Live from Prague

Many things come across your mind, when you move for 6 months to another country. Here are some thoughts that came across mine, while spending my days at Stockholm:

1 - Weather.

Depending on the time of the year, your Swedish experience will be largely connected with weather. In fall semester, you’ll start with shiny September, and the days will slowly get darker. If you come for a spring semester (like I did), you will arrive to Stockholm in January, when it gets dark at 4pm. Temperatures staying below zero, and people without smiles. Fortunately, as the time goes, you’ll notice the days get longer. Best months are April to June. The sunshine will brighten people’s minds and suddenly  everyone’s happy. Girls drop the winter coats, and show in the streets at their full beauty. Amazing time!

2 - Manners.

These are ways of behaving in different situations of life, and they highly vary from country to country. What is to be noted about Stockholm? Be careful. People never hold the doors for you. Be cold. Swedes often avoid eye contact, intentionally. Keep calm. Swedish people often don’t show their discontent, when others would. Be prepared. People in Stockholm like to dress nicely, especially for events, and parties. Coming undone will only gain you disrespect in the eyes of others.

3 - Running.

If your favourite way to work-out is with sneakers on a road or path, then Stockholm is the place to be. In freezing winter days, or during sunny spring, Swedes love to go for a run. There are several good places to run in Stockholm. 1.From T-Centralen around City Hall to Kungsholmen, by the water. (2km) 2.Around Brunnsviken lake, north of the city center. (13km) 3.Djurgarden park. East of city center. Read more »

This is an English summary of previous articles written in Czech on the topic of my adventures in Stockholm.

Just three clicks on my internet banking, and half of my account is gone. Piece of cake. I have just paid up my 6 month rent in Stockholm. This has definitely confirmed my decision to go to Stockholm, and from now on, there is no way back. 

It all started at April 2008, when I received a phone call. I was sleeping, back in my home in Czech Republic. I picked up the phone. The International Office was calling: Read more »

Following successful acts from 2007 and 2008, United Music agency has announced Sensation White 2009. This years title will be “The Ocean Of White”. Party will take place at O2 Arena Prague, on 6/6/2009. Tickets are selling now for 1450 CZK.

Official line-up hasn’t been yet presented. However, first rumors suggest that the following DJ’s could be joining the event:

• David Guetta
• Axwell - Axwell has denied being part of lineup on his website forum.
  
• Marcel Woods
• Michael Burian
• Aly & Fila

UPDATE

This article was originally about line-up speculations. Below is the actual line-up:

• 21:30 HOUSEQUAKE
• 23:00 ERIC PRYDZ
• 00:30 SEBASTIAN INGROSSO
• 02:00 MEGAMIX
• 02:30 SANDER VAN DOORN
• 03:45 TOCADISCO

Who are you looking forward to see the most?

For further inspiration, check out some amazing pictures from last year’s event.  Read more »

Just though I could drop a line in English today, so that my foreign f-r-i-e-n-d-s can keep track of me

Last week I finished my internship at Bentley Systems and my friend Zdenek came from New Jersey to join me for the rest of the summer in the States. Originally my plan for the summer was to travel to West Coast, just like my other friend Marek did this year. However, because my internship lasted longer than I’ve expected, we’re going to see Chicago and more of the East instead. This will take us about a week.

On Thursday afternoon we polished our Toyota Camry and set for Pittsburgh. While driving on the turnpike we were hit by the wildest storm ever! Zdenek was driving, barely seeing the back lights of the car in front of him. Water was pouring from the heavens and I was shaking in the passenger seat - knowing that a car accident on the first day won’t do a good start for our voyage After some 15 minutes of nature’s inferno the storm dissapeared and we found a motel to sleep.

Friday was just an all day drive. My cousin Dani and her boyfriend Troy have offered us a place in their house for the weekend. From Pittsburgh, PA thru Ohio and Indiana we managed to reach Chicago, Illinois by 8pm local time. All day drive, some 13 hours. We only stopped for lunch and dinner at service plazas.

On Saturday we woke up at 5am! All friends of Dani were joining us and heading for a parking lot in downtown Chicago where a bus full of Penn State fans was ready for us. Yes, today is a college football day! Who cares about NFL, NBA, NHL? Those guys from college play for no money, just for fun, but the game is just as exciting!

Since Dani and all her friends are graduated from Penn State University, me and Zdenek have decided to become Penn State fans Those bitches from Illiois University won’t beat us today! The Illinois Uni vs. Penn State game started at 11am and our crowd of 50 had a hard time beating the home crowd of 56,000 heads And so did the Penn State players with a 27-20 loss

Despite the poor performance in the game, we still had lots of fun! Mainly due to perfect supply of Heineken and Yuengling liquids All the drunkheads (yes, including us) returned to Chicago on 7pm, going back to Dani’s house for more drinking! That was a long day, I can tell you…

The plan for Sunday was to see downtown Chicago, the Windy City alias the hometown of Al Capone! Instead of planned 7am we woke up at ten o’clock! Well, in 10.30 we were parking under the Sears Towers. For free! We left the car in the back alley of some office, just to save money. The rates for parking don’t go below 15$, even on weekends.

The Sears towers were our first target and we’ve seen the city from height of 430m. It was outstanding! If you ever get a chance to go to Chicago, go for Sears!

In the afternoon, we’ve been through the Millenium Park, have seen the famous Silver Bean in the city center, rode a boat around the Navy Pier, had the famous Chicago stuffed pizza and enjoyed the beauty of the ‘most european city in the United States’.

Dear friends, I promise to show you more pictures when I come back. Just don’t ask me about that drinking part. Take care!

Dan