On Monday earlier this week I joined my friend Imelda and her husband’s family for her father-in-law’s company’s (Metrostau – a major Czech construction firm) holiday party. I guess I was expecting some Christmas music, carols, red and gold decorations, but what I found were chic Czechs, tender Prague ham, horseradish (yum yum – you know you’ve got Slavic blood flowing through you when you can’t get enough of this hot and numbing substance), a selection of cold items, little cakes, and an acapella group, The Reporter, dressed in black. I have to say The Reporter was absolutely fantastic, singing several Czech songs in addition to a few American tunes like Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven” and “Love and Marriage” but with extra special, very creative arrangements. I was a little taken a back at first by the black costumes (after all, this was a Christmas party), but then I realized this was actually a holiday party, and it was after all the Czech Republic.
I have to share a funny story from that night. I guess as I was walking towards Imelda and her in-laws, Imelda’s father-in-law questioned her, “So, you’re friend is American? But, she’s so small! She’s American??” Czechs as well as many Europeans think automatically that Americans are large, overweight people. They are entirely surprised when they see otherwise. Imelda and I had a good laugh fortunately. I must add, though, that the Czechs better watch out or they will soon have similar rates of obesity. They already lead the European Union in highest rate of colon cancer (I venture a guess based on their starch-filled diet with little fiber.).
Just a few minutes ago I returned from our company’s holiday party, which was held in the building, the party area set up like a Czech market or fair. At five p.m. a folk group started playing folk songs and dancing, which was followed by more modern pieces played by the children of employees. I somehow got roped into volunteering to help kids at a craft table, making cards with stamps, markers, and scissors. It’s was really neat to see kids of so many different nationalities, including Central Asians, Czechs, Americans, and several others. While I enjoyed making a few snowflake-esque cut outs to paste on a few cards, I was very envious of the table next to me where kids were making traditional Czech crafts with dried fruits. Back in the day, Czechs would take apples and make them into candle holders with thin sticks emanating out bearing pieces of dried apricots and raisins. I have to say these very simple ornaments have won me over. I’m a bit tired of the glitzy schmuck of silver and gold bulbs and flashy lights. There’s something to be said for simplicity.
Yet another way in which the holiday season is celebrated in this part of the world is Christmas markets. Last night after a little dinner soiree I took a nice, leisurely walk with my friends Lenka and Karolina to Old Town Square. There are wooden booths with red roofs lining the square with a carved wooden crèche and lookout point in the middle. We sipped on hot glasses of svarak (mulled wine) and took in the sights. Strolling through the streets of Prague Lenka and Karolina told me more about how Czechs celebrate on the 24th. To sum up what Christmas means to most Czechs, according to Lenka and Karolina, it means family time, eating carp and potato salad followed by dozens of little cookies, burning cones or pyramids of frankincense throughout the house, and gathering around the TV to watch Czech fairytales.
Well, now I really have visions of sugarplum fairies dancing in my head :)
Friday, December 15, 2006
Friday, December 08, 2006
An Evening at the Rudolfinum
So, it was about 6:30 Thursday night, and I was just finishing up work. I thought about going to a movie, maybe catching Casino Royale, but I suddenly remembered that the one thing which I love to do in Prague that I have not yet done is go to the Rudolfinum concert hall! Well, I checked out the website and realized the Czech Philharmonic had a concert (BRAHMS: Concerto No. 1 in D minor for piano and orchestra B. MARTINŮ: Overture H 345B. MARTINŮ: Symphony No. 1). There was even a visiting pianist Garrick Ohlsson. I wasn't sure what my chances were of getting a ticket, but I thought it was worth a shot, and probably a better use of my present location than the movie theatre.
Well, in my somewhat ugly-American fashion (or perhaps a slavic Bridget Jones' way), I stopped by McDonald's to pick up a quick chicken salad, pushed it into my back pack and hopped on the metro. You see where this is going, right?
Come to find out there were plenty of seats, but I opted for the cheapest, which happened to be the orchestra section behind the Philharmonic. With ticket in hand, I exited the building and made my way to the majestic riverside where I proceeded to eat my chicken salad in the somewhat cold evening. Yes, lovely couples walking hand in hand passed by, I'm sure, wondering what on earth was the creature on the bench doing chowing down on a fall/winter evening next to Prague's premiere concert hall. Well, of course, I was eating dinner on the run. It happens to be a family trait I picked up in grade school :)
To make this long story shorter... I finished my meal and found my way to the orchestra section where I realized I had a bird's eye view of the conductor, Zdenek Macal, and the Philharmonic. Not only did I have an amazing perspective looking down on the musicians, but I also could look out on the audience and was able to capture the emotion on multiple occasions on their faces. I remember one elderly lady patting her eyes dry with a tissue. Despite the back pain I suffered not having a seat back (it was sort of the equivalent of bleacher seats in Oriole Park at Camden Yards), I was entirely enthralled by being so close to the music, caught up in the conductor's graceful moves, and passionate expression.
And, to think I almost went to the movies! The Rudolfinum is probably my favorite place in Prague; an intimate concert hall where music flows so naturally and beautifully, grasping the heart and soul of its visitors.
Well, in my somewhat ugly-American fashion (or perhaps a slavic Bridget Jones' way), I stopped by McDonald's to pick up a quick chicken salad, pushed it into my back pack and hopped on the metro. You see where this is going, right?
Come to find out there were plenty of seats, but I opted for the cheapest, which happened to be the orchestra section behind the Philharmonic. With ticket in hand, I exited the building and made my way to the majestic riverside where I proceeded to eat my chicken salad in the somewhat cold evening. Yes, lovely couples walking hand in hand passed by, I'm sure, wondering what on earth was the creature on the bench doing chowing down on a fall/winter evening next to Prague's premiere concert hall. Well, of course, I was eating dinner on the run. It happens to be a family trait I picked up in grade school :)
To make this long story shorter... I finished my meal and found my way to the orchestra section where I realized I had a bird's eye view of the conductor, Zdenek Macal, and the Philharmonic. Not only did I have an amazing perspective looking down on the musicians, but I also could look out on the audience and was able to capture the emotion on multiple occasions on their faces. I remember one elderly lady patting her eyes dry with a tissue. Despite the back pain I suffered not having a seat back (it was sort of the equivalent of bleacher seats in Oriole Park at Camden Yards), I was entirely enthralled by being so close to the music, caught up in the conductor's graceful moves, and passionate expression.
And, to think I almost went to the movies! The Rudolfinum is probably my favorite place in Prague; an intimate concert hall where music flows so naturally and beautifully, grasping the heart and soul of its visitors.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Litvinenko
Here’s my two cents on the very sad murder of Aleksandr Litvinenko:
My bet is on the Kremlin, but possibly an oligarch or mafia clan (Litvinenko had many enemies). It’s quite interesting that after promising ‘full cooperation” that Russian authorities have placed many restrictions on the British investigators ability to perform a full-out investigation within Russian borders. The British are not able to take the lead, but must have Russian officials conduct interviews of potential suspects and/or witnesses. What’s more, the Russian Prosecutor-General Yury Chaika announced that any Russian citizen implicated in the murder case will be tried in Russia, not in Britain. He went on to say that there will be no extraditions, and then added a few words about Britain’s failure to turn over the self-exiled Russian oligarch/businessman Boris Berezovsky and Chechen separatist envoy Akhmed Zakayev. The Russians want these men badly, but the Brits have refused. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Despite the bad press Russia is getting, perhaps this is exactly the type of bargaining chip for which it has been looking…. And, perhaps the Kremlin is so self-confident that they could care less if half the world thinks they are actively silencing and takin gout dissident voices, basically anyone perceived to be a threat or doesn’t tow the Kremlin’s line. Don’t forget about Viktor Yuschenko, the President of Ukraine who nearly died of dioxin poisoning and has a permanently disfigured face.
One more interesting note… from what I’ve heard translated from Russian news one of the theories being touted within Russia is that Litvinenko was a rogue, trying to prepare some sort of dirty bomb, which he planned to explode, but in the process it backfired and killed Litvinenko himself. I have to wonder what other messages are being carried along those airwaves and TV. But, I really don’t want to become yet another person with a last name ending in “KO” to reach a very unfortunate end so I’ll stop there.
My bet is on the Kremlin, but possibly an oligarch or mafia clan (Litvinenko had many enemies). It’s quite interesting that after promising ‘full cooperation” that Russian authorities have placed many restrictions on the British investigators ability to perform a full-out investigation within Russian borders. The British are not able to take the lead, but must have Russian officials conduct interviews of potential suspects and/or witnesses. What’s more, the Russian Prosecutor-General Yury Chaika announced that any Russian citizen implicated in the murder case will be tried in Russia, not in Britain. He went on to say that there will be no extraditions, and then added a few words about Britain’s failure to turn over the self-exiled Russian oligarch/businessman Boris Berezovsky and Chechen separatist envoy Akhmed Zakayev. The Russians want these men badly, but the Brits have refused. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Despite the bad press Russia is getting, perhaps this is exactly the type of bargaining chip for which it has been looking…. And, perhaps the Kremlin is so self-confident that they could care less if half the world thinks they are actively silencing and takin gout dissident voices, basically anyone perceived to be a threat or doesn’t tow the Kremlin’s line. Don’t forget about Viktor Yuschenko, the President of Ukraine who nearly died of dioxin poisoning and has a permanently disfigured face.
One more interesting note… from what I’ve heard translated from Russian news one of the theories being touted within Russia is that Litvinenko was a rogue, trying to prepare some sort of dirty bomb, which he planned to explode, but in the process it backfired and killed Litvinenko himself. I have to wonder what other messages are being carried along those airwaves and TV. But, I really don’t want to become yet another person with a last name ending in “KO” to reach a very unfortunate end so I’ll stop there.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Pirohy recipe
Returning to my favorite topic, Slovakia.... I happened to check my email and found this lovely, translated recipe from my relative Pavol and his mom. We have quite the recipe exchange going... he and his mom now want my chocolate chip cookie recipe!
Anyway, Grandma, Aunt Pat, Mom, this one is for you :)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Pirohy
The first step of this recipe is to prepare the pastry from which we create the pirohy. Put on a moulding-board ½ kilogram of half- whole-flour (polohruba).
Add 1 egg , 1 soup spoon of mashed (sieved ) boiled potatoes , a pinch of salt (Mom uses a half coffee spoon) and water (at need) into the midlle.
Mix all of this to form the pastry. The pastry should be neither tough nor soft so we can roll it adequately.
Then roll the pastry out until the textures is about 3 millimeters thick.
Once we have done the rolling, take a cup or a glass and cut out circles from the pastry.
After creating the circles, we fill them with the filling.
Once we have filled a circle of pastry with the filling, we close the circle creating a crescent moon shape. We then close up the edges.
So now the pirohy are ready to be placed into a pot of boiling water. We put them into the boiling water and mix them occasionally. We have to be very careful when we are mixing them that we don't break them. And when do we know that they have been cooked? It is easy, when they float to the top we know they are ready to come back out again.
Once the pirohy are back out of the water, they are ready to be served. They taste best when they are gravied with hot melted butter and at the end ,flavoured with a pinch o salt.
The filling - circa 1 soup plate volume:
½ soup plate of curd (cottage cheese)
½ soup plate of mashed boiled potatoes (of course flavoured with salt)
1 yolk
circa 10 grams (1 pocket) of vanilla sugar plus normal sugar (by taste, if you prefer sweeter filling). Mix all of this together.
DOBRU CHUT !
Time flies when you're having fun...
Hi there! Yes, I know… it’s been a long time. All I can say is that it is pretty crazy how the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas flies by. In general, the past few months have whizzed by. I don’t know where they’ve gone.
And, of course, there are certain promises made which I have yet to make good on. I still intend on writing a few pieces on family, tracing roots, and time (how we are slaves to it, my frustrations with people’s busy schedules here).
But, turning to the moment at hand, I find myself blogging on a dark, rainy night. I actually spent an hour after work visiting the Christmas Market at Namesti Miru (Peace Square) and then being persuaded to get Thai food at this place called “Tiger, Tiger”. I have to say, “Tiger, Tiger” serves up some mighty tasty pad thai kung (w/shrimp)! Of course, you sort of pay American prices, but it’s worth it! By the way, if I can take a moment to complain, the dollar continues to lose value against the Czech crown. When I first came 1USD bought about 22.5 Kc. Currently 1USD buys about 20.9 Kc. And, back when I was here in 1997, my dollar got me about 32-36 Kc. How times have changed!
Life has been full here. On the one hand, I absolutely can’t wait to land in the little dinky airport of Binghamton, NY and to find myself cozy in my family’s home, preparing to celebrate Christmas. But, on the other hand, here I am, actually feeling pretty settled, building friendships, and not so ready to pick up and leave. I guess part of me, the realist that is, is worried about the reality of continuing my new friendships at a distance. I know how I tend to get busy and although I really care about people, I often fail to write or call. I’m thinking though that this blog might come in handy. :)
It’s been quite an interesting time here in Prague this time around. At first I had a hard time looking at the city without thinking of the people that made it so special for me in the first place, and realizing they were no longer here (including, a rather dashing Viennese boyfriend). But, with time and persistence, God has proven himself ever faithful in blessing me with yet new friends, dear friends from Prague, Hungary, Indonesia, South Africa, Australia, and a few other places. And, least I forget, I even have a few new distant family members in Slovakia. Little did I think that Slovakia would have such a impact on me, but it has.
This past Sunday there was an international bazaar put on by the Women’s Diplomatic Association, and I happened to stop by the Slovakia table. Well, I made a purchase (can’t release details at this point), and the sales guy threw in a T-shirt, which I only realized once I got home read in Slovak: “Slovakia, little big country.” Now, some of my Korean American friends (Mark Kim) might be laughing, but that logo sounds absolutely perfect to me. Indeed, in a sense it sums up some of my feelings about the struggle in my heart between the city and the country. I have to say, I’m at heart a country girl, who is drawn to city life, but can’t fully pull herself away from the country. A mix of both is essential for me.
Learning about Slovakia in an academic sense, you read a lot about how Slovakia was in many ways behind the Czech Republic, which was a center of industry even prior to WWII. In fact, the Nazis exploited this fact and relied heavily upon Czech factories for supplies during the war. This long running industrial tradition definitely helped the nation economically. When the two countries peacefully separated, Slovaks chose this route mainly because they did not want to undergo the harsh economic reforms that Czech leaders forecasted were necessary.
In the sports’ arena, I also understand that the Slovaks have a bit of an inferiority complex. (My brother is all over this point.) Although the Slovaks field a mighty talented national ice hockey team, for some reason, they always fail to beat the Czechs. Can you imagine? Today both countries are undergoing strange political times. The Czech Republic doesn’t really have a functioning government, and this situation has been ongoing since the elections earlier this spring. Slovakia, for its part, is in the midst of a populist backlash. Yes, they are recent (2004) entrants to the European Union, but they still have a ways to go in terms of building strong state institutions, developing responsible leaders, and rooting out corruption. I say all this as a backdrop to my emotional attachment to this “little, big country”, with which I have an ancestral connection. Warm people and snowy mountain tops go along way in winning one over. :)
What else? This past weekend I got to meet a pretty neat young college student from Azerbaijan. Nazila was so impressed I knew her country’s capital, Baku, that she decided she needed to find out what more I knew. Hahaha. So, our conversation stretched from Baku to media crackdowns to Russia to Anna Politskaya to the Litvinenko poisoning to the Masons (Of course, all in logical succession). :) Oh, I almost forgot, but we also touched upon some more sensitive subjects such as Armenia and the Jewish diaspora in Azerbaijan. When I broached the topic of Armenia, I think the response was, "Well, we don't like them." My experience in the Balkans and in interacting with people from the Caucasus has taught me the fine art of walking on egg shells.
But back to a topic we both were very excited about, Nazila and I are teaming up in a quest to figure out the real meaning of free masonry, what they do, what all the secrecy is about... :) I think it’s pretty cool that I now have an Azeri partner-in-crime in this little endeavor. Nazila happens to be in Prague as a student on scholarship, studying economics in Czech. Yes, the Czech government gives out a certain number of scholarships to foreign students, brings them here and teaches them Czech, tests them in the subject matter in Czech, and then grants them a spot at a uni if they pass with high marks. Did I mention they only learn Czech for 6-8 months before applying for a university spot? To me, it’s all madness! I can’t imagine, but I’m awfully impressed by these young students to say the very least.
I think that’s all for now folks. Raymond, I hope you’re happy! I’ve got pictures a plenty, but unfortunately too little time. I’ll see what I can do. I’ve got some great shots of sheep and the hillsides of northern England :)
And, of course, there are certain promises made which I have yet to make good on. I still intend on writing a few pieces on family, tracing roots, and time (how we are slaves to it, my frustrations with people’s busy schedules here).
But, turning to the moment at hand, I find myself blogging on a dark, rainy night. I actually spent an hour after work visiting the Christmas Market at Namesti Miru (Peace Square) and then being persuaded to get Thai food at this place called “Tiger, Tiger”. I have to say, “Tiger, Tiger” serves up some mighty tasty pad thai kung (w/shrimp)! Of course, you sort of pay American prices, but it’s worth it! By the way, if I can take a moment to complain, the dollar continues to lose value against the Czech crown. When I first came 1USD bought about 22.5 Kc. Currently 1USD buys about 20.9 Kc. And, back when I was here in 1997, my dollar got me about 32-36 Kc. How times have changed!
Life has been full here. On the one hand, I absolutely can’t wait to land in the little dinky airport of Binghamton, NY and to find myself cozy in my family’s home, preparing to celebrate Christmas. But, on the other hand, here I am, actually feeling pretty settled, building friendships, and not so ready to pick up and leave. I guess part of me, the realist that is, is worried about the reality of continuing my new friendships at a distance. I know how I tend to get busy and although I really care about people, I often fail to write or call. I’m thinking though that this blog might come in handy. :)
It’s been quite an interesting time here in Prague this time around. At first I had a hard time looking at the city without thinking of the people that made it so special for me in the first place, and realizing they were no longer here (including, a rather dashing Viennese boyfriend). But, with time and persistence, God has proven himself ever faithful in blessing me with yet new friends, dear friends from Prague, Hungary, Indonesia, South Africa, Australia, and a few other places. And, least I forget, I even have a few new distant family members in Slovakia. Little did I think that Slovakia would have such a impact on me, but it has.
This past Sunday there was an international bazaar put on by the Women’s Diplomatic Association, and I happened to stop by the Slovakia table. Well, I made a purchase (can’t release details at this point), and the sales guy threw in a T-shirt, which I only realized once I got home read in Slovak: “Slovakia, little big country.” Now, some of my Korean American friends (Mark Kim) might be laughing, but that logo sounds absolutely perfect to me. Indeed, in a sense it sums up some of my feelings about the struggle in my heart between the city and the country. I have to say, I’m at heart a country girl, who is drawn to city life, but can’t fully pull herself away from the country. A mix of both is essential for me.
Learning about Slovakia in an academic sense, you read a lot about how Slovakia was in many ways behind the Czech Republic, which was a center of industry even prior to WWII. In fact, the Nazis exploited this fact and relied heavily upon Czech factories for supplies during the war. This long running industrial tradition definitely helped the nation economically. When the two countries peacefully separated, Slovaks chose this route mainly because they did not want to undergo the harsh economic reforms that Czech leaders forecasted were necessary.
In the sports’ arena, I also understand that the Slovaks have a bit of an inferiority complex. (My brother is all over this point.) Although the Slovaks field a mighty talented national ice hockey team, for some reason, they always fail to beat the Czechs. Can you imagine? Today both countries are undergoing strange political times. The Czech Republic doesn’t really have a functioning government, and this situation has been ongoing since the elections earlier this spring. Slovakia, for its part, is in the midst of a populist backlash. Yes, they are recent (2004) entrants to the European Union, but they still have a ways to go in terms of building strong state institutions, developing responsible leaders, and rooting out corruption. I say all this as a backdrop to my emotional attachment to this “little, big country”, with which I have an ancestral connection. Warm people and snowy mountain tops go along way in winning one over. :)
What else? This past weekend I got to meet a pretty neat young college student from Azerbaijan. Nazila was so impressed I knew her country’s capital, Baku, that she decided she needed to find out what more I knew. Hahaha. So, our conversation stretched from Baku to media crackdowns to Russia to Anna Politskaya to the Litvinenko poisoning to the Masons (Of course, all in logical succession). :) Oh, I almost forgot, but we also touched upon some more sensitive subjects such as Armenia and the Jewish diaspora in Azerbaijan. When I broached the topic of Armenia, I think the response was, "Well, we don't like them." My experience in the Balkans and in interacting with people from the Caucasus has taught me the fine art of walking on egg shells.
But back to a topic we both were very excited about, Nazila and I are teaming up in a quest to figure out the real meaning of free masonry, what they do, what all the secrecy is about... :) I think it’s pretty cool that I now have an Azeri partner-in-crime in this little endeavor. Nazila happens to be in Prague as a student on scholarship, studying economics in Czech. Yes, the Czech government gives out a certain number of scholarships to foreign students, brings them here and teaches them Czech, tests them in the subject matter in Czech, and then grants them a spot at a uni if they pass with high marks. Did I mention they only learn Czech for 6-8 months before applying for a university spot? To me, it’s all madness! I can’t imagine, but I’m awfully impressed by these young students to say the very least.
I think that’s all for now folks. Raymond, I hope you’re happy! I’ve got pictures a plenty, but unfortunately too little time. I’ll see what I can do. I’ve got some great shots of sheep and the hillsides of northern England :)
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Happy Thanksgiving
Friends and Family,
Happy Thanksgiving! I'm heading to bed soon, but thought I'd write from location in Hampswaite, England (Yorkshire). I hopped on a Jet2.com plane earlier this afternoon and made my way to Leeds where my good friend from Penn, Leah, met me. We had a lovely dinner: roast duck, rice pilaf, and sweet potatoes, topped off with pumpkin mousse. But, more than the food, it was simply wonderful to reconnect with this friend who has been with me since university days. Leah was randomly (or unrandomly :)) assigned to me as my roommate and she has been like a sister ever since.
Northern England is really quaint. I don't think I've ever seen so many stone cottages. The weather is a challenge that's for sure. It get's dark around 4:30 at present and the wind at night howls something fierce, which is why I'm probably up and online! I'm very happy to be here though.... And, I really hope Leah and I will be able to take a walk/hike in the countryside one of the days I'm here. She claims that having nature and the countryside at her doorstep is one of the best things about living here. I'll let you know what I find out!
But, back to Thanksgiving musings... it has been a special week. Not only did I get to celebrate with Leah today, but at work we had a special Thanksgiving meal with all the festive trappings, and even had a special word from the Ambassador and our Director of Broadcasting. Sitting in a room probably only half full of Americans and the rest representing countries as far away as Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Bosnia, and other lands, it was a really neat feeling to introduce and share this day with colleagues. Breaking bread with people from all parts of the world is definitely pretty nifty.
Miss you all very much. There's something about the holiday season that makes me crave home. Funny, but I can't wait to get into my mother's kitchen with my sisters to bake until our hearts are content and we've exhausted the sugar supply :) That will come.
Before I sign off... I just want to say I'm so glad and very blessed to have such a loving family and amazing group of friends such as yourselves :) Yes, pat yourself on the back :) I send a great, big cyber hug to you all.
Happy Thanksgiving! I'm heading to bed soon, but thought I'd write from location in Hampswaite, England (Yorkshire). I hopped on a Jet2.com plane earlier this afternoon and made my way to Leeds where my good friend from Penn, Leah, met me. We had a lovely dinner: roast duck, rice pilaf, and sweet potatoes, topped off with pumpkin mousse. But, more than the food, it was simply wonderful to reconnect with this friend who has been with me since university days. Leah was randomly (or unrandomly :)) assigned to me as my roommate and she has been like a sister ever since.
Northern England is really quaint. I don't think I've ever seen so many stone cottages. The weather is a challenge that's for sure. It get's dark around 4:30 at present and the wind at night howls something fierce, which is why I'm probably up and online! I'm very happy to be here though.... And, I really hope Leah and I will be able to take a walk/hike in the countryside one of the days I'm here. She claims that having nature and the countryside at her doorstep is one of the best things about living here. I'll let you know what I find out!
But, back to Thanksgiving musings... it has been a special week. Not only did I get to celebrate with Leah today, but at work we had a special Thanksgiving meal with all the festive trappings, and even had a special word from the Ambassador and our Director of Broadcasting. Sitting in a room probably only half full of Americans and the rest representing countries as far away as Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Bosnia, and other lands, it was a really neat feeling to introduce and share this day with colleagues. Breaking bread with people from all parts of the world is definitely pretty nifty.
Miss you all very much. There's something about the holiday season that makes me crave home. Funny, but I can't wait to get into my mother's kitchen with my sisters to bake until our hearts are content and we've exhausted the sugar supply :) That will come.
Before I sign off... I just want to say I'm so glad and very blessed to have such a loving family and amazing group of friends such as yourselves :) Yes, pat yourself on the back :) I send a great, big cyber hug to you all.
Monday, November 20, 2006
On the Road Again...
Sorry for the delay in blog entries, but the last few weeks have been chock full of activity. Let's see, where should I even begin? (If I were truly a multimedia person, you'd be hearing Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again" right now.)
Let's see... Ever since my expedition to the far reaches of northeastern Slovakia, it seems as if I've been on the road. After visiting Vysne Repase with Valent and Pavol, I took advantage of a long weekend and headed to Berlin. Last week I took advantage of a Czech holiday and met a friend in Krakow, Poland. While I thoroughly enjoyed my train ride through Dresden to Berlin, my overnight train to Krakow left much to be desired. I have to say I found it all a bit eerie stopping in the middle of the night or early morning in present day Oswiecim (what the Nazis called Auschwitz). In Berlin, I watched a new German movie called "The Last Train" which focuses on the relationships that ensue between several characters in one car of the last transport of Berlin Jews to Auschwitz. Well, trying to fall asleep in my couchette, my mind replayed the movie over and over. It was not fun to say the least.
This past weekend, with the help of my friend and guest Becky, we successfully hosted a pierogi making evening for women from my church here in Prague. It was an intergenerational gathering and included Asia, our resident Polish pierogi inspector. Come to find out, Asia, although Polish, has never made pierogi on her own. I was absolutely delighted when she announced to the ladies at several points in the evening... "wow, she really knows what she's doing. Of course, this usually came after I poured liquid butter over a dish of pierogis or lightly fried some of them in butter and onions. Yes, pierogi are part of a healthy dietary regimine :)
There's even more that I've been up to, but I'll close for now. As you can imagine, I'm pretty darn tired from a lot of weekend travel and hosting. I have one more trip ahead of me over Thanksgiving-- to see my friendly Minnesotan Leah, now residing in jolly ole England.
I wish you all a very blessed and happy Thanksgiving. I hope Thursday will mean more than Turkey day, but that we can all take some time to reflect on the blessings of this past year.
As for the above picture, I am standing here with Wendel Parana's wife, who came into the home as her husband was searching for a court deed listing my greatgrandmother as emigrated to America. Wendel's wife had a very warm demeanor, and exuded positive energy and a spirit of hope. I really wish I took a face shot of each and every person I encountered for each was special and unique with a story to tell. These past few months have been an amazing adventure in self discovery and plain old fun. And, somehow, I hope it's just the start of something new...
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Vysne Repase
This past weekend I made a trek to the northeastern reaches of Slovakia to trace my roots. I made the trip with Valent and Pavol Gura, distant relatives I met about a month ago. I have not yet had time to process my thoughts and feelings from this adventure or as Valent put it "expedition", but suffice it to say, at least for now, that my visit to the villages of Vysne Repase (pictured here) and Pavlany, where my greatgrandparents were born and raised, was an extraordinary time, a truly moving experience. Imagine if you will, walking down the village paths, visiting the local cemetery and being embraced by 
a random, unrelated elderly couple, Mr. and Mrs. Suchy. Even before I opened my mouth to utter a few sparse words in Slovak, I was warmly embraced. In fact, a few times I didn't quite think people would let me go. How sweet it was to receive hug after hug with the familiar and kind word, "piekna" (beautiful). I arrived in Bratislava with 2 bags, but I left Vysne Repase with about 4! I am eternally grateful to Valent and Pavol who made this trip posssible, taking care of me every step of the way (except for when they left me on my own to use my Polish/limited Czech and Slovak, the combination of which, come to find out is pretty close to Spis dialect [Spis is the region we visited, south of the High Tatry and Poland]). There are many more stories to tell and weathered, yet beautiful and hopeful faces to share with you!
a random, unrelated elderly couple, Mr. and Mrs. Suchy. Even before I opened my mouth to utter a few sparse words in Slovak, I was warmly embraced. In fact, a few times I didn't quite think people would let me go. How sweet it was to receive hug after hug with the familiar and kind word, "piekna" (beautiful). I arrived in Bratislava with 2 bags, but I left Vysne Repase with about 4! I am eternally grateful to Valent and Pavol who made this trip posssible, taking care of me every step of the way (except for when they left me on my own to use my Polish/limited Czech and Slovak, the combination of which, come to find out is pretty close to Spis dialect [Spis is the region we visited, south of the High Tatry and Poland]). There are many more stories to tell and weathered, yet beautiful and hopeful faces to share with you!
Monday, November 06, 2006
Exploring Radio
October 17-19, I participated in a workshop titled “Exploring Radio”, a basic course in radio journalism for non-broadcasters. After discussing the fundamentals of radio, my class was given the practical assignment of putting together a 25-minute program. The various elements in the program included: station identification and promos, a news billboard, 3 features with 2 audio clips each, one main interview, and music. Somehow I was assigned the role of Senior Editor and also was responsible for our musical selection. How long did we get to put this 25-minute piece together? Well, we received our assignment at about 12 or 1 on Wednesday and were to go ‘live’ at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday. When I heard the news I began to sweat bullets. (O.K. not exactly, but pretty darn close. Knowing me, I take all assignments seriously!).
After some initial fears and consternation, I have to say my team pulled it off extremely well. Each person had the opportunity to use his/her creativity and we helped each other out, brainstorming, bouncing ideas off each other, scheduling interviews, writing, and editing. The main theme of the 25-minute program was “Prague Autumn” which included a main report on RFE/RL's relocation and groundbreaking ceremony and short segments on Halloween, fall traditions in the U.S. and Czech Republic, and the flu season and influenza shots. We also had news highlights in Russian. Why Russian? Our newscaster was Belarusian and came to me pleading not to read the news in English as she sounded atrocious. I didn’t quite think she sounded so badly, but I respected her wishes and language preference. And, it was the right choice. The Russian simply flowed from Katka’s lips; she sounded very professional, taking brief pauses between highlights.
As for me, I didn’t create one specific piece myself, but had editorial control on each piece and helped with one Czech-English voice over. I wish the file wasn’t so large and you could all hear our program, but I guess you’ll have to wait for the audio CD when I return! If you allow me a little bragging room, I dare say NPR’s Morning Edition should watch out!
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Sound of Music Gazebo
"I am sixteen going on seventeen"... yeah, I wish. Actually, no I don't. I'm so glad to be past that age, and no longer in my teens.Here I am with my friend Fal (visiting from Hoboken) at the famous glass gazebo where Rolf and Liesl professed their affection for each other. This gazebo became so popular with fans that they rebuilt it, residing permanently in the gardens of Hellbrunn Castle.
If you'd like to see more pictures of Salzburg and the vicinity, I've uploaded a bunch more on flickr.com. Please see: http://www.flickr.com/photos/73459909@N00/
Salzkammergut
Lake Wolfgang was absolutely breathtaking. On our train from Prague to Linz we met a Czech lady familiar with Austria who shared the Salzkammergut (lake region) was her favorite and Lake Wolfgang, in particular. I was thrilled to find out our tour included a stop in this precious gem. Some of the opening shots of the the movie were shot here. 
Colors of Autumn
These trees and their palette of fall colors blew me away. There is something so peaceful about the onset of autumn...
Leopoldskron Castle
Our first stop on the Original Sound of Music Tour: Leopoldskron Castle, the front side of which was used as the Trapp family home. The children played in boats on the lake, falling in to the Admiral's dismay (Maria's, too).The morning started out with fog and slight rain. Austrians like to say, similar to the British, "we don't have a climate, we just have weather."
Monday, October 30, 2006
Do, a deer, a female deer ... Re, a drop of golden sun...
This past weekend one of my childhood and adulthood dreams finally came true… the hills are definitely alive with the sound of music! After twisting my friend Fal’s arm, we boarded a train from Prague to Linz and then to Salzburg, Austria on Friday. Fal has been here for about a week and we determined it was time for a trip outside of Prague. We couldn’t have timed it better. Fall is hitting most of Central Europe and Austria, in particular, was breathtaking. I tend to think, however, that Austria is pretty much ALWAYS beautiful. I woke up on the train just before the Czech-Austrian border to catch some amazing sights of autumn. Vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow covered the rolling hills. Along the way I couldn’t help but think of my beloved Upstate NY. For me autumn will always have a special place in my heart of hearts—despite the many years since high school, it still represents an hour more of sleep, pulling out warm sweaters, sipping hot chocolate, early morning Saturday swim practices, and attending Friday night or Saturday afternoon football games.
Salzburg is world renown for the local boy, musical genius, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and, thanks to Hollywood and Rodgers and Hammerstein, the Trapp family. According to our guide, more visitors come to this famous Austrian city of 185,000 to catch the Sound of Music tour than to celebrate Mozart, but there are still many, many people that come to hear Mozart. One of the first things Fal and I did was visit Mozart’s birthplace and home. The third-floor apartment dwelling included his actual viola and harpsichord as well as many other personal items of the boy wonder. Each room in the house contained a different theme, and of course, different operas or compositions provided constant background music. The wunderkind wrote his first composition at age five and taught himself violin and the organ by age seven. I learned quite a bit about how his father Leopold took him on tour as a child, about his troubled relationship with the Archbishops and the court, how he eventually struck out on his own, and fun things like how to best powder one’s wig.
Saturday morning I got up bright and early for a traditional Austrian breakfast. Imagine if you will a fresh selection of breads, rolls, cheeses, yogurts, fruit, and deli-sliced meats. Lecker schmecker! Soon we were off to Salzkammergut to view Austria’s lake district, where the opening shots of Sound of Music were filmed. Words can’t do justice to the Austrian landscape: the green hills and mountains, the alpine waters, wooden-tiered houses, sheep and cattle … it is really something one would find only in a fairytale. From what I understand, the crew of Sound of Music did not exactly experience ‘fairytale’ conditions when they came to Austria to film. What they thought would take 6 weeks in reality took 6 months because of bad weather. In the middle of August, poor Julie Andrews was taken in a box-cart up Mountain Untersberg in a fur coat to guard her against the harsh cold and chilly winds. We, however, had a lovely day once the morning rain passed. There is nothing quite like the clean air and verdant mountains of Austria, its flowing beer taps, crisp white wines, schnitzels, apple and cheese strudels in custard, and the Austrians themselves. In all honesty, I was sad to leave Salzburg. I hope I'll find future opportunities (many future opportunities) to return!
Salzburg is world renown for the local boy, musical genius, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and, thanks to Hollywood and Rodgers and Hammerstein, the Trapp family. According to our guide, more visitors come to this famous Austrian city of 185,000 to catch the Sound of Music tour than to celebrate Mozart, but there are still many, many people that come to hear Mozart. One of the first things Fal and I did was visit Mozart’s birthplace and home. The third-floor apartment dwelling included his actual viola and harpsichord as well as many other personal items of the boy wonder. Each room in the house contained a different theme, and of course, different operas or compositions provided constant background music. The wunderkind wrote his first composition at age five and taught himself violin and the organ by age seven. I learned quite a bit about how his father Leopold took him on tour as a child, about his troubled relationship with the Archbishops and the court, how he eventually struck out on his own, and fun things like how to best powder one’s wig.
Saturday morning I got up bright and early for a traditional Austrian breakfast. Imagine if you will a fresh selection of breads, rolls, cheeses, yogurts, fruit, and deli-sliced meats. Lecker schmecker! Soon we were off to Salzkammergut to view Austria’s lake district, where the opening shots of Sound of Music were filmed. Words can’t do justice to the Austrian landscape: the green hills and mountains, the alpine waters, wooden-tiered houses, sheep and cattle … it is really something one would find only in a fairytale. From what I understand, the crew of Sound of Music did not exactly experience ‘fairytale’ conditions when they came to Austria to film. What they thought would take 6 weeks in reality took 6 months because of bad weather. In the middle of August, poor Julie Andrews was taken in a box-cart up Mountain Untersberg in a fur coat to guard her against the harsh cold and chilly winds. We, however, had a lovely day once the morning rain passed. There is nothing quite like the clean air and verdant mountains of Austria, its flowing beer taps, crisp white wines, schnitzels, apple and cheese strudels in custard, and the Austrians themselves. In all honesty, I was sad to leave Salzburg. I hope I'll find future opportunities (many future opportunities) to return!
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Dilapidated building on Prespostska I street near Bratislava Castle
Sites such as this are fairly common around Slovakia. Some buildings look beautiful and others have been left to the ravages of time. With limited finances, it's simply impossible to renovate every historical building. 
In Trnava, we actually happened past several abandoned buildings in the former Jewish quarter or ghetto. I'm not sure which. For the most part these buildings were just sitting there replete with broken windows and falling plaster. Pavol informed me that the local government had opened up some of the city's abandoned buildings to the Roma gypsy population. As we passed one of these buildings the gateway opened; outwalked a father with two daughters. I peered in and saw a courtyard with hanging laundry and more dilapidated structures within. According to Pavol, many of these makeshift housing units do not have modern infrastructure; that is, toilet and modern plumbing. But, the Roma are content to live under these circumstance so they say. It's hard to comprehend.
In Trnava, we actually happened past several abandoned buildings in the former Jewish quarter or ghetto. I'm not sure which. For the most part these buildings were just sitting there replete with broken windows and falling plaster. Pavol informed me that the local government had opened up some of the city's abandoned buildings to the Roma gypsy population. As we passed one of these buildings the gateway opened; outwalked a father with two daughters. I peered in and saw a courtyard with hanging laundry and more dilapidated structures within. According to Pavol, many of these makeshift housing units do not have modern infrastructure; that is, toilet and modern plumbing. But, the Roma are content to live under these circumstance so they say. It's hard to comprehend.
Trnava Synagogue - Now Art Gallery...
I visited an exhibition of international posters while in Trnava. This synagogue, which now functions as an art gallery, was one of the venues.I was a bit shocked by the poor condition of the synagogue. Of course, I've read about many of the old synagogues of Central Europe either totally destroyed or used to house equipment during Communism. This building from what I understand was almost totally lost because of water damage and lack of repair. However, some bit of money must have been invested to keep it afloat.
Not only was the poor condition of the synagogue kind of startling, but I was also a bit shocked by some of the museum's explanations regarding the few Jewish artifacts it had on display. Namely, when you entered the museum there was a plaque noting that several Jews were accused of 'blood libel' and summarily killed. Blood libel is a charge dating back to the middle ages alleging that Jews kidnapped Christian children and used their blood for rituals. Having studied Jewish history in Central Europe as well as anti-semitism through the ages, I have read about this accusation, but somehow this mention on the plaque hit closer to home. My good friend Hanka, a Slovak, has shared that anti-semitism was very ripe in Slovakia. Sometimes coming face to face with history is an unpleasant, uncomfortable encounter.
Novy Most - "New Bridge" in Bratislava
This is Novy Most, which I mentioned. On the other side of the bridge is Petrzalka, a sort of
'model' socialist development. Saturday was very hazy, but you should be able to make out the blok after blok of apartments.
'model' socialist development. Saturday was very hazy, but you should be able to make out the blok after blok of apartments.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Part Two- Yet another piece to the puzzle…
“Appropriate what you inherited from your fathers, so that you possess it.” – Johann Wolfgang GoetheSunday morning I woke up to a “Valent” breakfast: yogurt, an array of breads, a choco-croissant (how did you know!), and Nescafe coffee. Valent’s wife, Dagmara, is in London for 2 months, helping out her daughter and son-in-law with their young son, Sebastian. According to Valent, this is the first time in 28 years of marriage he is without his wife, but to his credit he seemed to be managing quite well. After a few pictures in his backyard poolside, we made our way using GPS to his nephew’s apartment in Trnava, what Slovak’s like to call “little Rome.” Valent has quite a keen, dry sense of humor, but his reliance on GPS for navigation really was the icing on the cake for me.
Some interesting facts I found out about Valent: he was born and grew up in Vysne Repase, a village in the Spis region of Slovakia just south of the high Tatry. The village dates back to at least the 14th century. A historical pamphlet put together for the 650th anniversary of the village named 60 families that were native to the village around the time of Maria Theresa (1740s): the Fecko family was among these 60. Don’t ask me or my cousins about the change in spelling… One guess is that Fetzko is the ‘Hungarianized’ or “Anglicized” version my grandfather inherited. Who knows?! And how are Valent and Pavol Gura related? They are the descendents of my great-grandfather’s and great-grandmother’s siblings.
Back to Valent, his major at university was the science of “keeping trains from crashing into each other”… seriously, I think that’s what he called it. In other words, he has an engineering background, but also went on to study computer science. All this eventually led to jobs with Andersen Consulting and most recently Hewlett Packard. For HP, he has really traveled the world: Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Besides his daughter in London, he has a second daughter Datka, who lives at home and works at the Bratislava paper, Sme. Oh, and least I forget, they have a 30-year turtle Sissina (sp?).
After one mishap with the GPS system (it failed temporarily), we finally arrived in Trnava at Pavol’s, Valent’s nephew. Pavol is very close in age to me, is married to Mirka, and has a little daughter Sara. He and his wife had purchased their flat about 2 years ago and are gradually finishing renovations. Despite the fact it was situated in a typical socialist block of flats, their apartment was very bright and nicely remodeled. They explained that purchasing an apartment is a big ordeal, and land or a house even more so.
Pavol, Mirka, and Sara - Trnava, Slovakia
Pavol has such a warm and welcoming way about him, I immediately felt at ease and at home with him, Mirka (his wife) and Sara (their daughter). We seemed to have an immediate connection. He appeared to have thoroughly read my letter and emails, even checking out the website where I work, and had a number of questions for me from the start. It was great to just dive in. Although there were a few moments of silence, for the most part, our conversation flowed rather nicely. What amazed me was that he almost always knew the intent of my questions and he even had a way of pointing a few things out about me (pure observation and intuition)! On a walk in the woods behind their flat Pavol pointed out that my gate was quick and determined rather than leisurely. I didn’t appear to be someone out to take in the sights. I had to laugh: yes, I’m a speed walker by nature. But, his observation struck a deeper chord: I frequently am more concerned about getting from point A to point Z than I am interested in taking in my surroundings and just being. Well, this sort of stopped me in my tracks ... I started to walk a little slower and tried to breathe in the peace of the woods and tried to enjoy the rays of sun on my skin, the simple life pleasures of a beautiful autumn day.Back in the apartment I also browsed through the CD collection and came across many groups I personally like. It turns out Pavol is also a big fan of old Jazz greats, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitgerald, Louis Armstrong, and Edith Piaf as well as Pearl Jam. (I actually saw Pearl Jam here in Prague in September). It was very neat to find these interesting similarities in tastes.
My visit with Pavol also provided an avid Eastern European history buff like me the opportunity to hear about life during communism and the personal experience of his family. Pavol told me how some of his sisters were denied entrance at university because they indicated belief in God on entrance applications. On the other hand, sometimes the powers that be awarded the sons and daughters of villagers a place at university because of their work as farmers and workers of the state. Pavol is part of the last generation that really remembers what life was like during communism. He also remembers the visits of my great cousin Albert Fecko who visited Slovakia over the years starting in the late 1970s. It was very apparent speaking to Pavol and Valent that they have a profound attachment to their beloved village Vysne Repase. In fact, Valent’s laptop opens to a picture he took in November 2005 of the village. Pavol simply beams when he talks about the mountain views. “It’s very different, very special there, you know, Christine,” he said.
And, I somehow know exactly what he means. For sure, Vysne Repase has a large list of troubles: the village numbers about 100 inhabitants, 2/3 of which are widowers. There is no industry save for subsistence farming (as far as I can tell). According to Pavol, alcoholism is a problem in many Slovak villages and men have been known to freeze to death after passing out. Despite these problems and the harsh nature of life in Vysne Repase, there is beautify found in the truth of this human experience.
How the World Turns
My next step is 
planning a trip to Vysne Repase...to see, in a sense, where it all began. Hopefully, I will accompany Valent and Pavol the first weekend of November.
Pavol has already given his mother a full report about my visit and my mention of different foods we still prepare in the United States. I was so surprised when I rattled off our typical Christmas Eve meal and he didn’t wince an eye. In fact, he knew exactly what I was talking about when I mentioned my grandmother’s special cabbage soup “machanka”. No one, not even friends of Slovak descent in the States, has ever recognized that name. I went on to tell him about my grandmother’s practice of preparing paska at Christmas and Easter, and how she would bake each grandchild his/her own paska (a round, white bread with raisins) at Easter every year. He knew paska as well and was quite surprised himself at my description since his own wife wasn’t entirely familiar with all of the dishes prepared in his family. So, I understand Pavol’s mom is going to prepare me some pirohy (pierogi) and maybe a few other surprises. I really can’t wait. The Czechs don’t do pirohy and I couldn’t seem to find them on a menu in Bratislava so perhaps it’s a food coming from northeastern part of Slovakia, close to the border with Poland.
After spending most of Sunday with Pavol, Mirka, and little Sara, Pavol drove me back to Bratislava and accompanied me to my traveler’s hostel. Before departing he gave me an absolutely fantastic photography book, How the World Turns, with pictures of life and specific individuals in a small village in eastern Slovakia. The pictures are deeply moving, filled with emotion, each telling a story and bringing you so close you could touch the human spirit. I have to say… it might just be one of the very best gifts I’ve ever received. As I began to flip through the pages of pictures, tears welled up in my eyes: making this trip, tracing family roots, connecting with distant relatives, learning about the past … this was a longtime desire of my heart. I can only say thank you Lord for making this possible! What a beautiful journey it has been...
planning a trip to Vysne Repase...to see, in a sense, where it all began. Hopefully, I will accompany Valent and Pavol the first weekend of November.Pavol has already given his mother a full report about my visit and my mention of different foods we still prepare in the United States. I was so surprised when I rattled off our typical Christmas Eve meal and he didn’t wince an eye. In fact, he knew exactly what I was talking about when I mentioned my grandmother’s special cabbage soup “machanka”. No one, not even friends of Slovak descent in the States, has ever recognized that name. I went on to tell him about my grandmother’s practice of preparing paska at Christmas and Easter, and how she would bake each grandchild his/her own paska (a round, white bread with raisins) at Easter every year. He knew paska as well and was quite surprised himself at my description since his own wife wasn’t entirely familiar with all of the dishes prepared in his family. So, I understand Pavol’s mom is going to prepare me some pirohy (pierogi) and maybe a few other surprises. I really can’t wait. The Czechs don’t do pirohy and I couldn’t seem to find them on a menu in Bratislava so perhaps it’s a food coming from northeastern part of Slovakia, close to the border with Poland.
After spending most of Sunday with Pavol, Mirka, and little Sara, Pavol drove me back to Bratislava and accompanied me to my traveler’s hostel. Before departing he gave me an absolutely fantastic photography book, How the World Turns, with pictures of life and specific individuals in a small village in eastern Slovakia. The pictures are deeply moving, filled with emotion, each telling a story and bringing you so close you could touch the human spirit. I have to say… it might just be one of the very best gifts I’ve ever received. As I began to flip through the pages of pictures, tears welled up in my eyes: making this trip, tracing family roots, connecting with distant relatives, learning about the past … this was a longtime desire of my heart. I can only say thank you Lord for making this possible! What a beautiful journey it has been...
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
PART ONE - Arrival in Bratislava
Family and friends,
This past weekend was a bit like finding a missing piece to the puzzle…I arrived in Bratislava on Saturday morning without a problem. It was smooth sailing! The weekend weather could not have been better, well, perhaps a few degrees warmer on Sunday and Monday, but I shouldn’t complain; I was able to walk around most of Saturday without a coat. The seemingly strong rays of the sun on my skin never felt better.
Bratislava’s main rail station is not so great, but it wasn’t nearly as overwhelming to the senses as Kyiv’s Borispol airport. Of course, once outside I saw several Roma gypsies, which is a common sight throughout most of Eastern Europe, and Slovakia, in particular. But, in contrast to past trips to Poland where Roma and drunken beggars come right up to you, people let me go my merry way.
Without much ado, I made my way down Stefanikova ulica and happened into the Presidential gardens. Yes, I just happened to peer in and noticed what seemed to be a park and walked in to enjoy the view and different modern art sculptures. After a few pictures of the changing colors of the leaves, it was on to the historical district. In just a few minutes I was in the vicinity of St. Michael’s gate and took a picture for a gentlemanly group of guys from New Zealand. How pleasant not to run into a band of stag party Londoners!
Bratislava has a compact, but lovely old town. It’s definitely not on the scale of Prague, but I found my visit really refreshing. I left behind the hoards of tourists in Prague and really felt like I had a city at my fingertips to explore. Bratislava has a number of churches, historic squares (e.g., hlavni namesti – “main square”), Bratislava castle, galleries, and museums that are worth a visit. On the advice of my travel bible (Lonely Planet), I decided to spend my afternoon taking in views of the castle and its various museums. From castle top, I had a terrific view of the Communists' flagship building project, Novy Most (“New Bridge”), which required the bulldozing of the former Jewish quarter. Across the Danube on the other side of the bridge is another ‘gift’ from the Commies: a model communist city called “Petrzalka”, which is comprised of one tall, sterile, ugly block of socialist flats after another. I understand this might be hard to imagine for those of you who have never visited a former Eastern Bloc country, but let me assure you: save for our inner city projects, we are really very blessed in the States.
Highlights of my afternoon included learning more about the Austro-Hungarian empire, including its military weaknesses, frequent insurrections, and use of “heyduck”, hired fighters from the Balkans. The music museum had a small exhibit on the Albrecht family, chamber music (i.e., how middleclass families in the 1700 and 1800s enjoyed communal music; how spontaneous playing occurred frequently, which sparked conversation, commentary, and further musical exploration), a section on hymns, including liturgical hymns in Slovak, which were early fruit of Slovak national consciousness.
At 5 p.m. was the moment I’d been waiting years for… to meet a distant relative … anyone hailing from the Fecko clan in Slovakia. After a little confusion, Valent found me, the lady in a pink coat waiting on the corner of Zidowska ulica (“Jewish Street”). As my eyes moved up from the pages of my guide book, I was overjoyed to see none other than a familiar pair of eyes, nose, and cheeks. I had to catch myself, but I really felt like I saw my grandfather in Valent, even some of my dad. Later that night we looked at old pictures from Vysne Repase, the village where the Fecko and Parana families come from. I showed Valent a picture of my dad and he immediately saw Fecko and Parana features. He then proceeded to show me pictures of his uncles, Mihal and Jan, with whom he thought my dad shared some common features.
Of course, there’s more to the story, including pictures… hope you’ll tune in for Part Two…
Friday, October 13, 2006
Off to Bratislava on a Quest..
So, I'm officially off tomorrow morning at 7 am to Bratislava to connect with members of the Fecko family. I can hardly believe it. After a few hours of sightseeing on my own I will be meeting Valent Gura, a distant relative who shares both Fecko and Parana lineage. The next day Valent is taking me to visit his nephew, Pavol Jr., who lives in the town of Trnava, often called "Little Rome" or "Slovak Rome". We shall see!
And, after several long weeks at work, I've finally submitted several drafts for a big project I've been working on. What a feeling! I admit work has been pretty consuming of late so I'm looking forward to a change of pace. It is much needed. I think I'm also due for some adventure.
Next week when I return to work I'm scheduled to take a course called, "Exploring Radio". Essentially, it is a course on broadcasting for non-broadcasters. This will hopefully spur my creative juices and provide me the opportunity to put together my own radio program (well, of course with the help of our trainers and other class participants :)). Can't wait! Yes, I know I'm a bit nerdy at times, but I can't help it.
Well, what in the world is everyone up to these days? I have failed miserably in developing interactivity on this blog. Please don't be shy!
And, after several long weeks at work, I've finally submitted several drafts for a big project I've been working on. What a feeling! I admit work has been pretty consuming of late so I'm looking forward to a change of pace. It is much needed. I think I'm also due for some adventure.
Next week when I return to work I'm scheduled to take a course called, "Exploring Radio". Essentially, it is a course on broadcasting for non-broadcasters. This will hopefully spur my creative juices and provide me the opportunity to put together my own radio program (well, of course with the help of our trainers and other class participants :)). Can't wait! Yes, I know I'm a bit nerdy at times, but I can't help it.
Well, what in the world is everyone up to these days? I have failed miserably in developing interactivity on this blog. Please don't be shy!
Friday, October 06, 2006
Tracing Family Roots
Happy Friday! Whoooo. These past few weeks have been pretty busy. Man, I thought I left that in Washington, but I guess not. At work I am trying to finish up a major project before taking a break to travel and then moving on to a new assignment with a different office. This has meant slightly longer hours and my mind thinking mostly about work issues, with little time to make travel plans and such and fewer time spent at the gym. However, I realize this is kind of unhealthy so I'm making an effort to take care of other important things. For one, I'm researching a possible trip to Slovakia, the far eastern reaches to be exact, to connect with the old homeland of my great-grandparents and to possibly meet a few distant relatives. I'm not sure if it's going to happen. With the help of a kind Slovak friend I wrote several letters and put them in the mail about a week ago. No response yet. We shall see. I've been told our distant relatives live in the middle of no where... in remote villages near the famous Slovak High Tatry mountains, the Slovak version of the Alps. Originally I was hoping to make this trip with my dad, but unfortunately he is unable to visit for the time being. If you're a praying person, please try to remember to keep him in your prayers as he undergoes radiation this month and into the next. By the way, this picture here shows my dad (in the middle) surrounded by his older brother Tom and older sister Mary Anne. Isn't it precious? I dare say you can even see a bit of me in my dad's eyes and nose. Part of my quest to Slovakia is to see if I can find others bearing the Fetzko cheeks.I'll keep you posted on this trip or what other possibilities might arise. My friend Becky who I met at church in Hoboken is a flight attendant and we've made a practice the last few years of meeting up in random places. Last summer it was the Tirana Rinas Airport at midnight (in Albania). I kid you not!
If you have time to gallavant over here in Central Europe with me let me know. Unfortunately my good friend Leah has already tried out the cheesy Sound of Music tour in Salzburg without me earlier this year. :( I still want to see Austria though and its many Christmas markets. Let me know!
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
A Great, Big, Fat Czech Wedding...
Hanging out in the Litomysl monastery gardens on Saturday morning was not only necessary (after an early morning bus ride from Olomouc), but it was also a real treat. We had a coffee and dessert and people-watched. This is one of several wedding parties that passed through the gardens. It's great to see local traditions, and of course, people out celebrating.
UNESCO-protected Trinity Column in Olomouc
This is not the best night picture, but it sort of gives you an idea of the beauty of Olomouc's main town square. Olomouc is a city of many fountains. We enjoyed discovering fountains and columns around many a corner!
Hanging Around the Monastery Gardens in Litomsyl
Here I am with my friend and colleague, Imelda. She is actually Indonesian, but married to a Czech. Pretty crazy! I am deeply grateful to Imelda, who helped figure out the train and bus schedules and wasn't afraid to use her Czech to make sure we were headed in the right direction. She also tried to pacify me when I ran into some problems with an ornery Czech lady at one of the museums. For Pete's sake, I walked outdoors, onto a balcony, and began to get my camera out to take a picture of the lovely countryside and this woman yelled at me and gave me the sternest and most unpleasant look I've seen since Moscow museum women yelled at me. She indicated that photography was never allowed anywhere on museum premises. I tried to communicate in limited Czech, but ended up making her suspicious of me. She thought I had photographed a special exhibit of religious monstrances. Me-- look suspicious? Come on... This lady then wanted me to put my camera in Imelda's pocket book. Imelda wisely said no, but I ended up having to put it in my pocket. This type of crazy mentality drives me up the wall. If you can't tell... I'm infuriated once again by the memory... okay, moving on... 
Litomysl Renaissance Castle Courtyard Facade
Just have a look at these frescoes! In Europe I find it fairly easy to come down with church and castle fatigue, but my visit to Litomysl's famous Renaissance castle (actually situated next door to Bedrich Smetana's family home) to be refreshing and fascinating, a real pleasure to view and explore.
Late September Travels: Olomouc and Litomysl in Moravia
As some of your know Prague lies in the Czech land of Bohemia. At the end of last week my friend Imelda and I decided to head out of town to visit a couple of small towns in the other part of the Czech Republic: Moravia. We visited Olomouc, which has many famous "seconds" after Prague and Litomysl, home to an exquisitely beautiful Renaissance castle. This happens to be a picture of the Renaissance castle which we toured.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Home sweet home! Hotel Ukraine
What a gem of its former days! This mammoth
structure sits upon Independence Square. We had the pleasure of staying here 3 nights.
structure sits upon Independence Square. We had the pleasure of staying here 3 nights.
Hotel Ukraine Interior
You gotta love the 'updated' former commie hotels. The ceiling was something to behold.
Onion Domes Galore
In the distance you see St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery. Kyiv is full of these lovely churches and monasteries. Two to three days was just not enough!
St. Sofia's Cathedral of Kyiv
This is how St. Sofia's currently looks. You'll notice in the lower left corner some of the original romanesque architecture.You might think ... not that impressive... well, the inside is very neat, but you can't take pictures! I still tend to think the St. Basil's in Moscow is more interesting, but I really enjoyed the fresco paintings in the upper levels.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
A trip on the wild side...
A few words about my trip to Kyiv last week… for starters, Kyiv is a beautiful city, full of grand boulevards, imposing buildings, and onion-domed churches.After entering the airport and being greeted by questionable taxi drivers that were out to make a big buck, I wasn’t quite what to expect. We actually decided upon taking an ‘unofficial’ taxi. Well, I should say it was an unmarked car with tinted windows, but the price was right (20 USD). Not often do I follow a guy who says quietly behind my back, “lady, follow me”, but together with Beth, we somehow decided to follow and take this driver up on his offer to take us to Hotel Ukraine. Outside the airport doors, I realized the adventure was only beginning. To the right of the entrance/exit stood a group of Hasidic Jews who had arrived to celebrate Jewish New Year at the grave of their spiritual leader, Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav. We passed this group of men with long curls and dressed in black with top hats and made our way to the car. Our driver seemed to take after the famous German Formula One star, Michael Schumacher. For some reason, we were the fastest car on the road. Funny how that works sometimes! He also had figured out some unorthodox ways of getting to downtown Kyiv. This caused my colleague Beth some consternation, but I somehow sat back and let the driver do his driving. We were in Ukraine, and this was pretty much the Wild West for us.
Our drive to the city center took us through a ‘suburb’ or two (if you can call it that). We passed row after row of ugly socialist apartment blocks, pretty similar to what I first saw in Wroclaw, Poland when I was an exchange student in 1993, but these blocks seemed even more immense and went on forever. Seeing these blocks, feeling pretty depressed at the sight, I became very, very grateful for the blessing of my family home, backyard, and woods. Also, looking out the car window, I noticed old cars pulling crates filled with potatoes on the back. The differences between the capital city and the rural outlying districts seemed pretty stark to say the least.
On the whole, I was very impressed by the quality of Kyiv’s infrastructure. The city had highways free of potholes and we were able to get to the city in relative ease. Once at our hotel, a grand monument of former Soviet hotels perched on a hill above Maidan Independence Square where protesters in October 2004 created a ‘tent city’ in support of Victor Yuschenko, the now President of Ukraine, we were greeted by a HUGE outdoor concert. There were literally thousands of people running around with alcoholic beverages and dancing the night away. The site was admittedly overwhelming, but we soon warmed up to the party environment and enjoyed a few pop performances before taking a stroll. One of the highlights of Sunday night was seeing the 2004 Eurovision winner Ruslana perform her hit, “Wild Dances”. I’d say she’s pretty much the Ukrainian version of Shakira.
Ukraine was really quite a fascinating place. On the one hand, there were beautiful people (especially long-legged, blond-haired women) out and about in 60s retro fashion, a lot of fancy cafes and high end shopping, but on the other hand, there were many elderly women selling their humble wares on random street corners. Of course, there were also security guards at every establishment, whether at a restaurant, cafeteria, café, hotel, or store. There was always a man in a suit paying attention to whatever was happening. And, there were seemingly hundreds of men parked in cars with tinted windows on sidewalks, waiting for Ukrainian businessmen and politicians to finish their business.
Our hotel was quite an experience in itself. Get this: on every floor stood a desk with a woman who controlled room keys. Supposedly, back in the day this function was performed by the KGB. In addition to controlling access to guest rooms, these individuals also helped procure women for party officials and the like. (This is according to my Hungarian colleague). In my opinion there was absolutely no need for this job; can’t you pick up your key at the main desk when you check in? But, a job is important that is for sure. Probably one of the most disturbing sites was the presence of prostitutes in our hotel lobby every night. It seemed to be accepted practice. We also had police in the lobby keeping watch. The women simply sat on the lobby couches, drinking vodka and waiting to be approached. It was eye-opening for sure.
In these short two plus days, I only scratched the surface of Kyiv. If at all possible, I’d definitely like to go back and do some further exploration. In terms of tourist sites, we only got to visit the Sofia of Kyiv, a large church and monastery modeled after Istanbul’s Sofia, the outside of the Kyiv Dynamo Soccer Stadium (where the famous player Shevchenko started out), and had a look at the colossal Monument to the Motherland commemorating WW II (a woman probably twice the size of our Statue of Liberty – at least that’s the feeling she gave me; she could have been even larger if you can imagine) from our taxi window on our drive to the airport upon leaving. So, if anyone wants to join me for a Ukrainian adventure let me know. There’s always Odessa and boats rides to be had, too!
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Maidan Square (Independence Square) in Kyiv, Ukraine
Here I am near Pechersk Gate in downtown Kyiv. You might wonder - why Kyiv? Well, Kyiv is Ukrainian and Kiev is Russian and English. And, if you know me, you know I'll support the national language :)
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Jordana's Visit to Prague
A few weeks have already passed, but my roommate Jordana from DC came to visit me in early September after she finished touring Italy with her cousins and attending a wedding.It was a very sweet, but much too fast visit. During these 4 or so days together, we saw the Barber of Seville as well as a rather risque Black Light Theatre, which is very interpretive, but without the use of language. I have to say that Walt Disney, Epcot Center, and Warner Brothers have heavily influenced the way I experience new places in Europe and cultural events. So you know what I mean… I REALLY enjoyed the Opera, especially since I knew the music and it was a comedy. But, the reason I know the Barber of Seville is because I first came to know the Rabbit of Seville, which happens to go down as one of my all-time favorite cartoons. I admit that the opening sequence of the Opera I was thinking of Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fud. I really had to get a hold of myself, which I eventually did, but I enjoyed my finger tapping and memories of Bugs dressed up as a bride and Bugs massaging Elmer Fud’s bald head.
You can really tire yourself out walking around Prague. Jordana and I are living proof. I had hopes of taking a day trip on Saturday out of town, but on Friday night we realized we were completely exhausted from trapsing around town in the cool weather. So, we did what I love most on Saturday morning… we ate brunch at this place called Radost, which has some of the best breakfast food I have ever had. While a lot of food here in Prague is just mediocre (Remember I speak as someone who lived in New York City and Philadelphia), Radost brunch is phenomenal. With Jordana I had the “Greek God” omelet, which was filled with feta cheese, tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms, and sourcream and was served with a piece of whole grain bread. On a separate visit I had a huge pair of waffles with loads of fresh fruit (pineapple, blueberries, grapes), topped with blueberry sauce and whipped cream. Oh, and the coffee is deep, full bodied, and rich. Can you tell I like breakfast?
Of course, Sunday was a sad occasion when I had to say goodbye to Jordana. It was so good to have a roommate again and to have the opportunity to learn even more about Filipinos and how she has distant relatives basically everywhere. :)
Friday, September 15, 2006
"So, is like life in America as crazy as it is in HBO's 'BIG LOVE'?" - Just one question I got lobbed from a Brit
What a week it has been! Full of meetings, running here and there. Some of you have asked how my Czech is progressing. Well, I hate to say this, but it's been on hold ever since work got busier and I had my first visitor, Jordana (my roomie from Arlington). But, I try to practice here and there, and I still have my hand in German. Um, I'll refrain from telling you what programs I have watched on SAT TV in German (of course, it's all in the name of learning and bettering my command of the language!), but I'll admit, some nights I turn on the TV and just want some mindless entertainment. There is certainly plenty of that!
Actually, dwelling a bit further on TV, I happened to surf through the channels on Monday after I returned from attending a solemn but hopeful "Missa Ecumenica" a musical and audio-visual commemoration of September 11 and victims of terrorism at the famous Municipal House's Smetana Concert Hall... What I found on the national Czech 2 station rather disturbed me. They were broadcasting Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11. The timing of the film on national Czech television was totally out of place in my opinion. I don't consider myself a fanatical person; I'm willing to listen to an argument and consider it for what it's worth, but I found running this movie with its very clear agenda distasteful and wrong on the fifth anniversary of this tragic event. Show the movie some other week, but not on September 11th!
A few weeks ago I also happened to turn the TV on while doing the dishes and came upon a HORRIBLE American movie, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, or something of the like. The movie was shown in the original language, which was mostly curse words. I bring this up because I'm very concerned about America's image abroad, and I have to tell you this type of American cultural export definitely doesn't help. Since I've been here I've had numerous inquiries about different films and HBO series, whether or not life in the United States is like it is portrayed on TV or the screen. I'm so glad I have the opportunity to allow people to get to know an American that does not hale from the zipcode 90210. These simple interactions go to show me the great value and need for cultural exchange programs and an engaging public diplomacy.
If you are interested in the topic of U.S. public diplomacy, I urge you to take a look at a very thought provoking piece, "Now Showing the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Americans: Exporting the Wrong Picture" by Martha Bayles in the August 28, 2005 The Washington Post. Ms. Bayles is currently writing a book on U.S. public diplomacy. In her Post piece, Ms. Bayles definitely raises many concerning points:
"American popular culture is no longer a beacon of freedom to huddled masses in closed societies. Instead, it's a glut on the market and, absent any countervailing cultural diplomacy, our de facto ambassador to the world. The solution to this problem is far from clear. Censorship is not the answer, because even if it were technologically possible to censor our cultural exports, it would not be politic. The United States must affirm the crucial importance of free speech in a world that has serious doubts about it, and the best way to do this is to show that freedom is self-correcting -- that Americans have not only liberty but also a civilization worthy of liberty." (Bayles, Sunday, August 28, 2005; Page B01, The Washington Post)
To see the entire article, go to: www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/27/AR2005082700034.html
Just some food for thought! And, yes, my effort to make you all informed citizens!
Well, I'm off to Kyiv on Sunday afternoon for short business trip. I look forward to updating you my trip further east!
Best, Christine
Actually, dwelling a bit further on TV, I happened to surf through the channels on Monday after I returned from attending a solemn but hopeful "Missa Ecumenica" a musical and audio-visual commemoration of September 11 and victims of terrorism at the famous Municipal House's Smetana Concert Hall... What I found on the national Czech 2 station rather disturbed me. They were broadcasting Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11. The timing of the film on national Czech television was totally out of place in my opinion. I don't consider myself a fanatical person; I'm willing to listen to an argument and consider it for what it's worth, but I found running this movie with its very clear agenda distasteful and wrong on the fifth anniversary of this tragic event. Show the movie some other week, but not on September 11th!
A few weeks ago I also happened to turn the TV on while doing the dishes and came upon a HORRIBLE American movie, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, or something of the like. The movie was shown in the original language, which was mostly curse words. I bring this up because I'm very concerned about America's image abroad, and I have to tell you this type of American cultural export definitely doesn't help. Since I've been here I've had numerous inquiries about different films and HBO series, whether or not life in the United States is like it is portrayed on TV or the screen. I'm so glad I have the opportunity to allow people to get to know an American that does not hale from the zipcode 90210. These simple interactions go to show me the great value and need for cultural exchange programs and an engaging public diplomacy.
If you are interested in the topic of U.S. public diplomacy, I urge you to take a look at a very thought provoking piece, "Now Showing the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Americans: Exporting the Wrong Picture" by Martha Bayles in the August 28, 2005 The Washington Post. Ms. Bayles is currently writing a book on U.S. public diplomacy. In her Post piece, Ms. Bayles definitely raises many concerning points:
"American popular culture is no longer a beacon of freedom to huddled masses in closed societies. Instead, it's a glut on the market and, absent any countervailing cultural diplomacy, our de facto ambassador to the world. The solution to this problem is far from clear. Censorship is not the answer, because even if it were technologically possible to censor our cultural exports, it would not be politic. The United States must affirm the crucial importance of free speech in a world that has serious doubts about it, and the best way to do this is to show that freedom is self-correcting -- that Americans have not only liberty but also a civilization worthy of liberty." (Bayles, Sunday, August 28, 2005; Page B01, The Washington Post)
To see the entire article, go to: www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/27/AR2005082700034.html
Just some food for thought! And, yes, my effort to make you all informed citizens!
Well, I'm off to Kyiv on Sunday afternoon for short business trip. I look forward to updating you my trip further east!
Best, Christine
Monday, September 11, 2006
Remembering September 11
It has been five years since the day hijackers crashed planes into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. Five years have passed, and yet I still remember as if it were yesterday the amazing blue sky and piercing rays of sun the morning of September 11. I remember the police yelling behind me and to my side to get out of the way. I remember the burning hole, growing larger, engulfing, and falling debris after the first plane hit, thinking I was standing in a war zone. I remember the arrival of fire trucks and my childlike hope that somehow the firemen on their ladders with their water hoses would squelch the fire. I remember the heap of ash and debris and the smell of soot in the air for months afterwards. I remember.
I am not speaking as someone who directly knew or lost a loved one in the World Trade Center that awful day. But, I do speak as someone who was there; someone who saw the fiery hole after the first Tower was hit; someone who shook with fear and anger in the days that followed. For me September 11 is a stark reminder of the very real presence of evil in this world, of the fragility of life, that we should take no day for granted. And, it is a lesson of sustaining faith and hope in the midst of tragedy, disaster, and injustice.
There’s so much to say about that day. Part of me deep down somehow believes that if I could only recreate this day in perfect detail, as if I were God, I could return this world to life as I previously knew it. And maybe that is why it has taken me so long to mark that day in words, because I know that once I do put the last word to paper, those men and women who lost someone in the Towers or the planes will go on missing their husbands, fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, brothers, sisters, wives, significant other, friends, and loved ones, and we will still turn on the news every morning to yet another story of suicide bombings.
What I stared in the face on September 11, 2001 was evil, plain and simple. But what was reinforced after this horrendous course of events was the exact opposite: love, hope, and a heavenly longing for a place where there will be no more tears, no more death and no more decay.
I miss New York every September. My heart aches as I think of friends. I remember the look on their faces, how we tried to encourage and support each other every step of the way. I remember the surreal feeling of downtown Manhattan. I remember reconnecting (after 8 years) with my old friend from high school Dan Burchill on a street corner in the high 20s on my walk north. I remember taking a ferry with Jackie later that day, bypassing a line of hundreds of people, and being hosed down by firemen and EMTs in Hoboken upon our arrival. I remember hug upon hug after we finally returned to work. I remember the warm embrace of the maintenance man from El Salvador. I remember meeting a young woman from Cantor Fitzgerald who called in sick to work that day (her offices were on the top floors); one of maybe two team members alive, she was searching for answers, struggling to make sense of her life. I remember and I hope.
From time to time I still wonder why I was there, up close. Why I saw the things I did. It has been five whole years since that day and we can’t turn back the clock. At times I am so very angry. There will be more Towers to fall in my life, in our lives. And, that is why I endeavor to set my mind and heart on what is eternal, that which will never perish or give way. This is the enduring lesson of September 11th.
I am not speaking as someone who directly knew or lost a loved one in the World Trade Center that awful day. But, I do speak as someone who was there; someone who saw the fiery hole after the first Tower was hit; someone who shook with fear and anger in the days that followed. For me September 11 is a stark reminder of the very real presence of evil in this world, of the fragility of life, that we should take no day for granted. And, it is a lesson of sustaining faith and hope in the midst of tragedy, disaster, and injustice.
There’s so much to say about that day. Part of me deep down somehow believes that if I could only recreate this day in perfect detail, as if I were God, I could return this world to life as I previously knew it. And maybe that is why it has taken me so long to mark that day in words, because I know that once I do put the last word to paper, those men and women who lost someone in the Towers or the planes will go on missing their husbands, fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, brothers, sisters, wives, significant other, friends, and loved ones, and we will still turn on the news every morning to yet another story of suicide bombings.
What I stared in the face on September 11, 2001 was evil, plain and simple. But what was reinforced after this horrendous course of events was the exact opposite: love, hope, and a heavenly longing for a place where there will be no more tears, no more death and no more decay.
I miss New York every September. My heart aches as I think of friends. I remember the look on their faces, how we tried to encourage and support each other every step of the way. I remember the surreal feeling of downtown Manhattan. I remember reconnecting (after 8 years) with my old friend from high school Dan Burchill on a street corner in the high 20s on my walk north. I remember taking a ferry with Jackie later that day, bypassing a line of hundreds of people, and being hosed down by firemen and EMTs in Hoboken upon our arrival. I remember hug upon hug after we finally returned to work. I remember the warm embrace of the maintenance man from El Salvador. I remember meeting a young woman from Cantor Fitzgerald who called in sick to work that day (her offices were on the top floors); one of maybe two team members alive, she was searching for answers, struggling to make sense of her life. I remember and I hope.
From time to time I still wonder why I was there, up close. Why I saw the things I did. It has been five whole years since that day and we can’t turn back the clock. At times I am so very angry. There will be more Towers to fall in my life, in our lives. And, that is why I endeavor to set my mind and heart on what is eternal, that which will never perish or give way. This is the enduring lesson of September 11th.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Clouds over Prague - This was My August
Friends, Family, and Esteemed Guests,
Ever gradually I have begun to create a photo gallery of some of my favorites at flickr.com. If you're curious, please drop by:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/73459909@N00/
Enjoy! Christine
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