This week in Scene International we visit Arts & Sciences junior and former Scene editor Sophie Vodvarka, who is studying abroad in Prague, Czech Republic this spring.
This morning I woke up early and went to the Wallenstein Garden and watched peacock mating rituals in the beautiful palace park, which, until today, I was unaware existed right next to the metro station where I was pick-pocketed last weekend.
Living in Prague the last few months has been a trichotomy of fairy-tale scenery, a simple, laid-back way of life and a constant struggle to understand this group of people from whom my ancestors come, whose collective mood is despondence and whose government is negligent.
A few weeks ago the Czech Republic’s government dissolved when the Prime Minister of the country, Mirek Topolanek, was ousted in a vote of no-confidence by parliament. Given the Czech Republic’s current seat as the presiding nation in the European Union’s 6-month long rotating leadership, the time is particularly unfortunate and has caused Czech citizens to yet again distrust their government. A few days ago a new Prime Minister was elected, and will serve until the next regular election.
Currently, the Czech parliament is made up of about 40 percent of the communist party, supported mainly by the older generations. After the economic downfall in January, the situation has worsened even more dramatically for the Czechs. Though public opinion is still generally in opposition of the communists, it is clear that the private attitude of many Czechs is that life was indeed more stable under communism. They may have passports now, but many have neither the means to travel, nor the money or education to secure jobs.
It was an interesting situation for President Obama to enter when he came a few weeks ago for the EU summit. He spoke at the Prague Castle, which is about a 10-minute walk from my dorm.
My friend and I woke up before dawn and bought breakfast and boxed wine for the occasion. But after seeing there was barely a line of people waiting, we wandered around the castle district and found a quaint garden area surrounded by cottages and a stream. There we sat, watching the sun rise through the foggy, gothic spires of HradΓΒany.
Experiences like these are what make living in Prague so unique. The exceptionally beautiful is constantly hand in hand with the truly frightening, evened out by a strange sort of Slavic humor. When I was pick-pocketed last weekend, I lost everything of value except my passport, on Easter weekend when nearly all of my friends were out of town. So I collected all of the empty beer bottles I could find around the dorm and turned them into the Potraviny across the street, for 3 crown each. I got back enough money to go out for the night. Oh Praha, Na Zdravi! (Cheers!)