Czech Republic

Friday morning 6 February 2004, 6.00 a.m.: the alarm clock rings. Our journey to the Czech Republic was to start at 6.55 at the railway station in ´s-Hertogenbosch.
Everyone was there at the right time, even the train. We would have to change trains three times and, how else, on the way to Deventer there was a delay. Consequently, we missed our train to Berlin, and to make things even worse, we heard that we would have to wait for the next train for 3 hours. Did we get up at 6.00 for this? We all improvised and managed to have a lot of fun. You’ve got to be creative in a dull town like Deventer.
Missing our connection also meant the loss of our reserved seats. As a result some of us had to change seats as many times as 5.
On arrival in Berlin we had a quick bite to eat and then back tot the platform. The train we had was a lot quieter than the other one, we even had a whole compartment to ourselves.
When we arrived at Prague railway station it was late and there was no train to Nymburk, but fortunately we were picked up in a mini van by one of the Czech teachers. Our partners were waiting for us when we arrived in Nymburk and we left for the homes of our host-families right away. It was around midnight, but I was immediately offered something to eat and I could take a shower if I wanted to. Very sweet and hospitable they were. My host-mother too; she had hurt her ankle at a party (later on it appeared to have broken), but she was cooking a nice meal for me every day.
The weekend was spent with the host-families. I went to a village just north of Nymburk, to enjoy the scenery and to have a swim in a decent swimming-pool.
On Sunday I went along with my girl, her sister and her best friend to Prague. That was really very nice. I saw a lot that day. Under the bridge you could clearly see the lines indicating how high the floods were. Gives you a weird feeling, but impressive it certainly was, just like the John Lennon Wall on which anyone can write their own thoughts and opinions.
I was lucky to meet some of my Dutch fellow pupils; the host-family is great, but being able to speak Dutch for a while is very nice too.
On Monday we went on an excursion to Prague with the whole group and – contrary to what we are used to in Holland – the Czech pupils came, too. Unfortunately, the excursion to the Jewish Museum wasn’t very interesting, there was a flood of information and rather detailed at that, but we had fun anyhow.
After lunch a visit to the National Theatre was planned. It was a beautiful theatre, beautifully decorated and big.
From Tuesday to Thursday we had to work. At most of the work placements there was not much that you could do. Like my job, although I feel that I did fair enough, generally speaking. Here too, the people were most friendly, but there was only one of them who could speak English.
After the work placements were finished the whole group played a volleyball match and went to a basketball match, which was, of course, won by the local team. We also went souvenir hunting in Prague.
And another excursion on Friday. This time to an old concentration camp. Personally, I found this very impressive, especially in the big rooms where, we were told, 600 people or so had been locked up when there was really only room for 100 at the most. On the way back we drove through a valley covered with a 10 cm layer of snow and a lovely panorama and a little village.
In the evening we had our farewell dinner, very comfy all together, but if you happened to sit on the wrong side of the table your food was cold when you got it. Of course we also went to some pubs in the evenings and we also went bowling once. The atmosphere was great and everybody really kind. Alas, on Saturday morning at 8 am it was time to leave.
This time we missed no trains although we were back home quite late, since we had to wait in Berlin (at Macdonalds!!!) for two hours. I guess everybody was a bit tired after this lovely week and a whole lot of us had their eyes closed … at 11 pm everyone was glad the journey had ended and to be home again. Now let’s hope the week the Czech pupils will be here is as successful, but I have no doubts that it will, really …

Susette van Kasteren
Click on the photo to go to the website of the Gymnasium in Nymburk