In die Tschechien

I wish you could see this.

The night sky in der Tschechien is so full of light and life. Prague is beautiful so close to Christmas and Silvester, when everyone is visiting their families or being visited, in these months halfway out of the dark of winter, and yet, there is still so much life in them. Everyone walks stiff and fast, in a hurry to not be where they are more than to get somewhere, but it is interesting how small their steps are.

They walk with reserve and self-containment. I wonder indeed about the nightlife. How far down do they let their hair? Are they scared, even, of joy? The smiles here are brief, and earned; it is not like Americans, who give smiles like they give glances. None of the bold, nonspecific curiosity here. Look ahead, make no eye contact, walk quickly. There is a hurry to them.

I wonder if I could learn Czech, to be honest. What is another language but a new puzzle to solve?

I see myself in a city like this, living well, using my minimal knowledge of the language to isolate myself into my work; to encourage me to write. The last two years of my life have emphasized the importance of well-earned solitude and its untold benefits. The focus of a bare room and plenty of unused conversation for thinking alone can develop one's language and philosophic skills well.

Ah, but what am I saying? I'm obviously talking to you.

Still, this rainy winter that's followed me from Alabama through Europe suits me well enough. It reminds me of home. I miss my cat and my bed, but at least I have my soggy weather.

I have learned a few words of Czech, though. My dad had made it sound like it would be so difficult, but it's a language, like any other, with pieces to assemble. We'll see if I can construct a sentence by the end of the week, huh?

At least, I can say some things. A is "and"; az is "when"; libi is "I like" and libî is "you like." Well, I think so, anyway. I guess I need to pay closer attention to the single words so I can learn them like the other languages.

My German is likely improving, though I still make the excuse of hardly knowing any. It's just best if I don't oversell my modest abilities. Still, my memorization skills have proven amusing. Already, I've memorized a few passwords and landmarks and faces. it's always the names that present the most trouble. I must find some way to counter that.

Safe travels, dear reader!