škola

(Translation: School)

For the first time I didn't have to look up the Czech word for the title of my post. I knew it on my own! (I know, not that impressive, but I've got to start somewhere!)

Just a quick update-today was my first day of the Czech language class. My teacher is great! She is enthusiastic and fun but still wants to make sure we learn something which is a good combination. She's also really concerned with making sure we experience Czech culture, so she gives us great tips. Thank goodness she is interesting because FIVE HOURS IN A ROW is a long time with one teacher.

Related to my first day of class is the challenge that is finding school supplies here. The biggest difference that I have found with stores here is that most stores specialize. At home every store has everything, some just have more than others. You can go to Target, Stop and Shop, CVS, and Barnes and Noble and find some sort of school supply at each of them. We went to about 50 stores today and ended up at the far-away Tesco, which is a lot like a super Walmart. (I compare it to Walmart and not Target cause the stuff is cheap but the quality is terrible!) Anyway, at Tesco I thought I had finally found a notebook but my choices were either a Cars notebook, a Disney Princess notebook, or a BOUND BOOK. I was totally set to get either princesses or cars until I realized that each notebook page had a picture in the background that made me dizzy looking at it. Therefore, this is what I ended up with:


Definitely makes me appreciate the choice that we get in the States with such a large market. In econ they have always said that one of the advantages of capitalism is the choice that buyers have, and I know that the CR is no longer communist, but it makes me wonder if this lack of choice is symptom of communism's legacy. On the brightside, at the end of the class I'll have a bound book on the Czech language!