Listy

This should be the week I start to get myself back into some kind of professional routine. It is only a couple of weeks before my course starts, and as it is something I have no experience of, I shall actually be doing some preparation. Quite what, I don’t know. I have, of course kindly been provided with a wealth of information by the school themselves, so that should at once keep me going for a couple of days and give me some idea of further reading and what is required in general.

My only concern is that, as has been stressed to me repeatedly, it is not a course that is academic in any way. Although I feel much more comfortable about the thought of teaching small groups of non-English speakers now than I did when the idea of me doing the course was first mooted, some 10 years ago now, my mindset is still very much that of an academic. In actual fact, I have often found the exegesis of books, works of art, etc, or, indeed the analysis of structure within language, or of history, to be of more interest than the primary sources themselves. I suppose it come from the scientific/logical manner in which my brain works. I have issues appreciating the abstract beauty, but when things are placed within a (pseudo-)logical framework, they engage and inspire me far more. I hope the training experience I have will stand me in good stead, or at least give me a starting point. Fortunately, it is not a group of North London teenagers I have to try and inspire to learn about German recycling laws.

The necessity of a framework also lead me to Veletržní palác in search of Czech Socialist Realism (having heard/read that this held the best collection of Czech 20th century art). I was a little disappointed – there was only one small room. I shall endeavour to find out where exactly these works are stored and try to make a visit. There were, however other points of interest – not least because they exhibit architectural plans, theatre stage and costume designs and material goods (including radios, scooters and immense amounts of glassware) – a mini-V&A, if you will. Plus they had two whole floors of contemporary Chinese art. And the building itself is an architectural joy (on the inside, anyway).

Then a walk through Stromovka, a voyage of discovery in Bubeneč, heading towards Dejvická along the few remaining streets and in the shadow of buildings that directly betray the city’s socialist past.

Zádumčivost

Autumn is arriving here at an alarming rate. The skies have become attendantly grey, today there was even drizzle. Maybe the UK is simply in a permanent autumn, no doubt a punishment for breaking away from the Catholic Church all those years ago. Anyway, this creeping melancholy has once again entered my life. I think it has never left, but as I have been busy with 400,000 things, it had been relegated to the small cupboard beneath the stairs to the rear of my cerebellum. But it reappeared during my walk to the castle and back. My iPod cycled through Tom Waits and obscure Argentinian prog-rock, strangely angst-ridden yet l rhythmic. Then two days of illness. Nightnurse and Simcity in bed guided me back to wellness, but when I emerged today to face the world, or rather to post a letter, take back bottles, buy some bread, milk and tomatoes, the sunshine had departed. Children were wearing raincoats. I even saw an umbrella or two.

My efforts to post the letter were thwarted, mainly due to the fact that there is nary a single postbox to be found between here and the Pavilon that hosts our nearest supermarket. I circled the supermarket a couple of time, hoping to catch sight of the orange and grey box, but to no avail. So I went into the supermarket. Their bottle-return machine was out of order (there is a wonderful Czech film, Vratné lahve, about these very machines). So, for the sake of 12 koruna, plus the fact I knew there was a post office nearby, I headed north, through the roadworks and traffic jam to our other (slightly less close) supermarket. Exchanged the bottles. Managed to buy a low-alcohol beer. Was followed around by a young skinhead. Decided against buying tomatoes there. Posted the letter, then went to one of the Vietnamese shops (is that racist? I am convinced it must be…) for tomatoes. Then came home.

So here I sit, making a beef and vegetable ragoût, drinking beer and posting about the weather and shopping. But I have to say, Central European capitals are ideal for misery as the autumnal gloom descends. Plus I only have a couple of weeks at most before the snow arrives, so I had better make the most of it.

Ahoj

This is my first post. It is just here as a placeholder really, as I still have two months before I move. Plus, of course, some time to sort out an internet connection. So please check back at the start of October.