The start of stress

Now is the time that I've begun to panic about my summer plans, but I'm underway to begin planning on my plan B's of the summer. I have a couple fo options. I feel the sleep deprived days approaching. I've decided that creating a film is much like a rollercoaster, with each accomplishment you feel yourself getting closer and closer to the peak, then filming begins and it is all down hill from them just a shoot to the bottom. I see all my colleges begin filming and It like the anticipation of waiting in the line.

My friend, Alyssa, just spent the past week in Prague. It was nice to have a friendly face and show the sights of a city that I've fallen in love with. It is sad that my time here is now limited to a month. It really has flown by. A year ago around this time was when i first got the information that I would be studying here. Never did I imagine that my year would have turned out to be like this. I think that this was one of the best deisions that I have ever made. If you would have aksed me when I was a senior or even a freshman if this is where I would have ended up. Prague, would not have been my answer, but thankfully life has amazing curves and different paths for you.

I do have a couple of regrets, of friendships that I have let pass, but as life changes we all do. I hope that one day I can rekindle those relationships. It's hard to do that from another country let alone New York to Louisiana. I know way to be random, but I just rewatched "Freaks and Geeks" and it made me really remember my high school years.

Tonight, I'm going to a Belle and Sebastian concert and I am super pumped. It will be nice to have a little break before the work gets way to intense for me.

Songs that have been on repeat:
1. Box of Rain -grateful dead
2. Say goodbye to Hollywood- Billy Joel
3. Mad World - Gary Jules
4. Everlasting Light- The Black Keys
5. Take it Easy - The Eagles

film of the moment.... MINE. ahhh.

The past two weeks have been full of wonderful adventures. Between Amsterdam, Piran, and Prague I have had a great beginning of spring. It is amazing how quickly Prague aquired such great weather. One moment, Prague was just too cold to words to describe then all of a sudden the sun came out and everyone is smiling. I feel like i'm in a different place now. (for the better) I don't know how much more of that cold weather I could have endured. I bought my ticket back to the states, mark your calenders for the 1st of June. I'll be seeing you Louisiana so get your self in gear. Then shortly thereafter I will ship myself off to the great state of New York for some summer (hopefully) internships and classes.

The more I think about it the more I am worried about going back. It will be almost a year since I've really been in the states and now i'm starting to realize the differences. I don't know how it will be to be back there. I am trying to imagine going to a resturant and sitting there for hours and just ordering a coffee? I don't think it really filies in the states. There will be some padding there though, I defered my trip back home by a day and a half. I am making a trip to copenhagen by myself, as a farewell to this part of the world for a while.

My flatmates and I held a party last night. I spent the day cleaning only for the entire place to be a wreck afterwards, but I won't complain because it was worth it. I enjoyed the company and I hope everyone else had a great time aswell. My flatmate, Pooja and I went on an epic search in prague to find Jello (for our jello shots) and I believe it was a good omen for the party.

Films that I'm in the mood for, but can't watch right now because I have to work :(
1. JFK
2. Magnolia (always in the mood)
3. Days of Heaven
4. Any of John Hughes

Accomplishments of the past two weeks
1. Finally watched Apocalypse Now
2. Went to two countries i've never been to (Netherlands and Slovenia)
3. Listened to the new Britney Album (not ashamed of it)
4. got approved on my flat in the states :) I have a home
5. Bought my ticket back to the states.


well I should go. I have papers to write and i've procrastinated long enough.
kisses

The life of the fast and furious

Second semester really came hard and fast. (not the right wording?)
Were already in the romancing period of our scripts for our final films. It's hard to believe that we're already this far along. Come mid-April and I will def not have any kind of a life. I already am a slave to my computer. I'm in the midst of planning my summer plans and my senior year (gasp). I still can't believe it. I was talking with my roommate from Freshman year last night. She's graduating this year and already applying to grad schools and such. We were remembering the first couple of weeks of our freshman year. Though I am a little sad that i'm already 3/4th through my college years. It was nice to remember that it has happened and I feel like it's been a good run and with some luck it will continue to be the same fashion.
On another note, One thing that I don't mind sweeping by faster is my Czech lessons. If there is one thing in this world that was not meant to be; it's me and czech. Yes, I could try harder, but then again my heart isn't into it. I'm so use to doing french when learning a language that, that is always my default answer in my head, then I try in English, then in czech (but I don't know czech )so it's always a lose situation for me. It doesn't help that there is only three people in the class, so yes I stick out like a sore thumb.
I am getting ready to go to Amsterdam this weekend and I am guidebook stocked and ready to go. My plan of action is to be nerdy and see a film I want to see the day I arrive and then hit as many sites as possible before the rest of the crew arrives for the concert. I heard they had delicious brownies, so I might have to try one. :)

Hello world once more

SO, I believe it has been quite some time since i've posted. Life has been pretty slow paced lately. I know it is a tease due to the fact that come April, everything will begin to move in warp speed. I have begun the process of looking for summer internships in the New York area. It is such a daunting task. I never know what to say in cover letters or how to respond to personal questions and statements.
I have also begun work on my final film, which has been a challenging process as well. I think I finally came up with a treatment that I like and I will present it tomorrow. AHHHH. Hopefully, all goes well. I have two trips in the process right now. One in mid-March to AMSTERDAM to see a concert (yes the black keys) with some SLC friends of mine and another to Krakow, Poland.
I am enjoying this semester in Prague SO much more than my last. There is finally sunshine outside and it adds so much to the attitudes of everyone around.
This past weekend was the OSCARS.I'm so proud of THE KINGS SPEECH. It didn't begin here until 2am and I think I got home around 6am.. so lets just say the next day I was completely dead. I ended up going to one class, My czech class and the teacher was not too pleased with me. To be fair I don't think she is ever pleased with me. There are only three of us in the class now and I happen to be the as we say "third best in the class." I must say that I do add charisma to the class, so I have a purpose.
Well, I'm in my favorite coffee shop now... if your ever in PRAGUE (MAMACOFFEE). I shall go and enjoy my cup and finish up some work I have due tomorrow.

Kisses
SARAH

New Years Resolution

Back in Prague, until tomorrow when a couple of us from FAMU will be traveling to Vienna, Budapest, and Bratislavia. It's been strange to be back here with almost nothing to do besides the four days it took up to film the television series that my classmates and I created.

The last two months were filled with the beauty of Prague, Berlin, various parts of Morocco, London, and Dublin. As I reflect on my travels thus far all I can say is that it was the people that I traveled with that made the places so much more enjoyable to me. With all the travels came wonderful suprises and people that have touched me quite a great deal. In this new year I am thankful for all that I have and my friends and family who continue to encourage me and let me be the eccentric person that I am.

I plan to be better in writing on this blog and to not let any experiences pass me by. I am also training for a half-marathon, which we will see how that goes. It might be a day by day thing, but I will try my hardest to do it.

Kisses and Happy (BE-lated) new year :)
sarah

It just so happens...

So it's been an extremely busy couple of weeks... I had to shoot my little filmette for the semester than just papers papers papers, but soon it will all be over at least for a little while to do some much needed traveling. All that has really happened to me lately is just school... and of course the hellishness of walking through snow streets.. if only the czech knew how to properly salt. Then, maybe I wouldn't fall down SO much... or maybe it's just me. I can hardly wait for some streefree down time, not always thinking about what i should be doing... it's the guilt of procrastination... i burden i unwillingly bare most of the time.
Today was a high spirits day... the sun came out for the first time in a couple of weeks and it was greatly appreciated... because winter depression is NO JOKE.. especially with snowballs being pelted into your face.
ANY WHO

one more paper, two more test, a presentation (one or two can't remember), and then my last edit of my film.....and I'm home free...

-kisses


Closely Watched Trains (I really enjoyed it) now I want to read the book which is supposed to be really great as well

Thus the night has finally come

This photo is my make-up practice for a friends film I was working on. I'm quite proud of my bruise.
I thought I was in the clear, since the weather here has been quite beautiful lately; I was wrong. It has now come to my attention that it just rains and is super depressing for the next three to four months.

I haven't really had time to think about it though. School has been super busy, with trying to figure out how to do productions in a country in which you don't understand the language and papers. Last weekend, I edited film on the table for the first time. You have to sit in a dark room and cut the film with this little stable looking thing. It was quite an experience, but sadly it will probably be the first and the last time, because we have reached the digital age.

Sometimes, I'm sorry to admit that I just can't watch movies anymore, it becomes such an overload. For example, I went to see the new Harry Potter the other day and instead of it being a just a relaxing experience, I was just thinking the entire time about cinematic imageing, Sometime it's just hard to turn it off. I am contemplating getting my own digital camera so that I can start to film whenever I want instead waiting for it, but I haven't decided what i want to do exactly.

Everybody is in production right now and it has been a lovely experience to watch everyone work. Hopefully, I can stay true to that productiveness. My shooting is two days starting at 5am one day and 6am another. So in other words I don't mind surviving on just coffee for a couple of days.

I watched some great movies the other day. First off if you want to see a really bad it's good horror Austrialian film The Loved Ones is the film to see. The music can be a bit distracting and the film drops a couple of plot points in the middle of the film, but in terms of just being absurd it is something to see.

The Saddest Music on Earth is another great one I watched for the first time. CULT CLASSIC.

Peter Ibbetson was made in 1935 and can you say very along the lines of inception. It wonderfully campy.

Today I went to a Czech place kindof like Office Depot and it was quite an experience. I was buying construction materials for my film. I went with my producer and I don't know about her, but I had a blast, trying to figure out the "look" i'm trying to create for my film. It is going to be a very "sterile" looking set.

Alright. Well.... I guess that's all from me at the moment. Listening to czech tapes, so to better myself... because it's quite embarrassing when I try to speak.

Time is fleeting

So, It's been a million years since I've written on this, but better late than never right? So, here we are in the third month of being in Prague and it never seems to be dull. At first it felt like the semester was going to be pretty slow paced, but after last week it's begun to pick up... ALOT. Between scripts, treatments, papers, czech, and shoots there is always something to be done.

There is too much ground to cover from my time here so here are some top highlights.
1. Perpetually being lost. (sometimes I wonder why I decide to go to East Jesus Prague and believe I can use a map and forget pride... try asking something in English... and you are shunned.)
2. The european culture at picking the person at the tiniest table and sitting with them... it amazes me every time someone, from all the other tables, chooses to just sit with me. without fail, I understand if I was at a larger table and there were no free tables, but no just me with my computer and writing equiptment all around and they choose to make me move everything and be super incovenient.
3. Being an illegal alien for an extended amount of time. I finally got my visa... so now i'm legal.
4. films i've seen. finally saw some goodies... and some werid ones.

Stagecoach
The Passion of Joan of Arc
A Man Escaped
Vampyr
some other classics

back to the Texas Chainsaw

Oh, the littles joys I've continued to encounter in Prague. This week was filled with Zumba class, many misunderstands, finally fair trade coffee, vanilla extract, and many other wonderful adventures.

Classes have been going well, but I try as hard as I can to fit in as many cultural events in as I can. This week included the new town hall tower, in which I was the only person to be in the building at the time other than the clerk. 10 long staircases to the top. the first were marble then it regressed to wooden then to ladders. creepy, but I enjoyed every moment.

I also was able to visit two modern museums the first was on the river and was interesting and had great views of the city and river. plus the famous prague babies are housed there. The second was the creepiest show I've ever seen. It was straight out of the Texas Chainsaw. There were puddy molds of faces hanging from clothes lines... and I stop there. There was another american in the exhibit with me and we just shared a befuddled exchange and left. He was a nice older man and we exchanged a couple of stories about our first month in prague then parted ways.

On that particular day I decided for some reason to wear a super colorful outfit and was then stopped on the street by a guy who asked to take a photo of me. He said I just had so many colors that I didn't look like an American. I must add I probably did look a bit ridiculous.

I went to see the philharmoinc once again and it even more spectacular than the last. I also went to see Scott Pilgram Vs. the world and I'm not going to lie, I geeked out a little.

Today, I went to get a honey massage and ended up staying an extra thirty mintues talking to the woman who massaged me. She was very refreshing and we had a great converstation about life, age, and growing up. I send her warm thoughts and she really put me in a great mood on a subject that's been causing me a lot of stress lately.

Let the games begin

Prague,
It's been a month to the date since I've arrived and with every winding, confusing named road I fall more and more into your love spell. These past two days I've been able to go on my morning runs and with each I find myself going farther and farther down the river discoving these really exquisite views and paths. I had to stop on one of the docks this morning to watch for a moment and appreciate where I am.

This weekend was such a godsend due to the fact that this week was such a nonstop affair. I was literaly in school from 8 in the morning until 9 at night most days. I could barely catch a break most days, but I survived and I'm ready for the start of the beginning of many more rounds of that to come.

Friday, I was able to scout a location for my next film with the always impecciably wonderful Zuzanna. Another slam dunk for her, It works perfectly. Now, all I need is to final my storyboard and script and it's a go. It's about a mortuary make-up artist and it's mostly just circumstance, rather than an actually story, but what are you going to do (time constrant I only have a minute). We are shooting on 16mm and cutting our own film, so I'm pretty much limited. Moreover, there is no sound and no lighting (except for natural).

After scouting my location, I discovered a lovely old church and grounds over by the prauge castle then wandered around on the side of the river opposite from where I live... I haven't really gotten to know that area very well and I thought it would be nice to figure it out a little.


So list of things I need to do:
Stop pretending i'm mute when people try to say something to me in czech.
Learn what the word for water with gas is... sometimes some simplicity would be nice.

I was (21) years young....

What to say so far about my bohemian adventures... this past weekend FAMU took the international students on a 20 km hike around the "bohemian paradise." I still can't believe the beauty of the forest and I look forward to more backpacking adventures. My 21st birthday was this past Tuesday and being able to celebrate it with my new found friends and this new place was something I will always remember. The rest of the week entailed playing hangover catchup so that I wouldn't be dead forever. Thursday, A group of us went to see Don Givonni in the Estates Theatre...(the place where it orginally was played as yes MOZART the conductor.) On Friday, Eliot and I went with the lovely Zuzanna to see a filming of a movie. Though it was a tad chilly it was a lovely experience and look forward to seeing the film come out. And i'm super jealous of their film equiptment.. all I have to say is one day... one day.

So that was just a mash up of a bunch of things.. I'm gonna try to write more often.

I've been lucky this week to make it to the road to run at least three times. I feel its one of the only ways to truly fall in love with a city.

On Sunday I went for a walk around an old Castle that and ended up getting turned around and lost for a couple of hours. All i have to say is when lost in Prague don't go into a park... there is never a way out. I then had some time at the wonderful GLOBE for coffee and work. My project right now is on a mortuary make-up artist.... ask me anything......

Got lost trying to get found

So... I moved out of the student housing into an apartment with Gabe and Eliot. It is a lovely little apartment right next to the national theatre and so close to everything. We are very lucky... but the scene where were signing the contract was quite humorous... there were 11 people present and the three of us were being pulled every which way... it was quite fustrating and confusing, but fortunately we made it through alive.

Classes have been amazing and everyone in the international program is quite wonderful. I've also had time to get lost a little in the city. I think this is the first time i've gone somewhere and truly fell in love with it. I feel at home here and I've only been heree for a little less than two weeks. It is small enough were you can always find your way, yet it is big enough that there is always a new adventure.


We did our first filming... the group was Eliot, Gabe, and I. We had to get on a tram and take it all the way to the end and find a concept and film what we find. We ended up in this high rise suburban area... it was interesting to see the difference from the city to this place. Moreover, Prague is an extremely hillish area and the cliffs were breathtaking. Next project entails cutting our own film...I can't wait. All I need now is a concept... I'm sure it will come.

I HATE CHILDERN..Not really...

So I finally made it to Prague! The city of Kafka, the gohlem of the jewish quarter... and the language that sounds like complete gibberish. My first flight to Washington D.C. was a little shaky I thought I was going to die the entire time... when we finally landed I caught myself saying the Our Father and closing my eyes. The second flight to Copenhagen was 9 hours of complete HELL! Not only was there a baby aboard... it was possed by a demon and wanted everyone to know it.
The Child cried the entire time... It would take little thirty minute breaks just enough to let the public fall asleep then it would scream like it was being murdered.... I even brought earplugs as a TAKE THAT BABY THAT ALWAYS CRIES ON THE AIRPLANE ITEM... but those things did not drown out that sucker...

Thus I arrived in Prague extremely sleep deprived, but I met Zuzanna the woman who is going to help the boys and me get ajusted to our new life here in this lovely city. She is the sweetest person I think I've ever met... she is so full of life... the cab ride to my "dorm" was entertaining between her and the driver... they made fun of the czech words that I thought I knew and taught me the correct ones.
I thought "sbohem" meant goodbye.. it does mean that, but it means "and god be with you" I feel like its me holding out my hand like a trek-y and saying live long and prosper.

I also acidentally stood Zuzanna up twice today... because of lack of knowledge of the city, but it is breathtaking. I can really feel myself becoming comfortable here. It reminded me of my first day in Italy last summer. I was so worried the entire time that I wouldn't be able to find my way back or that people would judge me because I couldn't speak Italian or even the fear of eating in a resturant by myself... but today I felt so confident walking around the city by myself....I even was able to get a cell, put minutes and everything by myself... and I did not feel weird asking for directions ... and when they didn't speak English... I asked French.. if that didn't work then I just pointed and used one of the Czech word that I do know. please.

To prove that czech is a little bit gibberish... guess what this means "zmrzlinu"

ICE CREAM... I have no idea how to pronouce that.


The place i'm staying in is only for a little while... I have to share a room and I'm not too good at that especially if the room is the size of a closet. Zuzanna , Possibly the boys, and I are going to look at some appartments tomorrow... so lets cross our fingers shall we.

sbohem USA

SO... It's the day before I leave.... and all I have is two suitcases to my name. It's a tad daunting to think that a year will go by before I step back on American soil. Of course, on my last day the heavens have decided to open and pour on my last memory of Louisiana (for awhile), but hey! it is LOUISIANA.

I am a bit surprised though... I thought I would be shaking at the thought of leaving, but really I'm not. It feels like I'm just leaving again for Sarah Lawrence, because every year I feel the same way when I leave for there. Not know what to expect, not knowing what classes I'm going to take, or who I will meet... so, I'm not worried about the year to come in regards to that. I am however worried about the COLD. All anyone says when they speak about The Czech Republic is how cold it is... and if you know me you know... 70 degrees is about my limit because I DON'T DO COLD.

In this last week in the states I've done my ritual hibernation from the world thing.... I rent a bunch of movies and just hide out... I am super bad with good byes...All I have to say is THANK Jesus for Instant Netflix. So, to those I did not get to say good bye to... I'm sorry I just kindof drop off the face of the earth sometimes.

LOTS OF LOVE!
SARAH

YOGA- HOTIES

Since I've been back in Baton Rouge I've been doing this Hot Yogalites...It is absolutely amazing... I don't think I have ever felt my body that much. I feel I have more energy and to top it off I can stand the southern Louisiana Heat a little better. The latter is probably the greatest benefit.

Last Week I also tried the Foot detox body clease or what ever they call it. You go in put your feet in a bath of salt water and they hook you up to a machine... It pulls out all of the toxins out of your body through the pores of your feet. The water turns a disgusting color of brown and they can come by and tell you everything that it is pulling out. I'm not sure I 100 percent believe in it, but my feet were mighty soft when I pulled them out of the bath. :) Next week, I'm going to try to get some good hiking in before I leave for the frigid land called Prague. I'm getting so pumped.. enough that I pulled out my suitecase. I have started to pack though.. so much effort, but it will come soon. I did However find a european sight like netfliks... So my life is a little less stressful. I know that is a little nerdy, but regardless I had no idea what I was going to do if I couldn't do netfliks.

PHOTO OF METRO BECAUSE I'M IN TRANSITION

Another weird part of this trip is running into people I haven't seen in 6 to 3 years. I completely forgot that some of these people exisited and here we are face to face once again. Some one asked me "What are you doing here" I think that was the first time that I really felt that I was in limbo... I don't belong really anywhere right now. I feel like an eternal visitor... I felt like that at SLC as well... I mean I really can't call a dorm room home and I can't call a place that I see 2 months (if even that) home either. I guess it is the beginning of severing ties with places, but nothing I mean NOTHING is like a hot Louisiana summer. I am lucky for the people I have met and the places I have been... and I guess my idea is that people really do make the place. THAT IS THE HOME THAT I KNOW.

sorry for the ramble...

ok been a while but...
song I'm into as of today.. Skinny love by BON IVER
Movie I just loved... A SINGLE MAN (Tom Ford) STARTER FOR TEN (TOM VAUGHAN)

If you wanna get a grasp of Louisiana... watch The Divine Secrets of the YA-YA Sisterhood... I think it is under rated. I love this film... and If you watch Gossip Girl Like me because I agree I am a sell out... you are in for a little surprise.

That's all I have for now

KISSES
SARAH

The Passenger.... my feelings

This song describes how I feel now... I feel like I'm just floating along.. waiting my time until I figure out what I want... What's the rush? SO update... It's so hot here in Louisiana... and every day my departure for Prague is creeping up on me. I finally brought my sleeping patterns back to normal here.

DEAR IGGY POP,
THANK YOU FOR THIS SONG... thank reminds me of the Film Coffee and Cigarettes... ok at some parts.. it is much like Paris, Je t'aime... only Coffee and Cigarettes came before.. and there is a nice piece with Tom Watts and Iggy Pop...

Trying to get back

So, now i've been back for a week in the hot Louisiana Weather. I'm missing the beauty of France and the People that I met there. I can't wait to make it back to other side of the pond, but that will be in quite some time. So until then I am wrapped up with little things to do before leaving for Prague...

I know it's been awhile

I know it has been quite some time since I've written about my french travels and the films that I've been studying, but I was quickly swept away by the splender of Paris. I really think that my impressions have changed and I am still working on trying to get along better with a different culture... which will be 100 percent helpful when I am in Prague for a full year.
As my Paris travels come to a close I will say that, I truely am going to miss this city. Here I've been able to really expore myself, and ask myself "WHAT do you really want," I have been able to be completely selfish in the since of doing what I want... and I think I finally learned how to say the word "NO"... if only I could learn it when I go shopping.
I've been able to converse in a different language... still a little shaky... I've let my pride go out the window... there is no way to learn a language with out making a complete fool of yourself. For most of my college life so far, everyone just seems so serious all the time... trying to go through the day without actually putting an effort into enjoying life.... and that doesn't mean partying...it means actually spending time with yourself to get to know yourself better...

I've had several compromising situations here, but it's those that you remember the most. The ones that define a part of you. I am blessed with the experiences I have had thus far.... after my rant.

I went to Normady by myself on Saturday... First I had to depart at 7:45... so that meant waking up at 5, then I took the wrong train and ended up....not where I was suppose to be. After frantic calls to Ludamilla... I with the help of an American Family I befriended... found our way to Bayeux and a bus that would take us to Omaha beach. I am still in awe of the beauty of that area... and the serene atmotsphere of the grave yard. Some times I am am in disbelief that that only happened 70 years ago??

After my lovely walking tour... I made it back to the town of Bayeux... which apparently has a famous tapestry..... (I think I could have skipped that one... If you like spending like 8 euros to look at an old piece of cloth... and have a headset tell you the story of the cloth for like 30 minutes.. (when I say story... I don't mean how it was made... I mean it tells you what the pictures mean.... which is a bit obvious when looking at the 70 foot long piece of cloth... just saying) They should make it a middle ages musee or have something else... but all they have is a giant cloth.

The town itself was very adorable.... I would like to make a trip back to France in the near future to do the Normandy region... Bordeaux... and some more of the south.

Sunday

So i decided to list my top creeper moments of the trip thus far...
1. A man in a musee followed me until i would smile for him. I believe it was the l'orangrie... so watch out... for that. I was still able to get away...
2. I was walking out of a sports store( looking for power bars ... i don't know) When a man dropped his credit card. I was in the 14th so I really didn't think anything of it. I called out to him and he picked it up... He then proceded to talk to me until I made it to my destiation.. then went into the movie theatre and waited in line with me... After I faked a phone call he finally left me alone.
3. then of course the allen experience at montmatre... hmmm... sure there are more of those to come.

Today was natrual history musee and the marais and my favoirte place in all of Paris the roman arena in the 5th. It is close to le jardin des plantes and le masque..... I don't even want to talk about how hot it was today... till i talk again next time.

First week french

Ok.... So I'll just sum up the week... I haven't been able to blog because my schedule became a little more full, but any way this week was great! The sorbonne classes have been going well... except for the metro never seeming to get me there on time... I have watched more movies than I can count this week:
Demon Lover
Twilight 3
Trouble Every Day
Be Bad (Youth in Revoult)
The Killer inside me
Le Feu Follet
Klute
If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle

I also was able to make it to Le Deux Magots... (The Sun Also Rises) and the cafe from Ameile...