Breaking News Bulletin

Breaking news from Prague.

Sources close to the star have confirmed that the world renowned Luke Brazell will be staying in the US for between 1-2 months starting August 18th. This news contradicts earlier reports of a 2-3 week stay but the AP has been able to confirm the latest report's authenticity. We aren't sure of the exact reason for the extended stay but rumors abound that a delay in the visa process is the primary cause. Regardless of the reason, the result stands as both good news for Brazell, who has been gone for sometime and is said to be missing his friends and family, and also for anyone who wishes to see him during his American sojourn.

To repeat, Luke Brazell will now be staying in the US for 1-2 months starting August 18th.

One last European Hoorah

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter. The 4 distinct seasons of Prague

Today we begin with the good news first. I have two weeks to go in Prague and I'm really trying to get the most out of the time I have left. My more relaxed summer schedule has definitely helped (working one day a week will do that). The nature pictures posted here have all been taken in the last week or so.

On the other hand, I've been invited by a good friend of both Rachel and myself, Henri, to come visit Norway before I return home (note this is not bad news. there is no bad news). She and her family have very graciously offered to let me stay with them for a couples days and even went so far as to volunteer to show me many around. Needless to say i'm ecstatic about this opportunity. One last big trip before I head out sounds like a perfect ending to my European sojourn. And even better, they live on the west coast of the country, near many of Norway's famous Fjords. Hopefully i'll get to see a few of them while I'm there :D

And now its time to have a Mexican food dinner (that I made, so it actually tastes like Mexican food) and then meet a group of friends for ping-pong and pool to celebrate my birthday tonight :D Pictures from Norway in a week!

Almost looks like a way into Narnia

This picture reminds me of our old house in waco and the creek in our backyard

Rain over Sarka park

Sunrise at 4:20am

The last rays of sunset

Visiting Texas in August (or "why yes I am insane")

I'll keep this update short and sweet. This are going well here. I've had several friends crash at my place the last few days, the weather has been cooler lately and Prague continues to be a wonderful place to live. And as I'm sure you can tell from these pictures, there is no problem having fun with the other expats when we get together.

The game funnybone produces some interesting positions

The bigger news in case didn't know, is that I will be leaving Prague and returning to Texas for two or three weeks on August 18th. I need to apply for my new visa in the US. The best part is that I get to see all of you (I assume anyone who's put up with reading this is either a friend or family member). Just don't get between me and dr pepper and/or mexican food while I'm back!

For now, here is something cool to see. Follow this link to view a video I shot high in the Alps. It does a slightly better job of helping you understand exactly what I saw up there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95dhwBVnhXc

Preparing for craziness

You know those perfect evenings? The ones filled with cool summer evening breezes, birds singing, Louis Armstrong jazz playing and brilliantly colored sunsets? Well I just had one of those. And personally, I think evening like that can do more to restore your spirit than whole weeks on vacation.

This one came at just the perfect time. My next two weeks will be wonderfully chaotic. First is a going away party most of sunday for two of my friends. Then I work all day monday before meeting my friend Maria at the airport. She's coming over from the UK for two days to see Prague for the first time and I volunteered to be the tour guide :)


She leaves wednesday afternoon after which i'm going straight to work and then to a tennis match that evening with a very good player I met. The next morning I work for the last time in Kutna Hora (sadness) and then that night at 9pm I catch the overnight bus to switzerland. 5 days and 4 nights of breathtaking scenery will hopefully ensue :D

And to finish it off, I return wednesday the 7th at 5:30am and teach from 7:30-6 that day. I'm probably a little crazy but its all so fun that I can't pass any of it up. I can rest when i'm old. Besides, after that I have about 1/3 my current amount of work and a month and a half here with virtually no solid plans except explore and enjoy.

It's gonna be a good summer :)

Next stop the Swiss Alps

The seasons of Prague (as shown by the entrance to Divoka Sarka park)

Spring

Summer

Fall
Winter

And a bonus spring picture :)

This week has been a wonderful week. Tim's parents have been visiting for the last 5 days and its been delightful having them here. They are two of the interesting and kind people I know and I'm sad they have to leave here so soon. The weather has even done its part, staying between warm (66) to blisteringly hot for Prague (85). During this time, I've pretty well worked out what my last two months here will look like and prepared myself well for the coming weeks of teaching.

But the best part of the week was saturday when I figured out the details of a 5 day holiday I will be taking in the Swiss Alps from July 2nd-6th. I'll be staying in the region near Interlaken. My plans are to go canyoning 1 day (video here) and hiking and exploring the rest. I'll stay two night near Interlaken and two nights in a tiny village (130 people) called Gimmelwald that is located on the edge of a 1000 ft cliff :) I won't put up any preview pics because its freaking Switzerland. And if you don't know what it looks like, i don't want to spoil the surprise ;)

My next home

Several updates this time around. The first is that the weather has finally changed! It had been in the 50s and raining the past 2 weeks. Now its finally June weather outside (June weather for Prague means mid 70s and sunny). I went to my park yesterday to celebrate the change. You can see the results in the pictures above and below.


Second is that i've learned what my schedule will look like between now and september. I will teach like normal this month, with one exception. My only monday class has decided they would rather learn wednesday evening. So I now work 7 to 7 tuesday-thursday and have a permanent 4 day weekend!!! I find this almost too wonderful for words :D


Then for July and the first half of August I will be working about half the time I am now. I will be losing 12 of my 15 classes because they take a break during the summer. Fortunately I've worked hard and saved some money, so losing the work doesn't really hurt me. Plus I will be covering some classes for people who go on long vacations. The great part of this is that it will give me plenty of time to further explore Prague and the surrounding Czech towns :)

Around mid-August I will be flying back to Texas for a couple weeks. That will of course be a blast!!

The big news is where i'm going after that. I'm about 99% sure that i'm going to the island of Jeju, South Korea. Here is its location on a map of South Korea (hint: Jeju is the pink island and North Korea is the grey part at the top)


Jeju is a resort island for Koreans. Its nickname is the Korean Hawaii. It has a more tropical, temperate climate that the mainland and is apparently extremely well suited to active outdoors types (ie ME!). It is a highly coveted teaching spot but fortunately my experience in Prague and my qualifications make finding a job there no problem. I will also probably be bringing my friend Ted that I met in grad school.


I see this as a great opportunity to experience a culture that is VERY different from my native one, save some money and have a great time. I expect strong culture shock, language barriers and who knows what other problems. But despite this, or maybe because of it, I relish the opportunity to go. I'm aware that this choice of countries will worry some of you (especially with the North being stupid as usual), so if you wish to say something about it, please do so now or forever hold your peace ;)

In the mean time, enjoy a couple pictures of the island that I will probably soon call home

The Brazells are coming!

Every town, has its ups and downs.
And sometimes the ups, outnumber the downs.
- The Minstrel, Disney's Robin Hood

Every place has its good times and its sad times. For Prague, the change from sad to glad is the change from winter to spring. Months of sub freezing temperatures and dark days give way to bright sunshine and balmy breezes.


Today I took full advantage of this by visiting the lake and park near our apartment. I went out there, laid down and took a nap in the warm sun. Then I walked around, enjoyed the eden-like atmosphere and even did a little reading under the trees while I listened to a little classical music (appropriately from Czech composer Antonin Dvorak).

And it seems the rich get richer because not only are the days becoming lovelier by the week but my parents arrive for a two week vacation on saturday afternoon. This is definitely the visit i've been the most excited about for two reasons. One, they're my parents and I love em! And two, because of the itinerary while they're here.

*please note: do not read the next few sentences if you become jealous easily
Their visit begins with 4 days in Prague so i can show them my home and all the wonderful adventures it has to offer. From there, we fly down to Athens for a day and a half in the city before setting off on 3 day cruise through the Greek Islands.

After returning from the cruise, we catch a quick flight to Rome. We spend two days there which isn't a lot of time but fortunately our hotel is near the Parthenon, so getting around shouldn't be tough. After that we fly to Paris for the remaining 3 and a half days.

And because my parents leave saturday morning early, i actually decided to take the train under the English Channel and spend the rest of the weekend in London on my own.
*Please note: it is now safe to begin reading again

So obviously I'm incredibly excited. Winter was pretty depressing at times but right now the ups CLEARLY outnumber the downs :)

PS. If you want a few more pictures of our fair city right now, click here

More Pictures + a video

More pictures of the past two weeks traveling and fun can be found here

http://picasaweb.google.com/luke.brazell/20100409BavarianWeekend?feat=directlink

As a bonus, here is a video shot from the fortress in Salzburg.

PS. You have to click the link here to my actual blog to see the video.

Visitors

It's been a good week. Daniel and Amanda arrived thursday night. They were very excited. Especially Amanda since this is her first visit to Europe. Tim and I spent the next three days guiding them all over the city, showing them sites, history, architecture and culture. On sunday night I escorted them to the train station and left them in a 1st class cabin on the overnight train bound for Vienna.


While they spend 3 days celebrating their anniversary there, i've managed to do a full weeks work from tuesday to thursday here. The reward for this dedication is meeting up with them in Salzburg and Munich for a 3 day weekend before returning to work monday.

Overall its been nearly perfect. I submit the photographs below as proof.

Out exploring the city

Having a few laughs at Vyšehrad Castle

The gang near Prague Castle

View of the city from Prague Castle

Panorama of Old Town

The Cathedral of St. Vitus

And from outside the castle

My favorite statue in all of Prague. You'd never even see it unless you happened to turn down the right alley and look up.

Visiting Season

Love this picture

Visiting season has begun and I'm extremely excited! Daniel and Amanda arrive thursday evening and will be staying for two weeks. Much fun will ensue :D

The National Museum at twilight

In work related news, I now have my ideal schedule. I teach one normal class and one private lesson monday from 3:30-7:15 (which gives me the morning free to relax and plan my lessons for the week). Tuesday and Thursday I'm gone from 6:30-7 with one 30 minute lunch break. Wednesday I teach from 7:30-4 with breaks for travel and lunch. Friday is totally free.

I love this schedule because it give me a light monday to ease into the week and prepare my lesson plans. Then I get to bear down and work nice and hard for 3 very full days (I have more classes in three days than any of my friends have in a full week). And best of all, friday is still free. I know it won't last forever but i'm sure gonna enjoy it while it does.

For now I leave you with some of my recent random pictures from my rovings in the city :)

Sarka park at sunrise

And here again the same day at sunset

This one speaks for itself

Spring!!!!!

Easter Market in Old Town Square

Today we begin with the most exciting news. Its finally Spring!!! I know this may not sound like a big deal to all my southern friends but when its been in the teens and 20s with constant cloud cover for 3 months straight, temperatures in the 50s are like heaven on earth. I've been outside every spare minute this week basking in the warm sun.

Part of the view from Letna Park

And the good news keeps coming. In a week and a half two of my best friends, Daniel and Amanda, are coming to visit for two weeks. I'll be showing them around Prague for a few days and then we're going to take a mini-vacation to Salzburg in Austria and Munich and Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. Not only do I get to hang out with great friends, I also get to go to a place I've always wanted to visit (Salzburg. I've wanted to go ever since I saw the Sound of Music) and to a place I dearly love (Neuschwanstein) :D

(from the left: Michal, Pavla, Susan, Jana)

Now for another edition of "Meet my students". This time we have my group from Staropramen, a big Czech brewery. This is my most advanced group. They've all lived in English-speaking countries before, so our lessons focus on improving their vocabulary and helping them maintain their already considerable English skills. I really enjoy this group because their skill level gives me far more freedom to try interesting teaching techniques. I can show more videos, try more activities and push them not just to speak English but to think analytically in it (not an easy thing to do in your second language). They are all talkative, friendly and a pleasure to teach.

To end, I have a picture for my soon-to-be-visiting friends. Enjoy!