I was able to enjoy the perfomrance of Russalka, Op. 114, accompanied by a live orchestra! The opera follows a folk Czech folk legend about a mythological water nymph who falls in love with a human prince (very similar to The Little Mermaid). I had never been to an opera before and had such a wonderful time getting dressed up and listening to such talented performers.
This week, my study program took us to a traditional enameling workshop in the city. The resident artists showed us how to use powdered glass to paint onto cups, and then scratch off designs with a stick. After being briefly fired in a kiln at 1500°F they were ready to take home and use!
I am taking a literature class this semester on Franz Kafka, a classic Jewish-Czech writer from the early 20th century. This week, we were reading a selection of short stories by Kafka, including Metamorphosis, a famous 1915 tale of a salesman who wakes up to find himself transformed into a huge insect.
With all of the solo traveling that I have been doing, I have been playing lots of cards, specifically solitaire. I bring a deck with me in my backpack wherever I go, and on trains and buses, it is a good way to pass the time.
On November 11th, we celebrated St. Martin's Day in the Czech Republic, marking the end of harvest season and the beginning of winter. As the legend goes, St. Martin was a Roman soldier who hid among a flock of geese to avoid being appointed bishop, but their honking gave away his hiding spot.
