Happy Valentines Day!

Ahoj!

  Gracia, Hannah, and I are currently finishing up some packing details before we head to Vienna for the weekend! We're a little nervous since this is our first inter-european traveling, but we're excited too-as we've been saying for this whole trip, "it's an adventure!"

  Well, we just finished our first official week of classes and it was really nice to get an idea of what our semester is going to look like. We are both in a beginner's Czech course and I love being able to finally know how to pronounce things! The language is fairly complex and we may only be able to learn a few helpful phrases and such, but it is fun so far. We also share an Art and Architecture class, which will consist of lectures in class and then "field-trips" around the city to see what we are studying. The syllabus is full of excursions to museums, art galleries, and tours that will be great for helping us see more of Prague. Although we may have some difficulties figuring out how to balance homework (which isn't overwhelming, but it's there) and making the most of our experience (meaning traveling and taking opportunities we may only have once), I think we're up for the challenge! It's been really interesting to get to know more of our classmates, many of them are from the states just like us but we also have lots of students from other countries like Bulgaria, Albania, and Macedonia. With an amazing environment, it sure does make going to school easier...

  For instance, the other day I got up to go to school and left plenty early, since we don't have the tram schedule down to a science yet :) I stopped by the bakery to get some fresh bread for breakfast and waited for the tram with my earphones in, listening to some relaxing music. As huge snowflakes fell over the beautiful buildings, I couldn't help but smile as I watched the scenery out the tram window. A little old man sat across from me and smiled back at me (which was really exciting because many of the people don't hand out smiles frequently on the trams). Eating my bread from the bakery, enjoying the falling snow, I walked across the Charles Bridge and went to class... sounds like a fairy tale, right? That's what I'm thinking...

  

An update on the flowers: we have some new editions to our collection that are keeping Ruzy company now! Gracia received a package that contained some beautiful pink roses that will never die, and also three gorgeous red roses from Bradley for Valentines day! We also came home from classes late last night and found some yellow and white daisies sitting on our table from James, Caleb, and Skyler- how can you not smile with such an array! Thank you all, we feel so loved :)

Happy Valentines Day, we love you all. 

Talk to you more after Vienna!

Laura