Prague Journal

Monday, January 03, 2005.

It felt like we had two Sundays in a row this week, a slow start to a new year. But Rick and I are making good use of our time. Yesterday I sorted through old emails to see what deadlines I may be up against (or missed), trying to finish proposals or papers that should be sent off for conferences in and around Europe this spring and summer. Poor Eva, I’ve been sending too many things to her to look at, edit, and/or translate.
So today is much like any other Monday. Rainy and overcast. I should be used to that now, but I'm not. At least it’s not cold and windy. The real cold weather has yet to come. And there’s no snow in sight (a bit unfortunate since Prague is beautiful when it snows.)
The Christmas stalls are still at Old Town Square (three more evenings of choral concerts and children's programs on the outdoor stage) and at Wenceslas Square near Můstek, but most of the other outdoor markets are gone. I imagine everything will end on Thursday (Jan 6), which is “Three Kings Day" (according to my Czech calendar) or epiphany (according to my US daytimer). Rick went to the university to talk math with Ales Pultr. I went downtown to get tickets for Wednesday’s concert and ran a few other errands, including stopping for computer paper at Tesco and a few groceries on the way home. Slim pickin’s in the fresh vegetable department these days. Brussels sprouts and turnips and carrots. And potatoes and onions and garlic, of course. Not even cauliflower or fresh cabbage at this time of year. I did find some zucchini and peppers. And, as always, fresh bread and pastries.
This evening, five of us went to Irena’s house for a Czech lesson: Brenda (from Germany), Rut (from London), (young) Richard from the US, and (old) Rick and me. Irena is wonderful and very patient. We’re all slow and forgetful and none of us can pronounce anything well. But it’s good to be forced to try.
In his New Year’s Day address to the Czech parliament, President Vaclav Klaus called on the Czech nation, now in its 15th year as a democracy , to expect more from its leaders in 2005: “Let us ask our democratically elected representatives — in the government and in Parliament, as well as in the regional and local assemblies — to show in the year 2005 the courage to solve problems; to show a strong drive, a creative approach and in particular to act responsibly and exhibit humility in serving those who sent them to the posts.” A good New Year's resolution for us all.

posted by JWinn @ 8:45 PM