Erasmusblogs

Le Malentendu

manu_cz — Fri, 17 Mar 2006 16:53:21 +0000

I have started reading a play by Albert Camus, Le Malentendu. The story is set in a small Czech city. In the preface of the book I read as I wrinkle my brow that the play was meant to be called Budejovice — the name of a city in South Bohemia, not far from [...]

11. Washing Machines

manu_cz — Mon, 13 Feb 2006 22:57:05 +0000

It is marvellous to be definitely settled, to have eventually found a nice, comfortable place. It is an indescribable moment when you take the keys of your newly found apartment, or when you put your name on the letter box, or specially when you realize that you have a washing machine for yourself. Those [...]

10. An Apartment in Prague (II)

manu_cz — Mon, 13 Feb 2006 22:46:20 +0000

In November I finally got a flat. One day I find an ad on the net, "Space Age Gargantuan flat to share in Dejvicka." "Kitsch, huge rooms." Cool. "Well-situated." Cool. "Open-House Venue on Thursday. Everyone invited." Cool. I’m there on time. Hey, this is the hugest flat I’ve ever seen in Prague. Some people [...]

9. An Apartment in Prague ( I )

manu_cz — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 15:43:50 +0000

To find a flat in Prague is not easy. To find a huge confortable inexpensive flat is almost impossible. I tried it hard in October and first week of November. I have succeeded, but only after many frustrated attempts. For instance… I get a meeting with a Polish girl to see her flat. She [...]

8. Czech Republic, Prague, Ikea

manu_cz — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 15:42:09 +0000

"I make movies," Buñuel once said, "cause we are not in the best of the possible worlds." So I look for a flat cause I’m not in the best of the possible dorms. But first I need a lamp, because my room is completely dark. Then I need a flat because this dark dorm [...]

7. Anything Wrong? Yep!

manu_cz — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 10:40:30 +0000

Here´s a simple example of what´s wrong here. The dark side of the Erasmus experience, if you want. Ana and me need an English grammar book for our proficiency course. We have searched for it in some bookstores but failed. So we go to the Rectorate where the Central Library is supposed to be. [...]

6. National Day Celebration Walk

manu_cz — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 10:38:38 +0000

National Day Celebration Party. Let’s do some sightseeing. Ana, Maria, Pilar and I leave early to see the city. We start in Wenceslas Square where there is a medieval theatre show, Braveheart style. When the knight in shining armour defeats his enemy and get the princess, we clap and go for a stroll in [...]

5. Receptionists Are Our Enemies

manu_cz — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 11:36:48 +0000

In the first week we must visit some offices and deal with hundreds of papers. Frustating. These days I have met Czech students capable of speaking three, four or even five languages, but in these offices few are those who speak English. Receptionists are our enemies. No receptionist can speak English in Prague, I [...]

4. First Parties, Sit-Ins and Throw-Ups

manu_cz — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 15:35:11 +0000

The week before the classes started, there were parties every night in this dorm, till someone called the police because of the noise. Next day we had notes by the European Office reminding us our duties as "ambassadors of your countries." Nice way of saying "were you raised in a barn?" Here parties start [...]

3. Lost In Translation

manu_cz — Sat, 05 Nov 2005 14:31:05 +0000

People working in this dorm can´t speak English. The first days you have 1000 questions to do and all you get at Reception are shrugs. "Can you give me more sheets? Why don´t I have a reading lamp while many people do? Is it true I have to pay for the washing machine, the [...]

2. Sweet Home Kolej H.

manu_cz — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 22:29:19 +0000

Think I have the worst room in the dorm: no bedside tables, plumbing problems, dubious central heating, haven’t got a reading lamp -this is really dark! My Italian room-mate, Giuseppe, has stomach ache. He’s gone to Bratislava this weekend and, although I have lent him some pills, he hasn’t taken any. So there they are [...]

1. Kafka and Couscous

manu_cz — Fri, 21 Oct 2005 22:26:03 +0000

I was packing some more clothes, memorizing digital camera advanced functions, trying to decide which books to take and copying the Fabuleux Taboulé recipe from the couscous box. Meanwhile I was recalling that my first meal in France last summer was also a taboulé. "Well, not exactly," said to myself, "Actually it was your second, [...]

Roberto_Yanguas — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 11:53:09 +0000

I’ll tell a tale to you: One day we go to Ibercaja to change our euros for forints. And… It’s our time. I’ll describe the situation: Ibercaja’s Central Bank in Logroño. In front of us a counter, and behind it, one kind employer with about 35 year old more or less, dark-haired and smiling.ç -Hello, you [...]

Who has been already

Roberto_Yanguas — Thu, 18 Aug 2005 11:51:36 +0000

Pablo y Marta are two guys who were already like Erasmus in Budapest in the 2003/2004 academic year. Yesterday Olga and me met them to take a beer and to have a conversation. They were told us more things, but overcoat, that it was the time they more grew in personal experiences. We told us [...]