Women Power:)

It is fascinating how women can change or influence their men...Have you also noticed Brad Pitt participating in all kinds of political/human rights/anti-war projects??
I think it is great because they can influence many people thanks to their fame and influence...
But I cannot believe then that he uttered this statement:
You shouldn't speak until you know what you're talking about. That's why I get uncomfortable with interviews. Reporters ask me what I feel China should do about Tibet. Who cares what I think China should do? I'm a f---ing actor! They hand me a script. I act. I'm here for entertainment. Basically, when you whittle everything away, I'm a grown man who puts on makeup.
[Time magazine, 10/13/97]



Exou Exou
Brno Girl

"For you, a thousand times over"

This week was a real spoiler. First the "Un Secret" from the French production which was really interesting to watch. Revolving around a boy who gradually discovers a secret of his parents who survived the 2WW despite being Jews. I must say I have a faiblesse for Ludivine Sagnier and her performance was just so believable.

But then yesterday we started watching at midnight. The movie was 2 hours long and I was getting up at 7 am. Nevertheless, at 2am I wished the movie did not end so soon. A very fascinating story of two childhood friends. It was more than amazing and even though some aspects of the movie were quite heart-breaking (I don't want to include "spoilers"), the message was rather hopeful and I like this "American" recurrent theme - that of redemption and new hope - "There is a way to be good again." I don't care if it is a cliche, I prefer to be an idealist. However, I love this quote that made me shed a tear in the movie because it was so true but at the same time it sounds like Bush's propaganda for his foreign ventures:
Older Hassan (voice): I dream that my son will grow up to be a good person, a free person. I dream that someday you will return to revisit the land of our childhood. I dream that flowers will bloom in the streets again... and kites will fly in the skies!
It is sadly true that saving one boy while taking him to the US is amazing but there are more boys (and girls, now I realise there were almost no girls while filming in Aghanistan - but the real filming location was China:() left behind.
I would like to know more about this region of the world and the whole Muslim-Quran-Sharia-Arab-terrorist vicious circle is still very puzzling to me. The boy who plays Hassan was so touching by being such a loyal and brave friend, innocent yet wise for his age and humble.

I know many say the whole Muslim world is being negatively portrayed, however, what does this reveal about this "free world"?

Due to Afghan mores concerning male rape, Paramount Vantage agreed to relocate the young actors out of the country to the United Arab Emirates and arrange visas, housing and schooling for the young actors and jobs for their guardians. Paramount Vantage accepts responsibility for the living expenses of Zekeria Ebrahimi, Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada, Ali Danish Bakhty Ari and Sayed Jafar Masihullah Gharibzada until they reach adulthood, a cost some estimated at up to $500,000.

(www.imdb.com)




Exou Exou
Brno Girl

He said I suffer from seniorithis...

I don't know when it started exactly that I realised I sometimes get very low. However, I consider myself a very positive cheerful person. That is great except that I am also very melancholic and when I am depressed, I get really down. Something like a swing. Up and...down.
It will get better now. The sun always lifts me up and now I can run every day which is the best therapy ever.
I try to determine the causes and everything but it is not easy sometimes.
I felt very frustrated today. Basically I cannot wait to finish my BA studies in the French department. I totally have such antipathy that it does not make any sense to go on.
But I will pursue my master, in English only. As I did my finals in January, I am not taking any subjects there now. I really miss it. That feeling of doing something useful, interesting, captivating!
Luckily I have Spanish and plenty of French-related stuff to learn.
My b/f thinks it is the seniorithis. The feeling of being ready to enter the "real" world.
I feel a bit like a little girl standing in front of a big door, uncertain whether I should open them. The truth is I am a big girl now, recently turned 23.
But I tell myself, right Barca ?:), I am a student just once, why not take a full advantage?:)






Exou Exou
Brno Girl

You don't know where my country is...

I must confess I did 6km. I am very tired and headachy. Need to send a translation so I before I do that, I am allowing myself a little pleasure:)
I Hope it does not sound too arrogant, my geography pourings in the profile. We talked about it often with Barca and she also nicely describes the whole phenomenon here on her blog

Well, the truth is this is the hard core of our education. Memory and memorization. To some extent it is necessary because you need to have some base of knowledge. I remember writing tests when we had to know EVERY country, its capital, economy and sometimes other things. Men, I hated those small countries!

Ok,back to work.

He he! Tried the virtual pilot (link on my blog), I guess I need to revise some geography!!! I seriously do!!!!!!


Exou Exou
Brno Girl

Lazy lazy lazy

What I do when I don't want to study...
-procrastinate:
read tons of blogs
look at friends' and strangers' photos at facebook
skype
take naps
take long shower
cook
put away the clean laundry
clean the flat
epilate legs

So today my dear friends was a nice day but I got cold feet and did not go running. Instead, I ate: mila (one really bad sweet, cca 400 cal), gummy bears, 3 yoghurts, 2 slices of bread, fried cheese and fries and to kill the whole day, I made crepes! The crepe was good, I am very proud.
But physically I feel not so good.

So, dear friends, you are invited to come tomorrow to the greatest park in Brno to cheer up on me! Before the lecture at 12:30, I decided not to do the usual 6km, but 9 km!!!!! I can imagine you waving and shouting "You can do it, you can do it!" Thanks for your support. I definitely will do my best.
I am writing this because it is...a covenant!!!:) Now.


Exou Exou
Brno Girl

My Blueberry Nights

A soul-searching journey across the US? The tagline of the movie sounded pretty good.
However, the biggest asset of this movie is probably its name...
It was so...dumb:) I mean - go to Memphis and watch a story of a drunkard policeman, or a poker girl in Nevada who is too proud to admit she cares about her dad and who is longing company.
And then come back for the NYC blueberry pie and Jude Law.
Yes, it sounds confused but the movie also did not make any sense.
:-)
The reasons she sets off and leaves NYC is that her b/f found a new girl. The barman Jude Law saw them, so the main character, Norah Jones, asks him:" Is she pretty?"
Why she does not ask - is she fun? is she interesting?
Yeah, full of cliches and the main character was so naive, I guess we were supposed to see her get wiser in her journey but that did not happen...
What a loss of time.



Exou Exou
Brno Girl

Bedřichu, já jsem tvoje sestra a ty jsi můj bratr...ne, to on j náš vnuk

Zubařka mi udělala řeznou ránu v puse. Nemůžu se tedˇ moc smát.
Mám si to prý chladit, tak jsem začala zmrzlinou ve floridě. Pak mi zavolala mamka, že mi to ještě neřekla, ale že náš pejsek Maryk umřel. Mary, bude mi smutno. Teda už je mi smutno. Ale myslím, že jsme spolu na gymplu naběhaly po lesích hodně kilometrů.
Tak teda dojdu pěšky do rodné čtvrti mého rodného města, které je v pátek ráno mrtvé.
Tak zapnu sestřin laptop a tam automaticky naskočí icq...
Nestačím zírat:
Danecek: za školou se to smaží ???
já: no, na oleji, jasně...

Dancek: ty si mně s tou ostravou dobře dojebala???

D: ted si takova zapšknuta a nebo protívne velky rozdíl mezi tím není tak to nejde rozeznat

D: no tak neumím pravopis ale pořad lepší než sfetovana

Danecek: to je jedno kdy bydlím ale bydlím daleko od prostějova tebe sem taky vyděl před 4 možna 3 rokama a jestli jsi to na te fotce doopravdu ty tak ses uplně moc změnila

D: vyděla jsi někdy rybu se smát?

D: mam alergii na ten pachh z těch knížek sei přečtu 2 strany a pak tři hodiny smrkam mam otekle oči a brečím

(tuhle větu já osobně považuju asi za nejvtipnější výrok týdne)

Samozřejmě jsem se za sestru nevydávala, jen jsem neřekla, kdo jsem asi tak 10 minut.
Dozvěděla jsem se pár nových obratů, zjistila že stále rozeznám hrubky a ujistila se, že má sestra prý fakt nefetuje...:)

A pak to příšlo. Vcelku bezvýznamná konverzace odhalila, že ti navenek cool, party pa people možná někdy nejsou to, za co se vydávají:

ja ti řeknuu jednoo když sem byl v pubertě a chodil jsem na zš tak jsem z vysoka ale z vysoka kakal na školu sem prošel ZŠ s trojkama a čtyřkama asi před třičtvrtě rokem mi to nějak sevřelo a ted se bouchám do hlavy že sem uplně debil jako byl jsem u psychologa dělal jsem iq test jsem nadpruměrněinteligentní člověk ale co z toho mam školu kde si měsičně vydělam na chlebaaa a ted jak blbec musím si udělat ještě jednu školu takže uplně ztrata času takže nevím jestli tam u vaás ale tady u nas je generace lidí kteří nemyslí na budoucnost a prostě to je největší chyba ja jsem třeba začal myslet na budoucnost pozděě


Exou Exou
Brno Girl

shopping in the us

I ordered 2 Lancome perfumes (Attraction) from the US. I love the smell. The two little bottles are the same price here for one.
Anyway, I love shopping in the US. For 2 perfumes ordered, I qualified for a free lipstick. Great! Et encore! Another free lipstick because I am a new user. Cool.
It has been five days till my order has shipped.
First they charged me 6 times for the same thing because the website was designed badly.
In my order email, there was just one lipstick!
Fortunately, I feel relieved as they promptly replied:
Dear Customer,


Regarding your concern, you will be receiving your two free lipsticks an LDL and Lancome.


Thank you once again for your purchase,


Regards,
Customer Service

I feel so much better:)))))





Exou Exou
Brno Girl

Movies I try to keep track of

Recently, I fell in love with Bienvenue chez les ch'tis and Dan in Real Life.
First I did not want to watch Dan b/c I did not like the name of the movie.
But in the end I totally loved it. The soundtrack is also great. I replay again and again Sondre Lerche's Modern Nature and To Be Suprised.
After watching Bienvenue, I feel like I understand French national character and stereotypes more. My friend from Northern France (Lille) gave me this movie. Of course, the stereotypes are sometimes too overplayed and exaggerated but it is totally funny. I like Northern Frenchmen:) But I love the climate of Provence/Cote d'Azur:) Too bad.
Anyway, disappointing: Feast of Love (I still wonder what the message was...it was totally strange, a lot of nude scenes - I wonder if the same version is aired in the US, a lot of crap said, but at least Oregon filming location), Charlie Wilson's War - I would give it the prize for the most unintelligeble movie as both main characters were superb mumblers.





Exou Exou
Brno Girl

Spring walk through Brno and emotional pourings

So my "friend" came to town at 7pm Friday. She met up with one guy she knew. 20:00 - I write her if she wants to go to cinema at 22:00.
After one hour I get reply that she is going to the cinema with him. OK. Good.
I order some take out pasta and watch Bienvenue chez les ch'tis, a wonderful choice as I totally laugh while watching...Je craque...
So I am in a better mood. Then I get tired and I write her when she is finally going to get here.
OK, in the end it was 1:20.
I thought I would say few ironic comments but when she was laughing into the phone, I started yelling...
Well, I was not exactly yelling, I just had a very angry voice.
I think it is better than let it be. Because then, in the end, it may be much worse - the accumulated frustration.
So I told her loudly in front of our flat if she thinks it is normal not to ask me if I mind staying up late for her and why she always tells me she comes to Brno and we do something etc.
Whatever, she starts to cry and says she is going elsewhere.
I am really sensitive but I can sense when it is dramatic and totally exaggerated. So I stood there, waiting for her dramatic performance to finish.
Seriously, a scene from absurd drama.
I think she feels her pride was touched etc etc. but I don't care. I prefer not to have a friend like this. Now, she qualifies as a crepe companion at Kocourek cafe in Prostejov:) Yeah, I miss you Pittsburgh girl.
Anyway so we reconciled (took another hour). The following day we were in Brno which was fun until she started to freak out when she was going to meet that guy again. She thought it would be totally odd and weird if I saw him b/c I was leaving anyway. Well, I said again my portion of sincerity. She said I should not be so sincere.


Uf.




Exou Exou
Brno Girl

An Easter trip to Valassko (Beskydy)

Yesterday I could participate in a trip organised for Erasmus students in Brno to Valassko/Wallachia. It has been a long time I was feeling it is time to discover my country a bit more.
First we came to Roznov pod Radhostem to check out the local Easter market in a traditional skanzen setting. The atmosphere of the region started on the bus already as we were given some traditional pastries and the guide was speaking about the tough but loving heart of Valassko people, their love for slivovice and good food, the closeness of people.
In the market, many artisan works were displayed, boys weaving the traditional pomlazka (to whip girls). Of course, trying the local Frgal was a must:)
Then we went to climb Radegast. Of course, the snow was appreciated. The lunch was in a restaurant at the top and we tasted the traditional Czech meal svickova (dumplings, beef, cream sauce, whipped cream). Normally I am not a big fan but I was hungry and really enjoyed it.:)

I could add some cultural tidbits but they have all become so familiar to me that I don't feel the need to comment them anymore (i.g. the uncertainty how to eat dumplings).
It has been a great trip. Many Erasmus students were actually born '86 or '87. I sometimes don't like the length of our high schools but after discussion with one crazy Greek guy, I concluded there might be a good reason for this:)





Exou Exou
Brno Girl

My neighbors are this old retired couple, I think well-educated and well-off.
Anyway my neigbor sends me nature pictures (I think he is just discovering internet...)
I did not care about Niagara falls but now he sent me something I would qualify as soft porn (I mean he sent it to more people than me...)
Errr...hard hard...especially when he is the boss of the building.
I would like to tell him he is a pig...Well, I cannot. So I pour it here. Desolee.




Exou Exou
Brno Girl

How people remember you...

Setting: Czech mountains, high school class on a week long ski trip. Skiing and fun.

In the evening one girl shows others how to do certain physical exercices. One asks:" Ok, can we stop now?" The girl explaining the directions says:" No, no stopping until your muscles hurt and tremble from pain. It must hurt!!!"

6 years later those two girls meet randomly. The first girl completely forgot about all this but the other one brings it up:" You know each time I do aerobics and my body starts to hurt, I think of you...You remember how you said..."

Well, the other girl did not remember but found it funny - the peculiar details for which people remember you...Yes, the other girl is me.
Exou Exou
Brno Girl

One of my emails...or me

Four things about me that you may or may not
>
> > have known in no particular order. There are
>
> > directions at the end for forwarding on.

>
> > Four jobs I have had in my life:

> > 1. teacher
> >
> > 2.waitress
>
> > 3. translator (least favorite)
>
> > 4. student (favorite:))
>

>
> > Four movies I've watched more than once:
>
> > 1. Dirty Dancing...hahaha...every summer with verka...
> >
>
> > 2. Pretty Woman...every summer with verka
> >
>
> > 3. Slunce, seno a par facek....every summer with verka
> >
>
> > 4. Good Will Hunting
>

>
> > Four places I have lived:

>
> > 1. prostejov, CZ
>
> >
>
> > 2. Brno CZ
> >
>
> > 3. La Grande Motte, France, two months
>
> >
>
> > 4. Maine, US, four months
>

>
> > Four TV Shows I watch:

>
> > 1. Greys Anatomy
> > 2. Heroes
>
> > 3. Gossip Girl (hey you stop laughing)
> > 4. Lost
Rach I cannot believe you watch One Tree Hill...:)))) haha, ok, maybe you wont believe I do watch...Gossip Girl from time to time...

>
> > Four places I have been:

>
> > 1. Lille, France
>
> > 2. London

> > 3. San Marino, IT
> >
> > 4. Rangeley, ME


> > Four of my favorite foods:
> >
> > 1. cheesecake, all flavors but preferably mint
> > 2. wild salmon with pasta, and a good sauce
> >
>
> > 3. mushroom soup
>
> >
> > 4. ratatouille, sun dried tomatoes on a goat cheese...
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Four places I would rather be right now:
>
> > 1.California
> >
>
> > 2. Martinique
> >
>
> > 3. Barcelona
> >
>
> > 4. Marseille

>
> > Four celebrities/known people I'd spend the night with:
>
> > what does it mean??? To spend the night? Like: go for dinner?

>
> > 1. don cheadle...love his voice (among ..other things|:)
> >
>
> > 2. casey affleck
> > 3. zach braff!!!!!!
> >
> > 4. patrick dempsey

>
> > Things I am looking forward to this year:

>
> > 1. summer
> >
>
> > 2. camping in Jeseniky
>
> >
>
> > 3. going with barcas nieces for a walk after she finally does come back....!!!
> >
>
> > 4. first really hot day!!!!















Exou Exou
Brno Girl

Bonnes manieres...

"Chaque mois, le même jour, à la même heure, des rédac' blogueurs écrivent un billet sur un sujet commun. Ce mois-ci ils se planchent sur Les bonnes manières, le savoir-vivre, la politesse, la bonne éducation. Allez aussi lire leur point de vue, et n'hésitez pas à laisser vos commentaires!"
Laurent, Olivier, Bergere, Bertrand, JvH, Jean-Marc, Lady Iphigenia, Julien, Christophe, Hibiscus, Bluelulie, Anne, Joël, Looange, V à l'ouest, Jo Ann v, William, Catie, Nanou, Isabelle, Lelynx, Cecfrombelgium, Gally, Froggie, La Nymphette, Julie70, Aurélie N, Gazou, JulieMeunier, BlogBalso, Celine, Vladyk, Hpy, Lydie, Lucile, Guy Cardinal, Optensia, Linda, Denis, Yibus, Julie
Les Bonnes Manières féminines
Le thème est vraiment vaste et je pourrais passer des heures à me soulager de mes histoires quand le manque de bonnes manières et éducation a presque changé ma vie (le plus récemment, un tram à Brno m´a presque repassé et le dernier dimanche au parc, tout le monde avec les chiens a décidé de libérer leurs petits monstres de leurs guides...Bref, pas tout cela).
D´ailleurs c´est vraiment intéressant de voir le monde changer tout le temps. On m´avait dit, il y a pas si longtemps , que la famille est la base de tout.. Peut-être, mais il est quand même difficile d´y croire quand rien autour ne le confirme.
Je devais rire quand je lisais sur Spitzer, le gouverneur de Nueva York. Son petit scandale avec la prostitué de luxe l´a couté sa place et sa réputation. On a écrit le gouverneur passe tout le jour dans son appartement à Times Square avec sa famille. J´imaginais tout de suite cette réunion religieuse et peut-être pathétique (j´imaginais une réunion similaire comme celle décrite par M. Albright dans sa bio suite aux évènements du président Clinton et ses escapades). Dans le même temps, le re-nouveau président tchèque a été inauguré. Dans les élections qu´il l´emportait sur Svejnar, un émigré tchèque avec le passport américain. Il a basé sa lutte sur la « famille traditionnelle, les valeurs catholiques ». Symboliquement, il passe la première nuit suivant son inauguration avec son hôtesse de l´air (aussi, il a une femme de presque 40ans). Ce n´est pas sa première hôtesse, il s´avère qu'il a une faiblesse pour les hôtesses. Cela le menace ? Mais pas du tout. Il est virile, il est un « homme ». Est-ce que la femme serait considérée aussi belle avec les rides, les lunettes pour la lecture ?...

On est vraiment devenus tous tellement cyniques que les mensonges nous paraîtraient trop irréalistes, trop incroyables ?
Cela ne devrait pas me déranger trop. Maintenant je suis jeune, blonde, alors pas de problèmes, non ?  Mais non. Il y a une vraie faute du système. L´homme peut, la femme le veut.
Ma mère a des difficultés à trouver un homme décent. S´ils ne sont pas mariés, homosexuels, ils souvent veulent la jeunesse. Elle a fini par conclure qu´il vaut mieux être seule.
Pour moi, les bonnes manières sont quand la femme est respectée et aimée à travers tous ses âges.
Désolée pour ce theme sombre mais je voulais en parler...Beau printemps plein de soleil!!!

Exou Exou
Brno Girl