Ok, so…
I have passed through a mini hell (during which I managed not to slip into convulsions laying in the streets of Prague screaming, “I hate you I hate you I hate you!!” but only rolled my eyes and re-declared my very complicated love-hate relationship with this place but right now I’m truly truly loving it) and come out the other side in this AMAZING AND WONDERFUL AND ABSOLUTELY PERFECT FLAT.
My Dad wrote to taunt me that they just opened a new Starbucks not even TEN MINUTES from their house. What is this? Everyone but me gets the gingerbread latte this year? As Lynn pointed out, they might hesitate in some places due to the quality of coffee already there… but in Prague, the coffee is good but not so good that you couldn’t desire anything else. There was a huge Dunkin Donuts here once – I wonder if there just isn’t a demand for on the go coffee? I can’t see why not – these people always seem to be in a mad rush. And it’s about the VARIETY, people!! There’s so much more to be had than cappuccino’s and cafe au laits!
Sigh.
Other little oddities – you remember this was indeed a communist country when you go to buy things like toilet paper – it’s all very cheaply priced but scratchy on your bum. So you can pay WAY more for the uber soft Kleenex brand. Same with tissues, etc.
And girls – I warn you, if you come here, stock up on tampons. There’s a more-than-you-need variety of pads here (ick) but about 3 tiny shelves of tampons. Kotex, tampax and ob. No more playtex easy glide plastic applicators for me. Actually… no more applicators, period (no pun intended). File under too much information, but I’m sure some of you can relate – I’m a super plus kinda gal at times. A super plus size wad of cotton without the aid of an easy gliding plastic tube is NOT FUN.
I will do some searching, there’s gotta be a bigger variety somewhere.
Now – let’s talk about this flat I found. (And *I* did find it, thanks to my genius ability to read Czech.) I am SO GLAD that previous flat fell through. Everything for a reason, eh? This flat is EVERYTHING I wanted. It’s in an old building, not reburbished. It’s 80 square meters (that’s huge for around here, especially for the little rent being asked for.) The ceilings are super high, tall, wide double-paned windows (the one in the kitchen is all set for a window box). Wood floors. Bright and airy. Gas heat. A FULL KITCHEN with a stove, oven, fridge, room to move around and a dining table. The bathroom is a tub AND a shower (most places here are only tubs or just a tiny little standing shower). A washing machine. There’s already a tv here with satellite hookup (we’ve been watching Animal Planet dubbed in Czech. Ask me in a week what the Czech words are for “monkey babies”).
The rent is outrageously low for a place like this.
The living room is a good size and there will be a very comfortable futon for guests.
I’m going to run around and take pictures of it today.
And speaking of new addresses: I’m really a gimp when it comes to sending postcards. I have all intentions to do so… but it’s been so hectic the past month that the little details like going to a post office are forgotten. I’m settled now. I’m going to send postcards and packages. I have most of your addressed, but just in case, if you want, send it to me again! (Melanie – if you read this, I have yours! And I hope to hear about your trip to France soon!!!! Lynn – I never got an address for you! Though I hope to get to Amsterdam again soon… Chavile – I have more than just a postcard for you!) I’ll also happily send my address to anyone who wants it.
I’m so damn happy I’m going to start knitting again. I brought all my needles with me this time, just need to restock up on yarn. And FINALLY my parents can start sending my winter clothes over.
Teaching is not a lucrative business here – most of the people I’ve met that teach say they make enough to get by and live, but not enough to save. That worries me – but I also know that these are people who go out to the pubs most every night. I’m a homebody and quite driven to save up. I have dreams of a cottage in the country and a cafe of my own. I also plan to take on more hours than most of them do (since I don’t need the free time for pubbing) and I’m considering posting ads to teach things like html. I wanted to escape the web stuff, but I’ll suck it up and continue with it if it will bring in extra money towards my goals.
And tomorrow I shall go see about that haircut, yes?