Prague!

I just got back from a weekend trip to Moravia, Czech Republic, and on the long bus ride I wondered why I hadn't blogged about Prague yet. I've come to the conclusion that it is like having a good-news-type - sometimes you want to just want to keep it to yourself and enjoy it before you let others in. Also, I'm worried that I won't be able to do the city justice. I've been taking pictures but when I look at them on the screen they often don't capture it all. I am partly in disbelief that I will be living and studying here for a semester. I found out that Albert Einstein used to teach at Charles University where I'll be attending starting tomorrow morning. I really geeked out over that. Orientation has been keeping me busy visiting palaces, cathedrals, and the main squares.
The squares and wide but walled in by huge historic buildings. Instead of having house numbers, the houses were built with ornaments above the door. Family crests, animals, and other figures are detailed on many of the large buildings which adds to the beauty and uniqueness of Prague. The streets are mostly cobble stones and the narrow winding roads between buildings are even more picturesque than I imagined they would be. It's been a lot to take in and I find myself in disbelief on a daily basis.
The culture differences have been interesting to deal with. Paying with coins seems like a very insignificant detail, but it's frustrating to be at a register digging through my purse, not even knowing exactly what I'm looking for. Lots of times I'll just give up and hand the paper money over and accept that they will be giving me a ridiculous amount of coins to make change.
The Czech people hardly ever smile or speak. They seem a bit robotic in their everyday life. I didn't know it would be so difficult to live in a place where I don't speak the language and I am trying to learn as fast as I can. I ask locals when I can and when they hear that I am just trying to learn Czech, they are usually much friendlier and say words slowly for me. I've mastered "hello," "thank you," "please," "go away," and of course "Do you speak English?" and "I don't understand."