Prague Journal

Monday, February 7, 2005.

Today was a marathon presentation day for the Fulbrighters in the Flora Hotel at Trenčianske Teplice. Fortunately, the current scholars (researchers and lecturers) gave their presentations first, so I was finished with my official obligations before the first coffee break and could relax for the rest of the conference. It was interesting to hear about others’ research projects and teaching experiences. The Czech education system is quite different, not just because most instructors lecture and give only a final exam for the course grade, but because most classes meet only once a week and most students take 12-14 classes (which means they do little or no homework or reading for class). Of the scholars who have been here since September, I am one of only three who do not have teaching assignments. Kris is an administrator, working with the Faculty of National Economy at the University of Economics in Bratislava for potential AACSB accreditation and Bill, now retired from teaching and administration) is consulting with the administration of Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra. The other four scholars are here on teaching assignments: Steven is teaching international law in Bratislava, Fred is teaching economics in Nitra, Myrone is teaching in political science in Bratislava, and Mary is teaching philosophy at Charles University. Neither Jerry, who was teaching law in Brno, nor Marty, who is teaching anthropology and ethnography at Charles University, were at the conference, since both are back in the U.S. Jerry has finished his Fulbright stint and Marty will return next week when the spring semester resumes.
After lunch, the students, only one of whom is studying in Slovakia, gave presentations about their research. Most of these were informal progress reports. All students are post-baccalaureate, but only three are formally enrolled in graduate programs right now. The other five are recent graduates, most of whom have applied for graduate study when they return to the U.S. Areas of interest range from music to women’s studies to economics to theater to Jewish history to sociology to urbanism.
Dinner, another lavish affair, followed a big lunch which followed a lavish coffee break which followed a buffet breakfast of cheeses and meats, yogurt and jam, pastries and breads, fried eggs and omelets, sausages, cereals, and juices and coffee and tea. Breakfast is the only meal not accompanied by beer. After dinner, beer continued to flow until late in the evening. After the restaurant closed, we went to the bar; after the bar closed we went to the wine cellar. The wine cellar is usually closed on Monday evening, but the hotel called the barkeep to open the establishment for us. The poor man wanted to go to bed, but accommodated our wishes. Nevertheless, we kept him up well past his preferred bedtime.

posted by JWinn @ 10:28 PM