Visas and Permits: A Transnational Experiment

Reinforcement

2008-12-10T10:02:00.006+01:00

So last night I was on my way to Inge's place to help her make jam, these awesome Danish spherical pancake thingies, and some Christmas decorations. While enroute I get a call from Erin Clair (our Australian visitor) and Pedro, who I left in the apartment to their own devices. Apparently not a good idea.

They were attempting to plug in Erin Maree's (roommate) computer into the wall socket through an adaptor, it sparked, they laughed, they tried again, and then the power in the whole apartment went out.

Ooops.

Usually, something like this could be fixed with a simple flipping of the circuit breaker. Oh no, not here! It seems sometimes as though Slovak craftsmen purposefully do shotty work so that one problem because exacerbated by ever increasing elements! For example, the electricity isn't isolated into areas. Are these people crazy?!?!?!?! Erin and Pedro are lucky they didn't DIE or catch on FIRE!

Anyway, they call me to alert me of the predicament (at this point it was 7:15pm) and then proceed to call our landlord. What does the landlord say? ..."Oh, nothing can be done until tomorrow".

Excuse me?

(be forewarned, this may sound a bit harsh, but was written in the heat of the moment. i am normally extremely diplomatic, and when stressed, keep it to myself)

You mean, not only do we have to put our apartment into further risk of going up in flames by lighting several candles, but all of the food in our fridge and freezer will most likely go bad because you can't be bothered to call one of the maintenance people to come look at it? I am pretty sure our main contractor lives down the street from us! It would take him 2 minutes to come over, fiddle around, fix the SHOWER that we have been asking them to fix for 2 MONTHS (it floods the bathroom constantly) and then take his FREAKING MIRRORS out of our KITCHEN where he had them delivered and back to his HOUSE where they BELONG. I am particularly annoyed because I recently bought amazing cheeses and salamis from northern Italy. I will be rather perturbed if my enjoying them is thwarted because of someone's incompetence. On top of that, there are no windows in our shower room. DARK. The one thing that keeps us from becoming dangerous to ourselves and others is that we have a gas stove. The thing is that this would never happen in the US. Usually contractors are smart enough to isolate electrical feeds, and then maintenance in apartment complexes is 24 hours for emergencies. To me this qualifies as an emergency. This just reinforces that I need to live in a place where people care about the quality of their work because their very job depends on it.

So, now our wall socket looks something like this:

In addition, Erin Maree's universal adaptor is now melted. Seriously. The metal prong is deformed. This was serious business.

All I know is that the power better be back on by the time I get home.

No one is invincible

2008-12-09T16:45:00.002+01:00

As seen on ShoeboxBlog:

"Man vs. Wild host Bear Grylls seriously injured his shoulder on an Antarctic expedition over the weekend. A spokesperson for the Discovery Channel said that it’s miraculous that Bear Grylls wasn’t killed years ago."

I really do like their humor. Matt and I used to watch "Man vs. Wild" all the time. We both think Bear is ridiculously hott. That's two t's on purpose. You should see him in action. I am especially fond of his show in the Sahara. We were always fascinated about the fact that he didn't get frostbite, die of heat exhaustion, impale himself on something, or wasn't fatally attacked by the native fauna.

HEAL WELL BEAR!

Finish Line...

2008-12-09T16:14:00.004+01:00

I've crossed it.

If you go to THIS WEBSITE you will see the electronic version of my labor. It isn't perfect, but such is life when you only have so much control.

Finally, a sense of accomplishment.

I had another accomplishment recently as well. I was asked to do all of the invoicing for 2009 (yeah, I know) but the database had been created more than 5 years ago on another computer system in Slovak, and therefore could not be opened on my computer because it caused Access to stall and eventually die. Therefore, I had to do it on my boss's computer....which happens to be set in the Slovak language. She also asked me to figure out how to change the currency field to have EUR instead of SKK. This may seem simple, but we're talking about a Slovak (and outdated) version of Access that was created as a "Switchboard". Element OVERLOAD.

However.

I FIGURED IT OUT! IN SLOVAK! And finished ALL of the invoices for 123 Members. I really do come from the techonological generation. Hence: I rule. :) (celebratory dance inserted here)

Oh look!

2008-12-09T15:55:00.002+01:00

I was doing some research on the Ohio Wine Producers Association and Markko Vineyard (the two organisations that I will be doing some work for after getting back State-side) and found this great website that does reviews of wineries all over the US and Ontario! If you have a passion for wine, you and the creators of the website certainly have that in common. They've reviewed several wineries that I have been to in Ohio and New York, so its interesting to see how their opinions compare to mine! Just makes me that much more excited to get back home and dive into it.

Being French = Love of Drama

2008-12-04T11:22:00.003+01:00

Yesterday we continued our tradition of "French Class" by meeting at Anna's flat, eating delicious salad, chevre stuffed roasted tomatoes, various stinky cheeses (YUM) and watching a French movie (with English subtitles...we're not that advanced yet)

The selection of the week?

Arsène Lupin!

This is Robin Hood, James Bond and the Count of Monte Cristo all in one! Genius! It is based on a character novel, and I recommend it to everyone who loves a little action in their life. (Bonus: recognizable women! Kristen Scott Thomas speaks French! Who knew?!?!)

Also, I will be making "stuffed tomatoes" (En Francais: les tomates farcies, v Slovák: plnená paradajková...I think) upon my return to the US. Get ready.

Further Culinary Adventures

2008-12-04T10:47:00.002+01:00

On Monday Erin's boss invited us all over (Erin Maree, Erin Clair et MOI) for dinner to show her how to make Sheperd's Pie! She had eaten it once at the Irish Pub in the city center, and wanted to know how to prepare it herself.

The process was tons of fun because we juggled a baby, mashing potatoes, stirring ground beef, preheating ovens, grating cheese, and making pasta for Zuzana's other 2 boys Riško and Edko (they are skeptical of "bakes"). The final product was really great, and because we made enough for 2 pyrex dishes, we got to take one home! I know I'm not the person to trust with leftovers (I hardly touch them...I don't know why), but this is an excellent after-work snack.

I figured I would include a recipe this time. The one below is from Paula Dean, who I love watching on Food Network because she makes you feel like family...and she's not shy of butter. No one should be shy about butter.

Ingredients
1 small onion
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
2 (8-ounce) cans tomato sauce
1 1/2 cups mixed vegetables or niblet corn, prepared
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 to 10 medium red new potatoes
1 1/2 cups milk
12 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup sour cream
2 cups instant biscuit mix

Directions
Beef Layer: Saute onions in 2 tablespoons butter. Add ground beef. After beef is browned, add tomato sauce; Mix in vegetables. Add salt and pepper, to taste.

Potato Layer: Peel and slice potatoes 1/4-inch thick. Cook in boiling water for approximately 15 minutes or until fork-tender. Whip potatoes with electric mixer; mix until moderately smooth. Don't over beat them; a few lumps are nice. Add 1/2 cup heated milk, 1/2 cup butter, and sour cream. Salt and pepper, to taste. Whip until mixed. Adjust thickness by adding more milk, if desired.

Biscuit Layer: Combine biscuit mix and 1 cup milk. The mix should be thinner than normal biscuit mix but not runny.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray a 9 by 9 by 2-inch pan, or any similar casserole dish. Layer half way up with the mashed potatoes. Next, spread a layer of mixed vegetables or niblet corn on top of potatoes. Then add a layer of the meat. Pour biscuit mix over meat. Melt 4 tablespoons of butter and drizzle over top. Bake for approximately 35 to 45 minutes until top is golden brown.

Note: Our recipe was a bit different, but this gives you the general idea. We also added grated cheddar to the top of our pie. Super delish, and very hardy/filling (perfect for these ridiculously cold winter months..at least those of us who live in an arctic tundra)

Celebrating the Season...

2008-12-01T11:42:00.004+01:00

So, it's December 1st. That means: 14 more days until my return to the US, 19 more days until I go on a family vacation to South Carolina, 20 more days until the official start of Winter, and 20-something days until I help my boyfriend move his life down to Miami, Florida to work at the Miami Seaquarium.

It also means that it was time to help Erin choose, set up and decorate her FIRST REAL CHRISTMAS TREE!!!!!!!!!! Kind of difficult to come by evergreens in Queensland, Australia.

So, we (Erin Maree, Erin Clair and I) drove to Baumaxx (German DIY store) and headed directly to the Zahrada (Gardening in Slovak) section, where we were greeted by a decent selection of trees eagerly awaiting their fate. We chose one, and then had to help the attendant wrap it with string :) It was my first hands-on experience with Christmas trees, as my family used to go out to the farm and choose one, cut it down and carry it back, but this gave a whole new meaning to DIY. After procuring the tree we shifted to the decorations, and then to the checkout where one of us manned the front of the cart (so as not to impale anyone or any merchandise with our coniferous comrade)

We made it to the car, and had to open one of the windows to fit the whole thing in safely (Erin only has a little Peugeot), but evaded all potential problems.

Erin (Clair) and I setting up the tree in the stand! This stand was interesting. It was pump-style with a tightening rope...so no screws...probably wouldn't work with bigger trees, but really effective for this guy!

Erin (Maree) wanted to be really hands on because this was her first time

Some of the ornaments required a bit of construction and ingenuity

Whats Christmas without a bit of holiday spirit? Erin (Maree) thought that this meant chocolate strewn across the table in front of the tree. We also made mulled wine.

The tip of the tree was a bit too bulbous to fit the star, but we took care of that.

The finished product!

Not sure if the Cordell family will be doing a tree this year (if Bethany has anything to say about it we will) because we will be absent during the actual holiday. Either way, this was certainly fun, and showed me that I'll be able to do it next year when I quit my nomadic behavior!

Paris, je t'aime.

2008-11-28T14:53:00.015+01:00

A (long) photo tour of my trip to Paris with Anna, Erin, Pernille and Nadja. We stayed with Anna's family, and met some of our French friends. We also ate (a lot) fantastic food, saw great sights and did some shopping. Any questions should be directed to the "comments" listing. :)

Enjoy...et bon voyage!

Till we meet again...

2008-11-27T20:43:00.003+01:00

So yesterday was my last English lesson with my group at IURIS (real estate company). It was really sad. I've been teaching them since last winter, and I can't believe it. Time has flown by! I really enjoyed being a teacher (for adults...probably couldn't do the kids thing long term) They weren't just my students, but my friends, and I'm looking forward to hearing how their lives progress in the future. The whole thing was very rewarding...in terms of both intelligence and finances.

They completely surprised me by buying me a gift :) I had brought them "farewell candy", but this was much more exciting. I got a handcrafted mug, a cool magnet with and artistic view of Bratislava and an angel Christmas decoration. All things that pack well! Genius!

Snow is Snow...

2008-11-27T20:31:00.002+01:00

...around the world.

Case in point:

The first snow-man of the year! I saw it when I was on my way to work and HAD to get a shot of it. Cross culturally, we have more in common than we think. In other news, the Christmas Markets open tomorrow! That means everyday after work you will see me in the town square, hot wine in one hand, fresh sausage in the other, reminiscing with friends about good times and trying to plan my return to Europe.

Its a good life.

I NEED THIS!

2008-11-27T20:03:00.004+01:00

PRONTO!

It's called a "Raclette", and it is ingenious. Kind of like reverse fondue, because you put the cheese on the food instead of the food in the cheese. Today is my friend Anna's birthday, and being French she likes to celebrate with typically French things. Voila! I'm hoping to be able to organize something like this:

Too ambitious, you say? Well, you obviously don't know me very well. Go to the "Slovakia: Davy Crockett Style" post. Then you will ask me for an invitation.

Time for Winter!

2008-11-22T12:18:00.002+01:00

We had our first official snow of the day! I can't believe that it is now "winter time"...even though that officially doesn't happen until December. As icing on the cake, they have been constructing a Christmas Market in the city center, complete with an ENORMOUS tree, lights through all the alley ways, and kiosks that will be selling knick knacks, mulled wine and klobasa! I love every season for different reasons. Time to celebrate!

I don't Overreact...

2008-11-20T22:42:00.003+01:00

...unless it is an extreme circumstance.

I consider this slightly lapping on the shores of extreme, or just gross:

THIS WAS IN MY BATHROOM!

I had gotten home and put away the groceries that Erin bought for her birthday celebration this Saturday. She has 7 people coming in from all over, and 3 of them are here currently. I went into the bathroom to tidy up a bit, and put the floor towel on the tub so it would dry, and as I did it I saw something fling into the tub. IT WAS THAT THING! Now, many people know that I dislike spiders of all sizes that find themselves in my living space. When they are outside I am not bothered. Its when they sneak up on me where I least expect, and certainly do not want them. This one, which happens to be the size of a large cotton ball, completely caught me by surprise, which is just plain rude. I wouldn't walk into the courtyard out back, spot a web, and just jump out and alert the unsuspecting spider to my presence! It's common courtesy just to stay out of each others way! There is no food in here! STAY OUTSIDE! I saw the thing and screamed out loud. Loudly. Not one of those blood curdling screams, but one of the ones that shows that I am certainly in distress. I was somehow able to compose myself and trap it under a tupperware, and when our house guests returned from their escapades, they kindly extricated the intruder for me. No death, just removal. I think that was showing an appropriate amount of compassion.

Laughing in the streets

2008-11-20T22:26:00.003+01:00

Bratislava is full of funny things. Whether it is humorous statues in the middle of the center, post-communist pigeons, or instances of broken English, I am always entertained.

Case in point:

Driving or parking in the PEDESTRIAN ZONE is prohibited after 9:00 unless you have a special permit. It is even frowned upon before that unless you are a restaurant delivery truck. Even if you have that clearance we give you dirty looks if you're blocking the way. Apparently, this person thought because they have a luxury vehicle they are above the rules. Guess not! You got booted in front of EVERYONE. Money does make you exempt. It just makes it more noticeable when you get caught.

The other funny, but somewhat sad thing I saw today was a woman desperately succumbing to addiction. She had a cigarette in her hand, but jumped off the curb with a bit too much gumption because she then dropped the lit cancer-stick onto the ground. Im talking dirty, dirty street. It rained today. She proceeds to pick it up, and continue smoking it. It can be a sad, sad life.

In remembrance...

2008-11-18T23:31:00.004+01:00

To the best lap warmer in the world. Thank you for being a part of our family for so long.

Katasha. April 1992 - November 2008. We lay you to rest next to your sister, Katerina.

I will miss you.

Le cite de lumiere! (crap i forget how to spell in french)

2008-11-14T15:19:00.004+01:00

GOIN TO PARIS! CATCH Y'ALL ON THE FLIPSIDE!

Slovakia: Davy Crocket Style

2008-11-12T17:32:00.021+01:00

Below are the photos from our trip to Myto!! (it took me a REALLY long time to upload these photos in the correct order. you can only do 5 at a time!)

So, the Chairman of the BCC was kind enough to let me and 12 of my friends use his ski lodge in Myto! God knows why he trusted us, but he did and I was really excited because Erin and I decided to make this trip our version of an American "Thanksgiving"! We dubbed it "Amerialia Thanksgiving Weekend". Amerialia is the name of our apartment. I hope I don't have to explain why. I have made a nametag for our buzzer. Its colorful, and Erin and I are astonished everyday that it hasn't been taken down by the housekeeper or something.

Ok, so here we go with some descriptions! Many of the pics are self explanatory, but there are some great details from them, so I have to let you in on it.

First off, the drive up there was incredible. John's brother in law Miro picked up Pernille, Malene, Kristian (Pernille's friend from Denmark) and me from the city center in John's CADILLAC SUV, and drove us the 3 hours to Myto, which is in Central Slovakia, just north of Brezno. When we arrived I nearly cried because its so big and beautiful, and perfect for what we were planning. The kitchen was fully stocked and included 2 ovens, 4 burners, and a "grill" type stove section. Plus, there was a charcoal grill outside, a custom made picnic style dining room table, a Finnish sauna and a hot tub. Heavenly? I think so. So, the Danes and I readied as much as we could so that when everyone else showed up things would run smoothly.

Erin, Pedro (Portugal), Beatriz (Spain), Maxime (France) and Helene (France) joined us later that night.

Here is our fully stocked fridge! We set that part up. Here is some of our shopping list: 30 eggs, 8 liters of juice, soft drinks, 4 lbs of yams, 2 lbs of potatoes, 2 ducks, 1 chicken, and 2 pumpkins. I mean serious business (and could probably set up a small catering company now after all the multinational dinner parties ive helped with)

We had a real fireplace! I haven't had a REAL fireplace in awhile. When we moved to Perry the parents installed a gas one...so I think the last time I've even touched firewood and a poker is when I was in upstate NY approximately 3 years ago.

The cabin had games! This one is called Mikado, and I happen to be quite talented at it. :) Pernille is one of the best though.

Multi-lingual Scrabble! Nene is the French equivalent of a naughty version of "tatas".

The peeps playing FREE RICE and FREE POVERTY!! I have them hooked! They needed some serious help when it came to US geography.

The next morning, after sprawling ourselves among 6 bedrooms, we decided to take a walk around the village! This is the outside of the cabin (which happens to have 3 stories)

Technically not "stealing" apples, because the tree branches hung over the property line. Loopholes people, loopholes. We also were barked at by around 30 dogs. Seems as though everyone had some sort of retriever or shepard mix. Loud. So much for trying to "blend in".

As we were walking we accidentally witnessed 2 men butchering a sheep. We were fascinated and grossed out at the same time. Noticing that we were essentially staring at them, the 2 men invited us in. Goodness village people are nice. We got to meet their dogs, chase the sheep (inadvertently of course), inspect all of the organs and limbs they had borrowed from the carcass, then they handed us one of the legs! Mind you, the whole time we were speaking with them in broken Slovak. Erin was the leader, as she has had formal training. The jist of what we understood was that they were preparing the mutton for a little girl's birthday. Hence, we felt really bad about taking some of the meat away from the party, but were really excited to cook it later that day. I mean seriously, it was still warm. After presenting the spoils of the walk to the rest of the house, we decided we should buy them some Borovička (juniper brandy) to say thank you. They were so happy that they bestowed yet ANOTHER leg into our care. Amazing.

Here are the boys, preparing it! Rosemary and whole garlic cloves. Fresh.

Again. Fresh.

The dinner table! We all fit perfectly.

Peeling potatoes!!!

As if we needed to add any more meat to the menu...

Erin and me cleaning the duck by removing any remaining quills. Talk about satifying any physical neurosis you have.

Silly Danish people playing with poultry.

Kristian and I had some very serious discussions about how we were going to tackle the birds. I had chosen a port-wine and a balsamic/honey recipe. I was really interested in the process, since my parents usually take care of the birds. Usually we have a 20something lb turkey (thats around 9-12 kilos for you metric people). As you can see, black was the color of the day. We didn't plan that.

Prepping the pumpkin because it is impossible to find ready-made puree here. Oh well, homemade tastes better for sure.

I believe I was making this face because food products kept disappearing! This includes 1 liter of milk! HOW DID IT GET LOST?!?!? Still a mystery. This is post "Where the hell is the bread?!?!" I found it.

Saffron Potatoes!!

Green Beans with garlic and lemon!

Finished product mutton legs!

(continue salivating)

I even made some of "Stuarts Special Secret Salad Sauce"

The finished ducks...just ready and waiting to be cut apart!

Pedro with the chicken!

Time to eat!

Not one, not two, but THREE homemade pumpkin pies. All from one pumpkin. Outrageous.

Pedro brought another dessert! Hide your scales ladies.

The damage:

Max, our ever petulant Frenchman, even helped with the dishes!

In honor of my late Grandma Lorraine Harper, we did a craft project. Its the one where you cut out a turkey in the shape of your hand. We decorated them with country colors!

Bunnies! Oh the joys of left over art supplies.

We locked out the smokers :)

Dance break! I think this one was "Move your Feet" by Junior Senior.

Breakdancing!!!

It's the "horizontal running man". Duh.

The next morning I made pancakes for everyone! Just like a typical Sunday in my house in Ohio.

Vegemite on pancakes! Sounds gross, but is actually tasty with some butter! Plus, large amounts of Vitamin B!

Perfect Timing

2008-11-12T17:14:00.002+01:00

I totally left the office at the right moment today. The minute I walked out the door I was nearly run over by a parade of Hare Krisna believers with their banners and bells. Its a truly uplifting sound. Things got better. As I kept walking after stopping to listen a bit, two girls came running up to be and handed me a small dessert with a small promotional flyer. It was a special dessert that they make in the Govinda restaurant that I eat in all the time! It was like a coconut rum ball...sans rum. DELISH!

Escape!

2008-11-08T02:12:00.001+01:00

WE ARE IN THE MOUNTAINS!

...details to follow, once im done soaking in the hot tub :)

Sigh

2008-11-05T18:02:00.004+01:00

Here is what I did today:

-Taught English for 1.5 hours in the morning
-Updated all of our registration lists for the 3 events we have coming up in the next week
-Updated the Calendar of Events
-Checked lists for invoicing, then addressed and mailed at least 10 of them (if you don't know what a Slovak post line is like...check out my earlier post "MAIL TIME". No. They do not "pick up" your mail here)
-Found time to have lunch
-Wrote an article titled "BCC SR: Then & Now"
-Edited the article about the Garden Party
-Proofread the spread for the 10th Anniversary
-Updated the Events page on the website
-Drafted an invitation for yet another event
-Personally burned and delivered a CD of photos for a Member
-Wrote an article for the Minister of Health event we had yesterday
-Had an incident with my boss about where I get my information about Ministers. Let me tell you. I get it from the official Parliamentary website. Not good enough? Oh. Sorry. Excuse me while I wade through other sites that are bogged down with broken English.
-Chose photos for our Sports Day spread
-Updated the Calendar of Events. Yes. Again. More information came in.
-Printed out recipes for our "Thanksgiving" road trip to the mountains this weekend
-Broke down a list of what else needs to be done for our magazine, Bridges
-Washed the dishes in the office sink
-Paid my internet bill

If I neglected you today, do not take it personally.

I have decided to write a book titled "How to work in a foreign nation without wanting to maim yourself"

...oh. and we have a new president. sorry i missed the excitement.

International Moments

2008-11-05T17:44:00.003+01:00

Yesterday a group of my friends and I went to the Fine Arts School in Bratislava to view a Spanish film called La Ardilla Roja (The Red Squirrel). Luckily it had subtitles in English :). I have to say, it was one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. Mind you, its not supposed to be a comedy! (well, maybe a little, but Mediterranean Europeans are very emotional, so you never know) Pernille and I could not stop laughing at the words, the outfits and the irony! In general though, we all really enjoyed it, except than Beatrix, our resident Spaniard. When we commented on the amount of full frontal nudity she said "Oh that was nothing. Spanish movies always like that! Everwhere there is boobs! Boobs!" (i tried to keep the quote as original as possible) A must see for Spanish speakers, and international film enthusiasts.

Watching the film reminded me of when Matt and I were in the zoo in Prague. In one exhibit you have to go inside of the enclosure to walk around, sort of how a lot of places present the Rainforest exhibits. Well, little did we know that the Fruit Bat enclosure was OPEN TO THE WHOLE BUILDING. So much for the word enCLOSEure. The little bastards, cute as they are, were flying all around! One almost got me in the gut! Granted, for the most part they stayed within their "designated" area due to their impeccable sonar, but we sat there and watched to see the other visitors flip out as they walked in and realized they weren't just viewing, they were EXPERIENCING! Some of the winged crazies were even hanging from the rafters over our heads! Luckily we made it out alive. I didn't wear any sort of fruit smelling perfume that day.

In kind with international movies, here is one that people should see if they want a little bit if darkness in their life for 2 hours. Colin Farrell is brilliant. IN BRUGE! Erin and I watched this at her boss's house because they have a FULLY STOCKED theater in their house. I'm talking 1000x the Leonbruno's basement. These people are shameless, but generous.

Keeping with the trend

2008-11-03T19:05:00.002+01:00

Tomorrow is Tuesday. It is also November 4th. That means it is also Voting Day. Get your tush to the polls.

Here are some things that I found online that you can think about or watch and enjoy:

My friend Foamy, the disgruntled, foul mouthed squirrel. You'll want to watch the Episode "Political Shifty". Turn your volume down if you're at work. This video does not represent me personally.

Starbucks "gives back" to the plebes who are addicted to its coffee. Yes. We should ALL care ALL the time. Maybe the music will be a motivator. It sounds very "Chariots of Fire" inspirational.

I love when celebrities tell me what to do. Decisions made by politicians TOTALLY affect them the way they affect us "common" folk.

This is a really obscene twist on parents encouraging their kids to participate in safe behaviors. I don't care who the candidate is. Don't bastardize a good public service campaign. Hence, I have never, and will never watch "Gossip Girl". As if they even know what the words "Social Security" mean.

Stop the hype. Get down to business. It doesn't matter what you promise, its what you deliver.

Vote for a Discount

2008-11-03T11:55:00.003+01:00

So it seems that major retailers are reaching out to the 18-24 voting demographic by enticing them to vote tomorrow with promises of receiving discounts on their merchandise. Interesting. I've already received mail from American Apparel (15% + free shipping) and Steve Madden (20%). While I think this is an interesting tactic, I don't know if promoting civic duty through materialism is really the point of the whole thing. I wonder what Susan B. Anthony would say. She seemed like a stylish lady.

Don't worry Dad. Not engaging in the shopping part.

The "Spirit" of the Season!

2008-10-31T17:23:00.008+01:00

Today is HALLOWEEN! Or, All Hallows Eve, if you want to be a stickler. I didn't really get to celebrate last year because I was living in Myrtle Beach, and I had to work. This year, I guess I'm not really celebrating either, but I partook in some of the American traditions! Namely, PUMPKIN CARVING! Erin had never carved a jack-o-lantern before, so obviously I had to be the first one to do it with her. Halloween in Europe is really different than in the US. First, kids don't trick-or-treat. Its seen as tacky. There are typical costume parties, but one of the most widespread traditions is that people go to the graveyard to honor the dead.

On a less morose note, here are some videos and pictures of the extravaganza of orange!

As much as she might squeal, even my Aussie likes to squish around inside the pumpkin!

And we have a jack-o-lantern! American inspired Slovak style! It was great when it was lit up!

We weren't the only ones who were exploiting the holiday season. For those of you who follow these Grammar Killing Kitties, you'll understand the reference.

Basement cat sneaks up on its victims. Equals 90% success rate of stealing your soul.

Here are some pumpkins outside of the Dubliner Irish Pub across from my office. They are WAY more intricate that the one at my apartment, but...those people get paid.

All in all, very successful Halloween preparation and experience :) Who says you have to be home to party homestyle?

Further culinary adventures...

2008-10-31T16:32:00.006+01:00

So here is another round of food-related photos! I have great friends who love to get their hands dirty in the kitchen. First, we will focus on my French friends Anne-Elodie (Anna) and Mathieu. They live in a great top-floor flat with a terrace and a grill! When was the last time I ate something off of the grill? I don't want to talk about it because its been so long that I can feel an iron-from-bloody-meat deficiency coursing through my veins.

Luckily, these wonderful people came to my rescue!

MMM, veggies too!

The finished product! Mathieu, you are my hero.

Not long after Erin and I decided that we wanted to make our own pizzas! This was something I was familiar with because I used to be surrounded by Hotelies, so I was excited to rekindle the magic.

Here are some of the ingredients we used!

We had to use ready-made bases because they didn't seem to have any dough. Oh well. It's Slovakia. You get used to not being able to find what you want. For example, I had to go all the way to Hungary to find vanilla extract!

Erin making her pizza! We used a sundried tomato, basil and garlic pasta sauce, and it was oh so delicious.

Tastiness in the making!

Obviously excited (and hungry), but able to pause for a photo.

Look at those portobellos!

The excitement builds! Time for the oven!

The pizzas came out really well. We used gouda cheese on the bottom and camembert on the top, so every bite was creamy. Also, we put cloves of garlic on top! One of my favorite parts about making pizza? Eating the toppings as you go :).

Realizations of the Day

2008-10-31T16:23:00.002+01:00

1. The city is just a bit less exciting when they turn off all the fountains

2. When the wind blows your hair in your face it really screws with your depth perception

3. Sisters (or brothers) are some of the best comedians. Case in point:

(Background): Bethany has informed me that her neighbor is currently in jail. He told her he was in there for fighting, but she decided to look up his name in online the register. While there, she checks out the offenses of other unsuspecting perpetrators.

Bethany: "OOO, a 30 year old with cocaine!"
Me: "Yes, I hear that is par for the course in Myrtle Beach"
Bethany: "Yeah. But still, you're 30. Get over it!"

...a little while later

"OOOOOOO, a 50 year old shop lifter. And her 18 year old daughter! MOTHER-DAUGHTER BONDING!"

Sushi in the City

2008-10-28T19:26:00.006+01:00

Remember when I went to that sushi opening? Well, we decided to go back, and we are glad we did! We got to sit in the back room through the rock garden, where you have to take off your shoes!!! (everyone showered that day, thank goodness) The whole experience was great, and the service was fantastic (which can be hard to find in Bratters!) Here are some of the dishes we sampled that night:

Seared tuna!

Shrimp!

Tempura Chicken salad!

X-tra large sushi sampler!

ME! I wasn't on the menu, but I certainly enjoyed my Bentō box. I think Butterfish is my new favorite sashimi

Please forgive me for not having more accurate descriptions of the food. We did this kind of a long time ago, and the restaurant doesn't have its menu uploaded onto its website yet. You can go to www.sushiplus.sk to see the layout though! In my opinion its some of the best sushi I've ever had inland.

When your job pays off!

2008-10-28T18:45:00.004+01:00

So, sometimes working at the BCC has some REAL benefits. Last Friday we went out to Modra, which is right outside of the city, to a restaurant called U Richtára, which opened in 1592. It was a massive establishment, and we were shown to the very back of the place for our exclusive event. The point of the event was for one of our Members to present a project that they had been working on in cooperation with the EU and some of the other Member states. Also, to gorge ourselves on roast goose, lokše and marinated purple cabbage. I also tried pfefferoni chilis for the first time. They are little red peppers that look like cherry tomatoes. THEY ARE NOT! I knew this when I tried one because John and I were playing a game called "rate that burn" where we score the fire going on in our mouths. It was fun!

Here are the folk singers that serenaded us throughout the night. They were very skillful, and even played Yellow Submarine! (don't know how that fit into the atmosphere, except that it was a BCC event...) They even had CDs!

Here is my place setting :) BEFORE the mess

PILED HIGH WITH FOOD! Some of the Members make fun of me because I always bring tupperware to the events, because I am poor and can't afford to feed myself (at least, I wasn't before). No tupperware this time, but they kept encouraging me to eat more.

Here is the bowl full of goose and duck that we passed around. There were two vegetarians at my table, so we got extra if we wanted it :) The meat was so delicious!!! Not like Canadian geese, which you just CANNOT eat.

All in all the event was great! We had transport to and from so everyone was relaxed while they were there. I like the idea of mixing business and pleasure. I even came up with the name for the style of event! Its called "Commerce Meets Cuisine". Catchy, yes?

I couldn't be there but...

2008-10-28T18:35:00.004+01:00

...other people with the BCC could! Last week Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh visited Slovakia for the first time...EVER. It was just a 2 day excursion, but that doesn't mean that the Royal Couple was BOMBARDED with activity. It ranged from everything from meeting political figures, extravagant dinners, folk dance exhibitions, unveiling important art pieces, kissing babies (ok not really, thats more an American politician thing), visiting the High Tatra mountains, speaking at a global climate seminar, and OPENING A HOCKEY GAME! Busy, right? The British Embassy and other important organizations had been preparing for MONTHS. I think all the work paid off, at least from what I've read about how everything went. A funny tidbit I picked up from those who attended the lunch/dinners was that Slovak dignitaries were in a tizzy because during Queens tour of Central Europe she stopped in Slovenia, and they gave her a horse as a gift! I guess they weren't sure how they could top that. Such is the life of a celebrity. I just hope she donates everything to charity.

Here is a picture of our Chairman of the Board!

For further entertainment, go to Royal YouTube, or search for Prince Philip quotes on Google.

Since we started...

2008-10-23T14:38:00.003+02:00

we may as well continue!

In the previous post I talked about FREE RICE. Now, I am going to give a shoutout to FREE POVERTY. With this site you can donate cups of water to those in need. We did the food, and we need the drinks to go with it! Today I donated 750 cups, just by trying to identify cities and landmarks on a world map. They showed Cleveland and Akron, Ohio!! Of course, I got the maximum number of cups (10) for each of those.

Use your downtime at work wisely!

Use your knowledge...

2008-10-22T11:05:00.003+02:00

...and feed the world.

Go to the FREE RICE website and test your knowlegdge in vocabulary, geography, grammar or even mathematics. Every correct answer means 20 grains of rice for someone in need. (Erin and I donated 3500 grains yesterday)

Peel yourself away from you-tube and facebook and make a difference.

Public Service Announcement

2008-10-22T09:37:00.005+02:00

I think Rick Steves should add this to his guide about Slovakia:

Things to avoid in Bratislava pedestrian zones:

-Canine excrement (it ain't Paris, people. No one cleans it up)

-Human saliva

-Cracks in the cobblestones (i trip constantly)

-Diplomatic vehicles

-Marxist pigeons

-Rogue civic vehicles (police cars, garbage trucks, postal delivieries...it goes on)

-Restaurant delivery trucks

-Annoying tourist groups

-"Nota Bene" magazine hockers

- Domineering Taxis

Quote of the Day

2008-10-21T15:58:00.001+02:00

(background info: my boyfriend Matt asks me to wake him up in the mornings sometimes)

Matt (at 10am his time): "I wish you had a snooze button"

classic.

(love you!)

GET OUT AND VOTE!

2008-10-17T16:34:00.005+02:00

As a US citizen abroad, and watching American politics unfold on www.cnn.com (i dont have a tv) I believe it is VERY important for EVERYONE who is eligible to get out and vote in this election. I am not going to sit here and endorse anyone, because I know that the right to vote is just that: every individual's RIGHT.

I signed up for my absentee not too long ago through the American Embassy here in Bratislava and here is my ballot!

Can you believe that they sent me political propaganda all the way out here? Talk about starving for support.

So now everything is filled out and ready and I will be giving the Embassy my envelope so that they can send it back to the States to be counted (free of charge! Go Consulate Services!)

If I can go through all that, all of you who are able should register to vote and visit your local polling place on November 4th. Don't sacrifice the right you were blessed with. If you do, you have no right to complain about the results. There should be no WIN-LOSE in politics. If everyone participates, everyone wins. After all, in the end we are all on the same team. GET OUT THERE AND EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT!

Moment of Peace

2008-10-16T15:27:00.002+02:00

You know you live with S.W. Cordell (Daddy) when:

You are walking through the streets of Bratislava and see a landscaping crew and think to yourself..."What is that guy DOING?!?! There is no sense of logic in his mowing patterns!"

Papa, je t'aime!

Run Away!!!!!

2008-10-09T13:48:00.004+02:00

So this is a post I had started working on last week but completely got sidetracked with....you guessed it....LIFE. I used this title mostly because my sisters and I have a love for all Monty Python references, and because I fleed the US just in time to experience the worst from far away. I can't claim to have had a premonition or anything...I was aching for something new, and now the money I've been able to somehow make while on an intern salary will certainly come in handy. The post is mostly about random things that connect the US with Slovakia, and my reactions to the things I read.

Taken from one of the Slovak news periodicals that I read each day:

POLITICS

"George Bush will meet Slovak president Ivan Gašparovič in a week in the Oval Office.
The main topic will be Slovakia’s participation in the fight against terrorism and Slovakia’s commitments in NATO. Gašparovič is also convinced that he will return home with news on the cancellation of the visa duty for Slovaks traveling to the US.
Interior minister Robert Kalinak is also traveling to Washington, where he should sign an agreement on the exchange of information on criminal acts, which is a condition for the cancellation of the visa duty." (SME/1)

The United States is EVERYWHERE!

This actually already happened! The Slovak Pres met with The W, and now travelers from Slovakia can bypass the visa requirement! So much for the title of this blog! It will probably all be be realized once the US implements this new ESTA system. What is interesting to me is that Slovakia achieved this before the Czech Republic. IN YOUR FACE PRAGUE! I don't really feel that way, because I am an American national and therefore don't have to deal with that crap because I have an automatic visa for most places (sans Cuba and some other destinations of interest). However, the CR has always seemed to be just a couple of steps ahead of its "runt" sibling, Slovakia. Things change I guess. (Bethany, do not get any ideas.)

NEXT!

My father asked me if I would comment on how the people in Europe, especially Slovakia, are reacting to the global financial crisis. Here is another blurb that I read:

ECONOMY

"The global financial crisis is only affecting Slovakia marginally so far and the Slovak banking sector is not significantly endangered by it. Nor is the Slovak economy yet. "We consider the banking sector in Slovakia as secured and stable," stressed PM Robert Fico. He thinks that within the Slovak financial sector, pension management companies are the most endangered by the crisis. According to the NBS, the Slovak banking and financial sector is safe at the moment. All banks have sufficient capital and liquidity and the crisis in other states does not have any impact on their situation. The NBS also verbally supported the Slovak branch of UniCredit Bank, Italian parent of which faces financial difficulties at the moment". (SME/1, 9)

So in general, no one here really gives a crap. The people who do care are mostly developers who were waiting for financing and now can't get it. People here are more concerned about getting the money under their mattresses into the bank before the automatic (and therefore FREE) conversion from the Slovak Crown to the Euro occurs. Many people speak about how it is affecting Americans however. Its easy to hate on the United States. We have a diversified population, lots of natural resources, and a tendency to dominate all things we decide to be involved in. We are a nation of entrepreneurs, rags to riches, baby bottles to boardrooms. The word "Ambition" doesn't quite cut it there. In our excessive pursuit of profit and the American Dream we can lose sight of the bigger picture and thus dig ourselves a grave so deep that we have develop new means of getting ourselves out. I haven't been in contact with the majority of the people I graduated with, but I am hoping that those who went into investment banking haven't lost their jobs, or at least were able to switch divisions before the real cuts were made. Having a degree from Cornell University, though incredibly weighted in terms of credibility, can't save you from bankruptcy if your employer made some bad calls. What it does provide you with is resolve. We walk through the nastiest of weathers to face some of the most unforgiving of professors who see it as their calling in life to make our lives a living hell. Granted, they are only trying to pass their wealth of knowledge to us to ensure our success, but the means can make the ends seem desolate. Get through that, and everything else is a piece of tiramisu (if you're into that).

I'm not sure how the financial crisis is going to affect me when I return stateside in 2 months. (That's right! You heard it here first! 2 months and counting!) I have a decent savings that I left over there to appreciate on a CD, so now my task is to find a job. GOOD LUCK. My family seems to be doing alright, so I'm not too worried. The Cordell family always prevails somehow. Its just in our nature.

NEWSFLASH

2008-10-09T10:43:00.003+02:00

As I told many of you, last weekend was our 10th Anniversary Family Fun Day Celebration with the British Chamber of Commerce. The event was really successful I thought, especially considering all of the variables that were against us. I wrote my first press release about it, and hopefully I will get published! Livia said she would try to distribute it to some of the English speaking periodicals around Bratislava.

To view photos from the day...CLICK HERE.

Here is my synopsis from the day:

Celebrating in style…

On Saturday, October 4th the adventurous and the brave faced the unfavourable weather conditions and travelled to the Whitewater Centre in Čunovo for the British Chamber of Commerce in Slovakia’s 10th Anniversary Celebration. The event was appropriately dubbed “Family Fun Day”, and made good on its title despite the elements.

Lívia Eperjesiová, the BCC SR Executive Director, and her Events Action Group had been working for months to decide the perfect venue for this momentous occasion. Many options presented themselves, but it seemed the best way to incorporate a majority of the members and their families was to organize something that would occur during the day and in an open space. The BCC SR turned to Action Land, an outdoor activities company, to provide an array of enticing activities and Hotel Divoká voda to supply a location. The event was made possible by generous financial contributions from (in alphabetical order) Allen & Overy Bratislava, B2 Consulting, BAE Systems, ČSOB, HSBC and Lugera & Maklér. There were also In Kind Sponsors who provided various services and gift arrangements, ACCOR Services Slovakia, Avon Cosmetics, Hippokrates Private Health Centre, ILt spol, s.r.o., Mokarabia, Park Inn (Hotel Danube), SkyEurope Airlines, VITAL and Whisky Bar 44.

As the setup crew rolled in, they were somewhat sceptical due to the looming clouds and slight drizzle, but as they worked the skies cleared and the empty field behind the hotel began to look more like the imagined competition pitch where the UK Regional Competitions would be held. Arguably one of the most noted part of the celebration (and most certainly the most unique), the four different categories were designed to highlight various cultural aspects of living in the United Kingdom. For England there was a “Tug of War” contest, Wales hosted Archery, Scotland “Tossing the Caber”, and of course a Guinness drinking contest to represent Northern Ireland. Women, men and children alike gathered to participate (as appropriate) in each of the categories while amassing points according to their performance. These points were crucial in the end, because first prize was two round-trip air tickets from SkyEurope Airlines. After much entertainment and friendly rivalry, Mr. Daniel Bachna and Ms. Marta Novotná tied for the coveted winners position, and had a “shoot off” at the archery station. Mr. Bachna came out victorious, but Ms. Novotná was not left for want as she received vouchers from ACCOR Services Slovakia and a gift bag from VITAL.

Other activities included white water rafting, off-roading go-karts, and an inflatable Velcro “fly wall” for children (and some youthful adults). Attendees were also able to test-drive the latest Jaguar and Land Rover models thanks to T.O.P. Auto Slovakia. The catering was undoubtedly a crowd pleaser with multiple courses including savoury gulaš, a full roast pig carved tableside and a 1.5 x 0.5 metre cake. In addition to the catering, the most popular stations were those run by Mr. Stiubhard Kerr-Liddell of Whisky Bar 44 and Mr. Ivan Lacko of ILt, who provided some of their wares for tasting.

Overall the event was well planned and successful, especially considering the challenges posed by Mother Nature. All who attended raved about their experience. In short, it was a an exemplary salute to ten years of promoting UK-Slovak relations, and the BCC SR team is looking forward to the next ten.

And we shed what was left...

2008-10-03T19:19:00.006+02:00

...of our Summer Skin.

So, the weather is getting colder, the leaves are changing, and I have gotten my sweaters out of the cupboard in the living room. Sad. One of the worst things is that the city streets are really barren now (minus the tourists with HUGE umbrellas that take up the whole street so that I can't get to work) because the restaurants have broken down their outdoor patios. The nice thing about Autumn is the FESTIVALS! When I lived in Ithaca there was a festival for practically every seasonally appropriate food. That includes chili, apples, wine and just general extravaganzas.

So, we decided to take advantage and go to the Pezinok wine festival! It is about 25-30 minutes away from Bratters and the return bus ticket is about 68 Sk ($3), so WHY NOT!?!? Pezinok is best known for their late harvest concoction called Burčiak. It comes in white and red varieties and actually has a lot of healthy antioxidant characteristics. Plus, its really tasty!

Posing before the crowds descended. On the way in we saw a cover band who were performing "Paradise City" by Guns & Roses. The guy was wearing a kilt. Classically hilarious. The festival really reminded me of fairs that you go to in the United States. Full of music, great food, crazy nick knacks and badly dressed people. Very nostalgic :)

The Slovak version of the Scrambler!!! I hadn't been on an amusement ride in ages, and Erin and I are both young at heart, so we immediately bought tickets! (it was only 60 Sk to ride it!!!) This picture was taken in the beginning of the day, so there wasn't much of a line yet. You wouldn't BELIEVE how many people were there later. You could barely get through them to continue down the street!

On the "Breakdance"/Scrambler!! It whips you around pretty well, so it was probably a good idea that we went on it BEFORE we started sampling the areas finest.

This one however? We went on that last before returning to the city :) The kids who wanted to keep their feet planted on the ground said that Erin and I looked like the only people who were having fun. We sprinted to the front seats because you get to see everything, and the G Force is NUTS there. We could hear the screams of the people behind us. We are seasoned riders, so we didn't even hold on to the restraining bars.

After waiting patiently for the last group to finish, our friends sprinted onto the platform to snag some cars so they could give each other minute whiplash. Unfortunately Erin's car was stolen by 2 bratty Slovak kids. See how she is about to get into the car? They almost sat on top of her to get it first. Ridiculous!!

Max and Erin scheming against the children who stole their car.

So if you decide to buy your Burčiak in "bulk", all of the booths have used 1.5L waterbottles that they have cleaned. Talk about recycling! It is a tradition though, so we decided to join in :) 1.0L was about 50 Sk.

After the wine festival Erin and I hightailed it back to our place and got ready in a mere 20 minutes so we could get to dinner at Chez Emilie, a new crêpe restaurant in the city centre!!! This is the owner, who is very nice and also VERY French. This was ok because we had 2 French people with us, and then 3 more people who speak French relatively well. I even ordered in French :) It was like being transported for 2 hours! Plus, the food and presentation were exceptional.

Silly Erin, it's not a finger bowl! It's your cider cup!!

My lovely ladies Anna (France), Pernille (Denmark) and Scotland (Sherisse). We will be going to Paris to Anna's house in November! I am so excited to see the Parisian underground culture!!!! We have been practicing our French weekly, so I should at least feel comfortable being there. I can still understand the majority of what people say, but I'm still a bit too timid to speak a whole lot. I have to really think about what I am going to say before I attempt it. Alors, c'est la vie!

Here is one of the savory crêpes!

Don't they look happy? You would be happy too if you found an authentic crêpe place. It has so many possibilities!

This is the desert portion of the dinner. They flambéed mine!! LOOK OUT! It was super tasty though :) Apples with caramel with a shot of something or other. I was too entranced by the whoosh of flame to really care....

Picture Tour!

2008-10-03T18:04:00.008+02:00

So I was sitting here drinking my homemade hot chocolate spiked with Malibu (oh yeah. great combo) and I decided that it was about time to get some photos up! So, for your viewing pleasure...MY LIFE!

The Bratislava Zoo! It was Peugeot Day, so we got in for freeeeee! This is their map. I like it because it has pictures! Very easy to follow.

A ropes course! We were pretty certain it was meant for children, but there were no children around because they were being entertained by an inflatable castle and a team of dancers with a rapper (make sense to you? didn't think so) so we took advantage!!!

Obviously a bit harder than it looks, but we managed to stay still long enough for Anki to take our picture!

At this point we had attracted a crowd and the small children were laughing hysterically at us. Especially Sarp and Jacob, since they weigh more and therefore make a bigger display of losing their balance.

Traipsing along the path! For being a small city, The Bratislava Zoo is actually a good size. We spent a good 3 hours wandering around.

LIONS. Typical male. Sunning and exposing "himself" to his woman. "Look at me! Look at me!" She does not look amused.

The Zoo also has a Dinopark! This is not as cool as it sounds. Its like going to a museum outside, but with creaky robots because they have been overexposed to the elements. Yeah. We did get a kick out of this guy though!

Anki: HELP ME HELP MEEEEE!
Me: GODZILLA!!!!!!!

I obviously dont mind being eaten by a prehistoric carnivorous monster.

The boys were not amused with us, nor did they partake in the fun. Party poopers.

EMUS!

CAMELS! (these rocks were their only barrier? does it look like a deterrent to you? you're right, me neither.)

Taking a break for a picture posing session. (hint: Erin is portraying an animal from her homeland)

GIRFAFFE! (yes, i know that is not the correct spelling. that is how one of our kids in Sunday School used to say it though, and it has stuck, because it is just that damn cute. kind of like, basgetti for spaghetti)

Weirdo birds.

My Fellow Zoo goers on their way up the hill to see the Rhinos, Kangaroos and other wildlife.

The view. I wonder if the animals appreciate it too?

Going out after enjoying a "warm up" at Pedro, Nadja, Beatriz (newbie from Spain!!) and Guillame's (unidentified French guy) place. They just secured this great newly renovated flat right behind Obchodna Street. So convenient!

This was a lovely picture of Erin getting closer to her homeland. Pedro decided it needed more 'life' and added his tongue. Thank you.

Again with the antics! Cute though :)

We are all relatively certain that the number of pictures that exist of Jacob making a normal face can be counted on one hand.

See what I mean?

It's impossible!

Buried.

2008-09-30T15:54:00.003+02:00

So for the past week I have almost literally been buried in things to do!

I last left you on Wednesday. After work I proceeded to a restaurant opening called Sushi Plus ("Sushi +" actually), which is right around the corner from where I work. It was such a spectacular event! I went with my Danish lovely, Pernile (because she was so wonderful in asking me to go to the fashion show!) We walked in, and the decor was very traditional (bamboo for a railing!). We received sparkling wine at the entrance and were allowed to scope around for a bit before everything started. I liked a lot of the furnishing choices they made, and in one of the back rooms, there was a separate corridor for special gatherings, and it was divided by the sliding paper doors through a rock garden! They even simulated sitting on the floor by dropping the table down into a hole.

The best part about it was the food. Looking at it, watching it being made, and EATING IT (duh). We were able to snag some good stuff. Maki, sashimi, nigiri, tempura, salad, miso soup, lychee, you name it! We were nicer than everyone else who came though, because we shared. Sushi goes like wildfire here. You would think they had never eaten quality fish before. I was certainly happy, and so was Pernille! We both agree that Butterfish sashimi/nigiri is our new favorite :).

After that I met some more friends for coffee (well, hot chocolate for me) which then turned into a "wine tasting" of sorts! We went to a place called "Flowers" into the back room where they have their wine racks. We tried a Rioja, and it was delicious. There were event 4 types of cheese involved :). Overall, very exciting day.

NEXT STORY!!!

So, my Swedish friend Anki (Ann-Christine) is leaving us (as we speak actually...her plane should be taking off right now) She has been here for a long time, so we obviously had to send her off in style, so her celebrations went all the way from Thursday to Monday. How do I ever survive these marathons? I don't know. It's not a lifestyle I will be able to keep up once back in the US of A. Highlights? Dancing in Medusa, Eating at Slovak Pub, Going to the Bratislava Zoo, and getting 20% off our tab at Kikaku Sushi (I know, twice in one week! It's the first sushi I've had in Slovakia!) I will be posting photos of all these excursions soon. It just takes awhile now because my picture adder tool puts them in HTML format, so I have to really pay attention to which ones I add and when, which takes more time than I currently have allotted.

I'm actually going to an event sponsored by the American Embassy tonight. They are going to replay parts of the Presidential Debates and field questions. They will also be informing people on how to vote while overseas. I have already registered for my absentee :) No word on whether they will actually give me one or not!

Moment of Peace

2008-09-25T11:18:00.001+02:00

Because sometimes a CamelBack just isn't enough...

(insert hysterical laughter here)

We have more fun

2008-09-23T14:39:00.004+02:00

What I've been up to for the past couple of weeks!

I told the girls to take a photo as if we were excited about being out. This is what I got.

Apparently this helps with Brain Freeze? Pernille wholeheartedly disagrees.

No one is better at "Blue Steel" than Pernille

Trying to be my friend Jake.

We met some crazy Hungarians, who were actually good dancers! (at least, they made the effort)

Kristian! A Danish visitor :) I don't think we scared him so badly that he won't come back.

Mmmm. Food.

2008-09-23T14:12:00.004+02:00

Such a big part of my life. Most eat to live, I live to eat. Can you blame me when stuff looks this good?

Rabbit (sorry bethany) wrapped in bacon with a plum sauce that I had at the Three Musketeers restaurant. The decor in this place was hilarious, and they even wrap bibs (well, large cloth napkins) around your neck!

I obviously enjoyed the bib part

Also notice the HUGE beers? They are not just "Velke" (or 0.5L) but a "Porthos" portion (0.7L) It took me FOREVER to drink it, but it stayed cold because of the earthenware mug!

Banana (bread) Cake! I put bread in parenthesis because that is what it is supposed to be, but as you can see, it looks much more like a cake (and tasted more like a cake) because of ingredients and utensils used. Delicious though. I attempted my first international banana bread at Erin's employers house. Lots of fun, and now I know I can do, so there will be more for sure.

Erin has this "Higher Taste" cookbook, and we thought we'd try to make something! This is Baba Gannouj. Tasty! They didn't have tahini in Tesco, so I thought maybe we could make our own with some sesame seeds, olive oil and an immersion blender! The funny part? It actually worked! (at least in the most basic way) Then we baked some pita bread with some seasoning, and we were in business!

Many more culinary adventures to come I am sure :) Especially once I actually find time to grocery shop

Updates

2008-09-22T10:49:00.002+02:00

So, I've been playing around with the format of my blog (because sometimes you need a facelift), and there is some new stuff! I now have a "follower"!!! So exciting :) Also, I have a Shelfari book collection, so you can see what I've been reading, and suggest new books for me to look into! (post college reading material = AWESOME) There are also links to some of my favorite blogs and companies that I believe are noteworthy.

Enjoy!

Through the Wilderness

2008-09-18T10:25:00.008+02:00

Remember when I said I wanted some more nature and action in my life? Well, all I had to do was go to the mountains (High Tatras) in Eastern Slovakia, also known as Slovensky Raj! (Slovak Paradise). Erin, Nadja, Anki, Pernille and I piled into the car and decided to take a quick weekend trip. The drive only takes about 4 hours, so its just like my drive going back and forth to Cornell from Ohio!

I could not have asked for a better trip. We sang songs, created the Eagle Squadron, got dirty, got wet, moved furniture, met some great people, and ultimately exhausted ourselves. It was great!

Here is me and the "supplies" I bought for everyone! If you know me, you know that includes personalized trail mix bags! Erin and I came up with labels for everyone as well. For example: "Perfectly Pretty Pernille" and "Notoriously Naughty Nadja". You can imagine the giggling that went into deciding those. Doing quadruple E was difficult (Erin and Elise...hmmm) but we managed.

When we got there we decided to get something to eat before making our first trek. There was a restaurant right next to the check in station, so it seemed convenient. The food was SO GOOD. I had this great "Food in a Pouch" combo with sour milk. The decor of the place was the best part. Here is a shot of me becoming one with my surroundings.

They do things differently in Denmark.

Figuring out our route for the day. Lots of chances to get lost! WOO!

The first of many obstacles we faced. They get worse. Much. Much. Worse.

Proof you say? Take a look at these 3 pictures! There were times that I was literally having intimate moments with the rock face.

I lead the stretching after the first day :) It is very important to keep your muscles warm and flexible after a tough workout!

Oh goodness. As masochists, we went back for more!

We made it all the way up the hill! HOLY FRIJOLES NEGROS! (not many pictures were taken due to the sheer DANGER of taking out your camera)

Erin and her waterproof shoes...and the river that POISONED Erin, Pernille and me for almost 3 days!

After a good meal at the top, we obviously needed an ice cream break after we made it all the way back down again. Down was almost as difficult as the up because its never a straight route. There are HILLS and ROOTS and RIVERS in your way. Hell of a route to take to school...think of the stories you could tell your kids!

Headline News?

2008-09-18T10:25:00.002+02:00

Seriously people? You report on this?

3-ply Toilet Paper = NOT A NEW CONCEPT. At least, not in Europe. Erin and I buy the "Peach" kind...made by Tesco of all places.

I know that all journalists need SOMETHING to write about, but I can see them kicking themselves and saying "I went to Newhouse! WHY AM I IN THIS JOURNALISTIC HELL?!?!?"

(love you Hannah)

The People We Love

2008-09-16T10:55:00.002+02:00

Europe really loves their 3-day weekends. Yesterday was Sedembolestná Panna Mária (Our Lady of Sorrows), and I had one of the best weekends ever.

The funny thing?

Most of it was spent scooting (Family slang for "cuddle") on the couch watching movies on Surf The Channel with Erin and going to work with her (since she doesn't have a normal working schedule like the rest of us because she works for a family) and cooking, baking, and rolling around on the floor with an 8 month old baby boy. I used self-raising flour for the first time. Worked pretty well!

It was just so nice to sit around, do nothing and enjoy someone's company. Especially since the weather turned this weekend, and Slovakia has officially been plunged into autumn. It's 48 and raining. Time to break out the Wellies and sweaters!

Family Ties

2008-09-10T16:44:00.003+02:00

I had a Hannah moment today.

While walking off the tram to go home from work, I was involved in reading "Black Rain" by Masuji Ibuse. I got off the tram, started down to sidewalk towards my street, and unknowingly went underneath a tree.

This tree had very low branches, and proceeded to take the headband right out of my hair!

Luckily I think only a couple people saw me.

I guess that is what happens when you are engrossed in literature!

Diplomatic Ties

2008-09-09T11:29:00.005+02:00

Last Thursday my Danish friend Pernille invited me to go to a FASHION SHOW that featured 4 Key Portugeuse designers in celebration of the Portugeuse President's visit to Slovakia. The Embassy received the invitation for 2 people, and apparently no one in her office wanted to go. Silly. So, she swiped it, and asked me!!! We've both had some runway experience, so it seemed appropriate.

In short, no way was I turning her down.

One of the designers was Filipe Faisca (www.filipefaisca.com)

Here are some pictures of us girls before and during the show!

Because I can.

2008-09-09T11:24:00.002+02:00

Something cute from the lovely people at ShoeBoxBlog. I like their humor, and it is especially appropriate after conversations I've had with people back in the States about financial crisis.

“A recent Nielsen survey found that the economic
downturn has not greatly affected consumer spending on beer”
–The Washington Post

by Scott

With prices getting steeper,
The recession’s growing deeper
And we’re sweating from inflationary fears.
We can hardly see an ending
To the recent downward trending,
But we’ll never cut our spending
On our much-beloved beers!

For beer will make you merry
Though your debts are downright scary
And perhaps you’ve got some taxes in arrears.
It’s a magic, healing potion
That’ll settle your emotion
At the speed with which your paycheck disappears.

So we’ll practice moderation
At the Shell or Phillips station
And we’ll shop the Dollar Store instead of Sears.
Yes, we’ll wear the Wal-Mart label,
We’ll put Ramen on the table,
We may even give up cable,
But we won’t cut back on beers!

Why is it that...?

2008-09-05T10:04:00.002+02:00

This one is for all of my friends SOUTH of the Mason-Dixon*. I love you guys.

Why is it that people who are classified as "White Trash" push the limits of their trashiness? Is it purely for the entertainment of us Yanks*?

*(for the foreigners who read my blog: Mason-Dixon is the imaginary geographical line that separates the North from the South, and also serves as the border between Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. A "Yankee" is a slang term for a Northerner)

Turicke Muž

2008-09-03T12:25:00.016+02:00

This past weekend was a 4 day holiday for Slovak's, so my friends Sarp and Jacub and I decided to take advantage of this (and the low SkyEurope air ticket prices) to go to Turkey! Sarp is from the Beşiktaş region of Istanbul, so he was our guide for the trip. Our flight got into Istanbul at 2:00am Saturday morning. I'm still suffering from sleep debt, but I wouldn't trade that experience for anything! Plus, now I can say I've been to Asia because the city is split into two continental sides by the Bosphorus river!

This is one of Sarp's friends who was nice enough to pick us up from the airport, which is about 60km away from the center of the city. Oops. I got my first real life experience with Turkish driving with him. I stopped keeping track of the near death instances because it was making me anxious.

We were fortunate enough to be in Turkey during their national Victory, or Independence celebration, so there were Turkish flags everywhere, and pictures of their first President, Atatürk

This is Sarp's "Vatican City", better known as the Beşiktaş Jymnasium Klub Futbol Stadium. You'll see pictures of the inside later on in this post

On Saturday (rather, later on Saturday) we did some sightseeing! Here is the entrance to Dolmabahçe Palace, where many of the Sultans lived.

What Turkish security guards do when they are bored

We had to wear special "shower cap" looking baggies over our shoes because everything in the Palace was the original decoration

Atatürk, the first Turkish President. He is also on all of their money.

This is the bed where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk died. He suffered from cirrhosis of the liver, so when Sarp and his friends are going out for a heavy night of drinking, they say they are trying to be more like their legendary leader

This is the bed where the young princes underwent circumcision. Looks pretty comfortable for post-op recuperation

This is a yogurt, water and salt drink called Ayran. It is very refreshing on a hot day :)

This is where I had my first Turkish Döner Kebap!

We also went to Hagia Sophia, literally "Holy Wisdom". All 3 major single deity religions are able to worship here.

This is the weeping column. It is a tradition to put your thumb into the hole here and try to rotate your hand 360˚, which would signify that your soul is free from sin. It is also said that if you make a wish, turn your thumb in the whole, and it comes out damp, your wish will come true. Reminiscent of Roman Holiday if you ask me.

The outside of Hagia Sophia

Sultanahmet Mosque

On the inside!

I wasn't allowed past that point 1. Because I'm not Muslim and 2. Because I am female.

I liked this phrase because it sounded incredibly familiar. Shows that while our religions may be very different, they are also very much the same.

Turkish people are obsessed with corn! They had these stands everywhere, and then also mobile vendors sold corn on the cob that had been roasted

On our way to the Sultanahmet Mosque (also known as the Blue Mosque)

The Great Bazaar!

The "Jeton"s for riding public transport

I didn't mean for the picture to be blurry, but I think the overall effect is interesting :)

We got to hang out with some of Sarp's friends out on the river. Of course, they are all Beşiktaş supporters. They brought a clarinet and a drum to aid in their singing.

The main beer in the city is Efes, and its a Pilsner.

Everywhere we went, Sarp knew someone. This meant we got lots of free stuff! Here is a mussel stuffed with rice and drizzled with lemon juice. DELISH!

Taksim (another of the Istanbul districts) at night

Obviously we were having an amazing time.

The Naval Beach!

Turkish Delight! (I bought some, so soon I will be able to complete that phrase with "On a moonlit night")

Turkish people love their Nargile (water pipe) and Backgammon. I beat both of the boys! It wasn't exactly fair though, because they both helped me with strategy...and I kept getting double 6's.

View from the ferry when switching continents.

We were so lucky to be able to attend a football game! We were in the middle of the most passionate Beşiktaş supporters, and they NEVER stopped chanting! I knew some of them because Sarp had taught me already. (for example, Beşiktaş şim ole!) The energy in the stadium was amazing, and the team won 2-0!

Sarp and his brother Mert

I thought these cigarette labels in the airport Duty Free were hilarious. Such a direct approach to getting people to quit, or just to feel bad about themselves.

Window to the Future

2008-09-03T10:59:00.012+02:00

So as all of you know, my boyfriend (of almost 14 months...holy halušky!) came to visit me. Here are some pictures from our travels!

HC Slovan Game!

Good cheer to know: Me Sme Slovan, A Me Sme Tu Doma! (Slovan is my team, and this is our house...roughly translated)

Picnic in the Presidential Gardens!

The following pictures are from our trip to Prague. Funny story? When we bought our tickets for the Metro and headed down the escalator, I was heading towards our line when a guy sort of walked in front of me, speaking Czech, and had something in his hand. In being used to people asking you to buy things around public transport areas, I just said "Nie Dakujeme!" (even though that is Slovak...I don't know much Czech)...only to realize that he was actually a Ticket Inspector! I laughed, apologized, and then gave him my ticket.

The view from our hostel!

FOOOOOD!

Prague at night. So lovely.

We went to the Zoo! In the rain! It actually worked in our favor though, because many of the animals were therefore inside. We even got to see some feeding times!

U Fleku! Some of the best beer ever...and it just keeps on coming!

Club called Nu Spirit...full of hippies and looks like an old airplane hangar. Tres fun!

Erin and Jacub (from Norway!)

Wait...Matt dances?

T-com Beach

Matt is obviously not used to having to hustle across the street. I waited for him though :).

Devin Castle from the Twin City Liner boat that we took to Vienna!

Mozart. Duh.

Obviously we can't go anywhere without visiting some sort of animal exhibit. Here are some pictures from the Aqua Terra Vienna, or House of the Sea, which is in the Mariahlifer district!

How very European of them.

These Tamarinds were EVERYWHERE because they were able to roam freely within their exhibit. Matt and I almost witnessed one of them taking the finger of a 10 year old. The parents at the Aquarium couldn't be bothered to actually watch their kids and enforce appropriate behavior.

Not as big as our guys at Alligator Adventure, but still a good effort. The problem? In the promo materials they said he was a crocodile. Not true. You can tell by the shape of the snout and the way the teeth are either inside or outside of the mouth. Definitely a 'gator.

A blue lobster!!!! I wonder if that affects the taste....?

Our hotel in Vienna was so close to the Museumquartier that we couldn't help but to visit at least one of them. We decided to go to MUMOK, or the Museum of Modern Art Ludwig Foundation Vienna. The main exhibition being shown was called "Bad Painting, Good Art", so you can imagine what sort of things we saw. What the artists wanted to do was take various painting techniques and use many of them in one piece, or do execute the technique poorly or in an exaggerated way. Hence, not a classically masterful painting, but a great piece of art.

This was one of Matt's favorite pieces.

This was one of my favorite pieces. I just loved the images you found and the way it was developed. The deep and earthy colors helped to fuse the chaotic, or seemingly conflicting motifs.

Here is the texture of the piece up close.

Artsy, I know. I wanted to follow in the trend of things we had seen in MUMOK.

Had to come back to the elephant picture!!! I know some of you remember that from when I went to Vienna for the first time. this little guy hangs out in front of Schönbrunn, and is never lonely. Matt and I had to pose with him of course. It was a bit more practical for him to actually "ride" the elephant because he is taller and therefore able to actually launch himself up and over onto its back. Me? I opted for the trunk approach.

We rented City Bikes! The first hour is free, so why not? It was an easy way to get from one side of the city to the other, and there are designated bike paths so you don't have to worry about running over pedestrians (unless that is your type of thing). It took me awhile to get used to the bike because I haven't ridden one in ages. The saying is true though...you never truly forget how.

Moment of Peace (Straight from Turkey!)

2008-08-30T19:29:00.000+02:00

The smell of the sea and the roll of the waves as I walked toward one of the main palaces. Priceless.

More to come from Istanbul!

Be vewy vewy qwiet

2008-08-27T17:20:00.003+02:00

A strange thing happened to me today.

I was on my way home, and when I reached my building I saw that there was an obstruction in front of the door.

"What was it?" you ask

It was a person.

Asleep.

On the landing.

(and snoring)

I literally had to step over her in order to get into the doorway, but I was extra quiet because I didn't want to wake her (for her benefit and mine)

Has that happened to anyone else? Please share.

Up, Up & Away!

2008-08-25T17:15:00.004+02:00

A couple of weeks ago I went to go see the Red Bull Air Race duel between two Central European Pilots that was staged on the Danube River in between Lafranconi and Novy Most bridges. I had seen the event on TV a couple of times, but actually BEING there made the whole thing much more interesting.

This is the view from where we sat! We took blankets and a picnic lunch and parked it around 2 hours early, and thank goodness! The place really filled up after we got there, which was kind of annoying because then we couldn't see properly. I swear, people around here have no concept of common courtesy. There was a whole group of us SITTING on the bank, and then when people started filing in, they would actually STAND in front of us so that we couldn't see! RIDICULOUS!

Erin!!!!! Nice hat ;).

This is the course they had to go through. There were 2 sets of inflatable pylons that they had to navigate, and then they were scored on speed, accuracy and all of that other cool pilot stuff that I don't know about, but have plenty of Navy/Air Force friends who could fill me in.

Daredevil helicopter!! He felt left out that the planes got to do all the tricks, so he did some acrobatics, including going upside down! I thought that was scientifically improbable, but then again, I did stop my Physics studies after high school.

One of the planes on the course! We were so close to the action!

Obviously we weren't the only people who wanted to get a closer look. This picture shows the LOADS of people lined up on Novy Most. Policemen had to herd people off the top of the bridge because they were disrupting traffic (there isn't a footpath up there)

Vicki...rocking it out :)

In between the heats we got to see a 4 plane display of aerial craziness. My favorite part was when two planes flew in tandem, while another one did barrel rolls around them! GENIUS.

All in all it was a great experience that I'm glad I got to witness live. I guess we had over 100,000 people there, which is more than have shown up for some of the proper shows where more than 2 pilots compete! Hey-O Bratislava!

MoP #2

2008-08-25T13:21:00.006+02:00

So, I couldn't help myself from blogging 2 Moments of Peace in one day. I walked into the office after having a lovely lunch with my Danish friend Pernille, and what is on the radio?

Bruce Springsteen. Born in the USA.

Yes. I am proud to be an American. There is no shame in that.

Someone, coined "anonymous" decided to post the lyrics to the song as a comment asking me if I knew that the song was actually unpatriotic. Yes "anonymous" I did know. Springsteen has always voiced his political opinions about his disappointment with American bureaucratic decision making. However, sometimes you listen to specific lines of songs and they fill you with a nostalgia about the life you've lead and the people/things you've left behind. If you have ever left home for a place completely unfamiliar, you may know what I'm talking about. If not, then I hope you will accept this as another stated opinion, just not put to music.

Moment of Peace

2008-08-25T11:36:00.004+02:00

Watching a Drag Queen fashion show on Project Runway. Can't get enough of that "Strut it while you tuck It" attitude.

yes. i just made that up.

Also, during the judging, RuPaul made the comment "What, did a dingo ate your baby too? You are just full of excuses!" That is for YOU Erin! (oh, and RuPaul's Australian accent is actually worse than mine! who knew?)

Back to Earth...

2008-08-21T09:24:00.002+02:00

I was doing so well during the month of August! At least, until Matt James stepped off that plane in Vienna. Now, I will have to bombard you with a load of posts. Hope you're all ok with that! (not like you have a choice...this is my blog, and in the words of my boyfriend, "I do what I want!")

As a general statement however, I have been in Slovakia for a little over 7 months now, and I can't believe it is almost over. Wasn't it just yesterday that I was complaining that the shower in the dormitory was deteriorating on my head as I lathered my hair? That people were stealing my bryndze out of the fridge? Now, I have a proper kitchen with a gas stove and a roommate who loves to experiment with food? Plus, I only have 4 months to go! I know there are some people who are going to be very excited about that. Of course, I am included in that group :).

Stay tuned for the continuation of the saga that is my life!

MIA

2008-08-18T17:22:00.002+02:00

i've been on a blissful vacation with my boyfriend Matthew.

I shall return when he decides to leave me and I am beside myself with grief.

love youuuuuu!

Moment of Peace

2008-08-09T22:32:00.003+02:00

Quote of the Day:

(while watching the Men's Artistic Gymnastics qualifier)

Me: "I love how the men don't dance at all during the floor exercise. It's just LOOK WHAT I CAN DO!!!!"

Erin: "That's very male, just get in, do what you gotta do, and get out"

What's wrong with this picture?

2008-08-07T14:17:00.002+02:00

I found out today that my boss's monthly car allowance is more than my salary.

ouch.

Why is it that...?

2008-08-06T11:45:00.004+02:00

Why is it that The Economist, one of the most reputable magazines for monetary issues, employs a method based on fast-food products to determine the valuation of global currency?

Ingenious?

Let me elaborate.

Apparently, The Economist has a method called "The BigMac Index". Each year, the magazine collects the prices of Big Mac burgers in various states around the world, and based on those findings estimates the purchasing power of the currency. It's been coined "burgernomics".

What?

Get this. Apparently its kind of accurate.

Joaquin Almunia, the European Commissioner for monetary issues, has already said that the US dollar is under-valued, while the Slovak Krown and Euro are over-valued. According to the "BigMac Index", the Euro is 50% over-valued, and the Slovak Krown is 13% over-valued.

So, what starts in mockery ends in truth?

I guess using a product that a large portion of communities indulge in is a good indicator of purchasing power...or their lack of gastronomic palate.

Pricey Living...

2008-08-06T10:23:00.002+02:00

I have been living in Bratislava for almost 7 months now, and I believe I have done quite well for myself in terms of spending. My bank account is comfortably padded and I have cash left over. I rarely tap into my American account, and when I do it is for travel expenses (the point of me working 2 jobs during the summer when I should have been relaxing on the beach). Granted, I'm not a "real" city slicker because I don't pay much in the way of rent...but I don't get paid much in the way of salary either, so those two cancel each other out.

Well.

Apparently I live in the 45th most expensive city in the world! Can you believe it? New York is number 22, and that is the only US city in the top 50! If I can survive here on pittance, I can survive anywhere!

Here is what Yvonne Traber, a researcher at Mercer, had to say about it:

"Although the traditionally expensive cities of Western Europe and Asia still feature in the top 20, cities in Eastern Europe, Brazil and India are creeping up the list. Conversely, some locations such as Stockholm and New York now appear less costly by comparison"

Hmm. Maybe it is a good idea to move back to the United States after all?

On that point, I applied for a job yesterday with the U.N. Foundation as their Corporate and Foundation Relations Associate in Washington, DC. Keep me in your thoughts, because as of December 12, 2008 I am unemployed.

Mayhem continued...

2008-08-05T10:58:00.003+02:00

Day 4: I think the stove is mocking me, prompted by the showerhead.

Showering with cold water is not nice. It almost hurts your scalp! Plus, to make matters more obnoxious, shampoo does not lather properly!

Livia laughed at me this morning, and said "Oh yes, I remember that. They are preparing the pipes for the winter. Sometimes, it takes them a whole week. Maybe even two. We usually try to take vacations during those times"

Great.

WHAT AM I GOING TO DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO?

Colorful Explatives

2008-08-02T18:37:00.002+02:00

Here is an insight to the ridiculousness that is my life.

I am currently heating water over the stove and pouring it into the bathroom sink so that i can wash my hair and face because for some reason, the hot water in our apartment is not working. We did not receive ANY notice that this was supposed to happen.

The best part? When I call my real estate company, they give me the phone run around, and when I finally get an answer, they say that they are not in charge, and that they will look into it on Monday.

MONDAY.

I will not continue for fear of electronically assaulting someone.

Moment of Peace

2008-08-01T10:42:00.002+02:00

It is the 1st of August, and how fitting to begin the month with a "Moment of Peace" segment!

Today, I was sitting at my computer typing away when all of a sudden I heard a very loud orchestral chord! It seems that as a part of the Viva Musica! program, they had a FULL orchestra in Hlavne Namestie! There was even a male singer who accompanied them.

Not wanting to completely miss it I went outside and around the corner to the square. It was fantastic! Beautiful music, with the musicians in their street clothes!

I can't think of a better way to start the month.

Why is it that...?

2008-07-31T11:46:00.004+02:00

Introducing a new segment of my blog! My mind is constantly racing with questions about a variety of topics. In an effort to possibly answer some of them, I am going to post them here so that you, as my loving readers, may share your insights or mutual confusion.

NUMBER ONE!

Why is it that when you introduce alcohol into a typically "unpopular" activity (according to personal standards) it immediately becomes much more interesting?

NUMBER TWO!

Why is it that minority groups in a country are usually the most brash in recognizing beauty in women on the street?

NUMBER THREE!

Why doesn't America just SUCK IT UP and create a universal COMPREHENSIVE sex education programme? Less illegitimate kids...less welfare, and celebrity nonsense.

More to come :)

Going to the Dark Side...

2008-07-29T11:49:00.002+02:00

Last night my friends and I went to see the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight. I had been a real fan of the first instalment, Batman Begins, especially since it had come at a really dark time in my life where I wasn't really sure what I was doing and who I could trust.

I appreciate the cinematography and production of the film because it takes the story farther away from the hokey-ness of the other comic book inspired films like Spiderman, and tries to fully embody the original purpose and creation of the main character. Batman, a la Bruce Wayne, is a dark, twisted and haunted person. It is difficult for someone with these attributes to be a real hero. He is constantly battling his inner demons by attacking those that are present in his reality.

Ok, enough of my psychoanalysis of a fictional character.

THE MOVIE WAS GREAT!

I was constantly fidgeting in my seat, grabbing Anki's arm, and making mental comments like "My God, Christian Bale looks amazing with his shirt off". The late Heath Ledger also gave an incredible performance, completely embodying the disconnected and diabolical Joker. There were plenty of twists, and even some recognizable characters from the cartoon that I used to watch! The question is, who will be his arch nemesis in the next round?

Sand Withdrawl...

2008-07-29T11:26:00.002+02:00

During part of my ongoing nomadic lifestyle I chose to live in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where the weather is warm, the beach is public, and the bbq is always tasty. I was spoiled during my stay there. My condo development had a pool and my boyfriend lived STEPS away from the ocean. I spent the majority of my time soaking up rays and digging my toes in the sand (in between the 2 jobs I was working, of course). What a wonderful combo for self preservation in a time of uncertainty. I've discovered that I have always lived by a substantial body of water (some more substantial than others, but if it would take me awhile to swim across, or if I can't see the other side, I won't make a fuss). That is, until I moved to Bratislava, Slovakia.

"But, don't you have the Danube River?" you ask?

Have you SEEN the Danube?

While functional in terms of transport of people and goods, you DO NOT want to swim in it. Trust me.

However, the good people of the Municipality of Bratislava teamed with T-Com to create what is known as "T-Com Beach", which I have referenced before in this very blog. It rests on the Petrzalka side of the river in between Novy Most and Stary Most (literally, New Bridge and Old Bridge...man, those Communists were creative!) with a strip of beach, sand volleyball courts, exercise equipment, bocce ball courts, a bar, ice cream stand, and lounging areas complete with media. The only thing we are missing is the pool. There is nothing like laying your towel in the sand and watching the sun reflect off the water while you listen to the waves lapping at the shore. The Danube is way too murky to reflect anything, and the current is so strong that the water can't even think about getting cozy alongside the bank.

I do however enjoy lounging there. Not only is it a place for me to remedy my pasty pasty skin condition and need to feel sand in between my toes, it's also great for people watching! People of all different economic status, culture and nationality congregate there. Plus, unlike other modern European conveniences like public bathrooms, you do not have to pay to be there!

My next adventure will be to the lakes, like Čuňovo and Zlaté Piesky. At least then I will have the option of swimming.

Moment of Peace

2008-07-26T18:53:00.002+02:00

Quote of the Day from Part 1 of the Triple Threat Leaving Party (Anders, Dom, Vaida)

"It tastes like Christmas!" - Anders, trying to explain to us what kind of herbs are used in making the Czech liquor, Becherovka.

One year later...

2008-07-22T19:20:00.003+02:00

He still wants to be my boyfriend. Who knew?!?!?

As a surprise he sent me a bouquet of beautiful Oriental Lillies. Only some of them had bloomed when they arrived on July 10th, so I've been enjoying them ever since. I had put them in water in my kitchen before we had left for Prague that weekend, and when we returned I opened the door and BOOM. THE SMELL OF FLOWERS. It was great :)

Thank you Matthew. I love you.

Upon reflection...

2008-07-22T18:45:00.004+02:00

I decided that ONE post for 2 WEEKS worth of touring is not enough. Therefore, I am devoting one whole post to the food we tried while there. Yes. That is very characteristic of me. I'm glad you've been paying attention.

This was my Ahi Tuna at Chez Marcel in Prague. It was SOOOOO GOOOOOOD. They also gave me hearts of palm, which are one of my favorite things.

In honor of July 4th, we went to a place called ALFA to get RIIIIIIBS. Look at this platter! They only came in 1/2 and full Kilos. Wow. There were lots of great sauces, potatoes, and bread too. We were all stuffed at the end. There were Americans, Danish, French, English, and Slovaks present. What a way to celebrate.

This is me buying some fresh veggies and fruits at the market that is right across from my house. The people are super nice, and were enthralled by the fact that we were American, and that I have been working here. They told me my Slovak pronunciation was good. Ultimate compliment, since it came from someone I didn't even buy goods from.

Preparing the food in my NEW KITCHEN!

At Hotel Sacher, looking forward to what was coming...

And we have!!! Wieners with house-made horseradish and dijon mustard. Spare me the jokes please. They were good, and we will leave it at that.

The famous Sacher Torte. Imitated, but never duplicated. It has been enjoyed by 4 generations of my family in that very spot :)

Gnocchi (self explanatory)

Grilled Goat Cheese at Mezzo Mezzo. The had run out of Bryndze...which is completely inexcusable since we were IN SLOVAKIA, and they could have just gone to TESCO. I may write a strongly worded email...especially because we were sitting there for 2 HOURS for a LUNCH. Ridiculous.

Satay. Tasty.

Picture Tour!

2008-07-22T17:39:00.007+02:00

So! I have finally come down from the amazing visit from my parents. I know I wrote about some things, but I didn't have a chance to go too in depth because they had the camera! Therefore, I have downloaded all of the photos, and we are back in business. Below is a brief overview of what we did. If I put in anymore, I think I would go over my limit, and you would have to scroll too much. If would like to inquire as to the bulk of the trip, here is the list of things we did/places we went in no particular order:

-Prague
-Vienna (twice)
-Bratislava
-Piestany (which already has a post, but more pics are now available)
-Eat
-Trains trains and more trains

So, let's begin!

Where I work!!

All of the presents that they brought for me. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS! TRISCUITS!!!!!!!!!

The "Lunch Crew" at Bagel Friday

This picture is for you, Uncle John.

The customary food pictures...

These we had at the Hotel Sacher (which happens to be famous for their chocolate torte...which we also had)

Food out of copper pots! It's a soup, and then an entree! The broth is the 1st course, and then there is a whole bunch of goodness at the bottom that you dish out. I wasn't there for that one unfortunately. Jon and Ed seem to be enjoying it though

Yum. Chocolate. That is all that needs to be said.

Good, cheap food in Prague, with accompanying beer. duh. and oh yeah, i eat like a european now! Take THAT international spy network!

Dad in front of Charles Bridge in Prague

The astrological clock!

Momma :)

Yurch (as my father would say)

Playing around on our way to the classical concert at the St Martin in the Wall church

The view of Devin Castle from the Danube River

photo op in Vienna

Mozart, with the appropriate landscaping

Thermia Palace!!!! We love Piestany :)

In front of the National Opera in Bratislava

Moment of Peace

2008-07-19T16:44:00.001+02:00

Lying on a blanket in the Presidential Gardens, looking up to the sun and the sapphire blue sky, and seeing the outline of a hawk gracefully gliding through the air

Summer time in Piešťany

2008-07-12T14:49:00.002+02:00

As I said in my post yesterday, my parents and I arrived in the spa town of Piešťany, greeted with colorful gardens, laughing children, and more amenities than anyone could ever wish for when they are away from home.

(me enjoying the comfort of a bed larger than twin size)

Piešťany is about 1 hour northeast of Bratislava, but the change in scenery is pretty stark. That may be because we are on a SPA ISLAND being treated to some of the most STELLAR SERVICE I have ever experienced. Upon arriving, we each receive keys to our room, which is on the 3rd floor overlooking the front courtyard. We unload our bags and head over to the IRMA spa complex where we are getting a free doctor's consultation and scheduling the 3 treatments included in our package. When we return to the room, we see that there is a bottle of wine, 2 bottles of sparkling water, an assorted goodie tray, and a personally signed letter from the hotel management. Oh right, I forgot to mention...I have the hookup with the main man of the Thermae Piešťany Spa complex. He is a member of the British Chamber of Commerce. I look to my parents, smirking, and say "Stick with me, kids. I'll take ya places". This obviously gets a laugh, since it is usually my father who is connected enough to get us personal recognition and treatment, and then there is my mother who is notorious for making friends wherever she goes.

Our experience thus far has been incredible. It is no wonder that there are more than 5 hotels in this one complex. The place is POPULAR, and for good reason! The staff is very obliging, the meals are put together nicely, the beds are comfortable, and....the treatments they offer are sinfully luxurious. As a part of our "Taste of Piešťany" package, we get 2 nights, half board (meals and stuff) and 3 treatments. A dip in the mineral bath, called the Mirror Pool, a massage, and a mud pack. We had the mud pack today :)

You walk into a room and sitdown, then a staff member knocks and politely asks you to strip and follow her to another bed, where she has rolled in two 5 gallon buckets of this dark brown, chocolaty looking mud, which she scoops out of the bucket and "slops" down on to the protective sheet. She smoothes it out and then tells you to park your keister right in it. Oh yes. It's warm too...and slippery :) So, you lay back into this wonderfully warm muck (muck doesn't do it justice, its like laying back into a dense frosting, enveloping yourself like a pastry) and she packs more around your hips, then wraps you up tight. For 20 minutes you are left to meditate, take a nap, and sweat like there is no tomorrow. I loved every minute of it! Then, you take a shower, trying to rinse off as much of yourself as you can without being able to see, and then she leads you back to the original room where you are left to soak in your experience while wrapped up tight like a burrito. Amazing.

After all that, my parents lounged by the pool and I got a haircut! It's been more than 6 months since my last one because I've been too nervous to get it done in Bratislava, for fear of a language barrier/international incident. I know that hair grows back, but the potential humiliation you face in the mean time is not something I'm willing to mess with. Needless to say, I am happy with the results. Just a trim to update my style, and get rid of the dead ends. That is what this trip is about...getting rid of the crap.

So, now my parents are back and its time for our 3:00 gelato break!!! I shall return tomorrow with more news.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles....

2008-07-11T21:43:00.004+02:00

So for the past week I have been graced by the presence of my wonderful parents, Stuart and Kimberly. I find myself with a brand new enthusiasm for life when I have visitors from the homeland. It is so exciting because I get to experience things right along with them. As an employee in Bratislava, I don't get to do the touristy program, so when people ask me questions, I often don't know the answer. I have been extremely lucky however, because my boss has been generous in giving me time off while my parents have been here. She even gave me Tuesday and Wednesday completely off...and isn't counting those days towards my total!

Here are some things that I have discovered since the 'rents have landed:

-Flowers are cheaper in daily markets
-Slovaks are uncharacteristically friendly when they notice you speak/teach people Slanglish
-Trains are some of the most stressful and stress free modes of travel
-Food tastes better when you order it a la carte
-Jokes are funnier when someone (who is a native english speaker) is around to understand them
-International incidents make for great stories
-Mineral baths are more fun when your Mom is young at heart
-Sharing breathtaking views with people you love makes them that much more magnificent

We have been all over the Central European region. They arrived on the 3rd, then on the 5th we went to Prague for 2 days, then on the 8th we went to Vienna (we took a boat up the Danube!!!), then on the 11th we arrived in Piestany (a spa town 1 hour NE from Bratislava) Each place has represented new and exciting sights and a different experience. I've been to all of the places where we toured before (except Piestany), but I feel as if I got to see a completely different side of each place because my parents were with me. They are interested in a different type of program than my travel buddies are, and while there is some overlap, the ground covered is mostly new terrain.

Some of my favorite time with them is spent just lounging in cafes and restaurants, talking and observing the world around us.

Funny Story:

So my parents and I go to a place called Umelka, which is right on the edge of the river on the Bratislava side. They have different kinds of live music during dinner hours, and someone told us that Country Music was on Thursday, so of course we went because my parents have this thing about line dancing. (they are really cute together) Umelka specializes in grilled items so we got ourselves some kielbasa, cold cuts, salad, bread, and BEER. So far, during the course of the visit we have tried: Zlaty Bazant, Plzen, Krusovice, Starobrno, Gambrinus, Pilsner Urquell, Saris, and Kozel. Quite the different kind of tour around Central Europe. So, back to the story.

We are enjoying our food, and the band, which has 4 guys in it singing Country songs in Slovak (who knew they had country music?) We are swaying to the beat, and then my parents decide that they want to try out some of the dances they learned in their classes back in the US. I of course encourage them because I love watching them. They're just so good together :) It reinforces my belief in true love. So, they dance a couple of dances, then return to the table beaming from ear to ear. We are getting ready to go when a middle aged couple approaches us. Their English is limited, but between my pitiful Slovak and their attempted English, we find an understanding. They are complimenting my parents on their dancing, and are asking them to write down the steps to the dances so that they can do it too! Only to Stuart and Kimberly would this happen. In general, Slovak people are reserved towards people they are not familiar with. By doing a couple of line dances in front of a crowd, suddenly my parents are friends with everyone! My parents take them out of the dance floor, and start instructing :) They even switch partners so that they can show the other how the step goes. At this point I am in hysterics from joy. This is one of the best bridging of international differences I have witnessed.

Afterwards there is thanks all around, and they ask how much longer we will be in town, and we regretfully inform them that Wednesday is the end of the road, and we will be in Piešťany for the weekend. They are sad, but have their steps written down, and then they join my parents for one more dance, showing us some of their own steps that they learned in classes in Bratislava. That was one of the best nights I've had in Slovakia thus far.

Time flies...

2008-07-09T18:35:00.002+02:00

WHEN YOUR PARENTS ARE IN SLOVAKIA!!!! I have been negligent..but the time that I have spent with them has been so refreshing! I love having visitors, because I get to explore the world around me.

In other news,

I HAVE INTERNET IN MY APARTMENT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

An (early) Independence Day abroad...

2008-07-01T16:38:00.004+02:00

So, last Saturday I went to AmCham's Independence Day party! I know it was a week early, but it was on the Castle grounds, so they might not have been able to swing it on the actual day. It was SO much fun. I was really proud of my heritage that day, watching them perform all of our usual festivities. I was actually able to get in for free because I offered to help with the set up!

Here is the old Western town that they set up. A couple of their Patron Members set up shop in these, handing out promo materials and providing games and things. It was a really cool concept.

Ha! As if! Although, that is almost what the prices are here in Slovakia ;).

This was my main duty...helping to put the signs on the cars for the parade! There were 18 different vehicles, plus a couple of motorcycles (Harleys of course). The drivers were really nice, and so excited to be receiving their candy to throw during the parade. There were classics, and even some modern cars, including a Jeep Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, an Escalade, and a red Corvette (please, don't refrain from breaking into song...you know you are a closet Prince lover)

The Excalibur :). It had Florida plates!!!

A row of hogs. I watched the guys ride in. Very noisy, and full of bravado. I guess that is what happens when you buy one of these things...instant machismo

The FIREWORKS! The company who AmCham contracted was called Pyra. How fitting! They did a great job on the display.

Uncle Sam on stilts! He spoke English and Slovak! Who knew that an American Patriot could be bilingual??

It was also Napoleon Day when I was helping pass out flyers and programs, so we could see this show going on right on the river! There were cannons and gun blasts, very dramatic. The best part though was the picture below. I have never seen anything like that...4 guys being taken away on ONE rope in a heliocopter...IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY! Daring, for sure. I don't even want to know what kind of permits you have to get.

Wow Dom, that is a BIG bite! He and I certainly enjoyed all of the food that was available. There were burgers, tacos, hotdogs, salads, fresh fruit, chili, mashed potatoes, grilled chicken...just to name some. I also indulged in some popcorn and cotton candy, something I haven't had in years!

Here are some photos from the parade! It was full of classic cars, majorettes, drummers, and CANDYYYYY!

Look out! It's the Po-lice! How they got an NYPD squad car, I'm not sure. I tend not to ask questions in these matters, because it might turn out badly for me.

Old School Fire Truck! It even had the tank of water in it! So cool :)

Any parade would not be complete without the Cheerleaders and Football team (we didn't have a band...too bad)

This one is for you Uncle Steve! It's the biggest John Deere combine I have ever seen. The guy who drove it was really nice, and Dom was asking all kinds of questions because his family is getting ready for the harvest back home soon.

This is our US Ambassador to Slovakia, Vincent Obsitnik. He was a good public speaker, and sounded much younger than he looks in all of his photos. He had on the cowboy hat, jeans, and boots to celebrate the day. He was born in Slovakia, but then moved to the States, so his appointment was seemingly appropriate. The jury is out as to whether people here are appreciating his efforts (from what I hear, his efforts include a lot of "family visits")

CAKE!! Just another form of temptation for me. It was delish too :). The frosting had banana and pineapple in it, I think. At the very least, it was very patriotic.

ABBA revival group! They kept saying weird things like "costumes, just like ABBA, 10 members, just like ABBA", but, there were only 9 people on stage. Sorry guys... but counting is pretty basic in all languages. The music was great though! I was even singing some of them in the shower this morning because I can't get them out of my head.

My friend Eva and me enjoying the festivities...right before the line dancing!!! Yes, I did it, and I dragged Dom up there with me. It was so fun! We did the Tahoe Kick. Anyone who wants to learn is welcome to ask ;).

Eva and Dom right before the FIREWORKS!!!! We staked out a spot on the blow up rock-climbing wall. Perfect for just laying back and enjoying the show.

Of course after the fireworks were over we had to revert back to childhood and play around. Do you know me at all?

The whole day was fabulous, and I even got to meet some more Americans! It was great to see how other people interpret our celebration style, and I think they combined all of the best parts!

Things I see...

2008-07-01T09:50:00.003+02:00

On my way to and from work!

Now that I live just outside of the City Centre (thank you Erin, THANK YOUUUUU), I can pretty much just walk to work everyday. There is a tram that I take if it is raining or too ridiculously hot (which has happened a couple of times), but either way I walk through what is known as St. Michaels Gate. Well, St. Michael had an accident.

It all started on Wednesday of last week. The weather had taken a strange turn from enjoyable to perilous. I was watching the Germany-Turkey football game, and when turning to my right to talk to one of my friends, saw a HUGE flash of lightning ripping through the sky. Uh oh. Now, I am not one to shy away from rain or thunderstorms. I know that they are cosmically cleansing, and quite entertaining. In my old house back in Ashtabula you could sit in our glassed in play room and watch the storms brew over Lake Erie. It was fascinating. At this point in the storm it is all lightning and thunder, because you can count at least 7-8 seconds between the flash and sound. So, we know the storm is still pretty far away. So, we enjoy it by standing on the terrace and taking in the sights (in retrospect...probably not safe. we were on the 8th floor, live and learn I guess!)

So, as the game ended and we were all thinking about shipping out, the sky opens up and unleashes some of the thickest sheets of rain I have ever seen. Oh crap. Luckily, I am wearing black and flip flops. I decided to wait it out a little while, because storms in Slovakia seem not to last for longer than 20-30 minutes. At 11:30 (gah!) a couple of us decided just to suck it up and brave it. The rain has certainly slowed, but there are gail force winds blowing through the city, picking up a whole bunch of debris, including people, and whisking it (them) into the nearest tree or construction crane.

We get to the bus stop mostly unscathed. It took some real work to get through those gusts, but we huddle ourselves while we wait for our bus. The 61 comes rolling in and we breathe a sigh of relief. For now.

At my stop, I get off the bus, bombarded again by wind and residual rain. I have a box of food in my hand and my purse around my shoulder. I get to the median and look to the right to see if I can continue. I see some cars stopped at a light, and I'm not sure how long I have to get across, but all I am thinking about is getting across the street so I don't have to stand in the ridiculousness for another second. Something you should know about Slovak city streets: they are badly paved and are not given proper foundations. Therefore, they have ridges in them where cars have driven over again and again. Suddenly, I realize that I am am in midair staring at the dark sky. I lost my footing in the river that was flowing through the street as I was trying to get over one of these ridges. I come crashing down onto the pavement, food flying in every direction. My brain panics screaming "GET OUT OF THE ROAD! GET OUT OF THE ROAD!" as I clamber up, not even checking around me to see if anything has dropped from my personal effects. I still have the box of food in my hand, at least what is left of it, sans lid. I'm not sure why, I think I just had a death grip on it from shock. I get out of the street and start trudging back toward my apartment, which is still a couple of blocks away. My whole back is wet, and I can feel a bruise forming. I try to regather myself so that I dont make the same mistake again, and throw away the remainder of the food into the nearest trash bin. (it was tragic, i really wanted to eat it later)

In times of crisis, or sheer physical stupidity, I tend to call people so that I can share my misfortune and they can laugh with me so that I don't feel so devastated that despite my years of athletic and dance mastery, I have trouble walking down the street. I call Matt because I know he is on his way to work, and explain to him what happened as I huff my way towards Belopotockeho. He laughs at me and says "What am I going to do with you?" I agree with him, I am a lost cause, and start to assure him that I'm not really hurt, but then look at my arm and say, "Oh wait, nevermind, there is blood" Nothing serious of course, but I had some battle wounds on my hand and forearm. (It's all pretty much healed now...except I still have a nasty looking bruise on my poor tushie!) I finally get back to my dormitory, where I tell my roommate the story, and while hysterically laughing she tells me that I need 24 hour pedestrian supervision. Thanks Erin, I love you too!

The next day I am on my way to work, and the sun is shining bright (figures). I get to St. Michaels Gate, only to realize that there is some SEVERE obstruction action going on. The picture tour will now begin.

Poor Michael! All he ever did was help try to offer his Ass-Kicking skills to God! A tree broke under the force of the winds and crashed into the statue, causing it to fall off of its pedestal and smash to the ground. Sad.

Later that day I was on my way to lunch, and when I crossed through the gate again, I saw this guy!!!!!

He is one of the coolest "One Man Band"s I have ever seen! I've crossed him a couple of times, but this was the first time I got a picture. The first time I passed he was playing the Godfather theme (yeah, Uncle John!) and this time it was Hotel California. Both classics! Hopefully, he will be around when visitors start to filter in (my parents, in 2 days!!!!! then Matthew in August) and the statue is rebuilt so that people can see what I see :)

Getting back to your Roots

2008-06-30T16:49:00.003+02:00

Pictures from the Swedish Chamber of Commerce's Midsummer Party!!! I went with my friend Anki, and we had a blast :) The celebration was held at PEGAS Pension & Restaurant which has its own riding school. The interesting thing was trying to actually GET to the place. There was a direct bus (supposedly) but as we rambled through the wilderness outside of the city, Anki and I began to wonder where exactly this ride was taking us. Luckily, we finally saw the signs and breathed a sigh of relief. We wouldn't be lost in the middle of nowhere in Southwest Slovakia.

When we walked in we were both amazing, at the scenery and the event! PEGAS is located in the perfect area, surrounded by fields and rolling hills. Everything was green and gorgeous. Through the gates, you could see the May-pole that the Swedish Chamber had set up, and 2 large tents that held the seating and food areas. We saw lots of Typical Swedish cuisine like Herring, meatballs and potatoes (which Anki was ecstatic about), and even the less traditional...2 chocolate fountains. (don't worry Aunt Janet, I didn't dive into the bacteria breeding ground)

The Trencin Children's Choir also performed for us, and did some traditional Swedish song and dance routines. It was so cute watching them, and Anki taught me how to sing along to a couple :). I have to admit, my mouth doesn't make all of those sounds...but I'm working on it.

Below you can see some of the pictures that we took! At the bottom, you can see how good of friends we made with the staff :) They had these really cool cocktail menus (the whole event was sponsored by Absolut) like Raspberry Champagne Mojito. He even muddled!!!

All in all, a very successful event that included perfect weather, and the perfect company! I'm definitely ooking forward to the rest of the summer.

If that's movin' up then I'm.......

2008-06-24T18:14:00.005+02:00

MOVING OUT!

I know you all love a little Billy Joel

I moved into a new place this week! My friend Erin from Australia was kind enough to open up her new home to me. She needed a roommate, I needed a new place to live. When I got back from Dunajska Streda, she picked me up from the bus station and me drove to my dorm. I hadn't packed anything yet because I thought I wouldn't be moving out until the end of the week, but she called me on Saturday to see if i was available, and I couldn't help but say yes!

We drove to my dorm, and she immediately realized why i was so eager to move out.

This was my old life:

We packed up everything, got it over to her house in 2 trips (she has a car, and was an angel in letting me use it!!). We then dropped everything off and headed to IKEA to get some items that we needed, and then to Aupark to get my keys made and to do some grocery shopping.

Her place is MUCH closer to the city centre, so it only takes me 15-20 minutes to get to work now by foot, or 10 minutes if I take a tram for part of the way.

Here is us trying to put together our clothing racks :) IKEA instructions are hilarious. Luckily, she had a screwdriver for us to use.

While I unpacked everything Erin made us dinner! I kept asking her if I could help, but she insisted. She made seasoned chicken breast with sauteed mushrooms and onions, and a fresh salad with balsamic and olive oil. Perfect after the long day I had.

I am so happy in my new place. There is so much room everywhere! The little conveniences you take for granted just come rushing back. The only thing I have to work on now is getting internet service, or a broadband card :).

Here is my new address:

Belopotockého 3, Izba 1
811 05 Bratislava
Slovak Republic

Thank you to everyone to listened to my ranting about the closed quarters of my former living situation. I love and adore you, and hope that I did not drive you insane.

"Little Hungary"

2008-06-24T16:27:00.004+02:00

This past weekend I went to a town called Dunajska Streda, which is about 1 hour south of Bratislava. I call it "Little Hungary" because that is exactly what it is...everyone there is Hungarian. My friend Peter Hajdu (Peti) actually grew up in this town, and he was the one who suggested that we all go for one weekend. There were around 11 of us who made the trek on Saturday afternoon, to celebrate a whole score of events including the EuroCup, Peti's and my birthday, and Rob's departure. The weather was beautiful, and we planned to go to a Thermal spa while in the city, so the whole thing was perfect. I was really jonesing for some sunlight, and made sure to keep the SPF 15 on at all times to prevent some serious discomfort.

Here is us on the bus! There was no airconditioning, but were able to stand it with the windows open until it was our turn to get off. The next hardest part was walking all the way to the Spa, which took about 20 minutes or so. Luckily we had Peti there to lead us. We like to call him Jesus, because of his beard, so I joked that the Shepard was leading the flock to paradise.

Here we are in our cabin! We were surprised by Peti's family who made us a RIDICULOUS amount of food. This includes Cherry soup, pastries, cakes, fresh cherries, goulash, chicken, and Lángos (flatbread...SO DELISH). You can see some of the food below....it will make your mouth water.

This is the inside of our cabin where we stayed. It had 4 bedrooms with bathrooms inside, so that was really convenient in terms of people needed to take showers. The showers were funny. If you have ever lived on a boat of some sort, you know what I am talking about. The shower head is attached by a tube to the faucet, and then you just have to flip the switch according to whether you want to wash your hands or your hair.

The lake that was right outside of the cabin. The management advised us not to swim in it, but it just looked so inviting! I didn't do it personally, but some of my friends did. I didn't hear any complaints about leeches or gastric trouble.

Peti and Tommaso!

Sexy Nadja :) My weekend roomie. She brought her sleeping eye cover to the pool with her...im sure that would have made for a fabulous tan line :)

Turecky Muz!!! BESIKTAS!!!!!! He was on a high all weekend because of how amazing his Turkish football team has played in the EuroCup 2008. Well, at least they have been winning ;) However, the whole time they have only lead the series for a total of 9 minutes or something...

The whole weekend was incredible. I got to break in my Dora the Explorer ball!!! Each pool was a different temperature, and one of them had jets and spouts that massaged you. I got a little bit of color :) It felt good to be in the water again, just playing around. I even got thrown in! It took 4 of the guys to do it, but they eventually succeeded. On Saturday night we watched the Holland-Russia game and Peti's friends came to meet us, which doubled the size of our group. After the game we started a bonfire close to our cabin, and brought out the guitar to sing some songs. At around 2am, i decided i was too tired to keep my eyes open anymore, so i turned in. I guess i missed a naked swim. Not too upset about that ;).

The next day we went back to the pool! It was so incredible. Unfortunately, I had to leave at around 2...which will be the subject of my next post :)

Supplementary Photos: Birthday

2008-06-24T16:13:00.004+02:00

Here is the group of us at Bar 17's in the centre. As you can see, we dominated the outdoor seating section.

Me getting my gifts! It was completely unexpected (even though I've help to organize presents for everyone else on their birthdays) I love everything! You guys are the best!

My silly Danish friend Anders. I didn't know he was going to make a funny face...otherwise we could have engaged in a contest (which i would have won of course)

Please Help.

2008-06-24T10:28:00.001+02:00

Iceland has reinstated whaling. Please use your voice to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Times, they are a Changin...

2008-06-23T10:02:00.001+02:00

So, this past week as been FULL of exciting events. Pictures and details to come...:)

23 years, no end in sight.

2008-06-19T09:37:00.003+02:00

June 18, 1985...the day I was brought into this world (after how many hours of labor mom?)

I have been very lucky to have a birthday in the summer. This means that my day of celebration usually corresponds with perfect weather and travelling. For example:

#13: Obscure town, France
#16: Paris, France
#18: San Gimignano, Italy
#20: London, England
#21: Washington, DC
#22: Myrtle Beach, SC
#23: Bratislava, Slovakia

This year's birthday was really fantastic. Not only did I get messages from like 50 people through facebook, I also received some calls, Skypes, and emails :). I had a great lunch with two of my friends while sitting in the sunshine, and then met a group of people after work to celebrate at a place called Bar 17's in the city center. Sometimes it can be difficult to celebrate in a foreign land because you are somewhat detached from life as you knew it, but my friends here proved that I have a real family here is Bratislava. The group started out with 5 of us crowded around one table, then progressively became bigger and bigger until we had scared off any other potential customers and procured another 4 tables. I felt special :). They also bought me presents, which I of course didn't expect, because I barely told anyone it was my birthday! I am a low maintenance person when it comes to that sort of stuff, and didn't want them to go through any trouble. I received some mango lip balm, flowers, an etched wooden heart with Devin Castle, and.....

A DORA THE EXPLORER BALLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So appropriate :). Bienvenido a Bratislava!! I mean, let's get serious for a second, I don't speak Spanish (yo quiero les hottos boyos?...mui guapo?) but Dora experiences something new everyday with her best friend Boots. I kind of do that too, minus the monkey and plus some amazing international friends. The card almost made me cry.

After taking over the patio seating in the middle of Hviezdoslavovo námestie (try pronouncing it, I dare you) we decided to go see the Sex & the City Movie, because the theater is cheaper on Wednesdays. When we got there to buy the tickets, they were handing out whitening toothpaste! I guess it was some sort of promo? It was funny though, because I had just finished explaining to some of the group why my teeth reflect light when I smile. (yes, they really asked...I have also been asked if they are fake) So, I guess everyone won yesterday! Entertainment, and dental hygeine! The movie was good...interesting...and LONG. We were in the theater from 9:30 until 12:15, meaning that I completely missed any bus that I could have taken back to Vlčie hrdlo. Oh well, I had plenty of Slovak friends around who were nice enough to call a cab for me :) (its cheaper if you call them, otherwise they charge the living daylights out of you) That is actually how I got my new "nickname". The last time I tried to call a cab, the woman kept yelling "MENO! MENO!", meaning she wanted the name of the person for the cab. I kept repeating my first and last name, but I guess she didn't believe that was someone's actual name...or something. Here is Slovakia, people's names are shortened into a cute form, sort of like how Elise goes to Lisie in the States. Here, they substitute in a "K"...so Katerina becomes Katka. So, to avoid any confusion as to whether my name was genuine, my new pseudonym is Eliška (pronounced Eeleeshka). I like it. Obviously not as much as I love "Punkie Pie", "Lisie Cakes", etc as bestowed on me by my parents, but it is regionally acceptable.

I made it home only to realize that I hadn't prepared anything for my English class the next day, which starts at 7:30am, meaning I have to leave my place at 6:45 or so to catch the bus. YIKES.

I came up with a plan in the shower the next morning (today). I knew that I had to bring in some sort of treat for them as a post bday celebration, and then I also brought in the book I was reading, A Year in the Merde, and copied the part where he goes out to the country to look at un petit maison pour les weekends. It's fun for them to read something that is a little less than official, and a bit more adult friendly. I know they are mastering the language when they laugh before I laugh at the jokes :).

So now, it is back to work! Tonight, Anki and I are going to the Swedish Chamber of Commerce's Midsummer Party, so that should prove to be an interesting post for tomorrow!

Love to all of you who sent me warm Birthday wishes yesterday. It means the world to me that you remember, and take the time out of your busy lives to share a special occassion with me.

I WANT!

2008-06-16T17:46:00.001+02:00

If you're into extreme water sports...

CRUNCH ("Can we serve this?")

2008-06-16T11:53:00.003+02:00

On Sunday Sherisse and I decided that we wanted to test our culinary prowess. She had a tub of mascarpone cheese that needed to be used pronto, and I was hungry. I did some searching on the internet for uses of large amounts of mascarpone (low maintenance of course...we are poor and don't have really cool kitchen accessories) and found a version of a "breakfast pizza". It would need some tweaking to accomodate ingredients that we could find, but looked promising. We didn't know if we would be able to find ready-made pizza dough in TESCO, and neither of us really wanted to walk in the rain to find out, so we found an alternate recipe for home-made dough and got to work!

I nominated myself to start the dough while she wrote down the rest of the recipe. Sticky is the best word to describe it. Very simple of course...Flour, Baking Soda, Salt and water (plus I added some cinnamon sugar to make it more of a treat pizza) Then I beat the crap out of it and tried to spread it out because we didn't have a rolling pin (we're poor...remember? and we didn't think that using one of the old wine bottles would be effective). Once it submitted to my violence (who ever said it wasn't the answer?), we laid it out on a wax papered cookie sheet, and then went to dinner. In retrospect, we probably should have covered it with a wet towel, or just baked it right then and there. You bake, you learn.

Dinner was fun, we went to Trafená HUS, and I had picante risotto with chicken and sun-dried tomatoes. It was sort of the "final goodbye" for Juste :(. We will miss her terribly. After dinner, we invited everyone back to Chez Sherisee et le Dane for some (what we hoped would be) dessert.

The dough had dried out a little, but we figured it would be ok. We brushed it with butter and stuck it in the oven.

As those of you who have baking experience probably know, the dough came out a bit "crispy"...aka: kind of like biscotti. NEVER FEAR! We still had to spread on the mascarpone...which we hoped would soften it a bit, and the raisins, which would add an extra flavor element, and sprinkled on some more cinnamon sugar. Then I had the idea of adding ice cream, which would further distract people from the crunching noise going on in their mouths as they ate.

To our surprise however, everyone liked it! They obviously made comments, but the whole thing was gone by the time we left! I apologize for not having any pictures, maybe the next round...when we're smarter, and have added more fruit!

Garden Party (aka: shiver fest 2008)

2008-06-15T11:58:00.002+02:00

On Friday the Informal Association of Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Slovakia (I know, longest name EVER) hosted its 7th Annual Garden Party in the Presidential Palace Gardens. The day promised to be a lot of fun, except that the morning of the event, the Presidential Palace was opened to the public (picture unsupervised children running around while people are trying to put up tents and set up catering), and the weather looked a bit ominous. Luckily, it didn't rain, but the wind was formidable and the temperature was less than desirable.

Still, I trudged through my 8 hour work day (nope, she didn't let me out early) in hopes that tonight I would meet Ambassadors, congratulate the First Lady on the success of her fundraising campaign, and eat fantastic food.

One of those things happened. My favorite. If you've been following my blog, you know which one that is.

So, after work, I headed to my friend Sherisse's apartment to get ready. It was really nice to have "girly" time, just like when I was at Cornell and the girls and I would get ready for formals together. Put on some music, make a cocktail, and let's get to primping! My old apartment was perfect for this because the bathroom was HUGE, and had a large (almost full body) mirror and plenty of counter space. Slovakia doesn't put as much emphasis on checking your reflection before you leave the house to make sure that you look like you got dressed with the lights on. Oh well. I had the eyes of my friends!

After Sherisse and I did each other's hair (the first time I had done anything besides blow dry it!), we progressed to make up, and then getting dressed!

That's when the first of our visitors showed up. I was lucky enough to be able to invite a couple of my friends, mostly because they worked for companies that were members of one of the Foreign Chambers. All together, it was Sherisse, Justina, Basack, Dominic, Bondi, Kevin, Maxime, Anders, Sarp, and MOI. Quite the band of misfits. We do clean up well, however, as you can see from the photos below.

After toasting with some of Slovakia's finest sparkling wine, Hubert deLUXE (for those of you from Cornell, think Andre, only better and cheaper) We headed out into the early evening for some dancing, auctioning, and of course...eating. The caterer for the event was Red Monkey Group, which I had actually suggested when I overheard that the ladies were looking for someone to do the meal. They are a branch organization for a couple of the best restaurants in town, so I figured it would be a safe option. If there is something I love, it is researching for event planning. I got a taste of it when I was the Social Chair for KD with Melanie Tu our sophomore year...and now I keep going back for more.

Here is part of the buffet that was out on our way to the cocktail station (they had Mojitos!) Asparagus wrapped in prosciutto, fresh mozzarella and tomatoes, slices of cucumber hollowed out with fresh tuna and chili powder, and new potatoes filled with cream cheese and caviar. All very tasty. (as was the mojito)

These are the plates we got from the main course buffet table. I have to say, the staff did a great job of getting pans in and out in time for the guests so that no one had to go without one particular item. Some of the things I had:

Tiger Shrimp roasted with cherry tomatoes and citrus butter
Salmon wrapped in bacon with spinach gnocchi
Marinated white asparagus
Caramel drizzled cream puffs with vanilla cream
Panna Cotta with lychee
Apple Strudel with English cream

...there were more things, but translating them is difficult :)

This is the damage afterward....

All in all it was a great night, other than the fact that I had to keep seeking shelter from the cold in the arms of my friends. I had a coat on, but it wasn't enough to stop the wind from piercing my soul. However, we stayed all the way through the Charity Auction, and even got to watch the BCC SR's member, Trevor David Smith (a famous singer) sing some songs. I was able to coax Sarp to dance with me :).

We'd had enough after that, and ordered some taxis to take us to Las Vegas Club, which was conveniently right by my bus stop to get home. We danced to 70's, 80's and 90's music (including Kylie Minogue's "Lucky"...I didn't know she was so cute back then!) and then went home. I was beat, and happy to get out of my dress and sleep.

Let me out!!!! (pwease?)

2008-06-11T09:59:00.004+02:00

On Saturday we celebrated my friend's Justina and Mattia's farewell. (We celebrated Friday too, until 5am, but I guess we can focus on other things) We decided to have a BBQ up in Koliba, which is essentially the Slovak equivalent of going up to the Metropark or to the mountains, taking over an area big enough for 20 people, and starting up a decent fire. I was unsure of the skills of my pyro counterparts, so I packed other forms of food that did not require roasting. This was very smart.

The area that we were in was beautiful. The sun was shining, and there was just enough shade to escape the heat if necessary. We unpacked our brigade right next to a small stream and got busy trying to burn stuff. The only problem was that it had been raining earlier in the week, so most of the usually lightable twigs and leaves were still a bit damp. Never fear! We had someone's guidebook to torch! (that was NOT my idea) So, as the boys worked on the fire, we girls unpacked our non-grillable items and got to munching :).

They did finally get a decent fire going, and suddenly sausages, chicken wings, and steaks were being either grilled, smoked, or burned on top of an aluminum plate that the Mattia had brought. He was in charge of the grilling apparatus...and that is what he provided. A disposable broiling sheet, and some charcoal. Bravo! Next time, maybe the AMERICAN should be in charge of grilling items, since it is kind of a historical past time for us...I'll let the Italian be in charge of antipasti. (Mattia, if you're reading this, everything was fantastic!!!!! :))

The day was super. There was music, laughter, food, and even a playground! Friends took loads of pictures, so I'll try to steal some of those in the near future.

After the BBQ, we all went back for a brief recharge, and then went to a bar called Za Operou (which literally means, behind the Opera) to watch the UEFA Euro Cup! The game we were interested in was Portugal v. Turkey. Portugal won 2-0. We then planned to move on to a places called Harley's, or Harley Davidson's. Yes, the rip roaring, crotch rocket riding bunch has infiltrated Central Europe. The difficulty was trying to figure out how we were all going to get there. The bus routes were a bit confusing, and there were only so many cars. Luckily, I was able to snag a spot riding in a car with Sarp's friend who works for the Turkish Embassy. She is the nicest person, and has been working as a diplomat in Bratislava for 1 year now. They give her a company car, so she drives a really nice BMV suv. Since there were so many of us, I volunteered to ride in the back :)

It was actually a really smooth ride, and they fed me Toffifees, which are these delicious caramel, chocolate and hazelnut candies, so I was ok :) It brought back memories from when we used to pile 8 girls into a VW Super Golf in order to get to swim practice. Contortion was our specialty.

Harley's was a really cool place. The majority of it was outside, and they had multiple bar areas, good music, and an elevated dance floor. We were able to take over a whole area of picnic tables so that we could give Juste and Mattia thier gifts :) I won't reveal what they are, because it may be sort of embarrassing for them, and it's kind of an inside joke anyway. SORRY!

More to come on the play-by-play action of my life!

Visas and Permits: A Transnational Experiment

Reinforcement

No one is invincible

Finish Line...

Oh look!

Being French = Love of Drama

Further Culinary Adventures

Celebrating the Season...

Paris, je t'aime.

Till we meet again...

Snow is Snow...

I NEED THIS!

Time for Winter!

I don't Overreact...

Laughing in the streets

In remembrance...

Le cite de lumiere! (crap i forget how to spell in french)

Slovakia: Davy Crocket Style

Perfect Timing

Escape!

*Sigh*

International Moments

Keeping with the trend

Vote for a Discount

The "Spirit" of the Season!

Further culinary adventures...

Realizations of the Day

Sushi in the City

When your job pays off!

I couldn't be there but...

Since we started...

Use your knowledge...

Public Service Announcement

Quote of the Day

GET OUT AND VOTE!

Moment of Peace

Run Away!!!!!

NEWSFLASH

And we shed what was left...

Picture Tour!

Buried.

Moment of Peace

We have more fun

Mmmm. Food.

Updates

Through the Wilderness

Headline News?

The People We Love

Family Ties

Diplomatic Ties

Because I can.

Why is it that...?

Turicke Muž

Window to the Future

Moment of Peace (Straight from Turkey!)

Be vewy vewy qwiet

Up, Up & Away!

MoP #2

Moment of Peace

Back to Earth...

MIA

Moment of Peace

What's wrong with this picture?

Why is it that...?

Pricey Living...

Mayhem continued...

Colorful Explatives

Moment of Peace

Why is it that...?

Going to the Dark Side...

Sand Withdrawl...

Moment of Peace

One year later...

Upon reflection...

Picture Tour!

Moment of Peace

Summer time in Piešťany

Planes, Trains and Automobiles....

Time flies...

An (early) Independence Day abroad...

Sigh