The Grass is Always greener

Today after our workshop time in class I decided that I would spend some time exploring my own neighborhood. I happen to live at the edge of town (I think?) in a place called Dejvicka. Now it looks like you should say "dav-vick-a" and I always seemed to butcher it when I tried to ask the bus driver if he stopped there. I finally started writing a little cheat sheet to carry with the names of my stops on it so I could just show them--they don't even ask now. Anyway, I had to get a lesson from a young girl (college age) who was helping me learn how to say it so I wouldn't embarrass myself any further than I already have. So I now pronounce it correctly as "david-ska". I feel like a real Czech when I can say it right. I still forget how to say "thank you" which is "djkuji" but I start practicing saying it in my mind while on the bus--and when he lets me off I seem to freeze and go ahead and say it in English. I've said it once or twice but I don't think he knew what I said!! The language aspect of being here gets frustrating. It seems that the younger people are more likely to speak some english. I hope to get braver and speak more czech as I learn it.

Once I got home from class and dropped off all of my school stuff--I took the half mile trek (or should I be using kilometers since they are metric here??) to a little grocery store called Billa. It only had two aisles of groceries--and then a section for alcohol. It had a zero level entrance so I was happy as a clam to be able to shop there. I love shopping. It's an experience for me--unlike my husband who is always on a mission to get ONLY what's on the list and never to stray from that--get in, get your items, and get out is his motto. Mine is....look around contemplate, read a few labels, pick up things that I impulsively want, but don't necessarily need and then in an hour or so--get out. (we don't shop too much together as a result of this.) So, I wandered around this store looking at the pictures on some of the items--hoping they are what I thought they were. I found most of my list stuff--and some extras, of course. I really wanted coffee. I get up early and would love to have a cup while I'm still in my room reading--before the breakfast room opens at 7:00. I was going to buy ground coffee and filters and hope to find a store in the "hood" that I could purchase a small coffee maker. Well, it was a little store and they did have coffee--even some ground coffee (I think it was anyway) but no filters. I saw the instant coffee and thought--hey, I can save myself a lot of hassle by using instant. I can live with that for a cup, so I bought some. On my way home I just remembered that my kitchen only has two hot plates--and NO DISHES or PANS of any kind. There isn't a microwave either. I guess I'll have to search further for either a teakettle to boil water--or a coffeemaker.

Once I was finished I ran home (or rolled home ) as quickly as humanly possible over cobblestones, and tracks carrying a bag full of groceries on the back of my chair. Then I wanted to see what else was out there. Old Town had some really cool stuff and I was hoping there might be some nice shops in my town to check out. After crossing the streets several times--and trying to figure out how to get back up without a curb cut--I was in what looked like a shopping district. What I noticed was--I must live in "little Vegas" here in Dejvick because I saw several little casinos. I resisted the urge to go in and gamble away my hard earned crowns--although it was one of the few placesI could get into if I wanted.

I was sorely disappointed in my neighborhood. Most of the shops were either optical shops, or pubs. The majority of them had at least one step--usually more. One thing, ironically I did find an abundance of--Handicapped parking spaces!! I would kill for those lovely coveted spots at home--but many of them are usually filled (and many times by people who aren't disabled--but don't get me started!) It makes me wonder about being disabled in Prague. I was feeling a little sorry for myself with the accessibility issues--but then I thought, I'm only here a month. They have to live here with this day to day. I still have yet to see a disabled Czech wheelchair user in a manual chair pushing him or herself around independently the city or parking in the handicapped spots. I feel like calling out all my super gimp friends from home to come and invade Prague so we can freak everyone here out with our wheelie popping, curb jumping, crawling up stairs ourselves dragging our own wheelchairs behind us, going down flights of stairs in wheelies or backwards without any help, and riding escalators. (although I haven't seen any of those here) The tram drivers wouldn't even have to put the ramps down--we'd get in there with teamwork. We'd fly over those cobblestones, topple out of our chairs and then get back in without missing a beat. I think that's what Prague needs. The disabled need to get out--make themselves a nuisance by using the buses and trams daily. They'd have to get more accessible ones or they'd be off schedule all of the time. (and the buses are always quite prompt). Yes, the next revolution that the Czech Republic needs to experience is one for the Disabled. And if I could speak Czech--I might just be the one to help them get it started. Yes, my neighborhood isn't so hot here-- the grass is sure a lot greener in Old Town and the Castle area. But it's sure a lot greener at home in America for disabled people.