returning to slovakia next year... of course it was sad and hard. i simply hate goodbyes. next year i'd like to plan a sneaky exit from slovakia so that i can avoid all of the painful farewells.
i hope that all of you will enjoy your weekend. if you are anywhere near keith wilson this weekend, consider yourself lucky because he is the best father in the world. shake his hand and tell him he's great.
xoxo
6.6.11
tick, tock
can you tell that the time is going slowly for me? this is blog entry No 3 from the past week. something isn't normal... tonight it's raining. true thunderstorm and lightning raining, which feels like a good time to blog.
on saturday i met my coworker misa for a coffee and a film. it was a great afternoon and evening. we met in my favorite hot chocolate cafe and chatted for about an hour. then we walked to see a film, but it turned out that the film was only being showed in Slovak dubbing... not such a good experience for me. so we decided to go to another cinema. we decided to see "X-Men," but since it wasn't playing for another hour we were able to sit and chat some more. the movie was just about what you would expect, but still it was fun to see. and mostly, it was soooo good to get out of my flat and to chat for a few hours with a friend.
on sunday i also had a crazy day. i went to poprad to meet a friend for some hiking. we decided to go to slovensky raj and we walked around a small canyon, it was beautiful. then we stopped for a short lunch, kept driving and we came to a really beautiful lake. it was so picturesque. the air was fresh, the water was clear, the grass was green... everything was still and quiet. it was simply beautiful. it reminded me that i'm in europe, and that i should be grateful to be here (rather than banging my head against the wall....). after the lake, we went to Spis Castle.... another must-see that i was waiting for all year long. it is a HUGE castle in eastern slovakia, and it is really pretty magnificent. in general, it was just a good day to get out.
with love,
anna
on saturday i met my coworker misa for a coffee and a film. it was a great afternoon and evening. we met in my favorite hot chocolate cafe and chatted for about an hour. then we walked to see a film, but it turned out that the film was only being showed in Slovak dubbing... not such a good experience for me. so we decided to go to another cinema. we decided to see "X-Men," but since it wasn't playing for another hour we were able to sit and chat some more. the movie was just about what you would expect, but still it was fun to see. and mostly, it was soooo good to get out of my flat and to chat for a few hours with a friend.
anna
2.6.11
photos from the last few months
easter in the high tatras with the antoni family
alex and will came to visit!
with ludwig at the USA vs. Sweden hockey game
fulbright girls with the ambassador
katie and i in budapest
one month and counting
soon i will be back home! i've been so happy here the past 9 months, but i have to admit i am desperately ready for a change in pace, scenery and lifestyle...
the past few weeks have been quiet. in the middle of may i went to bratislava for a final reception with the ambassador, theodore sedgwick. it was so enjoyable. it was at his house and there were guests from the embassy as well as former slovak, fulbright grantees. it was so interesting to talk to these grantees about their experiences in america. after the reception, the fulbright girls got together and we enjoyed our last meeting. it is so sad to say goodbye to these people... it's been a unique year for all of us.
in other, semi-notable news, i went on a walk with one of my co-workers a couple of weeks ago. we walked to a tower that overlooks kosice. it was a nice walk, and the weather was beautiful. i really enjoy her company. hopefully this weekend we will take a trip to krasna horka, a famous castle in eastern slovakia.
mostly the past three weeks have been painfully boring. i am only scheduled to teach 16 hours a week, but since half of my students were in their final year and left in the beginning of may... i now only teach 8 hours a week. what a life. my first 8 hour week wasn't so bad-- i listened to the students give their english, oral maturita exams. it was a good experience. firstly, i was able to see all of my students give the exams i'd been preparing them for... and to shake their hand afterwards and tell them "congratulations! you're finished!" and secondly, it was so good for me to see what the exam is actually like. even though people explained it hundreds of times for me, i didn't quite "get it" until i actually saw them first hand. so, it's good for my preparations for next year. also in my free time i've been able to substitute for classes that i don't normally teach. mostly it's a bit of a pain because i'm never entirely sure what my schedule will look like, but sometimes i teach students who are so sweet and who make me feel like i'm a celebrity. last week i went to a few classes who were quite young, so i explained that i would give them the hour to work on homework, etc. after i would sit down to read, i would hear a "miss...? where are you from?", then a "miss...? do you have a boyfriend?", then a "miss...? we wanted to say your teeth are amazing.", then a "miss...? do you like slovakia?", then a "miss....? you are so beautiful!" isn't life here difficult?!
the next few weeks will be, i imagine, similarly quiet. i have a trip planned to vienna with my best fulbright friend as a kind of "farewell" trip before she leaves back to oregon. other than that, i'm tapping my feet and checking my watch until june 24. i'm dying for cake, rhubarb pie, chocolate chip cookies, tacos, homemade hamburgers, coffee-to-go, sales, my car, my bed, my house! i can only hope that my summer will be a fragment of the glory that i'm imagining.
until next time...
anna
the past few weeks have been quiet. in the middle of may i went to bratislava for a final reception with the ambassador, theodore sedgwick. it was so enjoyable. it was at his house and there were guests from the embassy as well as former slovak, fulbright grantees. it was so interesting to talk to these grantees about their experiences in america. after the reception, the fulbright girls got together and we enjoyed our last meeting. it is so sad to say goodbye to these people... it's been a unique year for all of us.
in other, semi-notable news, i went on a walk with one of my co-workers a couple of weeks ago. we walked to a tower that overlooks kosice. it was a nice walk, and the weather was beautiful. i really enjoy her company. hopefully this weekend we will take a trip to krasna horka, a famous castle in eastern slovakia.
mostly the past three weeks have been painfully boring. i am only scheduled to teach 16 hours a week, but since half of my students were in their final year and left in the beginning of may... i now only teach 8 hours a week. what a life. my first 8 hour week wasn't so bad-- i listened to the students give their english, oral maturita exams. it was a good experience. firstly, i was able to see all of my students give the exams i'd been preparing them for... and to shake their hand afterwards and tell them "congratulations! you're finished!" and secondly, it was so good for me to see what the exam is actually like. even though people explained it hundreds of times for me, i didn't quite "get it" until i actually saw them first hand. so, it's good for my preparations for next year. also in my free time i've been able to substitute for classes that i don't normally teach. mostly it's a bit of a pain because i'm never entirely sure what my schedule will look like, but sometimes i teach students who are so sweet and who make me feel like i'm a celebrity. last week i went to a few classes who were quite young, so i explained that i would give them the hour to work on homework, etc. after i would sit down to read, i would hear a "miss...? where are you from?", then a "miss...? do you have a boyfriend?", then a "miss...? we wanted to say your teeth are amazing.", then a "miss...? do you like slovakia?", then a "miss....? you are so beautiful!" isn't life here difficult?!
the next few weeks will be, i imagine, similarly quiet. i have a trip planned to vienna with my best fulbright friend as a kind of "farewell" trip before she leaves back to oregon. other than that, i'm tapping my feet and checking my watch until june 24. i'm dying for cake, rhubarb pie, chocolate chip cookies, tacos, homemade hamburgers, coffee-to-go, sales, my car, my bed, my house! i can only hope that my summer will be a fragment of the glory that i'm imagining.
until next time...
anna
8.5.11
what day is it?
dear readers,
this past week has been nothing short of pure madness. even now, with everything calming down, i am struggling to keep my head on and focused.
last saturday, my dear friends alex and will came to visit. i met them in moldova... alex is moldovan but is spending his time traveling. he is a world class sailor and is constantly moving from country to country for different competitions. will is british but is living in slovenian teaching english and travel writing. when alex told me he was coming i was excited... and then will said he was coming with a group of friends-- i was even more excited. a total coincidence, but one which i thoroughly enjoyed. when they were here we did some small sight-seeing, went on a short hike outside of the city, ate at med malina, watched some hockey, and simply enjoyed. it was wonderful. i remembered all of the reasons why i love these people.
on monday i went to some world championship games and it was a lot of fun. i saw USA and norway, and sweden and austria. USA, of course!, won. i was wearing an american flag t-shirt which dan gave me... and i regret it completely. here's why: 1. a reporter caught me near the concessions and asked me a bunch of questions about osama bin laden's death-- none of which i felt entirely comfortable answering. i felt too much pressure and i'm not sure how politically correct some of my thoughts are. 2. at the end of the game, they played the national anthem. i was acting like a fool (as usual) and i saw the camera turn on me... my face was on the stadium screen looking totally awkward, embarrassed and foolish. what's worse, the next day my students told me they all saw me on TV.... yikes. who knew it would be televised?
friday was the last day of school for the finishing students... 3 of my classes. there were big celebrations. all of the students were dressed up, singing, walking through the halls, going through the town and asking for money... all traditions which are totally foreign to me. i am sad that i won't teach these classes anymore. i love all of them. plus, i won't know what to do with all of my free time.
in the next few weeks i need to take a few trips, clean, pack... there are so many changes on the horizon. though i'll be back for one more year, i have a feeling that the year will be quite different, and likely more serious. i feel a lot of pressure, nervousness, apprehension and fear for the next months... along with excitement, eagerness and enthusiasm. it's hard growing up and figuring out the next steps on my own. especially when i am confused and distracted to begin with. at this point i wish i had a fairy godmother to simply tell me what i should do, where i should live, who i should be with and when it is time to truly grow up. wouldn't that make things easier?
all of my best,
a
this past week has been nothing short of pure madness. even now, with everything calming down, i am struggling to keep my head on and focused.
last saturday, my dear friends alex and will came to visit. i met them in moldova... alex is moldovan but is spending his time traveling. he is a world class sailor and is constantly moving from country to country for different competitions. will is british but is living in slovenian teaching english and travel writing. when alex told me he was coming i was excited... and then will said he was coming with a group of friends-- i was even more excited. a total coincidence, but one which i thoroughly enjoyed. when they were here we did some small sight-seeing, went on a short hike outside of the city, ate at med malina, watched some hockey, and simply enjoyed. it was wonderful. i remembered all of the reasons why i love these people.
on monday i went to some world championship games and it was a lot of fun. i saw USA and norway, and sweden and austria. USA, of course!, won. i was wearing an american flag t-shirt which dan gave me... and i regret it completely. here's why: 1. a reporter caught me near the concessions and asked me a bunch of questions about osama bin laden's death-- none of which i felt entirely comfortable answering. i felt too much pressure and i'm not sure how politically correct some of my thoughts are. 2. at the end of the game, they played the national anthem. i was acting like a fool (as usual) and i saw the camera turn on me... my face was on the stadium screen looking totally awkward, embarrassed and foolish. what's worse, the next day my students told me they all saw me on TV.... yikes. who knew it would be televised?
friday was the last day of school for the finishing students... 3 of my classes. there were big celebrations. all of the students were dressed up, singing, walking through the halls, going through the town and asking for money... all traditions which are totally foreign to me. i am sad that i won't teach these classes anymore. i love all of them. plus, i won't know what to do with all of my free time.
in the next few weeks i need to take a few trips, clean, pack... there are so many changes on the horizon. though i'll be back for one more year, i have a feeling that the year will be quite different, and likely more serious. i feel a lot of pressure, nervousness, apprehension and fear for the next months... along with excitement, eagerness and enthusiasm. it's hard growing up and figuring out the next steps on my own. especially when i am confused and distracted to begin with. at this point i wish i had a fairy godmother to simply tell me what i should do, where i should live, who i should be with and when it is time to truly grow up. wouldn't that make things easier?
all of my best,
a
30.4.11
here comes the sun
dear readers,
yet again i start another blog entry with shame. in some ways, that could be a theme for this year... i used to think i was healthy, active, dedicated, hard working, motivated, but this year i've discovered i have a strong chords of slothfulness and gluttony in my being, as well as a big (sometimes overwhelming) appetite for fun. i forget that there is so much deep joy in consistency, rhythm and hard work. i had every intention to write at least once a week... but the trend seems to be more like once a month. and i had every intention of reading a million books, all of the ones i never had time for, but i've barely conquered even half of the list. and let's not get started on my running plan, my big dreams for lessons, learning a second and third language... i feel so shameful about my unfulfilled promises. but as always, i have to see the silver lining: this has been one year where i was not ruled by "shoulds" and "oughts." rather, i allowed myself to simply be... even if that being was a bit lazy and consumed by wanderlust. it was good and (i think) quite necessary for me. but i'm turning a new page. not because i think i should, but because i really think it is time. which brings me to my news: i won't be turning a new page back in the US; rather, i'll be spending one more year here in slovakia.
this year has been the most amazing year of my life. despite my shame of unfulfilled promises, i've experienced unreal things. i can say that i've seen so many beautiful and breathtaking places, but the most important things i've experienced are those through my relationships here. my relationships with my friends, my co-workers, and my students. never in my life have i experienced so many relationship which simultaneously support and challenge me. while these relationships are important in all phases in life, i feel they are especially poignant in my current phase. and i am deeply thankful for them. they are one reason that i want to stay. i want to maintain and deepen these relationships.
another reason is simply consistency. it has taken me an almost full nine months to get my head on straight here. finally i feel the rhythm of this place, of my school... in some ways i'm starting to "get it." it's becoming my life, and not simply a place i'm staying. it feels unnatural to uproot, start someplace new for one year, and then move again to (hopefully) go to grad school. not only unnatural, but tiring. and when i think about my students, i know that i could be a far better teacher to them next year after all of the lessons i learned this past year.
this all being said: i'm staying next year. i'll be moving to a different flat and living with a friend, as well as earning about half of what i earned this year. but i'm so excited about this decision. it was a hard one to make, but it feels so right. i'll be home in july and august, so i hope to see some of you then.
moving on: i need to update you on the past month. of course, i'll spare you any unnecessary details. about two weeks ago i met the french ambassador to slovakia at a vernissage of some man's french art collection. it was a perfect evening. the gallery was beautiful, i was with nearly all of my friends from kosice, and i was able to dress in my finest. free french wine, good conversation, beautiful art... what else could a girl ask for?
the next morning i left to budapest to see katie. she arrived and we stayed in budapest for two days, and we saw nearly everything. the baths, the chain bridge, the castle, parliament... we even had time to meet my friend antonio and his family for a short lunch and hike up to the citadel. after budapest we came back to slovakia for a day and had a nice picnic overlooking the city with my friends olivier and ludwig. then that evening we took the overnight train to prague. and again, it seems we saw everything in the two short days we were there. it was gorgeous. the weather was perfect, and the company was even more perfect. we came back, on another night train, and went to my lessons the next morning. we spent the rest of the day and the next day just enjoying our time together. when she left, i truly felt like someone had ripped out half of my heart. it was the most perfect week and it reminded me how much i like my sister.
after katie left, i went to the high tatras with my friend vesna and her family, as well as some of their friends. it was so good to be taken care of my women who weren't happy unless i had food in my mouth and drinks in my hand. we were able to do some short hiking, but mostly we just rested and ate. i could not complain.
and mostly, i think, that brings us up to speed. thursday night started the world championship in hockey here in slovakia. since bratislava and kosice are the only cities in slovakia hosting matches, kosice is a-buzz with action, energy, people, food... thursday night there was a big opening ceremony. i was surprised at how well it was done, i didn't realize kosice had it in himself to put on a show. but it seems i am being proved otherwise. tonight i will watch a match between usa and austria. there's no question who'll win, right? and then after the match i am going to meet my friend will and some of his friends. i met will in moldova and we were so close for that summer. he's now living in slovenia and is driving up with a few friends for the weekend. i can't wait.
in the next months i am hoping for some good hiking and a strong end to the school year. the weather is gorgeous and i want to take full advantage of it. unfortunately, i also have to start seriously thinking about grad schools and to start scheming about how to trick a school into actually accepting me... wish me luck. i think i'll need it...
so i hope to write more consistently in the next few weeks. but, as you've seen, i can't promise anything at the moment.
lovingly,
anna
yet again i start another blog entry with shame. in some ways, that could be a theme for this year... i used to think i was healthy, active, dedicated, hard working, motivated, but this year i've discovered i have a strong chords of slothfulness and gluttony in my being, as well as a big (sometimes overwhelming) appetite for fun. i forget that there is so much deep joy in consistency, rhythm and hard work. i had every intention to write at least once a week... but the trend seems to be more like once a month. and i had every intention of reading a million books, all of the ones i never had time for, but i've barely conquered even half of the list. and let's not get started on my running plan, my big dreams for lessons, learning a second and third language... i feel so shameful about my unfulfilled promises. but as always, i have to see the silver lining: this has been one year where i was not ruled by "shoulds" and "oughts." rather, i allowed myself to simply be... even if that being was a bit lazy and consumed by wanderlust. it was good and (i think) quite necessary for me. but i'm turning a new page. not because i think i should, but because i really think it is time. which brings me to my news: i won't be turning a new page back in the US; rather, i'll be spending one more year here in slovakia.
this year has been the most amazing year of my life. despite my shame of unfulfilled promises, i've experienced unreal things. i can say that i've seen so many beautiful and breathtaking places, but the most important things i've experienced are those through my relationships here. my relationships with my friends, my co-workers, and my students. never in my life have i experienced so many relationship which simultaneously support and challenge me. while these relationships are important in all phases in life, i feel they are especially poignant in my current phase. and i am deeply thankful for them. they are one reason that i want to stay. i want to maintain and deepen these relationships.
another reason is simply consistency. it has taken me an almost full nine months to get my head on straight here. finally i feel the rhythm of this place, of my school... in some ways i'm starting to "get it." it's becoming my life, and not simply a place i'm staying. it feels unnatural to uproot, start someplace new for one year, and then move again to (hopefully) go to grad school. not only unnatural, but tiring. and when i think about my students, i know that i could be a far better teacher to them next year after all of the lessons i learned this past year.
this all being said: i'm staying next year. i'll be moving to a different flat and living with a friend, as well as earning about half of what i earned this year. but i'm so excited about this decision. it was a hard one to make, but it feels so right. i'll be home in july and august, so i hope to see some of you then.
moving on: i need to update you on the past month. of course, i'll spare you any unnecessary details. about two weeks ago i met the french ambassador to slovakia at a vernissage of some man's french art collection. it was a perfect evening. the gallery was beautiful, i was with nearly all of my friends from kosice, and i was able to dress in my finest. free french wine, good conversation, beautiful art... what else could a girl ask for?
the next morning i left to budapest to see katie. she arrived and we stayed in budapest for two days, and we saw nearly everything. the baths, the chain bridge, the castle, parliament... we even had time to meet my friend antonio and his family for a short lunch and hike up to the citadel. after budapest we came back to slovakia for a day and had a nice picnic overlooking the city with my friends olivier and ludwig. then that evening we took the overnight train to prague. and again, it seems we saw everything in the two short days we were there. it was gorgeous. the weather was perfect, and the company was even more perfect. we came back, on another night train, and went to my lessons the next morning. we spent the rest of the day and the next day just enjoying our time together. when she left, i truly felt like someone had ripped out half of my heart. it was the most perfect week and it reminded me how much i like my sister.
after katie left, i went to the high tatras with my friend vesna and her family, as well as some of their friends. it was so good to be taken care of my women who weren't happy unless i had food in my mouth and drinks in my hand. we were able to do some short hiking, but mostly we just rested and ate. i could not complain.
and mostly, i think, that brings us up to speed. thursday night started the world championship in hockey here in slovakia. since bratislava and kosice are the only cities in slovakia hosting matches, kosice is a-buzz with action, energy, people, food... thursday night there was a big opening ceremony. i was surprised at how well it was done, i didn't realize kosice had it in himself to put on a show. but it seems i am being proved otherwise. tonight i will watch a match between usa and austria. there's no question who'll win, right? and then after the match i am going to meet my friend will and some of his friends. i met will in moldova and we were so close for that summer. he's now living in slovenia and is driving up with a few friends for the weekend. i can't wait.
in the next months i am hoping for some good hiking and a strong end to the school year. the weather is gorgeous and i want to take full advantage of it. unfortunately, i also have to start seriously thinking about grad schools and to start scheming about how to trick a school into actually accepting me... wish me luck. i think i'll need it...
so i hope to write more consistently in the next few weeks. but, as you've seen, i can't promise anything at the moment.
lovingly,
anna
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