Day Before 4 Month Anniversary

Another month has passed. I would say definitively better than the last.
These last few weekends have been great. I went to two stužkovas (slovak prom), had a great weekend with my slovak friends that left me feeling really well-liked, got a lot closer to some of them (these being some of the people that id wanted to be close with but felt that sometimes i was more of a nuissance- after this past weekend i feel like they genuinely want me around, as they willingly came up to me to talk for 10 minute intervals, and were very warm).

One of the weekends i went to Bratislava (slovak capital) and Vienna for a Rotary weekend. The only bleak spot in my sunny month was the few days following this weekend. Something about throwing kids in a country where they have no prior knowledge of the language or culture, really leads to strong friendships. The relief of finally speaking english? (we all speak english to varying degrees at home, but its not ENGLISH english. its broken english, and that can be quite draining as well). the similarity of situation? the desperation for close human relationships? i guess a mixture of the three. but i have a pretty tight group there (now called the goat herd), and i miss them terribly. and its just... cool. they are different from my usual friends. much more conservative. much more american. ok two of them are canadian, but theyre similar. the americans have a pride of country, listen to country and folk music, and except for me, shoot things for fun. youve got the kid with redneck tendencies and Ds in highschool who has a matter of fact, somewhat dry sense of humor and a rebellious side, perhaps fuelled in part by a 60s infatuation. you have the precocious Shelby who comes from a poor family in a town of 2000 in ohio, listens to folk music and blurts out her thoughts before she thinks them, not really regretting it later. Throw in a Canadian horndog, driven by his passion for ladies but who possesses sincerity, a kind of puppy like charm. You have the 16 year old northern Canadian addition, with a kind of youthful arrogance and pride at hanging out with the "cooler, older rotarians"- but who obviously has a brain and loves banter- hobbies include shooting beavers in the winter. The last male in the group is from Washington, chooses the brightly colored wardrobe of the normally tech and modern music obsessed liberal youth, and is the most approachable and reassuringly welcoming kid i think ive ever met and not been annoyed by, with an easy sense of humor and a wide smile. Finally theres me, the education obsessed, southern somewhat-elitest college bound, widely travelled but largely sheltered (by a comfortable existence, not by secretive or conservative parenting) chick, with a love of country, bad music, pretentious reading, and men. its a wide variety, and im in love with it.

On the Slovak side--
My best friends are home for the next month or two, for Christmas break and exams. Hence I was able to go out again last night (a sunday), learn to play billiards (badly), and spend my last 5 euros of cash on a taxi back. But its always worth it. The day before I had gone out also of course, but it was following something that made my weekend and my stay here a little bit more reassuring. I went to my friends house with a few other guys to watch a movie on how the American government planned the 911 attacks. First you have to know that a couple Slovaks will never get me to believe that America planned it (and not only because of blind patriotism, but because of theoretical reasons i just cant shake). Second, I was up against three older guys who are convinced it happened. It wasnt the movie or the topic that made it special.. almost essential to me. Its the fact that i watched a movie, any movie, at a friends HOUSE. that is one thing ive been really missing here. i never go over to friends houses. im never invited, unless its for a party, and i never invite anyone to mine, because i get the feeling its not a big part of the culture... or something. i dont know. but my brothers have never had anyone over, so it doesnt seem normal. everyone meets each other at a pub or a cafe. everyone goes out at night. but people HAVE to go over to each others houses. my friends all have a familiarity with their friends parents and houses. so when does it happen? because it seems like its such a big part of feeling close to someone. and i think its one thing thats been making me feel still like an outsider.. even though i have lots of friends, lots of warmth, lots of invites. but this movie night was nice.

still going to the gym (although zoto has a broken computer, and we havent been able to talk when not at the gym. this is starting to get to me- i need my best friend back!), and now ive added a once a week cafe-trip for tea with my velmi pekný friend patrik. really rounds out the weeks.

only one more day of school, followed by a surprise birthday party for my friend Vicky, and Ill be on Christmas vacation. During break, Ill switch families. Since I already know my second family pretty well, this isnt a scary change. It will be really nice to live in roznava, because ill have more mobility, but i will miss my current family. we will see.

have many more thoughts, but this entry is getting pretty long. to be continued...