The Past Week and Berlin

So what a week/weekend it has been. So to finish up Berlin, we had an amazing time, got to see some great sights (photos are going up on FB and Flickr now) and had a much more relaxing train ride back then we had there. It was actaully quite nice taking the train back through the German countryside during the daylight. We got to see a lot including 3 windfarms, countryside, mountains, lakes, and small towns. There were an enormous amount of open fields when we went through and we were all thinking how terrible that must have been to fight in. Another intestering aspect was how there are almost no historical artifacts or museums about the Nazi. Everything is based on the victims. For instance, Hitlers bunker was destroyed, and now there is a parking space directly above where Hitler committed suicide. The second in commands formal office is now a Chinese Restraunt?

Since being here, we are all amazed how WWII and communism really changed this whole continent. Everything is somehow related to it and we have never seen a society as alter and influenced by its past history. The US has history but nothing that really altered society as much as WWII (maybe other than 9/11). On our way to school today, we finally figured out why there is what looks like a large closet and metal grate right before the platform to the subway. Its a nuclear bomb door that was built in during the cold war. I guess I know where we are going if Russia bombs Czech over the Starwars Radar....

So after having only 13 hours of sleep over the entire weekend, I got back into Prague around 6 and passed out from 7 until 9 the next morning.... Felt amazing. Monday, had a few classes in Marketing and American Lit.... Lit actaully isn't as terrible as I thought it would be because its basically impossible to be wrong in the class... My MOA (Richmond OB) professor is the MAN. He took us out to a bar last night before we went out and bought us a few rounds of drinks at the Beer Factory. We are going to his Flat tonight for free food, drink, and a movie so thats awesome.

NYU threw us a welcome dinner at the second nicest hotel/restraunt in Prague on tuesday night (behind the hotel where Ambassadors stay). Everything was paid for, had an amazing spread, all the kids and professors were there, and they paid for 3 drinks. Have to love that....

Last night after having drinks with my professor, we went to the Club and came back at a reasonable hour thank god. Af the club, we met two other entire American programs that were studying in Prague. One was CIE (or maybe CAE) and the program that Richmond goes to.... Sooooooo it was a lot of fun because everyone spoke english and then it is a very nice club (but the drinks are sooooo expensive... I mean a beer is 2.50 US....... relative I guess :) ) Life here is extremely tiring....

The richmond kids arrived in Prague two days ago and I went out to dinner with them the first night they were here... They just found an apartment and it just happens to be about 5 blocks from me (or 1 metro stop). Sooooooooo thats great.

This weekend, we are going to the Pilsner Urquell Factory (Pragues version of Budweiser) and then a church that was made entirely out of bones..... so that will be good. I also just booked tickets to go to Brussels/Masarich for their version of Marti Gra (Corey's GF is studying there).

So all is well and I will update again when I can.