A month has gone...

My dearest friends,

I don't believe it as well, but it is really more than a month since I've left. If it's going to be so quick, I'll be home really soon. Too soon...

Anyway, I should describe some more of my present and forget the future for now.

I'll write retrospectively today

Yesterday, i.e. on Saturday, there has been a great festé to celebrate the opening of our great Westfield Shopping Centre. Derby was busy, busy, busy. In the morning there has been "Shakes in the City" - some scenes from Shakespeare's most famous plays. It was nice, but really short (for example, Romeo and Juliet were represented only by the balcony scene).

In the afternoon we went to "Dance Experience". In our Multi-faith Centre was taking place a multicultural event with Punjabi dancing (Indies) and Circle dancing (Ireland?). It was fun, even though they forced us to join in However, I loved it.

The evening was the best of all. We had Sarruga in Derby (check out their site any my photos). It was really massive. All those dragons blowing smoke and spitting fire. I had goose bumps. Really thrilling. I must find a way how to get them to Prague.

I started intensively search for a job this week. I would like to find something more permanent, so I could return in summer to earn some money (and maybe buy myself a ride finally). I applied for Poundland - obviously, they sell everything for 1 pound. It was real fun. I really started wondering if there are some British people working in Derby. It seems that everybody is Polish in here. I had a really bad experience in my bank explaining a Polish clerk that I just need my International Bank Account Number. She didn't have a clue what I was speaking about. Similar experience is from Poundland. I dropped my CV in the shop - that was the last pleasant thing. On Wednesday and had a rather badly spoken message on my Answer Phone that I should come for an interview. I phoned back once. Not much success. I phoned back in the morning, tried to explain everything as clear as I can (I hated phoning to that moment, but I don't give a f*** since, there are people speaking much worse English and they are calling on the phone as well, so why should I care), the response I got was: "Could you repeat everything you said?". Repetition wouldn't help, the woman tried to get somebody to help her with the call. Later she decided that I should call once more. The second call was even funnier, I was told that the interviews start next day at the time I stated that I'm not available Later that day I was told there are is no vacancy and when I asked how is that possible when the interviews haven't had started, I didn't get an intelligent answer. So F@K Poundland, I don't understand how they can employ such responsible person with such a high level of English

Anyway, Thursday was saved by my new piercing and by Jana's birthday party. I met there her housemates and some more friends of her housemates. Particularly interesting were the Geology students Some more people who think I'm American, I should probably stop speaking about the Czech Republic

Wednesday, my exhausting day. I got a one-day job at the Mickleover Campus (the old campus due to be demolished this week). Anyway, it was really great. We were throwing out old books from the library but we were also allowed to take as many as we wanted. The flight home will be really interesting.

Hopefully, this will solve my money situation a little bit - I'll get 6 pounds for each hour I've spent there Still, it was horribly hard work - on my scale of nail breaking it reached 4 / 10 (comparing to shopping - 1 fingernail out of 10 - or bell ringing - 1 out of 10)

Not to forget - I promised more Derby pictures and here they are - http://picasaweb.google.cz/marinov.jane/20071006. We went through most of the city, however there are still some more places we would like to see.
I guess that's the end for today. It's the laundry day today again, so I'll better go block some washing machines.

Send my love.

Mary

silverchair - Young Modern

Straight Lines

Reflections Of A Sound

If You Keep Losing Sleep

Delayed Greetings

I'm so sorry, babies, I just could not find time any sooner.

I'm still perfectly alright, full of new experience to write about I shall take it chronologically.

I was to the Meeting Place again. On Sunday the 23rd we had a barbie Pictures are still in production, I'll show you later who's running it and what does it look like. (still got only a part, hopefully add the rest soon - http://picasaweb.google.com/marinov.jane/20070923)

Monday and Tuesday were dedicated to the Freshers Fair. It is a big event where you get loads of freebies (my Czech-Jewish soul was overflowing with joy) and you find information about all those societies that are run at the uni. Yeah, the societies will be probably what I'll miss the most at home. Yes, we have councils and 5P but this is something so unique. Just imagine it, there was a Women's Rugby Society. I'm wearing skirt, pink trainers, carrying bright orange bag, I've got long pink fingernails and inverted bob dyed dark red ... and there she goes and thinks I could be a good rugby player. I actually didn't go to the training, just the thought makes me laugh. I'm really more of a yoga person, not really a team player.

On Tuesday and Thursday I've been to classes for the first time and I'm really excited. I know I'll have to work really hard, but the way the lectures are run makes me really happy. I especially liked Writing Workshop, I guess it is really it - the thing that will help me to write again.

I took some more pictures of Derby (http://picasaweb.google.cz/marinov.jane/20070928) on Friday. Me and Kate were to the Museum of Industry, as you can see. We're planning some more Derby sightseeing on this weekend.

I know I came here to represent the Czech Republic - you can see the pictures of that here (http://picasaweb.google.com/marinov.jane/Parties) Again, I must say how much I love First Floor. I heard there are some more rock clubs in Derby, but still, F.F. is sooooo sweet

Back to the societies, I actually joined one of them. It is the LGBT Society. If you wonder what it means - yeah, the initials stand for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender I was so astonished that anything like that could ever exist that I just had to join. Anyway, I guess it is no surprise to people who know me. The first meeting was real fun. Seeing all those proud people makes me so happy. I was so amazed when one of my mates asked me if I were a lesbian and actually looked disappointed when I told him I was not. I think I'm really lucky to be part of the society.

On Saturday we were to Peak District again - you can have a look at http://picasaweb.google.com/marinov.jane/20070929. It started with a little bit of misunderstanding, but everyone found a fine way after all, so we were all happy

The following two days actually so happy weren't. As you probably know, I'm staying at the halls of residence (pictures posted some time ago). The regulations here are almost insane about protection against fire. It would be really reasonable if the fire alarms would not go off without a reason. Just one fire alarm broken and we had fun for the whole time. We started on Saturday, or rather Sunday at 2:00 am, continued at about noon, number 3 was at 7:00 pm, number 4 decorated Monday at 5:00 am, number 5 at 5:30 am, number 6 at 10:30 am, number 7 at 11:00 am. I was soooooo happy I got so scared when they tested the alarm today (it happens every week at the same time), I really thought it has started again. But living here isn't so bad. You get free calls around the campus - thus I spend tens of minutes chatting with Kate every day. Also I had some problems with heating in my room - a week later I've got a completely new heater. But the money is really bad. I've paid for my accommodation today, which makes me really poor and devoted to seeking for a job.

Yeah, and that's about it, I'll finish watching my movie and better start reading stuff for tomorrow. You never know when you're going to be asked about something you don't have a clue about.

Take care and wish me luck.

Mary

Once More With Feeling

Hi guys,

I'm going to continue in writing just as I promised.

I bet I should start with yesterday. We've been to Lichfield with our good old historian friends. Lichfield is a nice little city close to Birmingham. It has a great cathedral. (Actually, I really thought it was bigger than St Vitus, it is not, but there's not so much difference. Vitus is only 10 metres longer and the spire is less than 20 metres taller. Anyway, Lichfield Cathedral is really huge too.) It is also the birthplace of Dr Samuel Johnson, author of "A Dictionary of the English Language" - my sweet fresher year at university.

Anyway, the pictures are at http://picasaweb.google.com/marinov.jane/20070921, you can have a closer look.

Later that day we went to Derby Cathedral as Jana and Lucka are into bell ringing. We tried as well, really great thing. Pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/marinov.jane/20070921II. I have an opportunity to learn more of bell ringing, but I'm still not sure if I should. Something inside me tells me: "It is a Christian church, run away." But I guess it could be really fun. Well, I've not made up my mind yet.

The funniest news - I won an iPod. I opened a bank account at Lloyd's TSB and actually I didn't know there was a competition. Then I go to my branch to check if everything is okay and my consultant tells me I won . I was soooo surprised. Finally I had luck at least in game.

And that's about it, I should better go to bed, tomorrow I'm getting up at 6am 'coz it is the car boot sale day. I hope I'll have some money left after that.

Have fun, everybody, miss you all.

Mer

Another Week Almost Over

Hello my dear friends

Another week is almost over and I haven't had so much time to write about what happened. Hopefully, I'll describe everything right now.

I'll start with Sunday, the party. At the beginning it seemed the organization would be as poor as the preceding. We got our wristbands, we headed off, nobody had clue where to go. We got to Sadler Gate, a street in the city centre which is supposed to be the best place for night life. Well, all the clubs that were open at that time were expensive and played shit. But yeah, I and Kate tried our best to enjoy the night as much as possible.

Next day the rush started. Today is the first day I can actually sit for more than an hour and I don't have to run somewhere else. Monday was fine. We were to the Meeting Place at St Alkmund's for the first time. It was originally formed for the Chinese people to help them settle in, but later it became meeting place for various international students. Although I like churches more from the outside, apart from saying grace before meal nobody really started with the Christian stuff. We had loads of pizza (I forgot to mention that it was a Pizza Party), salads, sweets, yummy And also we made new friends and were forced to speak English, that is what I missed so much back in Prague. The next Meeting Place is set for tomorrow - we're going BBQ!

On Tuesday we started attending history events (remember my subject The Atlantic World - I'm a history student now). The first trip was to Kedleston Hall, an estate a couple of miles away of the Uni. You can find the pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/marinov.jane/20070918. It was really nice trip and if the wind was not freezing cold, I would really enjoy that. After coming back to Derby we went for a beer with all the students (you can see them in that album I posted above) to make friends with each other. They are very friendly.

In the evening we went with some of them (Andrew and Nick, they are close above me in the group pictures) to the club First Floor. Finally something for me. If I ever said Hvezda was perfect, First Floor is heaven. They actually played Nine Inch Nails, P.O.D., Korn and more . I really felt like I'm going to die with joy. Definitely not the last time I've gone there.

Wednesday continued with history. We went through Derby and the museum, but than we decided rather to go shopping and to settle a couple things at Keddie Rd Campus. In the Evening I finally got my Unibus vouchers so I don't have to walk everywhere and I can go by bus for free (Czech nationality plus Jewish ancestor, what would you expect).

On Thursday we went for a trip to Peak District. Pictures to be found here - http://picasaweb.google.com/marinov.jane/20070920. I and Katie went there with Jana (wrote about her already), Pavel and Anka, Jana's flatmates and Lucka, also last year's Erasmus student who came for a visit. We bought a zigzag ticket (basically a one-day-ticket) so we could travel to various places. We started in Matlock Bath and climbed up to the Heights of Abraham. "Heights" is definitely the right word 'coz I thought I would die after the first half of the walk. Then we moved to Matlock, and then to Bakewell. It was too late for the museum, but at least we went through the church. Than we had the world famous Bakewell pudding (we found out that it is world famous about two hours before we arrived to Bakewell) - about two mouthfuls are really nice, then you start feeling your teeth are going to explode and then you end up oversugared. But after all, the whole trip was really great, another part of England that I've colored in my map of the UK (I it my tradition to highlight all the towns and cities I went through when I am in the UK and it starts to be really colorful ).

That will be about all for now, I'll write more as soon as I process all the pictures from yesterday.

Hugs and kisses.

Mary

Welcome Week End

Hello again :)

Well, the Welcome Week is over. Today we were to Chatsworth. Fabulous! Pictures can be found at http://picasaweb.google.com/marinov.jane/20070915 and again, I'll add the descriptions later. It was really perfect, much similar to my previous visit to Blenheim (http://www.blenheimpalace.com/), again really great house and marvellous gardens. I was totally amazed by the maze . We were stuck there for twenty minutes before we found the way to the centre. Thrilling.

The whole week was really great. Basically we had lectures on every aspect of our new university life. We were warmly welcomed by the whole International Office. We've been given information on living in England, particularly that it is a really safe country but we should be aware anyway. Well, I guess they've never seen Hlavni nadrazi in Prague .

I've especially liked the lecture by Mr Kevin Bampton on Students' Rights and Responsibilities. The guy was terrific. He could sell charisma and wit. Strict to some extent, but also very pleasant. He told us some really important things the way we could laugh, but we also knew it is really serious.

All the people here are really nice, I'm afraid coming back to Prague is going to be a shock. I'm actually very much looking forward to the start of classes on 24th September. I think I didn't mention the dates, did I? The Autumn Semester (here are autumn & a spring one, not a winter & a summer as we have) starts on 24th September and ends on 14th December. The exam period takes only 10 days starting 7th January and ending 17th January. There are three balls during the year - Freshers Ball on 29th September (I'm definitely going), Graduation Ball on 19th January (I'll go if I find a job) and May Ball in May (obviously). Loads of things to look forward to.

Also, our flat is finally fully inhabited. Nacho had to move (the same problem as me, he was given the wrong room), but there are two new girls - Louise and Asha, both from England. Tomorrow there is another Welcome Party, this time for all Halls of Residence. I guess it'll be pretty great. The last one was fine, the only problem was that they drove us there and we had not a single clue where we might have been. And there was the last bus on 10 pm. So we finished a little bit earlier than we supposed. That won't happen this time BTW, the prices - my beloved Smirnoff vodka has gone a little bit up, it does no more cost £1.50 but £3.20... Beer is a little bit cheaper, at that place it was about £3.00, in our Students' Union Bar I can get a pint of Stella for £2.00. Also buying alcohol in shops is not so bad, you can get a bottle of wine at around £2.50 - I have to check this first, we haven't bought so many things yet.

Pheeew, how come it is half past twelve again? Tomorrow I'm meeting Jana, girl from the C.R. that comes back to Derby for her second year (I'm soooo envious ). And then the paaaaaartyyyyyyyyyy

Well, I'm off to bed, sweet dreams to everybody

Mary