with ducks

(The original post in Bulgarian dates back from 23 September 2014.)

I’m not dedicating this publication to Ksenia (note: who loves ducks) because with “with ducks” I’m actually playing with the Czech word for “(being) back” which, for some reason, is “zpátky” (the z in the front gets devoiced and you should trust me because I’m a philologist). (a big note: zpátky sounds like the Bulgarian “с патки” [spatki] which means “with ducks”)

So, what I meant, actually, was that I’m back to Czech Republic and the things, at least upon the fourth day of my return, don’t look very different. Well, the only difference is that this time I’m jobless and the six leva (note: about 3 euros) in my debit card are not likely to multiply themselves in the next month or so.

“She went to Czech Republic with six leva only?” you are probably thinking. No, of course. In the end of the 24-hour+ train journey I had 2700 crowns (a bit over 200 leva [note: about 100 euro]), 2000 of which are intended for my October rent and the remaining 700 I already used to pay for my Czech language course which I’m going to be attending over the next few months. When I’ll be left with no money to buy food with it will be better for me to know what words to use to beg for it, right? (By the way, a word suitable for begging would be “prosím” for which, of course, I don’t need lessons. (note: the Bulgarian word for “beg” sounds like the Czech word “prosím” which means “please”) So right now I have some six leva in the bank account and all Lukash’s money at disposal. I am not sure exactly how much he has but today he told me it’s better if we had pizza for dinner because yeast was cheaper than potatoes. 🙂 Well, at least he goes to work and tomorrow he’s probably taking me with him, too but I don’t know for sure. I’ll tell you.

But, otherwise, I started a course in Czech for super beginners and the strange thing is that I understand everything and I even have the feeling it’s easy. We’re talking about just a year after my knowledge in Czech wasn’t much greater than the knowledge of an average dog raised in the Czech Republic. Even more, the teacher already praised me for two of my questions. 🙂 Th group includes me, a Russian, a Romanian who knows Russian and a Peruvian with tattoos and  flesh tunnels. It’s funny, although in the beginning, entering the centre for foreigners and looking at the picture and collage covered wall, I thought I was going to kindergarten. Generally this sounds nice but I’ve got a brand new complex of being spoken to by Czech people as if I were a child or mentally retarded, so I’d rather not be made to create collages with cutouts about Bulgaria. Or I can get over that complex, who knows.

I guess my tone sounds as if I’m having fun but it’s more the goal that I have than the reality. Actually, I’m almost constantly on the edge of depression (I guess that’s because of the cold weather which must have reached you, too) but, thank God, something happens and pulls me back to that plain of the normal and calm state of the spirit. The mountain of enthusiasm and euphoria, unfortunately, I haven’t seen for a long time. But, as I said, I want to entertain you in order to entertain myself.

I’m thinking about coming here more often and describing step by step (by the way, my Czech language book is called like that :)) the changes in the life of a jobless Czech studying woman. Because in the end everything’s going to be all right – everyone knows that – but I don’t feel like forgetting the things that will have brought me there.

Join me. 🙂

 

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