First day of classes

My first day of classes is successfully over hehe Quite interesting, have not decided about all courses yet. Even though I am at the very beginning, I feel a bit scared by the amount of work expected to be done for the most of the courses. Seems that it will take enormous part of my free time. Will be quite tough to work, work out and party at the same time hmm

Moreover, I suppose that all homeworks, essays, papers and team works will have to be done on very high level. Not as in Czech Republic, where some professors even do not read all papers.

On the other hand, I knew that it will be kind of difficult. Actually, that is one of the reasons why I have accepted this scholarship - to learn how to study on regular basis hehe Otherwise it would not be a challenge :-)

There is no place like Nebraska!

Location: Selleck Hall, Lincoln, Nebraska
School: University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Duration: two terms in 2008/2009

Well, what we have gone through so far:

1. I have done my class schedule, but probably will change it a bit; we still have time to do it during the first week of class; it is difficult to choose and moreover, quite a lot of classes are full already; fortunately, Larry helps us as much as he can and Robitscheks scholars have quite good reputation here
2. we went for a beer several times to O street - the street full of different bars and restaurants (actually, most of the streets name are very simple - letters from alphabet and these are crossed by number streets)
3. we had tour around the campus - it is quite big with different buildings, several student halls, huge Memorial Stadium and great recreation center
4. than we were all the time running from one office to another because of classes and some other stuff
5. we were invited for dinner at Larry's place where we met Dominika (Robitschek scholar from last year who is still here) and Jiri (Robitschek scholar three years ago who came back in order to obtain PhD degree)
6. I have bought books for $400 (and these are books just for two courses; I am so happy that all this stuff is covered by our scholarship, otherwise it would be impossible to finance everything by ourselves)
7. one whole day was dedicated to international affairs orientation day - they provided us with useful information, pick-nick (well, again hamburgers...), marching band concert at the stadium finished by "tunnel" (all freshmen and international students running across the Memorial stadium - they were all excited as it is the only opportunity for everybody to get to the stadium field)
8. we went for a party to wonderful lake house - wonderful place where I have seen tap in form of little angel for the first time in my life hehe
9. we had lunch with friends of Czech language - unbelievable that even after so many years these people are motivated to maintain the Czech language and all traditions here in USA

My first impressions:

1. it is unbelievably cold in all buildings because of air-condition; even if the weather outside is perfect, I always have to carry scarf and jacket with me when going to the university, bar or restaurant
2. I have to pay even for received call and sms on my cell phone
   
3. all drinks are very cold and they put even more ice into it
   
4. Americans have totally different way of clothing - quite informal
   
5. there are diabetes warning ads all over the city
6. food in the canteen is more or less the same as we got in Yellowstone; however, there is more variety
7. Americans have huge cars and care a lot about legal restrictions
   
8. it is not possible to drink alcohol in the street - everybody is very strict about it
9. in Nebraska there are quite a lot of people with Czech origins
10. if you invite somebody for a dinner at home, it is perfectly ok to prepare hamburgers and bratwursts and serve ice-bars as a desert
11. services are on very high level - if you have to wait in a bank, they serve you Coke or water; in shops and in restaurants they usually take perfect care of you (of course in order to get good tip ;-)
12. beer costs only 1$ hehe, but I always feel a bit sick afterwards, even if I drink just one
13. Americans are quite open and willing to talk to people from abroad
14. there is enormous number of Asians at our university, mostly from China, India, Malaysia or South Korea
15. you can study basically whatever you want here
16. there are quite a lot of fat people around here
17. fraternities and sororities reminds me of Louvain la Neuve and its "cercles" hehehehe
18. legal software costs $15, I will definitely get Office 2007

Everything is going on fine so far; however, I miss my parents, Peťo, Janka and other friends a lot. Even though I do not have time to write emails or to spend more time connected to skype or icq, I think a lot about them... Miss you all!!! Probably need more time to get used to the totally new environment and to find my way of being here. I suppose that after classes start, my mind will be more busy than it is now :-)

About friendship

Lately I was thinking quite a lot about friendship. Some people place it even on the higher level than love. One friend once told me that friendship will last forever.

Actually, I have some doubts. Who are our friends? People that are there when we need them and we are there for them? Those who come to say hello or good bye when we come back or leave for a long time? Those who are honest with us? Who show us that they really care? Who can be trusted and trust us? Those with who we can be in silence and still feel comfortable? ...

And then how come that sometimes people that even do not know us help us with much more willingness than people that we know for ages and that are supposed to be our real friends? Does it mean that they do not care anymore?

As the time goes by, we change our way of being, thinking, acting and reacting. And maybe these two different systems do not fit into each other anymore. It always makes me sad. According to Peťo friend are coming and leaving. Any of them possibly staying forever?

On the street

I was coming from the shop with small basket of peaches. Suddenly, one lady stopped me and asked me how much I payed for it. When I told her, she realized that I am Slovak. And it turned out that she is Slovak as well, living for 28 years in Prague. We chatted for a while. Then I had to go. She told me that if in September I feel like coming for a piece of cake and coffee, I am very welcome. Oh, I would love to, it would be nice to listen to her story.

I have impression that so many nice events will take place in September. Therefore, I am not motivated to leave and make my life again from the very beginning on the other side of the world. No, I am not complaining heh For sure it will be great experience. However, today I was asking myself if it was good decision. On the other hand, somewhere inside I feel that I would not be satisfied if there was no challenge waiting for me.

flowers :-) just for pleasure :-)

Crucial issues

Few weeks ago during one really boring lecture we decided to draw a picture of our ideal men. Moreover, we added a list of all their qualities. We had great fun while thinking about all those adjectives and things that he should be able to do.

Related to this, I was thinking about what is really important in a relationship. Is is important to have the same vision of life? Common hobbies? The same religion? The same age? The similar idea of spending holidays? ... etc. I thought that probably at some point it is important to agree on some crucial issues. But which are these crucial issues?? As if by accident, I overheard the conversation of two ladies in tram.

"We even did not have anything in common and you see, here we are. Happy together."

And then my friend told me about his girlfriend who prefers relaxing holidays at the seaside, no stress, no tough backpacking, no adrenalin. On the other hand, he is kind of guy who went to Santiago de Compostela and hitch-hiked in Turkey and backpacked in Russia. Obviously, their idea of spending holidays is completely different. And still, they are happy and love each other.

And then, there are my parents with 17 years of difference. And my cousin who married guy from different religion. And many other happy couples who do not have exactly the same idea of everything.

Then which are these crucial issues that the couple should agree on?? Is it actually something rational? Or purely irrational? Should we feel it? Or should we prepare some kind of excel table and fill it with "yes" or "no"??

About personal assurance

My mum just left for three months. She will spend the whole summer in Croatia on the beautiful island Hvar as agent of one travel agency. She has been always dreaming about it and now, finally, it came true :-)) I am sure she will enjoy it a lot, especially because of the wonderful location next to the sea. I am really happy for her.

However, from very egoiste and selfish point of view, I have to admit that it is a bit weird feeling to know that the most of the time during the summer there will be nobody at our place. It is as if my personal assurance has left for a while. My home is where my parents are. I love coming home so much. It is the safest place in the world. I love the moment when I open the door, shout hello to them and my parents come to hug me.

And this time there will be nobody to say hello to and to hug. No practical advice while packing. No help. No home made cake. No good bye at the airport at the end of August ...

It is time to grow up.