I feel important, oh so important, I feel important and worthy

and unpaid!! But I can live with that right now.

I've spent the last 2 days at a UN conference for border police on identifying trafficking victims-- it was so cool! I so didn't belong in that room full of balding, powerful men, and a few powerful women, but the people at the Czech Interior Ministry like me, and are fabulous, so they assigned me to be a second La Strada representative and official conference notetaker;) And they all had to listen to what I had to say-- I love it-- and they did!! Only weeks ago I was complaining to Raphael about the border treatment when we went to Austria, like every other whining activist, and all of a sudden, I had the ear and the respect of the people who could do something about it! I got my own name plate and was simultaneously translated into 3 languages this time (oh yeah). I have never been to a 2-day conference like this and I had a ball, and got to use lots of German. I also learned so much about the trafficking situation, I actually feel trained and that I know something of what I'm talking about these days...it was such an honour to be there, and everyone was so nice to me...I became a little networking bee, and quickly filled up my complimentry card holder :-) :-)

Also, in my intense business, I have forgotten to welcome Lucasz, from Poland: our newest (and final) arrival at Andel...we are truly a full house now-- all visitors will have to sleep on the floor until someone goes on vacation--eek!!

One final note: our dear friend from Mexico, Efrain, who lives in Brno, got hit by a car last week. He is doing OK and recovering in hospital, and minus a few stiches, will be fine. He very sweetly sent us a message about how much he appreciated our friendship, and our wishes for a fast and furious recovery go out to him-- we're so glad you're OK, Efrain!!!

An Australian in Prague

Wow...today is absolutely beautiful-- 17 C, according to the boy. Today is the first day since I have come to Prague that I do not want to shrivel up inside my 6 layers of clothing and sleep/eat as much chocolate as possible, but run, dance, jump for joy!!

We've had visits from two AIESEC Aussie friends of Raph's, and it was great to hear their accents, stories, and have them representing at conferences all the way over here!

Work is still too busy, I taught more than 12 hours of English last week, on top of life getting busier at La Strada...I think I will have to cut down on the English lessons, although I was able to buy a lovely piece of Bohemian Crystal because of them:-)

Kendra is coming to visit next week, and I am planning a birthday party for April 7th, a trip to Brno/Budapest for the following weekend, Kendra wants to go to Greece and Germany (eek) [hind note: didn't happen], and my birthday (Easter) weekend will be spent in the Moravian mountains with Ales and Lucka and their family and friends [hind note: didn't happen], where we will have a cultural food exchange (I will make Shepard's Pie, Raph will make Lamingtons-- all about sheep, us Aussies!), and the guys will supposedly braid (platt) fine pieces of wood to "whip" the girls with. Do the Czechs know I hit back?? We'll find out. Should be good fun;)

Melting Ice

After 3 months of quiet, life has all of a sudden gotten really busy! I have two English students now, who want multiple hours a week, and I occasionally teach two-day intensive English sessions (with two other teachers) through the Ulrich Language Institute.
Also, La Strada has me attending important meetings at the US embassy (because they're in English), and I am working with my first client!
Kendra is coming to visit April 4th-20th, and we are plotting a party and a fun trip for my birthday. Mum made it through another round of RAD exams, and is enjoying the beginnings of spring on that side of the world. Dad reads my blog now which makes me very happy:):) Hey dad, everyone at Andel is reading the book you gave Raph, "Germs, Guns and Steel," so you are passing on the wisdom!!
As for the future, I am still waiting to hear from CUNY/John Jay, and am meanwhile putting in applications to USYD and UNSW's MCrim and MForensicPsch programs. One starts July 2006 and the other Feb 2007, so even if I'm moving to Australia, there's a possibility I will work in NY for another half a year first:-)
My Czech is slowly getting better, and except for our Polish house members, I think I hold the prize for best Czech at the moment. Yesterday we attended an excellent documentary on Gallipoli, and also agreed to start some Turkish lessons with our friend (and AISECer) Ozgur, so that we wouldn't be completely helpless on our May trip.
It's still snowing, and still freezing, but the end is in sight, and soon I will be able to stop drinking/eating hot chocolate to make it through (my alternative to the Czech staple of beer and cigarettes-- makes one less grumpy).

First Student, but Still Waiting for Spring...

Welcome new Andel arrival Christian, from Germany! Lucky guy gets to live in the "girls'" section, because we are running out of room... Lucky for the other (2) girls that I am willing to shack up with a guy;) Raph's pretty good about doing his laundry, though-- can't complain.

I recently put up an ad to teach English, and now have my first student here in Prague. Everyone here is interested in learning "business English," and although he is German, my student is no exception, so I've been brushing up on words and phrases like"Bull market" and "outsourcing." He's a nice guy, and extra income is good, so should be fun:)

I've made a new good friend here (you guys know how picky I am) from work: Hana, a Prague native who got her Masters Degree (and feminist streak) from Georgetown University in D.C., and was a presidential attache for the EU. She is fabulous, my age, and I'm excited to see all the good places her life will go! On a fun side note, her boyfriend of about eight years is an American film editor who recently worked on the "Narnia" film in NZ!

The internet cafe and infamous expat hangout across the street, "Kava-Kava," has started holding open-mikes on Friday and Saturday nights, so last Saturday, I sang. Just two verses from"Can't Help Loving that Man..."-- and I didn't tell anyone!! Even Raph came running in from the next room, saying "I know that voice..." It was good for me. I signed up for a real spot next Saturday.

The "Jeden Svet" ("One World") film festival has been going on this past week, and Raph, Jenny, Erik and I have been trying to see as many films as possible. A lot of them are human rights documentaries, and very provoking. A few examples: "Brother Gordon" documented a Vietnam vet and Harlem native who has spent the last 35 years living as a monk at a rehab monostary in Thailand, "giving lives for lives taken." "Vierka" documented the story of a Roma (gypsy) girl in the CR, with such an incredible singing voice, that a talent scout took her and her entire family in to try and start her career and give them a better life. They disappeared one day without a trace. In "Winter's Children," the grandson of a Third Reich Nazi turns the camera on his own family to try and represent and deal with the repressed and painful denial of the past, to try and reconcile the beloved parent with the murderer. Some of these films aren't in English or German, and only have Czech subtitles, so it can be a challenge! "Sex Slaves" (called "white meat" in Czech)-- which I didn't even have to force everyone to come see-- is on Wednesday, luckily, in English. These films have also got me thinking about the aboriginal situation in Australia. The research I've been reading in this area has been heartbreaking, and Raph and I really want to do something about it...hopefully, we will get the opportunity to.

I finally went to an Irish Pub here, and due to their yummy Shepard's Pie, I'll have to add it to my favourite (non-Czech) restaurant list. And I'm still waiting for Spring. I've been waiting since I got here, as I hear Prague is a completely different (happy?) city come turn of the season. No matter what, we have secured the sun some May, by way of a visit to Turkey, to see my dear friend Elif, who I haven't seen in eight years...

Month of the Woman: Unpredictable (according to Bulgarian Myth)

I'm having a quarter-life crisis. But I won't bore you (and myself) with twenty-something existential dribble (Kafka). My options are: work/graduate school in NYC, or work/graduate school in Oz. I have secured none of the above, as I cannot decide which I want. So, secure first, decide later, says the Greek chorus. Why can't I just enjoy my vacation, and stop worrying about my father? says Electra. Pirates, be warned: this is your brain (hold up an egg); this is your brain on vacation for too long (drop egg on floor).

As for the Czech chorus calling you a gypsy Aruna, you just roll your eyes with patronizing exasperation, and tell them you're not a gypsy, MICHELA'S a gypsy. You're Pocahontas. Then sing "Colors of the Wind" while I bite them. :-)