The Czech Chick
In November 2015, about 40 students from our school took part in a student exchange with the Czech Republic. That was my first time in that country, and I have to add, I was amazed. Not only the places we’ve visited were breathtaking but also I was sincerely stunned by the Czech culture and the hospitality of the locals.
Now, it was their turn to come to Serbia.
On Monday morning, at 6.30 AM our school was wiggling from excitement. Some of the students were still sleepy (I can’t blame them) but most of them were already joking around and jumping across the classroom. Do I have to add that I was in the second group?
As the Czechs arrived the lisping turned into shouting. Furthermore, the shouting became just a hot mess with people pushing each other to find their guest/host. I, personally, could not find my Czech girl until the teachers have calmed everybody down and called us up. I was at the bottom of the list and I had been really nervous about seeing my exchange partner before they called our names. But then everything fell into place. We were so glad to see each other that the teachers had to ask us to stop hugging and get out of the way.
The afternoon had been organised for a group walk around the city. Our students were freed from school on one condition: that they would stick to the group until the end. I bet you can imagine the students strongly nodding with their heads in the sign of approval only to see them slowly drift away at every corner during the mentioned walk. Our group in particular ended up in a small café. We were I the middle of an important discussion we got a message from the remaining (three!) Serbian students that the teacher was angry and that he had uttered that all ditchers would be grounded. We had no other option but to run and try to blend in with the group like we’ve never left. As well as the others, we were caught but in the end we didn’t care.
In the evening Bara, my Czech exchange partner, asked me to take her to the Petrovaradin fortress. As a good host I felt obligated to do so, so we had a long, three hour walk to and back from the fortress, finishing our evening in a pub with the other exchange students.
I was so exhausted on the second day already, that as soon as I dropped off Bara at the school in the morning, from where they went to their trip, I went straight home and slept through the whole day. I must add, I realized that I was spoiled to its finest, because I was used to getting help from my parents making the lunch package for every exchange student who was staying at our house, but this time our schedules didn't fit in, so I ended up making alone double portions, going to bed last and getting up first. That’s why it came as no surprise to me that I felt like I’ve come straight out of the dishwasher. The situation at my friends’ wasn’t much more different either.
In the evening I found out that the Czechs had a couple of free seats in their bus and I asked a handful of students, both Serbian and Czech, if there was a possibility for me to join them the next day for their trip to Timisoara, but nobody could give me concrete information except the shortest comment that ‘I might get in’. With my adventurous spirit I took that as a high enough possibility for a yes and as soon as I got home I prepared my passport and some money for the trip with great excitement.
But with the morning came other problems. Since I was the only one who had known about the trip, I was the only one who had taken a passport. And there was no way that I was going alone with the Czechs. Until the last evening they seemed to me as if they were judging us. Fortunately, it was all a product of my imagination and I wish I knew that on that morning too.
At the last moment I came up with the idea that one of the seniors should go with me because she was there by car and she was the only one who could’ve made it to and back from home on time.
Our rush to her house is a story for itself, but I will just add that during the ride she was fast and that she was very, very furious.
On the other hand, Timisoara was a nice surprise. I truly enjoyed my first time in Romania, the buildings, the spirit of the city along with the egyptian (haha) food for lunch and the National museum (which had kicked us out because they were closing in twenty minutes). All that combined with the main square full of pigeons, the playing clock and the sunny day gave us a complete look at the Romanian spirit.
That evening Bara and I didn’t have any energy left so we decided to stay home and have some sleep.
On the last day the Czechs visited Belgrade and the hosts either went to school or went home to sleep and since I cannot recall I believe it was the second option.
In the evening the weather was nice so we stayed at a square in the city center nearly until sunrise. We’ve connected with each other more during that night than we’ve had during the whole exchange. And that is why I was even more devastated when we had to say goodbye in the morning. I promised them, but mostly to Bara, that we’ll stay in touch and that hopefully we’ll see each other sometimes soon. I hope for once that we’ll all keep our promises.
(A post from the 10th of April)
In November 2015, about 40 students from our school took part in a student exchange with the Czech Republic. That was my first time in that country, and I have to add, I was amazed. Not only the places we’ve visited were breathtaking but also I was sincerely stunned by the Czech culture and the hospitality of the locals.
Now, it was their turn to come to Serbia.
On Monday morning, at 6.30 AM our school was wiggling from excitement. Some of the students were still sleepy (I can’t blame them) but most of them were already joking around and jumping across the classroom. Do I have to add that I was in the second group?
As the Czechs arrived the lisping turned into shouting. Furthermore, the shouting became just a hot mess with people pushing each other to find their guest/host. I, personally, could not find my Czech girl until the teachers have calmed everybody down and called us up. I was at the bottom of the list and I had been really nervous about seeing my exchange partner before they called our names. But then everything fell into place. We were so glad to see each other that the teachers had to ask us to stop hugging and get out of the way.
The afternoon had been organised for a group walk around the city. Our students were freed from school on one condition: that they would stick to the group until the end. I bet you can imagine the students strongly nodding with their heads in the sign of approval only to see them slowly drift away at every corner during the mentioned walk. Our group in particular ended up in a small café. We were I the middle of an important discussion we got a message from the remaining (three!) Serbian students that the teacher was angry and that he had uttered that all ditchers would be grounded. We had no other option but to run and try to blend in with the group like we’ve never left. As well as the others, we were caught but in the end we didn’t care.
In the evening Bara, my Czech exchange partner, asked me to take her to the Petrovaradin fortress. As a good host I felt obligated to do so, so we had a long, three hour walk to and back from the fortress, finishing our evening in a pub with the other exchange students.
I was so exhausted on the second day already, that as soon as I dropped off Bara at the school in the morning, from where they went to their trip, I went straight home and slept through the whole day. I must add, I realized that I was spoiled to its finest, because I was used to getting help from my parents making the lunch package for every exchange student who was staying at our house, but this time our schedules didn't fit in, so I ended up making alone double portions, going to bed last and getting up first. That’s why it came as no surprise to me that I felt like I’ve come straight out of the dishwasher. The situation at my friends’ wasn’t much more different either.
In the evening I found out that the Czechs had a couple of free seats in their bus and I asked a handful of students, both Serbian and Czech, if there was a possibility for me to join them the next day for their trip to Timisoara, but nobody could give me concrete information except the shortest comment that ‘I might get in’. With my adventurous spirit I took that as a high enough possibility for a yes and as soon as I got home I prepared my passport and some money for the trip with great excitement.
But with the morning came other problems. Since I was the only one who had known about the trip, I was the only one who had taken a passport. And there was no way that I was going alone with the Czechs. Until the last evening they seemed to me as if they were judging us. Fortunately, it was all a product of my imagination and I wish I knew that on that morning too.
At the last moment I came up with the idea that one of the seniors should go with me because she was there by car and she was the only one who could’ve made it to and back from home on time.
Our rush to her house is a story for itself, but I will just add that during the ride she was fast and that she was very, very furious.
On the other hand, Timisoara was a nice surprise. I truly enjoyed my first time in Romania, the buildings, the spirit of the city along with the egyptian (haha) food for lunch and the National museum (which had kicked us out because they were closing in twenty minutes). All that combined with the main square full of pigeons, the playing clock and the sunny day gave us a complete look at the Romanian spirit.
That evening Bara and I didn’t have any energy left so we decided to stay home and have some sleep.
On the last day the Czechs visited Belgrade and the hosts either went to school or went home to sleep and since I cannot recall I believe it was the second option.
In the evening the weather was nice so we stayed at a square in the city center nearly until sunrise. We’ve connected with each other more during that night than we’ve had during the whole exchange. And that is why I was even more devastated when we had to say goodbye in the morning. I promised them, but mostly to Bara, that we’ll stay in touch and that hopefully we’ll see each other sometimes soon. I hope for once that we’ll all keep our promises.
(A post from the 10th of April)
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