Spring is on its way, I can almost taste it

Sorry it's taken forever to update. I was hoping to unveil the new blog look with a mix available for download but I keep running into tech roadblock after tech roadblock trying to make that happen. So you'll have to settle for more words and a couple pictures.

I've begun teaching! I only have 2 elementary classes and 2 advanced classes per week so far, but I'm loving it. All of my students are fantastic and fun. The hardest part of the job, lesson planning, is getting easier each week.

Whilst job hunting online I stumbled across a few ads looking for American males for "dubbing." Now, I've heard that the porn industry is pretty big here in Prague, so I can't help but assume that these "dubbing" jobs will require just as much of a mastery of American English as the ability to give a good groan on command. I possess both of these talents. Unfortunately, both of the jobs were already taken, but since that morning I search for "dub" on the employment sites every day. A dream has been inspired within me of making a full time living as a voice actor for Czech porn. I know you're all thinking "but Kyle, you're a star, you don't need to work behind the scenes, GET IN FRONT OF THAT CAMERA!" Well I'm saving myself for Jesus, so you'll just have to make do with my luscious voice. I hope!

Back to real life. As I'm sure some of you know by now, I've been seeing a lovely Swedish pre-med student named Marit for a while. For one of our first dates we went to see the ABBA show with some of her fellow students. They were about the most faithful, impressive tribute band I ever could've imagined. Going to see the equivalent of ABBA with a Swede was almost like getting invited by the Pope into the Vatican to see the Ark of the Covenant. Only Abba are way cooler than the Ark.

On Valentine's Day there was a pink-themed party at this great bookstore/cafe/bar called Shakespeare & Sons. I know many of you might think that a pink party is right up my alley, but I got rid of all my pink clothes as part of the whole "starting over" thing. All I kept is my Flash Gordon belt buckle with the pink lightning bolt. I still ended up going to the party with some friends, just not in costume. In the back room there was a little Valentine's themed open-mic nite. During a lull in the evening I decided to serenade the room with my now-legendary rendition of "the Girl from Ipanema." We went out dancing after that and then took a midnight walk up to the castle. A week later I did my laundry and apparently one of my red shirts felt the need to share its dye with the rest of the wash. Pink has followed me to Prague. Apparently not everything can be left in the past.

A few days later was Masopust in Prague! The celebrations were very similar to those of Vesely Kopec only there was a parade through the streets of Zizkov, stilt-walkers, free beer, and some Marigny-looking mutant bike. It was nice.

My name day for Svatopluk landed on Feb. 23rd. Marit, Josef, Barbara and I went out for some good authentic Czech food. I drank some Slivovice, which is a plum brandy and one of the CzR's national drinks (right after beer, wine, absinthe, and Becherovka). We met up with some friends afterwards for Karaoke at the Blind Eye.

A couple of weeks ago two of Marit's Swedish friends came to visit. Thanks in large part to the wonderful care package sent by my mom (THANKS MOM!), I was able to treat them to a small American junk food feast. A main course of fritos and rotel dip followed by a dessert of peanut butter rice krispie treats with chocolate on top. MAGNIFIQUE!



Later that night we went to go see My Name Is Ann again. This time at Hall C, which was more like the punk warehouse artspaces I'm accustomed to seeing shows in back in the states. They were predictably fantastic.

That's all I've got the patience to share right now. But how do you like the new blog layout? Snazzy, huh?