Welcome!

Darren, Eve, Sarah, Carrie, BK

DRAM 379 The Arts and Culture in Central Europe is a travel class offered by Texas Lutheran University in the Department of Dramatic Media. To check out who we are and what we are up to, click HERE or the “About IAH/PRG” link at the top of the page.

We are in Central Europe right now. Most of our time will be spent in Prague but we also travel to Olomouc,  CZ, and Krakow, PL. We return to the US near the end of June – 27 days total.

 

This Blog has moved …

This blog has been incorporated into Texas Lutheran University’s blog page. Check out the most recent posts here: http://blogs.tlu.edu/. There are new videos as well. Navigate to TLU’s YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/TXLutheran to watch them. Our videos can also be viewed on iTunes U. Open this link: http://itunes.tlu.edu/ to launch iTunes and go to the TLU iTunes U site.

Thanks for visiting, see you at blogs.tlu.edu.

 

Valuing Education, Heritage, and the Environment is not Going to Go to Waste, but to Practice

Before leaving for Central Europe I had the ability to talk with some of my peers who had gone before me, although the stories that they shared were helpful I still could not really grasp what they were trying to express. I know that in order for this to happen I needed to experience Central Europe for myself. Upon my arrival I began to recall all that was told to me. The picture that was formed in my mind of what I was to expect began to develop in to a reality. All of the reading and research that I had done could never have amounted to the actual time that I spent in Central Europe. I soon began to form my own story of Central Europe.

The pace of the lifestyle while there truly was set by me. At times the hustle and bustle of things moved me about, however it was more of a flow with the environment around me. I think a lot rests on a great source of transportation that Prague offers. One moment you were on a tram headed towards the heart of the city the next moment you could head down to the metro and find yourself at the foot of the Prague Castle entry. Of course walking was another excellent way to get around while in Prague and in the region. Unlike here in the United States were a car seems to be a necessity. I noticed that where ever I was on my travels I could find what I needed easily by walking. I was reminded of childhood memories when walking was fairly easy in my hometown, however now days even in a small town a car seems to be a necessity. In Krakow it was neat to be able to just walk down the street and be in a park that circled the city, and from the park be blocks from the city square.

I would say that living in Central Europe gave me a chance to get in my daily exercise, and allowed me to see all of the small details that would otherwise be missed if I were to travel in a car. Between a balanced meal and the exercise done traveling through out town I can see how the citizens in the Czech Republic and Poland stay healthy. A meal in Central Europe had a portion size that was filling and healthy. I can say that in my travels the food preparation was something that I noticed right away, from the detail and time put into the making of the food to the natural ingredients. I am going to truly miss having a meal at a restaurant where the worry of trans-fats or artificial flavoring does not exist. I value how the foods even down to the ice cream was made using fresh ingredients, compared to most foods of the United States that are filled with preservatives and artificial flavorings. The simple lunch of homemade bread with cheese, an apple, granola bar and a bottle of still water in my opinion beats the fast food option that most Americans have on a day to day basis. Being able to try the local cuisine helped in gaining a true experience of the culture in Central Europe.

While abroad in the Czech Republic I quickly took in the change of scenery from the vibrant city life in Prague to the beautiful country side full of forest and hillsides on our travels to Olomouc. I will say that because there was not a barrier to what I could see transitioning to my location was easier than my transition to the interaction with people. I only wish that I could have been more familiarized with the Czech language. I will say that the people that I did encounter were gracious to the fact that I could not speak their language. I learned quickly how to communicate, when the language barrier would get in the way. Appreciation for Fine Arts is a connection that I found rather quickly between the Czech people and I. All about the Golden City of Prague round every corner was some form of art. From the architecture, museums, music halls, monuments and theaters the display of appreciate was very evident. The talent and ability to structure the architecture from Gothic style to modernized buildings such as the Dancing Building and the Miminka TV tower highlighted the quality and skill the Czech people hold. I truly esteemed how the Czech culture holds greatly on education. With each location that we traveled to in the Czech Republic I was able to learn the history of the area. For example, in Prague I was able to visit all of the wonderful museums, Cathedrals, and especially the Prague Castle all locations gave insight on the Czech culture and appreciation for history, the sciences, and once again Fine Arts. While in Olomouc the sense of pride was felt by the community in that they treasured the place in which they lived and made note to remember all that had taken place there through monuments and museums as well.

After some time in Central Europe I noticed that finding connections to the Protestant belief was rare. However, the display of Catholic and Jewish beliefs is quite evident in the area. This was something that I began to miss about home. I did find learning more about the beliefs of the people interesting and how the history affected the practice in said beliefs. The devotion to keeping customs and traditions was something that I find honorable in the people of Central Europe. In the modern times that we live in the idea of having the latest and most advance technology and keeping with the trends seems to be a loss of culture and tradition here in the fast paced United States. Remembrance of custom and heritage seems to be designated now days to a specific month or during the holidays. However, in Central Europe I was able to see a display of culture and heritage on many occasions. The youth of the community no matter where I was seemed to be involved in preserving and keeping their customs and heritage. While in Prague my Saturday trip to Old Town Square allowed me to see the youth practicing traditional dances and singing songs that no doubt had been passed down from the elders of the community. While in Krakow I was able to see the local youth take part in the celebration of Corpus Christi. This was a time when traditional dance and folk tales were passed on and the tradition was displayed for all to see. Being around these types of environments has given me the desire to learn more able my heritage and customs.

While away from the culture and lifestyle of the United States I have come to see things that I value being a United States citizen and things that I wish to incorporate from the culture that I experienced. I have noticed that my views of Central Europe have only become heighten from my experience. I didn’t really have any preconceived thoughts on the Czech Republic or Poland before leaving. I knew what had been taught to me through history courses and from the brief research that I had done during the spring semester. From what I had compiled in my research I was able to add on to. The fact that the society lived under the strict rule of communism and dictation from different countries only made me the more grateful for the freedom that I have received as a United States citizen. I would say that since being back I have noticed how most people may say that they appreciate the freedom that we have, however I feel that until you have had the ability to live away from our society and life style the appreciate can only then be authentic. I am not trying to offend anyone or raise an argument on the pride that should be held as Americans I am simply trying to express how I have a new found appreciation and view. In many conversations with friends who are in the States from abroad the question of how I feel as an American has come up many a time, I never really considered the seriousness until I experience being away. I would love to grant the people of Central Europe the ability to experience the freedom of our nation, however I know that in doing so the society would not who they are today. The fact that the people can now come together and acknowledge the past to make a better future makes them who they are.

I would truly love to see our nation take one of the values that stuck out to me the most while abroad, that is the value of the environment. No matter where I was in Central Europe the appreciation for nature could be seen all around me. Seeing how they preserved nature through recycling, centralizing locations maintained parks and nature walk ways, and the amount of space sectioned off to national parks and forests made me want to be more of an advocate then I already am towards preserving nature. I notice that the ways of transportation also aided in this and the car pollution was not as big of a problem due to a common way of transport being cycling or walking. I know that our culture and societies differ in many ways from those in Central Europe, but I feel that we can learn from this way of life. I know that since I have come back to the United States my appreciation for upbringing in the United States has a new meaning, and what I have learned while away, valuing education, heritage, and my living environment is not going to go to waste, but to practice.

Sarah

 

The Smaller Czech Towns Were More My Pace

While in Central Europe I feel I have truly expanded my horizons. I have never been very far from home or my family. Having this experience changed my outlook on travel and trying new things. I have always been wary of traveling because my family never travels. I wanted to see the world but I was afraid to go out on my own not knowing what to expect. Through this experience I learned what kind of things to expect when traveling to another country. I know that visiting other countries will be different from what I experienced in Central Europe but this was a good start in learning some of the ins and outs of travel.

In deciding to take this class I went in with a clear mind that I would try new things. Ordinarily I am not opposed to trying new things but I do get stuck in the ruts of ordering the same thing, going to the same restaurants, and doing the same things a lot. While I was there I made sure to try new things never experiencing or eating the same thing twice. I learned that I should really bring that frame of mind back home and try new things, I may discover new things that I really love.

Living in the States we are made to believe that we live in the best country in the world. Going to Central Europe you can see obvious differences and similarities to the States. However, from what I saw Central Europe is merely different not any better or worse than the States. In some areas and with some chain restaurants it seems like they were trying to emulate the States. The things that strongly reminded me of the States were McDonalds, Subway, and KFC restaurants and the areas where buildings were newer. However, despite the things that reminded me of the States there was much more history to the buildings than you can find in the States.

I knew that the appreciation for art was more apparent in Europe but the amount of art just on the streets was amazing to me. I wish that the United States had more art for the public. The US is so uneducated when it comes to the arts, almost everything is prefabricated and not special in the States. I will miss seeing something new and beautiful everyday I walk down the street. Another thing I will miss is their appreciation for flora. In Central Europe they seemed to have a better understanding of the importance of plant life.

Before this trip I had not known any people with Czech heritage. I went in without having any idea what the people can be like, except from what I had read in travel books. If I met a person with Czech heritage now it would be interesting to see how they have changed as their family has become Americanized. But if they were to ask about the people living in the Czech Republic I would tell them that for the most part they are nice people. The people there seem more to themselves than Americans, they seem to have a thicker shell than most people. But from what I could see they are passionate people who are appreciative of culture.

In the month I was abroad I feel like I was able to blend in fairly well to the daily life of Prague. At first of course I felt like I was sticking out like a sore thumb, not reacting to things as a citizen would, or not knowing what to do. After about a week I started adjusting to the modes of public transportation and their customs. However, it was especially in the third and fourth weeks I noticed more citizens trying to talk to me. Several times in the tram people tried to speak to me in Czech. And once in a bookstore someone tried to start a conversation with me in Czech, then of course I had to say I only spoke English and had a brief conversation in English. Also once when I was in a museum an elderly woman tried to start a conversation with me in Czech. I think a big part of blending in has to do with confidence. It wasnt until I felt more confident that people started to believe I belonged there.

While in Central Europe I noticed that there is a large difference in fitness from the level of fitness in the States. For the most part I didnt see many obese people in the areas we were in. Some of the women who worked at grocery stores seemed like they might be obese but obesity didnt really seem to be much of a problem to Czech citizens. The people who were obese were mainly tourists. There may have been some citizens that were overweight but not too many that seemed obese. I think that a big reason that these people are not as overweight and obese as people in the US is because most of these people rely on public transportation and walking to get around. This is different from the States where almost everyone has a vehicle. In Poland the people didnt seem quite as fit as the Czechs but where we were at it seemed like more people had cars to get around with.

I am from a small town in Texas so life in Prague and Krakow was very different from what I am used to. Everything was much faster paced and busier than I was used to. The smaller towns we went to were more my pace. Really the crowds and pace of Prague and Krakow wore me out. Slowing down at home is really something I need after our fast paced trip. I never really fully recovered after the night train ride to full energy and slowly lost more and more energy to the pace of everything and never taking a real break. I think I would be more prepared now for living in a larger city but the daily life just seemed kinda rushed to me.

I really had no preconceived notions about the Czech culture or people before the trip. So my opinion of the culture didnt change it really only developed. All I really knew going in was that they were known for their beer and glass art. I suppose I expected things to be less crowded and busy than it was and for things to be slower moving than it was. Really things in Prague and Krakow were not all that different than they are in a large city in the United States.

Something I did notice in Prague that was a stark contrast to the United States was that the people were much more secular. I had read that the percentage of people there who believe in a higher power was only about 30% but hearing about it and seeing it were quite different things. It was kind of surprising to see so few active churches in such a large city.

People in Prague were much more open with public displays of affection than they are in the States. Couples in their teens and twenties or even a few possibly in their thirties seemed really comfortable with kissing in public. I rarely ever see couples in the United States getting as physical in public as I saw there.

Another thing that I noticed was in Krakow the people seemed much more religious than the Czech people and probably more than US citizens as well. It seemed that the main religion there was Catholic and that the people there follow the religion more closely than they do here.

The only social difference in Prague that I noticed that I didnt especially like was the lack of customer service in some places that you would really expect it in the States. In the grocery store Albert the customer service was very lacking. At the check out there is no one to help you pack your groceries and they rush you in that they do not wait to start checking out the next person in line. This pleasantry is not that important but it is something I really missed when I was there. And I think that taking a few moment to help the customer can really go a long way, giving people a more pleasant feeling from spending their money there.

Something that I noticed in both the Czech Republic and Poland was that people seemed much more appreciative of art, architecture, and nature. I think that the United States would do good to make more of an effort to show an appreciation for these things and to educate their citizens more about these things. I think if people stopped taking beauty in the environment for granted so much we would be a much more well rounded than we are now.

Eve

 

I’m B.K-McKee and this was an amazing graduation gift, thanks Mom

Having gone on this trip before, I knew that I would have many of the same experiences I had last time. Dealing with the obvious language barrier, having tons of fun with the tram and metro system and eating some of the best food I have ever had to date. Coming from around the big city of San Antonio I feel fairly confident of how to maneuver around the maze that is the big city. But Prague is not like what I am used to. Besides all of the hills and cobblestone streets the crisscross of roads is not as structured as cities in the US. In San Antonio you can be fairly secure in the idea that the layout of the city would look like a square grid from above. However the streets in Prague, as well as the other cities we visited, are much more random and convoluted.

This time around my group decided to test out the ‘mexican ‘food” that central europe had to offer. There is a video of a couple of our experiments but I have to say I was a little disappointed. This is not to say that the food was not good, quite the opposite, but being from the land of Tex-Mex the lack of peppers or spice was very unusual. We did find it funny what the restaurants we went to thought were proper mexican dressings for the décor of the room. We got through three venues, two of them on camera. So, to get my true fix, I had my mother take me to get some Tex-Mex about 5 hours after touching down in Houston. My mommy loves me.

The biggest, and probably most obvious difference between our two worlds is the language. But not just the verbal kind. The music, dance and body language are also different. If you were to go clubbing over here, you are likely to hear rock, hip hop or country being jammed out. But in Prague, techno or electronic music is much more likely. There is another video of a couple traditional dances from a few of Central Europe’s cultures. It is much smoother and relaxed then the dance groups you would find here. And the body language is much more subtle than here. You get some one grumpy here, you would be very likely to hear a sigh or be able to tell their attitude from their body language. But the Czech people are much more passive aggressive. They are more likely to smile or give you a blank expression than show their frustration.

And, like I said earlier, with the new experiences came the old as well. In Central Europe there is a much different rhythm to their lives than back here in the states. The most obvious one to me was the way that food was ordered, prepared and presented. Here in the US, you enter the restaurant and the hostess will then lead you to your table where the waiter/tress comes to the table to get your drink order, your food order or both. Then, very promptly, your drinks will appear and be diligently refilled throughout the evening. And after only 10, maybe 15, minutes your meal should appear looking exactly as you saw it either in the menu or on TV. If you go to Central Europe expecting this style of food service you would be quite distraught.

Upon entering the establishment, you will seek out your own table, if one does not exist to accommodate your group, either seek out a member of the staff or make one out of smaller tables. Then, in a few moments, the waiter will come and get your drink order, then leave to get it. This will take a few minutes, especially if your ordered pretty much anything other than pivo (beer). They will then bring the drinks to you and then probably leave again (more understanding servers might ask if you’re ready to order but most will not unless prompted). A few minutes later they will come to get your order. They will then take said order to the chef who will then make the food. This latest step will probably take anywhere between twenty to forty-five minutes to prepare and then be presented very artistically and professionally.

I am willing to bet, that if this series of events happened here in the states the patrons would probably be very impatient by the end of it. They would say that the service was slow and the wait staff lazy. But they would be missing the purpose of having this process. It is to allow you, the patron, an opportunity to enjoy either your company or the atmosphere of where you are. This is why a good majority of the restaurants in central will try to have an outdoor patio area, even Mcdonalds has them. And some of the better restaurants will be near some sort of historical or popular place so you can people watch and people can watch you too. And if outside is too boring inside the establishment will have something entertaining on the inside. It might be live music, it might simply be the TV on the latest music videos or sports matches going on. Either will be sure to give you something to distract you if you happen to dining alone or your dining mate is dull. And now that I have experienced this new style of dining for the second time I feel even more frustrated with people when they get grumpy with dining staff for taking more than a minute to get their drinks, or complaining to management when something doesn’t go their way. Take a chill pill and enjoy your meal and the atmosphere in which you are enjoying it. The food takes a while because it is being carefully prepared FOR YOU. By the time it gets to you, you will probably be actually ready to eat and enjoy some of the most delicious food you will ever have. So, with all due respect, suck it up and actually enjoy the experience rather than complain.

Being an enjoyer of food, I did happen to notice how people eat. And while the food they eat is good and delicious people do not seem to be as big as U.S. eaters. And I would think that one of the biggest reasons of this difference would have to be the amount of walking the average person must do to get around a majority of the city. You’re either walking to a tram, metro or bus. While on this modes of transportation you will be working to keep your balance as much as possible, not to mention all of the stairs, hills and random inclines that you have to descend or ascend to get to the various locations. That and they seem not to favor snacking as much as we would. You go into Alberts, the local HEB equivalent, and you do see some snack foods. But most of it is ingredients for full meals or healthier snacks. Even the gummy bears have some health value over them. And even if you were to eat some non-healthy ice cream in your travels (the ice cream is the shiz BTW), you will probably work most of it off between Alberts and wherever you are going.

I do believe, at least on a small level, I was able to blend into some of the culture of the Czech Republic as well as Poland. For one thing, I tried not to bring too many t-shirts with any large logos on them, because this is not as big of a style over there as it is here. I did however pack my bomb squad shirt, if you know me, you know why.

Also, while attending some of the many dining establishments around town I started to notice that many of them had a locals feel to them. So when we were going our separate ways throughout the day I started going to a restaurant near our hotel called Sklepini’s. It is a very good place with some very traditional Czech cuisine as well as some Americanized side dishes for those nights that felt more homesick than usual. So, I began to make myself a sort of local at Sklepini’s. Within a short time, one of the waters who worked the bar area of the restaurant started to remember me and start me off with the beer I usually ordered and had an English menu ready before I even had to ask. This honestly felt cool for me. Not a lot of places in the US have this sort of locals feel except for the stereotypical locals bar, which is not really my scene. So this was a really cool experience for me in my efforts to become more part of the Czech culture that I was the last time around.

So while along with myself, the group was also comparing many of their lives in the states to how we live back home. We remembered that there are a lot of different cultures swirled into the Texan melting pot. One of these is the Czech culture. Anyone who has driven up and down I-35 knows about the Czech stop. A place where you can get delicious Americanized Czech pastries and other foods. There are many other places spread out around South Texas that provide anyone who is willing, a taste of the Czech Republic in the depths of the Lone Star State. Texas has a large population of Czechs (over 1 million who claim some degree of Czech heritage) several of whom work at go to TLU. If I happened to be talking to some of these decedents of Czech immigrants, I feel I would not have too many bad things to say about it. The fact that I have been there twice is a pretty big testament to how amazing the country is.

Riding on the buses and trains, we had the opportunity to see the beautiful country side. In many places it actually made me think of the Texas Hill Country. With the green and brown rolling hills, filled with rocks, trees and the random amazing beautiful house. The people we met along the way were great, always ready with patience for out lack of language skills and usually with a sense of humor when cultures clashed. I would tell them that their beer is some of the best Pivo I have ever had and having the opportunity to visit Pilsner, and experience one of the oldest breweries in the world shows how many areas of the world this Central European country has affected. It is a beautiful country and should not be taken lightly.

I can’t say that my views of the world have changed all that much since my last time here. If anything they have been solidified. Last time I was here, they were building an apartment complex across the street from out hotel. And in the four weeks they completed more of that complex than an US crew could do with all the union restrictions and penalties. We were able to ride anywhere in the city on any sort of public transport for less $5 a day. And we had plenty for food, and other necessities throughout the trip. It makes me so frustrated when people complain about these things back home when they work so well. I realize if some of these ideas come over to the US that there would be some changes. But why can’t we either revamp or just remove Unions. To me, they seem to be causing more harm than good. Why can’t we perfect the public transportation system. In San Antonio, VIA does a average job of transporting people all over the city with old city buses. This could be so much better. I just believe that we should not nail ourselves down to the idea that we are Americans and because of this fact our ideas are always right.

I would love to see some people trying out the tram system in the US. It is such a wonderful way to get around a city. And where they can’t go, then you have buses to pick up the slack. I feel this could help people get around more efficiently and even help fight the whole war ‘global warming’ by using other means of transportation besides one car for every person, why not have 1 bus for 50 people, or a tram train for 100.

And from a theatrical stand point, I wish we could suck it up and realize that we don’t have to be P.C. to be entertaining. During the Prague Fringe Festival, we had the opportunity to watch a number of shows, many of which would have cause many people back home to whine about the indecency of the production. I wish people could realize that there is a difference between using obscenities as a tool rather than using them to make their show. You need to have a balance to be entertaining and if the only way you get popular is through shock and awe performances than you will not be around long, just look at Dane Cook. He got huge fast, and the shrank just as fast because people got tired of the same old crap.

However, just because we have a lot of problems, this doesn’t mean the Czech republic is free and clear. One of the biggest issues I witnessed was governmental control on everything. I am never a fan of big government with their tentacles in everyone’s cookie jar. And even with some of the concessions with the transportation system in the czech republic they still try to hold onto stuff. A good example is the difference between the bus and train system. These are how people get around other parts of the country outside of the reach of Prague’s city transportation system. The bus system was released to private company’s within the past few years. Immediately Student Agency, grabbed the chance to get a leg into this market. The SA busses are amazing, with in ‘flight’ beverages and snacks. For the longer trips either a movie or a episode or two of some random TV show. And as comfortable of seating as you can get on bus. And most of the buses even have bathrooms. So, ever since SA has started taking everyone else’s business, the other bus companies have started picking up the slack. And while the other guys may not have anything close to Student Agency they are slowing improving while still keeping the prices low and the market competitive

But, on the other side you have train system, which is still controlled by the Czech Government. We got to ride a few of these trains in our travels from Olomouc, Czech Republic to Krakow, Poland and back to Prague. And they were decent but could definitely use some competition. And from my point of view, this competition has the ability to force the train’s bosses to step up their game. Much like what Student Agency did for the Bus system. These are things that the US, in my opinion, has made great strides to solidify. We keep the market competitive, we have quality control regulations, things that I feel Central Europe can learn a thing or two from.

I really do not mean to sound like the standard American tourist who thinks he knows it all about everything. It kind of became a running joke throughout the month, “This isn’t the right way, the American way.” But what I feel, and I felt then, is that both sides need to be able to keep an open mind about the opinions of others. On the last night of our time in Olomouc, Czech Republic, most of our group had the chance to sit and talk to a man from New Zealand, and get an outside perspective on the world from a point of view other than our fellow Americans. For me it was a reminder of many of things I saw and felt two years ago and for the others who joined the conversation I hope that it helped them to understand that differences are good, it is how we learn from each other that is the kicker. I know that I loved being able to go on this trip yet again, and I hope to return some day and see how things have changed and what, I hope, have stayed the same.

I’m B.K-McKee and this was an amazing graduation gift, thanks Mom.

 

My Experience in Central Europe

When our flight landed in Prague early in the afternoon of May 27th, I had no idea what to expect. I had always had a desire to visit this part of the world and now I realized that my desires had turned into reality. I was a little nervous leaving the airport, because I was afraid that all my high expectations of this place that I got from reading countless books on the Czech Republic would not be met. I thought that Prague would probably just be another city that had been “Americanized”, due to globalization. But, I couldn’t have been more wrong. My first glimpse of the city’s old town square made me feel like I had traveled back to a different time. It was truly fascinating to see how different life was in this part of the world, but at the same time noticing the similarities was perhaps even more interesting. The Czech Republic is a beautiful place. It has a lush green vegetation, abundant wildlife, and beautiful clean cities. If I had a chance to describe the Czech lands to a fellow Texan of Czech ancestry this is what I would tell them the most about, the overall natural beauty of the place. I would describe the greenness of their fields, the thick forest of deciduous and evergreen tress, and the natural hilliness of the land. I would also tell me about the people of the Czech Republic. How good natured and laid they appeared to be and how they seemed to be very family-oriented.

One thing that I noticed very quickly after arriving in Central Europe was that a lot of their social norms are very different from ours in the United States. Growing up I had always thought that are values and belief system was probably the same as those in Central Europe and Europe in general due to the fact that a large percentage of Americans trace their ancestry back to Europe. This notion I had changed very quickly after my arrival in Prague. One major difference I noticed was that people in Central Europe don’t worry about being overly polite. This is in great contrast to my hometown in Texas, where being polite and friendly is vital to social acceptance. It would not be accurate to say that people in Central Europe are not polite at all, because I met some very courteous people, they just don’t go out of their way to do it. I think a lot of the time the extent to which some people in the United States go to be friendly and courteous is not genuine and unnecessary. Neither side is wrong; both countries just value a different level of friendliness. Another key difference I noticed was in the business world. In my hometown the business world is about efficiency. Central Europeans almost care about efficiency, but there much more laid back about it. For example in American a restaurant’s customer service is at the upmost importance and service is usually efficient. This is not true in Central Europe. One restaurant we went to in Olomouc took over an hour to get our food and almost 20 minutes before our drink order was even taken. The quality and presentation of the food was great though. The dinning experience in general in this part of Europe is different from my hometown and the rest of the United States. People don’t care about getting in and getting out quickly, it’s more laid back with a lot of discussion going on. Going for Dinner for Central Europeans is more about the social interaction between friends or family, than the food itself. Another key difference I discovered was in clothing choices. People in the Czech Republic, Poland and all over Central European tend to dress up a little bit more. In my hometown people tend to dress more casually. Most people just seemed like they took a little more pride in what they wore. While I was in the Czech Republic I tried to dress up a little bit more and to my amazement I think I blended in pretty well. Only on a few occasion did people on the tram or on the street walk up to me and immediately start speaking English to me, most of the time they tried to talk to me in Czech.

Looking back at my experience in the Czech Republic and Poland there are a lot of things from culture that I would like see incorporated into the United States. One thing that I would like to see incorporated into the United States that is big in all of Europe is their public transportation system. Prague has a great public transportation system. You can ride the tram, the metro or the bus for about 25 US dollars a week. Think about how much fuel we could conserve not to mention the money people would save on gas. The system was so efficient as well. In Prague you could get from one end of town to the other in less than 30 minutes on their transit system that really impressed me. In nearby Austin it can take thirty minutes just to travel from exit 233 to exit 234. I really think a system of public transportation would work great in big Texas cities like Austin, Houston, and Dallas where traffic is a constant nightmare. It would be a great help in thinning out traffic, which could lead to a lessening of accidents. I also think it would be great, because it would make people walk to more places. In the Czech Republic/Poland if people want to go the store or the mall if it’s nearby they walk. People in this region are far less obese than in the United States and the amount of activity; along with their diet has a lot to do with it. Increasing the amount of walking the average partakes each day could greatly help lessen are problem with obesity. The only problem would be trying to convince people that it would be a better way to get around than their cars and the financial issue over construction. I really liked the how the Czech people were less wasteful overall. One thing that I thought was a really great idea was the system by which they flushed their toilets. To flush the toilet you would have to push a button with a smaller one inside of it. If you only had to urinate you pressed the smaller button, but if you had a bowel movement you pushed the bigger button. This system is a way of preserving water. The smaller button uses less water to flush than the bigger button does. Another thing that was prevalent in the Czech Republic and Poland was the abundance of small restaurants and grocery stores. They do have chain stores and big supermarkets, but in general there are a lot more small businesses than in the United States. I would love to the see the rebirth of the strength of the small businessman in the United States today. I really think that the lack of small businesses in the United States and the growth of big Corporations and chain stores is really a major source of our economic problems today. A growing amount of Americans are settling for low paying jobs at your Targets and Wal-Marts, instead of taking a chance of going into business for themselves. The rebirth of the entrepreneur sprit in the United States I think would really improve our economic situation. The Czech Republic/Poland overall is a great place and I wouldn’t want to change too much about it. One thing that I would like to see in the Czech Republic/Poland that we have in the United State is a better highway system. Although, a large percentage of Czechs and Poles travel by Bus and Train for large trips enough people still drive cars where there is a necessity for a more expansive highway system. I am not saying they should build an 8 lane super way or anything, just more 4 lane highways to make traffic flow more smoothly, like the German autobahn.

I had a great time in Central Europe and I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to visit their for 28 days. I have changed ever, because of this experience. My base values and beliefs are still very much the same, but I think I have become much more open-minded, because of my experience. I grew up believing that we lived in the greatest country in the world and every other country in the world couldn’t measure up, well my opinion has definitely changed after my visit to Central Europe. I still love the United States and am proud to be a citizen, but I realize that the Czech Republic and Poland would and am great places to live in as well. In some respects the ways in which life operates in the Czech Republic and Poland is better than the United States. One thing I have definitely become more opened minded about is the need to conserve our natural resources and how the United States needs to follow the European model. Before I left I thought an mass transit system was unnecessary, everybody should just drive themselves. My opinion on that has that definitely changed. I realized that is more practical, and less wasteful than everybody using their own cars. Like I stated early in my writings I liked the way the Czech and Polish people were less wasteful. They were more advent about recycling than most Americans are, waste less electricity and have invested more time in installing solar panels and windmills as an alternative source of energy. Before I left I thought these issues were just pushed by those on the political left, but now that no matter whether your conservative or liberal the conservation of resources is just flat out necessary and should be valued by both sides. My eyes were opened to new foods, entertainment and other cultural differences. I was fascinated by all of these differences and truly began to value what a diverse world we live in. Its great that the world is so diverse and we should try to maintain this diversity at all cost. I would be extremely depressed if I went back to this region in ten years if everything was Americanized.

Darren Bunte,
June 30, 2010

 

Tour (Pilsner Urquell in Plzen)

Pilsner Beer Transport Train

This being my second tour to give I thought that I would do something big. And being a lover of the golden elixir known as beer(or bier for the classy ones out there) what better place to visit than a brewery and even better the 2nd largest brewery in the world, Pilsner Urquell in Plzen, Czech Republic. So, here are some facts. In the city of Plzen, beer began to be brewed and sold by families all over the city around 1307. For close to 700 years this went on, until 1839 when many of the brewers decided to come together and start brewing one amazing beer. And in 1842 the company that would one day form into Pilsner Urquell was born. And even today any form of the word Pilsner is associated with delicious, cold beer…if not the city it came from.

Pilsner is the largest exporter of Czech Beer in the CR, and produces the most beer in Central Europe. It is also the 2nd largest brewing company in the world, grossing over $700 Million in 2008. Pilsner is well known for its unique brewing technique of triple fermentation. Its thought they did this on purpose to maximize the flavor(which it actually does) but it was actually done on accident by the original brew master who thought one or two fermentations would not be enough to get through the hoppes so he had them do it a third time just to be safe and he produced a uniquely flavored beer.

On the tour itself we were able to tour the 3 buildings at the Pilsner complex. The packaging plant, the old brew house and the new one. In the packaging plant we saw how the bottles and cans are cleaned, filled, capped, labeled and then packaged to be shipped to pubs and bars. In the old brew house we watched a video on how beer was and is made, with the video making sure we knew that Pilsner has not changed much of it’s brewing process over the years. We were then able to go in and walk around the old copper fermentation kettles and see inside to see where the magic happens. From there we walked over to the new brew hall and then we walked underground where it is climate controlled at about 5 degrees Celsius to help with final fermentation of the beer in the large oak barrels. Here we were able to actually taste some delicious beer straight from the barrel…very tasty. Too bad it won’t fit on my carry on.

So, all-in-all I think it was a successful trip. Despite some of the traveling mixups which we can all tell you if you’d like to know, it was a fun time for all and an interesting experience for me.

In front of Water Tower Before Entering Filling and Packaging Building

 

Tour (Meet Factory)

I figured that with all of the classical art we would be seeing some newer, innovative art, would be a good contrast.

Meet Factory was established by David Cerny, the same contemporary artist who did the bronze babies among other installations in Prague. Cerny originally tried to establish this gallery in 2001 in an old meat factory, but due to the floods plans were changed. In 2007 Meet Factory was established in an industrial building and opened. This building is not only an art station but also a cafe, night club, and concert hall among other things.

The day we went on my tour to Meet Factory it was pouring rain and cold. However, despite the dreary weather we got to the sight safely. We delayed going until after 3 pm so we could get there while the galleries were open but since there was a gallery opening that evening all the galleries were unfortunately closed. Despite not being able to go into the gallery space we stayed and ordered some cappuccinos from the cafe area and talked in the lounge for a while. Overall the experience was good, we at least got to see the sculptural installation on the façade of the building and see some of the inside of the building.

 

Tour (St. Nicholas Cathedral located in Mala Strana)

St. Nicholas Cathedral is located in Mala Strana (Lesser Town) region of Prague. St. Nicholas is one of the first and most famous landmarks in Mala Strana, with its robust dome and bell tower. The beginning of the Cathedral dates back to 1283 as a parish church under the name and protection of St. Nicholas. In the 17th century came a change of authority, as well as the start of a new era, Baroque. Starting in 1702, Kryštof Dientzenhofer began to design the current structure that stands today known to him as the “new Prague Baroque pearl.” After his death his son, Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer completed his father’s work, as well as designing the unique vault and robust dome. Following this work two chapels were added on to the Cathedral, St. Barbra to the left of the entrance and St. Anne to the right. The construction of the Cathedral was completed in 1752.

The Interior of the Cathedral

A variety of art work lies within St. Nicholas Cathedral with the style of course being Baroque. Viennese artist, Jan Lukas Kracker is the artist who painted the main fresco. It is said that Kracker sis not want this work to be seen until completion, however a Jesuit priest snuck in and hid behind a pillar to take a peek at the work. Kracker saw him and as punishment to the priest painted him into the fresco behind hiding behind a pillar. F.X. Palko one of the most acclaimed artists of the era is also known to have painted frescoes that lie in the Cathedral. A significant part of the Cathedral décor is that of Karel Skreta. The more than 50 statues that can be seen within the Cathedral were done by Ignac Frantisek Platzer. My favorite part of the Cathedral was being able to see the organs, more in particular the organ that W.A. Mozart used while he stayed in Prague. The late Baroque organ was built by Jesuit Order called Friar-organifex Tomáš Schwarz during 1745-46.

If ever in Prague I highly suggest visiting the Cathedral, and, if able, attend one of the daily concerts. The acoustics in the Cathedral are quite wonderful. Although, Mozart’s Organ is not used for all the performances the organ that is used sounds amazing. The concerts that are held at the Cathedral feature Classical and Baroque music that will sure please the ears and the soul.

St. Nicholas Cathedral Mala Strana

 

Tour: Musaion (Czech Ethnographic Museum)

Admission: 70 kc for adults, 40 kc for students, 50 kc to take pictures/videos, possibly free on the first Thursday of the month from 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Building: Called Letohradek Kinskyeh (Kinsky Summer Palace), used to be the summer retreat to the aristocratic Kinsky family, was bought by the city in 1900 and used to hold the city’s ethnographic collection, museum opened in 2005 after renovations were done to collection and building after years of disintegration and disrepair.

-2nd Floor-

1st room- Priroda (nature): information on forest life, Krkonose- a giant that resides in Krkonose mountains named Krakonose in Czech, German name is “Ruebezahl” (One Who Counts Turnips), legend of Krakonose kidnapping Princess Emma and to keep her from thinking about escaping, he made her count his turnips, he is the personification of nature and an explanation of the erratic weather on the mountains, is seen as a bearded man usually smoking a pipe

2nd room- Zemedelstvi (agriculture): various tools for farming

3rd room- Remesla (craft): artifacts of the daily workings of Czech peasants and artisans

4th room- Svatek (holidays): the nice clothing or “costumes” worn on special occasions, every village/area has its own “kroj” (“kroje” for plural) or folk costume, kroj showed what village you were from, single or married, and showed off the talents of the boy/girl who made it, if a woman ware a head piece (cap, scarf, ect.) then she was married, if she had nothing on her head or flowers in her hair then she was single, the long feathers in the men’s hats showed if they were married (clipped short if married), their position and status in village/area, or the number of girlfriends they had.

5th room- Bydleni (living): replica of an old fashioned Czech dwelling

6th room- Lidove Unmeni (folk art): full of mostly hand crafted, religious objects

7th room- Zvyky Jara (spring rituals): costumes and fertility symbols for the coming of spring along with symbols of Easter

8th room- Leto (summer): focused on crops and harvest

9th room- Advent A Vanoce (andvent and Christmas): focused on Christmas traditions, crafts, and costumes, traditional to place a bowl of grain and a bowl of garlic under the table on Christmas Eve, garlic represented strengthening and protection and used to be placed on Christmas trees, room contains betlem (nativity scene), Czech nativiy scenes usually contain other characters (gift bearers, craftsmen, “aunts”/”uncles”, many animals, ect.) and have ornate backdrops of Bethlaham (even though it looks more like Prague)

10th room- Narozeni A Smrt (birth and death): artifacts from both birth and death, birth traditions included that if the baby was a girl to have her ears pierced at 3 months old or younger, new fathers celebrate their child’s birth with a wild party immediately after birth, the wilder the party, the healthier the child will be, a legend in the mountains is that below them are two lakes that babies come from, the boys are carried by storks and the girls are carried by crows, the reason girls are carried by crows is because the lady stork would be too busy chattering that the baby would fall from her beak

11th room- Svatba (weddings): shows snippets of a traditional Czech wedding, traditions include hat the bride must wear something new, old, borrowed, and blue, the restaurant owner of the reception breaks a plate before everyone enters (glass cullet brings happiness), bride and groom also clean the place before reception starts to show how synchronized they are, bride and groom eat soup with only one spoon and bound together (shows that they will overcome all difficulties together and the ned to go halves in a marriage)

-1st Floor-

Displays of various craftsmen and artisans at work

Sarah, Darren, Carrie, Eve, BK

 

Tour of Prague’s Bethlehem Chapel

The Bethlehem Chapel is very significant to Czech history because of several key reasons.

One of the main reasons why this chapel is so significant to the Czech people and what it is most know for is that from 1402 to 1412 Jan Hus the leader of the Hussite movement preached at this chapel. Jan Hus spoke out against many of the same corruptions of the Catholic Church that Martin Luther would a century later. He would be burned at the stake on July 6, 1415 for his beliefs and his execution greatly upset the Czech people. The Hussite Wars (1419-1434) would follow Hus death and although, the Hussite armies would be defeated the Hussite church would remain strong in this region for over two more centuries.

The chapel was originally built in 1391 on land donated by Jan Kriz. The chapel was originally designed as a place where sermons would be delivered in the Czech language.

Although, just a chapel, the Bethlehem Chapel is very large in size. After its completion it had a capacity of over 3000, which at that time was the largest capacity of any meeting place in Prague.

The chapel would remain at the heart of the Hussite movement, until 1622 when the Jesuits took over and turned it into a Catholic church. It would remain a Catholic church, until 1773, when the Jesuits were expelled and the church became property of the state.

It was sometime after this period in the 1780s, when it was discovered that the chapels vault was in danger of collapsing. This would soon spell the end for the chapel. The chapel would be purposely demolished in the mid 19th century. It would not be, until 1948 when plans were made by the new Czech government to rebuild the chapel. The Chapel would finally be completed in 1954 and in 1993 became the property of the Czech Technical University. Today the chapel is used by the university for special events, such as graduation, concerts and a memorial is held every year on the date of Jan Hus death (July the 6th).

The chapel remains a symbol of Jan Hus preaching and the Hussite movement in the Czech lands. It also is decorated with some beautiful artwork from the 15th century. There are deceptions of the crusade against the Hussites, the burning of Jan Hus and hymns from this time period. One of the most interesting pieces of artwork can be found on the south wall. On this wall are scenes from the Vlatislav Bible. This Bible was developed during the time of Charles IV’s father John I of Bohemia. It is essentially a picture book of the Bible, with illustrations of every book in the Bible, with captions at the top of every page. A copy of this Bible can still be found in the Czech National Library.