Vsechno Nejlepsi K Narozeninam, Dědeček!

(Translation: Happy Birthday, Grandpa!)

I just want to start off by wishing my grandfather a very happy birthday! Just remember that with age comes wisdom, and for those of you who know him, more like crankiness! Happy Birthday, Grandpa! We love you.

This week has been full of various odds and ends, as well as many sad goodbyes. Despite being glad that my work at Target is over, actually saying goodbye to the people was tough. I was touched by the fact that at our red and khaki Last Supper they gave me a going away gift for which they somehow managed to come across Czech currency. Very impressive. Thanks so much guys! I'm going to miss you!

I'm happy and relieved to report that my visa situation has been resolved! On Monday I had decided not to take the chance of waiting for my visa to be approved, so I faxed the consulate and requested that my passport be returned to me immediately. I figured I would just go about obtaining the visa while I was there, and at least I knew I'd be able to leave the country. On Tuesday the passport arrived in the mail, and on Wednesday the consulate called to inform me that my visa had just been approved, and that I needed to send my passport back to have it stamped with the visa. Of course. Fearing the my passport would not make the roundtrip in time for my departure, Dad and I jumped in the car this morning and drove down to NYC. (Thanks, Dad). After a quick stop at the consulate, I AM FINALLY ALL SET! I would just like to note that after dealing with the disorganization and ineptitude of the Czech consulate, I expected the actual building to be a chaotic, unsystematic, outdated mess, but in actuality it was a sleek, systematic office that looked like something out of an IKEA catalog. Talk about a lesson in contradictions. I guess it just adds to the charm and idiosyncrasies that appear to make up Czech culture.

Now that I have my visa, all that's really left to do is pack. If only it were as simple as it sounds!