07 Dezember 2006
Santa Claus is a devil?
Well, at least after Mikuláš (6th December) I really doubt if what I grew up with is really right. Being confronted with wired 12 Santa Clauses last year in Iceland I thought that might just be because of the island of nowhere. They might have had to come up with something and it happened to be 12 of them. But this year new traditions and it does not get better. Last year it was a Christmas cat that ate children which did not wear fresh clothes (honestly, that is Iceland J ) this year they have angle and devil walking hand in hand. I tried to catch some of them…
Last weekend I headed to my first tram-party. A huge lot of fun. 40 party people in a tram just chatting, drinking and being silly. The greatest way to be brought to your party destination! And on Saturday we went to the Old Town Square to celebrate the official electricification of the Prague Christmas tree. Actually we went just for a concert and were suddenly stuck between thousand of people that listened to someone on the stage speaking Czech for almost half an hour. Of course we would have left but honestly, we were stuck. And now have a look why all the people gathered (well, and we :-)) )
As nice as the sight was as mad were the people getting out of this place again. Pushing, pulling, squeezing, children crying and no way to find a way out. I was really just one single piece of this crowd and it took about 15 minutes to be able to breath again…
On Tuesday I took a day of and joined the AIESEC global village. They invite all foreigners to present their country with music, info material and national food. So please tell me, what is typical German food (that is not only from one region). It was a lot fun with people from exciting countries like Cameroon, Ukraine and India (among others) It somehow reflects all the people I get to know within my stay here in Prague…
But tomorrow I am gonna be in Rostock for a night, in Schwerin for meeting and in Hamburg for the next night. So I am getting back to my roots…
Take care
Last weekend I headed to my first tram-party. A huge lot of fun. 40 party people in a tram just chatting, drinking and being silly. The greatest way to be brought to your party destination! And on Saturday we went to the Old Town Square to celebrate the official electricification of the Prague Christmas tree. Actually we went just for a concert and were suddenly stuck between thousand of people that listened to someone on the stage speaking Czech for almost half an hour. Of course we would have left but honestly, we were stuck. And now have a look why all the people gathered (well, and we :-)) )
As nice as the sight was as mad were the people getting out of this place again. Pushing, pulling, squeezing, children crying and no way to find a way out. I was really just one single piece of this crowd and it took about 15 minutes to be able to breath again…
On Tuesday I took a day of and joined the AIESEC global village. They invite all foreigners to present their country with music, info material and national food. So please tell me, what is typical German food (that is not only from one region). It was a lot fun with people from exciting countries like Cameroon, Ukraine and India (among others) It somehow reflects all the people I get to know within my stay here in Prague…
But tomorrow I am gonna be in Rostock for a night, in Schwerin for meeting and in Hamburg for the next night. So I am getting back to my roots…
Take care
28 November 2006
8 months just gone...
8 months??? He just did not write for 2 weeks. Well guys, that was because of the conference http://www.orthodontics-ios.eu/ I was organizing for 8 months. And last weekend it finally took place. A very stressful time before and meanwhile (right now treating my second cold sore in two weeks) but it was really good. The doctors where happy and the speakers enjoyed their participation. So my main goals are very much fulfilled. But it also much worse planned than I thought. There is space for improvement next time J The part I enjoyed most was the Friday evening Gala-Party. We celebrated in a monastery and it looked gorgeous!!! That was really the best choice I could have taken for this event. The food was delicious, the band was wonderful and the interior of the Theresian Hall was breathtaking. Just see some pictures…
Well, this event is finished and already the next ones are waiting for me. The IOS 2007 as well as another conference only for dentists as well as some smaller seminars are waiting to be perfectionized.
But mainly my thesis should be waiting for me. 10. December is the day on which I will start officially. So in summer I will have to be done! And finally I wont be a student anymore. Looking a lot forward to that!!!
This week I will just be calm and relax, gather some more energy an enjoy life. And slowly I have to think about Christmas presents. The atmosphere is spreading all over the city now and in contrast to last year I really feel it is coming. Yesterday I tried for the second time in my life roasted chestnuts. Last time was in Munich and I did not really like them very much. But after Piros told me about 15 times that she LOVES them I gave it another try and wow, I really like them. So I am looking forward to stroll along the Christmas market, enjoy Svarak (hot wine) and no Mutzen but some typical Czech sweets. By the way, did you now that for Saint Nicolas day (6. December) here a Santa Claus, an angle and a devil are coming? I didn’t so I was wondered seeing chocolate devils next to chocolate Santa Clauses. I will try to solve this mystery…
Take care
Well, this event is finished and already the next ones are waiting for me. The IOS 2007 as well as another conference only for dentists as well as some smaller seminars are waiting to be perfectionized.But mainly my thesis should be waiting for me. 10. December is the day on which I will start officially. So in summer I will have to be done! And finally I wont be a student anymore. Looking a lot forward to that!!!
This week I will just be calm and relax, gather some more energy an enjoy life. And slowly I have to think about Christmas presents. The atmosphere is spreading all over the city now and in contrast to last year I really feel it is coming. Yesterday I tried for the second time in my life roasted chestnuts. Last time was in Munich and I did not really like them very much. But after Piros told me about 15 times that she LOVES them I gave it another try and wow, I really like them. So I am looking forward to stroll along the Christmas market, enjoy Svarak (hot wine) and no Mutzen but some typical Czech sweets. By the way, did you now that for Saint Nicolas day (6. December) here a Santa Claus, an angle and a devil are coming? I didn’t so I was wondered seeing chocolate devils next to chocolate Santa Clauses. I will try to solve this mystery…
Take care
14 November 2006
Carlsbad - Karlovy Vary - Karlsbad
Did you guys know that I wanted to start my working-abroad-period with a traineeship in the famous Grandhotel Pupp in Karlovy Vary? http://www.pupp.cz/ But (un)fortunately my application was not successful. That is why I ended up in Prague...
And more than 8 months after I arrived I finally made it to a trip to the famous spa-town. Eight of us were supposed to head there by bus. But eight o'clock in the morning was only late enough for 7 coz when I called my dear friend from Poland and asked where he is, he answered "mmmmffffpppppp, innnn baaad...." [in bed]But luckily I was able to sell his ticket for the bus just before we left. Very energetic and full of excitement (well, as much as you can have on a Saturday morning) we were looking forward to the day...
And more than 8 months after I arrived I finally made it to a trip to the famous spa-town. Eight of us were supposed to head there by bus. But eight o'clock in the morning was only late enough for 7 coz when I called my dear friend from Poland and asked where he is, he answered "mmmmffffpppppp, innnn baaad...." [in bed]But luckily I was able to sell his ticket for the bus just before we left. Very energetic and full of excitement (well, as much as you can have on a Saturday morning) we were looking forward to the day...
Just arrived we discovered that it was really cold, but smart me… I was prepared with scarf and hat and even gloves! Okay, I looked stupid, but I was warm :-)
We ran a little around, heard a lot German and Russian and saw some nice sights.
But basically we waited for our dear Polish friend L. to get the next bus and arrive as well. Finally all 8 together it was already time for lunch. What an exciting search for a place you can get some hot wine. We finally –honestly: FINALLY - ended up in an overpriced touristy place where none of us was really happy.The only thing you can do in Karlovy Vary (if you do not use the spas) walk along the river, look at actually pretty nice old buildings, and end up at the Grandhotel Pupp from where a funicular lifts you to the top of one the hills that surround the town. And that is actually what I liked most. The view on the landscape was impressive. Due to the season the trees where lightening in all different colors. Unfortunately it was foggy and raining so the pics don’t really look too good. But I enjoyed pretty a lot there.
After we did not find a spot inside the only restaurant on the top of the hill and no one wanted to sell us any Svařak (Glühwein, hot wine) outside we walked down the hill. Steep, slippery and funny we arrived back in town and headed for a bar with more reasonable prices. We found a very cozy place with a waiter that was one-of-a-kind.
I tried my first Grog ever and since we were in Karlsbad we had to have at least one Becherovka. And this waiter could not see only three of us drinking it so he brought another mini-round for the rest… 
And after this it was already time to go to the station, take a bus home and prepare for the night. Which ended up as a party at Anděl though we actually only wanted to meet and leave from there. But some hot wine made us stay there for longer somehow…
I tried my first Grog ever and since we were in Karlsbad we had to have at least one Becherovka. And this waiter could not see only three of us drinking it so he brought another mini-round for the rest… 
And after this it was already time to go to the station, take a bus home and prepare for the night. Which ended up as a party at Anděl though we actually only wanted to meet and leave from there. But some hot wine made us stay there for longer somehow…
13 November 2006
Oslo in a weekend
Hi Dears,
Exactly 7 days ago I landed back in Prague after a short visit in Oslo. Already the flight from Prague was an exciting beginning. Not the flight itself though, but when I accidentially looked out of the window I saw an island with a shape that you even figure out what it is. Fischland Darß and not far away I could have a look in Rostock. Little funny somehow, so small.
But what did I want in Oslo actually? A very good and close friend of mine had house warming, but actually I only wanted to visit her. But not a bad start for the weekend though to arrive and have a party after 2 hours already... :-)
And since Oslo is know to be f***ing expensive M. asked me to bring a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Among also a bottle of Sambuca. Okay I thought, maybe i already should get it in Prague so I will for sure ahve it with me... But no, neither Tesco hyperstore (no, not superstore, even very hyper hyper) nor Albert the supermaket around my corner had it. Non of the countless shops in the duty free area in Prague could help me. So my last hope was the duty free in the arrival area of Oslo airport. And finally I found a whole bottle of it :-) BUT!!! Stupid Christian could not find his ticket anymore *damneddamneddamned* So no Sambuca for M. ...
Anyway she still welcomed me with a hug :-) And tried to disapear in the bathroom to prepare for the party. But she was so worried and concerned about preparations that she had to interupt a friend of hers and me every five minutes. The party was very nice 37 ppl on 37 sqm. Very cozy but not as packed as you might imagine. (BTW you might also discover that I suddenly have more pictures here... have a cam now BUT of course I forget it every here and then coz I am just not used to it. So no party pics except a few signatures of guests that left the place...)
So next day was some sightseeing on the schedule. But I have to admit in advance, I think European cities are boring. Somehow all very much the same. Cars and streets, billboards and advertisment screens and shops and people. And I think just the last makes the difference. But still let me share some pics I liked a little more (coz there are indeed some :-) )
Exactly 7 days ago I landed back in Prague after a short visit in Oslo. Already the flight from Prague was an exciting beginning. Not the flight itself though, but when I accidentially looked out of the window I saw an island with a shape that you even figure out what it is. Fischland Darß and not far away I could have a look in Rostock. Little funny somehow, so small.
But what did I want in Oslo actually? A very good and close friend of mine had house warming, but actually I only wanted to visit her. But not a bad start for the weekend though to arrive and have a party after 2 hours already... :-)
And since Oslo is know to be f***ing expensive M. asked me to bring a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Among also a bottle of Sambuca. Okay I thought, maybe i already should get it in Prague so I will for sure ahve it with me... But no, neither Tesco hyperstore (no, not superstore, even very hyper hyper) nor Albert the supermaket around my corner had it. Non of the countless shops in the duty free area in Prague could help me. So my last hope was the duty free in the arrival area of Oslo airport. And finally I found a whole bottle of it :-) BUT!!! Stupid Christian could not find his ticket anymore *damneddamneddamned* So no Sambuca for M. ...
Anyway she still welcomed me with a hug :-) And tried to disapear in the bathroom to prepare for the party. But she was so worried and concerned about preparations that she had to interupt a friend of hers and me every five minutes. The party was very nice 37 ppl on 37 sqm. Very cozy but not as packed as you might imagine. (BTW you might also discover that I suddenly have more pictures here... have a cam now BUT of course I forget it every here and then coz I am just not used to it. So no party pics except a few signatures of guests that left the place...)So next day was some sightseeing on the schedule. But I have to admit in advance, I think European cities are boring. Somehow all very much the same. Cars and streets, billboards and advertisment screens and shops and people. And I think just the last makes the difference. But still let me share some pics I liked a little more (coz there are indeed some :-) )
So enjoy and see me in front of the castle and enjoying the view you can see on the second pic. And after a stroll to the harbor we headed to a little fortress that looked actually very beautiful with a sunset on the sea and light up itself. Was very cozy atmosphere though it was freezing cold. And after such a long walk we were very much up for some decent food. Luckily M. knows Oslo already a little and went with me to a very very cozy place... Oh no, she went with me to the corner where she thought the place would be... hehe, thought it would be... But we headed to fancy andnot less cozy Burger Restaurant instead and enjoyed salamon and blue cheese burger. Yammy!!!
And since it was Saturday evening we had to go out for a beer. The prices are actually not as bad as people always say. The bar where we met a friend fo hers was very okay and I just payed slightly more than in Prague... (yes I know, even though the amount of crowns is the same there is a slightly different exchange rate, but it feels smoehow good not to spend more crowns than you are used to... :-) )
And the beer was very intersting. It was supposed to be typical Norwegian. Well, seems they like beer with a cucmber taste over there...
But only a short stay there and already back to bed at 2 a.m. the Sunday welcomed me with rain, rain and rain. So we just started with some chatting and no plans to go out until lunch where we were invited by a very good friend of hers to yammy yammy sushi :-))) Happy and with a full stomach we finally dared to go to the world famous park called... aeehhhhh, well world famous park with these wonderful statues and figures. Seems like hundrets of them. Most famous is a little baby that is screaming. I really dont want to miss this visit but somehow I would not have been sad not having been gone there... But really, isnt it cute!!!???
Finally we ended up in the place she wanted to show me the day before. And it was really cozy and nice. We ordered a lot of small dishes in arabic style but of course the cheese I wanted to have was out already... Was very nice until I wanted to pay. Non of my credti and debit cards worked there, nor M.'s ones. So I think it was the machine that was broken. Well, until the couple next us paid with card...
So what did this weekend tell me? Cities are not my favourite anymore as long as there are not some ppl I like. Norway is a country I want to see from the countrieside as well. And finally, it was soooooo good to see M. again!
So guys and Karlovy Vary (C)Karlsbad was my next trip you will hear about tomorrow...
And since it was Saturday evening we had to go out for a beer. The prices are actually not as bad as people always say. The bar where we met a friend fo hers was very okay and I just payed slightly more than in Prague... (yes I know, even though the amount of crowns is the same there is a slightly different exchange rate, but it feels smoehow good not to spend more crowns than you are used to... :-) )
And the beer was very intersting. It was supposed to be typical Norwegian. Well, seems they like beer with a cucmber taste over there...But only a short stay there and already back to bed at 2 a.m. the Sunday welcomed me with rain, rain and rain. So we just started with some chatting and no plans to go out until lunch where we were invited by a very good friend of hers to yammy yammy sushi :-))) Happy and with a full stomach we finally dared to go to the world famous park called... aeehhhhh, well world famous park with these wonderful statues and figures. Seems like hundrets of them. Most famous is a little baby that is screaming. I really dont want to miss this visit but somehow I would not have been sad not having been gone there... But really, isnt it cute!!!???
Finally we ended up in the place she wanted to show me the day before. And it was really cozy and nice. We ordered a lot of small dishes in arabic style but of course the cheese I wanted to have was out already... Was very nice until I wanted to pay. Non of my credti and debit cards worked there, nor M.'s ones. So I think it was the machine that was broken. Well, until the couple next us paid with card...
So what did this weekend tell me? Cities are not my favourite anymore as long as there are not some ppl I like. Norway is a country I want to see from the countrieside as well. And finally, it was soooooo good to see M. again!
So guys and Karlovy Vary (C)Karlsbad was my next trip you will hear about tomorrow...
08 November 2006
Finally... Why I am a hero!
Okay, the time has come and I finally tell you about my awesome night :-)
Already some weeks ago we had an LC-Day at KPMG and about 50 AISECERs, including me, went to a music bar afterwards. Chatting with one or two beer, wine or other drinks people began to dance later on.
So it was only me and two others left when we finally left our separate room and headed to the dance floor as well.
After a while I saw a friend of the waitress passing to our room. But in the mirror on the other end of the room I could see that she sat down on one of your benches over there just doing nothing. Okay, I though, probably relaxing. And then she began to take stuff out of her purse and putting it into her plastic bag, which was standing on the table. Watching her for a while, I saw how she began to take money out of her wallet, which disappeared then, and checking the wallet more closely. That was too strange though. So I decided to walk around the corner and have a look.
OHOHHOOO, what do I see there? It wasn’t her purse, it was the one of my friend P.! And she wasn't a friend of the waitress either... So, keeping her there, letting call the police and checking what was missing. Next to a mobile, CD-player, camera and around 2000,- CZK she also tried to steal a lipstick and a half liter bottle of Nestea with only two zips left (VERY wired)
Well, so far the nice part of the evening. The policemen came and took care her, but P. and I had to go to the police station. Victim and witness both with an enormous lack of Czech knowledge J And the friendly lady (friendly in terms of Czechia, because she was not rude to us, she simply did not speak at all!)
that opened the door, let us in but 8 AISECERs that were worried about us and our level of Czech had to wait outside…
Entering a police station… Well, it looked like a KGB-prison and so I very soon felt like a prisoner as well.
Only waiting 10 minutes a policeman asked us to fill out a form in Czech… Okay, he discovered I am German, so he even brought a German translation. After having done that finally one of the guys, Z., down in front of the door was allowed to accompany us.
Not even half an hour later an interpreter was there and P. was asked to come into another room to tell what happened. She came back just 2 minutes later. Well, the interpreter spoke German, but the Hungarian P. not… J So it was my turn and after 45 minutes I was done and we had to wait a little more until finally and English interpreter was there.
And after I had seen what happened and P. not at all we thought we would be out very soon. It was already 01:00. But no, I had time to explore the whole floor, watch imprisoned ppl sleeping, watching Z. to fall asleep and listening to policemen speaking Czech. Time passed by. It was 02:00…02:30… what the hell does she have to tell them? 02:50… 03:15… what the fuck… After TWO (2!!!) hours she was finally done. But I am until today not sure what they did with her because she did not stop laughing afterwards…
Well on the way home, lucky us we even got a night tram in time. Ups, was it a tram or did we end up in comedy show? A slightly drunk woman screamed to a guy sitting two seats behind her something in Czech, then in English and again in Czech while she was talking on her mobile. The whole tram had fun and was laughing about this scene… Well show, since she did not stop for 15 minutes. And when we finally left the tram the whole coach was laughing very loud… One reason more to learn Czech…
So in a nutshell, I saved P. this evening. And that is how she said thank you...
Already some weeks ago we had an LC-Day at KPMG and about 50 AISECERs, including me, went to a music bar afterwards. Chatting with one or two beer, wine or other drinks people began to dance later on.
So it was only me and two others left when we finally left our separate room and headed to the dance floor as well.
After a while I saw a friend of the waitress passing to our room. But in the mirror on the other end of the room I could see that she sat down on one of your benches over there just doing nothing. Okay, I though, probably relaxing. And then she began to take stuff out of her purse and putting it into her plastic bag, which was standing on the table. Watching her for a while, I saw how she began to take money out of her wallet, which disappeared then, and checking the wallet more closely. That was too strange though. So I decided to walk around the corner and have a look.
OHOHHOOO, what do I see there? It wasn’t her purse, it was the one of my friend P.! And she wasn't a friend of the waitress either... So, keeping her there, letting call the police and checking what was missing. Next to a mobile, CD-player, camera and around 2000,- CZK she also tried to steal a lipstick and a half liter bottle of Nestea with only two zips left (VERY wired)
Well, so far the nice part of the evening. The policemen came and took care her, but P. and I had to go to the police station. Victim and witness both with an enormous lack of Czech knowledge J And the friendly lady (friendly in terms of Czechia, because she was not rude to us, she simply did not speak at all!)
that opened the door, let us in but 8 AISECERs that were worried about us and our level of Czech had to wait outside…Entering a police station… Well, it looked like a KGB-prison and so I very soon felt like a prisoner as well.
Only waiting 10 minutes a policeman asked us to fill out a form in Czech… Okay, he discovered I am German, so he even brought a German translation. After having done that finally one of the guys, Z., down in front of the door was allowed to accompany us.
Not even half an hour later an interpreter was there and P. was asked to come into another room to tell what happened. She came back just 2 minutes later. Well, the interpreter spoke German, but the Hungarian P. not… J So it was my turn and after 45 minutes I was done and we had to wait a little more until finally and English interpreter was there.
And after I had seen what happened and P. not at all we thought we would be out very soon. It was already 01:00. But no, I had time to explore the whole floor, watch imprisoned ppl sleeping, watching Z. to fall asleep and listening to policemen speaking Czech. Time passed by. It was 02:00…02:30… what the hell does she have to tell them? 02:50… 03:15… what the fuck… After TWO (2!!!) hours she was finally done. But I am until today not sure what they did with her because she did not stop laughing afterwards…
Well on the way home, lucky us we even got a night tram in time. Ups, was it a tram or did we end up in comedy show? A slightly drunk woman screamed to a guy sitting two seats behind her something in Czech, then in English and again in Czech while she was talking on her mobile. The whole tram had fun and was laughing about this scene… Well show, since she did not stop for 15 minutes. And when we finally left the tram the whole coach was laughing very loud… One reason more to learn Czech…
So in a nutshell, I saved P. this evening. And that is how she said thank you...
26 Oktober 2006
Czech police
After I now deleted twice what I wrote... 45435 words the first time and just 134 the second *sh**@!&tfuc€, I am not in the mood to tell you why I am a hero, but I am.
Tell you later
Tell you later
01 Oktober 2006
REVOLUTION @ home
It is Sunday my friends and I am updating my blog. What does that mean? Either I am in Hanover where I am 24/7 online, I am a workaholic or the Czech Telekom really worked fast and enabled us INTERNET connection at home. So guess, 1, 2 oder 3? Ob ihr wirklich richtig steht, seht ihr wenn das Licht angeht! Right, right, right, after only 4 months of fighting and struggeling through and with Czech companies (and thanks again, almost all of it done by lovely Barb.) we finally have internet here.
And that is not one day too early cause you also might wonder, didn't he wanna got o Munich and have a small glas of beer at the Okotberfest??? Yes, I wanted to. But an infection, antibiotics and my health were too good reasons not to go. So I spent three days in bed and had furthermore a calm and quite weekend without any partying or whatsoever.
The weekend before though... SNC, September National Conference from AIESEC in Sec was a lot of fun. Good trainee sessions, great parties and what I loved most of it, the nature there is so beautiful. Something I really miss in Prague! So I enjoyed it even more over there.
And well, next weekend I am gonna be back in good old Germany again... Even though I live here in Prague I am hardly here to celebrate :-)
So guys, one last question. Which country pays me next year for living there? Offers are taken from now on. You ask yourself why??? Well, where was the last Miss World from??? Unnur Birna Vilhjalmsdottir, Miss World 2005, is from the beautiful country of ICELAND. And now guess where Tatiana Kucharova, yesterday night eleceted Miss World 2006 is from! Of course, the Czech Republic.
So all countries being interested in having the next Miss World from their teritorium shall from now on apply with a pic of the flat I would get, the car and the amount they transfer to my Swiss bank account...
And that is not one day too early cause you also might wonder, didn't he wanna got o Munich and have a small glas of beer at the Okotberfest??? Yes, I wanted to. But an infection, antibiotics and my health were too good reasons not to go. So I spent three days in bed and had furthermore a calm and quite weekend without any partying or whatsoever.
The weekend before though... SNC, September National Conference from AIESEC in Sec was a lot of fun. Good trainee sessions, great parties and what I loved most of it, the nature there is so beautiful. Something I really miss in Prague! So I enjoyed it even more over there.
And well, next weekend I am gonna be back in good old Germany again... Even though I live here in Prague I am hardly here to celebrate :-)
So guys, one last question. Which country pays me next year for living there? Offers are taken from now on. You ask yourself why??? Well, where was the last Miss World from??? Unnur Birna Vilhjalmsdottir, Miss World 2005, is from the beautiful country of ICELAND. And now guess where Tatiana Kucharova, yesterday night eleceted Miss World 2006 is from! Of course, the Czech Republic.
So all countries being interested in having the next Miss World from their teritorium shall from now on apply with a pic of the flat I would get, the car and the amount they transfer to my Swiss bank account...
