Travel Archives - Page 4 of 4

Let’s “Czech” Out Crazy Czech Holidays

December 10, 2015 by szachik@pvs.org 4 Comments

Vánoční trhy byly zahájeny 27. listopadu večer na Staroměstském náměstí v Praze.---The traditional Christmas market at Old Town Square in Prague, Czech Republic was started by lighting up a Christmas tree on Nov. 27, 2010. (CTK Photo/Michal Kamaryt)

It’s the holidays. We’re familiar with St. Nick, angels atop the Christmas tree, dreidels, coal, houses aglow with lights, luminaries. But, do you know what happens in the Czech Republic during the holidays? Special Correspondent Anna Kleckerova tells us.

–by Anna Kleckerova

Devils also come to hospitals to make patients happy. In this picture is my friend Bara who is recovering from heart surgery.

The Czech Republic is a beautiful country with a wild history and culture. Parts of this are the crazy holidays and habits. First, I would like to speak about the “Devil Holiday,” which happens on the fifth of December. This holiday is very frightening for little kids because if they weren’t kind that year, they will be punished by scary devils. They come every year, around winter time, together with Mikuláš who carries a book of sins, a staff, a mitre (looks like the Pope’s hat), and wears a cross on his clothes. There is also an angel who eases the tense situation and makes it more enjoyable by bringing candy for children. The kids who weren’t kind and didn’t listen to their parents that year get potatoes and coal. In some cases they are kidnapped by the devils. The kind children that obey their parents have to sing a song or recite a poem. This allows them to be rewarded by the angel and Mikuláš.

Another weird Czech holiday occurs during Christmas. Czech people celebrate Christmas on the evening of December 24th. Entire families get together and have a fancy dinner with traditional Czech fish and potato salad. There are strange myths that surround this holiday. It is said that people who don’t eat the whole Christmas day will see a golden pig in the evening. It is said that if you float a small boat carrying a burning candle, and your candle is the last to extinguish in a flotilla of burning boat candles, you will live the longest. The biggest difference between the Czech Republic and America’s Christmas is that we don’t have Santa Claus. We have baby Jesus who comes every year to homes through the window to give presents to all of the children.

The last and craziest holiday is celebrated on Easter. Boys who live in villages go around to houses and hit girls on their butts with a whip made of willow wickerwork. In Czech, this whip is called Pomlázka. Every girl and woman, no matter her age, has to go through this. If she does not, then she will never find a husband and will die soon. Boys get painted eggs, chocolate, and candies from girls. Men get painted eggs and shots of alcohol. I did not have a chance to “enjoy” this tradition much growing up. I live in the capital city where this tradition isn’t as widespread. Most of my family lives in smaller towns or villages which gave me the opportunity to experience this yearly torture four times.

–Edited Chloe Sweeney

Trey’s Take on (Extra) Terrestrial Technology

November 12, 2015 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

–some technological thoughts by Trey Lucatero

The Martian is a science fiction novel that has been recently adapted into a major motion picture. Written by Andy Weir, it takes place in the near future and follows a man named Mark Watney (Matt Damon) through a series of trials that he must endure after he gets unexpectedly stranded alone on Mars after a failed space mission, Ares III. Without the help of his crew members or NASA, Watney is forced to use spare parts of the Habitat (the crew’s earth-like living quarters) to “Science the s*** out of this” and survive. Despite his extensive training in botany, he must use his rudimentary skills in chemistry, engineering, and astro-physics to survive on this desolate planet. Much of the technology that was featured in the movie and novel are actual technology programs being developed by NASA today. The Habitat or the “Hab,” which is actually being developed in real time by NASA, is where Watney spends most of his time. NASA martian-potatoes ’s prototype, named the HERA, is a self- contained environment that simulates a deep-space habitat. This contains a simulated airlock, which replicates the atmospheric conditions on earth. Astronauts live in this HERA for 14 days (soon to be increased to 60 days). They put aspiring astronauts in the HERA to simulate the living conditions of the International Space Station (ISS).

To survive being stranded this long, Watney needs to create a food source. He uses the limited materials that came with the probes that landed on the planet months before the next Mars mission (ARES IV) was set to arrive on Mars. He creates a farm in the Hab and grows potatoes. The potatoes and astronaut food sustain him for several hundred days. Scientists are already able to crudely farm in space. Red romaine lettuce has been successfully grown and harvested on the orbiting ISS. The technology of being able to grow food on Mars is soon to be a reality.

One of the greatest issues of manned missions to Mars is the lack of water on the red planet. Just a month ago, seasonal flows of water were discovered on Mars. Previously, there hadn’t been evidence of any water. NASA has since discovered seasonal flows of water on hi Martian_1 gh mountains of the Martian surface. This could be huge in the ability for prolonged survival on Mars. “On the International Space Station, no drop of sweat, tears, or even urine goes to waste. The Environmental Control and Life Support System recovers and recycles water from everywhere: urine, hand washing, oral hygiene, and other sources. Through the Water Recovery System (WRS), water is reclaimed and filtered, ready for consumption. One astronaut simply put it, ‘Yesterday’s coffee turns into tomorrow’s coffee'” (NASA). The Water Recovery System is currently being developed and could be instrumental for the future colonization of Mars.

It’s amazing to see such big box-office hits reflecting actual science–actual ground-breaking scientific achievement.

–Edited by Chloe Sweeney

Life of an International Student

November 5, 2015 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Anna Kleckerova is an international student from the Czech Republic. Her first year in America was her junior year, and she is currently planning on spending her college life here in the states.–Editor, Trey Lucatero

–by Anna Kleckerova
How does all of this start? What leads students to decide to leave home, uproot themselves, and move to the other side of the planet? It can start many different ways. Pressure from parents, a desire for adventure or the need for learning a new language are all true reasons. Once you decide on this huge step and your parents pay for it, your life will turn about 180 degrees. You will come to a totally different country full of strange people who stare at you because you are the weird one. Americans are more open. They can scare those who aren’t used to the American openness. In Europe, people don’t ask “How are you doing?!” on the sidewalk. In a new country, you will not understand the language, habits, or the system at all. You will be bored by new rules just as you were bored by the old ones in your country. You might love the change or hate it the rest of your life. Conditions will not always be perfect.

Everything depends on what we make of it. You can look just at the bad things and stay annoyed, but you have also another option. That option is to fall in love with your new life. I’ve grown to love the optimistic view of Americans.
This new change will limit rights and privileges you previously enjoyed in your life. You can’t go anywhere by yourself. There’s no public transportation. You can’t drive a car. You have to learn a new currency. You will get a new family that does not always have to be nice to you, and your parents will be too far away from you to offer help. You will have to stand on your own and make your own decisions. Your mom won’t always be there to tell you to wear a jacket when it is cold outside. Your dad won’t be waiting for you after school wearing his strict look while he is peering at your grades. You will have new people who will take care of you. Your host parents should be there every day for you, but you still might think that they are not nice and you will never accept them as your real parents, but they are the only ones who can actually help you here somehow. 12138328_1038955329482501_7304170434932291271_o (1)
As an international student, I realized how much I love my own country and my family. When I left the Czech Republic, I was so excited to get into popular, huge America. But with time I have seen how Americans are proud of their country and I started being proud of mine too. I love the env matous ironment, the nature, the forests everywhere, the public transportation of the Czech Republic. But, some international students, really latch on to their new world. A friend of mine, Matouš Prokopec, was an international student in Canada, and he said: “I liked my host family more than my real one.” He absolutely fell in love with everything in that country as well as falling in love with his host family. This year, a wonderful person, Rosa Gillet, came to our school. She answered the question regarding what she likes about this program, with, “I like being in a new family because it allows me to get to know others’ life and culture.”

Being a part of something like this leaves a huge change in people’s personality. It can make them happy, effervescent, enthusiastic, passionate about their own country, but also sad, frustrated, disappointed and exhausted over missing home. I think that something like this makes the student powerful. Being an international student abroad makes you an adult, making life decisions on your own. International students deserve everyone’s admiration.

The World According to Henry: New York, New York

October 21, 2015 by szachik@pvs.org 3 Comments

–by Henry Huang

Blog Correspondent Henry Huang spent last summer on the East Coast. He attended summer school at Yale studying Political Science. While on the East Coast, Henry travelled to New York City. Thus, “The World According to Henry” continues its journey . . . .

New York–how should I start?

Artists, singers, writers portray the city as the top of the world. Yet, New York, to some others, is an empty dream. New York, to me, is the most interesting place on this earth, a mixture of heaven and hell.

There are copious reasons that a person can hate New York. The stinky subway system isn’t well designed. Everyone knows that someone must have peed in the subway station. The subway service, to be polite, is anti-humanity. There was only one uniformed person in the entire subway station even in Times Square. The signs in the station tell you to go to Uptown or Downtown. Even a New Yorker could get lost in the subway or not know the existence of a line. If you make it out of the Times Square subway station, a crowd is waiting for you in Times Square. It is always crowded, always full of over-priced souvenir shops,making it impossible to meet a friend or acquaintance there. There were even people, more than you can imagine, doing yoga on Broadway. Another infamous about NYC, New Yorkers have a “reputation” for being rude and arrogant. In at least one instance, a waiter in a cafe was not friendly. In all other cities, customers are like gods, but in New York, sometimes it feels the opposite. And, And, New Yorkers drive like crazy people. If you try jay-walking in NYC, you’ll come in contact with a taxi bumper. Walking in Manhattan’s streets is the same as walking through a battlefield. Everyone is walking as if they are on the way to a fight.

However, New York is still a heaven to many people. The forest of skyscrapers is just a miracle rising through the horizon. At the top of the Empire State Building, the Steel Babylon looks exactly like a jewel in the sun. Sometimes, people criticize New York as an illiterate city. Yet, the ceiling of the Grand Central Terminal was designed based on the Zodiac, everyone in the subways is carrying a book, the New York Public Library houses the Gutenberg Bible and other precious books and documents. The museums in New York are some of the best in the world. The Metropolitan Art Museum holds the largest art collection from ancient Greek to Modern Art, from East to West, from paintings to weapons. What’s more, there are not many cities on earth that can provide such a large public space like Central Park. The vast greenery is a great place for all ages to bike, swim, play baseball, picnic, watch Shakespeare. The street food in New York, whether kebabs or hot dogs, is always a surprise waiting for you. However, I found the most surprising thing in New York is New Yorkers are actually quite friendly (with that one exception in the cafe on Times Square). From a lady waiting for her train in a subway station to a guy who sells kebabs next to MetArt, everyone was willing to give me directions. The quick drivers and the fast-walking people might be crazy, but all those are a symbol of the liveliness of the city! Only in New York could there be so much potential and possibility.

Photos by Henry Huang

–Edited by Chloe Sweeney

Strange Rules on Planes

October 14, 2015 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

–by Amber Zheng

The holidays are coming. You’re making your plane reservations to see your family across the country. Many people complain about the strange rules of airlines. Undeniably, a lot of rules on airplanes do seem ridiculous. However, every one of these absurd rules is designed with the intent to save lives. Today, we are going to explain reasons behind some of these rules.

The roof of this plane was ripped off at 23, 950 feet. Passengers survived . . . because they had their seat belts on. “Please move about the cabin with care.”

1. The flight attendant tells you: “All window shades have to be open on take-offs and landings.” You’ve been reading or sleeping and don’t want the blinding light of the sun coming up. Most airplane accidents happen on these two occasions–when taking off or landing. Open window shades make sure the lighting conditions inside the cabin are the same as the lighting conditions outside and give passengers visual access to the outside. If an emergency occurs, passengers are then adjusted to the lights outside and are aware of things that are happening outside so that the bailout can be more efficient. Moreover, rescuers are able to observe the situation inside through the windows so that they can conduct rescues better at accidents.

2. The loud speaker barks at you: “Luggage and other belongings have to be kept in designated places.” Your carry-on has to be stored in the overhead bin or tucked in to the seat in front of you. You want to get to your eyeglasses or gum or favorite book, and now it’s out of reach. Airlines tell us to tuck away carry-ons because doing so prevents luggage from flying crazily about the plane during emergencies. Flight attendants want to make sure nothing’s in the aisles so that people can move as quickly as possible at bailouts.

3. The airline safety video warns you, “Life jackets are not to be inflated before exiting the airplane.” You’re thinking, “Are you kidding me?! I don’t want to be flailing in the Atlantic Ocean trying to inflate a life jacket!” But, the Airlines tell us, if water enters the plane, inflated life jackets will keep people from diving down to escape from the plane. Besides, a person with an inflated life jacket on is very likely to block the emergency exit of the plane.

So, every strange rule . . . has its reason.

Lost in Translation

October 7, 2015 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

–by Amber Zheng

Words get funny when people put them into translators. We see a lot of this kind of “funny” translation in restaurants.

This actually means very spicy pork.

This one is actually pepper and beef.

This should read Yunan-style pepper and chicken breasts.

Literally, it means homemade fried camel meat.

The right version should be: “sixi” steamed gluten.

Can you believe that the real name of this one is actually “Whatever”!? It doesn’t say anything about the ingredients.

It should simply read “German-style pork.”

The dish is a kind of vegetable stir fry, but the menu maker, clearly, couldn’t find the name of that vegetable on Google translator.

European Schools vs. American Schools

September 24, 2015 by szachik@pvs.org 2 Comments

–by Anna Kleckerova

How does European education differ from American? Like American students, we go to preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, high school and college. Our high schools separate students based on their intelligence, whether they’re public or private, and by length. High school can last 4, 6, or 8 years.

The big difference between these two continents educationally is that in Europe, we have to take every single subject every year without any electives; students take biology, c Europe School hemistry, physics, geography, math, their native language, English, a second foreign language, history, social science, and art. In America, students have a choice over their classes and have the option of electives. On one hand, this sounds more democratic, and it is awesome that you can choose classes that you really need for your life, but, on the another hand, you can have some big spaces in your knowledge. No system is perfect.

What do I like about the American education system? Studying is more of a game. It is interactive, and you discuss everything. There is a space for everyone to say their opinion, and it gives students opportunity to actually think. They don’t have to j Europe School 2 ust listen to the teacher, take notes and then take exams. They are not like robots, and they can really understand the main idea. School provides sports for students, so they can rest their heads from studying at least for a little bit.

Also, here you get more homework every day, unlike Europe, where you get a homework assignment once a week. You can go study by yourself, and it makes you actually do something, build something, create something original. Plus, you don’t get grades only from tests, but your homework counts as well. This can greatly improve your final grade.

In summary, American students are more involved in choosing their own classes and studying outside of school. In Europe, students have to take every class every year.

European Culture vs. American Culture

September 18, 2015 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

by Anna Kleckerova

I would like to share my experience with you. I was born in the Czech Republic. That is in the center of Europe. But, I also spent one year in America, and I will continue probably my life here for the next several years. I’d like to compare the two cultures.

image1-2 Let’s start with Europe because it is still closer to me. Countries in Europe are very old. There were many wars in Europe’s past, yet a lot of culture was saved. We can find a very old colosseum in Rome where gladiators were fighting for their lives. Venice is well know for her transportation through canals on boats. Paris has its Eiffel Tower and the most famous museum in this world, the Louvre. We can find any culture in this museum. It is too big to see all of it in one day, and it makes you want to go to France again and again. Also if you decide to take a tour through Europe, you hve to visit definitely Prague. This capital city also has really old culture, and it is in pristine condition. You can find here Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, the astronomical clock and so many others sights.

In summary, Europe has really old history, and there are so many different types of architecture such as gothic, renaissance, symbolism, romanticism, realism, baroque, rococo, secession, and others.

America, on the other hand, isn’t as old as Europe, so it is not easy to find such deep culture here. Everyone knows of the Statue of Liberty that is in New York that Mr. Eiffel made for America. This country took a culture from other countries–like Asia, Africa and Europe. Immigrants brought their own ideas and cultures from their homelands. In America, there is no one culture; it is a mixture of many, many different cultures. American people are so proud of their country, and they show it on every corner with flags and the Pledge of Allegiance. Also, there are so many states in America and each of them has a different accent, dialect, food and culture.

While America doesn’t have as long and as rich a culture as Europe, you can find here beautiful architecture, national pride, and a diverse culture.

The World According to Henry: The Artisanship of Japan

September 17, 2015 by szachik@pvs.org 4 Comments

by Henry Huang

When people talk about the Japanese spirit, many people refer to Bushido (dignity, loyalty, and honor). To me, what represents the spirit of Japan is, in fact, the artisanship. The Japanese believe that they are supposed to do the best in their every pursuit: whether building a bridge or cooking street food. Today, our example of artisanship is found in a restaurant in Tokyo.

The restaurant is called Hirooichie. This restaurant was awarded a coveted Michelin Star–a universal recognition of culinary excellence. I was lucky enough to get a reservation during my trip to Japan. This restaurant is in a residential district in downtown Tokyo. When my friends and I walked into that restaurant, I realized the spirit of artisanship starts here.

In order to keep the quality of the dinner, the chef only serves 15 people per night. The meal was in fact, a show, a show that only has a chef and a zyoshou (a traditional Japanese waitress) on the stage. The chef, to me, is a representation of artisanship. He was working behind the counter so all the customers could see what he was preparing. Without great confidence in his skills, no chef would dare to cook under the watchful eye of his customers. What’s more, the restaurant was an Omatase, a restaurant without a menu. The chef has to satisfy instinctively the desires of his customers. All his tools were well organized, another symbol of excellent craftsmanship. The zyoshou was very friendly to us. We were the only foreigners in the restaurant. Even though there was a language barrier, the zyoshou tried her best to introduce the dishes. One of the details that I will never forget was how the zyoshou constantly refilled my glass, like she could read my mind.

The moment the food was served, I could feel the artisanship of the establishment. When I looked at the chef, he had an extremely focused expression. He worked at a very mild and pleasant pace. At that moment, his seriousness was palpable. The chef works alone. There is no apprentice to assist him. He tried to ensure the satisfaction of every customer. The zyoshou was the epitome Japanese elegance (silently meeting everyone’s needs with a pleasing aesthetic). When she realized that we were Chinese, she made cards in Chinese to tell us what was in the dishes.
The food was magnificent. All the food was made with simple ingredients; however, every bite appealed to every taste bud. The presentation of the dishes was glorious. Although simply decorated, every dish was so attractive that I almost didn’t want to take a bite. The simplistic style of cooking produced the ultimate enjoyment of taste. There are no words to describe the absolute magnificence of my culinary experience. Hirooichie opened the door for me to observe the artisanship of Japan.