more news

1. I have been taking a photo lesson and a ceramics class. Both have been very fun. I made my first print in the darkroom yesterday. At ceramics I have made: a butter dish, six small sheep, a dish that looks like a chicken, two cups and a sugar bowl.

2. We are having a Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday. I have not seen pumpkin or sweet potatoes in the Czech Republic, but we will have turkey, cranberries and mashed potatoes.

3. I have recently been watching more popular czech movies. I saw Zelary which is very very sad, Kolya which is mostly funny but also sad, and Vrchní, prchni! which is very funny and about a fake waiter.

some news

1. I'm done with classes and am now working 100% of the time on an independent project. I am making a book of drawings of buildings. So far so good.

2. This morning a filling fell out, so this afternoon I will be experiencing the Czech health care system. The dentist is not for me: fear of needles + small mouth + bad noises.

3. My host mother made me a coat. It looks very snappy.

recent news

1. So much snow in Slovakia

2. Sheep in Slovakia

3. This is the park on the other side of my house. It is great there right now. I felt so happy after a walk there.

4. They are building a tunnel (for a new metro?) near my house. They have put scaffolding up around the buildings so if things fall off due to the construction it wont hurt people.

5. One of my favorite things about Prague is finding new cobblestone designs. This is a pretty good one:

6. This is me in cafe in a scarf I bought in Poland

Megan and I are obsessed with this tea:


It is super delicious and has rose hips AND petals. It tastes like heaven, actually.

Here are some photos of a tiny metal book I made:


I do realize that this is not the best picture. My actual camera is in a box at 4th and College (where I lived this summer) that I have yet to pick up. I fabricated my own hinge, which was REALLY difficult. A Book is imprinted on the front cover. The "text block" bit is made of brass so it looks like the pages are gilded. There are decorative brass rivets on the cover too. I made a few rings this week, which I will definitely take photos of and post here. And here is my desk in the metals studio!


Earlier this week I cleared it off and under all that junk I found:

• 3 flat files
• 2 round files
• 1 large file
• 4 pieces of sandpaper
• 3 saw frames
• like 40 broken saw blades
• three pairs of pliers (my favorite are the round tip)
• 1 rawhide hammer
• 1 planishing hammer

6 photos

1. I recently went the the decorative arts museum and saw this cubist clock. You can also see the top half of my room is oddly shaded.

2. This picture also shows the weird thing that is going on with lighting in my room. My light bulb went out and I was asked if I wanted a lot of light or a little light. I said a lot of light but because the the lampshade is metal mesh, the top half of my room is shadowed.

3. We don't have plastic bags at my house so when I pack my lunch I wrap everything in tinfoil

4. This is the building I live in. My apartment is in the second column from the left. This photo makes it look like I live in the middle of nowhere, but really I just live next to a park.

5. We went on an excursion outside of Prague. This is Cesky Krumlov:

6. On that excursion, I also spent three days weaving. Now I'm working on embroidering my weaving.

DEAR LORD

This week has been trying. Basically this is the 9th consecutive day of working 8 hours or more per day. I am anxious for school to start because maybe then I'll finally get some rest. Right now I am more tired than I have ever been at the end of a term.

This week has been really great in a lot of ways though. Not On Our Campus went really well, and the discussion after was also really great. I have gotten SO MUCH positive feedback from peer leaders all over the place, both on the professionalism, intensity, and effectiveness of the presentation and the facilitated small group discussions after. That means so much to me and all of the GSCAs. Stand In It With Me, the diversity program, also sparked a lot of really productive conversation among students and peer leaders alike. It was something that the new students are so privileged they get to hear and discuss right off the bat. Frankly a lot of the peer leaders needed it too. There was some really heated discussion and a lot of people were really uncomfortable, which was, in this instance, a really good thing. I feel totally drained, but also really satisfied with this week.

I am considering quitting the Cave. If I can get more hours in the GSC, I want that. I am tired of Richard being a godawful manager and I am tired of working with people who have never worked food service before (no offense Shannon). I just don't want to deal with Richard (as a manager) and really want to spend more time in the GSC with my staff. Side note: Kaaren bought us a new fridge today. We can put all of our fun LGBT food in our fun new LGBT fridge.

Things I plan to post about in the near future:

• first day of school
• revamping the GSC library
• how much I love OIL
• Thunderheist
  

more

ceramic bowl as a gift

plug adaptor

everything

complete list of everything I am bringing:

light black cardigan

small red purse

blue (hounds tooth?) triple scrunch v

heavy golden orange cardigan

black eyeliner

4 shades of brown eye shadow

razor with one replacement blade

toothbrush with cover

light meter

nikon camera

forrest green t-shirt

purple gray v neck

off white v neck

grey oakland shirt (made by Dan)

graphic tee type oakland shirt

yellow pants

tan pants

purple corduroys

black amoeba shirt

navy tank top

sweat pants

grey gloves

green hat

red scarf

blue swimsuit

cut yr losses shirt

grey waffle long sleeve

dan's blue green plaid shirt

four bars scharffen berger chocolate: semisweet, mocha, nibby, extra rich milk

large canvas tote bag

3 rolls of film

moccasins

small pack q tips

water colors

palette

long underwear bottoms

8 underwear: grey (2), blue and yellow stripes, white, brown pattern, blue floral, blue and pink stripes, pink stripes

8 socks: pink flowers, navy, coral, white, boats, white and blue

3 pairs wool socks

sea foam bra

pink sports bra

computer & power cord

green bra

brown boots Jhanna gave me

neck travel pocket & small money travel pocket (just made)

vitamin D

gum, 2 chewy bars, other snacks

"How Does it Work?" by Richard M. Koff

6 005 micron pens

1 01 micron pen

3 black pens

3 black ball points

2 mechanical pencils

brush

fountain pen

water holder

accordion book

square sketchbook

water bottle

ipod

headphones

cord

digital camera, charger, card reader

2 photocopies of my passport and visa

immunization record

letter notebook

forms to send to dan

photo of dan

envelopes

post its

address book

mint tooth paste

citrus body wash

pomegranate chapstick

jasmine perfume

baby shampoo

grapefruit face wash

two small sunscreens

black ink

new cell phone

charger

blue winter jacket

grey sweatshirt

journal

three baby journals

planner

small film camera

some pads

some tampons

wallet

travel alarm clock

I'll add the last few things when I pack them tomorrow

new hair new shoes

(maybe it's hard to tell, but some parts are the same color as my pants)

(pre-washing)

Also, I stayed at Dan's grandparents last night because he left from there at four this morning and I wanted to maximize time together. His grandmother gave me so many supplies/treats:

5 chewy bars (1 peanut butter, 4 chocolate chip)

1 spearmint orbit gum (side note: I recently bought "fabulous fruitini" orbit- bad choice)

2 things of orange tic tacs

2 cups of plain yogurt with plastic fork

1 lock for my suit case (neon yellow!)

1 tooth brush cover

1 bottle of spray to prevent bed bugs (useful? maybe)

worry worry worry

Hello Allie,

This is exciting.

OK, here are some lists I made recently.

potential problems:

10 days until I leave and still no visa

My big toe on my left foot has been mildly numb for the last five or six days

There are only six other people on my program, all girls

Dan leaves in three days

As usual, I am worried about not having proper foot wear

reasons to go to Prague:

Life isn't only about being happy and having fun

This is the last time I have to do something like this

mail art

Productivity (make art not friends)

Prague is a great place

learn to use a darkroom

We'll see