THE WORLD CUP
Be still, my sports-hating heart. I know everyone who reads this knows I can't stand athletics in any form, but for some reason, I fall head-over-heels in love with the World Cup every four years. Maybe it's the fact that soccer/football is the one sport I've ever played, or maybe it's the fact that it lets me embrace my inner nationalist, but I live for the World Cup. I have vivid memories of sneaking off to watch matches during camp in 2006 (as my wife Ori Levy reminded me, the vivid memories are of us almost getting fired because we preferred to watch David Beckham over actually dealing with our campers. Sweet memories). Now, six hours ahead, I've gotten pretty lucky in that I've been able to make it to 90% of the matches I care about.
Hyundai set up a Fan Park in the middle of Old Town Square, which, for better or for worse, means I always knew what was happening. It was nice to not have to schlep out to a bar or something to watch. Amanda and I caught some of the daytime games at Riegrovy Sady, a lovely beer garden out in Prague 3, but most of our time was spent in Old Town.
The Dutch invaded Prague and let me join their ranks.
So yeah, I cheered for England and then they got rightfully crushed, and I cheered for Germany and then they got unfairly beaten, and then I went all the way for Holland and they lost in overtime. Maybe my support is the kiss of death. Who knows. But anyway, the World Cup let me make a lot of new friends and we bonded over our shared hatred of Germany... Argentina... Spain... and Spain again. It's a lovely thing.
LUCERNA
Lucerna holds 80s/90s night every weekend. Amanda and I have made it a tradition of pregaming, attending, and running shit. Because we can.
DRESDEN
I'm not sure what mental state we were in, but last Saturday morning, over a pathetically large breakfast feast at McDonald's, Amanda and I decided that it was a brilliant idea to go to Germany for the day. Her sister was there and I just wanted to see the west because for better or for worse, Prague is still kind of behind the Iron Curtain. We were still kind of buzzed when we bought the tickets and boarded the train, and it took a 2.5-hour-long train ride, riding backwards with no air at all, to sober up. Still, though, very glad we went-- Dresden is a lovely city and seeing my beloved American Apparel was wonderful. We even caught bits and pieces of the Germany-Uruguay game, which is kind of a half-assed version of my dream of going to Berlin for the final game had they made it to the end. Dresden for the third-place game is a bit of a cop-out, I guess.
MARRIAGE
I got engaged to my Italian friend Fede at his going-away party. Our love will forever be cemented by our wedding dance to "Single Ladies." Well, he liked it, and he put a grimy string ring on it at a grimy club. Fede, love, because I know you read my blog from time to time-- CALL ME. I want to come to Venezia in a week or so for our honeymoon. I want to make it happen.
SCHOOL
I'm going to quote Lady Gaga on this one:
"She's a mess. Now the girl is stressed. She's a mess. She's a mess. She's a mess. She's a mess."
One week left! Will I go to Munich? Brussels? Venice? Or will I actually stay in this painfully hot city and work? Only time will tell...
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