get the motor runnin'...head out on the highway...to Garmisch-Partenkirchen!

Yeah, you heard me right...i'm taking my first fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants trip tomorrow on an overnight train to Garmisch to grab my first european world cup race, then perhaps up to Munich on Saturday night, then over to Vienna on Sunday night to prep for the ol' date with the embassy (visa trip). oooooooh yeah, baby.

Germany/Austria...here I come.

This should be interesting.

Saddle up! We're in for a good ride!

Just letting the wind blow me on my merry way...stay tuned for more...

me

the midget is 14?! whoa...

Today is a day that will live in infamy...I saw my first czech midget on the metro. Why do I bring this incident up, you may ask?

Well, it actually reminded me of a little gal named Mikaela Youngblood Harrod (yeah, I know - rock star name, huh?!), who is also known as "the midget". On this day, 14 years ago, lil' Mickey-doo was born...and brought joy into the Harrod family household. 14 years old. I can't believe it.

This lil' gal has been such a big blessing in so many ways...I marvel at the young woman she is becoming. She is such a gorgeous, creative, witty, athletic, gifted person and I am so blessed to be able to share the laughs we share together. She makes me smile!

This is just a good ol' fashioned birthday shout-out, to my fav sis. I miss her very much and wish she could be here so I could give her mucho bday spankings and a gigantic birthday hug!

Oh, and as I realized when I went home for christmas - she's not such a midge anymore...she is going to be taller than me soon!

Check out my burly big bro's blog for more on mik...she rocks my world.

love you, mik...and the cute midget on the metro who was swingin' his feet with glee!

the big sis,

Me

p.s. I hope I didn't offend anyone with the "midget" talk, because I really do love midgets...

MHTV #3 kraft mac and cheese spirals...mmm...

Yeah, I know what you're thinking. I knit now, okay?! So deal with it. You won't be making fun of me when I make some sweet fingerless mitts and keep them all to myself, will you?! :) hee.

So, after I filmed this episode of MHTV, I hit up Old Town by foot and took some pics on the way. Will try to get them up here tomorrow...my crappy Dell is acting up again (yes, that's right, mac users...I know PCs suck). :)

Praha love and giggles,

me

MHTV #2: spin in czech - verdict: not as sweaty, not as smelly, not as sassy, not as colorful, not as crass, not as crazy...just not as...

Keeping it short and sweet. I think this one speaks for itself. hee.

(blog posting disclaimer added 28.1.2009 - no, I am not really crying here...but it was convincing, wasn't it?! :) I might as well be crying. WAHHHHHHHHHH! ha.)



Let's face it, there's only one FIRM.

Love you guys!

Kisses from Praha!

me

da da da da DAAAAAAAAAAA! the moment you've been waiting for...MHTV #1

So I had to get this one up and at 'em sooner than I thought, because a certain someone...no names (LEXY!!)...doubted my flat-settling-in-proficiency. Enjoy!

Check it and enjoy (quick blog disclaimer - i really don't have anything against French people...but this guy was a slime-ball frenchman whose bed I was/am very leery to sleep in...whoa, just realized that sounded bad. go on and watch the video already, okay?! stop making judgments...ha ha;)):



supercalifragilisticexpeeelidocious,

Me

a lil' note with love from the bach flat...

So, I moved in to my new home today, although I am already missing the Stewart household ambiance mucho-lots. And, I will post pictures this week...I promise, I promise, I PROMISE! If you're lucky, I'll even post a stupid video of myself documenting the life of a newby expat. Lots of new blog ideas circulating through my noggin'...so stay tuned for week 2 in Prague (it might even entail a trip to ikea! yeah!)...

Okay, off to bed...

Me

the addy to my flatty...check it...

da da da daaaaaaaa... (drum roll, por favor)...

(refer to email sent out 16.1.2009 for addy...had to remove it here in case any potential stalkers visited. ha.)

there it is...the bachelorette flat ("bach flat", for short). you should get acquainted with it. it will love you back if you give it some love. cash gifts and packages with kraft mac and cheese spirals are always appreciated too (oh, and packages that include a certain elfin hair stylist and the brown hair stylist as well - i'd love that as I'm really struggling with the fact that I'm void of my dynamic duo stylist team.)...and packages with anything from patina...just really packages in general make me smile. 

i have been lame in posting pictures...and taking pics for that matter, so i gotta get on that this weekend and get some good pics...and who knows?! perhaps even some video footage for "MHTV"'s debut on zmena (like that Zach?! ;)). speaking of which, I've decided to stay with the name "zmena" for now...as i am thoroughly learning just how much change i am encountering here. GOBS AND GOBS of it. 

random thought of the day (aka "small thing in life that brings me enjoyment"): have you ever stopped to think about what an amazing feeling of relief we encounter after a big, snotty sneeze (of course, it's only enjoyable if you have a kleenex to sneeze into...especially one rich with aloe vera...you know, the soft kind from kleenex brand. if you don't have a snot rag, then it's not the same.) if not, think about it. 

ahoj...peace out...adios...bye bye, 

me

Mluvíte Anglicky?

I've used my first czech phrase quite a bit since I've been on my own out from under my big bro's protective wing as of late...and have felt like an idiot every single time:). But really, I love it here and I am feeling good about everything and settling in well. I'm knocking a few things off the ol' "to do" list too, so I thought I'd share my list of completed missions with you all thus far:

1) mission: learn a few essential czech phrases and sound like stupid American - check (see blog title for the most important...even though I can't say anything after that ice-breaker. ha!).

2) mission: find a flat - check. Can you believe I found one the first full day I was here?! This is how I do things, though (blog disclaimer: I can't give myself full credit, I did it with the help of J. Chin)! My new home will be near Karlovo Namesti at Ladova 7...right next to a yoga studio and about a block away from the river!! It's a kick-ass (excuse my language! but it's true!) location and the gals seem super-cool. Come visit. I have room.

3) mission: dive into the new gig - check! I went into work on Monday for my first day...and I love it! Really, it feels like a healthy, energetic environment and I feel blessed to have been thrown right down in the middle of such a great thing. More on this soon, for sure...it's going to be an exciting couple of years with this gig. 

So, as you see, I am making some progress. However, for those of you who know me well, you know I am perpetually anxious and want to learn more...like, the czech language for instance! Lots of excitement to come! 

More soon...

Me

Vítejte v České republice!

Okay, I am not sure if google translator translated that correctly, but for now I'll just have to live with the translation, whether right or wrong and plead naivete until I know better! :)

This won't be too long, just wanted to let all of you out in the blogosphere (what a cheesy word!) that I arrived safely to Prague after a very long day of traveling. I have to say, I must be pretty blessed since I made it with no mishaps...and British Airways rocks...free wine, airplane food...toxic chicken/tomato/noodle something-or-other, lots of tea, personal tv screen and aisle-exit-row-vacant seat to my right-galore! LOVE it! Despite being fairly worn out after numerous long days and late nights of packing, a day in the windy city with two of the people I love most (shout-out to Mikaela and Tomus!) - complete with a trip to the Polish district, and an international flight - I am feeling pretty effervescent (that one's for you, Stace).  After some anxiety around what I was going to tell Customs when they asked me why I had so many bags (including an oblong-shaped one...ski bag, of course), I flashed a gigantic smile and whizzed right past 'em! On top of all of this, I encountered one of the most stunning mullets I've ever seen (and no, Billy - I will not cut my hair into a mullet like my brother has! :)), on a giant of an eastern euro man...who was also wearing quite the genuine leather fanny pack. Dang that was a spectacle! Successful trip so far, I'd say. 

Okay, I diverge. Where was I going with all of this?

Oh yes! There it is! So, I arrived in Prague to my dear brother's open arms, with a hearty welcome that went something like the title of this blog. Of course, again, I am not sure what he exactly said, as I am just a naive American English-speaking, Ugg-wearing gal. hee! That's for you, bro. But, regardless - me and my large bags (I actually only had three, and thanks to my peace-corps-africa-village-living-Boo's advice, decided it'd be a waste of money to ship anything and instead try the "less is more" approach that we Americans - especially me - do not often practice) were welcome with open arms. Which was great because, coincidentally, my bro's got big pipes. ha ha. 

But, really - I neglected to mention in my inaugural blog posting one of the things I am most excited about in regards to this opportunity...something I suppose many of you may not know. My brother also lives in Prague! Sweet, huh?! Totally sweet. So, because my brother so kindly reminded me that I didn't mention him in the first post, this one is dedicated to him. You see, my brother is a missionary with AIA (athletes in action) here in Prague...to learn more, czech;) him out at www.zachharrod.com to learn more about the rock star life he lives here in Prague. I am excited - beyond words - to reunite with my brother and live in the same city for the first time in a long time. I am so thankful for him and the work that he does. Love you, bro. 

Alright, that wasn't succinct at all. 

I promise I will try to get some video as well as pictures on here soon (mostly so my blog can rival the coolness of my bro's) - tomorrow I am going to check out an apartment and explore the city...that is if jet lag doesn't conquer me first. 

I feel welcomed in my new home...

Me 

move often, carrying your home with you...

The other day I impulsively bought a book (overpriced, of course) at Starbucks entitled The Traveler. In the tale, there exists a young boy who comes to the realization that his life isn’t quite perfect, so he decides to pack up his time and travel until he finds something perfect to spend it on. As the story goes, "He walked and he walked, and slept and slept with his suitcase heavy by his side which made him glad. Because he could say to himself: my time is safe in my suitcase, I can never go wrong - soon I'll find something perfect to spend it all on."

Much like the boy in this story, I am packing up my time...but I think I've found near-perfection in an overseas opportunity with a group of urban-chic, swank, boutique hostels in Prague, CZE and will be leaving on a jet plane in Thursday (the 8th of January) ready as I can be to face a world of unknowns and a plethora of new, exciting adventures. As most of you know, I have been crossing my fingers for an overseas gig for quite some time...so as you can imagine I am jumping for joy and riding on a gigantic happy cloud. Check it out at http://www.czech-inn.com/ and let me know if you're planning a trip to the most beautiful city in the world so we can meet up over a pint.

Today is my last day in the states (for a while, at least). Many thanks to you all for the support, challenges and giggles...it’s been quite a ride and I’ve learned gobs and gobs of invaluable personal and professional lessons. I will - of course - pack each and every one of you up in my suitcase and bring you with me wherever I go, because I've become the person I am today as a result of the hundreds of thousands of interactions I've had over the years (which includes time spent with you!).

So, thank you, REALLY! I'll be at megans.harrod@gmail.com from here on out. Don't be a stranger.

May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
May the rains fall soft upon your fields,and until we meet again...

Me

(e) megans.harrod@gmail.com

(note on 16.2.2009 - removed temporary address here because I am no longer homeless).