things that just dont happen in the USA
There are so many things that happen to you or around you when you’re traveling that just would not happen in the US. Some things are pretty prosaic, like in NZ, there were trampolines in public campgounds, which, because of insurance, would never happen in the US. Others, like people riding on the roof of the bus for long distances as in Nepal, are a bit more strange. In the Prague, we’ve had a few more.
For instance: in the US, you’ll never be scalded by water from a tap in a hotel. If anything like that happened, it’d be a bright, shiny invitation to a lawsuit and a ticket to a bunch of money for whoever was burned. Unlucky for me, I’m not in the US. Last night I took a shower. My sandals have been pretty stinky, so I brought them in with me to clean them up. After I was all done, I turned the water on as hot as it would go and sprayed down my sandals for a minute or to, just to get rid of any extra stink. The shower was hand-held, if you know what I mean, and when I was done, I propped it behind the faucet and started to dry off. As I was getting out, I accidentally bumped the faucet and it sprayed me in the side of the chest, with the water as hot as it will go. In the US, this would have been a shock, maybe, but it wouldn’t have scalded me. In Prague, they run their water heaters pretty damn hot, I guess.
I went back to the room and showed Anna, whose first response was (and I quote exactly) “Your skin is coming off!” It wasn’t. Not really. I did have a blister about the size of my thumb that had burst, so I can see what she meant, but it’s not as bad as she made it sound. Initially I had a red, extremely painful area about the size or my head on the side of my chest. Now, I’ve got the burst blister and an area about the size of a silver dollar around it that hurts.
Also: in the US, if there is a tourist information stand in a train station (or bus station or airport). it will have train information. In Prague, this is not the case. I can’t imagine why not.
Prague, aside from not being the USA, is very beautiful. It’s one of only a few cities that were spared in WWII, so the architecture is original and amazing. Prague is in Bohemia, so everything that your mind associates with gothic and the brothers Grimm is made manifest here. The churches are some of the most ornate I’ve ever seen and the castles, well, the castles are what you think of when you hear the word castle. They’re unbelieveable and almost unreal. We’ve been wandering around town for a couple of days and even the hordes of tourists can’t ruin such a beautiful city.
There’s more, I’m sure, there’s always more, but a blog is a blog and I can’t put it all here. We’ll be home in 2 weeks to start to dole out the stories and show the pictures and talk to people in person. We’re both looking forward to seeing all of you!
Tags: complaints, Czech Republic, Prague, Travel
awrichner
i was driving home from the movie theater last friday night and spaced out for a bit and missed my turn to my house. the shortest route i could take with out pulling a u-turn or y-turn (which i was just not in the mood for) was somewhat out of the way, but took me (i think) past your parents’ house. i got me to thinking how crazy it is that your trip is almost done. it seems like just yesterday you guys were in rochester just about to leave, and at that point 6 months seemed like forever. crazy.
you’re telling me, man.
it’s good and it’s bad. i want to be home, but I don’t want to stop traveling.
Just wanted to let you know that when you get settled in and back to normal life after your trip, if you are looking for a job in the metro, let me know and I might be able to get you in at UHG. I know you prob don’t want to have to think about that while on your trip, hbut just keep it in the back of you mind as a possible possibelty. It will be nice to see you guys again.
thanks Tony. I’ve been looking at the classifieds in the Star Trib just so I know what’s out there and I’ve actually seen a couple of spots at UHG I might be qualified for and enjoy. I’ll definitely talk to you about it once I’m back.
Actually, I even applied for a job already. It was a writing position at the MN State House of Reps, sort of a dream job type of thing. We’ll see how that shakes out.
I was just thinkin about other things available around here. I know Anna is going to be going to school. I still have some “in’s” with the security agencey that I worked at. They are very flexible and allow their officers to bring school work to the site (if it is not directly in front of the client). They job is boring as hell but gives you a ton of time to do school work or read. The schedules range from 1st, 2nd, 3rd and weekends shifts all ove the metro area. They also pay relatvely decent for the metro area. They mainly look for “over-educated” guards or people working for a degree. If she wants, i can introduce her to some people around there. Also, if you wanted to, you could contact Nick. he works at Capella University (Online University) as a call center/customer service associate. He might have some “in’s” too. I hope you guys enjoy what is left of your trip. I would love to help if I can when you get back to the grind that is everyday livin. Just let me know. Peace out.
I actually was at a campground in the US that had a trampoline, it was huge and there were kids all over it. I don’t even think it had much padding on the bars and it definately didn’t have a cage. But alas that was the 80’s back when they built playgrounds out of wood and metal that would also scald you on a hot day. The point is that fun has a halflife of about 20 years and when it decays it leaves behind an element known as toxic lameness. See ya soon.
adam, as true as your point is, i forgot how much of a geek you are!
I bet that campground got sued into oblivion sometime in the 90’s. Toxic lameness is exactly right.