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